Also I have a wolf story I've wanted to post for a while, buuuuut I don't feel like posting it yet.

I also reuse names from past characters so if you see a name from a character I've had in that past then yeh, I probably changed it.
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Currently also working on chapter 7 of Balance, eek I think Chapter 8 is gonna kill you all gaghgahagh or maybe 9, depends

I'm currently finishing up an upload of a speedpaint of Lapis and Peridot, once the video is out I can post the artwork with it. It's gonna take forever tho, it'll probably be up on YouTube at like 12 or something.
(Uhhh, 12pm midwestern time)

Anyways, hope you all like it, IT TOOK SO MUCH EDITING

     "What- why did you protect me?" Melody said behind Frostbite.

     "I didn't protect you," Frostbite said growling. "The Queen would kill me if you died without telling who your parents were first. I don't care if you die."

     Melody was hurt by that. Maybe she should just die, then this nightmare would be over. They had reached another camp. It was the original camp. Great, now she'd be locked up again.

     "Woah woah woah, where are you going so fast?" A guard slowed Frostbite.

     "The Main Base is under attack, we need forces over there NOW." Frostbite continued running down the hall.

     They had passed her cell, where were they going now? There claws skid along the stone floor. Frostbite burst into another room, Ice Dragon guards and soldier eyes glared at tgem from every corner of the room. Did they just disturb their break time?

     "Main Base is under fire," Frostbite quickly uttered, the Ice Dragons sat up and hurried outside, spreading out into different directions.

     Suddenly there was a large boom, the cave and hallways shook, rocks fell from the ceiling to the floor. Frostbite immediately sprinted back down the same hall, arriving outside. Air Dragons swarmed around the camp, Ice Dragons panicked and fought them back.

     "Release the prisoners," An Air Dragon boomed over the camp.

     "It's a raid," Frostbite breathed. Melody somehow understood. The Air Dragons wants their dragons back.

     "Hybrid," a random Air Dragon said in disgust, scrunching up his snout. "We should kill you just for looking that way." He snarled.

     'I didn't do anything..' Melody said in her head, she was too afraid to say it aloud.

     This place was chaos, the fire was spreading to the trees but the snow on their branches prevented everything from spreading out. Without warning Melody was attacked, again. Snow flurried around the faces, fire reflected off of ice, the light dancing around the dragons. Melody rolled out of the way, ducking her head. She was pinned to the ground by the neck, she twisted her face to shoot a blast of fire at her attacker. A small plume of flame escaped her mouth, but she was too weak. She felt a slash at her shoulders. Why. Why her?

"Melody!" She heard Frostbite yell. A few moments afterward she felt the weight on her back lift, and she was free. She craned her neck to see that Frostbite had tackled her attacker. That was the first time he said her name. Frostbite shoved the Air Dragon off, running toward Melody and grasping her arm again.

"Blubber," she heard Frostbite curse again. They darted into the trees, Frostbite created a small ice blockade.

Melody drooped her head down. Her neck felt numb. Frostbite came to stand in front of Melody, he lifted her face to his. Melody's eyes weren't as bright as they were two days ago. He came over to her right side, looking at her wound. She heard Frostbite mumble to himself, and as fast as they came they left, Frostbite leading her to somewhere new. Melody didn't know where they were headed. Was she going to die? Maybe that was a good thing.

"Flurry!" Frostbite called out, they had wandered inside of a cave. Moss padded the floors and animal hyde was used as nests, blankets, and curtains from the cold.

Melody saw a slender Ice Dragon with light teal scales walk from the back. She had long ruffled hair, with pale eyes.

"Oh my, what is it?" Flurry looked around wildly.

Frostbite laid Melody on the floor, Melody groaned in pain. She was in and out of consciousness.

"Oh my-" Flurry clasped her talons over ber mouth. She quickly scurried behind a curtain, she then returned with herbs and berries of all sorts. She had stored many before the snow got worse in the Fall and Winter.

Melody couldn't remember anything after that. Her world once again went black.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Melody shot her eyes open. She was still inside the same cave. Little wooden shelves held items and herbs, a small lantern glowered above her head. What happened? She turned her head and rubbed her neck. She scrunched up her snout and shut her eyes, slowly opening them. Maybe she shouldn't have touched her fresh wound. It had been cleaned and smothered with odd looking stuff. Smelled like mint.

"Oh she's awake," she heard Flurry say calmly.

"Oh thank the heavens," Frostbite said relieved, rubbing his head.

Melody sat up, her body felt sore. She glanced outside, the clouds had left and the stars had come to play. The moonlight danced along the freshly fallen snow. Frostbite took Melody's arm again, leading her outside.

"Thanks for all the help Flurry," Frostbite said graciously.

She nodded, smiling. Now that was odd, an Ice Dragon helping Melody? Melody kinda sorta liked Flurry, she was the first Ice Dragon to help her.

When they treaded through the snow Melody was shaking uncontrollably. She was starving. She coughed a few times. She wasn't cold, she could stand the temperature, but she felt tired, sore, and hungry. She gazed up at the stars with the urge to fly off into the air, but she knew Frostbite would just catch her anyways. There was no point.

There was just one thing nagging her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about it.
.
  'What- why did you protect me?'
.
     'I didn't protect you. The Queen would kill me if you died without telling who your parents were first. I don't care if you die.'
.
.
'I don't care if you die.'
.
.
So why was she still alive.

     "Yeah yeah, I get it."

     BANG. BANG. BANG.

     "Up." Melody jolted awake. She darted her eyes left and right, then stopped to stare at Frostbite.

     'Great..' Melody thought.

     "What? Are you deaf?" Frostbite opened the bars, yanking her up by her wings. She whinced in pain.

     Melody's sides hurt, she was starving and wounded. What was it, her second day here? She stood up weakly, her head bent down. She felt Frostbite grip her arm and pull her out of the cell. Where were they headed now? She felt a tight rope grasp her neck, then she was lead down a hall into a familiar room.

     "Oh, there she is!" That voice. She hated that voice.

     "Frostbite. What has the creature said?" The large dragoness clasped her claws together, giving an almost too-friendly smile.

     "Nothing." Frostbite replied.

     "You know, this would be much easier if you just TOLD US. That way you wouldn't have to STARVE," The large Ice Dragon narrowed her eyes, speaking between restrained anger.

     "She OBVIOUSLY hasn't learned her lesson. Frostbite, take her away. And-" she added. "I'd like the handcuffs please. You wouldn't disobey your Queen, now would you?" She said slithering to his side.

     "No, no of course not your majesty," Frostbite sighed and obediently bowed.

     They left the room, another guard took Frostbite's claw and attached them together for him. He still didn't seem very happy about this. It was different from yesterday, darker and more cloudy. The air smelled fresh and the atmosphere cool. They had reached the town. Great. Dragons were prepared this time.

     "TAKE THAT," A dragonet said, throwing an old piece of polar bear meat at Melody. It held a wretched oder and looked like death itself.

     Melody squirmed, she reached her talons to her face to wipe off the residue. She left her head down, her head felt too heavy to lift. She used her wings to sheild her body, she didn't feel like looking at everyone. Frostbite obvioisly didn't want anything to do with her. Was that dragon who they spoke to the Queen? What was the point of leaving them together? She thought it was rediculous. Frostbite probably thought the same thing.

     "Hey, you're back," the same dragon from yesterday grinned at Frostbite. He glanced at Melody and immediately frowned. "Still stuck with the featherling?" He smirked.

     "Shut up," Frostbite said rolling his eyes.

     "Anyways-" the dragon at the window left for a brief moment, grabbing Frostbite's sword and returning it to him. "Here ya go."

     "Thanks," Frostbite nodded, placing it back in its sheath, it fit like a glove. He then grabbed a small sack from a side bag he had around his waist. He tossed it onto the counter.

     "See ya 'round," the blacksmith waved and dumped the bag on the table, several coins fell out. He swept them into his palm and walked into the cave.

     Melody knew what was going to happen. Whatever did happen, she hoped it killed her. She didn't care if she died, she just wanted her family safe. She felt Frostbite jerk her away from their path through the town, leading her into the forest. Melody looked up for the first time, the sky was a thick grey. The sun was no where in sight. She felt like asking where they were going, but she dared not speak. She let her head droop down again. Her legs shook, she didn't know how long they'd been walking for.

     Melody saw an odd glint of white. She saw it again. And again- She raised her head, looking around. There it was again! A tiny white thing. She laid her eyes on something tiny floating toward the ground. She glanced toward the sky, there were THOUSANDS of them. Melody made another gasp noise.

     "What in the world is that?" Melody panicked, trying to yank herself away from Frostbite to hide under a tree.

     Frostbite stared at her like she was crazy. He glanced at the sky, squinting. He didn't see anything wrong.

     "Huh?" He said frowning.

     "What is it?" Melody jumped under a tree, yanking Frostbite's arm.

     Frostbite looked around.

     "You mean snow?" He said confused.

     "Does it hurt?" She asked from under a tree.

     "What? No." Frostbite said yanking his arm from out from under the tree.

     "But I thought this stuff on the ground was snow.." Melody said creeping out.

     "No. Snow comes from the sky," Frostbite said raising his head toward the sky.

     "Woahh," Melody breathed, a flake of snow fluttering onto her nose.

"Let's go," Frostbite began moving his arm, Melody trailed after.

Falling snow was even prettier than snow that was on the ground. Here and there little glints of fresh snow blinked like lights. Or- like those little bugs with light up butts. Yeah. Those.

Melody heard noises. It sounded noisy. What was going on? Up ahead she saw lights, was it another camp? She heard flapping of wings and roaring.

"What the hail," Frostbite cursed. He quickened his pace, Melody straggled behind.

They had came to another camp, wooden crates were burning, things were knocked over, and there was fighting.

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK," Another Ice Dragon hollered.

Suddenly Melody and Frostbite were slammed to the ground, their handcuffs tore at their wrists and snapped. Melody looked up and gazed at a Dragon who had feathers like her. He gazed at her with confused eyes. Maybe he was he trying to figure out who Melody was. Ice, or Air? Without saying anything he attacked both of them, blasting them with fire.

Frostbite reeled back, spreading his right wing out to cover Melody. His scales stung and he took a sharp inhale. Ice Dragons could withstand firebreathe of any kind, it just wouldn't burn through wings. But it would still hurt. Frostbite lunged forward, sprialing into the air and blasting Ice toward him. More Ice and Air Dragons scattered the area. So much fighting. Frostbite was slammed onto the ground, he shook his head and stood back up, eyeing Melody. The Dragon came after her next. Her own kind. Coming to kill her.

Melody shut her eyes, the Air Dragon loomed over her head, about to slash her neck. But the pain never came. She glanced up to see Frostbite holding the Air Dragon back. He shoved him off, the Air Dragon tumbling into the snow.

"We need to go, NOW," He took Melody's claws and ran off into the forest. She kept his pace as well as she could. She tripped a few times, Frostbite waited until she stood back up to continue running.

Their quick breathes turned into cold puffs of air. The snow lightly flurried above their heads. Roars could be heard in the distance.

What just happened?

     Melody was suddenly awoken when she heard loud bangs on the bars of her cell.

     "EEK," She gave out a yelp. She saw Frostbite standing at the door, he did not look happy at all.

     "Get up," he said, opening the bars.

      She sat up obediently, it felt warmer. How long was she asleep? Frostbite took the ropes off of me, did this mean I was free?

     "Don't even think about trying to escape," he adds, answering my question. Melody nodded, standing up and following him.

     "What are we doing? Where are we going?" She asked.

     "Sadly, you're supposed to come with me," Frostbite said under gritted teeth. "Which is stupid because I don't understand why you can't just stay in your cell like a prisoner."

     Melody didn't understand why either. She knew why she had been locked up. She'd been tresspassing. Well- that was the reason right? She walked beside Frostbite, travelling down the same depressing hallway of prisoners.

     "Hey-" an older guard called to Frostbite. "She wants the cuffs." He finishes, tossing a pair of handcuffs to us.

     "Ugh," I see Frostbite roll his eyes. "Handcuffed to the prisoner? Has she lost her mind?" He spits.

     "Unless you want me to report to her, I suggest you do it kid," the guard says narrowing his eyes.

     "Fine," Frostbite growls under his breathe. He grabs his handcuffs and attaches one to his left wrist while he connects one to my right.

     "This is so stupid," he mutters. "Just because I turned you in, I have to be the one to watch you." He hisses.

     Melody sorta kinda actually felt a little sad. Not really- because y'know, he caught her. But he was forced to do something he didn't want to. Melody could almost, but not really, relate. She had to keep her pace with Frostbite's quick walking and long strides. She kept tripping and Frostbite only grunted.

     They made it into the outside world, it was bright and blinding. The sunlight reflected off of the white stuff on the ground. Although she felt really stupid to ask this, she did anyways.

     "What's this white stuff everywhere?" She asked looking around. Frostbite looked at her like she was insane.

     "It's called snow," he replied.

     Melody's eyes lit up, gazing in wonder. She wondered how it snowed. Why didn't it happened anywhere else? Snow was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Frostbite rolled his eyes, ignoring her and looking straight ahead.

      Wait. Oh no.

      It was daytime.

      Melody made a small gasp noise, Frostbite looked at her with skeptical eyes. Melody quickly closed her mouth. It was daytime. What would her family think? What was everyone doing? Were they looking for her?

     "What's up with you?" Frostbite asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

     "Nothing." Melody quickly said, giving an uneasy smile.

     Frostbite grunted and continued treading through the snow. They had passed guards and Ice Dragons galore. They all stared at Melody like she was a monster. Her parents always told her she was beautiful the way she was, and no one would say anything otherwise. The word Frostbite uttered still ran through her mind.

     'Hybrid.'

     Was a hybrid a bad thing? Her parents never told her about hybrids. We're hybrids a new type of dragon? Did Frostbite call her a hybrid? If he did then she didn't know if a hybrid was a good or bad thing.
     They passed by a wooden made fixture. They had three holes in it, one big one and two small ones. A large blade hung menacingly  above the wooden structures. She heard yowling from a dragon trying to fight some guards, but he was so weak and underfed he didn't have the strength to escape. They had sliced his wings clean off, the wound had scabbed over into a lump where his wings used to be. They opened the wood and shoved his head into the largest hole, and placed his talons into the smaller ones. They quickly shut thr wood down, he tried yanking his head out, but he couldn't.

      She looked away when the blade fell.

     Frostbite walked by like nothing had happened.

Melody still had no clue where they were going to, it just looked like Frostbite wanted to do errands. She didn't really understand why she had to come along. Maybe Frostbite was thinking the same thing. She heard many lude words and rude gestures. One dragonet had called her a featherling was they travelled into town. Dragons darted to and fro, they all sneered at her.

"FREAK." One mother yelled, cupping her child in her wings.

Frostbite kept his mouth shut, he never said anything. Almost like he didn't want to be seen with her, like she was invisible. Everyone seemed to know who he was, no one tried to speak bad of him, their opinions were pinned on Melody. Melody guessed he was a guard of some sort, he was a young guard. He didn't stop anyone from spewing words, some little dragonets had the pleasure of yanking her wing feathers.

"I got a featherling's feather!" A child yelled out.

It hurt.

It hurt so bad.

Melody kept her head down and bit her lip. She didn't want to cry in public. Whenever anyone tried pulling another feather she yanked her wing away. Was this the plan? To humiliate her in public? She was barely even in here for a day, everything was already terrible.

"Sorry," he said without looking back at her. "I know it's terrible here." He added.

Melody didn't reply. They continued walking, the snow still glistening on the ground. She felt like there was more that he had to say, but he never said anything else. They came up to a cave, it looked like a shop.

"Hey, what's goin' on Frosty," a gruff voice said. An Ice Dragon came to the window and pat the stone. A fire glowed on the inside. How the heck did Ice Dragons have fire? She heard clanking metal and bangs of hammers within the inside.

"Hey," Frostbite replied back.

"What's that thing for?" The dragon at the window pointed toward Melody. Everyone referred her to an 'it' or 'thing'.

"Queen's got her head in a twist, she wants me to bring this thing everywhere I go," Frostbite said annoyed.

Well ouch.

"Why?" The dragon asked.

"Classified." Frostbite answered, he then brought out a sword from it's sheath. It had a deep blue handle with brown cloth wrapped around it. The blade was a shimmering silver color, but the edges were bent and little niches laid here and there.
"D'you think you can fix this," Frostbite laid the sword on the counter, the Ice Dragon observed it and nodded.

"Yeh, I'll see what I can do," he nodded again and started walking inside. "It'll be good by tomorrow."

Frostbite nodded, saying thanks and walking away. Great, now they'd have to go past the town again.

"Look! It's back!" Melody glanced up to see a bunch of teenagers about 5 years younger than her.

"I want a piece of hair this time," a dragon came up to her, trying to nab the hair along her neck. She jerked back, she wasn't willing to give them a chance to rip her hair out.

"I can help," another dragonet said cunningly. He hovered above her and grabbed a tuft of hair, she heard laughing. Constant laughing.

"Leave me alone," Melody furrowed her eyebrows reaching to grab the annoying flying dragon.

"Oh, missed me!" He flew higher into the air. "Fly to catch me!" He taunted.

