Author's Notes: Hey, everyone. It's been a while, hasn't it? About a month and a half, actually. I made the mistake of forgetting about school finals when determining when I should try to upload next, and I've been trying to get back into the swing of things since then. (Unfortunately, I cannot confirm that I'm back on my normal upload schedule.) I've been through a lot recently, but I refuse to give up on what makes me happy- what gives me sense of accomplishment. Now, I have quite a few announcements I'd like to make, so I'll shorten it to a list.
1. Today is the one-year anniversary of when I first uploaded the prologue of Frostbitten Hearts! That is absolutely incredible and is the main reason I spent all day trying to get this chapter ready!
2. This one kind of relates to the first, but to celebrate the one-year anniversary, I made a Discord server! It already has a handful members from other places (like r/wingsoffire,) but is based off of my writing. I'm online often, so you can come talk with me without the hassle of sending a PM. A large section of the server is also dedicated to roleplay, but there are plenty of channels for talking with me if you aren't into that. I often send messages about original ideas for this story and concept art, but I'm also answering any questions you might have and taking suggestions as well. Not to mention, I implemented a verification system to defend against trollers. All around, it's a complete blast, and it would make my day if you'll join us. (I know I promised some background on the old ideas for Platinum in my next author's notes, but I decided to talk about it on Discord instead.)
Go to my profile for the link!
3. I got fanart! Huge shoutout to Frostfeather20 for taking the time to show their appreciation of my writing. I put links to the art on my profile and the pictures themselves on my Discord server. I couldn't possibly express enough gratitude!
All in all, it's been a really productive year for me (although a bit slow at times,) and I'm ecstatic to have all of your support as I pursue my passion of storytelling! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Here's to another year, full of productivity and improvements!
- Chapter 20 -
In between the rectangular buildings, thin sandstone paths wove in and out of Possibility like a labyrinth, their grainy surfaces cracked and flattened by those who tread upon them. Up close, Frostbite could see just how compact the sandy structures were aligned, the gaps between most of them far too small for a dragon Nimbus' size. Unfamiliar voices echoed out of square-shaped windows, and busy talons scratched the pavement as the awestruck IceWing tilted his head towards the sky.
By now, dawn had just risen over the horizon, casting its warm light over Possibility and signaling the start of a new day. A group of five beige and fawn dragons soared overhead toward the desert, each one armed with a spear.
"Camel hunters," Platinum explained as he noticed Frostbite's uneasy expression. "Food isn't exactly common in the desert, so dragons are willing to pay a lot for it; not to mention the value of camel-hide blankets at night. You'd be surprised how the demand for resources changes wherever you go."
Frostbite turned to Platinum with a wavering smile, his tail twitching anxiously behind him. The tall IceWing's scales glistened in the early-morning sun like dewdrops on a field of grass after a rainstorm as he stood tall and confident.
"So, we're really here, a town without war," Frostbite mused as he stared at a thin path between two buildings. "I'm so excited, but kind of nervous too. It's just that… I never knew very many dragons where I lived, and this place seems so full, and so much of this is new to me! I've never seen real buildings before except for the Sky Palace from far away, and I've never been to the desert, and there are so many types of dragons I've never even met, and- and… I wish my mother was here. My SkyWing mother, I mean. Actually, having my real mother here would be nice, too. I feel… I feel like I'm living a completely different life. Like I'm in an entirely different world."
Platinum presented him with a small smile of recognition, as if he knew precisely how Frostbite felt.
"I'm sure you're eager to get inside, but there are a few ground rules I should lay out for you first," the thin IceWing explained as Frostbite flexed his talons in the warming sand. "Now, as far as I'm concerned, SandWings, SkyWings, and MudWings are by far the most common tribes here, so we are going to stand out. IceWings aren't exactly the most well-liked tribe in Pyrrhia, so try your best not to draw too much attention to yourself."
"Wait, I thought you said this place was safe," Frostbite objected. "You're making it seem really dangerous."
"Well, compared to almost anywhere else in Pyrrhia, including some places in the Ice Kingdom, I'd say Possibility is one of the safest towns for an IceWing like you," Platinum assured him.
Suddenly, the sound of claws scraping stone grew predominant amongst the sounds emanating from the desert town. A large SeaWing with lime-green scales layered over his body crossed the intersection in front of the two IceWings, allowing Frostbite a glimpse of the new dragon before they disappeared behind another building, dragging their long tail across the sandstone behind them.
The awestruck IceWing turned to Platinum with his mouth ajar, looked back to the path, then, back to Platinum again.
