"The evil in the real world is often as bad, or worse than the supernatural evil." –The Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things, about Stephen King's works.
Swordfish immediately began to fly downward. "Hey!" Onyx cried. "Where are you going?!" Rattlesnake and Vulture began to fly downwards as well. "What are you doing?" Vine called down to Swordfish, Rattlesnake, and Vulture. "IT'S SLOTH! RAINFALL'S PET SCAVENGER!" Rattlesnake yelled back. Vine and Blizzard then descended downwards with the rest, leaving Onyx keeping herself in place. "HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON?!" She yelled, and then turned and flew off, flying away in the direction of the mountains. Swordfish watched as she flew away, probably to never be seen again. Well, at least she's free from the Darkists.
Swordfish turned his attention back downward to the scavenger, which still hadn't noticed the dragons yet, but just then, Sloth turned around and made eye contact with Swordfish. He suddenly ran into a half-collapsed building. Blizzard then landed outside, and peered through a window. "I can't see him!" She said, and then she turned to Rattlesnake. "So that's the tiny scavenger that holds the key to everything?" And Rattlesnake nodded. "Rainfall's pet, which we think has the code to that chest in his little pouch." Blizzard turned and looked up into the sky.
Swordfish wondered how Blizzard had gotten past the mountains without dying. She had brushed the question off when they were in the dungeons. What was she not telling them?
Suddenly, Vine pointed to the other side of the house. Sloth was running out of the back. The group of dragonets turned and began to give chase, except for Blizzard, who stayed back with a strange look on her face.
Swordfish began flying lower to the ground along with Vine, who was using her tree-hopping to go from building to building. Swordfish began closing in on the scavenger, who turned his head and looked behind him, his long brown fur flowing behind him. Suddenly, the scavenger threw something small and round on the ground, and disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
"WHAT IN PYRRHIA WAS THAT!?" Vulture cried. Vine suddenly descended into the cloud, and disappeared along with Sloth. Swordfish could hear her coughing. Suddenly, Blizzard appeared behind Swordfish. "Come on, let's flap away the smoke!" Blizzard, Swordfish, and Rattlesnake flew downward and began flapping their wings to clear the smoke. When the smoke cleared, Vine was still coughing and Sloth was nowhere to be seen. "What was that?" Vine asked between coughs. "I have no idea." Vulture answered. "But it looked like a ball that contained a mixture that made smoke." Vulture stared after it with wonder. "That's… further advanced than anything my dad has come up with." Swordfish remembered Vulture said his father made war machines for Queen Ruby.
"Well, that's all the more reason we should go after him!" Rattlesnake urged, and began flying upwards to get an aerial view. "Wait, are you sure we should be doing this?" Blizzard asked. "That Darkist Rattlesnake knocked out is probably going to wake up at any second, and they'll start to look for us!" Swordfish stopped. She had a point. But you may never see Sloth again. Swordfish thought. The one chance you have of opening that thing. "We'll get this scavenger, and leave. It's just a scavenger." Swordfish assured Blizzard. And we might be able to get it done faster if you help with your animus power. That is, if my theory is right.
Swordfish had formed a theory that Blizzard was a secret animus, like Darkseer, and she had some sort of enchantment on herself so she would be immune to certain things. It would explain how she got past the mountains, and how she didn't turn into a mindless black-eyed dragon when Cassriel made the old world collapse. Swordfish had seen her at the end of the hallway, still normal. It would also explain why she was so prickly to new dragons.
Swordfish was snapped out of his thoughts when Vulture asked him "Who are these dragons anyway?" "A Darkstalker worship cult." Swordfish answered him, and Rattlesnake suddenly descended from the sky, a concerned look on her face. "Savanna is one of them, and so is Farseer." "Her too?" Rattlesnake asked, a sad look on her face. "I knew she couldn't be trusted." Vulture growled. Vine and Blizzard were silent. "Speaking of her, why didn't her brother come?" Swordfish asked. He had noted the absence of Darkseer, who would've definitely been helpful here. "He said he didn't want to come." Vulture said, grinding pebbles in his claws. "I thought he was just being lazy, antisocial Darkseer, but… maybe he foresaw his sister would be here. Maybe he foresaw that the Darkists might want him for his power." Swordfish suddenly remembered with a jolt that the only dragons Darkseer had told about his animus powers had been Swordfish and Cedar. Not even Vulture, his own clawmate, knew about the animus power.
