Chapter 20

Everyone went silent for a long time. Ocho was the first one to speak up.

"You're… joking right?" Ocho asked. "He… he can't be here."

"But he is!" Queen Aurora said, still panicking. "I saw him approaching the Drillwing village!"

"Why though?" Tulsi asked. "Why would he be coming to us?"

"Probably to get rid of us!" Flint said. "Remember that he is working with Queen Ash. He was probably sent by her to finish us off."

"Well we can't let that happen!" Prancer said. "Tulsi, you could get your army ready against him."

"What would an army do against animus powers?" Winter asked. "Magic is far superior to might."

Vala was trying to think in her head why Dredge would be there. Last she saw of Dredge was when he helped her out and got her away from Queen Ash and Helen before they killed her. But does that mean I trust him? It could have been a set up and he could just be tricking me. But Queen Ash seemed generally surprised when it happened. Vala really didn't know and focused back on the conversation going on around her.

"Well maybe both of our armies could defeat him, Queen Tulsi," Abrax said.

"I don't think so," Hunter said. "He seems invincible with his animus powers, none of us could attack him when we tried."

"Agh, how come Jerboa's spell didn't get rid of her magic?" Winter asked.

"I don't know," Moon said.

"Maybe it is because her magic came from Argus," Thunder said.

"What or who is Argus?" Tsunami asked.

"It's… it's the artifact that is hidden somewhere on this continent," Thunder said.

"You mean like the one from Moon's prophecy?" Qibli asked.

"Yes," Thunder said. "It initially came from Phales until Queen Ash moved it here for some reason. I guess it's also how Dredge got his animus powers."

"Wait, I thought animus magic was just passed down from an animus dragon to their dragonet," Winter said.

"That's what happened going forward," Thunder said. "But initially some dragons got their powers from the artifact, including Queen Ash. So those dragons passed down their animus magic for generations."

"So theoretically if we were to get this artifact and destroy it somehow, then Dredge and Queen Ash would lose their animus magic?" Tsunami asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Thunder said. "Except I don't know if you can destroy it. But I don't think anyone has tried to either."

"Well if we get our claws on it then maybe we could try," Qibli said. "Nothing can be unbreakable."

"Maybe my venom could work on it," Queen Glory said.

Vala was trying to think of what to say in the conversation but at that moment caught the thoughts from Dredge who was approaching the village. She expected them to be terrible, evil, vicious, but instead she was shocked by what she heard. She looked over at Moon and realized that she heard the same thoughts because she was looking at her as well. Vala nodded to Moon that she was hearing the same thoughts.

Is… is it true? Moon said to Vala.

Yes I think it is, Vala siad back. We have to go now.

Vala and Moon started to try to sneak out of the group but before they could get away from everyone, Tulsi spotted them trying to leave.

"Hang on Moon and Vala," Tulsi said. "Where are you going?"

"I know that you all are skeptical," Vala said. "But me and Moon are hearing his thoughts right now, he is good and needs our help."

"Are you sure about this?" Qibli asked. "He could be trying to trick you."

"I think he is genuine," Moon said.

"Qibli and Tulsi can come with us," Vala said. "If anything happens we can retreat into the village but I promise that we will be fine."

Tulsi looked to Vala, Qibli, and then to Prancer right next to her.

"Don't worry," Prancer said. "I'll have your back."

"Thanks," Tulsi said and turned back to Vala. "Fine, let's go."

So Vala took Moon, Qibli, and Tulsi to the entrance of the Drillwing village where she heard Dredge's thoughts getting closer and closer. They exited the village and in front of them they saw Dredge laying on the ground. But Vala could immediately tell that he wasn't right.

"Dre…Dredge?' Vala asked, looking at the wounds all across his body. Vala thought that Dredge was invincible but in front of her laid a weakened Dredge who had slashes all across his body that were still bleeding.

"I did… I did… something terrible," Dredge said.

"Dredge, what happened to you?" Tulsi asked.

"I… I protected Vala," Dredge said. "After… After I realized that Queen Ash saw me as a pawn."

"Queen Ash did this to you?" Vala asked.

"Ye… Yes," Dredge said. "And took away my animus powers."

"Really?" Moon asked. "She could just… do that to you?"

"Yes," Dredge said. "But I did something more terrible than that."

"What is going on," Abrax said, appearing behind them.

"King Abrax, go get my medical crew!" Tulsi said. Abrax looked at Dredge and didn't need an explanation and ran off into the village.

"Dredge, what was the terrible thing that you did?" Vala asked.

"I… I'm sorry, Moon," Dredge said.
"Huh?" Moon said. "What do you mean?

"I… I…"

"Dredge, what is it?" Vala asked.

Dredge paused for a moment and then said what was on his mind.

"I gave Darkstalker to Queen Ash."