A Brighter Future Ahead

AN: No big announcements this time except to say sorry it took six months to update this one. Anyway, have a chapter.

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

Cobra:

She and Trench had come to a sort of understanding after the mango incident a few days ago. In fact, letters had been drafted and couriers sent out with war invitations meant for the other Queens. The replies were expected either today or tomorrow.

That was probably why she was bored out of her wits at one end of this table while Trench sat across from her. They were in some sort of conference room, and, for once, Trench's bad mood had nothing to do with her. He wasn't the kind of dragon that could sit still for too long without ripping some unfortunate sod's throat out it seemed.

In an effort to maybe spare her throat some premature ripping, she decided to distract him with some relevant conversation. "Do you think the other Queens will agree to help?"

Trench grunted noncommittally. If it was possible, his glower deepened even farther.

Cobra just stared at him in annoyance. How did I get stuck with the most stuck-up Seawing that ever existed? On second thought, why is he stuck with me? Now that was a good question. "Are you being punished?" she asked since it was the most likely answer.

This time the Commander turned to glare at her. "No," he replied curtly before turning away. He was silent for a moment, and Cobra thought that was the end of it until he turned back to her. "Though it feels like it."

"Then why did the Queen stick her most prominent Commander to guard some Rainwing prisoner?" she challenged, though she was genuinely curious.

Trench scoffed. "I'm not just her most prominent Commander. I'm her second-in-command. Which is exactly why she's charged me to be your dragonet-sitter. Queen Pearl wants both Fathom and Darkstalker dead, and she'll go to whatever lengths to accomplish that goal."

"All this for the death of two dragons?" she asked skeptically.

Trench smirked maliciously. "No," he began. "All this for the death of animus magic. The Queen has plans to purge all known animus dragons. Anaconda got wind of this and so decided to save the two that deserved to die the most." Trench looked down and his expression turned to one of deep thought, "Though I know not what she plans to do with them."

"What makes you think she's planning something?" she asked with genuine curiosity. "As far as I know, she wanted them simply to deny her enemies of such powerful assets."

Trench hummed in thought. "Perhaps…" he began. "And I do hope you're right. I would rather not have to fight Darkstalker in pitched combat. However, knowing what I do about the Rainwing Queen, I doubt she would let such a powerful weapon go to waste."

Cobra decided to stay silent after that. Rather than bug the already dangerously-annoyed Commander some more—though that did sound like fun—she decided to think deeper on Trench's words. What could her mother be planning? Anaconda was a fearsome Queen. She wouldn't hesitate to do whatever it took to defend her Kingdom.

That being said, however, she knew that her mother wasn't the kind of dragon to declare war for petty reasons. She wouldn't risk open conflict if she could avoid it because she much rather preferred the subtle art of subterfuge. The reason for that was quite simple: she didn't want unnecessary casualties because she genuinely cared for her tribe.

If she was forced to fight in open war, she would try to limit casualties through decisive actions like assassinating the opposing Queen or poisoning the enemy troops' food supplies. If those options weren't available, however, Anaconda would be forced into open battle.

Unless…

"She wouldn't…" she said in growing horror. Oh, but you know she would, another part of her mind whispered. He's the perfect weapon after all.

Trench looked over at her with mild confusion. "Wouldn't what?" he asked with severity once he saw the look on her face.

"She's going to unleash him against us!" she yelled.

Trench, however, didn't look too sure, "And you know this how?"

"Because I know her!" she declared. "She won't risk unnecessary casualties if she has the most powerful dragon on Pyrrhia at her beck and call!"

Trench still didn't look convinced. "Anaconda won't throw Darkstalker into open combat without some ulterior motive for her endgame. Even if she does plan to use him as a weapon, she won't waste throwing her ace down without knowing what the rest of the opponent's cards are."

Cobra glared at him. "And that's probably what she'd expect you to say," she shot back, to which he just rolled his eyes. Just then, the doors opened and a courier dragon gave Trench a small sack of scrolls.

He accepted them, gratefully, and began reading the contents of the first one. Then, he read the second. Then, the third. With each scroll he head, his smug smirk grew. If she didn't know that that smirk wasn't directed at her, she would have loved to claw it off his face. "The Mudwings and Sandwings are in. The Icewings are sending a representative to discuss the matter further, but it sounds like they're interested."

"I doubt any of that would matter if my mother sends Darkstalker after us," she mumbled sarcastically.'

Trench turned to glare at her. "Keep your opinions to yourself!" he commanded. "I don't need you spreading baseless fear among the troops." She looked at him, utterly dumbstruck that he would dismiss her so easily. He had asked her for advice on this war, and now he wasn't even listening to her!

Before she could say as much, another Seawing burst into the room, breathless. "Commander Trench, sir! The Queen requests your presence in the throne room immediately!"

If Trench was taken aback by the sudden declaration, he didn't show it. Rather he nodded at the messenger and turned to her. "Stay here and don't move."

He turned to leave when the messenger spoke up again. "Respectfully, sir…she wants both of you."

Trench sighed in defeat before motioning for her to follow. The trip to the throne room was spent in silence. When they noticed why they were summoned, Cobra leaned closer to Trench and whispered, "When was that Icewing representative supposed to get here?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," he answered with a slight grimace. "This could get messy."

Cobra nodded in agreement, for, speaking with the Queen, stood Queen Vigilance herself.

AN: Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. And stay tuned for the next one.

Until Next Time

AdmiralCole22