Pyrite sat back with a sigh. The scroll just hadn't caught her attention. Perhaps a walk would either clear her head or tire her out.

She rose and silently prowled the tunnels. There was Kestrel's cave, Web's, Dune's. Down the hall was the dragonet's caves. Pyrite peeked into one, wondering if anyone else was awake. To her surprise, there was no one there. How strange..

Pyrite checked the other caves as her anxiety grew. Where were they? Heading back to the library, she stiffened at the sound of voices.

Got you, she thought.

She peered from behind a wall, and seeing their backs turned, skittered to hide behind an especially large stalactite which boasted a better vantage point. Though she couldn't hear them, Pyrite saw Clay and Tsunami open the entrance to the cave. How had they gotten out?

She was about to step out and confront them for trying to leave her, when suddenly a menacing Skywing swooped down with an entourage of guards, and then their guardians appeared.

Kestrel and the Skywing exchanged growls, and suddenly the two groups clashed. Pyrite dearly wished she could join the fighting, but even she could see it was a losing battle.

All she could do was huddle behind the stalactite, surprised by the tears that fell as she watched her guardians battered and bruised, and Dune killed. She never thought she was close to any of the guardians, except perhaps Kestrel, but she didn't want them hurt or killed.

Eventually, the Skywing growled at her guards, and the other dragonets of Destiny were chained up and flown away.

As the entrance began to creak closed, Pyrite was started into action. Taking a last look at Dune's mangled body, she slipped into the outside world.

Staring into the bright blue sky that was stealing the dragonets away, Pyrite was struck by realization.

Her life was in her hands now, and no one could tell her what to do. It was up to her, and it was time to decide what she would do.


Author's note:

Thanks to loyal readers who have been waiting with endless patience for me to churn this chapter out :). I realize that these chapters have been short, but I'm trying to rush through the beginning. Also, I used to write with way too many details. You would see a chapter devoted to what the scales look like. I'm still trying to work out a balance, but until then, bear with me.