"That was a great example of another rule," the tall IceWing confirmed as Frostbite tried to piece together what the green SeaWing looked like in his mind. "I know there are many types of dragons you've never seen before, but please, try not to stare at them. Your actions may seem good-natured to you, but they might take it as a sign of aggression and turn hostile. Trust me, you'll have plenty of time to meet new dragons after we get to my home."
Frostbite nodded, his head too preoccupied thinking about all the excitement Possibility had in store for him to take Platinum's warning seriously.
"Well, I think that's about everything I need to tell you," Platinum confirmed with satisfaction. "Just use common etiquette, and I'm sure everything will be fine." He tilted his head down toward Frostbite. "Are you ready to go inside?"
The young IceWing nodded again, feeling his heart speed up.
"Alright, Frostbite. Don't leave my side."
Frostbite couldn't believe he was still in Pyrrhia. The tranquility of Diamond Spray Town's scarce population and flowing river were nowhere to be found amongst Possibility's crowded pathways, bustling with life. The world he grew up in seemed nothing more than a distant memory sealed away by the tip of Canary's spear.
Despite his almost uncontainable curiosity toward all the strange dragons, sandstone buildings, and vendors selling food and trinkets he'd never seen before, Frostbite stuck to Platinum like a scared dragonet would their mother.
Tribes of nearly every color filled the skies overhead, some flying low enough to touch buildings, their wings rousing up dust and blowing a refreshing breeze throughout the sandy streets.
The sounds of dragons haggling over goods, shop owners beckoning others toward their wares, and claws thudding on the ground nearby filled Frostbite's ears as slabs of meat sizzling beneath white cloth tarps introduced his nostrils to the unfamiliar scent of cooked food.
Involuntarily, Frostbite pressed himself closer against his guide's bony side, the freezing chainmail being the only thing keeping their scales from touching. Platinum looked down at him and offered his claw. Frostbite took it with no hesitation, fearing he'd be drowned in the ocean of talons and tails.
Although he could barely see anything over the heads of the dragons who swarmed around them, he realized they were the only IceWings around, never seeing a flash of white amongst the chaos of claws scampering around. Just like Platinum told him, SkyWings and SandWings seemed to form the majority of the town's population, many of them pausing to glare at the two IceWings with suspicion in their narrowed eyes.
As Frostbite tried to simultaneously take in and drown out the world around him, he was unaware of the large, brown tail sticking out from the side in front of him like a root protruding from the earth. Without any time to react, the distracted IceWing tripped over it, then quickly steadied himself on Platinum's firm talons to avoid falling completely.
Suddenly, a broad MudWing with sepia-colored scales atop his flat head turned away from a fruit stand and toward them with a look of bafflement that quickly turned into a scowl as he gazed upon their icicle-like horns.
"Watch it, snakes," he growled in a low voice that cut through the chatter surrounding them while cautiously pulling his tail away from the pair as if one might strike if he moved too fast. His solid arms and deep tone indicated that he was much older than Frostbite, though, the young IceWing had never seen a MudWing up close.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Frostbite apologized as he turned to meet the brown dragon's narrow eyes. "I wasn't watching where I was going." Upon closer inspection, he noticed the MudWing was missing his left ear.
"IceWings," he spat as if the word were poisonous, lifting his head in a dignified manner. "Good for nothing, all of you."
Platinum opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly, another brown tail firmly smacked the back of the MudWing's head. He winced in pain, then looked down as if he knew exactly what had hit him.
"Leave that dragonet alone, Marsh," a female MudWing ordered him in a sharp tone, walking into view beside him. "You'd be pretty uncoordinated too if your wing was broken like his."
Although she was considerably shorter than the other, her dominance was made clear in the way Marsh's eyes could barely meet hers. "What would our Bigwings say if she saw you trying to pick a fight in what's supposed to be a peaceful town?"
Marsh frowned at Frostbite with a sad look in his eyes, then turned back to his sibling. "You're right. I'm sorry, Salamander. It's just… Mudpuppy… I miss her."
Salamander spread a wing and draped it over his shoulders in comfort. "There, there, brother. I'm sure she's doing ok," she offered in a calming tone. "Just wait two more years, and the IceWings will set her free. Maybe even sooner; I've heard rumors of the Dragonets of Destiny around the Sky Palace lately."
"I'm tired of waiting for her to freeze to death!" Marsh objected, seeming to forget about Frostbite's presence. "We don't even know if she's still alive! Look at us, shying away from the war our sister may have lost her life fighting. She'd be ashamed."
"She'd be glad we're still alive, Marsh," Salamander decided with confidence. "As siblings, it's our job to look out for each other; and right now, I'm looking out for you by making sure you don't cause trouble here. Come on, let's go home now."