"Can't fly if you don't have feathers," another dragonet sneered yanking a large feather from the bottom of her left wing. Melody whinced, larger feathers hurt more.

Melody felt like jetting off into the air. She didn't want to be here. She regretted flying away from home. If she could take it all back she would.

"Get outta here before I make you," she heard Frostbite say fiercely between gritted teeth. He hissed and the kids flew off, one still held one of Melody's feathers.

The nightmare was over. She wouldn't be going back through the town, for now. Melody's eyes watered, she blinked her eyes and kept everything in. She wanted to wait until she was back in her cell to cry. It was silent on the way back to the prison camp.

"Thanks," Melody peeped out.

"Shut up," Frostbite hissed at her. "You pathetic burden." He snapped at her.

That hurt.

Even more than when she had said that earlier.

He arrived at her cell, shoving her onto the ground. Feathers flew everywhere, her tail almost got caught in the bars when he slammed them back closed.

"Wish you just died of the cold and got out of my life," she heard Frostbite hiss as he walked away. She didn't understand why she had to go with him the entire day. She shakily stood up, she hadn't eaten the whole day. She opened her wings, she had bare patches here and there, but she was okay. She went to lie in a corner, she ducked her head under her wing. Scrunching her nose up and tucking her tail in, she sat there. And cried.

Ivory's Point of View

     "She really hates my guts," I say.

     "Well how do you know?" My friend says.

     "I don't know Kirianna, I just have this feeling. Like she's jealous of me," I reply, shrugging.

     "That can't be true," Kirianna says back.

     "She gives me those 'jealous-stares'. And she always tries to one-up me," I lean back in my chair, jabbering away all my complaints.

     It's not like I don't like being my new rank, but Karmen just really likes to test my already very little patience. My friend, Kirianna and I, are sitting in her dorm. I take a small gum wrapper and try folding it into a mini airplane.

     "So is it any different from being a Silver?" Kirianna asks.

     "I guess, we still train against each other. I usually win," I admit.

     "Well that's why you're there in the first place, you're just naturally good," Kirianna pipes in cheerfully. "I'd love to be ranked up as a Gold."

     "We don't really do anything. I honestly expected more exciting things, like dangerous missions or something," I reply to her dejectedly.

     "Something is bound to come up sooner or later," Kira says in return. "Just be lucky you're a Gold Rank."

     Just then I get a notification on my phone. Crud I forgot about the meeting today. I open it and read the words 'Elite Meeting' from my calendar.

     "What's that?" Kira asks.

     "Meh, just more Elite stuff," I stand from my seat and whisk my duffle bag around my shoulder. "I'll c'ya later."

     "Good luck!" Kirianna calls to me as I shut the door and head down the hall.

     Now what was this meeting for again? I'm pretty sure we were getting another new member. It was odd, it was so rare that new members came within the same week. Erm- well did I still count as a newbie since there's another person now? Would it be another shapeshifter? I swear, shapeshifters are too common in this place. But I guess that does count as a gift.
     The hallways are split painted with white industrial walls on the top half and a pale blue with white trim on the bottom half. The floors were marble. Classy. I had to haul my duffle bag and bring it back up to my shoulder, it wouldn't stop slipping gah. I quickly stop by the bathrooms to change into my training suit. I then rush into a set of double doors across the hall, no one seemed to be in here. I came up to the one sided window and gazed into the other room, crud, they were all waiting for me. I quickly placed my duffle bag on the floor and entered the bigger room beyond the window, it was large and spacious.

     First thing I notice is that Karmen immediately glares me in the eyes. She's tall with reddish- brown hair. It almost looks ginger in the sunlight. I don't understand why she resents me so much, I only came here a week ago. Matthew is here, he had dark black hair with brown eyes. He's about the height of Karmen, just a bit taller. I notice Marcy standing next to him. Wait a second, was that Lin?

     "Took you long enough," Karmen says with the slightest hint of sass.

     "Perfect, we have everyone. Ivory, I have the head of the S.G.A. here," Marcy says to me and gestures toward Lin. I remember her, she was the one who allowed me to be in the Elite Force in the first place.

     "We're just waiting on Maxwell, let's hope he didn't get lost." Lin says, folding her arms. She's a tall woman with lean stature and greyed hair. Her eyes are a commanding green, perfectly matching her attitude.

    The double doors to this room open and we all stare to see the newbie standing at the door.

     "Did you get lost or something?" Lin says strictly. She's harsh, but she doesn't mean it, it's just the way she is. In order to run this nightmare of an agency you need to be exactly  like her.

     "Nooooo-" he says shrugging his arms. He looks pale, like...really pale. His ears are slightly pointed and his eyes are a mohogany red-brown. His hair dangles along his head, its a deep brown color, it matches his red shirt. He's like a tower over me, or I guess everyone here towers over me. I'm too short for this world. Man, he was attractive.

     "Well everyone, this is Maxwell, he will be the new addition to the Elite Force." Marcy says to us.

     "Just, Max, is alright." Max says, guessing he doesn't like his full name.

     I glance over at Karmen, and she gives Max that same look she gives me. Maybe she's scared he'll take the leading role. Ha.
     I look to see Matthew's impression of Max. I can tell he isn't pleased. Even though Matt is timid and quiet he still clearly shows his hate for Max. And I can tell why.

     Max was a vampire.

     "You let a vampire into the S.G.A.?" Matthew immediately points out, taking a step back. I look to see Max and he wears an almost hirt expression, but his face mostly says 'What?' in the most offended way possible.

     It made sense. A vampire and a werewolf. Matthew rarely showed his displeasure for, well- anything. He was always so quiet with anything that happened. But now? Oh boy. He was mad. His fist was slowly balled into loose fist.

     "Yes. We did. And we certainly expect you all to GET ALONG." Lin says sternly, making us all listen and flinch.

     "He'll be here for training for now on, and will go on any missions if need be," Marcy says nodding to each of us.

     "Excellent." Lin claps her hands together. "I have other matters to deal with. They're all yours Marcy." She briskly walks out of the room.

     "Should we begin?" Marcy asks. Karmen, Matthew and I all look at each other. "We have an even number this time. Isn't it exciting?" Marcy asks us.

     We all shrug and give 'eh' faces.

     "Teenagers these days," Marcy says walking back into the control room. The lights are slightly dimmed, and a speaker comes on.

      "Alright. Since we have an even amount of people, we'll have 2v2 for training today." Marcy says through the speakers. "We'll have Karmen and Ivory versus Matthew and Max."

Man, she really wants us to fail this. Put two people who hate each other together. Great. Karmen and I back against one side of the room, onto a wall. Panels and walls rise from the floor, creating cover and obstacles. Bars lower from the ceiling and ramps incline from the walls. I see Matthew go to the opposite side of the room across from me, Max is probably across from Karmen.

     "You all know the rules. No killing, no powers or abilities, yada yada," Marcy says. Tell me something I don't know. The lights are dimmed even more. "Begin."

Karmen and I split up. No way I'm staying next to her. It doesn't matter if there are rules or not, I feel like she'd kill me if she even got a chance. I wonder what Matt's doing. Is he doing the same thing I'm doing right now? I hop over a black bar, scanning my eyes around the area. Before I know it I'm hurled to the ground and shoved up against a wall. I look up and gaze straight into Maxwell's deep red eyes. I'm stopped when Karmen comes and springs off the wall, leaving me in my spot.

"Well? Do something," Karmen says ducking a blow from Max.

Matthew comes out of nowhere to stop me, pinning me along the floor. I feel so useless, I can barley fight. Apparently Karmen was in my same situation. She was slammed against a wall and pinned by the neck, the lights came on and the session was over.

"That was so unfair," I hear Karmen mutter under her breathe.

"We're just better," Max says haughtily, Matthew still doesn't seem pleased.

"No, because I'm with her," Karmen rolls her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I say offended.

"You have your fancy little powers, but you can't do anything without them," she spits her words like fire searing my feelings. It was true, I just didn't want to believe it.

"I don't get it, why do you hate me so much. I only got here a week ago," I say with hatred.

"Because unlike you, I actually worked my way to this rank. And what, you've been in the S.G.A. for a week and already in the Elite Force?" She says waving het arms around while arguing.

"Guys quit fighting," Matthew tries to stop our quarrel.

"Go catch a mouse for me Karmen," I spit back to her. I couldn't take it anymore.

I hear Karmen hiss at me, extending her claws, her eyes turned into thin slits. I whip my head around, hearing Marcy run inside the room. The panels and obstacles begin to receed back into the walls and floor.

"Enough, enough," Marcy says holding her head. "You're all in the Elite Force. ACT LIKE IT." She says sternly, I watch as Karmen retracts her claws.

"Standing on thin ice you two," Marcy eyes both Karmen and I. She quickly walks away in irritation.

I hear Karmen give a frustrated grunt and shove another pair of doors. Matthew shrugs at me. Max stares, his face saying 'what the actual fuck'. I dart my eyes away from his, walking back into the one sided window room to grab my bags. I wanted to get out of this suit. Ugh.

Great, now Karmen is an enemy.

Ugh the Sandwich Fair is in town but my mom said I can't go because of the rain. A little rain doesnt hurt anyone, its not like its acid. BUT IM SO MAD.

Its tradition that I go every year with my mom and brother, and this year idgaf if my mom or brother goes with me, I just want to go on rides, get sick, and have fun.

I really wished the rain wasnt here to kill my fair spirit. I really like the ferris wheel, this'll be the only year I don't take pictures from the ferris wheel. This week has been so crappy for me guhh.

I literally got an F on an English project, but wtf that project was taken for a PARTICIPATION grade, and I'm sure as hell I did the whole thing. Wtf. I got an F on a chemistry worksheet because I didn't know there was a backside, and BOMBED the last pop quiz we had. In Drivers Ed. my grade went from 100% to a 74% because I got 9 out of 14 on some homework.

School is so fucking stupid, you try so damn hard to get somewhere and I end up in a deeper pit from where I started.

All of my friends are too busy having fun at thr fair, my best friends are with their boyfriends and I'm just here like "Oh, ok, single pringle forever" and my mom is preventing me from going anywhere.

I had no one to talk to so I came here.
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(Also the Sandwich Fair is an actual thing, its not for sandwiches😂😂 look it up)

     She didn't know that she'd been followed, and she was tossed out of the sky.

     Melody whipped her head around, the stranger still determined to catch her. He shot about the air, making Melody disoriented. He yanked her left wing, sending them both plummeting toward the trees. The Ice Dragon got stuck in a tree, while Melody was thrown into the snow.

     Oh gosh, this was bad. So, so bad. She glanced to see the stranger entangled in tree branches, she didn't stick around to find out when he escaped. She darted into a thick tree, not even caring if the pine needles punctured her scales. There she stayed, keeping her eyes shut and her body still. She really wished she had camoflauge right now.

     It went silent.

     Then she heard footsteps crunching in the snow. He was looking for her. Why did he want to find her? Melody was regretting her decision to sneak out.

     Suddenly her world went dark.



     Melody woke in a cold sweat, cold puffs of air coming from her mouth as she breathed hard. Where was she? Everything was so cold. It looked like a prison...what if it was a prison? (Parallelism) She glanced to the tall walls before her, torches flickered along the stone. The floor was rough and unforgiving. She lifted her head up, only to notice a poorly tied rope around her neck. She flinched and layed back down when she heard footsteps and voices.

     "There." A voice said. She remembered that voice.

"Hmm," Another spoke, but this voice was unknown to her. "Get it out."

Melody flinched again when she felt her neck tighten as her ropes were pulled. She was yanked upward, forced to stand, then shoved out of the cell. She quietly followed behind, gazing at other cells on her way down. Air Dragons lay in almost every cell. They looked tired and sad. It hurt to see them. It hurt even more when they saw her.
They had arrived to a different area, the three dragons stood inside a silent room. Tall errie slate walls terrified her. A large chair made out of stone sat in the middle, and huge dragoness sat in that very seat. She was almost as big as dad.. Her scales were a crisp white with pale blue spikes and wings.
Melody darted her eyes around the place, her head was spinning. She didn't like it here. She froze her eyes on a single window leading to the outside world. It was still nighttime.

"You're a peculiar creature, aren't you?" The larger dragon said, her voice sounded nice, but it still unsettled her. "Where did you find it?" She glanced to the smaller Ice Dragon.

"Air-Ice border," he replied. He was still holding tightly onto Melody's rope.

The large dragon then eyed Melody, her peircing blue eyes meeting Melody's green ones. She got up from her chair, taking time to observe her and pace around the room. Melody quickly stared at the floor. She didn't have the courage to stare everyone in the eyes. Her talons were shaking with fear.

"Wonder who made you," the dragoness took Melody by the chin and tilted her face up, inspecting her features. "If you're a hybrid it means one of my dragons have betrayed me." She suddenly changed her mood, pulling away from Melody to still back down.

"You couldn't possibly survive all these years on your own," she said trailing off. Her menacing eyes suddenly lit up. "Who are your parents?" She said in an unsettlingly melancholy way.

"Err- uhm," Melody said shakily. She couldn't say anything. She knew if she said something someone would die.

"C'mon, don't be shy," the dragoness sat grinning.

Melody didn't say anything, and instead stayed silent. She kept her eyes on the floor, and didn't dare look up.

"Oh, I see, you're a stubborn one," she said between clentched teeth. "Frostbite, may I have a word?" Another guard took Melody's rope and guided her away.

"Of course," Frostbite dipped his head in obedience. He glanced at Melody before she was taken away, their eyes meeting for a quick second.

"I need you to find out who her parents are, then-" Melody was out of earshot. She couldn't hear them anymore. Their voices only became distant murmers in a prison full of sadness.

She regretted going out.

     "Agh-" My head spins as I'm slammed onto the floor, but I quickly stand back up. I'm much quicker than my opponent. I dodge a quick punch, veering to my right.

     "That all you got," I whip my head around, trying to see where my opponent went. I hear a quick beating heart, but I can't tell where it's coming from. I'm suddenly rammed on my left side, pushed up against a wall, my opponent shapeshifts into a werewolf, knawing at me. I know it seems cliche, a werewolf and vampire, but I guess this was kinda my choice.

     In one swift movement I sweep him off his hind legs and he plummets to the floor, I veer over him and grasp his neck, pinning him down.  He quickly shapeshifts back to his normal form.

     "You win, you win Max," he groans. "I'm getting tired of training with you. You always win." He says rubbing his head.

     "I went easy on you," I smirk.

     "Shut up," he says while smiling on the floor.

     Just then I hear a set of double doors open. The area lights up, and I'm temporarily blinded. We're in a large room with a one sided window. A woman in a labcoat walks out, holding a clipboard and turning through pages. She has long, rich, dark hair, and glasses rested on a rigid nose.

     "You did wonderful Maxwell," she says delighted.

     "Really Ms. Anand?" I ask.

     "I think you're about ready," she says, biting the end of a pen. "Also, just Marcy please."

     I still wasn't used to calling her Marcy.

     "Have you heard of the Elite Force?" She looks up at me.

     "Huh?" I rub my head.

     "The Elite Force is the highest ranked people in the agency," she says, looking back at her clipboard and pushing up her glasses.

     "You think I'm worthy enough to be in that?" I ask her, doubting myself.

     "Well your senses are higher than that of any other person in this agency. Your statistics say that you're ready Max," Marcy says quickly, I see her walk towards a table, picking up more papers.

     "So when do I start?" I ask before she scurries out the door.

     "As soon as tomorrow. I'll need to speak to the head and I'll see what I can do. For now-" she takes her papers, wrapping it in a binder. "I have some paperwork to do. Have a good day Maxwell."

     I nod as she walks away. I hated the name Maxwell, but I guess if Marcy says it I'm fine. I glance to my hands, they're trembling. It's nearly noon. I head out of the same double doors and whisk my duffle bags off of the floor.  I find my way into the hall, reaching a bathroom. I open my bags and grab out a clean shirt, changing. I dig around looking for something.

    "There," I say to myself, grabbing out a syringe. I take it to my wrist and inject the liquid into my bloodstream. I clentch my teeth together. I've done this many times before, but I don't think I'll ever get used to it. The bathroom smelled like garlic.

Sometimes, I wish I could back in time.

     It was a dark evening, the area was silent, except for the ocassional car or two. There was a small group of guys, one was swinging upside down on a tree branch above everyone. To the left were two other boys, sitting on a fallen tree. On the right side was another leaning against a tree staring at two more guys in the center.

     Max didn't know why the hell he ever agreed to this. Guess he thought it would be pretty damn cool to be a vampire. But it was a week in and he still wasn't used to it.

    "So we gonna do anything or just sit here?" One mentions, everyone looks at each other and they all seperate. They boys were in the dark edges of a supermarket, it's about 10 PM.

    Max had done this more than once, but every single time the thought of everything he'd done made his hair stand on edge. Three of the boys ducked into the bushes, one stayed off in a darkened corner, another walked up to the victim. Max's mahogany eyes seemed to glow, his eyes darted back and forth, watching his friend Colby walk up to three girls walking out of the supermarket, alone. Everything happened so quick, before he knew it he had dragged them to the corner his other friend was at. But something stopped them, he didn't get time to understand what.

     He was forcefully slammed to the ground, his friends had all done the same. He saw the girls cowering up against a wall, he was unable to move.

