Chapter One

Six years later

Facing northwest, Frost took flight. Her silver and blue scales shimmered in the rainforest sun. She flew above the trees.

The others didn't need to know where she was going, though Clay found out anyway while Glory tried to become queen.

"Where are you going?" He had asked.

"To the ice kingdom." She had replied, "Kestrel may have said my parents are dead, but that doesn't stop me from searching."

Clay had shifted his talons. "Be careful."

She had given him a playful grin. "When have I not?"

Now here she was, leaving the rainforest.

Leaving her friends.

Every wing beat, she thought of the others and how close they all were.

Clay. He was loyal and protected them. He and Frost always had fun together.

Tsunami, she and Frost were alike. They always sparred together, though neither of them won.

Glory.

She chuckled to herself.

She and Glory got along great, both sassy and sarcastic. Glory was more sarcastic than her.

Starflight, she already missed his long lectures.

Sunny, Frost thought of her as a little sister, though they were entirely different. She was peppy and, well, sunny. Frost was cold and protective.

She shook her head, trying to think of something else.

She needed to get to the ice kingdom.

She needed to find her family.

Her life.

After about a day of flying, she finally reached the cold plains of the ice kingdom. She took in a deep breath of the frosty air. It was refreshing, after flying through the blazing desert. Snow covered the ground everywhere. She landed softly on the snow. It stuck to her razor claws. She clenched her palm in the snow and picked up a handful, making a small ball of snow. She chuckled softly.

"Halt! Who goes there?!"

She whirled around and found a blue Icewing guard. He was a head taller than her and had gray eyes. He held a spear and wore a helmet.

"Answer the question!"

"Sorry," she replied, realizing he was facing the spear at her. "My name is Frost. I'm looking for the ice kingdom."

"You're in it, kid." He nearly spat. "I don't see your rank." He fingered with a chain around his neck. It had five circular rings on it.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." She said, holding back harsh words.

He scoffed. "Did you live under a rock?"

"Kind of." She muttered, but he showed no interest in what she said.

"Your rank. What circle you're in." He held up his necklace as an example.

She just stared at him. He stared back at her and waited for an answer.

"I don't have one?" She said, still confused. The guard huffed, a tiny bit of frost left his mouth.

"I'm going to have to take you in." He sighed. He reached for her wings. She pulled away and backed up. She's dealt with guards, she could take him.

But he didn't seem hostile.

What would the others do?

"I can walk by myself." She nearly snarled. He huffed at her and turned around.

"Follow me."

He took flight and flew north. She jumped into the air and followed him. He kept glancing back at her, checking to make sure she was still following him. They came up to a giant ice wall. It was tall and intimidating. She saw a couple caverns along it. Off to the right was a nearby forest and a dark cavern.

"Keep up!" The guard called as he flew above the wall. She followed close behind him. When she got over, the sun blasted and reflected off the snow. It was breathtaking. The guard looked at her.

"You really haven't seen the ice kingdom?" He asked. He dove down and flew towards a castle. She followed and took in the sight. It made her think of the prophecy.

The silver blue found near castle shards, the Icewing awaits with a palace guard.

She wondered if that guard was still alive..

Was the guard that was guiding her that guard?

She shook her head and landed beside the guard. He opened the palace doors and led her toward the palace throne room. Upon the throne sat a white Icewing with a blue icicle crown on her head. Her artic blue eyes stared down on Frost.

"Your majesty," the blue Icewing guard bowed. She followed his example and bowed alongside him. She stared at the queen. Starflight's voice spoke through her head.

"Queen Glacier has three daughters; Crystal, Snowfall, and Mink."

There were three dragons that sat beside the queen. One of them was bigger and looked a bit bored. She was white with blue eyes. She looked a bit like the queen.

"She must be Crystal." Frost thought. Beside Crystal was a smaller dragon. She had a white body with gray tips along her wings. Her eyes were gray, almost like a seal.

"Mink. That means.."

Frost's eyes fell on the last dragon. She was taller than Mink but shorter than Crystal. She was white with little hints of orange along her wings. Her dark blue eyes gave Frost a cold stare. Frost gave her a cold stare back. Snowfall's eyes widened as she watched Frost, almost cautious of her. Frost looked back up at the queen.

