A Brighter Future Ahead
AN: Here's another chapter. And this one's going to be important for what happens in the next one. So yes, it may seem a bit strange at first, but there's a method to my madness. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. My OCs Trench and Cobra belong to me.
Trench:
Earlier that day…
Trench wasn't a fool. He knew starting a war against Anaconda would always have been risky, especially since she had allied herself with the Skywings. They had actually given up territory to the Skywings after the massacre because they hadn't wanted to go to war against the largest and most well-trained military on Pyrrhia.
Cobra's capture, however, changed things. For the first time ever, they had the chance to get real inside information on the Rainwing Queen and her plans. To add to that, Fathom and Indigo, fugitives from the crown, were both in the rainforest. Even knowing of Darkstalker's presence, the opportunity was too good to pass up. They could capture the wayward animus prince and his forbidden lover and take Anaconda down a few pegs while they were at it—maybe even kill her to weaken the entire tribe. It had been the perfect opportunity to prove himself to his Queen.
Perhaps, though, that had been his mistake. Perhaps his ambitions had actually been delusions of grandeur. For the first time in his career, he actually regretted becoming the Queen's military advisor. Maybe everything hadn't started out so bad, but now…
He looked down at the message in his claws. A Skywing courier had just dropped this off with him a few minutes ago, and already he could feel the crushing weight of defeat on his shoulders. He hadn't even felt like this when news of the Mudwing army's destruction reached him. Then again…this was much worse.
Darkstalker was on his way here…and he would arrive tonight.
If what he did to the Mudwings was any indication, this might actually be his last night to live. And it would all be because of the decisions he made, the advice he gave. He would be responsible for the obliteration of his tribe.
He looked out his window at the setting sun. There was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen, so it was time to make a decision. What did he want to do tonight, knowing he wouldn't live to see tomorrow?
He'd had dreams before—things he wanted to do before he died—but they all seemed frivolous now. He wouldn't even have time for most of them, anyway. Besides, he wanted to do something meaningful—something he would never do if he thought there was even the slightest chance of seeing the sunrise.
With his decision made, he left his room and found the nearest guard he could. The young Seawing stood at attention when it became clear his commander was approaching him. "I want you to bring Cobra up to my quarters," he ordered the guard.
If the guard thought his orders were strange, he didn't question them. He merely saluted once more and went on his way to do his assigned task. Trench watched him go for a few moments, coming to the sickening realization that guard might be dead by tomorrow, as well. The Nightwing wasn't known for his merciful nature, after all. They were all dead dragons walking at this point.
He returned to his room after that and waited there. It didn't take long for a knock to sound on his door. "Enter," he commanded, his voice surprisingly steady despite the lingering dread he felt. The door opened, and Cobra walked in with the guard who had escorted her up here. "Dismissed," he told the guard. The young dragon looked between the two of them for a second or two before nodding and leaving.
"You wanted to see me?" Cobra asked once the door had shut. Trench merely sighed and let his entire posture slump. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with…was that concern he heard? "Did you need to vent again because I'm happy to—"
"Darkstalker's on his way here," he interrupted her. He looked up from the floor and turned his gaze out to the sunset. "I figured this was my last night to live, so…" he trailed off and shrugged, not even knowing what he wanted to say. Heck, he didn't even know why he had brought Cobra here or what he wanted to happen.
"You seem rather…calm for someone who expects to die tonight," she commented a bit warily.
He finally found the courage to look over at her after that statement. She did a remarkable job of controlling her scales, but he could see the fear in her eyes—the same fear that was doubtless in his. "I'm a career soldier. I've always known my time would come one day," he explained calmly, looking away once again. "I'm not afraid of dying."
"Then what are you afraid of?" she asked, walking a bit closer to him and sitting down beside him. She left a reasonable space between them, and she didn't try to touch him. She merely let her proximity show her silent support.
He was quiet for a few minutes before looking into her eyes. "…Dying alone."
Her eyes widened a bit at his admission before she became confused. "Then why ask for me? Why not go to the Queen?"
He chuckled humorlessly. "Between you and me? Pearl was just a way for me to get ahead in life. I had delusions of becoming King one day, but…that's not going to happen anymore." He was silent for a moment. "I don't even think I want that anymore."
"Then what do you want?" she asked curiously.
"You," he answered without hesitation. She recoiled in surprise, but she didn't get a chance to say anything before he explained. "I have a reputation here in the Sea Kingdom. Everyone does what I tell them because I intimidate them, but you…" He snorted in amusement, "You don't bend over backwards for me. You challenge me. And you listen. We may not have started out on the best of terms, but these past couple of weeks have shown me that you're a good friend, Cobra."
She stared at him in astonishment before smirking. "I guess my feminine wiles were too much for you, huh?"
He laughed at that. "Yeah, I guess so." His smile fell and he looked to her anxiously. "I was wondering if you wanted to spend our last night together."
She thought about it for a few seconds before pointing out, "We could always just fly away. I doubt Darkstalker knows who you are. We could find somewhere to hide, live out our days as rogues."
He shook his head. "I won't abandon my tribe, but…you can leave if you want—take your brother and escape before Darkstalker gets here."
"No…I don't think I will," she answered with a flirtatious smirk. "I'm not going to pass up the chance to conquer the conqueror."
He raised an eye ridge in surprise before smirking. "Challenge accepted."
AN: I'm not going to really say anything down here except to remind everyone for the poll regarding my next story once this one is finished. I don't think the link shows up on mobile, but if you're on a computer, definitely go vote on that. Even if you aren't particularly interested in the concept, put down a hypothetical vote, please.
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22