Speaking of clawmates, Swordfish would have to talk to Rattlesnake and Vine about his theory. They roomed with Blizzard, being the only three females in the winglet. That is, if Rattlesnake accepts me as being Swordfish.
"They worship Darkstalker and want to awaken him. They want him to succeed in taking over Pyrrhia, they think it's for the best. Savanna also told them everything I told you. About the demons and the other worlds. They want me so I can lead them to a world where Darkstalker is already unburied, and lead him back here. They have a Grandmaster who leads them, and he got badly burned and injured in the war, and so he has metal covering parts of him and can't talk. We're also in the lost city of Night right now." Swordfish explained.
"Savanna…" Rattlesnake said quietly. "He once told me… right before he gave me this." Rattlesnake put her talon up to her ear with the earring, which made Swordfish realize with a feeling like a slap that the Darkists still had the satchel with the earring Urchin had given Swordfish, Rainfall's scroll, and the bits of Abyss' necklace. "Savanna once told me that he wished that something 'made dragons be good dragons.' That might be his… purpose." Rattlesnake said, with her eyes not losing the hurt and disbelieving look they had had since she had come here. She had been betrayed by someone she had known for years. Someone close.
"Well, let's go get that scavenger!" Vine said, breaking the awkward silence that had followed Rattlesnake's realization. The group set off again to find Sloth.
Swordfish realized with worry that Sloth was leading the group back towards the palace. Just a scavenger. Just a scavenger. Just a scavenger. No big deal. But that "smoke bomb" Sloth had used made Swordfish worry. Swordfish suddenly heard the sound of wingbeats above him, and dove for cover, inside one of the old houses before looking up to see it was just Rattlesnake, still looking blank and rattled.
Swordfish took a deep breath when he heard a noise to his right. He turned and saw Sloth crawling out a window. He had been hiding here from them. Sloth turned his head around and saw Swordfish looking at him. "Damn it." Sloth said. Swordfish stopped as Sloth got out of the window and began running away.
Sloth had just spoken words. One of them didn't make sense, but it wasn't just yibbling. It was speech. Swordfish stared out the window in shock. Sloth just spoke. That scavenger just spoke. This could only mean that Sloth was… a demon. One like Abyss.
Swordfish suddenly snapped out of it, and burst out of the house. "Sloth went that way! Go after him!" "But that's even closer to the Palace than before!" Vulture said urgently. "They'll get out of that meeting eventually!" "SLOTH JUST SPOKE WORDS! HE HAS INTELLIGENCE!" Vulture suddenly used his large Skywing wings and went even higher in the sky, a look of determination on his face. "He spoke words?!" Blizzard asked, shocked. "Yes. I think he's a demon like Abyss." Swordfish said. "Come on, we're going to lose him!" Swordfish took off, leaving Blizzard with a concerned look on her face.
"I got him!" A voice called out suddenly. Vine appeared nearby with an accomplished smile, holding Sloth in her talons. The group gathered around Sloth, excited. Except for Blizzard, who had a look of worry on her face. Like she was scared.
"Can you really speak?" Vulture asked the scavenger, who was struggling against Vine's grip. "I heard him say 'Damn it'." Swordfish said, not letting his eyes stray from the scavenger. Sloth suddenly turned his head, and looked at Swordfish with wide-eyes. Sloth didn't say a word. But he didn't yibble either, he just stared. Then, he kept struggling against Vine.
