Hello everyone,
This is the second book that I am writing in Arc 4 which continues after the events of my other book, Wings Of Fire: Web Of Lies. I highly suggest you read that story first before reading this one. I will continue to post chapters to this story when I am done writing them. I hope you all enjoy reading this.

Some secrets are closer than you think.

Flint is not like most Cavewings, who want to kill the Webwings who started the war. Her own parents wanted to enroll her into a training program early to get her ready to join the army. But Flint doesn't want that, which is the reason why she ran away from her parents and her tribe at a young age. She has been living on her own ever since, planning to stay away from everyone, until she met Prancer.

Now Flint and her friends Prancer, Tulsi, and Hunter, are going deeper down into the cave system, ready to discover where the lost artifact is that could help them end the war. No one knows what danger lurks down there but Flint is willing to find the artifact, even if she has to do it by herself. However, when complications arrive in their journey and Flint is left to save her friends, she realizes that maybe she isn't able to save the day by herself. Maybe she can save her friends though, only if she goes back to where she never wanted to go… back to her tribe.

The

Lost Artifact

Prophecy

Turn your bodies away from the sky

To the caves that run underground

To a war that has lasted centuries

Where peace can never be found

Within their tribes lies a secret

Within their war lies a secret

Within their caves lies a secret

That may save everyone in time

Watch out for a great power buried below

To dangerous to leave

Help the tribes to unite together

Before everything will die

PROLOGUE

Blue was looking out across the sea with Cricket sitting next to him and their tails twined together. They were both waiting for the representatives from Pyrrhia to come to meet them so that they could discuss what they had just learned.

"Do you think they will help them?" Blue asked Cricket.

"Why wouldn't they?" Cricket said. "Didn't they help us out when our continent needed saving?"

"Yeah but it has only been a couple of months since that happened and it was a very rough time for all of us."

Blue shivered, thinking back to when he was controlled by Queen Wasp and the othermind. It was the worst time in his life when his claws weren't his own when he was forced to round up his mothers and friends and guard them until enough breath of evil could be made to mind-control them as well. Blue felt so powerless then, not able to fight the mind control and forced to do Queen Wasp's bidding.

"Blue, I thought you'd be here!" came a voice from behind him and it immediately lifted up his spirit.

"Luna!" Blue called and turned around to meet his sister. "What are you doing here?"

Luna looked past Blue, to where the Webwing Ocho was sleeping on the beach.

"Well, Cricket sent me a message of what you found and I knew I had to come to support you. I also may have brought someone else, only because she insisted that she came in case this was a trap."

"HEY, YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A TRAP OR NOT!" came the ferocious voice of the Leafwing Sundew, whom Blue could recognize from a mile away.

"Oh please, just because you grew up in the Poison Jungle doesn't make you know about every single trap, plant or not."

Blue couldn't help but smile. His friends, along with other dragons from Pyrrhia were able to save him, Swordtail, and all the other dragons from the mind-control of the othermind. He could still remember that day like it was yesterday, Luna splitting open the plant that was controlling them with her silk, all the dragons regaining control of their bodies, Cricket running up to Blue crying and hugging him, it was the best day in his life.

"Like you know what a trap is!" Sundew said. "You know Swordtail was the first one to almost get eaten right? Did I forget to mention that to you?"

"You mentioned it to me a thousand times," Luna said. "And probably will for the rest of my life. Come on Sundew though, this dragon may need our help."

"Hmph, well I still don't like it."

"Come on, you gave me a chance," Cricket said.

"Well, you were different," Sundew said.

"Hey, maybe let's talk about this later?" Blue suggested. "Just come meet this dragon and hear her story while we wait for the Pyrrhia dragons, maybe she will be able to convince you."

"Ok," Sundew said and they all walked over to the Webwing to wait for the other dragons.

It was hours later after Ocho was explaining her life growing up when there were dragons that landed beside them. Blue turned around and saw that they were the Pyrrhia dragons from the representative board that Pantala and Pyrrhia made after Pantala was saved months ago. It was decided that since the stealth team of dragons from each different tribe worked so well together to free Pantala, the board could be made up of one dragon from each of the ten tribes. Cricket, Sundew, and Luna were the Silkwing, Leafwing, and Hivewing representatives from their continent. From the other continent was Moon for the Nightwing, Qibli for the Sandwing, Lynx for the Icewing, Tsunami for the Seawing, Pineapple for the Rainwing, Clay for the Mudwing, and Sky for the Skywing, along with his human companion, Wren.

It was a shock for Blue when he learned that the reading monkeys, which Cricket called them, were able to have in-depth knowledge as well as dragons. With the help of Wren and her ability to speak Dragon, the human-dragon connection was growing, as humans were able to come out of hiding and socialize with dragons after of course they learned how to speak Dragon. Sky also was able to start teaching some dragons how to speak human, that way both species could speak each other's language. Blue thought that it was amazing that humans and dragons could communicate with each other now and start coexisting together.

