~ Storm Hawks ~

Furor was rambling, trembling. Many of the other Masters were leaning forward, curiosity hidden on their faces.

Tempest had risen from his seat, disgust mixing with the horrified expression he wore.

"Master Furor, care to explain...?" Tempest declared, his gaze directed pointedly at the blood smearing the front of the elderly Master.

"My son... my son...his face, I tried to fix it... those sky rats," were the weak whispers. None of it made sense. Cyclonis's gut was clenching at the mad ramblings of the old man. She had always felt a small trickle of fear in her spine when it came to insanity. Crazy people were unpredictable; she disliked not being to understand a person's actions and motivations.

Tempest also seemed a little lost, "Master Furor, speak clearly, or you'll be removed. Now what has happened that requires you to be late and disrupt a Council session?"

Tempest's voice seem to draw Furor out of his state, if only a little. There was definitely a crazed look in the elderly crystal Master's eyes.

"Don't pretend that you don't know! My son returned last night from Circini, with only a half dozen soldiers with him from the original regiment you sent! The rest are dead! My son is nearly dead! Did you see what they did to him? And it's your fault! You should have dealt with the problem sooner, we were fools to let them live for so long!" Furor ranted, spittle flying his mouth, as he stalked towards Tempest.

Tempest's mouth pressed into a firm line. "I have no idea what you speak of."

This seemed to infuriate the older Master. "Pffft, course not. You don't ever pay attention, unless it will line your pockets! The Storm Hawks, you fool! It's the Storm Hawks!"


A/N: Can you tell what the next chapter might be about? And I give you more questions than answers, don't I? All will be revealed soon-ish.