Wings of Fire

Adamant

Book One

Voice

This story takes place 6 months after the defeat of Darkstalker. Jade Mountain Academy prospers. There have been no new prophecies. The Dragonets of Destiny and the Jade Winglet are happy. Pyrrhia is at peace.

Chapter One

Moonwatcher gazed skyward.

She stood outside the caves of Jade Mountain, watching the clouds move along. Which didn't make a whole lot of sense, given her name.

However, the day's classes were over, and now she had nothing left to do but stare at the beauty of nature. It was very peaceful. The sun gave an orange tint to the clouds, which casted their shadows on the valley below.

For the last 6 months, Moonwatcher had heard no strange voices in her head. Her relationship with Qibli was just fine. Darkstalker, or rather, Peacemaker, still showed no signs of evil intent.

There were no prophecies.

So why do I feel so weird?

Whenever she'd felt this way, it had always been followed by a vision or a headache, in most cases both.

But nothing was happening. She should have felt relieved. After all, she'd had enough adventure for a while. She'd unintentionally helped bring back a power-crazy ancient dragon and helped to defeat in less than a month.

An extraordinary accomplishment, given she had only been four years old. Now she was five, and one of the top students at Jade Mountain Academy. She spent plenty of time with Qibli (and Turtle and Kinkajou) and didn't want another chaotic event to take place.

I'm not bored. I don't want another adventure. So why do I feel this way?

There could only be one answer: Danger was approaching, and she was sensing it.

No, she thought, I would've had a vision or something. There is nothing to worry about.

She was wondering if perhaps she was just still paranoid about the whole Darkstalker incident, when she heard footsteps.

Turning her head, she saw Qibli grin at her as he came out of the caves. "Hey Moon," he said. "Watching the clouds again?"

"Yes," she replied, hoping she didn't look too troubled.

He looked her in the eyes. "All right, what's wrong?"

Moon sighed. Leave it to Qibli to notice. "It's nothing," she assured him. "I just feel a little strange."

"Strange how?" he inquired. "Headache, stomach pain?"

"That's just the thing," she said. "This feeling is the one I get before a vision and/or headache, yet neither has occurred yet."

"Hold on, did you say 'vision'?" he asked, eyes wide.

"No no no," she responded quickly. "I haven't had any visions."

Qibli frowned. "Maybe you're sick."

She shook her head. "No, it's definitely not that."

"Have you had any weird dreams lately?" Qibli asked. "Anything about Darkstalker?"

"No," she said. "And there are no prophecies, and also no strange voices in my head."

Now Qibli looked alarmed. "Then maybe something bad is about to happen, and whatever's going to cause it is deliberate hiding itself from you?"

Moon considered. No, that was impossible. Even with sky fire rocks, she would still have visions about the dragons who carried them.

Maybe she was just paranoid.

"Qibli, it's all fine. We're at peace. All the troublemakers are locked up. We're both just a little paranoid."

"All right then," he agreed. "I'll see you at dinner then." He brushed his wings against hers and headed back inside.

Moon smiled and gazed across the landscape. The valley looked amazing in the sunlight. All was well.

There were no prophecies.

She turned to go to the dining cave.

Set me free.

Moon continued through the caves.

Set me free.

She entered the Jade Winglet's cave to inform Turtle it was almost dinner time.

SET ME FREE!!!

Moon jumped, her heart beating furiously. Who's there? Who are you?

Ah, now you hear me.

Who are you?

You will set me free.

Who are you!?

You will set me free. It is my will, and it will therefore be done.

Moon tried to block out the voice.

I cannot be subdued, Moonwatcher. I will get out. Set me free.

Get out from where?

There was no answer. Her heart still pounding, Moon began to run for the dining cave. I need to tell Qibli. I need to inform the Dragonets of Destiny.

No, the voice said. Suddenly, Moon froze, but not by choice. It was as if some invisible force had taken hold of her and stopped her in her tracks.

What do you want?

I want you to set me free.

I still don't know who you are!

I am not a 'who', Moonwatcher. I am a 'what.'

What are you, then?

I am Adamant.

What?

That is what I was called by creatures of old, thousands of years ago, long before the scorching.

Moon felt a shiver run up her spine. That old?

Yes. I have been trapped underground ever since that wizard locked me in this enchanted cage.

Wizard?

Imagine a scavenger with animus powers.

Moon would have laughed, except she was too terrified and was still frozen in place, unable to move the slightest bit.

You wonder why he would have done that?

You must have done something pretty awful to deserve it.

Indeed.

