A Brighter Future Ahead

AN: I don't really have much to say, so let's just get on with this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. My OCs, Copperhead, Cobra, and Commander Trench belong to me.

Cobra:

The Captain had made it quite clear that he wanted to push on through the night, but Cobra—and the other guards—weren't too happy about that. So, rather than forcing his men and charge to do something they didn't want to, he reluctantly decided to settle down for the night.

Half of the guards were stationed on guard duty because they were too close to Seawing territory for comfort. It was in the wee hours of the night. Cobra was sound of asleep…

Until the screaming started.

She awoke with a start and looked around. Flashes of red scales mixed with blues and greens in the firelight. One of the scouts suddenly appeared before her. "Cobra! You need to—AGH!" a spear erupted from his chest, blood spraying upon her acidic green scales, as he let out a sickening gurgling sound as he choked on his own blood before his body collapsed with an audible thud.

She watched with fearful, wide eyes as blood began pooling around the body and spread upon the stone on which it lay. A moment later, she realized with rising dread that it was deathly silent in the camp. A large Seawing appeared before her from out of the darkness, sizing her up and determining if she could be useful, most likely.

That, or figuring out the best way to kill her.

Cobra watched, too stricken with fear to do anything, as more and more Seawings appeared. The first one to approach her never letting his piercing stare waver as a younger female approached. "One of the scouts escaped, commander. We shouldn't linger longer than necessary," she suggested, nervously.

The large Seawing turned his glare to her. "I thought I ordered for there to be no survivors," he said dangerously. His voice was rough and deep—full of authority…and potential cruelty.

"We left no survivors, sir," another male approached. "We only count nine corpses, though. It's possible that—"

"Don't tell me what is or isn't possible!" the commander roared. "Your ineptitude has just cost us the element of surprise!" His subordinate successfully cowed, he released a long sigh as his gaze returned to her. "Though perhaps your bungle isn't entirely without recompense."

"Sir?" the male asked.

"See the unique snake-like markings on her scales?" A malicious smile appeared on his muzzle. "This is Queen Anaconda's daughter." He chuckled. "Tie her up and bring her. Make sure she's unconscious," he said, dismissively as he turned away.

She felt pain in the back of her head…

Then darkness.

She awoke after an indeterminate amount of time in what was clearly a cell. The commander from last night—was it last night?—was once again the first thing she saw. She was chained to the far wall away from the door, and he was uncomfortably close. "Where am I? What do you want with me?"

He back away with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Of course…where are my manners? I am Commander Trench, military advisor to Queen Pearl, and you are in my domain now. I have some very special plans for you," he purred into her ear.

"What do you want from me!?" she whimpered in fear. She had never imagined this happening to her when she had left the Rainforest. A thousand curses on her mother for doing this to her! Wait… With a newfound sense of courage and determination, she looked him straight in the eye. "I'll give you whatever information you want if you grant me asylum."

He back away and looked at her with genuine surprise before he chuckled. "And why would you do that?" he questioned, mirth in his eyes and an amused smile on his muzzle.

"My mother tried to have me killed. She's the reason I had to leave the rainforest…the reason I'm in this mess. So why not rat her out?" Her glare never left his eyes, and he turned his head away in thought.

"You would be willing to divulge all of Anaconda's secrets if I guarantee your safety?" he asked as he glanced at her in thought. "What if I merely tortured the information out of you?"

"You wouldn't get anything out of me," she growled.

He scoffed. "You underestimate what I'm willing to do, but…I will confer with the Queen." He turned away and called over his shoulder, "Do stay put, I'll be back soon."

She waited for hours at least in that dark, dank cell. The only light she had to view her surroundings by came from small holes in the ceiling of this stone prison. Her stomach eventually started voicing its displeasure at it emptiness. What I wouldn't do for some food right about now. All of a sudden talon-steps sounded upon the rock. Commander Trench came into view not long after holding an iron key in his talons.

He was quite literally dangling her freedom in his claws. "If you want asylum, I need to know that you will cooperate with us—specifically, me—and that you won't try to escape. Give me a reason that I should actually believe you. What could you offer us?"

She thought for a minute until the Skywing Captain's words returned to her. She smirked at him, and his smug smile disappeared. He thought he had her.

Was he ever wrong…

"I know where Prince Fathom and Indigo are," she said smugly.

"Is that so?" a young-sounding female voice asked. A Seawing dragonet came into view and sat beside Trench—the commander dwarfing the smaller dragon with his size. She was wearing a necklace of pearls and a few other articles of jewelry, and, with a start, Cobra realized that this was the Seawing Queen, Queen Pearl. "Do tell, where has my wayfaring brother and his bodyguard gone? And why haven't they returned yet?"

Cobra smiled a dark, twisted smile. This was the opportunity she needed to get her revenge on her mother. "They are in the Rainforest under my mother's protection. They seemed quite close." She noticed Pearl narrow her eyes, but she continued. "And they're in the company of a Nightwing I'm sure you've heard about…"

Trench growled and clarified for his Queen when she looked at him confused. "Darkstalker, my Queen. He's in the company of the most dangerous dragon on Pyrrhia."

AN: So what did you think? How was the detail in that first little bit? Was it gruesome enough or could I have done more? What did you think about Commander Trench? Is he menacing and intimidating enough? Let me know.

Until Next Time

AdmiralCole22