Chapter 17

Asha

It was quiet for the most part. They were far away from the Silver kingdom. As far as they could get at least. The trees sounded as though they were whispering to her, letting their thoughts spill out. A shiver went up her spine as a cold wind blew through the trees. Asha looked up to see storm clouds gathering above her, ready to unleash its furry.

"Are we sure it's safe here?" She asked Nightshade.

"It's the safest we'll be." He looked at her. "It's going to be alright. He won't bother to look in the other Kingdoms for us."

"How are we sure of that?" Ghost came up behind him, Mystery in tow. Wind was blowing hard in their faces, obscuring their expressions. The trees whipped around in a fright as thunder bombed overhead.

"We need to find better shelter." Nightshade said over the torrent.

He pushed forwards towards the trees. Asha followed him with unsteady steps. Trees creaked at every wind blow. It made her scales crawl. Nightshade avoided getting smacked with branches ahead of her, making a clear path for her and the others. At least as clear as it could be.

As they moved closer to the center, rain started to pour down. Water seeped into her scales as they continued on. Asha wanted to stop. To get out of the rain and dry off. But there was nowhere dry out here. It was all submerged under water.

"Up ahead. There's a cave." Nightshade called.

Asha gave a sigh of relief. A cave meant relief from the rain. Nightshade went ahead, checking the cave for any sign of life. It was empty as far as Asha could see from the outside. Nightshade gave a quick nod showing it was safe. Asha walked inside to the dark cave. It was barely big enough for the four of them to fit.

"We can stay here during the storm. Once it ends I'll go out and hunt." Nightshade curled into a corner.

Ghost and Mystery curled next to each other near the exit, careful not to let a limb out in the rain. Asha laid down next to them and watched the rain fall. The pitter patter of the rain made her feel relaxed and calm. Her eyes began to droop as the rain poured harder. Asha closed her eyes ready for sleep before she heard a voice.

Her eyes flung open and her head shot up. She looked around the cave, seeing the others were asleep. She shook her head deciding it was her imagination and laid back down.

She closed her eyes trying to sleep but she couldn't. The voice she had heard was nudging her brain, keeping her awake. She buried her face in her talons, wanting to sleep. It was her imagination. Right? It had to be. They were alone. Or maybe it was one of the others talking in their sleep. She decided that was it and let her mind mull over it, finally letting sleep over take her.

"Wake up." A voice nudged her side. "Asha. Wake up. The rain is gone."

Asha let out a big yawn and stretched, opening one eye to see who it was. Ghost was at her side. "Where's Nightshade?"

"He went out hunting about an hour ago. He told us to join him once you wake up." Ghost moved towards the cave entrance.

Asha got up and looked out of the cave. It was still dark but the storm had passed. The ground was damp from the rain earlier. Asha took a few steps forward, relishing the space she could now move. The cave was small and cramped. Asha opened and closed her wings, listening to the slight breeze in the trees.

Asha jumped as a dragon emerged from the brush with a rabbit in his talons.

"Calm down." Nightshade jumped as well.

"We were just about to look for you." Ghost looked at him.

"I think fishing will be our best bet. All I found was this." he dropped the rabbit. It was rather thin and on the small side. It squirmed in his talons letting out terrified noises.

"I agree." Asha said, looking at the rabbit. "We should let it go."

She took it from Nightshade and released it back into the brush. It scurried off as fast as it could into the darkness. She looked back to see Nightshade giving her a smile.

"What?" she asked him.

"Nothing." he simply said.

He turned around and went away, the others following him. Asha followed close behind. Her stomach gave a quiet grumble of hunger. They soon made it to a beach. They watched carefully for other dragons around them before diving into the water.

Nightshade stayed on the beach next to Asha. "You should stay here."

"What? Why? I can hunt for my own food." She protested.

"If we run into a group of Shimmerwings they'll recognize you." he countered. "You'll be fine. I'll catch you something." he gave her a look and dived in after the other two.

Asha sat on the beach grumbling to herself. She dipped a talon in the sand, watching as it folded away. She flicked her tail, filing sand away from her. She gave a low sigh and watched for Nightshade or Ghost to surface.

Asha's head snapped to the right as she heard voices. A bunch of voices. She got up and scrambled towards the trees as fast as she could. She held her breath not wanting to make a sound. Crouching low to the ground she peeked through the trees to see the dragons.

