Chapter 5
Diamond Stray Delta
Frostbite sighed as he looked over the battlefield. The battle had been a draw, both sides had withdrawn and now the doctors were searching the battlefield for survivors. There were far too few for Frostbite's taste, so many Icewings who would never be able to return to their snowy homes and their families.
"Frostbite, get a move on you lazy Rainwing," a voice called
"Yes, Snowslide," answered Frostbite, Snowslide was Frostbite's medical teacher and the dragon who hated him most in the world. Snowslide hated Frostbite for many reasons, one of which was because he was not Frostbite's first teacher. Frostbite's original teacher had deserted, and Frostbite had been put on suspicion for being a traitor. Another reason, Snowslide hated Frostbite was because he cared. He cared about all his patients; Snowslide had even caught him telling a Mudwing medic that there was an injured Mudwing instead of killing the injured Mudwing.
"All the Mudwings have crawled back to where they came from and it is your turn to find the injured," said Snowslide once Frostbite came to his side, "and if you find any Mudwings, kill them."
With that Snowslide slithered away and Frostbite turned to begin to check the Icewings who were lying on the field. Most of them were dead. But what was worst were the Icewings who were beyond saving, Frostbite spent hours sitting by the side of dying Icewings and soothing them into death. Snowslide sent him hard stares and snapped vicious words at Frostbite for wasting time with dragons who could not be helped.
A few, too few Icewings were saved, but most would never be able to live a normal life.
It was sunset when Frostbite reached the end of the field and was turning back to return to camp when he heard a groan.
Turning, he looked around trying to find the dragon who had groaned. He saw a pile of dead Icewing and Mudwings and a small movement inside it.
Frostbite dashed over to the pile and began gently moving the bodies away. At the bottom, he found a small and thin female Mudwing, who in Frostbite's option was rather pretty. Frostbite bent down and felt her throat, she was still alive, but when he retracted his claw it was covered in red blood.
Frostbite swiftly moved the bodies aside and bent down next to the injured Mudwing. Her throat had narrowly missed being slit, she had a nasty cut on her lower throat and upper chest. It looked bad, but Frostbite knew that it was not serious. He guessed by the cuts on the side of her head that an Icewing had hit her on the head with its tail. Frostbite gently opened one of the Mudwing's eyes and held up a small jar of fireflies. The Mudwing was not concussed merely unconscious. Frostbite breathed in relief. The Mudwing would make a full recovery. Frostbite did not mind the fact that his patient was a Mudwing. He wrapped her throat in bandages and herbs.
"You be alright," Frostbite told the sleeping Mudwing, "although I should not care, you're an enemy, a Mudwing if a very pretty Mudwing."
"Ah, thanks," said a soft female voice which caused Frostbite to jump and bare his teeth, looking in all directions.
"You are a bit jumpy," said the voice again, this time Frostbite saw who had spoken, it was the young Mudwing.
"You are wake, good," said Frostbite a bit flustered, "you will make a full recovery, I would suggest you return to your camp."
With that Frostbite turn and prepared to fly back to camp when the Mudwing said,
"Why did you help me?"
"Because you were hurt," said Frostbite still with his back turned
"But I am your enemy," said the Mudwing puzzled
"I am a doctor, it is my job," he stated opening his wings
"I am Crane," said the Mudwing, "who are you?"
Frostbite paused, he knew that what he was doing was treason and consorting with the enemy, but still telling her his name would not hurt, she had told him hers anyway, so it was only fair.
"I am an assistant medic, Frostbite," he replied
"Thanks for helping me," said Crane, "you probably saved my life, pulling those bodies off me."
"Your welcome," said Frostbite still with his back turned
"Could you please help me a bit farther?" asked Crane, "I am still a bit pined by these bodies."
Frostbite turned and saw that Crane was still half-covered in bodies and unable to get up. He slowly walked over to her and pushed aside the bodies until Crane was free and able to stand up.
"Thank you so much," said Crane stretching out her wings
"You are welcome," said Frostbite, "you should go."
"Too late," snapped a voice from behind.
Both dragons turned and saw two Icewings approaching them, one of them was Snowslide and the other was,
"Princess Icicle," cried Frostbite bowing at the same time as Crane said,
"You are the dragon that almost killed me!"
"Yes" replied Icicle, "although it looks like I have to finish the job."
"No," said Frostbite putting a wing on Crane's back, "she is my patient."
"Don't be a stupid Rainwing," snapped Snowslide, "she is an enemy."
"Hey, you aren't allowed to be here anymore," called a new voice, "it's past sunset, the arrangement is over."
The group looked around and saw a large group of Mudwings landing next to them.
"We are just finishing some business," hissed Icicle
"Yay," said the Mudwing leader, "by 'business' you mean meeting your spy!"
"Spy!?" exclaimed Crane, " I am not a spy!"
"Oh, don't play dumb, traitor," snapped the leader, "why else would you be talking to the leader of the Icewings."
"I am not talking to her," hissed Icicle, "I am going to kill her."
"No," said the leader, "we are going to kill you, and hold her of trial."
Icicle hissed and leaped on the Mudwing leader, followed by Snowslide.
"Let's go," whispered Frostbite to Crane backing away
"What?" asked Crane
"We can't stay here, both sides think we are traitors," said Frostbite opening his wings for flight, "you can either stay and be kill or fly away while both sides are distracted."
Crane looked longingly at the Mudwings, wanting to help them, but she knew that it would not do any good, so she spread her wings and followed Frostbite into the sky.
"Where to?" she asked Frostbite as they flew away
"Come back here you, cowardly Rainwing," yelled Snowslide as they flew out of sight
"Rainwing!" exclaimed Frostbite looking a puzzled Crane, "they live in the Rain Forest, no one would look for us there."
"Sounds like a plan," Crane called, "a bad plan, but a plan."
Frostbite and Crane both laughed as they flew away into the night.