Marsh let out a hopeless sigh and began trudging west, dragging his claws on the warm path as Salamander followed close behind him. Before they could get far, she turned her head sideways to stare at Frostbite and gave him a weak smile, indicating she held him accountable for nothing.
"I'm sorry about that, Platinum," Frostbite murmured in shame of breaking one of the tall IceWing's rules, holding his head low. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
"Oh, that's quite alright," Platinum assured him, resuming their trek toward his home. "You were just too occupied taking everything in to be cautious. I would've done the same thing if I grew up knowing nothing but the forest. There will be plenty of time to explore later, I promise. Copper would love to show you around, but first, I need to make sure you're in good health."
Frostbite nodded and smiled, relieved that Platinum didn't seem disappointed in him at all. "Are we getting close to your house?" he asked eagerly, wanting to give his talons a break. After all, he'd been walking for two days and one night, and the hard ground was taking its toll on him.
"Yep," Platinum confirmed, stretching out his arm and pointing past a group of haggling SandWings to an intersection in a few buildings ahead of them. "We'll turn right and get out of this busy marketplace, then we'll keep going straight on a smaller path until we make it there. We entered near the south-east part of town, and my home is to the north."
Frostbite nodded again. The sooner he got there, the sooner he could get his wing fixed and look for his father; the sooner he could try to move on from his past, though he knew he'd never bring himself to forget.
After weaving through paths that gradually grew thinner and thinner until the shadows of adjacent builders covered them completely, Platinum finally stopped at a small square structure with curved sandstone walls like the desert's dunes at the corner of another small intersection.
Spearmint leaves trickled over the side of the roof like vines, making the home easily distinguishable from other similar buildings nearby. Still, it looked like nothing more than a large block from the outside, leaving Frostbite to guess what could be behind the few straw-covered windows.
By now, all the buzz of the marketplace had fallen far behind them, along with the smells that made Frostbite's stomach growl. Though he felt hunger creeping up on him, his excitement toward flying again greatly outweighed his desire for food.
"Here we are," Platinum announced, leading the way to a rectangular doorway carved into the building.
"It's a lot quieter over here than at the marketplace," Frostbite noted, his ears perked up, listening for any indication of other dragons nearby. All he got in response was his own voice echoing down deserted alleys. "I haven't seen anyone since we got on this path."
"Most dragons go out to work during the day, and others come back home to sleep after working all night." Platinum explained, his talons curling around the beige fur of the hide-covered entrance, then pulling it aside and poking his head in. "Hello!" he called cheerfully.
"Platinum! You're back!" a feminine voice cheered, her tone heartful and optimistic, yet, Frostbite found it somewhat familiar. "I thought you said you were going to be home yesterday, and I got a little worried."
"About that; I actually brought a friend with me," Platinum claimed while stepping aside and gesturing for Frostbite to follow. The young IceWing stood beside him, excited to meet the dragon who he assumed could only be Copper.
Although the walls seemed thick from the outside, Frostbite found that Platinum's home had room for much more than he originally thought. Even the ceiling seemed higher once he stood beneath it.
In the center of the room, a square, slab-like table stood, carved from smooth sandstone and covered in spread out hides, small logs of wood, and tiny metal objects.
Wide rectangles were carved deeply into the walls toward the right, the large indents acting as shelves, adorned with all sorts of scrolls, trinkets, and other eye-catching items.
"Copper, Jade, this is Frostbite," Platinum announced, drawing Frostbite's attention away from the artifacts in the wall.
"Hi there!" Copper chirped, lying on her stomach atop a hide-covered slab in the corner. Her scales, reflective and dark orange, perfectly resembled the metal she was named after and complimented her wide, honey-colored eyes. "Whoa, you're an IceWing!" she squealed with dragonet-like excitement. "I hardly ever get to meet IceWings around here."
Around the yellow-brown underscales of her neck, she brandished a silver chain necklace with a single, large ring hanging down from the center while a faintly glowing orb resided between her claws.
Copper put her talons above and below the faint blue light, twisted until the sphere was extinguished, then carefully put it back on the shelf.
"What is that?" Frostbite asked in bewilderment, torches being the only indoor light source he was familiar with.
"That's a moon globe," Platinum explained, nodding at the curious IceWing. "They grow from a tree in the Ice Palace that was enchanted by an animus with the same name as you." He paused as Copper stood up and began walking toward them, an eager expression on her face. "Two years ago, I wouldn't be able to comprehend an IceWing not knowing what a moon globe is. That reminds me, Copper, what are you doing with that necklace?"
"Oh," she stated in embarrassment, reaching a claw toward the silver ring. "I was just… you know, trying to see what being an IceWing is like."
