The Dragon and the Fox

Deya and Kira were forced to navigate through the passages of the palace, trying to find a door outside. Finally, Kira gave up and flew out of a window, which was fortunately big enough for Deya to fit through as well.

They emerged out into a raging storm, with wind gusts that practically threw Kira into the sky, pushing and pulling her in a dangerous spiral. The wind whistled angrily, throwing rain and lightning at the two flyers. It was all Kira could do to stay next to Deya, though admittedly her wings did a lot of the work.

“Where are we?” Kira shouted, the wind stealing her voice.

Somehow, the message reached Deya. “I think we’re just off the coast of the Wolf Lands!” It was faint in Kira’s ears.

“So where to next?” Kira yelled, struggling in the wind. Cold rain stung her eyes, and it was hard to see in the cloud cover.

“We should—” Deya’s voice was cut off as something rammed into her, driving her to the ground.

“Deya!” Kira shrieked, folding her wings and plummeting after the falling Dragon. Something grey and purple was on top of her, and Kira thought she glimpsed a wing. Another Dragon, perhaps?

Whatever it was, if it didn’t get off Deya, it would face Kira’s wrath.

The thing on top of Deya kicked her chest, and right before she fell, Kira saw a rocky spike jutting out of the fog. Deya was falling right towards it.

The little fox screamed, and everything went white.

Kira woke when she was thrown on a cold, hard floor.

Her limbs were stiff, and her eyes hurt. Her head was throbbing. The last thing she remembered…Images flitted past her in her mind. Deya. Something about the white Dragon.

Then, it came to her clearly. Deya falling. A rock spike, pointed towards her. A burst of white light.

She gasped and leaped to her feet.

“Oh look,” a snide voice said. “The little weakling is awake.”

Kira lashed her tail, not even comprehending her surroundings before replying. “I wasn’t so weak when you were hiding from me in the clouds. Scared?”

There was a loud growl, and Kira turned around to see two Dragons. One sat on a throne, looking amused, and the other looked furious.

“You—you little—” the furious Dragon lunged for her, snarling and baring his fangs, but the other one—lightning fast—grabbed ahold of his grey tail and pulled him short with ease.

“Now now,” he chided. “We can’t be treating out guests that way, Druk.”

Druk growled, struggling. “Let me tear her to pieces!”

“No,” the other Dragon said firmly, giving his tail a firm tug until Druk crept back to his master’s side.

Kira smirked. “Poor, poor wittle Druk,” she taunted in a baby voice. “Even his master knows how weak he is! Go snivel in the corner.”

Druk swelled with indignation, energy running across his scales. He roared, then ran towards her, blinded by rage. His claws reached towards her, but Kira managed to keep the smile on her face.

“STOP!” the Dragon on the throne shouted. A thunderclap echoed in the chamber they were in, and a bright flash illuminated them all. He reared and spread his wings, landing in front of Druk, who cowered at his feet.

“Master, I-I—” Druk stammered. His rage now quenched, he looked terrified. Kira’s spirits soared.

“Enough,” the Dragon said with authority. “Druk—leave, now. I will speak to you later about your unacceptable behavior.”

“Y-y-yes, my lord,” Druk said, then bolted out of the double doors on the other side of the room. Kira’s eyes followed him, narrowing.

It appeared that she was in another throne room. This one was more lively than the Moon Dragons’, she had to admit, though it disgusted her. Treasure was piled in random places, glittering and sparkling in the sunlight. Tapestries decorated the walls, portraying the heavily exaggerated stories of Dragon history, which made Kira’s gut clench with anger. The ceiling was painted with designs of clouds, with occasional purple streaks shining through them. Windows all around the room opened to the air, sunshine streaking through them and lighting the room. Wispy clouds floated by, seeming to circle…wherever they were.

“Well.” The strange Dragon returned to his throne, his expression mellowing into a mischievous face as he looked at Kira. “Where were we? Oh, yes. You, cowering beneath my feet, asking for my mercy to—”

“Nope,” Kira interrupted. “I don’t need your permission for anything. Where am I?”

“In my palace, of course,” the Dragon answered. Despite the fact that Kira had interrupted her, he still had an expression of glee on his face.

“Who are you?”

“Oh!” The Dragon looked surprised. “I didn’t tell you? I’m Tempest. King of the Dragons of the Clouds, leader of the Army of Storms, summoner of lightning and thunder, et cetera, et cetera.”

Kira rolled her eyes. “Whatever. And you captured me because….?”

“Oh, it wasn’t you I was after.” Tempest laughed. “That Dragon you were traveling with—she was the target. I’m afraid you’re not important at all.”

Not important at all. The words rang in Kira’s head. No, she thought. I’ve made a mistake.

“Where is she!” Kira demanded. “Where is Deya?”

“How cute,” Tempest purred. His tail tip flicked Kira’s chin. “The little fox is trying to rescue the Dragon. Tell me, what do you plan to do about it?”

“Tell me.” Kira was in no mood for Tempest.

“She’s at our finest prison,” Tempest responded, obviously enjoying her anger. He leaned in close to Kira’s face, grinning wickedly. “You’ll never find her.”

“Why?” Kira asked. “Why take her? We’re trying to save Cyalia!”

“Hmm. How honorable.” Tempest examined his claws. “You see, some of us—the higher ups, of course—don’t think Cyalia needs saving.”

Kira was shocked. “You mean you would let all of those innocent creatures die?”

Tempest shrugged. “They would repopulate eventually. We might even intervene if it became threatening.”

Kira seethed. “My whole pack died. Is that not threatening?”

“Mmm, nope.” Tempest flashed his teeth at her. Kira growled.

“Why are you keeping me here, then?” she challenged.

“Because you have a secret that I want,” Tempest said. “Deya’s powers. How did you get them?”

Kira was taken aback. She glared at the gray-purple Dragon sitting on the throne in front of her. “Why do you want to know?”

“Her abilities are…rather unique,” Tempest responded. “Normal Light Dragons can just summon a few rainbows and nice tunes. But Deya is different. All of nature reacts to her. When she sings, it’s mesmerizing. She can control a little lightning, and a few other little tidbits. You have inherited them, and I want to know how.”

Kira thought for a moment. Telling Tempest how she got Deya’s powers would be leaving Deya in the dust. Shutting her mouth would be suicide.

“Tell you what, Tempest,” she said. “If I vow to tell you the secret, will you swear to send your Dragon armies to help me and Deya defeat the Black Dragon?”

Tempest laughed. “A deal with you, little fox?”

Kira smiled toothily.

Tempest grinned at her. “You got me.” He clapped his wings together, creating a clap of thunder that pealed through the room. Not more than two seconds later, a smaller Dragon cracked open one of the twin doors, peering in hesitantly.

“Ah, Aella!” Tempest said. “Send out a decree that the army is to start battle training for fighting other Dragons immediately. Tell them that they need to practice their counterattacks to magic.”

Aella dipped her head obediently. “Yes, sire.”

The door closed behind her.

“Now…” Tempest rubbed his talons together and looked greedily at Kira. “What about that secret?”

“For the record, I didn’t say when.” Kira smirked.

For a moment, Tempest was stunned. Then he began laughing.

“I am very angry with you right now!” Tempest said in between laughs.

Holy Night of Darkness, Kira cursed. It was obvious now; Tempest was insane. He would soon be upon her if she didn’t escape right now.

But what about Deya?

Kira glanced out of the closest window, then looked back at Tempest. Lightning was gathering all around him, twirling and flashing into a cyclone.

The little fox bit her lip.

Then she spread her wings and flew out of the nearest window, listening to Tempest’s angry roars filling the air behind her.