"Are you sure he spoke? Are you sure you didn't just hear things?" Blizzard asked quickly. Swordfish didn't answer. Maybe… I did. He thought to himself, but then Sloth did something strange. He stopped wriggling against Vine and Swordfish realized his arm was free now, and he was holding something in his little paw. Suddenly, Sloth pointed the object at Vine and something clicked from the object. Then, a projectile of some sort flew out of it and caught Vine in the face. It exploded in a flash so bright, Swordfish temporarily couldn't see. All he could see was white, blinding light. Swordfish heard a quiet ringing noise, and the sounds of Rattlesnake and Vulture yelling.
When Swordfish rubbed his eyes enough and could see again, Vine was down on the ground, and Sloth was gone again. "Three moons!" Rattlesnake exclaimed. "What in all the snakes is going on?" "I don't know." Vulture replied, staring at Vine's face, whose eyes were still closed. "It's like… that was made to combat a dragon." Swordfish looked at Vine's face too. Three moons Rainfall. Who were you? What did you do?
Suddenly, Blizzard pointed into the sky. "Everyone hide. Right now." Swordfish looked up to see a group of hooded dragons in the distance. Swordfish ducked back into the house he had been hiding in, and so did Vulture. Rattlesnake jumped through the window of another building, and Blizzard went into another home. Swordfish looked out the window and saw Rattlesnake across the street. She looked like she was freaking out about something. Swordfish made eye contact with her and she began pointing at Vine, who was still unconscious on the street. "We'll never make it to her in time!" Vulture said urgently, who was now looking out the window too.
Suddenly, Blizzard dashed out, and dragged Vine into the house where she was with incredible speed. "Whoa." Swordfish whispered under his breath. Blizzard had never demonstrated just how fast she was. Swordfish and Vulture hid in silence, and got away from all windows. Swordfish could hear Vulture breathing heavily nearby, and looked and saw him drawing lines in the dirty floor with his claw. Swordfish strained his ears to hear the wingbeats go overhead. Swordfish and Vulture waited bit longer, until they left the house. Rattlesnake did the same, and so did Blizzard, who carried Vine out again.
"That… was close." Vulture said, relieved. "Yeah. They almost would've gotten Vine." Rattlesnake said. "Thank you so much Blizzard." She said, and Blizzard didn't look at her. "Oh… it's nothing…" She said, and she sounded strange. She kept her face down, but Swordfish could've sworn he caught something like a tear slide off her face. Blizzard… is crying? What? Why? Suddenly, Vine made a groaning noise. "She's awake." Vulture stated. Vine made another groaning noise, and then turned invisible. "Look…up" She whispered.
Swordfish suddenly felt talons on his back. He fell to the ground. He looked up and saw Darkists slamming every dragonet down to the ground, and Swordfish growled in defeat. Blizzard's face hit the ground, and Swordfish could see the streaks the tears had left on her face. "You've made a big mistake escaping Swordfish." Said the voice of Aqua. "The Grandmaster's plan worked." Said another Darkist, a Mudwing. "Looping back on ourselves. Stupid dragonets." She chuckled. Swordfish only watched helplessly as he and his friends were cuffed, gagged, and their wings were wired up. They came to help me and now they'll be trapped here forever with me too. "Bayou, take all remaining and go look for the princess. She can't get out of here and tell the world about us." The other Darkist who spoke nodded and five others took off to the sky with her. Rattlesnake looked at Swordfish with confusion in her eyes. Oh right, I didn't tell them Onyx is an heir to the Sandwing throne. Maybe I should have.
"So, Swordfish." Aqua said in her sweet, old voice. Her large form now making her seem even scarier. "What did we learn today?" Swordfish couldn't answer because of the gag. "Maybe that you should listen to orders. Maybe that you should do what's right for the overall benefit of dragons. Or maybe that you shouldn't depend on your friends like this, because now they might all be tortured too."
Swordfish closed his eyes and tried not to cry from all the worry that was now swarming his head. Everything was crashing down. The Darkists took to the sky and began escorting the dragonets back towards the palace. Swordfish looked around at all of them. Rattlesnake, who looked angry. Vulture, who looked sad. Blizzard, who had stopped crying and now looked like she was planning something. They didn't get Vine! Swordfish realized with a jolt of hope. She turned invisible! Swordfish looked around. He couldn't see her. Was she truly awake yet? Did she see where they went? Was she following them right now?