She could see their outlines. Some looked like Shimmerwings while others she couldn't tell. She shifted closer and a branch snapped under her talon. She reeled back before they could see her.

` "What was that?" A voice asked.

There was silence. "It was probably a bird." another replied.

Asha gave a sigh. That was close.

Asha? She could hear someone's thoughts. What's happening?

Dragons. A whole lot of them. She replied back.

Are you hidden? Nightshade asked worriedly.

For now. I can't tell what tribe they are. Can you? She asked him.

Shimmerwings. And maybe Silverwings. He hissed.

What should I do? It's a big group. I can't go around or they'll notice me. She panicked.

Stay hidden. We'll take care of them. He said. She then heard three splashes out of the water and dragons roaring.

"Moon takes cover!" one dragon yelled.

"Kinkajou look out!" another screamed.

"Winter behind you!"

Asha covered her ears not wanting to hear the screams.

She opened her eyes and uncovered her ears. It was quiet. She looked up and out the trees to look for Nightshade. Vines wrapped around his wings and legs, strapping him to the ground. Ghost and Mystery as well.

Nightshade looked towards her direction. "Run!" He called her. "Get out of here!"

Asha turned around and fled. Tree branches smacked her face as she ran through them. Tears streamed down her face as she ran away from the beach. She could hear noises coming from behind her, but she was unsure if it was dragons chasing her.

Seeing the cave she had just slept in ahead of her she sped up and lept inside, sliding into a corner. She breathed heavily, gasping for air. She heard a snap in the trees and held her breath. The air went still as she tried to slow her heart. She watched from the cave, silent as she could be. It was still outside. More still than she could think it would be.

Someone was out there, looking for her. She knew it. Her talons trembled as she took a cautious step towards the entrance.

Suddenly vines grew from the ground, tangling around her. First her legs then her wings. She tried to pull away from them, biting at the living plant. Fear pounded through her as she struggled to the ground in an entangled mess of vines and scales.

As she tried to free herself a dragon appeared in front of her. Its scales, a dark green with gold flecks spread across its body, and wings looming over its body like the giant Rowan leaves in Silver Kingdom.

Asha let out a growl. She thrashed in the vines more, only to feel them tighten around her. They were so tight her breath hiccuped. It made her thrash more. Every time she did it grew tighter and tighter, cutting off her air. Her thrashing grew weaker and her eyes began to blur.

The last thing she knew was the green dragon had started pulling her away from the cave before she passed out.

Asha's eyes flung open. The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. She blinked a few times, not sure how she ended up on the beach. She tried to move but her sore muscles wouldn't let her. Or they couldn't. Thick vines were wrapped around her talons, legs and wings. Not to mention the one tied around her mouth.

She gazed around her frantically. She could see Ghost and Mystery to her left and to her right was Nightshade. He was watching her. The three of them had the same bounds tied around them.

Nightshade? She thought to him.

Asha, are you ok? He asked.

I think so. She groaned. What happened?

They caught us. Ghost hissed.

We were outnumbered. Nightshade explained. When you said there were a whole lot of them there really was.

How many? She asked him.

More than ten. He thought about it. We didn't get the greatest of looks. But there was fire.

So Silverwings? She panicked.

I don't know. Nightshade looked at her. I'm sorry.

We have to get out of here. Ghost squirmed. We have to be able to cut these somehow.

A dragon stepped out in front of them. She was a lavender color with splotches of bright pink.

Princess Calypso? Asha gasped. If she tells her mother he'll find us. She started breathing heavily.

"I'm going to undo your restraints. I want to know why you attacked us." She went forward and untied Nightshade's mouth. He snarled in turn. "Why did you attack us?" she questioned again.

He glared at her. "I'd rather eat my own tail."

"Gladly." a voice said from behind. This voice sounded unamused and angry.

They can't tell Alistar if they don't know who we are. Nightshade said.

But Calypso could recognize me. Asha looked at him.

That's something we'll have to deal with later. He pointed out.

He looked up at Calypso. "Thought you were an enemy." he lied.

Calypso looked back to the dragons behind her and looked like she didn't believe him. She looked back at him. "A lie." She tied the vine around his jaw again and his eyes filled with anger.

Calypso moved towards Asha. Asha's eyes widened in fear. Nightshade what do I do?

I don't know. He struggled in his vines.

Calypso took the vines away from Asha's jaws. Asha clamped them shut.

"Why did you attack us?" Calypso asked her.

