Chapter Two: Preparation.
September 17th, 2029.
The last few months had been big for Harry. He and his coworkers had been barraged with interviews and preparation for their trip to Antarctica to revive dinosaurs. People wanted to know; "Will the revival of dinosaurs change the world?" "How will you hatch the eggs?" "Will any corporation 'own' these 'dinosaurs?'" Harry and the others answered these questions as best they could. It took them so long because Lin Zhong had to come with them, to point out the glacier. It took quite a bit to convince Miss. Zhong to come with them, as she was not eager to go back to the place all her friends had died.
Harry had tried to ask Lin how they had died, but she never answered that question. Nobody but her knew the truth. Of what lay beyond. She became cold and distant whenever someone mentioned her trip. Harry was worried it would happen again. That whatever killed Lin's team would kill again.
The worst part was Lloyd. Tyler Lloyd was the CEO of Zaloha Enterprises. Harry had received a phone call from Lloyd, saying he wanted to meet Harry. Turns out, Tyler wanted these dinosaurs for himself. He thought dinosaurs could do work ten times as better than a human. Harry turned down his offer. The fossils belonged to the people, not companies.
The day eventually came when Harry, Sam, Lin, and two other coworkers, Greg Lavinski and Alexandria Hetton, departed for Antarctica. Goodbyes were solemn, as many people believed this team would meet the same fate as those who came before. They would never return. Harry was nervous, as he normally was, but at the same time, excited. If they succeeded, the whole world would change forever.
The helicopter ride from London to Antarctica was long and dreary, the scientists playing multiple card games until one by one, everyone began to fall asleep. Everyone except Harry and Sam. Sam was looking out the window, at the small towns of Spain below, chittering with life.
"We may never see anything but snow and ice ever again." Sam said. Harry thought about this as the helicopter passed over a slightly snow-capped mountain. "We'll make it back. We won't end up like Lin's friends." Harry said quietly. He glanced at Lin sleeping quietly. Harry had never noticed how cool her tear drop tattoos next to her eyes looked in the dark. They almost glowed. Sam pushed Harry slightly. "Shut up, don't insult her!" Sam whispered yelled. "I was only saying." Harry replied in a whisper yell too. "Besides, if we do never leave, our ice cream will never melt again." Sam laughed and lay down. "Good night, Harry." "You too, Sam."
And then Harry was alone. So only he saw what Lin did in her sleep. She began shaking and making a strange noise. Harry was about to wake up Sam when Lin began reciting something. It sounded like a poem. Only disturbing. "Within the ice lies the key, the dreamer will set them free. The world will change for better or worse, in the door of secrets lies a curse…" Lin cut off. Harry felt queasy. He knew she was just probably remembering something she read, but something about it felt… real. Harry pondered her words until he fell asleep. Wondering about the door of secrets.
Chapter Three: Frostbite. (Two chapters in one document? What is this sorcery?)
Sharpclaws sat up fast. The door of secrets. This was the right place. Sharpclaws needed to know where the key was though. He needed to get inside the door with runes before anyone else did. If any of the other tribes got their hands on what was in there… It would mean absolute domination of Pyrrhia. Sharpclaws couldn't let that happen. Even his fellow Nightwings couldn't get their hands on The Machine.
Sharpclaws needed supplies. He hadn't taken much with him when he ran away from the Nightwing's island. He had to get off the island fast, especially after that assassin discovered his secret. What was her name, Quickstrike? She would probably tell Princess Greatness after she got back from her latest mission, the one she was taking her son on.
Sharpclaws had to get his supplies though. He had to go into the nearby Icewing Capital. He put on his armband. He felt a wave of cold sweep over him as the armband turned Sharpclaws into an Icewing. He practiced his "better than everyone else" accent. He remembered his fake Icewing name, Frostbite. He left the cavern, piling snow and rocks over the small entrance.
As Sharpclaws walked into town, other Icewings began to stare at him. He wondered why they seemed to look at him as if he had just dragged some rotting prey into their perfectly polished ice village. He looked like any other Icewing, right? He approached an Icewing merchant, who eyed him suspiciously.
"What is your rank?" The merchant asked. "My what?" Sharpclaws asked. "Y'know, what circle are you in?" Sharpclaws panicked in his head. "Um… I'm new." He tried. "I see." The merchant said suspiciously. "I hadn't heard of any new nobles. And with that noble armband there, you must know your rank." Nobles must wear armbands. Sharpclaws thought. He had gotten the armband from an Icewing who spotted him going to the cavern. It didn't end well for the Icewing.
"Is that Frostbite?" Sharpclaws heard someone yell. "A crowd of Icewings flew toward him. When they landed, they gaped at him. "You- You're alive!" One exclaimed. "We found your dead body though!" Another shouted. Sharpclaws cursed himself in his head. He remembered the enchantment on the armband. Make this armband change whoever wears it to look like that Icewing I just killed.
Sharpclaws' cover had been blown already. "I… gotta go." He said quickly, and flew off. "Come back!" Yelled the lead Icewing. They took chase. Sharpclaws turned around to face the fastest one. They couldn't learn of the cavern. He pulled out a vile of flower extract he got from the rainforest, and dipped his talon tips in the fluid. The Icewing lunged at Sharpclaws. She was fast, Sharpclaws had to be quicker.
She swiped at him with her tail. He dodged. It was the perfect opportunity. He clawed her once. The poison seeped into the cut. Her eyes glossed over. "What is your name?" Sharpclaws asked her. "Squall." She replied emotionlessly. "My name is Sharpclaws, and you will do as I say for the next 24 hours. "Yes, Sharpclaws." She said blankly.
"Now go to the other Icewings, and tell them you killed me. That I was a rouge Skywing who had gotten some animus-touched earing to look like an Icewing. Say it with your normal personality, this never happened." "Yes, Sharpclaws." She said again. "Good. Go." He said. She flew off. Now they would think he was dead. He heard a strange noise. A noise… similar. Blades. Helicopter blades. Sharpclaws' world dissolved before him as Dr. Lexibridge came back into view.