Forgiving and Fighting
Winter waited for Aragon to wake, sitting at the edge of the cliff. She was dragon now, larger than Aragon, and walked on all fours. She looked at the sunrise, smiling. As the sun started to climb into the sky, Aragon woke. He opened his sleepy eyes to Winter, shaking himself awake.
"Mother, I'm awake," he yawned.
"Good, now come on." She leaped off the cave, diving down before flying upward. Aragon followed her example. Winter stopped in mid-air, waiting for him to catch up.
"Alright, Aragon. First we must learn to fly."
"What? I already know how to fly!"
Winter smiled, "I know, but if we're going to fight an army, we need to perfect your skills."
Aragon sighed, "Okay."
"Now, I'm going to fly lower, and breathe ice, fire, and electricity at you. You have to dodge them."
"What?! I can't do that!"
Winter nodded, "That's why we're practicing; now I'll go easy on you." Winter flew lower, then attacked the waiting Aragon. He was good in the air, flying around the fire easily. Winter went harder on him until he singed his wings. He flew down to her; they had been training no stop for hours.
"Can we take a break?" he gasped.
Winter nodded, "I think May went out to gather some food. We can take a break and start up after breakfast." Winter landed next to Aragon human, stretching her unused muscles. Aragon slumped down tired, groaning about how hard that was. Winter patted him on the shoulder, "You have to stay strong if you're going to fight in the war."
Aragon nodded weakly, "Aye." May entered with ten large bucks in her jaws. She set them down, and roasted them to a crisp. She handed one to Winter who took it bitterly. May looked at her, turning human.
"You're still mad, aren't you?"
"You think?"
"Winter, I told you, I had to!"
"The thing is May, you didn't. You didn't have to get yourself captured, you didn't have to side with him, you didn't have to do those things, May! But you DID!" Winter shouted. May flinched and looked down. "You see, May? I was right." then she got up and left, walking to a corner of the cave and eating her buck silently.
Aragon came towards her, "Mother- I mean, Winter. Can I sit by you?"
Winter didn't look up, "Of course."
Aragon settled next to her, "You really should forgive her; Katrina's been talking to me about God. She says we should forgive each others, no matter what. It's the first step to healing."
"Aragon, you don't know how it feels. I trusted her. She aloud me to get attack by Shadow! There-"
"Mother, that whole time she was trying to save you. She would've been able to if she didn't get captured, she couldn't buy enough time unless she did those things to you. Mother, I know it was wrong what she did, momentarily giving up the Lord, but she wanted you to escape. Did she ever tell you she would've died to get you away?"
Winter choked on nothing. "What?" Aragon nodded, and since he was done eating, got up onto his feet and left, walking over to the others. The words stung Winter; she would've died to get you away. But the anger was still large, the hurt too deep. How was she supposed to forgive when these feelings still were at war inside her? She swallowed her pride and walked over to May tossing what was left of her food to Galena. May looked up at Winter when she came by, her eyes puffy and red. Winter felt worse.
"May..." the words wouldn't come out, she kept choking on the words I forgive you. May looked up expectantly. Winter tumbled on, "May...I'm...really sorry. And I forgive you. Can you...forgive...?" Winter choked on the last word, what did she do? Be angry because her friend betrayed her? What harm did that do? But she continued, "Please forgive me."
May smiled, "Of course!" then jumped up, hugging Winter. Winter returned the embrace, tears entering her eyes.
"Just don't ever do that again," Winter said, smiling.
May laughed, "Now what fun would that be?" May and Winter both let go, looking at each other. May broke the silence, "Can I help train Aragon?"
Winter smiled, "I'd be glad to have you aboard."
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Shadow sat in his thrown, furious. He had been so close to tearing the apart, giving Winter almost enough anger to tip her to his control. A werewolf entered, bowing before reporting his news.
"The girl's forces are nearly there. They should be there slightly after noon." Shadow got up and launched a spear at the werewolf, killing him instantly. He cursed into the air.