They flew in silence until they reached the town square outside the palace. There were glass statues of Nightwings that looked like they had been broken long ago. There were four robed dragons waiting there, their wings folded. Two Sandwings, a Nightwing, and a Skywing. Savanna, Farseer, Flame, and Pronghorn. Swordfish said to himself. All four Jade Mountain Darkists were gathered here. Swordfish noted that Pronghorn was still wearing Swordfish's satchel of things. When they landed, Savanna sighed and took off his hood, and signaled for the others to take off theirs, who reluctantly obliged. He must have some power over them. Swordfish noted. Well, being Speaker probably has its benefits. Swordfish stood quietly, and Savanna spoke to the captors. "Can I please speak to the Sandwing?" He asked. Rattlesnake's captor took the gag out. Rattlesnake had a look of anger in her eyes unlike anything Swordfish had seen. "What. Are. You. Doing?" She growled, and Swordfish saw a bit of smoke start to come out of her mouth.
"Rattlesnake. I… I planned to tell you eventually. I wanted to show you the good side of this. I didn't want this. I didn't want it to happen like this." Savanna said, an upset look on his face. The other Darkists remained silent. "This. All of this can be for the better." Savanna continued. Rattlesnake kept staring at him. "You remember how evil those thugs in the Scorpion Den are! You remember the brutal war! How or kingdom was ground zero for it! Darkstalker can fix all of that!" There was a pause before Rattlesnake's mouth stopped smoking. "You really think it was worth lying to all of us? To me? I've known you for years." Swordfish saw the other three Jade Mountain Darkists now looking at Savanna, still expressionless.
Swordfish heard a noise, and he saw the Mudwing named Bayou and the group she took land by Aqua. "I think Onyx already escaped." Bayou said angrily. Swordfish could hardly pay attention to Aqua and Bayou's conversation or Rattlesnake and Savanna's argument though. He was watching Pronghorn, who was standing still, but Swordfish's satchel seemed to be opening on its own. Vine. Swordfish realized. Swordfish watched as Vine silently pickpocketed the necklace, the earring, and Rainfall's scroll out of the satchel.
Swordfish then turned his attention back to Rattlesnake and Savanna. Swordfish watched as Savanna took the handcuffs and wires off of Rattlesnake. "I am goin' to speak to Rattlesnake alone." He announced. "All of the rest of you can take care of those three." Savanna walked away with Rattlesnake behind him. "Don't kill them!" He called back, before walking away.
"Well, you three have caused quite the headache!" Aqua said in her sweet voice that Swordfish had begun to hate. "Especially you, Swordfish! And Icewing, how did you manage to get in here?" Swordfish counted how many Darkists were here right now. There was Farseer and the other two Jade Mountain students, Aqua and the other three who caught Swordfish and the others, and Bayou and the other five who went to look for Onyx. That makes a 4 vs. 14 situation. Swordfish had been taught things like this when his father wanted him to become a guard.
Come on Vine! Do something! Swordfish thought. He still was gagged. "What do you want us to do to them Aqua?" Asked the Darkist who was holding Vulture captive. "Hmmmm… how about you cut…" Swordfish heard a rustling in a nearby tree, and a familiar clicking noise. He, Vuluture, and Blizzard all looked at each other and slammed their eyes shut.
BANG! Went Sloth's disorienting weapon. Swordfish heard the yelling and screaming of the Darkists. "WHAT WAS THAT?" He heard Farseer roar. Swordfish suddenly felt his arms be freed and a voice whisper in his ear. "Let's get out of here!" It was Vine. Swordfish felt his wings be freed as he took out his gag. Swordfish went and began freeing Vulture as Vine quickly freed Blizzard. "This is for saving me earlier." Vine said, becoming visible. Swordfish spread out his wings and looked up at the tree the weapon had been fired from. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" Swordfish heard Farseer yell. He looked over to see that the Jade Mountain Darkists hadn't been as hit hardly as the others, who were still wandering around disoriented. Vulture took to the sky and Flame followed him. Oh no… Vulture isn't that good at fighting and Flame was trained by the Talons… Swordfish wondered before he saw Farseer take out a spear and run at him from across the square. Swordfish took to the sky as well when he saw Blizzard run forward at Farseer.
