The Tales of Icecadia

Chapter 3:In Means of Peace

Ava Dawson

I am Ava of Icecadia, the second in command of our armed forces and the next successor that of my older brother; Ptolemy the commander of Icecadia. The place where both human and dragon can coexist with one another and where we can all live together in perfect harmony. For generations this gigantic ice fortress that we call home, it is the place where the weak became the strong, the broken became the mended and where protecting became our birthright. The island is safely hidden away from the rest of the world, it had to be this way; for it was the only choice to safeguard all that's been built here. Not one soul can reach our beloved home of Icecadia; they can try all they might but the ancient mists would kill them before they could survive its harsh winds. We are the only ones who can get through the thickness of the icy mists with the hope of our dragon counterparts of this beautiful land.

It is my sole purpose to serve and protect what we have and to keep outsiders from breaching our island stronghold. Unfortunately my luck has wore itself thin, for an outsider has pushed through our main line of defense; those people can't come in here… the first moment that they step on our terrain they'll destroy a hundred years of work and effort that was put into Icecadia. My ancestors before me let it be known that no contact of the outside world can ever come through here. This Ryka girl came in on her Woolly Howl dragon and when they stepped foot on our ground. We used dragon root arrows and shot them at him, Ryka was nearly frozen when we found her. As my men carried her off of the Woolly Howl's back, he became aggressive towards us and it seems that the arrows didn't take their effect. The dragon took the girl from us as he protected her with ice blasts forming in his mouth.

Shots of ice blasts the two who where handling Ryka in their clutches and they fall flat in a pile of snow. Two trainees who were performing terribly and I had enough of their sad display. I ordered for one of my sentries to shoot; on my signal a huge net captures the dragon separating him from the girl. I had no intentions to harming him but crimes were made by Ryka Henderson and I don't blame him for the mistakes that she made.

Now this ridiculous girl claims to be a Henderson and although I had hoped she was lying to me. To my surprise she was telling the truth and I knew it the moment I saw the scared symbol on her arm. She is one of us, Ryka's ascendents before her lived among us generations ago. We walked throughout our ice home, until we reached the commander's quarters as we step into the throne room. The doors were closed behind us and all that the room consists of is my brother, Ryka and I; along with four guards at the four corners of the room. "Commander, I come before you with a prisoner of Icecadia."

Ryka Henderson

"Commander Ptolemy, it appears that we had an outsider come into our domain; she holds crimes against Icecadia." Ava speaks firmly. "A thief and an invader; first she and her friends steal from our property and then she breaks through the icy mist stepping foot onto our ground." The commander casually stands from his throne, he wears an armor that have an icy texture to it; it symbolizes that he's the leader of Icecadia. His body is fairly built, his eyes display a deep blue color and he completes with curly brown hair. "Since she I have successfully detained her; I'll be speaking on her behalf." Ava shares a distasteful look at me as if she totally despises me; she studies me like I'm a thorn in her side.

"I can speak for myself, thank you very much," I snark sarcastically and as I step forward I slightly shove her with my shoulder. Once I am close enough, it doesn't take me long to speak what I must say. "I am Ryka Henderson, chief of Wenslock and I believe that we have a misunderstanding in our situation."

Ptolemy just waits patiently for a moment, he causally walks my direction until he is just inches from me. He notes of the cuffs that remain on my wrists and the broken chains that dangle in midair; he grabs ahold of my arm and like Ava he examines it. "You hold the sacred mark, you are Icecadia and these chains aren't necessary." He remarks firmly. "Guards, leave the room. I only want Ryka and Ava ." The four guards do as they are told as the dismiss the room; now it is just the three of us.

Ptolemy looks to me with seriousness on his face, "You have fifteen minutes to explain yourself, for as far as things go people think that you're a criminal." Ptolemy and Ava wait for my response. "I hope that you can prove me wrong."

"My friends and I we were traveling to collect resources for the early winter, our own island had suffered greatly after a wildfire in the summer." I begin, "I had sent members of my team to scout the island in hope to gather its resources; food, medicine for our people."

Ptolemy carefully thinks about my words as he registers them. When I know that he is ready, I continue my story. "We had no idea that someone owned the island, if we had thought that we wouldn't have touched it."

