Chapter Text
Time was running, fast as an hawk flying trough the clouds.
Every second taken from them was a step closer into a dark abyss that was waiting silently for the deep of the night to come and the moon to reach the highest point of the sky.
<< They... they can't do that... they should be fighting to protect dragons... >>
Whispered a very young dragoness with golden scales, her voice full of insecurity and fear, a clear sense of betrayal could be seen in her eyes.
<< "Fighting for the others"? They took us from our families, they keep beating us and treat us like garbage and want to make it look like a training! >>
Protested a blue dragonet tied to a pillar with heavy chains, she picked up on of those like she wanted to show it to a crowd.
<< Look at this Sunny! They wouldn't think twice about it and would tie all of us in a dark cave to starve, they are more than capable of killing Glory just 'cause she's not some snobbish SkyWing! >>
Sunny lowered her head, she always repeated herself that Dune and the others weren't really capable of harming them for real, but she knew that those dragons were ready to do anything if Morrowseer ordered them to and she sadly realized that Kestrel killing Glory wasn't such an unrealistic ending to that night.
<< Guys, you don't have to worry, this is my problem, not yours. >>
Said a RainWing near them, her scales were a pale white-graysh colour, fear ran trough her vein at the thought of the female SkyWing coming out of the darkness to kill her, she didn't even have the strenght to talk back after Tsunami, the chained dragonet, repeated her previous threat about killing her herself if she would have played "martyr".
<< We need to run away... >>
Said a MudWing that was pacing in circle nervously.
<< ... we always talked about escaping and we finally have the best reason to do it, I'm not staying here with a bunch of dragonet-killers. >>
<< Clay's right, we need to get away from them. >>
A NightWing came to the group, looking more than worried about their chances
<< There is a boulder blocking the entrance, it can be opened by the inside with a key and Dune has it. >>
Explained Starflight, the NightWing.
<< We could steal it. >>
<< They'd catch us for sure, Clay. >>
<< But maybe we can move it if we try all togheter. >>
<< Well, Webs and Kestrel came in without Dune opening the door for them a bunch of time, there has to be some kind of lever that moves it. >>
Observed Glory.
Before the other dragonets could answer, there was a strange noise and another voice came right from the entrance of the cave, a: << Yes, there is indeed a way to open it >> following a beacon of light and the silhouette of a dragon that they've never seen before: it was a green RainWing with a funny-looking snout and a small sack tied around his neck.
The dragonets couldn't smell any other dragon beside him, he was alone.
<< Who are you? Another member of the Talons of Peace? >>
Asked Sunny.
<< I doubt it, they hate RainWings. >>
<< But they are the only ones to know about this place, Tsunami. >>
While the other discussed about the dragon, Glory looked amazed at the sight of the first RainWing she was staring at beside her reflection, he didn't look like he was friendly and he wasn't as colourful as her, but curiosity already got her completely.
<< What's your name? I'm Glory and these are my friends: Tsunami, Sunny, Clay and Starflight. >>
She said pointing at each one of them in order.
<< I'm Chameleon and I'm here to take you out of this cave. >>
As he expected, they didn't believe his words at first.
<< How do we know we can trust you? You could be an enemy that simply saw how Kestrel and Webs got in here... >>
Commented Tsunami, she was staring at him carefully, like she expected an attack of some sorta and, since their caretakers knew nothing about RainWings (and never cared to do their research, considering them a bunch of lazy fruit-eaters), they never knew what Glory could do beside changing her colors, that stranger could have been a dangerous threat to them. Watching him getting closer with no fear only convinced her that she was in right, she doubted someone would have gone alone in a place full of dragons and would have been so calm around them if they were weak. Chameleon scratched the dusty floor until one of his claws became dark with dirt, then took something out of his sack and held it in his palm, using the dusty claw like he was writing on the "thing" and at the end he placed that on one of the chains resticting Tsunami. The thing was revealed to be a piece of paper that started to glow after Chameleon said something like: "Release her" under his breath, so the chains started moving like snakes, like they were alive, trembling and pulling on themselves until they broke like someone tore them apart.
The dragonets stated in awe at their friend and that kind stranger.
<< But... I thought only NightWings, IceWings, SeaWings and SandWings had animus in their Tribes! >>
Said Starflight with disbelief, Chameleon just laughed.
<< The power of an animus has no boundaries about the dragons it's awakened in, in the past there have been for sure more animus and you can be sure they weren't only in these four tribes. Even SkyWings had some animus hatching and... let's say that the fear of the unknown has been pretty damaging in those cases. >>
<< So it's true that they throw hatchlings that are sick or "strange" down the mountain? >>
<< Yep. >>
<< I can see Kestrel doing it. >>
Chameleon moved his hears in a way that showed a sudden interest when Glory mentioned the female SkyWing, but he rapidly hid the gesture moving his head around like he was simply trying to hear if someone was coming in their direction.
<< We have to move now, the moon's not high yet, but it will be soon and Kestrel will come for Glory. >>
Said Sunny, but the others were still unsure about trusting Chameleon.
<< Why are you helping us? And you still didn't tell us how did you know about this place... >>
<< I work for a generous queen that has a spy in the Talons of Peace. Me, her and other dragons are at her palace right now and when our spy talked about the terrible way you're treated here and Morrowseer's orders, we just couldn't stand the thought of it. I already infiltrated this group thanks to the other spy. >>
That seemed to do the trick and the dragonets started to follow him out the cave, he knew about Morrowseer and didn't look like he was lying.
They decided to trust him even because he was alone and there were five of them, if he was dangerous, they could have fought him.
<< So, were are we going? >>
Asked Clay.
Chameleon closed the cave's entrance and started flying with them, giving the dragonets a smile that, he hoped, would gave them a bit more of hope in his words.
<< I'll take you to the cave I'm using to spy on your kidnappers, you'll find food, water and some nice nests, tomorrow we'll go back and I'll give a lesson to these evil dragons, then my queen will take care of you and them. >>
Explained Chameleon, he took the dragonets in a cave that he enchanted so that the Talons of Peace couldn't find it without an invitation.
<< But Morrowseer said that he'll come back tomorrow, I don't think you'll be able to fight him. >>
Said a pretty worried Sunny, said NightWing was huge and really strong, even with his animus power, she couldn't see Chameleon beating him.
<< I won't need to fight him, you just have to wait and see. Now rest, this place is enchanted with a barrier, so it can be found by me and me only, I'll go and talk with the others so they'll prepare serious bedrooms for you. >>
Some of the dragonets were still dubious about his good intentions, yet they couldn't fight the tireness that they were feeling after all the fear and worry of only a few minutes before and after trying to sleep in turns to keep an eye on the cave's entrance, they were all in the realm of dreams, with Chameleon watching them fall asleep.
The green dragon grinned with satisfaction as he flew away, going back to a palace he came from, not bothering to be careful as he simply thought of which one of his masks he needed to use as he approached the SkyWings' palace, where the guards simplynstared at him and waved their greetings.
The "mask" of Soar was hiding perfectly the real identity of the RainWing from everyone.
Well, everyone except who sent him in that mission, the one that was spying on the Talons of Peace thanks to him and Cirrus (another one of his "masks"); said dragoness was just waiting for him as Soar landed in front of her, the "mask" disappearing to show the grinning Chameleon.
<< Queen Scarlet, the first part of the plan is completed. >>