     "Leave. Them. Alone." A voice commanded and he glanced up to see another girl. Max slowly sat up in his place, his friend Colby had already stood up and was lunging at the new girl. She had crisp green eyes with freckles on her face.

     "Who the fuck are you?" Colby spat, baring his fangs in anger.

     "Someone you wouldn't want to mess with," the girl shoved Colby into a wall. "Go." And when she said that all three girls darted into a car and sped off.

    It was almost like he was fighting an invisible force. She didn't even have to touch them. Max stood up, examining her while pacing in circles, his deep brown hair was messy and ruffled. He stared her in the eyes, not in a menacing way though. He was more confused than anything.

     "If you want blood, get it from a squirrel or something," she spat.

     "Awe, but that's no fun," Max turned around and found his other friend Devon walking behind him.

     That was a mistake. This girl was superhuman or something. In a split second Devon was tossed around like a rag doll, he fell to the ground and gasped for air. By this point the boys had begun to fear her. She wore a confused face with mixed emotions. Almost like she wanted to say sorry. She took a step toward them, reaching out her hand then pulling away, quickly running off.

     He'd never forget that day.

I wanna see if this story actually takes off, so here's a scene from the middle of the book.


Max's Point of View

Max took a sharp inhale, his head was spinning and his vision became foggy. He heard distant callings. Callings of...his name?

"Max." A voice said assertively, shaking him awake. He saw Ivory and Karmen next to him.

"Ughh," Max said rubbing his head.

"Max, you good? This has been happening for a while now.." Karmen said a bit concerned. It was the first time he had saw Karmen actually worried.

"I'm fine," Max quickly stood back up, using the wall next to him to keep himself steady. Something wasn't right, even they could tell now. He didn't know what though. He felt hungry, which was odd, he had already eaten lunch with Ivory and Karmen earlier. He felt his head go heavy once again.

"Max?" He heard Karmen say.

"His eyes- quick get the thing," Ivory sounded panicked. He heard Karmen flee to retrieve his bag.

And that's when everything went black.

•

Ivory's Point of View:

Okay, Max was definetly NOT okay. He had been in and out of it all day. I swear I saw him take that medicine of his. Then for some reason he goes and plops on the ground.

"Max?" I call out.

"Max." I say more sternly, and he wakes, his eyes are dialated.

"Ughh," I watch as Max rubs his forehead. He better not be joking.

"Max, you good? This has been happening for a while now.." Karmen says, she looks just as worried as I do.

"I'm fine," Max says quickly standing up. C'mon man, stop acting all tough, I can clearly tell you're NOT fine. Max looked pale, like even more pale than usual. I snap out of my thoughts when Karmen asks out of the blue.

"Max?" She runs over to catch him before he falls on the floor again.

I come over to observe him.

"His eyes- quick, get the thing," I say, my hands quivering. He suddenly grabs my wrist and I give out a yelp.

He was NOT okay.

Okay so I have this idea for another story, but ummmm, idk.

Anyone remember those really old headshot pictures I drew a million years ago? It includes those characters.

Eeeeeeeee, my Maxwell boi is finally gonna be written about

Ok so instead of creating a novel on here I've made it on Wattpad and it's currently up right now, I just need a better cover.
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So I have a contest. Yes its offical now.
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*Only for the people who have read my book "Melody & Harmony"*
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You must create a cover for my story, if you win I will add art credits to you, AND do a request of your choice.
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Must Include:
• Words "Melody & Harmony" in that same way, do NOT write 'Melody and Harmony'
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• Must Include Storm and Calcite in the cover
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• Make the picture so it tells how mysterious the story is, WITHOUT giving away the ending.
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I have posted refrences and new rules, good luck everybody!

What was this feeling? She wasn't scared. She wasn't very happy to leave her family. She didn't know how to feel exactly.

The Sea Kingdom looked very plain, she had only ever saw a glimpse of it when her father taught her how to fly. The beach had traces of life, footprints disappeared into the sea. Melody wondered how the Sea Kingdom looked when the tide was down. Was it as big as dad said it was? She knew her father loved the sea, it was what they held in common. Melody let her talon skim the surface of the water. Just a few hundred feet away was the Water-Earth border, to the right of there was a four point border, where the Earth and Water Kingdoms met the sky islands of the Air Kingdom, and the Ice Kingdom branched it's way to the corner. She heard something odd. Something she had never heard before. She saw odd looking trees, that before, she could only see from a distance. She saw different birds and different plants, even the air smelled different. It smelled like life.


She landed on grass for the first time. It was much more comfortable than sand or rock. She didn't understand why her parents didn't want her going here. Everything was so much better. She laughed and darted upward out of the trees. There were so many, miles and miles of endless trees. She heard chirping, but it didn't sound like any bird she could think of. Was it a new bird? It sounded like there were thousands of them all over the land. What we're those tiny creatures called? Crickets? Her father told her about those. She saw tiny little lights as well. Like mini bugs with little lights on their backs. Melody was intrigued, how did they glow? Was the light heavy? Where do they come from?

Melody glided over trees, she saw on the left the peaks of Ice Dragon territory. Maybe she could learn about where her mother came from. And far in the right she could see endless sky islands. She could learn about her father's home. She could collect more rocks and see dragons like her. She flew in that direction, curious to find as much as she could. The air increasingly became colder as she flew near the Ice Nation territory, the trees in the Earth Kingdom had frosted over and lost some leaves. The border consisted of large boulders, a giant one was located where all 4 Kingdoms met. She silently flew along the Air Ice border, her left side felt a chilly breeze while her right side heard the sea under the sky islands.

She didn't expect to see the Air Islands so devastated. The land looked frozen over the border, like the Ice Dragons had taken and frozen it themselves. The huts that were along the border were destroyed and encased in ice. Pots were knocked over, things were broken, posts were split and torn out, it was as if everyone left in a hurry. Melody remember when her mothed told her about the war going on, she didn't know it was this bad. Her mom told her not to worry about it, that everything was fine. How could everything be fine when it wasn't? The Air Kingdom along here was silent, and dead, everything around here had been abandoned. Farther into the territory she saw lights near the castle, and little quickly made houses. She was gussing residents moved there for protection. The castle was tall and grand. Her father told Melody that he'd been inside it more than once. She imagined it as regal as she was told. On the Ice side there were no houses, they were all stationed far off into the mountains. Wait a second.

She saw something white all over the ground and leaves of trees. Trees in the Ice Kingdom were white? She flew deeper into Ice territory and found different trees. They had spikey points and a dark green hue. It smelled like a pinecone her mother gave her before. Were these those pine trees?

When she landed on the ground she felt a small crunch. When she lifted her talon she noticed she left an imprint on the ground. What was this stuff? It didn't seem to hurt her, it was just very cold. She scraped the stuff aside and saw grass underneath. It was like a big fuzzy blanket.

"Who goes there?" A commanding voice said sternly. Melody jumped.

Melody didn't see it coming. She felt a cold rush of air and a blur of sky blue scales. When she was thrown to the ground she looked up and saw another dragon staring back down at her. He had peircing royal blue eyes, and when they glared at her she froze.

"Wait, what are you doing this far out?" The dragon spoke to her skeptically. He looked at her in a strange way, like he was confused. "All Ice Dragons should be farther into the territory."

Then she knew. He was thinking that Melody was another Ice Dragon. Yet- one problem. She had feathers for wings. Apparently he got the message.

"WHO ARE YOU," He commanded and pinned her head back down.

Melody tried to squirm away, flailing her wings along the ground. The white blanket broke into pieces and flew all over the place. Melody managed to break free and darted behind a tree, she heard a crunch noise and glanced to her right. She just dodged an ice blast. The stranger ran up to her, Melody quickly ducked and darted away from the trees, reaching a clearing. He was getting ready for another attack. Melody didn't know what to do, she had no basic fighting skills. Except-

She sent a quick burst of fire into his face. He shook his head and just stood and stared.

"Hybrid," he breathed. Now was her chance. She turned around and whisked herself into the air. Flying back to the Earth Kingdom. She had enough adventuring for this night. She didn't want to see the Ice Kingdom again.

It was a light peaceful afternoon. The sea below them lightly brushed against the shore. A dragon sat by a cave entrance, looking out towards Terragon Heights. The dragonet had green eyes that showed wonder, her scales an even iridescent pastel purple, they glinted whenever the sun shone it's bright light into their cave. She was an odd dragon, she looked mostly like an Air Dragon but her jaw seemed too small and her horns straight and jagged. The dragonet wondered if she'd ever get to go to Terragon Heights, probably not anytime soon...

"Hey Melody," Melody felt a dragon sit next to her.

"Heya sis," Melody took her wing and draped it over her sibling. "Do you ever think we'll get to go there one day?" Melody daydreamed.

Her sister shrugged. She had the same eyes and same irridescent scales.

"I don't know, Mom says it's kind of dangerous," her sibling said timidly.

"Awe, what don't you want to explore the world?" Melody said pleadingly.

She felt her sister shrug again.

"Awe Harmony, you're no fun," Melody said sighing.

Melody loved Harmony, but sometimes she wondered if Harmony ever wanted to see Terragon Heights at all.

"Well, if you're just going to talk about those sky islands then I'm gone," Harmony said standing up.

"Careful," Melody chastised. "The cliff." Melody held open her wing to prevent Harmony from falling.

"I'm fine, you don't have to do that every single time I sit here," Harmony grunted annoyed.

"Sorry, force of habit," Melody said, watching Harmony walk away. She was reaching that point where she began to feel sorry for Harmony. She didn't have wings like a normal Air Dragon. Feathers, who was she kidding, she herself wasn't even a normal Air Dragon. She had always asked her mother why Harmony was like that. She had always said it was the way nature intended. As Melody grew up she realized it wasn't as simple as it seemed. Being a twin with another dragon was incredibly rare, and most of the time only one or neither survive. They we're lucky enough to have limbs. Twins are born in the same egg, but with that came a price, apparently the price was Harmony's wings. For some reason Melody couldn't get the thought out of her mind that she was the reason Harmony was this way.

Melody heard a rustling motion behind her and a small yawn. She turned around only to find her brother. He was small in stature and had dark blue wings. He was, as Melody would say, "Momma's boy". He held the same hair color, same blue freckles, same scale color, everything. He could play off an Ice Dragon if he really wanted.

"Do you know if dad's back?" Her brother yawned.

"Haven't seen him Stormy," Melody said, looking back towards the sea.

"Aweee, I'm starving," Stormy said whining. For a 15 year old he sure was whiny.

"Stop complaining Storm. This is OUR day, rememeber?" Harnony said from another nest across the room.

"Yeah, for my 20th I said I wanted a piece of rock from the sky islands," Melody said proudly. Today was supposed to be a great day, their 20th birthday. Her parents had always told her it was a step closer to adulthood. Maybe then she'd see a bit of the world. She laid her head on her arms, a soft seaward breeze brushing her face. The sky had become cloudy in the east, but of course the Air Dragons avoided the clouds by pushing them away. Just then she heard more movements.

"Guess who?" A large dragon spoke.

"Dad!" All three siblings said at the same time.

"You'll never guess what I got," their father was holding a beautiful orange orchid.

"OoooOOo," Harmony said, her eyes glittering in awe.

"I told you I'd find one," he said, handing the delicate plant to his daughter. It was encased neatly inside a stone pot. Melody wondered how he managed to get a pot.

"And for you," he started, digging around a side bag. "I have this." Her father pulled out an elegant stone carved into a smooth heart shape.

"Woahh," Melody breathed.

"Is that straight from Terragon Heights?" Stormy said curiously.

"Yep. I knew a friend who was good with stonework," their father exclaimed.

"Thanks dad," Melody hugged her father, gazing at her gift.

"Storm dear, are you home already?" A voice came from the back of the cave.

"Mom! Look what dad got me!" Harmony showed her mother the orchid.

"Storm, how did you get this?" Their mother smiled and looked at her mate skeptically.

"I have my ways," Storm said, reaching a nest in tge far back and lying down.

"Well while you were out," the mother said grasping a plate. "I managed some food."

She laid before everyone a rack of food. Mostly made up of bunnies or seagulls, but it was still food.

"Calcite," Storm said confused. "What's this supposed to be?"

"Hm? Oh it's fish," she answered.

"But you hate water mom," Stormy pointed out.

"I don't," Harmony said proudly.

Although her sister didn't have wings, it didn't mean she couldn't excell in other things. Harmony was a surprisingly good swimmer, as well as climber. With her having no wings she realised she could get into spaces normal dragons couldn't. Melody heard light pattering from outside. It was raining now.

"Awe," Stormy whined. "Now we can't fly dad."

"Tomorrow Junior," Storm ruffled his son's hair.

"So guys, now that we're 20 and all, I think we're finally old enough to go outside and enjoy the world," Melody started.

"Melody, no." Calcite said strictly.

"Awe what, but why," Melody complained.

"Melody, you don't know what could happen," her father came into the conversation.

"But even just to look around. I don't have to talk to anyone," Melody urged.

"It's more complicated than that," Calcite said solemnly.

The rain began to pour outside, and a large gust of wind was blown into their cave. It was now storming.

"But we're already 20, we can handle ourselves," Melody said defiantly. "Harmony back me up here."

"I think we should listen Melody," Harmony said softly, a crack of lightning from outside startled her.

"Are you kidding? I've waited 20 years for this?" Melody said distraught.

"Melody, why can't we just enjoy the dinner," Harmony said.

"Because it's our 20th and I still can't have my freedom," Melody said sternly, walking into a seperate cave in the back.

"Melody-" Her mother called out.

"Just leave me alone," Melody said, plopping into a nest. She laid her head down and frowned at the floor. All she wanted was freedom. She heard footsteps near the entrance.

"You don't want food?" She heard her younger brother say.

"Go away Stormy," Melody turned her head farther. She heard his footsteps leave then return, what did he want now? Ughh. She lifted up her head and saw a plate with a bunny and some fish near the door.
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Later that night everyone had gone to sleep, Harmony was silently sleeping on the same nest as her and Stormy was over on his nest snoring away. Their parents were in the next room. Melody quietly stood up from her nest, edging her way to the door as soft as she could. She sat there, gazing at the stars and their eternal glow. The sea below her had died down and became only a soft churning of water every now and then. Her green eyes glinted when she set her eyes on the moon, the sky islands far off in the distance. It was a clear and calm night, not even a breeze.

It would only be for a while. Only for a while.

She spread her wings and quietly glided into the silent night.

Lilac yawned and loped out of bed, it was early enough in the morning for her to head to the food court and get back here to gather he stuff for class to begin. She glanced to her left where her cousin slept, she had heard he was getting a new roomie. She glanced to her right and saw her whole dorm still dozing off. So of course, she had to do this.

"HEY CALCITE!" She pounced on Calcite, jerking her awake and out of her nest. "A FIRE!!!"

"Huh..WHERE?!" Calcite flew upwards, leaves falling onto the flooring as she darted through the leaves. Polarmist was already wide awake, Dove sleepily yawned and stretched her wings.

"What now?" Polarmist hissed. She was always grumpy.

Lilac was left laughing, Calcite had fluttered back down, rubbing her head.

"Lilac, you have to stop doing that," Calcite yawned. They heard thr boys' dorm next to them shuffle with movement, they were awake.

"Lilac, what are you doing this time?" She heard TimberWing yell across to them.

"Yea I literally hear you every morning," Igneous moaned, she felt bad for Igneous, he slept across from her in the other dorm. Peak lazily opened it his eyes but turned and fell back asleep.

"Is it time for class?" Dove lay facing the sky, still stretching. She was the type who liked "beauty sleep", but if you woke her up she would take a few minutes to adjust.

"Sorry, not sorry," She yelled to Timber. She heard him grunt and plop back into his nest.

"C'mon, let's go grab some food before class, I'm starving," Lilac pleaded.

"But Lilac, you're always hungry," Dove sat upright in her nest.

"I'm a Rock Dragon, I like food," Lilac said.

"I guess I could go for some food," she saw Calcite land next to her. "What about you Misty?"

Misty shook her head and landed back in her nest.

"You go, I'll sleep with Misty.." Dove yawned and curled into a ball again.

"Yea! Kay, let's goooo," Lilac glided outside, and they headed to the food court together.

They had ordered their food and sat at a table, the sun was peaking its head through the morning mist and beamed brightly. Calcite was picking at her bunny, Lilac was munching away at two plates of squirrels. She looked up and tilted her head Calcite.

"You're not hungry?" Lilac asked.

Calcite flinched her head up.

"Oh, just. Thinking." Calcite stuttered her words.

Calcite seemed off the past few days, she was probably going throught something hard, Lilac knrw better than to ask her, so she kept on eating.
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Later that day she saw Timber and another Air Dragon come in. Finally, they had a new dragon, that way Calcite didn't have to make groups of three all the time. Everything seemed normal, until it wasn't. She was with Dove when she heard a holler, when she went over to investiagate she found Storm and Calcite standing next to a body. Lilac wanted to believe it wasn't real, that it was all just a cruel prank, but it wasn't. Someone had called over Sprucetail and he quickly dismissed the class and ushered us away. Lilac never really knew OakScales, she'd heard of him, but never really aknowledged him.

Lilac had followed Storm and TimberWings during Storm's tour of the camp.