"I found this dragonet near the wall. She has no rank." The guard continued. Frost stood up straight.

The queen waved a talon and stood up, walking up to her.

"Who are your parents? Maybe we can find what rank you are-"

"My father was Hviter. He died before I was born. I don't know my mother." She spoke.

The queen looked at her. The guard eyed her with anger.

"Do not interrupt the Queen!" He roared. Queen Glacier held up her talons to stop the guard. She looked at her, observing her.

"Follow me, what was your name again?" She asked her.

"Frost, your majesty." She spoke with respect. Queen Glacier nodded her head and led her out of the room. She looked behind her and watched the other Icewings. Crystal and Mink left the throne room toward the opposite hallway. But she stared at Snowfall. She watched Frost as she left the room and whispered something to the blue Icewing guard. He nodded as the doors closed behind the queen and Frost. Frost turned around and walked with the queen.

"Hviter, you say?" She asked. Frost nodded her head. "I can see his silver scales on you. But your pale blue scales stump me." She walked off and opened a door to a type of library. Frost followed behind her as she looked at the immense amount of scrolls.

"Aha!" She said, pulling a certain scroll off the shelf. "Hviter.. Hviter.. Ah here he is." She held the scroll out to Frost. "He had a mate named Aurora. She was a palace guard."

Frost's face lit up as she looked at the queen. The queen looked up at Frost with a sad smile. "She died six years ago." She rolled up the scroll and placed it upon the shelf.

"During a battle against some blasted mudwings." She spat.

Frost's heart sank. Her only family left.. gone.

The queen placed her talons on Frost's shoulder. "I'm truly sorry."

Frost looked down and nodded.

"I should get going." She spoke, softly. The queen nodded and walked out, leaving Frost in the library. Frost glanced at the scroll. Pulling it off, she rolled it open to Aurora.

Tears skimmed her eyes. Under Aurora's name was a drawing of her. Frost could see her blue icicles down her back that matched Frost's. Her eyes were the color of a blue night.

Like Frost's.

She rolled up the scroll and placed it back on the shelf, gritting her teeth. She kept her head low and walked out, only to run into the same guard as before. She stood up straight, eyeing him with caution.

"Princess Snowfall would like to see you." He snarled.

Keeping herself from snarling back, she followed slowly behind him. He opened a door to some sort of ice garden, full of frost lilies and ferns. Snowfall sat in the middle of the garden, admiring some horn bracelet with a black stone in the middle. A stone that looked like a moon.

"You wished to see me." Frost sighed, mocking a bow.

If Snowfall noticed, she didn't show it. She just nodded and waved her talons around.

"Tell me, why are you here?" She asked, standing up.

Why was she asking? Didn't she hear her before?

"I'm here to find my family," She said. She lowered her head. "Too late now." She mumbled.

Snowfall just sniffed, looking down on her. "You sure you weren't here to murder me?"

She looked at her, confused. "What?"

"I've been onto you since you walked into this palace." She snarled.

The door slammed behind Frost, the guard standing in front of it. She turned back, a sharp pain across her left eye and the bridge of her muzzle.

Frost roared, grabbing her left eye. When she pulled her talons away, there was blue cool sticky substance on her claws. Her left eye wouldn't open fully. She cowered under Snowfall. Snowfall wiped Frost's blood in the snow.

"What is wrong with you, icicle snot?!" Frost roared.

"How dare you!!" The guard roared, but Snowfall held up her claws.

"I can fight my own battles." She said, looking toward the guard.

Frost jumped at Snowfall, aiming her claws toward her throat. Snowfall dodged her attack and clawed her left shoulder. Frost howled and aimed anywhere near Snowfall, trying to injure her. Snowfall pinned her down, clawing her underbelly. Frost tried fighting back, but failed, still being pinned down. Snowfall fought to place the weird horn bracelet on Frost's horn.

Snowfall had won.

Sliding the horn bracelet on, Frost froze up, falling limp. Her eyes slowly drooped.

"That," Snowfall sighed, wiping her claws again. "Is an animus touched item."

Frost fought the sleep, failing miserably.

Before Frost closed her eyes for the last time, She heard Snowfall speak.

"Take her body, somewhere where no one will find her."