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Queen Diamond's counterattack (part 7)

"I'M SO SORRY!"

The frantic voice echoed around the palace, and Arctic glanced up to see a dragon he'd never thought he'd seen again.

"P-Phoenix?! B-but.. how?!"

He spluttered as the small RainWing fluttered down to join him. Foeslayer also came closer, a confused look on her snout.

Phoenix's scales matched her name at the moment, bright red with orange underscales.

"I.. I got lost again! And so I tried to find you and I came in here and I landed up there and I accidentally killed her!"

Phoenix stared at him, her wings drooping. "I'm sorry.." She murmured.

Giddiness rose in Arctic's throat. Queen. Diamond. Was. Dead.

Foeslayer stepped forward, confusion written all over her snout. "Who's this?" She asked curiously, while Phoenix shied away from the NightWing.

Arctic tore his gaze from the mound of ice that was covering the dead queen. "Foeslayer, this is Phoenix. I met her on my way here.."

He gave the tiny RainWing a gentle look, she managed to stutter out a greeting. It seemed that black dragons made her nervous.

After introductions were done, Foeslayer cautiously walked around the pile of ice, lowering her head to study it carefully. "But.. the earring, it should have protected her.."

Arctic realized that his wife was correct, and wracked his brain for an answer. When it finally came to him, he felt his wings lifting in joy. He noticed that both Foeslayer and Phoenix were looking at him strangely, and he rushed to tell them his thought.

"B-because Phoenix meant no harm, it was an accident!"

He frowned, storing the information inside his brain for later. Foeslayer's gaze lit up with joy, and Phoenix grinned weakly, still slightly shaken.

There was silence for a long moment, but it was comfortable. Then Foeslayer's head snapped up, her wings flaring. "Whiteout! What about Whiteout?!"

She exclaimed, and Arctic felt guilt slam through him. He couldn't believe that they still didn't know where their daughter was.

His ears twitched as he heard a noise behind him, and he whirled around to see Whiteout standing with another IceWing guard.

Arctic's first thought was distrust, and he crouched low, hissing at the unfamiliar dragon. The guard didn't seem to have seen him, and his dark blue eyes were focused behind Arctic, on the mountain of ice that'd fallen upon Diamond.

Whiteout tilted her head at her parents, confusion lighting her two-toned gaze.

"Father? Mother? Is the one of Diamond's gone?"

Her voice was clear, and Arctic paced towards her, warily watching the unknown IceWing out of the corner of his eye. "Yes, Whiteout." He said affectionately, laying his wings over hers.

Foeslayer rushed forward and nuzzled their dragonet between her ears.

Arctic finally gained the unknown IceWing's attention. "Leave now!" The former Prince spat, and the IceWing shrank back, hissing.

Arctic continued, lashing his tail and flaring his wings.

"Tell the IceWings that Diamond is dead! And any dragon who wishes to hurt my family will get the same!"

Beside him, Foeslayer nodded gravely, her pearly white teeth glinting. The IceWing hissed again before slinking out of the room, his tail dragging.

That's it for now! Hope you liked it!