"Oh yea! Time to explore~!" Lilac said in a sing-song voice. She was the first to fly off but the last to her cousin's canopy. She over heard the guys chatting, they were greeting Storm.

"This is a terrible introduction," Lilac said, rolling her eyes.

"We're doing introductions?" Delta asked.

Lilac grew tired of the chatter. When she left her cousin's dorm to meet her own she saw Misty sitting next to Calcite's nest, Dove said she'd be out getting food and come back later. Calcite was mourning.

"He's not worth the pity, c'mon Calcite stop being a featherling," Misty said in an irritated whiny tone.

Lilac walked up to Calcite, her face was covered under her wings. Her shoulders lightly bobbed up and down.

"Calcite?" Lilac asked.

"Lilac, not now," Misty said.

"But, maybe I can help," Lilac offered.

"No, I said- Not. Now." Misty finished sternly.

Lilac quickly walked away, she knew when Polarmist was serious. She felt Polarmist didn't really like her the way Calcite liked her. And did she call Calcite a featherling? Gee that seemed rude.
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Everything was wrong, so, so wrong. Flora had died in recent weeks, Lilac didn't understand what was going on amymore. Igneous just seemed so distant, he just never spoke to anyone. Time had flown by so fast, but today was dragging along slowly, too slowly. The early morning sun shone through her canopy, the guys were all sleeping, each one facing away from each other. Misty was asleep as well, and Dove was gone on a family trip. Wait a second.
She glancedat Calcite's nest which was empty. Now where had she gone to? She noticed Storm was gone as well. She flew out from her dorm to find them. Maybe Calcite was just trying to clear her head, Lilac knew how she felt. She wanted away from the madness as well. Lilac heard soft murmuring from behind the dorms and landed on a branch above Calcite. Was she speaking to Storm?
Lilac suddenly saw a glimpse of white scales and a dragon who looked much like Calcite. She guessed it was Peak. Peak sooner left amd suddenly she saw Calcite dart off. What the huh? Where were they going??

Before Lilac could fly off after them she was yanked by the wings.

"Tell me where they went," she heard a voice from behind her hiss.

"Wha- huh?" Lilac stuttered and flailed her wings.

"I said. Tell me where they went.." the voice said in a darker tone from before.

"What do you mean? Who?" Lilac blurted out.

"You know what I mean pathetic mud brain," Lilac heard Polarmist say hastily.

"Misty, what do you want?" Lilac whipped her head around, backed onto the edge of the canopy. She knew Misty had secretly hated her, but not this much.

"TELL ME WHERE THEY WENT." Misty clenched her claws tighter around Lilac's wing and used her other claws to grasp Lilac's neck.

"I-I don't know-" Lilac choked. Why did she want to know where Calcite and Storm went?

"USELESS ROCK DRAGON, " Misty roared and began nabbing at Lilac's face. Everything happened so fast Lilac didn't see it coming. She saw faint figure of Polarmist's figure fly into the air as she fell to the ground.
.
"Lilac!" She heard a muffled voice say.

"LILAC!!" Sheheard the voice again, this time more clearly.

Lilac opened her eyes slowly, not remembering what had happened. Her head ached, as well as her wings. She felt claws help her up from the soil, her wings felt dusty.

"LILAC, ARE YOU OK?" She felt Timber shake her violently.

"Ahh, no stop," Lilac urged, holding her head.

"Oh mY GoD yoU'Re OK," TimberWing's voice shook and he wrapped his wings around his cousin.

There was a brief pause, then Lilac realized something.

"Timber.." Lilac said slowly.

"What?" She felt Timber pull away but he still grasped her claws on her shoulders.

"I.." Lilac said quietly.

"Lilac? What's wrong?" Timber said quickly.

"I'm...blind." Lilac said emotionless, staring off into blank nothingness.

"Y'know I heard we get a new roommate either sometime today or tomorrow," Igneous said fixing his wings.
TidalWave yawned, he seemed very laidback today, except he wasn't. The killing from the day before terrified him, but he held his thoughts in. He didn't have to show he was terrified, especially because Del-
"Hey Delta," he overheard Timber speak and looked up. TidalWave noticed an Air Dragon next to TimberWings.

"Heya, who's the new guy," Delta sat gingerly against the wall next to TidalWave. So that Air Dragon was the new roommate.

"Is he staying with you guys," TidalWave asked.

"Yep. Guys say hello to Storm." TimberWings gestured and Storm awkwardly waved.

"Hey welcome to the family," he saw Peak place a leaf bookmark in his book and stood up stretching, "man it feels like I'm 80, why is my everything sore?"

"You've been reading all day Peak." Igneous rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"This is a terrible introduction." Lilac butted in.

"We're doing introductions?" Delta said, "Well in that case I'm Delta, nice to meecha." Delta cocked his head to the side and beamed.

"Over there is TidalWave, Igneous, and Peak. TidalWave likes to sleep. Igneous likes showing off. And Peak likes words." Delta added.

"Hey wait- Delta what kind of an introduction was that?" Igneous asked, facepalming himself. Igeneous was always the ladies man.

"Yeah, your description you gave me was terrible. 'Peak likes words?'." Peak said defiantly.

"Only the most truthful." Delta smirked.

There sas a short awkward pause. He had to admit, Delta knew him well.

"Eh, he's right. I like sleeping." TidalWave said, the boys started to chuckle.

"Oh hey Timber, we should invite Storm to the fire tonight."

'Another fire, yeah great,' TidalWave thought. 'Get the gang together again.' If he could yell in his head he would.

"Yea invite him, he'll get to meet more dragons." He agreed.

"Fire?" Storm asked.

"Yea, like a campfire. We have one almost every night with these two dorms." Lilac said from behind.

"Cool, sounds fun." Storm said.

"Oh hey Storm, the last nest we got here is for you," TimberWings added, pointing his wing to a nest across from Peak's, the bottom right corner. From his nest you could watch the sun set beyond the horizon, it was too cold up here for TidalWave's taste.
.
TidalWave lazily lounged on a stone chair Timber had made himself, Delta sat next to him, but of course, Misty had to be here too..
That new dragon had arrived a little later with Timberwing and Lilac, what was his name? Storm? Yeah Storm. TidalWave wondered if Storm was going to be here more often. He probably was considering he was apart of this dorm. He yawned and outstretched his arms.

"It's pretty late, plus we still have a class tomorrow, we'll c'ya later guys," TidalWave waved his talons, walking off with Delta. The sky had turned a deep navy blue with the smallest hint of muave in the distance.

"Man, I wish she actually cared y'know," TidalWave heard Delta complain. "Like I show an interest and she pushes me away." Delta said frustrated.

"Oh," TidalWave said solemnly. He was half sad half glad.

"It's like she can't notice anything I do," Delta added, gazing at the stars.

"Yeah, I feel that way alot," TidalWave said meekly.

"I'm glad you're here for me," Delta pipped up and nudged TidalWave.

"Heh, yep." TidalWave answered. They had made it to their dorm with other Sea Dragons near a lake. There were multiple tents and caves carved into trees or cliffsides perfectly fitted for Sea Dragons. Mellowbrook thought it'd be hard for Sea Dragons to climb canopies. Delta slept in a corner on the opposite side of TidalWave.

"Oh hey, you two are back late," a Sea Dragon called out from the dark. Luckily Sea Dragons had night vision.

"Timber finally found his new roomie," Delta plopped in his nest.

"Well what'd ya do?" The voice said.

"Just had another fire," Delta answered. "I'm sleeping, I'm done for today, night." Delta sighed and rolled over in his bed.

TidalWave silently got in his, laid down, and sighed. He wondered if Delta knew. If he only knew how much Delta hurt him by constantly jabbering about Misty. Misty.. TidalWave silently resented her. So how would their lives play out after this? What would happen if they graduated and Delta ended up with Misty. Delta deserved someone who cared about him, someone who liked him for the way he was. Not some stuck up Ice Dragon. Polarmist wasn't right for him, TidalWave knew it.

TidalWave had a hard time sleeping that night.
.
"Hey it's the dragon I was telling you about Misty." Delta nudged Polarmist.

Tidalwave sat on the right of Delta. On the left of Delta sat Polarmist, and on the left of her sat Calcite.

"Hey Storm, get over here. You haven't met Misty or Dove yet." Lilac pat the log she sat on, Storm, Lilac and Dove all chatted. Igneous and Flora sat lovingly on a log.

"TRUTH OR DARE!" Delta suddenly yelled.

"That's so childish, we're not 10," Misty said, squinting at Delta.

"YEAH LETS DO IT!!" Lilac agreed with him, oh boy.

"Hmm. Unless you wanna do spin the seashell," Delta raised his eyebrows at Misty and elbowed her. She scrunched up her snout in response.

"No way. That's a terrible idea," Igneous said. "Especially when Flora's here."

"Does that mean you'd still do this game if I wasn't here?" Flora said playfully.

"Of course not." Igenous said defiantly.

"I swear you first years are so childish," Flora said jokingly. TidalWave took offense.

"Well third years are just as bad." Lilac stuck her tounge out. "We don't act all petty like you, we just wanna have fun." Lilac said, leaning on Storm.

"Then let's just do T or D." TidalWave said, lounging on a carved rock. "Also I admire your handy work Timber." Tidal said slapping the chair. "This is amazingly carved."

"No prob bob." Timber said.

"I'm in, let's do this." Calcite butted in with determination. "Don't be a chicken Misty." She smirked at Polarmist.

"You guys do whatever," Igneous said standing up. "Flora and I'll be out."

"OOoOooOoOhhh." Lilac said.

"Don't get in trouble you kids." Peak said. The dragons laughed.

TidalWave watched as Igenous and Flora walked off enjoying the stars. TimberWings had come later, taking Igenous's spot.

"Yeah, I don't care what we do," Timber yawned. "Let's do atleast something before I fall asleep."

"Yeah, Storm, you in?" Lilac said. "What about you Dove?"

Storm and Dove just looked at each other and shrugged.

"Yeah sure, I guess." Storm said.

"Just for the record, I am NOT eating fireflies EVER again," Dove said fiercely.

"Yeah, that's everyone. So who's first?" Calcite asked.

"Me," Lilac piped in, standing up. "And I say..." she paused, eyeing Misty and Delta.

"Why did I agree to this," Polarmist facepalmed herself.

"Delta, truth or dare." Lilac asked.

"Dare. I'm no chicken." Delta said determined.

"That's what I thought. I dare you..." she paused. "To kiss Misty." She gave a sly smirk.

"What." Misty and Delta said simultaneously.

TidalWave jerked his head up from the chair, eyeing both of them cautiously. No. No no no.

"I knew this was a terrible idea, Calcite you-"

Polarmist was stopped when Delta came up to kiss her. Misty didn't even pull away.. Delta quickly left her face and everyone was left in an uproar, TidalWave lightly faked his laughter, grimacing and looking away when they kissed. He looked back up when he heard Delta sit back next to him. Delta elbowed TidalWave.

"I did it, I actually did it," Delta seemed incredibly happy, happier than he'd ever seen him. Tidal loved seeing Delta happy, but he hated why he was so happy. He gave a small smile everytime he mentioned his amazing feat. When they had walked home that night it was later than usual.

"And she didn't pull away, she actually stood still," Delta said excitedly. TidalWave remained silent. "Man, what a night."

"Did you completely forget Dove almost drowned," TidalWave added.

"Oh- well..." Delta stopped himself, Tidal knew he felt guilty.

"I didn't mean anything," Delta rubbed his arm lightly.

There was an awkward pause again.

"Hey, you're real quiet, like more quiet than usual." Delta asked TidalWave.

"It's nothing, just tired," TidalWave said irritated.

"Does being tired make you grumpy?" Delta joked.

TidalWave didn't answer.

"But seriously, we should do T or D more often," Delta switched back to happy.

"Seriously." TidalWave said harshly.

"Huh?" Delta asked, they had stopped walking.

"It's like Polarmist is all you care about," TidalWave said, the hurt showing in his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Delta questioned.

"You talk about her ALL the time," TidalWave retorted.

"Well, yeah...aren't you happy too?" Delta asked TidalWave.

TidalWave wished he had wings so he could fly off, instead he dove into the lake and swam as far away as he could. He heard Delta dive into the water after him, echo noises ringing in his ears. Delta was trying to speak to him...didn't he understand he just wanted to be alone. He felt claws along his tail and he was yanked back, he saw piercing green eyes staring at him. More echoes flew past TidalWave's ears.

"I don't understand," he heard Delta say. "What's wrong?"

"Of course you wouldn't understand," TidalWave gave a distressed squeal and yanked his tail out of Delta's grasp.

TidalWave heard sad echoes in the water after he fled, but the noise became distant. Delta had given up on chasing TidalWave. He didn't want to go back to his dorm, he wanted to be away. He didn't want to, but he did. It didn't make sense. TidalWave found a small crevice to rest in, and buried himself under the sea grass. No one would find him here.
.
Flora was dead. He didn't know what happened but Flora was dead. Weeks had gone by and everything was normal. TidalWave eventually forgave Delta, even after all the times he's hurt him. He didn't care, he would stay by Delta as long as he could.

"Hey look, there's Storm with his girl," Delta elbowed TidalWave. "Let's go bother them." TidalWave trailed behind, he didn't really feel like bothering them, but he did anyways just to be with Delta.

"Heya, how ya doin'," Delta slid into an empty seat. "Did you guys see the new menu item? Roasted bunnies, mmmm. I never thought I'd be into anything else besides seafood."

"Lies. Trust me. He's eaten more than just seafood," TidalWave came up to Delta's side.

"Oh hey, a lunch date. Cute. Lemme just butt in real quick," Lilac came and scooted next to Dove.

"Where's Igneous?" Storm asked.

"He's back at your canopy," Lilac said, twiddling with a small twig. "He doesn't like to really do anything anymore.." Lilac said solemnly. The table went quiet.

"We need to do something, all of this is insane," Storm said intently.

"Yea, this camp is real broken," Lilac said.

"I've been trying to figure things out, but the dragons that were all killed have absolutely no connection," Storm said straining his head. "They're all different, so it's not breed. Gender isn't an issue. They're all different years, guhh," Storm said with discourage.

"Well, they were all killed the same way. They were all strangled," TidalWave added in.

"But why strangled and not anything else?" Dove asked.

"Because it's gross to stab," Lilac shuddered.

"Less noticable?" Delta said, rubbing his head.

"Well if you try to stab someone won't they just scream. I mean, I would." Lilac pointed out.

"So they wanted a quick silent kill? See even when we start a chain of evidence it ends. Something is missing." Storm said.

TidalWave didn't like this whole murder in the camp thing. Heck, he didn't didn't like his situation now. Well, atleast Misty wasn't here.

"Hey, we finally made it," TimberWing arrived with Peak and a tray of food for everyone. TidalWave sat, staring at the table.
"Uh, guys?" Peak asked.
.
"I have no clue," Delta scratched his head. "Storm just told us to come over. I have no clue why."

TidalWave kept most of his thoughts private now. It still bugged him Delta didn't seem to know or care.

"Hey but Misty's gonna be there!" Delta said happily, he glanced over at TidalWave who was staring at the ground. "But of course- I have you." Delta nudged TidalWave softly and smiled. TidalWave shuddered but somehow loved that feeling. "And I guess I'd rather have you than some Ice Dragon who doesn't care about me anyways.." Delta said, his voice trailing off. TidalWave noticed Delta had begun to give up on Misty, it made Tidal both sad and glad.
They had walked up to the campsite and Delta walked in front of Tidal. They heard...yelling?

"Hey, hey, hey, what's-" Delta started, moving out of the trees. "Going on?" He finished awkwardly

"Ummm.." TidalWave raised a claw to speak. Before he knew it he saw Peak shoot into the air with Calcite following him. He thought he saw Polarmist but she managed to disappear.

"Storm!" Lilac hollered.

Tidalwave saw a dart of colors and irridescent scales, Storm had run off into the forest.
.
The group had been mute after the turmoil after that night. Delta was too upset to talk to, Storm and Calcite had gone missing, as well as Polarmist. It was like Flora all over again. Their group was slowly breaking. No one spoke to Peak about his sister, if anyone asked he'd hiss and soar away. Everything was bad. Everything. The camp had been put on lockdown, and classes we're put on hold. The school didn't want any other students getting this information outside. So far three students had died, and three more missing. TidalWave hoped no one found bodies. He missed Storm and Calcite. What had happened to them? Why now? Why dragons from THEIR group? It hurt to think about it all.
Now he was sitting in his dorm, facing away from the entrance. He had his tail curled around his snout, he didn't feel like going outside. This whole thing terrified him to the point where he thought he would die if he went outside. The sky had reached the evening, the air was eerily still. Delta was out, he didn't know what he was doing but he knew Delta wouldn't be happy if he did get back. His other dormmate wasn't here either. The Sea Dragon dorms were very empty this day. Everyone just wanted to distract themselves from this madness.
He heard footsteps by the door, he knew those footsteps. TidalWave felt scales against his as the dragon curled up beside TidalWave, Tidal glanced at Delta's face. His eyes were reddish. Poor Delta. TidalWave quickly darted his eyes away and pretended not to notice.

"Tidal," Delta said meekly. There was a pause, but Delta knew TidalWave was listening. "I'm tired. I'm tired of this." Delta said quietly.