"Alright, that explains why you stole from us, and what about your invasion into our domain?" Ava questions with slight irritation in her voice.

"While we were sleeping, a horrendous snow storm hit the island and we had to evacuate immediately. Heavy winds were spitting out shards of ice and the temperatures were dropping, the storm hit us so hard that we didn't even make off with any of the supplies." I explain. " Somehow my dragon and I got separated from the rest and by that time we had no idea where we were going. It seemed like the storm wouldn't end, the only reason I'm here is because my dragon somehow got us here."

Once I am finished with my explanation, the three of us just remain silent for a few moments. Ava and I may dislike each other, but we both wait impatiently for Ptolemy to answer. Instead he just stands in front of me as ponders my words.

"Ryka Henderson, as commander of Icecadia you are pardoned of your crimes," Ptolemy announces as he reaches for the set of keys from Ava. He unlocks the cuffs and removes them from my wrists.

"What you can't be serious?" Ava exclaims with disbelief.

Ptolemy disapproves of Ava's negative attitude of his decision and he didn't seem to pleased with her either. "Pardon us, I must speak with her."

In an instant, Ptolemy grabs ahold of Ava's arm as he pulls her to one of the far sides of the room.

"Ptolemy, you can't be serious about this?" Ava remarks, "You shouldn't believe a word that she says!"

"I trust her," Ptolemy replies without hesitation.

"You can't be serious?"

"I am."

I don't know what to make of this, there seems to be a tension between these two, but I'm glad to know that the commander is on my side. I'm not sure what he sees in me or why he completely trusts me but perhaps that's not such a bad thing. Why me being here bothers Ava so much, I'll never understand. Maybe when tensions have calmed down I can show her that I'm not a threat to her or her people. For the time being, I'll be minding my own business while these two talking things out with one another.

"You want to explain to me why you had her in cuffs?" Ptolemy questions firmly, he looks to Ava as he waits for an answer. Ava seems shocked that she's the one being questioned and I can read the confusion written on her face.

"She is a criminal against Icecadia, she stole from us and she's an outsider who continues to walk around our home." Ava replies with seriousness in voice. "She's an outsider and she could be dangerous to our people."

Ptolemy waits as Ava finishes speaking, he glances at her with the upmost seriousness. "Ryka is our people, and any attack or harm to come to her. It is an attack against our people; you are Icecadia or you are the enemy of Icecadia." I place my attention away from these two, I backed away a couple of feet when he started to speak to her.

"Ptolemy, don't be a fool! She's an outsider and she'll never be one of us! She is not supposed to be here!" Ava exclaims and it was at that moment she is concrete about her ideals about me.

Ptolemy takes a deep breath and it seems that he's trying his best to remain calm. He gets close to Ava's face and I am not sure what to expect. "As long as that symbol is on her arm, she is Icecadia, she is one of us. And there is no harm to come to her. Do you understand me?"

Ava doesn't respond and she doesn't know what to say to the commander. Ptolemy speaks once more, " I said do you understand me?"

"Yes, I understand you big brother." With that Ava dismisses herself from the throne room as the door closes behind her.

For a moment there is only silence that fills the room, I am almost immune to the lingering nuisance and at this point I might as well accept it. I look to the door that Ava left out of and I return my attention to Ptolemy. "Brother?" I question curiously.

"Yes, Ava is my little sister and I apologize for her and her behavior," He remarks causally. "She's not usually like this, this whole outsider thing has really messed with her."

"Well, I assure you that I won't be a problem, I hope that Ava will soon see that."

"It's not you, it's a problem we've been facing for awhile; some of my warriors have spotted dragon hunter ships beyond their usual border."

"Dragon hunters?"

"Yep, normally hunter ships have never come out this far, they won't find this place for a good amount of time but my sister fears that they'll soon come even closer."

Ptolemy walks to a large table with a map display across it; it appears to be Icecadia and their shores along with their island of resources. He motions for me to come over and I stand next to him as we gaze upon the map. "These are the areas that hunter ships were spotted; which isn't too far from where you were. It's way out there and it's not even close to our mists; however the are still within our waters and they are passed our borderlines. We need to scare them away so that they won't come any further."

