Chapter 6

Shore

Chains scraped the floor as the 6 of them were moving into the prison. Shore pulled on the chains only to get them yanked on by one of the guards. They were underground somewhere near the palace. When they were flying he could see Skywings out everywhere. Mostly adults but he passed a few dragonets who looked sorry.

"In here," a guard pointed to one of the cells. It was bigger than it needed to be. The other guards around them began pulling on the chains to coral them in. Shore and the others went in not wanting to get each other hurt. When they were in the guards unhooked the chains and locked the cell door as they exited.

Shore eyed each of them. One had a scar running from his jaw all the way down his tail. Another had what looked like a sandwing tail scar that looked fresh. Two others were unscarred while the last looked horrible. His face had several scars below his eye and across his snout. One of his wings had a tear in it. Going down his back was a frost breath scar that had made the scales black. He had a hatred look on his face as he left the hybrids.

All the guards left except one who stayed at the entrance way. She was one of the unscarred ones and she kept looking back at them. Her face was neutral but her eyes were more curious than anything.

Shore tilted his head as he heard a rattle from the cell next to theirs. "Hope they get what's coming to them," a voice from the other side said.

"Shush it," another hissed.

"Why should i? I can voice my displeasure," the first growled. As he listened he could tell both voices were female. He looked through the bars to see two Skywings trapped in a cell much like his.

The first one yelled out loud. "You shouldn't have done this to me and my sister!"

The guard huffed a plume of smoke and walked over to their cell. "You know why you're in here. You are no use to us and your sister is a killing abomination."

The second sister hissed and lunged for the guard only to be stopped by the bars. The bars hissed as she touched them. Shore tilted his head at the sight. "I haven't killed anyone!" she hissed to the guard.

The other sister got up to her talons but didn't touch her sister. "Ash, it isn't worth it."

The dragonet, Ash, seethed angrily but let go of the bars. "Tell Ember when I get out I'm coming for her."

The guard rolled her eyes. "Her majesty is well away with how you feel about her." The guards had started to walk away before a smirk came across her face. "Pharaoh sends his regards."

The first sister lunged for the bars like her sister, Ash, just had. "You do not speak his name." The guard smiled and walked back to her post standing, facing the exit.

"He'll be alright, Sky." Ash came behind Sky.

"She could get to him though. His battalion is here. I saw Flare and Coal." Sky let go of the bars. "If they're here that means he is too."

"Ember wouldn't do anything to him because he doesn't care. He gave us to her. What kind of father does that?" Ash scowled.

Shore turned his head to the others, bored of the Skywings conversation. Dawn was looking over the cell with Depth. The two of them moved to each corner looking for any imperfections in the cell. Depth gave a growl as they both finished surveying.

"Anything?" Shore asked the two of them.

"Nothing," Depth replied. "We're stuck."

"We can't be stuck forever," Nebula stood up, walking over to them. "We have to get fed right? When the guards come we'll rush 'em and escape."

A snort came from the Skywings cell. "As if that works."

Shore looked over to see the one called Ash looking through the bars. "And what makes you such an expert?"

"I've been here for five years. These guards might look stupid but they suspect everything." Ash snorted.

Nebula turned to Shore. "What if that Skywings is right?"

"Hello. I'm a Skywing!" Ash said as if it was a revelation. "No one can get past them."

"Not now a fire breather." Nebula snored to Ash. "Shore if we can't get out we'll be used. We can try and attack through the bars. My venom might reach through."

"No. No offense but your venom is messy. You might hit one of us." Shore tapped a talon on the floor. "Dawn, how about frost breath? Can you use that on the bars?"

Dawn linked at the bars and slightly blew a cold wind of ice. It melted on impact on the bars. Dawn tilted her head. "What?"

Ash stiffened a laugh. "What are you? No offense."

Dawn glared at the Skywing and hissed. "No offense? When you say that you offend all of us."

"Dawn calm down." Nettle set a wing on hers. "She's just a Skywing. She doesn't understand." Dawn glared once more at Ash and walked to the other side of the cell, her icewing spikes clattering together.

Shore sighed as the others began to huddle in one of the corners not wanting to converse. Only he and Nebula were out. Nebula was looking around the cell again ignoring the Skywings prying eyes.

Shore looked over at the shared cell wall. "We're all hybrids. We were captured from our cave and brought here."

Ash gave a hmf and walked away. "Sorry about her." Sky came up to the bars. "She's always angry in here."

"Is it true you've been here for five years?" Shore asked. "What was your crime?"

"Well as our lovely guard, Swallow, pointed out I'm useless to Ember.," Sky explained.

"You're not useless," Ash hissed from over her shoulder. "Ember is just a stupid Queen."

Sky rolled her eyes at her sister. "I was born without fire. Ash was born with too much, making her a bit of a flight risk."

"Is that why Swallow said she was a killing abomination?" Shore didn't want to say the last part out loud. "By the way I don't believe anyone is an abomination."

Sky let out a sigh. "Sadly yes. She hasn't killed anyone but Ember believes all dragonets born with too much fire and horrible creatures, who should be killed or locked up for life."

"I see." Shore said to Sky, nodding.

"Shore," Nebula poked his side.

"What?" he turned to her.
"It's growing dark." she looked over to the window in their cell.

He nodded lightning several of his glow scales. Go. Sleep. I'll stand watch. Nebula nodded understanding the Seawing underwater language. The guardians had taught them all how to read it in case they needed it to speak. Nebula walked over to the others as they all huddled together on the cold stone floor.

Shore looked out the cell window watching as the sun fell below the horizon.