'I am too.' TidalWave sighed in his thoughts. 'I hope everyone's okay.' He rested his eyes and they slept side by side.
.
"GUYS!" A familiar voice screeched. "GET UP!" TidalWave's eyes had shot open and he jerked awake, Delta lazily sat up, still half asleep.

"What's up?" Delta yawned.

"There's an emergency assembly at the main court, let's go!" Their roommate shoved them up. TidalWave scurried outside, and saw dragons running to and fro. Delta tugged on Tidal's arm, yanking him out of the cave. The main court was already packed, but for some reason it looked so odd.

"As you all know we've had some mishaps in the past few weeks." A dragon in the front said, she stiod on a stage made of stone.

"Mellowbrook is speaking, shh, shh-" TidalWave heard students say around him.

"But we are doing all we can to keep our students safe," Mellowbrook spoke calmly, but there was just the slightest jitter in her voice.

"We are no longer in a soft lockdown," Mellowbrook started, students began to cheer. She held up my claws and the students stopped. "We are now in a full lockdown." Several gasps were heard, some students moaned.

"We must ensure the safety of our pupils. The borders will now be guarded to prevent any unwanted dragons." Mellowbrook said.

"Dragons aren't coming in, they're going out," TidalWave heard Delta complain, his brows furrowed.


"What about the war?!" A student yelled out in distress. The dragons began to chatter again, a wave of panic flying through everyone.

"The war does not affect us, we are not endangered in any way." She reassured. "The Air Dragons can deal with their own problems for now."

"So we're not gonna help them? They're our allies!" A Rock Dragon flew into the air and hollered.

TidalWave couldn't hear Mellowbrook's voice anymore, it had been drowned out by the screams of the stidents. Everyone was terrified. TidalWave felt his body lurch backward amd he was sweeped through the crowd.

"Let's get out of here!" Delta yelled at TidalWave over the roar of the student body.

They sifted their way through the thick crowd, Rock and Air Dragons fluttered into the air, hovering in place, Sea Dragons slithered along the ground.

"Where are we going?" TidalWave urged.

"I don't know." Delta said, scrunching up his snout.

TidalWave knew what was wrong. Nearly ALL the Ice Dragons had disappeared. He knew this upset Delta. It meant Misty was long gone and either flew away or...well. They had ran away from the crowd of panicked dragons, as they got farther all he could hear was both of their breathing. TidalWave nearly tripped several times. They slowed down and something about Delta's breathing was off. TidalWave walked around to face him, he had stopped in his place with his face toward the sky.
He was crying.

"Hey wait, Delta-" without a word Delta had grabbed TidalWave and yanked him close, hugging him tightly. TidalWave didn't know how to react, he awkwardly wrapped his arms around Delta and hugged him back.

"I don't know what's happening anymore," Delta said softly.

"Me either," TidalWave said solemnly, his lids half closed. "I..I know you probably miss Misty." TidalWave said in a hurt way.

Tidal felt Delta slowly shake his head. "I don't know." Delta's voice shook. "I don't think she ever really cared.." Delta said in an equally hurt tone.

"So then, what now?" TidalWave asked.

They stayed hugging.

So yep school started, I guess it's okay, nothing really good or terrible about it. I take an Acc. Speech class i don't know whether thats good or bad, my teacher said we'd have 4 or 5 speeches a day and since we have like 11 people in my class that just means I'll get chosen more often. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I'm fine with talking in front of everyone if there isn't a script I need to follow, if its just talking or answering a question I can do that but if I have to memorize stuff I'm dead. The school got new lockers, not happy about that either, there are a ton of popular guys near my locker which i hated at first but then they helped me open my locker and now we chill.

My friends are being split up bc of our classes now, it makes me sad but I can just befriend new people, I know a few freshmen who are nice, I never really talk to juniors. Ughh, juniors. But the seniors are pretty nice. Other than that I think everything is going fine, I hate a few of the new rules but ehhh.

I wanna start writing short stories from side characters of Melody and Harmony, just until I can actually start the sequel, I cant focus on writing something big right now because of school, hope yall understand.

Anyways i hope you guys have a good day, uhhh or night.

A large dragoness paced back and forth in a darkened room. Her scales glittered like flakes of snow under the faint moonlight. There was another dragon sitting at a stone made table, the torches flickered along the walls.

"I need her DEAD," she hissed, the dragon at the table sat boredly, playing with a small dagger.

The dragoness slammed her hands on the table and swatted the dagger out of his claws, the metal clinking to the ground. It was silent.

"Alright, what do I get out of this?" The dragon yawned.

"You'll be my second in command," she said slyly.

"Second in command huh?" He said observing his talons. "Hm."

"What, that's not good enough?" She hissed. "What else do you want?!"

"I want half of the Kingdom," the other dragon said in a cunning voice.

"Are you ridiculous?" She spat. "Why would I do that?"

"Because I'm the only dragon who can do this job," he remarked.

"Ugh," the dragoness turned around and contemplated, talking a little while later. "Fine, half of the Kingdom will be yours." She said turning to face him. "IF, you kill her first."

"Sure thing," he grinned. "Glad doing business.."

Balance is the sequel to my previous novel "Melody & Harmony."

I'll be happy to answer any unanswered questions from the first story, as well as some new raised questions in the sequel. Also I needa put up age charts.

Dragons Years

Infant : 1-3
Toddler : 3-5
Child : 5-7
Preteen : 7-10
Teenager : 10-25
Young Adult : 25-30
Adult : 30-90
Elder : 100 -120

College Years

25-26 First Year
27-28 Second Year
29-30 Third Year

They are teenagers for a long time until they reach 25, then they begin to mature faster. We're only teenagers for 6 or 7 years, whereas the dragons mature slower when they're teenagers, taking 15 years to mature. We are young adults for about 10 years from age 20, whereas the dragons begin to mature quicker as young adults from 25-30.
120 is the average age of death, but some dragons, (mostly Sea Dragons) have been able to make it to 140.

The Air Kingdom had been devastatingly hit with the feather flu, which is almost like the normal flu, except only Air Dragons can have this sickness. It starts out like a normal cold then progressively gets worse, to the point where the skin on the wings begin to scab and blister and the feathers fall off. During the Ice Dragon Invasion the Queen had come down with the feather flu, but luckily she survived.
•
The Ice Kingdom on the other hand, is only held together by their determination to overthrow the Air Kingdom. Celcius is the only Queen who has been able to rule long enough to defend her throne and command others to listen to her.
•
The Earth Kingdom is hesitant to join in the war, but many are afraid they'll be attacked by the Ice Nation too.
•
The Sea Kingdom does not want anything to do with this war.
•
Mellowbrook was temporarily shut down, all the Ice Dragon students had gone missing, as well as a few others here and there. There were two students they never found though, they're stories haunt the new students at the camp to this day. They said an Air and Ice Dragon mysteriously disappeared and never returned. The campus is now back in session.

A small breeze sifted into a cozy cave, from here you'd be able to see Terragon Heights. Ocean waves lapped against the shore below, they were in the Sea Kingdom.

"Mom!" Two young dragonets called to their mother, they looked almost identical. Except, one was missing wings.

"Yes dear?" The mother asked.

"Where's dad?" The twin with wings asked.

A large dragon appeared at the entrance of the cave, his navy blue hair ruffled by his flight home.

"Right here!" He ran over to his two beautiful daughters. They all giggled and rejoyed with their father being home. "Hello Calcite dear." He sat next to Calcite.

"Daddy?" The twin without wings asked.

"Hm?" He replied.

"When's Junior coming?" The dragonet jumped up from her spot and went to investigate a blue tinted egg with darker speckles.

"He'll be here soon," the dragon said, nudging his daughters close. "And ya know what, he's going to have the best sisters ever, Melody and Harmony."

Calcite sat weeping in the back of her cell, her cries echoing through the chamber. She was startled when she heard footsteps, then banging outside of the bars, she didn't dare turn around.

"Get up," a voice commanded her. She didn't move. "Mmph." The voice grunted and she heard the bars shift, the footsteps drawing closer.

She felt a jab of pain as the dragon kicked her side, Calcite slowly stood up, wobbling. The dragon, presumably a guard, shoved her out of the cell and held her taught by a rope. Calcite felt like she was going to die for her crime.

They entered anither seperate room, it was empty except for one single seat in the center. The walls were tall and elegant, an even slate color all around. Light shone through a large window from above. The guard thrust her into the room and several dragons had pushed a stone in the place of the doorway. It ensured there was no escape.

"So," Calcite heard a familiar voice say. "Betraying your nation?"

Calcite stared at the floor. It was abnormaly quiet.

"Peak had told me about you," the dragoness stood up and started pacing Calcite. Was this interrogation? Calcite still didn't speak. "It's funny to see your own blood betray you like that, huh?" She said in a sinister way.

"But of course, you didn't seem to care when you betrayed us," Celcius spat.

"Well?" Celcius raised her voice. "What are you going to do? Just sit there you coward." She hissed.

Calcite bit her lip, not wanting to make the Queen any more mad than she already was. She wanted to tell her how this wasn't right. She wanted to say how all of this was wrong. She wanted to show Celcius that Air Dragons and Ice Dragons could get along.

"You decided to choose those little pests over us?" Celcius said lifting her head, still pacing in circles. "They're only greedy featherbrains who'd choose gold over family," Celcius boomed.

"No, you're wrong," Calcite said defiantly. "I've seen with my own eyes that we can get along. Not ALL Air Dragons are like that," Calcite stood up.

"Hah! Really?" Celcius bent her head down toward Calcite, giving a grin.

"If you love them so much why don't you join them?" Celcius grinned a devilishly. She dashed to gnab Calcite and Calcite dove out of the way.

"Get back here you little-" Celcius said irritably.

Calcite knew why Celcius wanted her in here, she wanted her alone in this room so she'd have the joy of killing her.

Celcius hissed, swiping her tail at Calcite, this room was awfully small. Celcius roared and shot an unforgiving ice blast at Calcite, it clipped the left side of her tail. It stung like a frostbite. Calcite was suddenly grabbed by her left wing, dragged toward the center of the room when Celcius was. Calcite needed a way out, and NOW.

"You're a pesky little creature you," Celcius said pinning Calcite to the ground, she held her claws up, the light from outside pouring over her scales. "You'll be seeing all of your friends now." She slashed her talons down, but before they could touch Calcite she was blinded.

"AGH-" Celcius held her head. "GUARDS." She screeched.

Calcite looked at the door, the stone was slowly moving. The only other way out was-

"THERE SHE IS! GET HER!" A guard hollered.

Calcite quickly flared her wings, painfully floating into the air, her flaps were wobbly and uncoordinated, she hit the wall a few times before latching her claws onto the window.

"THE PRISONER IS ESCAPING!" Another guard hollered.

Calcite pulled herself up, squeazing through the window, her chest was a little too big-

"GOT IT." More voices said. Calcite's leg was being tugged on. Her wings had made it outside and she pushed her way into the snowy tundra, she saw guards try to fit themselves through the hole but ended being stuck. It was snowing a light flurry, the snow was relentless here.

"WAIT-" She heard another voice scream. She knew that voice too.

She collapsed onto the ground, regaining her to her feet and treading on foot instead, her wings ached. The voice came from nearby-

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" It called out again.

Two guards stayed outside next to three guillotines, on the far right held Storm.

"I can't- I.." Storm struggled. His scales were so pale..she hated seeing him so cold.

"Man do you guys ever shut up?" An Ice Dragon complained at the three prisoners.

Storm looked up from his spot, his eyes widened. "Once again-" Storm started.

"Huh? What are you goin' on about?" The other Ice Dragon said, making a circular motion around his head toward his collague.

"We're sorry," Storm grinned meakly.

"Maybe he had the feather flu too," the first guard nudged his friend, chuckling. His laughter was cut short when Calcite stuck him to the ground, his mouth stayed frozen partially open, as if he was mid laughter.

"What the hail," the second Ice Dragon said whipping his head around. Calcite had frozen one leg, and he continued twisting and turning until he was eventually tangled.

"I'm not sorry," Calcite hissed and the last thing that guard saw as Calcite's ice blast.

"Storm!" Calcite ran over to Storm, freezing the wood until it snapped.

"Calcite," Storm took Calcite and embraced her, his large wings wrapped around her. "Thank the heavens." Storm's scales felt so cold..

Calcite heard another dragon behind Storm cough, and she ran over to help her as well, her nose had been horridly beaten and her right eye was in bad shape. They wrenched the dragon free.

"Thank you.." she said weakly. "But I'm mot leaving.."

"What d-do you mean?" Storm shivered.

The Air Dragon shook her head slowly.

"I don't want to.." she said without emotion, almost like she was tired.

"Don't want to what?" Calcite tried helping her to stand.

"I don't want to live.." the Air Dragon shuddered and coughed again. "I don't want to live." She repeated. Calcite glanced at the last dragon on the left, he was already gone..

Storm tapped Calcite's arm, still trembling. He looked in the opposite direction, voices yelled and wingbeats could be heard just a few hundred yards away. Calcite gazed mournfully at the weakened Air Dragon on the ground, then ran off with Storm into the forest. They both ran and never looked back.

Calcite ran outside, Storm trailed behind her. Guards swarmed the hallways, running to and fro, servants clattered around with dishes. Calcite flinched when she heard a servant drop some plates, shattering onto the floor.
Down the hall double doors were busted down with a plume of frost, and the area was filled with a chilly draft. Several Ice Dragons hissed, nabbing a servant-
"C'mon! We need to get out of here!" Storm wrenched Calcite's claws again.

All around her dragons fleed in panic, flooding the hallways, she didn't understand why the invasion was happening NOW. First it was pushed 2 weeks ahead of schedule, now by 2 more days. What was Celcius doing.

"DUCK," Storm grasped Calcite and shoved her to the ground, a plume of cold ice shooting over them.

They stood up and sprinted out another set of double doors, outside was even worse. Dragons were being robbed, she saw another family being ripped apart. The father had been frozen while the mother helplessly fought to save her children.

There was so much screaming.

"MOM!" Storm shrieked, letting go of Calcite and flying off. She saw Storm fly over to a dragon who looked much like him.

Storm tackled the Ice Dragon trying to rob her and pinned it's head to the ground, she regained balance and knocked Storm off of her, about to send a blast of ice. Calcite looked up trying to see what was happening on his cliffside house, all she saw was a plume of fire and the Ice Dragon plummeting to the ground, Calcite bit her lip and ran to save her from hitting the ground. They tumbled into the bushes together and the Ice Dragon immediately stood up and looked back at Calcite, helping her up as well.

"That dragon's feisty," she huffed. "I recommend older or younger dragons." She said quickly, running off.

Calcite was torn between saving the Air Dragons or staying loyal to the Ice Dragons. Storm later returned with his mother, her hair had been tossled and a few bruises but she was all in all fine.

"It's not safe here," Calcite said towards his mother.

"Mom, what about Uncle Zephyr, he lives near the Sea Kingdom and no one'll think to look there," Storm said helping her stand.

"Uhm, who's this?" Her voice quivered as she pointed to Calcite.

"She's with us, don't worry," Storm comforted her.

Calcite glanced behind her, a giant dragon menacingly hovered in the air. Her scales were crisp white with dull blue spikes and wings. She landed in the midst of the chaos, her neck arching over the land.

"Celcius," Calcite breathed.

Calcite stood still in her spot, gazing at the huge dragon, she was almost as large as the Air King himself.

"THERE SHE IS!" A dragon called out, Calcite flinched. It was another Ice Dragon pointing at her. "THE TRAITOR!"

Celcius whipped her head around and stared Calcite down. Calcite shook in her place, not knowing what to do.

"Looks like you failed," Celcius spat intimidatingly. "We still came anyways." She hissed.

"What, I-I-" Calcite stuttered.

"Peak told us about you," Celcius drew closer, looming over Calcite. Her own brother turned her in.

"Your Majesty," Calcite quickly bowed. "I can assure you that what we're doing is wrong. There are so many other approaches we could've taken, if you just consid-" Calcite said quickly.

"Calcite~" Celcius said in an unsettlingly cheerful way. "Your loyalty, is lacking." She suddenly became very serious.

"Celcius, I-" Calcite started.

"Traitors aren't tolerated," Celcius said before she could finish. It was the same thing Misty had said to Calcite. "Seize her."

Before she knew it Calcite was grasped by the arms, she flared her wings to try and get away, but her wings were still healing. Her whole world was collapsing, what did she do..

"CALCITE!" Storm shouted. He ran up and grabbed her talons, their claws lingered until Celcius quite easily shoved Storm away, tossing him to the ground and leaving him. The last thing she saw was Storm's back as she was carried away.
Then she was blinded, and her world went blurry.
.
Calcite's head ached, the ground was terribly uncomfortable, she suddenly jolted herself awake. She sat up in her spot, looking around, she was in a cave, dark and secluded. Around her she heard moans of other dragons, some even crying. She stood up and walked forward, trying to see out of her cave, the entrance was blocked with bars. There was little light, torches burned along the walls but they were severely dim.

The first thing Calcite did was send an ice blast onto the bars, of course it wouldn't work, these bars were meant for Ice Dragons.. she placed her head on the bars, gripping the poles. She glanced at her wings, they were stained with dried blood, and her side didn't seem to be getting any better. A draft flew into the chamber and Calcite shivered, not because she was chilly, because she knew where she was.

