Stuck Chapter 1

Peril flew.

Her Majesty had pushed her too far this time. She was leaving the palace for good, or so she told herself. Peril had escaped the Sky Palace at night several times before to think, cry, train, and to simply fly. To get out of the claustrophobic arena was worth the risk of her Queen's wrath. The mountains gave Peril so much marvel. They were so unstoppable and strong, unlike the many lives she took. And that was why Peril was leaving now, she though she was okay with being a killer, though that that was what she was eternally darned to do, but she just couldn't do it anymore.

Earlier that day, she and Scarlet were walking around the royal hatchery, Peril feeling particularly uncomfortable. She had never been in the hatchery because of her, well, issues. The thought of accidentally murdering an unborn dragonet made her cringe, even when she was being trained to kill on a daily basis. Peril had tip-taloned through the narrow stone pathways between the nests of fragile eggs, careful not to touch the hay and grass. Why would she bring me here, she thought, isn't she worried about me hurting her future heirs. Queen Scarlet looked around the hatchery, narrowing her eyes until she found her target.

"Ah" She said, "Here's the one"

Peril's eyes followed Her Majesty's talon and saw a small yellow-orange egg with a crack down the center; it was also shaking dangerously, about to hatch.

"I have a sneaking suspicion..." Scarlet muttered, but Peril was barely listening, she was staring in awe at the beginning of new life. The egg split and broke into a thousand pieces, revealing a tiny, slimy, amber colored dragonet. But after a moment of gazing at the cute creature, Peril noticed something terribly wrong. The dragonet was missing its right foreleg, a stump in its place.

"Hmmm as I assumed...a shame really", the Queen said, with fake remorse.

The little dragon ignored the heartless comment, as did Peril, and took in their surroundings with huge grey eyes, landing them on Peril, and blinked once. The three year old SkyWing found it absolutely adorable.

She couldn't stand it anymore, "Oh, my queen", she exclaimed softly. "What will you name her?"

Scarlet barked a laugh "Three Moons, no! This deformity wouldn't last a day as a SkyWing princess. Were you not wondering why I brought you here, Peril dear? I don't want to get my hands dirty, you kill it."

The young champion shuddered, she had not killed the little dragonet and for that she felt mixed emotions: a strange pride, shame, and most importantly, guilt at not taking the tiny princess with her. Surely now Scarlet would make some soldier kill her, or eventually do it herself. Or, she thought to herself, she will find me, drag me back to the palace, and make me kill her. Right after the statement from Scarlet, Peril had panicked.She jumped over the nests, through the long and open window, and was now on her route to...nowhere.

She had been flying for several hours and night had fallen, when she remembered: my black rocks! Peril groaned, how could she have forgotten?! This was bad, Her Majesty had told her that she would die without the rocks. Peril was unsure, she felt fine, for now, but landed to think more on the stressful matter. Just then, her stomach growled loudly and she realized that she hadn't eaten since that morning. Well I can't think on an empty stomach, she thought and sniffed the air for nearby prey.

Clay watched.

He watched their only window to the open world with huge eyes, wondering if he would see her tonight. All the torches were out so the countless stars and two full moons were the only light source. For the past year, Clay had been watching the strange SkyWing, trying to get up the courage to call out and meet her. But every time he told himself he would talk, he saw her beautiful blue eyes flash in the moonlight and fell speechless. When Webs taught the Dragonets about SkyWings, he described them as heartless creatures with eyes like fire or ash. However, the mystery dragonet seemed to be packed full of emotions, she seemed to fly around the mountains to cope and sometimes she seemed so sad that Clay wished beyond words he was there to comfort her.

Tonight, he vowed, if she comes you are talking to her.

And all of a sudden, Clay witnessed a terrified groundhog scurry through the Sky Hole and scramble behind one of the bookshelves. Although, it was soon followed by something much bigger.

"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE VERMIN!" A voice screamed, "I AM COLD AND HUNGY AND-" The corridor was thrown into almost complete darkness. A frustrated grunt sounded from the feminine voice above. Clay squinted towards the sound and as his eyes finally adjusted to the dark, he could make out none other than the mystery SkyWing's head, neck, and forearms hanging out of the Sky Hole. Well I suppose now I don't have a choice. She was stuck.