"Please tell me you were joking with the message you sent us," Tsunami said. "Is there another reason that you need us that isn't what you said?"

"But couldn't meeting a new tribe be amazing?" Sky said with a delighted expression on his face."

"NO! I don't like prophecies and if Moon has another prophecy about this continent then I swear, I will get very mad."

"Well don't worry Tsunami," Moon said. "I don't feel any prophecy coming through right now so maybe this may not even need a prophecy to fix."

"Also Moon's prophecy helped us save Pantala," Qibli noted.

"Yeah come on Tsunami," Clay said. "It will be fine; I do wonder what kind of food they have over there."

"Not the time Clay," Tsunami said. "Also Sky, I forgot to ask, how was it meeting your sister after all these years?"

"Oh, well it was… interesting," Sky said. "I mean Peril's reputation of being used as Scarlet's weapon made her sound scary but it was nice meeting her and seeing someone from my family."

"It also explains why you have no fire," Wren said from on Sky's shoulder.

"Yeah," Sky said. "I was born with too little fire and she was born with too much fire. Oh, I do wonder what she would think about pandas and if they are cute."

"You know she would set them on fire the second she touched them," Lynx said.

"Yeah but I wonder what she would think of them," Sky said.

"Could we get back on topic?" Sundew said impatiently. "Come follow us to this dragon and hear her story. Hearing it wants me to rip off all the dragons' heads over there because of how dumb they are!"

"Maybe we could do less of the ripping dragons' faces off though?" Qibli joked. "Try their claws or their tails next time. Seriously you are like Winter, wanting to rip off their faces, why is that everyone's first thing to rip off?"

"I'll rip off your snout if you don't stop talking," Sundew warned.

Qibli pretended to zip his mouth closed and held his claws up innocently, obviously laughing underneath.

Blue led the dragons over to where Ocho was sitting so that they could hear about this new continent which, from what Blue heard, was a very interesting place.

"So Ocho is it?" Tsunami asked the Webwing.

"Yes, that's me," Ocho said.

"Would you mind telling us about this continent that you come from, the tribes there, and what you need our help with?"

"Ok I will," and Blue and the rest of the dragons listened as Ocho explained everything about the continent. She explained about the three tribes there, about how the Webwings and Cavewings live underground, while the Drillwings live on the surface because they were apparently kicked out by the other two tribes centuries ago.

"Hmm, sounds like your tribe," Sundew said to Cricket.

"Hey, the Hivewings are trying to change!" Cricket protested. "After locking up Wasp and her sisters, some of the Hivewings see that they can get along with the Leafwings. Didn't I tell you that if they could think for themselves, then some may be on your side?"

"Yes," Sundew said. "But it still is a work in progress."

"Could you two be quiet and let's get back to the story?" Lynx asked.

"Fine," Sundew said and turned back to Ocho to listen to her story.

Ocho went on to explain how both queens from the two tribes and their husbands one day, tumbled into a cavern that they said held the lost artifact. The thing is though, that they never said what it looked like or where it was because they all disappeared one day and were never seen again.

"That's strange," Moon said. "Where could they have gone that no one would ever find them?"

"I don't know," Ocho said. "But that's what started the war."

The dragons listened as Ocho went on to explain how both sides blamed each other for the disappearance of their queens for power which is what started the war against the two tribes and shattered the peace on Petonix.

"Wow, that's terrible," Pineapple said. "And this war has been going on for two hundred years?"

"Yes," Ocho said.

"Wow," Clay said. "The war between our tribes only lasted for about twenty years and that was a bloodbath, I can't imagine what it was like for you."

"It wasn't pretty but you learn to live with the constant fear of death hanging around you," Ocho said.

Ocho then went on to explain how her school was attacked, her escaping, finding the Tuff resistance, and then became their leader to help end the war.

"Oh, that is like the Chrysalis," Luna said. "They were a group of Silkwings from all the hives that wanted to free all the Silkwings from the control of the Hivewings."

"Except that they didn't do much," Sundew pointed out.

"At least they still tried," Luna protested.

"Anyway," Ocho said, ignoring the two arguing dragons, "This is where my little brother comes along."

She explained how Prancer was a hybrid from the Cavewing and Webwing tribe and how his mom Amethyst, and his dad Hopper thought it would be safe if Hopper and Prancer came to live with Ocho and her mom Frisky and how they all pretended to be one family for Prancer's safety.

"Wow, a hybrid from two tribes that are at war with each other, it probably was hard for Amethyst to leave her son. I wonder what Sunny would do to help him," Clay said.

"Who's that?" Ocho said.

"I'll tell you later," Clay said.

Ocho then explained how Prancer's secret was found out, him running away and meeting a Cavewing named Flint who helped him escape. He then met his mom, Amethyst, who sent them on a mission to the surface where they found the Drillwings and got the leader Digger to help them by letting his older daughter, Tulsi, to go help them out with their mission to find an end to the war.