Calcite curled into a ball and shut her eyes tightly.

She was back in the Ice Kingdom, the Ice Kingdom's prison.

Calcite felt Storm pull her arm again, and they ran. They ran without caring what other dragons thought. There was no time, they needed to warn the kingdom. Calcite's shoulders clipped an adult carrying a basket. "Watch it!" The adult hollered. They ducked into a cluster of trees, the palace was just ahead.

"How do we get inside?" Calcite said out of breathe.

A guard walked by and the two laid their heads in the bushes, the guard looked suspiciously at the brush then turned around.

"Calcite," Storm nudged Calcite back up. "I need your help."

"What?" Calcite asked.

"I need you to take out that guard over there," Storm pointed.

"WHAT?! Storm are you crazy?!" Calcite whisper-yelled.

"No, no, I meant just temporarily blind and freeze him," Storm said, Calcite could tell he had a plan.

"Well- fine." Calcite said reluctantly.

"Cool, I'll distract him." Storm left so quickly it startled Calcite. She watched as Storm talked to him and managed to make him stay put. Calcite crept through the trees.

"And also-" Storm said, flicking his tail toward himself. "Whatever happens next we're sorry."

"Huh?" The guard said puzzled.

Calcite emerged from the trees, sending a frosty blast to his feet, making him adhered to the ground, she sent a soft blast to his face where he was blinded. Storm quickly began taking the guard's armor and tools.

"Snug fit right?" Storm asked, opening his wing and admiring the shiny metal.

Storm looked so regal in his armor-

"Uh- yeah, it's fitting for you, " Calcite said quickly, giving and awkward grin.

"Now put this on," Storm gave her a metal muzzle, also attaching a chain around her neck.

"What? What's this for?" Calcite scrunched up her nose.

"Well Air Dragons don't trust Ice Dragons unless they know the Ice Dragons can't shoot ice," Storm said fitting the chains loosely around Calcite's neck. "Don't worry, I got the keys."

"What about him?" Calcite asked Storm.

"He'll melt," Storm answered. "Uh, eventually."

Calcite hesitantly put the muzzle on. It was cold and unforgiving. Storm took the other end of her chains and dragged her toward one of the main entrances.

"Look cranky.." Storm whispered to Calcite.

They waltzed up to the door, they were literally about to do this-

"Hey, what are you doing?" A guard at the gate asked Storm.

"I have a reckless Ice Dragon here who decided it was a good idea to infultrate the palace," Storm said coolly.

"Aren't you a bit too young to be a guard?" The guard stared at Calcite skeptically. She felt Storn jab her shoulder and Calcite hissed at the guard. The guard flinched and nodded at Storm, letting him through. Storm took Calcite by the chain.

"QUIT MOVING," Storm hollered at Calcite, making sure the guards heard.

They had made it into the palace, the hallways huge and empty.

"What was that for?" Calcite muffled inside her muzzle.

"It makes things more believable. I took an acting class when I was younger as well," Storm added.

"Do you even know your way around here?" Calcite questioned.

"All Air Dragons take a tour of the palace when they're younger, of course we weren't allowed to see the prison cells, but we're not heading that way," storm bent his head to whisper. He immediately lifted his head and wore a serious face, watching as two more guards walked by, staring at Calcite.

Calcite's heart was racing, she was doing something so illegal she felt she didn't deserve to be alive. She glanced at the walls, the hallways were so spacious and regal. Purple tapestries hung from the walls, and torches burned along the walls, lighting the place up. The floor was neatly covered with a lavish purple rug, matching the tapestries. They zig zagged through the corridors, reaching a large door, two guards stood infront of the entrance.

"I request entry into the throne room," Storm said commandingly.

"What's that thing for?" A guard pointed at Calcite. She was NOT a THING.

"I need to ask the King for her fate," Storm sneered at Calcite. She hissed in return.

The guard examined Calcite's wounds, he probably figured she had been attacked. Well- that was partially right. Surprisingly they were allowed. The throne room was a huge circular room, huge thrones made of gold sat in the center on the opposite side. In the biggest chair sat the Air King, on his right was the Queen, and on the left of the King was the Princess's chair, but neither of the girls were present. The King sat majestically in the center, speaking to another dragon. Storm quickly removed Calcite's restraints and it clattered to the floor, instead of waiting Storm instead ran ahead and yelled out.

"You're Majesty," Storm called out. Everyone looked directly at them. Calcite's scales slithered.

"You dare speak out of turn?" The King stood from his throne, his voice echoed around the room. He was huge, Calcite felt nervous.

"Your Majesty, we come with important news," Storm pleaded.

"Why do you bring a filthy Ice Dragon into my palace?" He boomed. "Guards."

"Wait!" Storm's voice shook for the first time.

"What he says is true," Calcite said back. "The Ice Dragons have planned an attack on your Kingdom."

The King stared skeptically at Calcite, but she and the king were thinking the same thing. She was an Ice Dragon talking about an attacked held by her own kind. She was a traitor to the Ice Dragons.
Just then another dragon barged through the doors, it was another guard and he wore a concerned face.

"SIRE!" He sprinted over to the King and bowed graciously. "My sincere apologies!" He continued to bow.

"Enough of that," he barked at his guard. "Go on."

"We're under attack," the guard said with fear. "Ice Dragons are storming Terragon Heights as we speak!"

There was a pause, the king stood up and flew toward the door.

"Gather the flight team and collect the ground forces, alert the palace guards. Make sure the Queen is safe," he said urgently and stormed outside the room.

Calcite's heart raced.

"The invasion. It's too late." Calcite said watching the swirling dragons run to and fro.

Everything that had happened the night before haunted Calcite. What did she get herself into. Now they were travelling by foot in the forest. Their next mission was to get to Terragon Heights. Which presented many problems.
1.) She was too injured to fly, and if she did it hurt like hail.
2.) There was a 95% chance Calcite would be kicked out or resented.
3.) And how did they know anyone would believe them once they got there.

Walrus blubber.

The forest seemed gloomy on this particular day, the birds stayed out of sight and the clouds loomed ominously overhead. Just beyond the Earth Kingdom the clouds were pushed away and the sun shone through the Air Kingdom.
Calcite's sides hurt, and her neck had a pulsating feeling of stabbing pain. Her eyes looked weary, she hadn't slept a lot last night, she was too traumatized. Storm had made Calcite a natural pain reliever from herbs, she was lucky Storm actually paid attention and cared about his studies.

"How are we possibly supposed to get to Terragon Heights," Calcite moaned.

"We'll figure out a way," Storm said with just a hint of doubt.

Calcite held her head, but she had to pull through, she had to. It felt like they had been walking through the forest for hours now. She saw Storm quickly rise into the air and poke his head out of the leaves, he then returned back toward the ground. Guess he was thinking the same thing Calcite was.

"The Air Kingdom isn't far away," Storm said reassuringly for Calcite.

Calcite only nodded. This was it, she was actually going through with this. The trees had begun to slowly clear and beyond them Calcite saw the sky islands. Great, so, how did she exactly get up there? She didn't realise she had kept walking and Storm put his wing infront of her chest to stop her.

"That's a steep drop," Storm said looking down a sheer cliff. This was a three way boarder between the Earth, Air, and Sea Kingdom. Water lapped the cliffside below while a breeze came from the air islands. Calcite spread her wings, they felt a bit better from Storm's herbs, but when she fluttered into the air she lost balance and tumbled back onto the ground.

"Storm just go without me," Calcite said, standing back up. "I'm just a burden."

Without any words spoken Calcite hward Storm flying off, then felt Storm grip her sides and they began taking off.

"Storm?!" Calcite screeched. "ARE YOU CRAZY." Calcite fidgeted.

"The more you move, the more difficult it'll be," Storm said as they flew over the ocean. Calcite had a slight fear of the ocean. "It's easier to carry a smaller dragon." Storm said calmly. HOW WAS HE SO CALM AT THIS MOMENT.

They landed on a small sky island that seemed empty except for a few fir and pine trees. Calcite gazed at the other islands, then a huge one in the center of all of them. The Air Kingdom was so close.

"Round two?" Storm asked Calcite.

She felt guilty Storm had to do all the work, and she waved Storm's help away. Also, partially since, she thought she would freeze Storm's talons off if he touched her anymore.

Storm hovered nearby her in the air, waiting for Calcite. Calcite spread her wings and took a deep breathe, she closed her eyes then took off into the air with a big burst, as if that would make her stay in the air longer. She shakily hovered next to Storm, and they flew off together, Storm had to make sure Calcite wouldn't plummet into the ocean. Her wings felt so sore. They landed on a larger island, this time it was full of houses and dragons. Oh boy, here comes trouble.

They travelled through the island, trying not to seem noticable by going behind the wooden cottages, or rocky houses. There were so many feathers...ew. Air Dragons shed alot. In the cliffs beside the houses more caves had been dug into its sides, making multiple homes. The Air Kingdom was so mystical to Calcite, she had only heard stories but now she was actually here.

"Hey!" An Air Dragon a bit younger than them spat. "It's an Ice Dragon!" He sneered, pointing. His friends came by and hissed at Calcite. "Get out of here! You don't belong here!" They said repeatedly. She felt ashamed, she felt ridiculed, she felt like an outcast. Storm opened his wings and shoved the teenagers beside, grabbing Calcite's arm and tugging her to run. They bombarded her with pebbles and stones, she shut her eyes and looked away as they ran. "WHY ARE YOU HELPING HER!" Another called out from behind, obviously directed toward Storm. He ignored it.

The Air Palace was just a few towns away, they were so close. They snaked behind houses and ducked beside trees, trying to be unseen. For Storm it was easy, but Calcite was another story. She ducked her head and hid her odd looking jaw that was thinner than Air Dragon's jaws. She tucked her wings in and Storm had used his wing to shield her, covering their suspicion. They had passed by an elderly dragon who looked about 110, she gave a smile and a waved at the two. They politedly waved back.
Was she actually being nice? Or was she too old to see them? Calcite didn't know, but she tried ignoring it. The sky increasingly became colder and darker, it looked like it was about to rain. The breeze had turned into wind, most Air Dragons had gone inside by now. But periodically she saw Air Dragon workers shove the clouds out of the Air Kingdom, but the clouds continued to push back. She shuddered then turned around to see where the clouds came from.

"Storm." Calcite stood still, her jaw dropped open.

"Huh?" Storm turned around.

Before them huge storm clouds loomed overhead. Calcite knew what they were. They were snowstorm clouds. Beyond them she saw hundreds of glittering scales.
The invasion was starting even earlier than planned. It was starting and there was no way to stop it now.

After their short chat Peak had left to talk to Misty. She loved Misty but Peak had changed her. Their hatred for Air Dragons only bonded them. She missed her best friend. She remembered when she was around 9 she and Polarmist would explore anything together. They would build snow forts under trees, track polar bears, and explore new areas, but Misty wasn't the same. She never would be. She remembered that day so clearly, it hurt so much to remember it.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
"Hey Misty!" Calcite called over to Polarmist and ran up beside her. It was an unusually chilly day, but Ice Dragons could tolerate it.

Misty turned around, she was slightly taller than Calcite now so she had to look down at her.

"You're coming right?" Calcite asked.

"I have other things to do," Misty said turning her head away.

But they'd planned this since they were kids. She was ditching her when the day actually came? She couldn't lose her best friend.

"But Misty-" Calcite started.

"No, I don't have time for your childish games." Polarmist sneered.

"But we ARE kids," Calcite said a bit hurt. "You're too focused on this stupid invasion that won't happen until were 26 or something." Calcite shot back.

"Don't you get it," Polarmist got up to Calcite's face and stared her down. "This revolution is going to change our lives, and our children's lives, our children's children's lives. This will change EVERYTHING."

"That's all you ever talk about now. Why can't we just enjoy what we have now?" Calcite retorted.

"Enjoy what we have?" Misty yelled. "You really enjoy seeing the adults fight everyday over the throne? Seeing them fight for food? Seeing them fight for homes? Seeing them DIE." Polarmist roared.

Calcite flinched, she'd never seen Misty so angry.

"But Misty.." Calcite pleaded.

"My name isn't Misty," she hissed. "It's Polarmist." She walked away.

Goodbye Misty.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

When Calcite agreed to join in the cause, that's when they became friends again. Of course, she had faked everything just to be with her friend. Now all they ever talked about was how disgusting Air Dragons were. Misty had always resented Dove, and she would take any chance to slice her throat.
Maybe this was a bad idea, but she just couldn't kill Storm, she couldn't. But that would mean going behind her friend. Her brother. Her nation. Was she really going to do that for one dragon?

"Hey your back," Storm lifted his head when Calcite arrived.

"Yep," Calcite sighed and threw the knife onto the ground again. She sat on a patch of grass and laid down, looking back up at orange tinted sky.

"Y'know," Storm said after a pause of silence. "I still have no clue what's going on."

Was it even safe to tell him? He could die if he knew, but...if everyone already thought he was dead, maybe it's okay??

Calcite took a frustrated sigh.

"The Revolution." Calcite said plainly, but Storm could tell behind her voice there was much more going on.

"What's all that about?" Storm said sitting next to her, they laid and observed the clouds together.

"It was planned before our generation was even born," Calcite started. "I wished I was born before any of this happened, or better yet not alive at all." Calcite eyed crows flying overhead. "It was a plan to get back at the Air Kingdom for kicking our grandparents parents out. Ever since then stories have just been passed down every generation, and now it's come to us. Our parents want us to thrive, they want us to live, and to have better lives than they could've ever had. But the Air Kingdom declined all of our offers and pleads. They shunned us away," Calcite scrunched up her snout. "They shunned us away when all we ever were was...different."

Calcite didn't exactly hold her loyalty to her nation, but she knew everyone was going about it the wrong way. These past 200 years were full of destruction and pitfalls for the Ice Kingdom, was it a Kingdom? There'd always be a dragon trying to take the throne, but no one dared to attack Celcius anymore. Now the moment was so close, the time was drawing so near, it was time for the Air Kingdom to fall. It was time for them to feel what we felt.

"They've planned an attack," Calcite said, choking on her words.

She felt Storm flinch a little beside her, was she freezing his scales off again? She glanced and saw Storm's face glazed with fear. Storm didn't say anything, but he mouthed something. He said 'Dove'. Right...Dove. She somewhat resented her too, but not because of breed. No- she wasn't jealous. Ughh, blubber.

"It's starting in four days." Calcite said solemnly.

Storm held his head, rubbing the bridge between his eyebrows. He later sighed an returned his talons on his chest.

"I should've just been a messenger," Storm sighed. "I'm..I'm sorry my ancestors had beef with yours," Storm said. "I just wish dragons could see that we can still get along."

Calcite wished too, but she couldn't stop this invasion. It was too soon and no way Peak would back down. She'd have to convince the leader the stop the invasion, but she didn't have the guts to speak to her. Celsius was so cold, even for an Ice Dragon..

"But I don't know how to stop this," Calcite said in a frustrated way. "I don't know how to stop the invasion." Calcite sat up and curled her body into a bun.

"What are they planning to do?" Storm asked her, sitting up as well.

"They're storming Terragon Heights four days from now. Soon after, they're taking the castle and assassinating the king and queen. The Air Kingdom will fall." Calcite said with eerily glazed eyes.

"What?! Terragon Heights? WHAT," Storm shook Calcite up. "EVERYONE I KNOW IS THERE."

Calcite looked back at Storm with fear. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do. She was terrified.

"Then- then we need to warn them," Calcite said suddenly.

"Then we can leave now!" Storm said turning to fly off.

Calcite was smart enough to realise leaving now was a terrible idea. They'd be spotted in a heartbeat.

"Wait, we can't leave now," Calcite said tugging Storm's wing.

"Why not? We're wasting time!" Storm said urgently, he was panicing.

"No!" Calcite said aggressively. "It's still late afternoon, ANYONE can spot us. We need to leave when the camp is asleep." Calcite said.

Storm stopped and nodded, good, she knew he agreed.

"In that case, we need to sleep and prepare for tomorrow," Calcite said picking up her blade again and rinsing it in the river. "We should rest up."

She glanced at the sky, it had begun fading from orange to a purple. In a few hours they'd leave. She was helping the enemy.
She was now a traitor.
.
It was now about 9 at night, the students had settled down and the camp seemed silent. Calcite and Storm lay under the moonlight and canopy of trees, their scales glittering. Storm had dozed off, but Calcite just laid her head and closed her eyes. She was thinking.
She was going against her own nation, she'd never be able to be accepted by them. She would never be accepted by anyone anymore. If Peak found out he'd report her to Celcius. And Celcius would affirm the ruler. This wouldn't have happened if OakScales hadn't wandered into the conversation. Calcite often wonderef why this camp, why THIS specific place. It could've been a secret location near Terragon Heights, but nOoOOoO. This stupid camp was chosen for the purpose of receuiting new members. Hundreds strong, and not just in this camp alone, everyone was spread out along the Earth Kingdom, it was the only closest way to get to the Air Kingdom without being suspicous.
Calcite flicked her ear, maybe it was just an animal or maybe it was the nreeze but something moved. It was completely silent except for Storm's breathing and the sound of chirping crickets. But something was off. Calcite peeked open her eyes amd saw a glint of something shiny. She closed her eyes thinking it was an odd reflection of moonlight.
Suddenly she couldn't breathe and her airways closed shut. She couldn't scream. She opened her eyes and saw a blurry figure grasping her throat, she saw beyond it was Storm. She needed him to wake up. She let her feet and wings create dust and noise, and soon Storm sleepily woke.

