The lapping of the ocean waves brought a sense of calm to Scales, his shoulders easing from their usual vigilant posture. In the fading afternoon sun, the dragon's wings gleamed a near pure white, tinged with only the slightest hint of green. Black clouds were slowly spreading across the sky, diminishing the last of the light above him.

From where he paced, along the edge of the ocean, a narrow strip of land scattered with black pebble fragments led Scales towards the mouth of the island's cave. He continued to stare out at the water, until he was distracted by the sound of a Deadly Nadder's footsteps coming up behind him.

He turned and saw that it was Aquawing, ruffling her wings as she stopped by his side and lay down on the sandy ground. Her body's usual vivid blue appeared darker than usual with only its light beige underbelly still standing out in the dim light. By contrast, the deeper blue of her mottled wings now looked almost pitch black. "Isn't this place peaceful, Alpha?"

"It is indeed," he nodded. "But I fear peace will not last that much longer."

"Why's that?"

Scales looked away from Aquawing, thoughts elsewhere. Should I tell her? About the horned humans I've heard about? The news from the surrounding dragon colonies had been troubling him lately, particularly the rumors of the humans aggressively expanding their territories with their new seafaring vessels. He wasn't sure how she would feel if he were to tell her the truth.

Around them, the large rocky cliffs and dirt path led up to the clifftops farther inland. It was hard to see the top of the mountain from their position on the ground.

"Is there something the matter, my Alpha?" inquired Aquawing.

Scales looked at Aquawing. "Let us go back." He turned to walk away from the black, sandy beach, with Aquawing beside him as they made their way back to the cave.

Once they reached the mouth of the mountain, Aquawing stopped in her tracks and gave him a side glance, unable to see him with both of her eyes pointing forward.

"You look worried," she insisted, looking him in the eye. "I don't know what's on your mind, but I would like if you would share it with me, Alpha."

Scales looked around again. Several of his dragons were resting in their nests, feeding their hatchlings, and chattering among themselves. Stricken by the thought of what would happen if he failed to act in time, he turned back to Aquawing, and whispered, "I have a feeling that something terrible is about to happen."

"Tell me," she whispered back.

"It's the horned humans. It may not be long before they find us here."

Aquawing blinked, an inquisitive look in her eye. "But, you said this island was well hidden from any outsiders."

"The world is changing, Aquawing." Scales lowered his gaze. "The horned humans are becoming smarter, which means they are a lot more dangerous. They have built floating islands that can take them farther from their shores…and into dragon territory. I'm not sure I will be able to protect our colony if they really are able to travel to this island."

"Then, may I suggest something?" Aquawing asked. "What if we flee the island?"

Scales grimaced. "A risky idea, but perhaps it's the safest choice until we learn how to fight back against the humans. Very well, I will give the order." His ridge rose suddenly, and he turned to the entrance. The darkness outside was thicker than before, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"What is it?" Aquawing asked, worried.

"Nothing," Scales responded, and shook his head. He made his way to his nest, a plateau of flat rock where a pair of dragons rested. He saw Clawdia tending to her hatchling, Lightpaw. He smiled sweetly, as they noticed him.

"Pa!" Lightpaw jumped at him.

Scales chuckled at him. "Settle down, little one. I need to talk to your mother."

"About what?" Clawdia asked. A Light Fury like him, her white scales gleamed despite the darkness of the cave.

With slight hesitation, Scales looked at Lightpaw. "Can you wait here, son?"

"Sure, Pa!" The hatchling nodded obediently.

Scales walked away from the nest, with Clawdia following behind.

"Is it about the humans?" she asked.

"How'd you know?" Scales asked in surprise.

"I've known for a while," she reminded him with a kind smile. "When there's something troubling you, I always make sure to find out what."

Scales sighed. "I don't know if asking everyone to leave is the right decision. It'll be a long flight for the hatchlings, and I'm not sure they can all make the journey."

"The mothers can take turns carrying each others' hatchlings," Clawdia said, nuzzling him. "We will look out for each other, like we always do."

Scales felt anything but reassured, however. "And how far is far enough from the horned humans? What if we never find a safe place?"

"There is a safe place, dear," she told him. "I want to find the Hidden World."

"The Hidden World?" Scales frowned. "That's nothing but a legend."

"It's real, I know it." She said determinedly.

Scales opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of a boom was heard outside the caves, causing the ground to shake beneath their claws. "It can't be…not yet…"

"The horned humans," Clawdia snarled, panic-stricken in realization. "They're already here!" She turned to the nest and ran toward it immediately.

"Clawdia!" shouted Scales. "We must stay together at all times!" He heard another boom outside as something crashed into the walls again. He turned toward the entrance and saw long, wooden floating islands carrying humans onboard. He growled, baring his teeth. Those monsters! I won't let them do this! He let out an ear-deafening roar, startling every dragon in the cave.

Aquawing arrived by his side in an instant. "What's going on?" She gasped when she spotted the humans outside the cave entrance. "No, it's too soon…"

"Everyone, to battle!" Scales roared, determination burning in his eyes.

Aquawing spread her wings without a word and took flight with the others toward the invading humans.

Scales bolted outside, soaring with several others in a V-formation behind him. The horned humans were firing their sharp wooden spikes at the dragons, and he let out a commanding roar. "Aquawing, take your Nadders and destroy those rock-throwers!"

Aquawing squawked at her flock, who took off with her towards the rock-throwing towers on the beach.

Scales looked down as a horned human fired a wooden spike at him. He flew to the side and growled before opening his mouth, gas filled his lungs as he let out an ear-deafening screech and let loose a plasma blast at the human, who was flung onto his back in a purple mist, motionless.

A cacophony of roars and battle cries were heard all over the beach. Another barrage of flaming rocks were hurled at the walls of the nest, and the walls began crumbling in earnest.

Scales spotted a human preparing to run into the nest, and he landed in front of him, snarling. The human reared back, but he still raised his handheld metal claw above his head and charged.

Ducking underneath the swing of the metal weapon, Scales grabbed the human and sank his teeth into the human's throat. Red blood sprayed inside of his mouth and covered his teeth.

Scales widened his eyes when he saw four sets of human footprints leading into the mountain. He rushed into the cave, the rest of the battle momentarily forgotten.

As he made his way inside, Scales desperately sniffed at the air, then heart racing as he caught the scent of humans leading in the direction of his nest.

In a panic, he scrambled through the cave…and then he saw them.

The bloodied forms of Clawdia and Lightpaw, lying motionless on the ground in a sickening mix of human and dragon blood. Three humans lay dead nearby, and the fourth was struggling to pull his metal claw free from Clawdia's heart.

Scales let out an enraged roar, and the last human barely had time to turn around before a furious barrage of plasma blew him into chunks of meat and hot metal.

He roared again, this time one of pure anguish.

Scales didn't even turn around when he heard the sound of wings from behind. "Alpha, are you alright?" came Aquawing's voice.

"My family…they're…" Tears filled his eyes.

"I am sorry, Alpha, but we must leave now," she started. "There are more floating islands coming, and the humans are too great in number for us to wipe out."

Scales nodded shakily. "You're right." He took one last look at the bodies of Clawdia and Lightpaw before flying out of the cave with Aquawing. He fought back a sob, reminding himself that the rest of his colony was still in danger. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, my beloved. I promise I will find the Hidden World like you wanted, so this can never happen again.