To Moon's horror, the voice didn't even seem remorseful. It was worse than Darkstalker.

What did you do?

The voice laughed. I wiped out an entire continent, and everyone on it. All the scavengers, all the dragons, all the vegetation.

Why!?

Because that is what I do. From the moment I came into existence, I destroyed anything I could.

How did the wizard stop you?

It was a spell more powerful than I had thought possible. I underestimated the wizard. I will not make that mistake again. You will set me free, and then I will destroy all of Pyrrhia, just as I did with the lost continent.

You're crazy. I will NEVER set you free, even if you haunt me for the rest of my life.

Adamant laughed grimly. Oh, Moonwatcher, you have no choice. Over the millenniums, the spell that entraps me has weakened. I am finally strong enough to do THIS.

Moon gasped as her head was forcefully turned sideways.

You see? At any moment, I can snap your neck and you'll be dead.

Moon thought fast. How can I set you free if I'm dead?

Ah, an excellent point. You see, I don't need you personally, it's just slightly easier to talk telepathically to you than it is to normal dragons. But, if I must...

Moon felt her head begin turning to the breaking point. If she died, no one would know about the imminent danger.

Wait, I'll do it!

Immediately, her head moved back to a straightforward position. Good, good! Because of your willingness to cooperate, I will make a deal with you. I will not harm the one called Qibli when I wipe out the continent.

Moon was close to tears now. Can you see the future? She was sure he was going to say yes.

No.

What?

I cannot see the future. It was a power I did not have. If only I'd possessed it, I could have foreseen my defeat all those years ago. The world would be ashes and I would not be trapped here.

Moon felt a surge of hope. That meant he didn't know if she was lying to him about setting him free.

Just then, Qibli came out of the dining cave and saw her standing still as a statue. "Moon? What are you doing? Turtle, Kinkajou and I were wondering where you were."

With a jolt, Moon realized she could move again. Adamant? There was no answer.

"Moon? Are you all right?"

Moon reached forward and ripped the sky fire rock out of Qibli's bracelet.

"Hey, what gives?" he asked, startled.

Moon grabbed his front talons. "Follow me."

Qibli complied without question. Once they reached the Jade Winglet's cave, Moon made him place his talons on the sky fire and told him what she had just experienced. The sky fire seemed to be working against Adamant's powers. She doubted it would for long though.

When she finished, Qibli looked sickened. "He wiped out an entire continent? That's impossible. Animus magic has it's limits."

"He's no animus, Qibli," she said. "I'm pretty sure he isn't even a dragon."

"Are you sure? Maybe it's another animus dragon claiming to be some ancient entity in order to scare you into freeing him." Qibli suggested.

"No," Moon said. "He's telling the truth."

"All right," Qibli said, looking downhearted. "I was just hoping."

"We have to tell the others," Moon insisted.

"No," replied Qibli. "He'll read their minds and know we're planning to stop him. He'll just snap our necks and it'll be over in an instant. Worse, we don't even know where he is!"

"I do," Moon replied.

"How?"

"As he was talking to me, I tried to break into his mind. I succeeded for half a second, and during that instant, I caught a glimpse of the Lost City of Night. He's somewhere in that area."

"But how do we kill him?" Qibli asked.

"Well," Moon said, "I could just refuse to save him and let him kill me."

"NO!" Qibli shouted, making her jump. "I'm not letting you do that. Besides, he said he'll just find another dragon."

"Ok, ok, calm down," she told him. "I forgot about that."

I'll probably kill you anyway now that I know your plotting against me.

Moon dropped the sky fire, her heart racing.

Do not underestimate my powers, Moonwatcher.

This was all happening way too fast. It hadn't even been 10 minutes since Moon first heard Adamant's voice!

"Moon, what is it?" Qibli asked. He got his answer when Moon's head began to turn. "No!" Lunging out, he grabbed her head and tried to hold it still, but to no avail.

At that moment, Turtle and Kinkajou burst into the cave and saw them.

"Qibli, what are you doing?" Kinkajou inquired, looking very confused.

He didn't have time to explain. "Turtle, help! Moon's being controlled!"

Kinkajou still looked confused, but Turtle seemed to understand. "I enchant every dragon in this room to be teleported to the Northernmost section of Pyrrhia."

Immediately, Moon felt herself regain control of her head. Looking around, she saw they were on a beach.

"Thank you," she told Turtle. She gave him and Kinkajou yet another explanation of what was going on.

"How do we stop him?" Turtle asked.

"We start by finding him," said Moon. "In the Lost City of Night."