Farseer put up her guard, and a good one at that. Farseer was bigger than Blizzard by quite a bit, yet Swordfish watched with awe as Blizzard broke through it with ease and used her serrated Icewing claws to slice all the way down Farseer's face.
Farseer stumbled back. Blizzard's entire talon was now covered in red blood, but Blizzard didn't even flinch at the sight. She attacked again. Farseer glared through the blood and suddenly breathed fire in a spout at Blizzard. Blizzard flinched and fell backward, the fire probably hurting her Icewing body more than a normal dragon would be affected by it.
Suddenly, Swordfish felt claws rip into his back. One of the various Darkists attacked him. Swordfish did a spin move Starfish taught him, and it was the only one he was good at. Swordfish spun to the left, and then did another spin to attack the Darkist with his strong Seawing tail. The Darkist fell backward and Swordfish saw that it was a Rainwing. What is a Rainwing doing with the Darkists? The Rainwing righted himself in the air and attacked Swordfish. Swordfish dodged downward, scared of the venom that the Rainwing might shoot from his fangs.
Swordfish flew downward, back down towards the tree Sloth had fired the weapon from. The Rainwing followed him. Swordfish stopped flying down near the top of the tree and the Rainwing smiled. Swordfish suddenly realized this is what he wanted. The Rainwing could probably fight better on the trees. The Rainwing suddenly put on a burst of speed and slammed Swordfish into the treetop. Swordfish fell through the branches before coming to a stop inside the old, dense tree. He felt something climb onto him, but he had no time to think about it.
Swordfish flew out of the tree, but the Rainwing attacked him from the left. Swordfish put out his arm to stop him and watched with amazement as Sloth himself crawled off of Swordfish's back and ran down his arm to jump onto the Rainwing's head. Swordfish watched in surprise and amazement as Sloth pulled something from his waist, and pointed it at the Rainwing's head in front of his ear. Swordfish heard a loud BANG! As the projectile shot out of the weapon and through the Rainwing's head entirely. Blood came out the other end. There was now a sizeable hole straight through the Rainwing's head. Swordfish watched in amazement and horror as the dragon began to fall down to the ground with Sloth on top of it.
Swordfish looked down to see Rattlesnake and Savanna walking back towards the battle. Swordfish looked at the battle to see Vulture and Blizzard were surrounded, before Blizzard suddenly lunged forward at one of the Darkists, and they flew out of sight, now battling in the air. Swordfish suddenly felt the strong talons of Aqua grab him from behind. "You have caused nothing but trouble." She growled. "I'm going to have fun clawing out your eyes." She forced him down with her to the battlefield.
Swordfish was thrown next to Vulture, who was completely surrounded by Darkists. Swordfish was shaking. Blizzard was nowhere to be seen. He looked over to see Rattlesnake start yelling at Savanna, and then strike him with her wing. Swordfish saw the body of the Rainwing with no sign of Sloth on it, and Farseer, who was lying on the ground being treated by Pronghorn. Suddenly, Vine became visible again, and attempted to attack Pronghorn, but Bayou ran out of the group and tackled Vine out of the air. Bayou brought Vine with her, and now Swordfish, Vulture, and Vine were completely surrounded. "Alright. Half of you go get that Icewing, half of you go into the desert and look for Onyx. She couldn't have gotten far!" Aqua ordered. "Let Bayou and I deal with these worms."
The Darkists dispersed, and left the three dragonets alone with Aqua and Bayou. The wind picked up, and Swordfish couldn't hear anything for a second. "I say we just kill them." Bayou said. "The Grandmaster won't let us kill Swordfish." Aqua said "So, let's kill the other two." Bayou suggested, a murderous smile on her half-hidden face. "Oh, certainly." Aqua said in her voice again. They turned to Vine and Vulture.
