Prologue: 6 months ago…
The council meeting was supposed to be quick and simple for the IceWings; assemble, decide, leave.
It was not meant to take an entire day.
We were not of high rank, but the 'disgraces' as the higher ranks called us. We had finally met, to make a decision we knew could change IceWing history. The meeting was held on one of the island outposts inside a large congressional room. The rows were high far from the middle, allowing all to see me, Orokin, in the very center. The IceWings filed in, filling the rows, and the house itself. Not only were the rows tight, but a similar pressure was in the air.
"My acquaintances," I began, diplomatically, "We are gathered here today to discuss matters of our own livelihoods." I paced.
"The transgressions of our queens- Glacier and Snowfall- have grown too large."
One of my council men stood quickly. "What have they done!? They keep us safe!"
I slightly sneered. "Do they? They don't see us as equals. We're the only tribe where one lie can ruin your whole life." Some of the members murmured in agreement.
"Look at the IceWing plague. The queens received the earrings from Typhoon, yet it took days, weeks for the earrings to be delivered by the queens guards. We lost many, all that could've been saved. The higher circles don't care." I paused, thinking, then spoke. "The circles are corrupt. They were founded on skill; the most skilled rose to the top. Those without… they suffered."
One dragon caught his idea. "But now it's only about who you know, not how well you do."
"Exactly," I agreed. I listed off all of the queens' transgressions- negligence, unneeded wars, corruption- then stopped to face the council.
"I propose something radical, but, in the sake of our livelihoods and place as dragons, I feel it must be done." I paused, knowing the words I was about to utter might as well be a dragonflame Cactus, and I the Fire-breather detonating it.
"I propose a rebellion." A few gasps rang out in the crowd. Soft, stifled murmurs of discussion started. I raised a talon, and silence fell again.
"I know this is daunting, but there is no rule against it. We have been reserved the right to defend our institution. And thus, if anarchy is needed, anarchy shall rise."
A sleek, off-white female stood.
"W-we shouldn't!" She proclaimed, rather defiantly. "We don't stand a chance! They have better weapons!"
"Yet we have numbers," I argued. "Just like the circles on your necklaces, the higher you go, the smaller the circle gets. There's three times as many dragons here than the higher circles."
The dragon's mate rose. "They do have one advantage: experience."
"That they may," I replied. I gestured to all of them. "This is your decision, not mine. Deliberate, then return for voting."
The council soon began to commune, the civil group breaking down into aggressive, yet respectful arguments.
I merely sat, watching the comotion unfold.
We regrouped, and voted. Rebellion won out.
A look of fear struck some. Pride and boldness others. I smiled.
"When shall we rebel?" My right hand Dragon, Aleutian, asked.
I looked up and out through the window, at the now high moons, the crescent, gibbous, and full moons radiating.
"One month, When the moons are new, we strike in darkness. Consider yourselves dismissed."
They left in a hurry, looking like soldiers going off to war. I sat alone, in thought.
This isn't for the power, the fame, nor the wealth, I thought. It's for my people. My circle.
Dragons just like me, with my struggles and woes.
I sighed. No more.
The night was dark. Darker than pitch. I couldn't see my own talon. The golden tattoo on my wings shined almost defiantly under the moon.
Perfect. Just as planned.
The council men and I had gathered weapons, and traveled the past two days, hiding on the back side of the great ice cliff. We camped on a close by outpost, long abandoned. The IceWings rarely checked the outposts anyways.
Night had fallen, however, like a black bridal gown over one's eyes. After our eyes adjusted, it was only possible to see a very small distance: from here to the next dragon beside me.
We silently rose together, like a flock of birds, landing on the Ice Cliff. The palace and surrounding city was around it, with little pockets of light front the moon globes.
"Archers, load up!" I whispered aggressively. The message passed down swiftly. Each archer had an assistant with two pieces of flint. The archers notched the arrows, and they're assistants lit them ablaze.
The arrows glowed dimly in the night, making the whole cliff glow a soft, sunset orange.
"Fire!" Aleutian cried.
Hundreds of arrows flew, all fiery at their tips. They landed, and began to burn the buildings in the town as the arrows shafts ignited. I began to see the royal IceWings' guards come out,, along with panicked, frenzied civilians.
The battle had begun.
The Sword Dragons charged, meeting the royals quickly. They clashed forcefully, ruthlessly with each other. The royals were unorganized, rushed. They hadn't prepared. My dragons cut most of them down, with few losses.
"Orokin!" A sneering voice cried. I looked up to see Queen Snowfall, escorted by a section of guards.
One of my archers immediately took aim. "Stand down," I told him.
"What are you doing?!" She asked me.
"Liberating my circle from you, and all the things you've done!" I spat.
"You can't survive without us," she said, a little more soft.
"The royal circle hasn't treated us right in years. I'd rather take my chances alone than live under hypocrites like you." I pointed my set of swords at her challengingly.
"Now I recommend you run, before my archers get the order to fire at will."
She growled in dismay. "Injustice never goes unpunished Orokin. Someone will stand in your way."
She took off, as did the civilians, escaping, leaving me and her burning settlement behind.