Chapter 10

Shore

Shore watched as Skywings flew about during the day through the window. He would often talk with Sky and Ash about escaping. Ash didn't think it would be a good idea. Nebula argued with her quite a bit.

"You do realize Ember would have your heads if you stuck with that plan," Ash growled to Nebula.

"Ash don't be like that," her sister glared at her.

"It's a cloud brained idea," Ash snorted.

Sky rolled her eyes. "What if we helped? Would that make it better?"

Ash looked at Sky. "Maybe." she grumbled. "If we could work out the kinks in the plan. Maybe instead of using Nettle as a distraction I might be best suited for that. Get me something that will burn and I'll have you back."

"Right," Shore nodded his head. "The only thing I could think of you burning would be, well, one of us." he looked around to the others.

"No," Ash instantly shook her head. "It would leave a prominent burn and it would hurt like nothing else."

"Me," Dawn looked up from her spot. "It would work on me."

"I said no,": Ash growled. "I'm not risking hurting any of you."

Dawn scoffed. "Like I care. And It would only hurt me as long as your talon was on me. As soon as you'd take it off my scales would heal."

"That's right," Shore tapped his tail on the stone floor. "Your scales would be able to withstand that kind of heat."

"Hello," Ash waved a talon around. "What are you talking about?"

"I have fireproof scales." Dawn said blankly. "Do you really think it would work? Wouldn't it get her in trouble?"

"I don't know." Shore sighed. "We may need to come up with a better plan."

They all stood there thinking when the prison doors were swung open. A few guards strolled in with big metal spears. Ember walked in behind them regally.

"I hope all my prisoners are getting along," her voice slithered. She walked right up to Shore's cell. "Soon you will be nothing but a puppet, working for me." She kept walking to Ash and Sky. "We still have you two? Hm. MAybe I should kill you just to free up some space here."

Ash lunged forward towards the Queen. "I will kill you myself."

Ember gave a tsk. "So much potential on such a waste. You would have made a great soldier." Ember started back towards the door. "Enjoy your time left, twins. It won't last much longer." she called from the door before leaving.

"We have to get out of here," Sky said to Shore as the doors closed. "I can't let anything happen to my sister."

"We'll find a way," Nebula stood up. "We have to."

"We need to think of a better plan." Shore growled to himself. His mind raced through all the possible plans he could think of. Using fire to melt through the window bars; doable but only on their cell, not Ash and Sky's. Setting something on fire; only getting one cell opened. Tricking a guard; that might work if they had the right guard. He shook his head.

"Depth," he called to the Nightwing/Seawing hybrid. "What do you think about luring a guard? It would work if we had you knock them out. We could take the keys and unlock their cell as well."

"Might work," Depth said. "I say we try that. But how would we get them over here?"

"A distraction? I don't know," Shore grumbled. "We just need to time it right."

"Or we could do it now," Ash flicked her tail to the window.

Shore looked out the window to see dragons flying fast into battle with Leafwings. Smoke rose into the sky as Skywings blew fire at their enemies.

"Alright let's get into action," Shore said, nodding to Depth. Depth nodded back and hid himself in the corner closest to the cell door.

"Hey guard," Shore called out. "We need help here."

The guard came forward to their cell. Nebula was on the ground, her eyes shut. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Shore trembled in his voice. "She just collapsed."

"Move to the back," he said, grabbing the keys on the chain around his neck. Shore and the others moved to the back and watched as the guard unlocked their cell. As he stepped in to look at Nebula, Depth crashed his tail into the Skywing guards head. The guard took a staggering step and toppled over, unconscious.

Nebula got up from her spot. "Yes, it worked."

"Come on," Shore grabbed the keys. "We can use the attack as a distraction to get out."

"Where will we go?" Sky asked as Shore unlocked their cell.

"I'm not sure. Somewhere else besides here." he looked around. "We can take stuff. Nebula, take Depth and look for spears. We can take some with us." Nebula nodded and ran through the, rather large, prison. "Dawn, you and Gemini look for satchels. We need some to carry anything we can. Nettle you, Ash, me and Sky will take a look outside. If we're lucky we might find something."

His group ran to the wooden door exit listening for anything. Shore heard claws scrabble on the stone floor as dragons ran into battle. He pushed the doors open. The hallways were empty. He flicked his tail for the others to follow. He went to another room across from the prison. It was filled with armor and weapons.

"An armory," Ash said from behind him.

"Yes," he nodded. "I know we need this stuff but if we leave any of it behind the Skywings will use it." He turned to Ash. "Can you burn it all?"

Ash looked around the room. "Yeah. I should be able to."

"Get started on it. Me and the others will search the other rooms," Shore started for the door.

"Be careful," Ash looked at him. "If Ember thinks somethings wrong she'll have us wishing we were dead."

Shore nodded and ran to another room. It was filled with previsions. "Sky, get Dawn and Gemini in here to pack some of this."

Sky nodded and ran back to the prison. Shore watched as Sky, Dawn and Gemini exited going to the room with provisions. "Pack as much as you can." Sky had said.

Nebula and Depth had come out of the prison as well, watching the ends of the halls. "Someone's coming." Depth called from his end.

"Everyone, wrap it up." Shore hissed. "Sky get them out of there. Ash come on."

Ash stepped out of the armory. "It's done."

Sky came out with Dawn and Gemini. "Fille seven satchels."

"Good," he looked back to Depth. "Let's go this way. Depth come on."

Depth ran down the hall to the others. They had all caught up with Nebula as she handed Shore and Gemini a spear. "We could only find four in the prison."

"That's alright." Shore panted. "Let's go."

"Leaving so soon?" A voice hissed from behind. "But I have just come to rescue you." Shore spun around to see who it was. A smaller Leafwing with a good build stood behind them. "Such a shame. I was really hoping to do this with as little blood shed as possible."

Shore growled. "Who are you?"

"Oh, where are my manners?" her smile became an angry frown. "I'm Queen Ivy."