"Sto-rm," Calcite choked on her words. She nabbed the dragon's arms and tried to wrench herself free, she flared her wings and when she did she felt a sharp pain flow through her body.

"A-GH--" Calcite struggled.

Then suddenly both of them fell over, Calcite coughed and gasped for air. When she looked up she noticed Storm knocked the attacker over.

"So you've become a traitor?" A familiar voice spat.

Calcite's heart raced, her eyes widened.

"Traitors aren't tolerated," the voice said harshly, the white figure lunging toward Calcite.

"What the hail Calcite-" the voice said. Calcite quickly ducked to dodge the attacker's slash. "I thought you were one of US."

"What we're doing is WRONG Misty, we can still achieve what we want WITHOUT killing anyone else," Calcite pleaded.

"So you're going back on us? You really are a traitor," Polarmist said menacingly.

Calcite leapt over Misty, dodging her sharp claws. She didn't want to fight her best friend.. Calcite tried to flutter away, but the piercing pain still stung her sides. She glanced down opening her wings. Polarmist had cut them to prevent her from flying away.

"Misty, I can't fight you," Calcite yelled out to her.

"Peak was right. You're weak an pathetic," Misty said unpleasantly. "When he finds out-"

"Calcite!" Storm said from behind Misty.

Misty whirled her head around, her eyes filled with rage.

"And YOU!" She launched herself at Storm, extending her talons. "You're supposed to be DEAD."

Storm quickly flew into the air, Misty snarled, about to fly after him, but Calcite had gripped onto her shoulders, and with her blade began to slice at her wings.

"Payback," Calcite said gravely.

Polarmist roared and shook Calcite off, Calcite tumbled onto the ground, before she knew it Misty was ontop of her, the moonlight streaming into her eyes. Calcite moved her head back and forth, trying to fight Misty off of her, but Misty was larger than her. Polarmist had latched her right arm to her sides, clawing at Calcite's ribs. Her left talons were free to scratch the heavens out of Calcite's face. Calcite fought back tears and shot an unforgiving icy blast at Misty's face. She backed away barely shaken, but partially blinded. Calcite struggled to regain her footing, her sides bled out and stung like hail. The area was full of an accumulation of frost, the air was chilly.
"Calcite!" She heard Storm call again.

"Storm LEAVE," Calcite said, wiping blood off of her mouth. "You'll get hurt." Calcite shakily stood infront of her opponent. Atleast Calcite could fight, she wasn't so sure Storm knew how to.

Blood now stained both of their scales, Calcite dealt more wounds. She rammed into Polarmist, aiming at her neck with her claws. Polarmist instead dove to the right and sunk her teeth into Calcite's neck. A surge of pain flew through her neck and down her spine. Calcite was thrown onto the ground, it felt like she hit a cemet block. Calcite's head pounded, she glanced around as she was lying on the ground, her side bleeding out. She watched as Misty drew closer, giving a menacing glare at Calcite, both breathing quick heavy breathes. Calcite saw a reflection of light from the corner of her eye.

"So pathetic," Misty huffed, blood dripping from her mouth as well. Suddenly Misty stopped talking, and fell ontop of Calcite, limp. Calcite quickly shoved her out of the way and weakly stood, staring at her body.
Storm held Calcite's blade in his talons, his claws shook and he dropped the blade. A deep stab wound was located in Polarmist's neck, and the blade had traveled halfway down her throat. Her breathing slowed and she coughed out pools of blood.
Polarmist was dead.
Calcite automatically broke into uncontrollable crying, she ran over to Misty's body and laid her head close to hers.
Her best friend was dead, and it was all because of her.

Calcite was in a pit of trouble now. Oh boy, at any point her brother could be anywhere, ready to kill her for betraying him. She didn't mean for anyone to die. She certainly didn't want Flora to die, she just happened to walk in the wrong place at the wrong time. This camp was becoming toxic, the revolution started too soon. They needed a way out of this camp. All of them.
But Calcite's heart was too big.

"It makes you weak," Peak would always tell her. "Forget about those Earth Dragons. They're allied with the Air Dragons, you can't trust them."

She glanced at the blade beside her, it gleamed when the sunlight bounced off of it. She wouldn't dare look at Storm. Did he hate her now? She hated herself too, she wouldn't blame him for wanting to kill her.

"In the forest-" Calcite spoke without looking at Storm. "When we were collecting herbs. The spider. It was a distraction.." She bit her lip. She watched Storm's face change to a 'HOLY SHIT SO YOU'RE ALL IN ON IT?' type of look. Peak shouldn't have been whispering to Misty during class hours. It was a mistake that Storm heard.

She felt guilty, and lost. She didn't mean for OakScales to die, but he knew too much. It was either he told the entire school, or he died. Apparently she didn't hide the body well enough, and everytime she saw it, it broke her from the inside out. She hated this, she didn't know why she agreed to this. No one was supposed to know, it was just supposed to be 'in and out'.

"Calcite," she heard Storm say softly. "I'm not mad."

'What lies,' Calcite thought to herself.

What would happen now. What would happen if her brother knew she hadn't done what she was told. She wanted the revolution, but she didn't want it this way. What would happen to her.

"Calcite?" Storm shook Calcite awake.

Oh my icicles. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO STORM. Calcite made a small gasping noise, Storm flinched.

"Let's go," she yanked his arm, pulling him up, picking up her blade amd leaving.

"What-" Storm said. "Where are we going now?"

She didn't know where to go. She didn't know what to do. She could venture to the volcanos for all she cared, she just needed to be away from here. Away from everything. She didn't want Storm to die. She loved him.

"Somewhere far, hurry," they rushed through trees and bushes, Calcite had to duck her head a lot.

Storm didn't speak a lot, she wondered what he was thinking. Was he thinking about how cruel she was for killing other dragons? She only assisted with OakScales wings, she didn't do anything else. Though she hated herself and felt guilty for every death here. She had no clue where to turn, but they needed to escapr this camp. Escape. Without being spotted.

"We need to leave the camp," Calcite said, taking a shortcut through the forest. Just a few hundred yards away was the border of the camp, no one would see them.

"Wait what-" Storm aburptly stopped, making Calcite jerk back when she was walking.

"Leave the camp?" Storm said gesturing his arms toward the sounds of dragons talking. "Why are we leaving here?"

"We need to," Calcite pleaded. She was never great at explaining.

"But we worked so hard to get here. I put my future in this camp and waited 17 years to get here. Now three weeks in I'm leaving?" Storm said staring back through the forest.

She didn't even like healing. Infact most of the recruits here used fake papers just to get in. But over time she grew to the place and some of the healing techniques stuck with her. Damnit Storm, can't you just trust my word. Well- Ughh, walrus blubber he was so stubborn...

"It's not safe, they'll be looking for you, you either hide or leave." Calcite said firmly.

Storm stood still, was he thinking. Was he about to strangle her too? Was he planning to tell EVERYONE. If he told everyone this whole operation would be shut down. She couldn't let him die, but she couldn't let him out of her sight either.

"I just- I don't understand. I don't understand what's happening. I don't understand where we're going. And I dont understand-" Storm paused. "I don't understand why you." Storm said looking into Calcite's eyes.
'STORM STOP MAKING ME FEEL GUILTY.' Calcite screamed in her head.
"You seemed like the LAST dragon that'd want me dead," Storm turned his head away. "I don't understand why it's you."

This hurt Calcite, but she knew it hurt Storm more. She knew Storm was content on finding that damn murderer, and now that he knew one of them, he didn't know who to trust anymore. Peak didn't want to help Storm for the part that he'd be tracking himself, but also since he dispised Air Dragons.

"I didn't mean for any of this to get out of proportion. I thought things would be different.." Calcite said feeling guilty.

"What about TimberWing? Or Lilac? Or TidalWave and Delta?" Storm said sadly.

Calcite stayed silent and instead slowly shook her head. They couldn't know, otherwise ALL of their lives would be in danger. They'd all have to die if they knew even the smallest thing.

"No one can know you're still alive," Calcite said grimly.
'Storm why can't you see that this IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION.' Calcite thought, but couldn't actually scream aloud.
"Don't you understand?" Calcite said returning to her bitch-mode. "You're D E A D. And you need to STAY that way, otherwise you'll ACTUALLY be dead."

Storm recoiled a bit, he looked surprised but regained his composure. They heard the noises from the camp suddenly go quiet. The talking dragons at the food court were now hushed and silent.

"What's going on?" Storm said, but Calcite was smart enough to know they both knew what it meant. The food court only ever silences when-

"The campus is on lockdown. We need to leave, NOW." Calcite yanked Storm's arm again, tugging him to the outskirts of the camp.

"You're scales-" Storm started.

"Shh," Calcite hushed him, reaching the border. She glanced left and right, everything seemed fine. Her eyes caught a bright glint of something and she flinched, it was just a drop of water from a plant. Alright.
They quickly ran up to the large boulders that closed the camp off and took off into the air. Storm kept getting leaves stuck in his feathers. Stupid. They soared in the air, but they'd be spotted if they flew too long. A bright blue and white dragon flying in the air away from a camp that was just put in lockdown? Suuuuure, not suspicous at all. They were able to reach a clearing in the trees next to a river, far enough away from the camp. She landed on the ground with Storm close behind, she wondered why he still stuck around. She thought Storm would've taken off by now.

"Okay, what is going on?" Storm said sternly as Calcite fixed her wings and tossed the blade onto the dirt.

Did she dare tell him?

"It wasnt supposed to be like this," Calcite turned around, gazing at her reflection in the rushing river. She clutched the dirt with her claws, trying to keep a straight face. "OakScales just heard Peak at the wrong time." She held her head.

"Hey-" She felt Storm touch her shoulder then jerk his claws away. Calcite flinched and turned around.

"It's the thing," Storm said with a bit of awe and a hint of curiousity.

Calcite turned her head around.
"The thing?" She sounded confused.

"Your scales," Storm said.

"Huh?" Calcite looked at her claws. Nothing seemed to be wrong.

"They're so...cold." Storm tilting his head.

She quickly turned her head back. Was she freezing his arm off the entire time? She felt rediculous. Hopefully she didn't give him frostbite. She didn't want to turn around to find out.

"Why?" Storm said after she turned around.

"Happens to Ice Dragons," Calcite mused, she lifted her palms from a plant she had accidentally stood on, a droplet melted off of it. "It's nothing."

She hated being emotional.

"What now?" Storm spoke sadly, gazing back toward the camp. He probably knew he couldn't go back, but Calcite had to.

"You need to stay out of sight," she said sternly, as if talking to a child. "I'll be back." She picked up her blade.

"Wait what?" Storm abruptly stood up catching Calcite before she flew. "What do you mean you'll be back? Where are you going? What are you doing?"

"I need to make them think you're DEAD," Calcite said impaitently. "My brother thinks I've killed you, let's keep it that way." She turned around and was about to fly off, then paused.

"I need something from you," Calcite said innocently.

"Like what?" Storm said tilting his head.

Calcite took his wing and opened it, swiftly taking some loose feathers, and a few that weren't so loose-

"AGH," Storm jolted his wing away. "What the feathers Calcite." He took his right wing to his side, reclosing it.

"Just some evidence," she smirked, quickly flying off before he could say anything. She held the knife in her talons. She hoped he would stay put.
.
She had arrived back to the camp, lightly traveling to a random spotin the forest. She took feathers and lined them so it looked like she had dragged Storm into the lagoon. Why the lagoon? Water dragons could easily explore clear lakes.
She took her blade and gathered red berries, smushing them against the ground and smothering the blade. There was like only a 2% chance Peak would notice it was fake.
She hurried back over to the dorms, everyone was now awake and had left the dorms for the food court, it was now mid day and the sun beat down on her head, letting her blue calcite scales glitter. She poked her head around the corner, checking her brother's dorm. For once Igneous was gone, well he had to eat sometime. She noticed Peak was still here, reading. He looked up.

"What took you so long?" Peak raised an eyebrow.

"Lilac wouldn't stop being nosy," she lied, but knew Peak would fall for it. Lilac was awfully nosy.

"Might as well kill her too," Peak hissed.

"She didn't witness anything, I took Storm farther away." She said solemnly.

"Where'd you put him?" Peak interrogated her.

"The last bodies were all found. So I made sure he was lost forever," she said in a sinister way. "He's now at the bottom of the lagoon."

Peak nodded and gave the smallest look of approval in his cold stare. She tucked her knife back under her wing, making sure Peak saw it, letting him know she cut the wings like he had instructed her to do.

"What about the group? What if they're suspicous?" Calcite asked.

"They won't be. They're too busy crying over Flora, and soon Storm." Peak said soullessly.

Calcite smirked and tried holding her sinister act. She could feel her scales cooling again. Like the Ice Dragon way of 'burning up'.

"Theres too many dragons getting concerned, " Peak then said after a while. "The invasion starts four days from now."

Four days from now? But that was so soon. She wasn't ready, she couldn't go on with this. She learned that killing wasn't the answer, but she had no clue how to stop this.

"The invasion." Calcite said in a monotone voice.

Storm didn't end up running very far, but far enough so the others couldn't find him, and they were out of his earshot. He breathed short heavy breathes, glancing behind himself every now and then. Nothing was right, nothing could ever be right. Pfft. Ice Dragons. They'll never change.
He thought about what Misty said. Her words replayed in his mind repeatedly.
"You petty Air Dragons, you think you're just ALL that."
This irritated Storm. It shouldn't though.
It was true.

He held his head on his claws, lying down in the grass. What did he just do? He just destroyed his friendships, what would everyone think of him now? He thought finding out who these killers were would help them, instead it broke the group apart. Storm glanced up gazing at the night sky, it was a kaleidoscope of stars. Small slivers of moonlight leaked through holes in the canopy.

Storm thought about what had happened all those years ago, two generations before him there were dragons who thought the Ice Dragons weren't good enough. But he wanted to know what actually happened. He heard stories that when the Ice Dragons were kicked out of the Air Kingdom, they began to steal from them, but why? Why were they kicked out?

The murders however were another story. He had a few details, but couldn't piece anything. OakScales was the first to die, suffocation from enstranglement and bloody wings. A Rock Dragon with a good reputation. Storm had asked around in earlier weeks to see how Oak was like. He was quiet, and a gentle giant, he would never speak out of line, he was always curtious. He learned background on him too. He took private lessons in the Air Kingdom for a short while, making him an Air Kingdom supporter. Someone had told Storm that Oak wanted to join the army one day, incase things got sour between the Air and Ice Kingdoms.
The second who died was Flora. He still didn't understand why she died. No one knew why. From Storm's viewpoint she seemed like the last to be killed. She was caring, generous, the calm one of the group. She was like the older sister of everyone, she took care of others and treated them like family. She said she was going to visit her family in the Air Kingdom, she left but never returned. Her body was found in the forest 3 days after. Her wings serrated by the shoulders, the left wing had been cut clean off. The weekend after Storm had arrived.
The most recent to die was another Air Dragon named Stratus. He was a messenger who delivered letters to and from the Air Kingdom, he only came often. Dragons had told Storm he had stayed a little while in Mellowbrook for his girlfriend, some said he went into the forest to have a picnic with her, and his friend told Storm he was planning to surprise her. He had to leave for the Air Kingdom after their picnic. Her only surprise was he had been strangled when she arrived, his wings sliced as well. That was last weekend.
Now it was a new weekend.
Storm immediately stood up.
A new weekend.
Someone was going to die again.

It was silent that night, no one spoke to each other when Storm arrived to the canopy.
.
It was early in the morning the next day, Storm had gotten out of his canopy bed while the others slept. Igenous, Peak, and TimberWing all slept facing away from each other. Dove would be gone today, visiting her family, so he didn't have anything planned.
Storm silently glided down behind his canopy tree, going past the firepit which was now filled with ashes. He sat on another bench created by Timber, the area here was closed off with trees and taller grass, making the place look secluded like a safe haven. He heard chirping, and a small thud. A dove had fallen onto the ground, he walked over to it and bent down his head. It looked back at him with small beady eyes. Storm lifted the creature into his palms, letting it fly off again.
Storm felt overwhelmed, he felt like panicing. He knew the pattern of the killings, someone would die today, he just didn't know who. He knew the pattern, what he didn't know was how you'd become a target.

"Storm?" A voice quietly said.

Storm snapped out of his thoughts and turned around, only seeing it was Calcite. She rubbed her arm lightly.

"What do you want." Storm said, wanting Calcite to leave him alone. He was still partially mad at her, but he couldn't when she didn't do anything wrong.

Calcite slowly shook her head. "Storm I'm sorry," she said in the same choked tone Storm's mother sounded like before she said goodbye. Her right wing was bent awkwardly.
"I know I should've done something. And I know everything that was said was wrong, I just hope you'll forgive me." Calcite pleaded.

"For what? You did nothing wrong." Storm stood up facing her.