As she tilted her head down, Frostbite noticed something move on her forehead. A black creature with several legs, two giant claws, and a long tail with a pointed tip just like a SandWing's rested right between her eyes, its color blending in with her scales.
"You have a giant bug right on your face!" Frostbite informed her with widened eyes. While he wasn't particularly afraid of arachnids, he'd never seen one so large.
"Huh?" Copper stuck out a talon and slowly raised it toward her forehead. The frightened IceWing watched breathlessly as the creature lifted a claw and gently grabbed her talon. "Oh, that's just SandWing," Copper explained with no sense of startlement in her voice.
"SandWing?" Frostbite asked, tilting his head sideways. "I mean… it kinda looks like a SandWing."
"No, his name is SandWing," Copper clarified, tapping her snout twice, prompting the scorpion to climb onto her claw. "There are plenty of SandWings out there named Scorpion, so why not have a Scorpion named SandWing?" She turned to the shelf and put SandWing into a rectangular cage in the wall with thin, wire-like bars and a sandy bottom. "You don't need to be afraid of him; he's very friendly. Anyway, I'm Copper, and that's Jade," she stated while pointing to a gigantic wooden chest beneath a rectangular window on the opposite side of the room.
Brown animal hides hung over the trunk's edges like the furs on a bed, however, a strange, round object laid in the center, rising up and down slowly. Dark blue and purple hues swirled around on its smooth surface like raindrops falling in still water, illuminated by the golden glow of a torch mounted on the wall.
Suddenly, it began moving as a small, blue head with two folded ruffs and sleepy eyes rose from behind it. Frostbite realized that it wasn't an object at all- it was a curled-up RainWing.
"She doesn't like talking very much, so don't feel bad if she doesn't say anything to you," the orange SkyWing continued, smiling down at the young IceWing. She was considerably taller than him, yet, she wasn't close to Platinum's height. "Jade's been with us for a few months… I still can't get her to talk to me, but I try."
"I've never seen a RainWing before," Frostbite mused, mesmerized by the wave-like pattern rippling across her body. For a moment, he thought he saw a quick flash of yellow in her ruff that was quickly extinguished as soon as they made eye contact.
He wanted to keep looking at her, to say something, even. He wanted to hear her voice, but he felt just as speechless as she was. All he could muster was a small wave. Jade lowered her head again, finally drawing Frosbite's eyes away from hers.
"You know, you have really nice quills, Frostbite," Copper stated, staring at the icicles on his head. "They're a little short, but you have so many of them! Ok, this might sound a little weird, but can you make them go up?"
"Um… I'm not really sure how," he admitted with a hint of embarrassment. "It just sort of happens… sometimes."
Can normal IceWings control it?
"Oh, that's ok," Copper assured him with light in her voice. "Maybe Platinum can show you how." She turned to the tall IceWing, a hopeful look in her eye.
"Fine," he grunted and took a deep breath. Before long, Platinum's long spines stood tall over his head, like a crown made of ice, nearly scraping the ceiling.
"Look at that!" Copper cheered. "Isn't that the most majestic thing you've ever seen?" She gently nudged Frostbite's neck with the tip of her wing.
Upon hearing her words, Platinum couldn't help but chortle, prompting his spines to lay flat again.
"Hey, what's so funny?" the gleeful SkyWing demanded with an amused expression.
"Oh, it's just nice to know you have such an easy time being happy," Platinum explained before shifting back to a solemn expression. "Now, Frostbite may be our guest, but he's here because he needs our help."
The young IceWing turned his dislocated limb toward Copper.
"My wing is a little… broken," he claimed, wincing at the pain of moving it.
"Oh, moons! You poor thing," she sympathized as she began clearing the table in the center of the room. "Don't you worry, I'm sure Platinum can fix that for you in no time. He's a great doctor."
"I am not a doctor," the thin IceWing clarified while assisting in moving the objects to the floor. "Doctors treat all sorts of ailments; I treat wounds."
"Either way, you're going to be fine, Frostbite," Copper assured him. "Could you come lie on the table, please? Kick your legs out behind you."
Frostbite obeyed, climbing the slab that was about half his height, then letting his front claws and tail dangle over the edges. Suddenly, nervousness began building in his chest, letting his heart beat more vigorously.
What if my wing can't be fixed? I'll never fly again, and I'll have to keep walking forever! Is fixing it going to hurt? What if I can't remember how to fly?
