Chapter 18
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Prancer asked Tulsi for like the tenth time since they got there and were waiting for Hunter and Flint.
"Why wouldn't it work?" Tulsi asked.
"Well for one, the queens may just try to kill each other, even with me being there, or they could be bringing their troops with them, or maybe they are holding Flint and Hunter hostage, or…"
"Oh stop that!" Tulsi said. "Why do you have to think of all the negative things that will happen? Try thinking of the positives sometimes."
"I have!" Prancer protested. "But the negatives outweigh the positives."
"So what if there are more ways for this plan to fail than succeed? All we need is for it to go our way and we will be fine. I believe you will be able to do that."
"You're putting a lot of trust into a dragon you only met a few days ago." Prancer noted.
"Well," Tulsi said. "It's like I said, you have a mindset of wanting to do what is right no matter the cost. You initially wanted to kill Cavewings to help your tribe and avenge your sister who you thought was dead. But when you met Flint and saw her side of the story and saw that Ocho wasn't dead, well you can see that both the tribes aren't as different and are just misunderstood. You want to end this bloodshed and want them to see the truth for why this war should end."
"Wow, am I really that easy to read?" Prancer asked.
"Well not to me exactly," Tulsi said. "What I said is what Flint got out of watching you."
"She has one remarkable way to figure out what dragons are feeling."
"Yeah," Tulsi said. "It's almost creepy in some way.
"She's fine, now come on, let's get ready. They may be close by."
Prancer and Tulsi hid further behind the boulder in the cave to where it was darker. Prancer also threw his wings over Tulsi to hide her light brown scales with his gray wings. They then waited there until they were to hear Hunter or Flint coming down with their queens.
At least I hope they were able to convince their queens to follow them. What if they weren't able to, then what are we to do?
You know I can help you figure that out.
Now isn't the time, Brain.
Oh wait, do you really think that this was your brain talking to you the whole time?
This confused Prancer and he lost his concentration and lost whatever conversation he was having with whatever. Was it his brain? Or was it something else? How could it be something else when he was thinking with his mind?
Prancer got thrown out of this line of thoughts when he heard voices coming down one of the tunnels. One of them definitely sounded like Hunter and the other, Prancer hoped, was Queen Aurora.
"It should be up ahead," he heard Hunter say.
"It better be," Aurora said. "I've waited many years to have my claws on this artifact that is rightfully the Webwings. If only the Cavewings didn't bring us into this war."
"I've been wondering about that," Hunter said. "Are we sure that the Cavewings brought us into this war?"
"What are you saying?" Aurora said, dangerously bringing her voice up.
"Now, don't get mad," Hunter said. "I'm just saying, if they Cavewings wanted the artifact for themselves, then why haven't they gotten it already if they were the ones to bring us into this war. Think about it, why would they bring us into this war if they already had the artifact? Maybe we started it because we thought they knew where it was."
"Do you dare question me, son?!" Aurora yelled. "I am the queen and what I say goes! Now where is this artifact?"
"Yes, where is this artifact?" came a new voice and Prancer wondered if this plan was a great plan or not.
Flint and Queen Obsidian entered into the cavern across from Hunter and Queen Aurora.
"Ah, Queen Aurora, what are you doing here?" Obsidian asked.
"I have the same question about you," Aurora said.
"Well I seem to be here for an artifact and from what I heard, you are here for it as well."
"Hmmm," Aurora said and both queens looked over at Flint and Hunter.
"You lied to us!" Queen Aurora said.
"What treason is this?" Queen Obsidian asked. "Working with a Webwing?"
"Listen," Flint said. "Can't you two talk it out instead of fighting?"
"NO!" they both screamed.
"Cavewings started this war!"
"Webwings started this war!"
"What if neither one started this war?" Hunter asked.
"NEVER!" they both yelled again.
"You didn't want to share the power with us!" Aurora accused.
"No, you stole it from us!" Obsidian shot back.
"I have to get in there now and help them," Prancer told Tulsi.
"I'm coming with you," Tulsi said.
"No, you stay here."
"Why?" Tulsi asked.
"Because it is already crazy out there and your appearance may drive them insane and any talk of peace will be ruined. Now stay and wait here."
Prancer walked out from behind the boulder and between the two arguing queens.
"STOP!" Prancer yelled which made both the queens stop arguing with each other and look at him.
"Who are you?" Obsidian asked.
Aurora answered the question for her. "I know this one! I've been trying to capture him ever since he escaped a few days ago."
"Yeah, well I guess, you would never expect me to be here," Prancer said.
"No, but I'm glad you're here so that I can kill you myself!"
"Wait," Obsidian said. "I'm curious why this one is here. If you are saying that he evaded you then why would he throw himself back in front of your talons."
"Yes please listen," Prancer said, hoping Aurora wouldn't attack him. "I know that you both think that the other tribe wants the power of the artifact for themselves but how do we know that? No one knows what happened to the dragons who initially found it so what are we fighting for? To find an artifact that may not even exist anymore. Was that worth throwing our tribes into this war that has gone on for centuries?"
"You talk a lot for a Webwing that has no idea of betrayal," Aurora said.
"I know that neither of you trust me. But let me show you something that may show that we can have peace."
"Yeah right, what would that be?" Obsidian asked.
"Well this," Prancer said as he shined his fluorescent scales for everyone to see.
He saw both of the queens' faces become shocked and dumbfounded as they were able to reply to what they were seeing. After a while Prancer made the light fade down to where it went away. Queen Obsidian was the first one to recover from her shock.
"Did you just glow your scales? Only Cavewings can do that."
"But you look like a Webwing," Queen Aurora noted.
"Yeah, I'm a hybrid. I'm half-Webwing, half-Cavewing."
"WHAT!" they both yelled.
"LISTEN BOTH OF YOU!" Prancer yelled. "You both have always thought that the other side doesn't want peace but that isn't true. My existence proves that there are Webwings and Cavewings who see that this war as stupid. It is unnecessary bloodshed between our tribes over an artifact. Let's just get along and find the artifact together.
There was a long silence and Prancer hoped he had gotten through to the queens.
Maybe I am able to change their minds. Maybe I was born to end the war.
I wouldn't count your eggs too soon.
Why?
Both the queens then looked at Prancer with viciousness in their eyes.
That's why, said the voice in his head
"NEVER!" the queens said as they both lunged for Prancer's heart.
