The Quest for Fire - Into the Mists - Chapter Seven

The morning sky glowed a burning orange behind the clouds of ash streaming from Mount Mokewtu as Zoltar and Hisster emerged from the caves. A cruel wind screamed across the blackened wasteland, tossing up cinders and hurling them through the air. The smell of sulfur was so strong in the air that Zoltar could taste it.

Zoltar and Hisster spread their wings as they turned away from wind. The next gust caught their outstretched wings and launched them skyward. In mere seconds, they’d soared through the ash choked clouds and were riding the winds west towards the Forbidden Hills.

After about an hour of flying, the landscape began to change. Grass started to carpet the ground. At first it was a few blades scattered across the earth, but soon there was just waving grasslands for as far as the eye could see. Tendrils of mist swept across the dull yellow hills, cloaking the landscape in a veil of shifting white.

Zoltar growled under his breath. He sniffed the air, searching for any sign of life, but hot, dry musk was all he could smell. Where were the Ghost Talons? There was nothing except shifting grasses out here.

He caught Hisster’s eye and looked at him questioningly.

Hisster shook his head.

Zoltar sighed. He couldn’t see anything. Where were they? They must be around here somewhere.

The hills seemed to rise and fall like the waves of a rolling sea as they flew for another half an hour, searching the earth for any sign of movement.

They did happen to come across a herd of Antelosaurs, the antelope like reptiles racing across the plains, their scaly tails whipping through the grass behind them as they used their antlers to create a path through the fields of yellow blades.

“We might be able to find them on foot,” Hisster final said after their third pass.

“Do you even think they’re here?” Zoltar asked, doubt starting to seep in. What would they do if they couldn’t find the Ghost Talons? That would be it. No hope left. They’d be doomed to die in the Shadow Lands and Nira’s death would have been for nothing.

He flinch at the pain the thought brought. He still couldn't believe she was gone. He was used to her being away from him for a few days between missions, but this time she wasn't coming back. She was gone.

“They’re here alright. They just aren’t making it easy. They’re probably watching us right now, waiting for us to land,” Hisster growled, scanning the ground below, “We’ll need to be careful, but we’re not going to get anywhere if we stay up here.”

Tucking back his wings, Hisster dived. Zoltar was close behind, streaking downward, the wind grabbing at his wings with its claws. The ground rose up to meet them, but before it could pull them into it, the two dragons whipped out their wings, slowing their descent. They landed softly, sinking shoulder deep into the golden grasses.

The mist swirled around them, touching them with its cold fingers. The grasses swayed back and forth, rustling in the wind.

As they continued to wade through the blades, a low rumbling began to fill the air around them, growing louder by the second like the growl before a storm.

Zoltar shivered as he walked up another rise. It felt like ants were crawling between his scales as the sound penetrated through him, drumming against his bones.

Zoltar glanced over at Hisster. His eyes were fixed on something ahead of them. Zoltar followed the direction of Hisster’s stern gaze. His heart nearly stopped.

Rising from the continually moving grasses were seven figures. Barely visible through the mist, the Ghost Talons seemed to float through the sea of gold before them, twisting through it like silver winged sea serpents.

Zoltar felt his scales raise as the Ghost Talons neared. They were so much larger than Hisster. Any one of them could take them both out.

He watched, his stomach churning as the seven Ghost Talons prowled over to Hisster, like cats sizing up a mouse before pouncing.

The Ghost Talons bared their fangs as Hisster edged back a few steps, shrinking before the dragons towering over him.

“I am the General Sidious of the Ghost Talons.” the lead Ghost Talon growled. He flashed his teeth again, displaying two canines curving from his upper jaw like sabers, “Why have you come here?” His eyes narrowed when Hisster hesitated.

Taking a deep breathe Hisster spoke “We’ve come to see your chief. We need his help. We would pay.”

“Pahh,” spat Sidious, throwing back his head, “and what makes you think we will help you? Do you know what we do to outsiders?”

Two Ghost Talons stalked behind Zoltar while the rest positioned themselves on either side of Hisster and him. Sidious remained in front, smoke coiling from his snout.