"You seem a little tense," Copper informed him, inching in front of his face while Platinum's eyes examined the chain around his leg. "Don't worry, we've done stuff like this plenty of times before, but we've never had an IceWing on the table. Usually, we help SkyWings and SandWings, but one time, there was this SeaWing and they had this wound that was so gross, and-"
"I don't think Frostbite needs to hear about that," Platinum decided, shuddering while walking to the shelf and returning with a few small, metal tools. "I'm going to start with your shackle first. It's not very tight, so there won't be a wound beneath it."
The kind-eyed SkyWing raised her head to look at Frostbite's leg, then turned back to him with an expression of curiosity.
"My point is that we were able to help them, so Frostbite has nothing to worry about. Anyway, I'm giving myself more credit than I deserve. Platinum does all the work; I'm just here for emotional support. If you're worried, you can squeeze my talons." She held them out in front of her and Frostbite accepted, placing his bandaged claw in hers.
"Your talons are so… dull," Copper noted with concern. "You must've been walking for a long time.
"Oh, Copper?" Platinum called while the distinct sound of metal clinking echoed from behind the injured IceWing. "Could you please remove the wrappings from his claw? The wound should be dry now."
"Certainly." As she began tracing a line through the bandage with her left claw, Frostbite noticed she was missing the talon furthest to the right. "Oh, that?" she asked, catching the small IceWing's glance. "It's my fault, really, but once, I saw an IceWing in the marketplace. She had these really pretty blue scales on her snout that looked like little dots, and you know me; I think IceWings are the coolest, so I decided to try talking to her. Well, I got a little carried away, and she must've found me particularly annoying because she tried to use her frost breath on me." She paused, staring at where her talon once was. "I'd be nothing but an ice-sculpture if Platinum wasn't there to protect me."
Frostbite looked down, ashamed of how an IceWing could do something so cruel.
"I always knew that frost breath was dangerous, but I've never even considered using it on a living dragon," he admitted.
Not even Canary.
"You're a good dragon, Frostbite," Copper assured him while placing the used bandage aside. "And handsome, too," she teased.
"Don't worry, she's like this with everyone," Platinum assured him.
"No, really, look at your eyes; They're so dark and shiny, like little pearls," she insisted, then raised her head over Frostbite's shoulder. "And your eyes are beautiful too, whether you like it or not. They're like little spheres of ink mixed with just a bit of berry juice to give them that blue undertone. And, well, I spend a lot of time looking into them. While we're on the topic of eyes, Jade has some great ones too. Isn't that right, Jade?" The blue RainWing continued to lie motionless, not even flinching at the sound of her name. "That's what I thought."
Suddenly, a loud click followed by a weight being lifted off of Frostbite's ankle informed him the shackle would no longer be a burden.
"Alright, now on to the tricky part," Platinum mused as he advanced toward Frostbite's wing. "Mind if I keep that chain as scrap metal?"
"Sure. I owe you so much already," Frostbite realized.
He's done so much for me and hasn't asked for anything in return. Then again, he knows I have nothing to give. I guess if I had the chance to help a wounded dragon, I wouldn't leave them to die, either.
"Ok, I need to figure out exactly what's wrong first, so this might hurt a bit," the tall IceWing explained. "Copper, try to keep him distracted, ok?"
"Sure thing!" she chirped as Frostbite wondered how to get his mind off his wing now that he knew he was supposed to. "So, do you want to tell me where you're from? It can't be the Ice Kingdom if you didn't know what a moon globe is. I thought it might be the rainforest since that's where Platinum was coming from when he found you, but you said you've never seen a RainWing before today."
"I live in the SkyKingdom, actually," the young IceWing informed her. "Well, lived, I guess. This is my first time beyond the Claws of the Clouds Mountains."
Copper's eyes widened.
"Really? What's it like there?"
"You've never been to the Sky Kingdom?" Frostbite asked, trying his best to ignore Platinum's talons poking into his side where his wing should be connected.
"You've never been to the Ice Kingdom," she countered.
"Got me there."
He told her about Diamond Spray Town; about wading in the river and walking through the trees. He told her about rain and flying above the clouds; both rare commodities out in the desert. He told her about his home and his family: Amber, Topaz, and Nimbus. Occasionally, Copper closed her eyes while still holding his talons, as if trying to picture his words as an image in her mind.
"Nimbus… my mother used to say that name all the time before she disappeared. I was still under a year old, but I clearly remember that she kept asking when she'd get to see Nimbus again. I still don't know who she was talking about, but they must be really great if she wanted to be with them so badly," Copper stated while stretching her wings.
Frostbite understood exactly how she felt. He'd been separated from Amber, and he'd never get to meet his real mother, either.
"Well, it seems like we have a lot in common," he offered, trying to cheer her up. "What was your mother's name?"
She lifted her head and smiled weakly at him.
"Breeze."