Suddenly, a dragon launched out of hiding. She slammed into the Darkists sideways, slicing her claws across Aqua's face, simultaneously breathing fire on her. Her Sandwing tail stabbed right through Bayou's heart with such force, Bayou immediately fell to the ground, the poisoned wound bleeding profusely. Swordfish looked at the attacker. It was Onyx.
"Now I've repaid the favor." She said. She looked over at Bayou who was struggling on the ground. "Oh, come on, it's not like you had some great destiny ahead of you." Onyx said, stomping her talons into the wound. Bayou died on the spot, her limbs going limp.
Swordfish got up shakily. "Three moons." Vulture whispered. Vine stared at the body. "There… was no other way… was there? It was us or her…" She said, her scales now completely pale green. Suddenly, Rattlesnake ran up to the group. "Come on." She said, a mixture of repulsed, angry, and scared. "We're leaving."
"Onyx… thank you." Swordfish said. Onyx snorted. "My pleasure. Bayou was Aqua's rotten little sidekick. Speaking of her…" Onyx turned her attention to the injured body of Aqua, who had begun to crawl away. "I've got something to say to you!" Onyx yelled angrily. "Actually, so do all of my remaining claws!" Onyx began to walk threateningly over to the body of Aqua, who had a look of anger and fear on her face. "WATCH OUT!" Vine suddenly cried. Another Darkist suddenly tackled Onyx, who fell down with a snarl. The Darkist raised their claws, Onyx's throat exposed.
Suddenly, Swordfish's fear took on a new shape as an arrow suddenly was shot into the Darkist's back. He died right there, on top of Onyx. Swordfish looked up to see Adnachiel perched on the tree Sloth had been on. She stared right at him. Swordfish pointed and Vine looked up and began screaming. "WHAT IS THAT?" Onyx cried, and the demon took another arrow out of her quiver. The injured Farseer suddenly stood up, and picked up a spear, and chucked it at the demon. The injury Blizzard had given Farseer must have affected her throwing though, because it fell short. Farseer suddenly ran away, and didn't look back. She must be scared of her. Swordfish remembered their battle on the mountain that time, how Adnachiel had injured Farseer.
"We need to go." Swordfish said urgently, and the group of dragonets began to take off. "Wait!" Vine said. "What about Blizzard?!" "She's gone!" Onyx said gruffly. "Did you see how many Darkists were after her!?" Swordfish stared in the direction Blizzard had gone, before Adnachiel leaping off of the tree snapped him back to his fear.
"COME ON!" Onyx cried. The group began to take off, leaving Aqua behind with Adnachiel, and Blizzard nowhere in sight. Swordfish was about to take off when a talon grabbed his tail, and yanked him back. Swordfish fell to the ground. "NO! NOT YET!" Said the voice of Savanna. He was holding a spear. He had tears in his eyes. He put his foot on top of Swordfish's body. Swordfish grabbed the spear Bayou had had. "I… didn't want to hurt any of you." He said. "But you leave me no choice now. Darkstalker's rule will become a reality." Savanna plunged the spear downwards towards Swordfish, but Swordfish blocked him with his spear. "SAVANNA! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS!" Rattlesnake cried.
Savanna closed his eyes and Swordfish saw another set of teardrops leak out. Savanna's grip loosened. "If you would just join for a while, you would understand. The Grandmaster's plans and Darkstalker's ideas and abilities can change Pyrrhia for the better. But you refuse! WHY?!" Savanna cried, and then he pushed harder on Swordfish's defense. "Come on! Remember what I told you! RESIST!" Onyx yelled.
Swordfish suddenly saw an arrow whiz between himself and Savanna. Savanna turned his head to look in the direction it was fired from. "No. Don't tell me that's Adnach-." Savanna was cut off when Swordfish pushed with his spear on Savanna's defense, and knocked him away. Swordfish put up his defense and Savanna attacked again, easily getting through Swordfish's defense and knocking him to the ground again. Swordfish remembered Savanna had prided himself on being one of the best weapon-wielders in the Outclaws on the first day. "Was it you who changed Rattlesnake on me?!" Savanna growled, and he began inhaling to breathe fire. Swordfish closed his eyes and braced for the pain when he heard another BANG!
