Prologue

The wind from the volcano swept hot ash over the rocky slope, scattering dust across the black scales of the three NightWings dragonets gathered by the shore. The dragonet stood between two older dragonets, her wings tucked tight against her sides as they huddled around the enormous fish that lay flopping in the dirt. It had taken the combined strength of all three to drag the creature from the ocean's depths, and now they were squabbling over how to share it.

"It's only fair that I get the biggest piece," said Darkseer, his talons already tearing into the fish's side, scales flashing in the fading light of the volcano's glow. "I caught it."

"And I helped pull it out," grumbled Mistshadow, her eyes narrowed as she slapped Darkseer's talon away. "You'd still be dragging it if I hadn't come along."

"You're both ridiculous," the dragonet muttered, shaking her head as the argument went on. She was barely half their size but had long since grown used to their bickering. Her name was Eclipse, though everyone still called her "hatchling," despite the fact she'd been hatched for almost five years now. She nudged her way between the older NightWings and sliced a neat section from the fish's belly with a flick of her sharp claws.

"There," Eclipse said, offering the pieces equally. "Now quit fighting before we attract something hungrier."

Darkseer shot her a glance, clearly unimpressed, but accepted the portion with a grumble. She's always sticking her snout where it doesn't belong, his thoughts whispered, unbidden. Acting like she's so much wiser than us.

Eclipse resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She'd long since stopped trying to explain that hearing thoughts wasn't something she chose to do. It just happened. She couldn't help knowing what Darkseer thought of her—just like she couldn't help hearing the way Mistshadow always thought of her as "too small to be of much use."

She bit into her own piece of fish, the salty taste filling her mouth as the two older dragons continued to bicker. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but the vision she had seen—the vision—was pressing at the edges of her mind. It was impossible to ignore.

Before she could stop herself, she spoke, the words slipping out in a rush. "There's a storm coming," she said softly, her voice almost lost in the crackle of volcanic ash and the distant rumble of the molten lava far below. Both older dragons paused and turned to her, their heads tilted in confusion.

Eclipse took a breath and continued. "Scavengers," she said, her voice firmer now, "from another world. They'll come through the sky, bringing wings of steel. Fire will rain down, and the tides of war will shift. There will be no more balance. No more peace. Only chaos, as the future of dragon history changes forever."

Darkseer blinked, his mouth half-open, the fish momentarily forgotten. Mistshadow, too, stared at her, though the disbelief was already growing in her thoughts. Not this again, she was thinking. Poor hatchling, still pretending she has powers.

"Prophecies again, Eclipse?" Darkseer finally said, his voice full of amusement. "I thought you'd grown out of this." He chuckled and shook his head, tearing off another bite of fish. "Wings of steel? Really? What kind of nonsense is that?"

Mistshadow snorted. "And scavengers?" She laughed, the sound harsh. "Scavengers can barely feed themselves, let alone cause fire to rain down from the sky. What next? Will they start flying like dragons too?"

Eclipse felt her temper rise, but she shoved it down. She was used to this by now. No one believed her when she spoke of her visions or the thoughts she overheard. The other NightWings didn't trust powers like hers, and sometimes she found herself believing them too. But this vision she saw, it was too surreal to just be some childish dream her head had conjured.

"Laugh all you want," Eclipse muttered, her wings twitching with frustration. "But I know what I saw. Something big is coming."

Mistshadow rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, I'm sure the scavengers will march right in here tomorrow and tell Queen Battlewinner to move aside."

Darkseer laughed along with her. "Maybe they'll bring us more fish. If they have wings of steel, surely they can catch bigger ones than this."

Eclipse didn't respond. She let their laughter wash over her, biting down her anger. They'll see, she thought, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. I saw the future. I heard the whispers of things to come. But what does it mean? And why Scavengers?

As the two older NightWings bickered on, Eclipse's mind drifted back to the image that haunted her. A sky torn open, like a rip in the fabric of the world. Wings of steel—scavengers flying in strange, unnatural machines. Fire raining down as dragons fought against something they couldn't understand.

Wings of steel. It had seemed impossible at first. But the more she thought about it, the more it felt… right. Like a puzzle she hadn't quite solved. The scavengers had always been a mystery to the dragons. Could they really be more than just a nuisance, more than prey?

Why can't they believe me? Eclipse thought, casting a glance at Darkseer and Mistshadow. But she already knew the answer. They didn't trust her. They didn't trust her powers, because they didn't want to believe powers like hers still existed.

They'll have to believe me soon, she thought. When whatever those wings of steel arrive, no dragon will be able to ignore it..