I carefully observe the map, from my notes I begin to think of something that can help. An idea so crazy enough it'll benefit both Icecadia and that of my allies. If the five of our clans were to come together with Icecadia we can work something out that will help each other out. "Seems to me you need added protection, extra security if you will. A team of warriors that can fly out and be rid of those dragon hunter ships." I remark firmly.

"What idea did you have in mind?" Ptolemy turns his attention to me as I begin to think throughly about my idea. It's brilliant and this would be a way to help all of us, many lives who get to survive this harsh winter.

"I propose a deal, let's us share the resources on your island; we can ration it among all six clans that way everyone would get what the need. We share the island; just until our island replenishes in the spring and I'll get you your added protection. My people have the willpower to fight off dragon hunters along with the other clans; Berk, Outcast Island, Berserker Island, Wenslock and Defenders of the Wing. They are all trained to fight for combat." I suggest with confidence. "The only way that we will survive is if we work together."

Ptolemy thinks about what I had to offer, I can tell that unlike his sister Ava, Ptolemy is a leader who will listen to reason and I can see by the gleam in his eyes. That he approves of this way of thinking, he offers a warm smile and I return the gesture as the word leaves his mouth,"Together."

Journal Entry:We Thrive

It has been on hectic few days and despite of all the crazy things that have happened. There has been some good to come out of it. Starting with this alliance that Ptolemy and I initiated tonight; I feel that with someone like him the survival of us all will triumph and together we will all thrive. The first thing that was taken care of was reuniting me with Luka once again; thankfully he was unharmed and Ava just locked him away in a dragon cage. The happy dragon pounced on me the moment that he saw that I was okay; after that Ptolemy showed us something truly amazing.

Ptolemy told us the history of Icecadia, how the Hendersons and Dawsons came together a hundred years as the single-handedly saved a once dying dragon species. Almost a hundred years ago Woolly Howls were hunted down nearly to extinction; hunters would hunt them for their fur like pelts and to use to withstand harsh weathers. Luckily our ancestors saved what remaining Woolly Howls that were left and they fled off the map. When the found Icecadia, it was the birthplace of all Woolly Howls and only these dragons were able to fly passed the freezing mists that protected them from the outside world. Overtime, the Woolly Howl species soon repopulated increasing their numbers again.

To think that my great- grandfather was apart of this divine mission and now the people of Icecadia dedicate their lives into protecting the Woolly Howls to make sure that they'll never reach that point again. The idea that people would hunt them down for their hides, it was an unsettling thought and it is just animal cruelty to harm creatures for sport. I appreciate how most Vikings don't think along those same lines anymore. I am just happy to know that Luka isn't alone, he finally has his own kind back into his life. I don't know how long it's been since he's last seen dragons of his own species; but I have never seen that dragon so happy before when he played with some of them.

Finally, things are going right and for once in a long time; I have something to look forward to. Now I stand outside of this gigantic fortress, I decided to venture to a quieter place and reflect my thoughts onto paper. A campfire set as the red, yellow and orange flames dance with the small cloud of smoke. Luka and I rest under the cool night as the stars glisten in the midnight sky. Luka finally receives some well deserved sleep, he's the reason that we survived the storm and if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have found our solution to survival. I study Luka as he is deeply asleep with his calm and simple breathing.

Well it's time to place this book down once more, so much has happened and there will be more to come tomorrow. It's time for Luka and I to head inside, to get a good night's sleep and to perform a day's worth tomorrow. No you no what, we don't need to go anywhere, we are perfectly fine where we are, as long as I have the fire burning that'll keep me plenty warm. As the starlight glimmers, and the moonlight beams. Goodnight.

I make myself comfortable with my cape to cover myself in, the fire is warm and the night is peaceful. It isn't long until my eyes begin to close, I can sleep knowing things will be okay. Yawns roar from my mouth and I prepare myself for a much rested slumber. I notice as Luka covers me with his wing, which provides warmth and protection and then he moves his head closer to mine. "Guru," he softly purrs and I place my head gently on his neck. I slowly reach my hand to softly stroke the withers on his neck, and within each stroke I fall deeper into sleep.

"Goodnight bud." I whisper as I break away into a peaceful slumber.