"I think this just proves that the impossible can be done when dragons from different tribes come to work together," Lynx said.

"Yeah," Blue agreed

Ocho then went on to say how the group met Prancer's best friend and one of the sons of the Webwing queen, Hunter. He joined them and they went back down to the caves where they found the Tuff Resistance and where Ocho reunited with her little brother.

"Wait," Blue said. "If you knew your little brother was alive, why did you never go visit him?"

"Because he thought I was dead," Ocho explained. "Think about how bad it would be if I showed up one day. I couldn't so for his safety, I stayed away from him."

"Wow, that's tough. This whole entire continent seems very bad to live in," Tsunami said.

"Well, if we can get peace back between the tribes, then I feel it could be friendly again," Ocho said.

"Anyway, I then had the group be sent on a mission to have the two queens from both tribes meet to hopefully talk it out and end the war. That didn't go to plan and a huge fight broke out where the armies just appeared out of nowhere."

"Wait, what do you mean appeared out of nowhere?" Qibli asked.

"From what I heard, they just appeared out of thin air, why do you know something?"

"Maybe, just keep going," Qibli said.

"So anyway, I was at my web when all of a sudden I appeared in front of Prancer and a Webwing, who, get this, is Dredge."

"Wait but didn't Dredge disappear with the queens two hundred years ago?" Moon asked.

"Yeah, but I swear, that was him in front of us," Ocho said.

"He wanted our help but I didn't want him to hurt Prancer so I jumped to attack him and then I guess I got teleported here. Then Blue and Cricket found me and you know the rest."

"Wait, you got teleported here?" came a new voice from behind the dragons. Blue turned around and saw that it was the Queen of the Icewings, Snowfall who landed on the beach.

"Snowfall!" Lynx said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard that you were going to Pantala because reports of something new appeared on their shores and that they needed the representatives from the board. You know I can't just allow you to go into something that may be dangerous!"

"You allowed me to go on the stealth team," Lynx reminded Snowfall. "That mission was pretty dangerous."

"Well, that's beside the point!" Snowfall protested. "I'm the queen and if I feel like you may be in trouble then I have the right to make sure you are alright."

"What about the Icewings and the palace back home?" Lynx asked. "Won't the place go into a panic?"

"No they won't, if you haven't noticed I take breaks from the palace and it never goes in dismay, mostly because I got rid of that stupid wall. Anyway, what is going on here?"

"Well Queen Snowfall," Tsunami said. "We are listening to this Webwing, Ocho, about what is going on at her continent called Petonix and deciding if there is something that we can do to help."

Moon interrupted both of them in the middle of their conversation.

"Sorry Tsunami but I feel a prophecy coming."

"Oh great," Tsunami said.

Blue then saw Moon's eyes go white and she spoke in a voice that wasn't like her own.

Turn your bodies away from the sky

To the caves that run underground

To a war that has lasted centuries

Where peace can never be found

Within their tribes lies a secret

Within their war lies a secret

Within their caves lies a secret

That may save everyone in time

Watch out for a great power buried below

To dangerous to leave

Help the tribes to unite together

Before everything… will die, Moon, choked out the last bit.

"Huh, that seems like the most cryptic prophecy we have heard," Qibli said.

"Yeah, well remember that I don't like prophecies!" Tsunami said.

"I know," Moon said. "I'm sorry but I can't control them, they happen when they happen."

"Is that all you had or did you have a vision with them?" Luna asked.

"No, it was just the prophecy," Moon said. "But I'll tell you if anything else happens.

"Ok thanks," Luna said.

"That is an interesting prophecy," Snowfall said. "Now back to the original topic because I have one question for Ocho. Did you say you were teleported here when you tried to attack Dredge?"

"Yes," Ocho said. "Why?"

Blue saw Snowfall's face go into shock and then denial and acceptance at the same time.

"But that is impossible, it is supposed to be gone," Blue heard Snowfall mutter to herself.

"What's impossible?" Qibli asked.

"When I still had the Gift Of Vision on my talon, I had a vision of what happened to animus magic. Jerboa broke it because she was not only afraid of what I may have made her do back then but also because she couldn't trust the other dragons who were animus'."

"Wait so that is why animus magic stopped working?" Tsunami said.

"I was going to tell all of you," Snowfall said. "But you all took off here before I was able to."

"But what does telling us this mean?" Moon asked.

"Qibli, you are the smart one," Snowfall asked. "Have you figured it out yet?"

"Yes, I have," Qibli said.

"What is it?" Blue asked. "What did you figure out?"

"He figured out how Ocho got here," Snowfall said. "Dredge teleported her."

There was a long pause while Snowfall allowed all the other dragons to figure out what she just said.

"What this means," Snowfall said, "is that the spell didn't work on Dredge somehow. It means that Dredge is an animus."