Swordfish opened his eyes to hear the ringing of Sloth's disorienting weapon. He looked up at Savanna, who backed away. "WHAT'S GOIN' ON!?" He roared, when Swordfish saw Sloth, running on the ground, with his other weapon. The one that killed the Rainwing. Sloth fired the weapon at Savanna's ankle. BANG! Swordfish got some of the blood on him as Savanna fell to the ground, screaming. Swordfish watched as Sloth easily climbed up onto Savanna, and took Savanna's necklace off. The one with the dagger-shaped stone. Savanna fell to the ground in pain, and Swordfish got up. "Let's go!" Vulture said, when Sloth fired the flash again. Swordfish was flashed again and so was everyone else. The ringing overtook Savanna's screams. Swordfish began to fly up blindly until he could see again. The dragons took to the sky. Vine first, then Swordfish behind her. Vulture followed him, and Rattlesnake was behind him.
Onyx was about to take off when suddenly, Aqua had gotten back on her feet, and tackled her. The Darkists who had been attacking Blizzard came back. "NO!" Swordfish yelled. "YOU CACTUS-." Onyx began when the Darkists held her down, and the bloody face of Aqua smiled as she cleaved off Onyx's tail. Onyx shrieked. "We need to go!" Vulture said. "BUT ONYX!" Swordfish and Rattlesnake said in unison. But Swordfish looked back down and saw all the hooded dragons and knew it would just make things worse. "JUST DON'T LOOK BACK!" Vulture said. The four dragonets took off into the sky, leaving the horrific scene behind. Swordfish looked back one last time and Adnachiel was gone. Great. Swordfish thought, exhausted.
They flew in silence, making a beeline for the mountain range, when they heard wingbeats behind them. "It's not over yet." Rattlesnake said. "Brace yourself." Swordfish turned around and saw… "Blizzard!" Vine said happily. Blizzard was flying up to the group of dragons, with a half-smile on her face. She was all scratched up, her blue-Icewing blood showing on her scales. She brushed wings with Swordfish and the others. "How did you survive?" Vulture asked, amazed. "I hid. When that flash went off I dove into an old bush outside a house." "Did you see Adnachiel?" Rattlesnake asked her. "No." She answered. "But I saw that." Blizzard pointed down and Swordfish looked to see Sloth, sitting on the ground against a tree. The dragonets descended down and landed a distance away from the scavenger. "Quietly now." Vulture whispered. "Don't let him know we're here." They all creeped up on the scavenger, ready to pounce, but they weren't prepared for what happened. Sloth picked up Savanna's necklace, and touched the stone. He began whispering something, and the necklace glowed. A rift opened.
Swordfish's eyes widened as Sloth stepped through the rift, leaving the necklace behind. "We have to follow him." Rattlesnake said. "Is that what a rift looks like?" Vulture asked Swordfish, and Swordfish nodded. "Well then, let's go!" Vine said, and she walked toward it. "Wait, shouldn't we consider where we're going? How are we going to get back?" Swordfish asked. "That's our one shot at the answers, slipping away." Vulture said. "If Rainfall knew about this stuff, we should be able to go find a way back." "That's thinking optimistically." Blizzard said. But she was cut off by more wingbeats behind her. "They're back." Rattlesnake moaned. "I'm going in." Vine said, and she went into the rift. Vulture followed her. Blizzard hesitated, and then followed the two dragonets in.
Swordfish was then left alone with Rattlesnake. She didn't look at him. "Wh…What did Savanna talk to you about?" Swordfish asked. Rattlesnake paused, and still didn't look at Swordfish. "He confessed his love to me." She said flatly, and then entered the rift, leaving Swordfish alone. Swordfish sighed and followed her. Into the unknown.
Extra-long chapter for you guys for the beginning of the second story arc of Alternate. The previous arc was the longest arc by far. Thank you so much for your support, and I would love to know any thoughts/criticism/theories you guys have in the reviews.