"I will kill her," he swore, "and even You can't stop me." To his surprise, no answer came, no overpowering force looming over him he always felt inside Winter's mind. He grinned and walked outside. He wove through the hallways, killing any werewolf to dumb to be kneeling when he saw them. Blood stained the floors he walked on, and then he stood over the cliff. His army was crowed below, the opposite end of the town that had felt the Black Dragon's wrath. The trees were far back, giving the army thousands of miles to stand. They all howled as they saw their leader above them. "A resistance has risen against us!" Shadow shouted, as more howls echoed up to him. "We will destroy them without mercy! Not a glint of sadness, not a tear shed. Fight to the death! This time tomorrow they shall lay in fields before us, their God killed!" more howls. "But, if any you put so much as a finger on the girl, you will suffer more than death." the army before him was silent, then howled in unison, their howls echoing through the forest, sending birds flying, cougars running. He smirked; there was no way her Lord was getting her out of this. This time he was going to drive a sword through her heart, and laugh as she screamed, horrified, in pain. This time, Winter was going to die.
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Winter met the generals near noon. She made sure to change into her favorite, human-like dragon before appearing before them. They all bowed as she landed, and she smiled, she felt like royalty. All the dragon generals were human-like besides one, who stood on all fours, slightly larger than Galena.
"I am Silver." said the first, which fit his appearance completely. His scales shone brightly, sparkling whenever he moved. Twin horns branched out of his head, a type of metallic silver. His eyes were yellow, and he continued, "I come from the Knights clan. We pride ourselves as the most skillful with a sword. We pledge our allegiance to you and will see to it this demon's army is destroyed."
"Thank you, Silver."
"I, my dear lady, am Icewrath." this dragon was icy blue, horns sticking out around his jaw, jagged and deep blue. His eyes were deep green, but so soft and caring; Winter couldn't imagine how he could even pinch someone. "Frost clan is where I come from. We pride ourselves in master of ice."
Winter smiled, "That should be very useful."
"Yes, my lady. We also give you our allegiance."
"Thank you," Winter turned to the third. His eyes were a deep shade of purple, his scales red with hints of blue here and there, his claws were curved and sharp, and he looked like a true warrior.
"Blade," he said, bowing his head. "I come from Ignition clan. We, as you can probably tell, pride ourselves as master of fire. We, as well, pledge allegiance."
Winter smiled, "Again, thank you." The last dragon, who stood on all fours, was master of electricity. He was a golden color, dark brown horns sprouting from his head.
He smiled at her, and nodded, "Yes, electricity, as you can see, is what my clan prides in. We will be your master fliers, and we most definitely pledge our allegiance. And my name is Vaze."
Winter smiled and bowed to all of them, "Thank you all. How large are your armies?"
They all laughed, "They could all fill up more than a thousand miles, my dear lady," Icewrath said between laughs.
Winter smiled, "Very good. We shall wipe-" A smaller dragon darted before the leaders, kneeling to Vaze.
"My King," he began, surprising Winter that the generals were the Kings as well, "their army is on the move, tomorrow they shall be here."
"Tomorrow!" Winter exclaimed, surprised of the time even though she expected it.
The Kings stared at her, and nodded, "Tomorrow gives us very little time to prepare, and so shall we begin determining our plan of attack?" Blade said.
Winter nodded, slightly out of breath and the scout ran off, given instructions to spy. Winter drew a map in the dirt with her claw, drawing the large plain they were going to meet Shadow's army at. She explained her plan on having the archers hidden behind rocks, trees, and in the bluff. She told who would be leading each movement, Vaze with Galena and Aragon in the sky, May and Icewrath with the archers, and Blade and Winter on the front line. Winter made special precautions to make sure Galena and Vaze took care of Aragon, who both promised to keep and eye on him. When all was said and done, Winter invited the Kings into the cave. It was a bit cramped, but at least the rain that had started would not get to them. The troops were on the field, ready for battle as Blade told her. He gave her a verity of swords to choose from, and she chose a sword with a sparkling white blade, with a jeweled hilt. He told her that any blood spilled because of this blade wouldn't stay on, but would slip to the ground beneath her, for the blade was crafted by a dragon with no intention of killing, but if he did fight one day, he wouldn't want his enemy's blood on his sword. Winter only partly listened, tomorrow she was going to fight, and tomorrow she would either emerge victorious, or die by a blade.