Arctic

"Do you really mean to destroy the entire Night Kingdom?" Arctic asked Queen Diamond. He felt desperate to turn the conversation away from his own past mistakes and toward solutions for Foeslayer's freedom and the future of both their tribes.

"The war must end. And Darkstalker must die," Queen Diamond repeated. "If these things can be accomplished while sparing the rest of their kingdom, so be it. But Foeslayer is in their army. She will NOT fight against us, and she will NOT be there to protect her dragonet. She may return to the Night Kingdom only after the work is finished. If you share the information you have, you could prevent so much bloodshed… on both sides."

Arctic glanced at Whiteout.

She wasn't there.

He turned his head the other direction, then spun around completely.

"Where's Whiteout?!" Arctic asked, his voice rising in a panic. His beloved dragonet and only real ally – gone? How? He'd already lost Foeslayer, perhaps forever; he couldn't lose the only other dragon he really loved. He couldn't.

Queen Diamond turned her head sharply. The other dragons in the room looked curiously from side to side. None of them could see Whiteout anywhere.

"Guards!" Queen Diamond barked. "Find her!" Several IceWings scurried around and out of the room, rushing to follow their queen's command. "Is this part of her powers?" Diamond asked Arctic sharply.

"No," Arctic said. "I don't know anything about this." He paused. "This wasn't you, Mother? You didn't take her from me to get me to cooperate?"

"No," Diamond replied agitatedly. But that wouldn't have been a bad idea, she thought. I'd get Arctic's cooperation and more time to explore the powers she's bringing to the Ice Kingdom. The IceWings need those powers. Nothing can happen to her.

"Whiteout!" Arctic yelled uselessly.

"Yelling won't help!" Diamond yelled right back at him. "GO LOOK FOR HER! Bring her to me!"

Despite the ever-rising panic that threatened to flood his whole being, Arctic had a moment of clarity. "If I can find her, will you release Foeslayer to me?"

Queen Diamond's eyes widened, her pupils shrinking in apoplectic rage.

"BRING HER TO ME OR I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!" she squawked.

Arctic scurried toward the door.

Just as he was exiting the doorway, Arctic heard Snowfox's voice.

"Arctic. Dear cousin." Arctic locked eyes with her. "I have business to attend to with the queen." She wore a sickening grin, which drew Arctic's gaze… and then he saw the necklace. Whiteout's necklace. Whiteout's only source of protection in this hostile place.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HER?!" Arctic shrieked, launching himself at Snowfox. She pushed him off easily, protected as she was by Whiteout's necklace.

"She's sleeping," Snowfox said cryptically. "Excuse me." Then she scurried right past him into the doorway. "Queen Diamond!" she called.

Arctic spun around to follow Snowfox back into the room.

"It's her!" he shouted to Diamond. "That's Whiteout's necklace! She has her!"

"Shut up," Snowfox spat. "Queen Diamond! The war must end. You have been too soft against the NightWings, and now you invite this traitorous, murderous prince and his half-breed offspring right into the heart of your council chamber as friends. The IceWing tribe deserves better. Therefore – I challenge you for the throne."