Chapter 3

"What are you?" Red asked, the strange black dragon had star-like scales under his wings. His eyes were a purplish color that she had never seen before. What she didn't notice when he was being dragged was a cape of some kind that had a glowing silvery look to it.

"I am… Don't really know actually, NightWing perhaps? Didn't really get a good look at myself when I was coming here." Rhino said, he rubbed his chin and scrunched his face up. "Maybe part Hi-" A distant sound echoed through the forest, birds flew up into the air. She turned to face it.

"What was that!?" Her father asked.

"We don't-" Fig was about to finish when the strange black dragon said something really fast.

"What?" Her mother asked. Rhino turned back towards them with an apologetic face.

"Sorry! It's just that sound is made by… Actually in short terms it means dangerous!"

"How dangerous!?" Red asked.

"Really dangerous." Red looked towards her parents, they knew what to do. They nodded towards each other as her parents ran off.

"Fig, Suber, can you come with me?" They both nodded. The strange dragon stepped forward.

"I'm coming! If that thing is in the forest… Then everything is in trouble!" She knew that she shouldn't trust him but if he knows what it was then it might help.

"Fine! Come on then!" The four rushed over to the noise being made, the newcomer had a sort of agile but confident step in his talons, ready for anything and everything. They made it to where the sounds were being made and she saw it… The same figure in white. Multiple smoking craters were scattered everywhere. A couple LeafWings were laying there dead, the same symptoms as Pipevine. The monster turned almost as if it couldn't walk correctly. Oh no! It reached its arm out towards them, coming closer with multiple hops.

"What is it doing!?" Fig asked, they backed up as it came closer. The black dragon's purple eyes began darting everywhere on the monster.

"It's reaching out for her!" Rhino said, pointing to Red. What! Is he trying to place it on me!?

"Why me!?" Red started darting her eyes to the two creatures. The white monster began coming towards it. "And what is this white monster!?"

"I don't know! Maybe a pilot of some kind, possibly sent here for scouting or capturing!" Suber went forward, she had that overconfident smile she has when she's planning to do something.

"I'm tired of this!" Vines started coming out of the ground, wrapping the monster up. The monster began struggling as it was engulfed by the vines, it's head turned towards her before the last of the vines covered it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Rhino picked up the LeafWing somehow and began running with her. "RUN!"

"What are you doing?" Fig asked. "The monster is-" A bright green light erupted immediately from the vines Suber had created before a blinding light struck Red's face.

"AH! My eyes!" Red began rubbing her to clear them, when she finished it was now even closer than ever. She began running with Fig as it began hopping around, green lights lit up the clearing in front of them as she and Fig continued. The sounds were loud as they kept running, dirt flying everywhere. The black dragon ran up in front of them producing something in his talons.

"GET DOWN!" They obliged, ducking their heads as fast as they could as a strange buzzing noise followed through. "Come on!" Red turned to see what was behind her, smoking holes and smoke were everywhere. The trees scattered about, the monster was jerking around in place for some reason. She turned her attention back forward before running after him.

"What was that!?" Red caught with him, gasping for breath.

"A small blast of an electromagnetic pulse had to be made within a few seconds while it was chasing you. Just to warn you it isn't going to stop it!" They ran further into the forest, going far enough where it wouldn't be able to catch them. They were out of breath once they knew that it was gone and left behind.

"What are we going to do about the monster?" Fig asked, Suber was there laying on the ground thinking about it.

"Maybe we could burn it?" Red suggested, Rhino gave her a very visible look of confusion.

"I thought BeetleWings aren't supposed to be this violent?"

"What? It was just a thought," Red looked to the others for support, so far there was none.

"Does this monster have a ship or anything?"

"We (Fig breathed heavily) saw a strange white thing." Fig said.

"We'll do that… After we just take this quick break." They took their time as they regained their breath. They also decided to talk a small bit;

"Where are you from?" Red asked, the black dragon took multiple breaths.

"Oh, just from another continent and such. Nothing much to talk about." Rhino leaned his head back against the tree. "Though why aren't you asking me why I helped? Usually most others would ask why I'm helping them. You just accepted it like nothing." Of course this was true though Red never questions it because of how close everyone was. Maybe I should ask a little more… Nah, I shouldn't care about it.

"Maybe the other dragons on your continent isn't as close."

"Oh trust me, they keep getting worse somehow."

"So that brought you here to Pantala?" Suber asked. Rhino made a strange face before responding.

"No actually, I'm just here trying to find myself. I feel off and awkward for some reason and I'm just coming and going from continent to continent trying to find out what I am at this moment." The words hit her like a falling tree (Trust Red, she's been stuck under a tree once). The way he said it reminded her of herself, just being stuck like she is. Unwilling to find a partner because of how she couldn't find someone. "Anyways," Rhino immediately stood up. "Are we ready for this?" They all stood ready as well. "Alright then, let's do this!"