She looked down at the ground, looking ashamed.
"That's not it," She trailed off.

They were both startled by the rustling of leaves, Storm flinched and his wings stayed tense. Calcite stood still, but not at all on edge. She looked calm.

"Calcite?" Peak poked his head through the foliage, he ignored Storm. "Oh, you're both here." He said in a serious way. He quickly left soon after flicking his tail, the spikes shimmered in the morning light.

"Storm listen to me," Calcite quickly said tugging his arm.

"Huh?" Storm felt his heart leap when she looked him his eyes, but instead he gave Calcite a confused look.

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry," she sounded panicked, was she okay?

"Are you alright?" Storm asked, concerned for her.

"No, no I'm not. Listen, we need to go," she turned around still holding his arm. She began to walk away but Storm stayed put.

"Calcite what's wrong?" Storm said. She was fidgety and jumpy, maybe she forgot something and needed help. Or maybe she wanted to show him something.

"Storm we don't have time." She yanked his arm once again and this time his feet moved.

"I don't understand, where are we going?" Storm called to Calcite.

"Not so loud, c'mon," Calcite hushed Storm.

"Can't you just tell me where were going??" Storm said urgently.

"We need to get far away from him," Calcite said quickly, they were at a trotting pace now. Far away from who? Was someone after them?

"Calcite!" Storm ran up and grabbed her other arm and yanked her close. "Calm down." Her breathing was quick and her eyes sparkled. They watered a little.

"I'm sorry," she yanked her head away and opened her right wing, which was still awkwardly bent until now. A sharp blade fell into the soil. She collapsed onto the ground and Storm saw her shoulders bob up and down.
Storm ran over to Calcite, staring at the blade. He nudged her back, trying to make her look up. She mumbled words while she was crying.

"I couldn't do it, I couldn't," She held her face, her body was shaking.
Without knowing what he was doing he took Calcite and hugged her, he knew it was wrong, but Dove wasn't here.

"I'm sorry Storm," she was uncontrollably crying and gasping for air. "I couldn't kill you."

Calcite was a murderer.

    ~A Few Weeks Later~

    "Shut up." Dove lightly pushed Storm's side.

    "I'm just saying, shorter hair would be a good look," Storm shrugged.

    "No." Dove laughed.

    Storm had been talking to Dove ever since that day.  Everything had been pretty much the same until now. Igneous had taken a pretty hard hit. Two more dragons had died during the past weeks, it was all unsettling to Storm. He barely knew Flora, but she was already gone. The group had been devastated, and even held a day to remember her. Yet the school did nothing. He hadn't even been able to place the pieces together, nothing made sense anymore. Today classes were dismissed for the weekend, which meant free time for the group. Storm and Dove sat chatting at a lunch table in the food court.

    "What's the plan for this weekend?" Storm asked Dove. "There's this cool resort near the Sea Kingdom. I bet we'd get a lot of shells."

    "Sorry Storm. I gotta visit my cousins this weekend. Family reunions y'know." Dove shrugged.

    "I haven't visited my mother in a while, I could visit her next week," Storm thought aloud. "Wow, its a week away before a full month that I've been here.

   "Heya, how ya doin'," Delta slid into an empty seat. "Did you guys see the new menu item? Roasted bunnies, mmmm. I never thought I'd be into anything else besides seafood."

    "Lies. Trust me. He's eaten more than just seafood," TidalWave came up to Delta's side.

    "Oh hey, a lunch date. Cute. Lemme just butt in real quick," Lilac scooted next to Dove.

    Storm sighed and facepalmed himself, but it did make him happy just to speak to his new group. Life here was going fine, could be better though. Storm glanced across the court and spotted TimberWing and Peak still ordering their meals, Calcite wasn't here, she was off with Polarmist.

    "Where's Igneous?" Storm asked.

    "He's back at your canopy," Lilac said, twiddling with a small twig. "He doesn't like to really do anything anymore.." Lilac said solemnly. The table went quiet.

    "We need to do something, all of this is insane," Storm said intently.

   "Yea, this camp is real broken," Lilac said.

    "I've been trying to figure things out, but the dragons that were all killed have absolutely no connection," Storm said straining his head. "They're all different, so it's no breed. Gender isn't an issue. They're all different years, guhh," Storm said with discourage.

    "Well, they were all killed the same way. They were all strangled," TidalWave added in.

    "But why strangled and not anything else?" Dove asked.

    "Because it's gross to stab," Lilac shuddered.

    "Less noticable?" Delta said, rubbing his head.

    "Well if you try to stab someone won't they just scream. I mean, I would." Lilac pointed out.

    "So they wanted a quick silent kill? See even when we start a chain of evidence it ends. Something is missing." Storm said.

    "Hey, we finally made it," TimberWing arrived with Peak and a tray of food for everyone. Everyone looked over at them with solemn faces.

    "Uh, guys?" Peak asked.

    Later in the evening the group had gathered by the fire once again, one they hadn't had in a while. Delta and TidalWave were arriving later. Everyone was on edge and the campfire wasn't like it used to be. Igneous and Flora's spots were open, all the dragons were pensive.

   "Hey, we're here. What's this for again?" Misty waltzed into the campsite, Calcite trailing behind her.

    "We're solving mysteries, ooOooOoOOooh," Delta said.

    "Huh?" Calcite seemed confused.

     "We're catching the murderers. If the school system won't, we will," Storm said sternly.

The fire made crackling noises as ashes flew into the air, the embers made Peak's eyes glow.

    "We are? I think it's better to take a break from this whole thing." Peak said toward Storm.

    "Peak, you said you'd help me. But so far you've done nothing but shove this problem aside," Storm said gravely.

    "It's not my fault, I don't want to deal with this stress. Couldn't we just forget about this whole thing," Peak said assertively.

   "Forget? How could we forget about Flora?" Storm shot back.

    "Guys calm down," TimberWings said.

"Don't yell at Peak, he didn't do anything wrong," Calcite stood next to her brother.

"So do you agree with him that we should just forget about this?" Dove stepped in, glaring at Calcite.

"So you think that we don't care?" Polarmist stood next to Calcite and got right up to Dove's face. Dove reeled back and scrunched up her snout.

"Guys stop," Lilac pleaded from behind Storm.

"You didn't even TRY to help out, do you even feel remorse Peak?" Storm said angrily.

"What do you have against Peak? Leave him alone," Misty hissed at Storm.

This was going downhill real fast. Air Dragons stood on one side of the firelight, while the Ice Dragons stood on the other. Air Dragons against Ice Dragons. Like a standoff replicated from over 200 years ago. Years of segregation and racism returned as the dragons fought. Storm didn't know what he was doing, he didn't know why he was yelling. He didn't know why he was so mad. Why he was so confused. Why he was ruining his friendships.

"Flora could've been alive if we just did something, maybe if you helped out or did anything AT ALL," Dove snarled. "How do we know that you're not the ones behind this?"

"Oh, so JUST because we're Ice Dragons you think WE'RE responsible?" Misty barked at Dove. "You petty Air Dragons. You think you're just ALL that," Misty said haughtily.

"It's all YOUR fault were stuck in the Ice Kingdom! But you're all the same. Greedy little feather heads." Peak yelled. Storm was offended.

"Guys stop," Lilac whined, stepping inbetween Dove and Polarmist. The girls ignored Lilac and kept yelling at each other.
TimberWings stood up and tried seperating Storm and Peak, Calcite stood behind Peak, looking confused. Storm met her eyes, she looked like she wanted to step in and stop, but the other half of her wanted to defend her brother. She was torn.

"FORGET IT," Peak roared and shot like a bullet into the air.

"Peak?!!" Calcite looked at everyone, giving off a 'Look what happened now...' stare, and jet off into the air after him.

Storm stood still, Dove was silent. Misty had disappeared. Lilac looked terrified and TimberWings held his head.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's-"Delta walked into the campsite with TidalWave. "going on..?"

"Uhmm." TidalWave said awkardly, staring at everyone.

Storm didn't know what had happened. But he ran.

He ran off into the forest and didn't look back.

Storm was quietly thinking to himself that night, resting in his nest. What happened earlier today took Storm off guard. Calcite was struck by this whole thing too, if she was, what if othet students were? Or what if others weren't..what if they didn't care at all? That conversation he overheard. Where did the dragons go? Did they disappear? Or maybe it was just all in his head. Lilac seemed so outgoing and happy the whole time, but is that actually what she felt? What about TimberWings? He was always so helpful but he never spoke about himself. All of these questions made Storm wonder if this camp was as great as he thought it was.

"Hey Storm, you've been staring at the floorboards for a while now. What's wrong?" Peak asked tilting his head toward Storm.

"This isn't right.." Storm slowly shook his head in frustration, burying his head in his talons.

"Huh?" Peak squinted his eyes.

"Aren't you even a little concerned?" Storm glanced at Peak.

"I don't think I follow you," Peak gave a confused look.

"Peak. There's something going on, sonething bigger than it seems, but nothing is making any sense." Storm rubbed his head.

"What are you talking about?" Peak questioned.

"There's a murderer. Maybe more than just one. And they're inside this camp. The teachers don't know what's happening, no one does." Storm continued.

Peak just stared at Storm with terrified eyes. He stood still for a long while, like he was thinking of puzzle pieces fitting together.

"How do you know? Someone told me Oakscales was attcked by a bear." Peak said, he was so naïve.

"No," Storm looked up. "Oak was strangled, not slaughtered by a bear. Suffocated by the neck."

"Bears can't do that.." Peak realised. "What the heck are these teachers doing then?" Peak gazed beyond their canopy, his eyes landing on Professor Spruce's camp. He then looked back at Storm.

"Storm," Peak said, Storm looked back at him. "I want to help. You're right, this is rediculous." Peak shook his head. "I can't live with the thought knowing that my sister might die here.." Peak said, hurt impailing his eyes.

"You have a sister?" Storm asked.

"Yea. It's Calcite." Peak said.

No wonder they looked so similar.

"Storm, Peak, you comin'?" Lilac strode up to their canopy. The sun was leaving the land once again and the sky had turned a deep shade of muave-maroon.

"Yea, maybe it'll get our minds off of this," Peak said facing Storm. "We can start tomorrow." Peak held out a claw to help Storm up.

"I'll see ya there." Lilac waved a wing and flew down, gathering next to everyone. Storm and Peak followed after, their friends greeted them.

"Hey it's the dragon I was telling you about Misty." Delta nudged an unknown Ice Dragon.

Delta sat inbetween Polarmist and TidalWave. On the right of Polarmist sat Calcite, and on the right of her sat Lilac.

"Hey Storm, get over here. You haven't met Misty or Dove yet." Lilac pat the log she sat on.

"Dove?" Storm asked, sitting where Lilac said.

"Yea, she's an Air Dragon, just like you." Lilac said pointing to Dove. On the right of Lilac sat Dove, she was a cream color with pastel periwinkle colored scales on her claws and tail. Storm sat inbetween Lilac and Dove.

"Hey." Dove said to Storm.

"Hey." Storm answered back, rubbing his neck.

"You enjoying everything so far?" Dove asked.

"I mean, the dragons are nice." Storm said, trying to forget about Oakscale's death. He glanced to the opposite side of the campfire, there Igneous sat with another Air Dragon, his wing draped along her back. Were they together? Well that caused a plethora of problems. Hybrids weren't allowed in this land..

"TRUTH OR DARE!" Delta suddenly yelled.

"That's so childish, we're not 10," Misty said, squinting at Delta.

"YEAH LETS DO IT!!" Lilac agreed with him.

Hmm. Unless you wanna do spin the seashell," Delta raised his eyebrows at Misty and elbowed her. She scrunched up her snout in response.

"No way. That's a terrible idea," Igneous said. "Especially when Flora's here."

"Does that mean you'd still do this game if I wasn't here?" Flora said playfully. She didn't sleep in these dorms, she stayed in another, as well as TidalWave and Delta. Sea Dragons had caves for dorms so they didn't have to climb. They still did it anyways to be with friends.

"Of course not." Igenous said defiantly.

"I swear you first years are so childish," Flora said jokingly.

"Well third years are just as bad." Lilac stuck her tounge out. "We don't act all petty like you, we just wanna have fun." Lilac said, leaning on Storm.

He was guessing Igneous and Flora were third years, along with Peak and Polarmist. While Lilac, Delta and TidalWave were first years. Calcite, Dove, TimberWings and he were all second years.
"Then let's just do T or D." TidalWave said, lounging on a carved rock. "Also I admire your handy work Timber." Tidal said slapping the chair. "This is amazingly carved."
"No prob bob." Timber said.
"I'm in, let's do this." Calcite butted in with determination. "Don't be a chicken Misty." She smirked at Polarmist.
"You guys do whatever," Igneous said standing up. "Flora and I'll be out."

"OOoOooOoOhhh." Lilac said.

"Don't get in trouble you kids." Peak said. The dragons laughed.

Flora rolled her eyes and laughed along, and together they walked off embracing the starlight. TimberWings had taken Igenous's spot.

"Yeah, I don't care what we do," he yawned. "Let's do atleast something before I fall asleep."

"Yeah, Storm, you in?" Lilac said. "What about you Dove?"

Storm and Dove just looked at each other and shrugged.

"Yeah sure, I guess." Storm said.

"Just for the record, I am NOT eating fireflies EVER again," Dove said fiercely.

"Yeah, that's everyone. So who's first?" Calcite asked.

"Me," Lilac piped in, standing up. "And I say..." she paused, eyeing Misty and Delta.

"Why did I agree to this," Polarmist facepalmed herself.

"Delta truth or dare." Lilac asked.

"Dare. I'm no chicken." Delta said determined.

"That's what I thought. I dare you..." she paused. "To kiss Misty." She gave a sly smirk.

"What." Misty and Delta said simultaneously.

Storm saw TidalWave's head look up from his chair, he couldn't tell what TidalWave was feeling, all he knew that it wasn't a good feeling.

"I knew this was a terrible idea, Calcite you-" Polarmist was stopped when Delta came up to kiss her. To everyone's surprise she didn't pull away. Delta quickly left her face and everyone was left in an uproar. Misty just stood still in her spot wearing a face filled with wonder, and the other half with disgust. Storm saw TidalWave looked away at the kiss and give an off smile when Delta sat back next to him.

"Hey, atleast you're not a chicken anymore." Dove said reminding Misty.

Storm turned to his left and saw Dove again. Her eyes shimmered with happiness and joy, the azure fitted her well.

"I'm next!" Delta said. "Dove, truth or dare?"

"Oh crud, what'd I ever do to you? I swear, if you make me eat those bugs again-" Dove said.

"Just choose." TimberWing urged.

"Dare." Dove said.

"I dare you, to take a dip in the lagoon," Delta said grinning.

"Eek, the lagoon? It's so mucky and...bleh." Dove squirmed.

"So is that a no?" Peak made fun of her.

"Fine. I'll do it, can't be SO hard." She shrugged.

"C'mon." Delta motioned his claws and told everyone to follow him. "This way."

The stars glowered above their heads, and the air was cool and heavy with the scent of freshly fallen leaves. They had reached the lagoon, everyone's eyes seemed to glow in the dark. Dovr hesitated in front of thr lagoon.

"Sooooo?" Delta said smugly.

"Alright alright," Dove bit her lip, slowly edging into the mud.

"Head needs to be under for 10 seconds." Delta added.

"Awe what. Guhh, fine." Dove took a breathe then dove under.

"Are you sure about this?" Storm said concerned.

"Well it's just water." Delta shrugged.

"Water?" Calcite skimmed her claws along the lagoon's surface. Her palms were coated in thick muck. "Suuure."

"Is she gonna come out yet? It's been more than 10 seconds." Lilac asked, which woke everyone up.

"Dove?" TimberWing called out.

"Dove!" Peak yelled.

TidalWave and Delta immediately dove into the water, only to return back to the surface three seconds later. Both dragons gagged on mud.

"What happened??" Timber said concerned.

"We can't-" TidalWave coughed. "breathe under there.." he said, picking at the gills on his neck.

"We can't breathe in this water, it's too thick, nor can we see." Delta said beginning to panic.

Now Storm didn't know what happened, or why he did what he did. But he went into the lagoon without hesitation. All he heard was Lilac yell 'STORM NO!'
Of course Dove couldn't stay under here, feathers were light and airy, but if they touched water or anything else it automatically became an Air Dragon's weakness. Storm's irridescent scales disappeared under the green water. He used his wings to propel himself. Maybe the Sea Dragons could use their echo location, but it wouldn't work since Dove was another breed. Storm felt on the tip of his left wing something whispy. He yanked something that felt like a limb and followed the air bubbles that escaped his mouth. The rest was a blurr.

"STORM!!" Lilac was still yelling when he returned.

Both Water Dragons had assisted Storm and Dove out of the water. Dove had a short fit of coughing, followed by some puke- but Storm knew she was alive. That was all that mattered. Calcite had been rubbing her back and comforting her.

"Y'know what. I'm never doing that again," Dove said coarsely, leaning on Storm.

"Delta, you're so stupid." Polarmist went to smack Delta on the side of his face.

"I think we're done for tonight." TimberWings said.

Storm gazed into Dove's azure eyes, her breathing had calmed down. Their hair was full of greenish-brown filth.

"Thanks." Dove said to Storm, closing her eyes.