Here's a new chapter! Enjoy, and sorry for the wait. It gets plot twisty now!
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Wolf's POV
(Before Truth or Dare)
I woke up later that night, and looked around. Dawn and Dusk were sleeping, but Carmine was gone. I jumped to my feet, gently shaking off Dusk's wing. I checked in the hut, near the stream, and the surrounding area. The darkness made it hard to tell, but she wasn't there. Nothing. Where could she be? Did someone take her? Then I remembered the one place I hadn't checked. The mango tree where we had stood gaurd last night. In the dark I stumbled to the tree, and there I found her, staring at the sky with her bright orange gaze. "Carmine?" I whispered, and she jumped.
"Wolf. I was just standing guard. I can't help but feel exposed and stalked." She turned back to the sky, and I sighed. She wasn't going to go down without a fight. "How about we do a quick aerial check, and then go back to the camp." I compromised, hoping she would agree. "Okay, fine. But only because you won't stop bugging me if I don't." She cracked a small, tired smile, and we took off into the late night sky.
We circled the camp area a few times, and then we started to head back. "See Carmine?" I reassured, " There's absolutely nothing to be worried about." I began to dive back down to the forest, but Carmine didn't follow me. I flapped back to her. "Wolf, look." She was pointing to a small campfire not to far from our camp. Oh no, they found us! I gasped, and we silently flew back to the mango tree.
We crept towards the other campfire, alert and ready. But then I cracked a stick, and the other dragons heard. "Who goes there?" one called, and we tried to back away, but we were too late. A Sandwing came forward, and growled. "Vulture, Basilisk, Ibis, get over here! I found the traitors!" He spat and leaped at us.
As he sprang, I looked at Carmine. We had to let ourselves be taken. We can't let them see Dusk and Dawn. So we let the four Sandwing soldiers bind us, and haul us away. Carmine had some difficulty with her captors, and lashed her head as we took off, scraping one with her horn. The Sandwing cursed as a scale fell off. In her anger, she grazed her barb against Carmine's flank. The poison acted quickly, and Carmine fell unconscious. "Lizard skins! Vulture, now we have to treat her! General Saguaro might want answers! We can't have dead prisoners!" The first Sandwing hissed at Vulture.
Genreral Saguaro?! Maybe it's another dragon. Because I'm pretty sure Dusk said Saguaro had...died.
I was in a complete state of shock. Carmine was unconscious, Dusk's brother might be the Sandwing General, and we had been taken captive. Not my idea of the best day.
Soon, we had reached the area where Blaze had her military. They took me to a cell, and dragged Carmine away to an infirmary. I resisted the urge to go after her. Two of the Sandwings that had taken us stood guard, a small, pale one that I assumed was Ibis, and the leader, a tall, dirty yellow one named Sizzle. I sat in the cell, worrying. Is Carmine gonna be okay? What about Dawn? Or Dusk? And the General, Saguaro? Oh no. I held my head in my talons, shivering with exhaustion and fear. The heat was no help either. Sizzle looked at me and grunted. "Get him some aloe, Ibis." He jerked his head towards a barrel, and Ibis scuttled over. She tossed a few thick leaves through the bars, and sneered.
I spread the thick, cooling gel over myself, and it soothed my scales and mind. Soon I slipped into a restless half-sleep.
A while later, something woke me. Carmine was shoved into the cell, a furious air about her. The other two Sandwings switched shifts, and Sizzle, along with Ibis, left. "We'll get the General." Sizzle spat as they walked away. The other two, Vulture and Basilisk, stood guard, grumpily. Before Carmine could lash out at our captors again, I embraced her. "You're okay!" I murmured into her shoulder, and she relaxed. "I guess I am." We stood there for a bit, until Vulture snapped, "Enough of the sappy stuff!" Basilisk smirked and spat at the cell. Why did we get the mean ones? But we had other things to worry about.
Vulture and Basilisk snapped to attention, as three pairs of talons clacked against the sandstone floor. "Lieutenants Vulture, Basilisk." General Saguaro nodded briskly to our guards, and they scurried off. Vulture cast a sneer back at us, and I narrowed my eyes at her patterned form as it faded away. Saguaro leaned in closer and flicked his tounge. "Where are they!?" he growled. "Where are who?" I casually asked, inspecting my talons. Carmine hid her giggle. "You know what I mean. THE OTHER TWO DRAGONS WITH YOU! I highly doubt you'd survive a day in the desert." He spat, and I cringed. He leaned closer, until his snout was pressing through the bars. "Where. Are. Your. Companions." He hissed.
What do I say?
Saguaro suddenly turned and walked away. "They'll be properly questioned later. Let them sleep." Sizzle and Ibis nodded, and saluted his receding form. I was puzzled at Saguaro's behaviour, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. I laid down, and Carmine did too. We slept, if only for a little bit.
After Truth or Dare
"I swear on my last camel they're gone!" As Carmine and I were transported back to the cell, two dragons were walking our way. They stopped in front of us. Vulture and Saguaro. Vulture sputtered and stammered. "They...but..ugh!" She strode over to a corner and glowered. "Vulture, come. We're taking these two to the interrogation room."
They have a whole room for interrogations? No wonder Blaze is a popular choice, she has a functioning military. These thoughts ran through my head as the Sandwing General unlocked the cell and ushered us out. But what I really wanted to know was why and what. What is his motive? Why is he alive? What will he do? I reached for Carmine's tail for comfort. She twined it around mine, a glint in her eyes. I couldn't tell if was determination or anger. Maybe a mix of both.
We were led to a small room, with a stone table and a few seats. Saguaro took a seat at the head of the table, and we sat on the opposite end. Vulture waited outside, to her displeasure. As Saguaro sat down, he softened his gaze and relaxed his posture. "Is Dusk okay?" He whispered, and I realized what was going on. Carmine opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a howl. "SKYWING ATTACK!"
I know, I'm evil. But I hope you liked that chapter! What is Saguaro's true motive? Does he want to be free of the war? Will he help our gang? Can Dusk and Dawn sneak in? Will the SkyWings be an issue? Who knows!
Tell me what you think in the reviews!
Evily, Clearly.
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