"Actually, that one didn't attack. She ran." another voice came from behind her.

"Why did your friends attack us?" Calypso questioned instead.

Asha looked around frantically. She could only see one option. She inhaled a breath, ready to blow flames out in front of her. Calypso saw this and dodged away just in time as sand turned to glass in a matter of seconds. A few rouge pieces of wood and leaves were on the beach. She rolled on top of them, burning some of her scales. The vines around her wings snapped and from there she could undo the rest.

She breathed a wall of fire towards the dragons without thinking. She leapt to Nightshade, slicing his vines. Then the both of them went to Mystery and Ghost doing the same.

Just as Asha had gotten Ghost's undone, a giant mass of brown scales flew through the fire and landed on top of her. Asha writhed under the dragon's talons, scratching and kicking at her attacker.

"No!" She heard Nightshade yell. She looked over to see Nightshade, Ghost and Mystery glaring at the dragon on top of her. She was surrounded by dragons all a different color.

"Go!" She called to him.

"Not without you." He growled at the dragon growing closer to him. "You can't take her back." he snapped.

"We'll take her wherever we want." The green dragon from before snapped back.

"If they take me it all ends. He won't look for you anymore." She yelled from under mud brown talons. "Go. Save yourselves."

"I won't let them." Nightshade looked at her with sad eyes.

You have to. She thought to him. She looked at the dragon atop of her. With all of her strength she kicked up, making the dragon lose his grip. With fast movements she sped out from under him.

"Go." she leapt over another dragon.

"I'm not leaving you." he called again. He was on top of one dragon beside her. "You are a future Queen. You are our tribe's only hope." he bit the dragon then jumped by her. Mystery and Ghost at her side as well.

Princess Calypso had stopped trying to get at her. "Stop!" she yelled. The other dragons seemed to stop, only a few growling and giving them looks. Asha held her ground, glaring at the dragons.

"Your Princess Asha?" Calypso came up to her.

Asha stared at the princess. A sad feeling came into her heart as she was called princess again.

The other Shimmerwings came behind Calypso, all in disbelief. All at once they bowed in front of her. A strange awkwardness came over her as these dragons bowed to her. The other dragons looked at her in confusion.

Nightshade gave Asha a look and put a wing around her shoulder.

Calypso stood up. "It has been years."

"Yes." She simply said.

"Why didn't you tell us it was you?" She asked.

"I thought you would turn me in." Asha rubbed her arm.

"I wouldn't. Alistar's reign has been horrible for us all. With you here. Alive. We have a chance to beat him." Calypso said enthusiastically.

"What about your Queen?" Nightshade asked. "Does she feel the same?"

"I believe my mother does. She's holding a council of the rulers. Without Alistar." Calypso's face lit up. "If you come to the council we could show the other Queens we have a chance of stopping him."

Asha instantly shook her head. "I don't want to be Queen. I gave up that title as soon as he took the throne."

"Why would you give up being Queen?" A blue dragon asked.

"Because of what he's done." She shuddered. "He's killed everyone I've ever cared for. Except these three. Alistar cannot be stopped."

"How do you know if you don't try?" A black dragon came up behind the blue one.

"I've tried." a tear went down her cheek. "He wiped out an entire village. The whole thing. Dragonets. Healers. Everything. Gone."

The black dragon gave a gasp.

"We haven't tried everything." Nightshade looked at her.

She shook her head. "I won't let anyone else get hurt because of me."

"I think it's too late for that." The black dragon stepped forward. "I know why your mother wants to assemble the Queens." She turned to Calypso.

"What?" Calypso tilted her head.

"When Mist and Queen Azule were waiting for us. I heard their thoughts. King Alistar had sent patrols to go out and kill as many lone patrols as they could." the black dragon explained.

Asha's eyes grew wide. "He won't stop."

"That's why he can't find out about them." Calypso thought out loud. "My mother knew he would go after their tribes."

"He wants to eliminate the Queens." Asha gasped. "That's what he said before I fled. He wants to rule Grairokora. Him alone. All tribes."

Calypso looked at her with a pale face. "He. He can't."

A/N Again I went way overboard even though I said I wouldn't. If I've done this twice you can assume I'll do it again. The reason I made this one so much longer is because of all the stuff happening in it. Asha meets the dragons from Pyrrhia and Pantala while also learning Alistar isn't just killing to find her but also to rule the continent. Anyway, I expect a lot more to happen in the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.