“Yes sir,” Hisster stuttered, his eyes showing a glimmer of panic, “But we’d give every last bit of jewels, gold, and silver, anything valuable we have. We’d do anything to get out of the Shadow Lands.”

“Really,” Sidious drawled, his eyes suddenly taking on a new light, “Krakatoa might be interested after all,” Sidious smiled, his wickedly sharp teeth shining. “We best go see him then.”

Zoltar jumped, his heart leaping into his throat as Sidious roared an order to march. The battalion move forward as one, the Shadow Talons forced to match the pace of the Ghost Talons.

The grass parted like water as the dragons waded through it. Dust kicked up by their claws coated Zoltar’s lungs, causing him to cough and splutter. What was Hisster planning on giving the Ghost Talons? They didn’t have a lot of gold and silver left since the volcano had destroyed most of it and they didn’t have any food. The Ghost Talons didn’t look like they wanted or needed anything from them. They’d only agreed to take them to the chief after Hisster had let on how desperate they were for help. The Ghost Talons must have something else in mind other than simple gold and silver, otherwise they would have let them see the chief before the plea for help.

Fear gripped his heart in cold talons. The only thing they could offer the Ghost Talons was their land or their very lives. The Ghost Talons couldn’t want the Shadow Lands with its volcanic ground and barren wastes.

Were the Ghost Talons planning to swap they’re services for Shadow Talons? The whole Shadow Talon tribe was starving. They could barely walk out of their dens, let alone work for the Ghost Talons as slaves. Zoltar shivered. He couldn’t bear the thought of what might happen to those dragons.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. How was being worked to death by Ghost Talons any better than waiting to dye in the Shadow Lands? Maybe Hisster would consider turning down the Ghost Talons offer if it meant exchanging Shadow Talons for help.

Zoltar gritted his teeth. What if he did turn down their offer? The Ghost Talons were far from the most hospitable of dragon tribes and a turn down of an agreement could cost them dearly. Even now they couldn’t turn back. Surrounded by a pack of Ghost Talons, there was no way out. They were trapped.

…

After what seemed like hours, the Ghost Talons in front ducked into a large tunnel. Zoltar could now see why they hadn’t seen the entrances before. It was hidden from the air by grasses sweeping over its mouth and the mist hid the rest. For all he knew there could be hundreds of these tunnels, hidden from sight by the haze.

Deep rumblings echoed from the darkness ahead as the Ghost Talons lead their company into the depths. Zoltar shivered, his nerves pumped with adrenaline as he was lead forward.

The light from outside grew smaller and smaller the deeper they went until finally not a trace of light was left. It was pitch black and even Zoltar’s nocturnal eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness. Thick silence clothed the group with only the occasional scrape of a claw on the dirt floor and the distant rumblings to break it. All around him the stench of death clung to his snout.

They finely reached a room after a few prolonging minutes. It was small and lit by a few fire stones, which glowed dimly in the dark like red dragon eyes.

As Zoltar slowly scanned the area his eyes caught on a huge, dark figure standing in the corner. His heart jumped into his throat. The figure’s eyes were like burning pools of crimson flame that gleamed in the darkness of the room, a raging fire that could swallow your soul and mind forever.

Zoltar stood there parallelized, wanting to run and yet unable to as the balls of flame scanned over them, jumping from him to Hisster.

Sidious stepped forward, his head bent low, his wings spread, “Your Greatness. I have brought these Shadow Talons. They wish to speak with you.”

The figure in the corner stepped into the dim light. Zoltar let out a quiet gasp. It was a Ghost Talon, but not like the ones he’d seen. Everything on this beast of a dragon seemed to be more formidable than the other Ghost Talons. Muscles rippled under its silver scales as the dragon walked. Its frill was like a great shining crown and each of its paws had six glinting talons unlike the normal five.

The Ghost Talon glared at them, his gleaming eyes narrowing to menacing slits and growled in a deep rasping voice, “I am Krakatoa, leader of the Ghost Talons. Why have you come here?”

“We need your assistance in a takeover, your majesty; The Wisp Talon tribe. We wish the take over their island, but don’t have the dragons needed. I've heard that you provided these services in the past,” Hisster replied in a cool voice, but Zoltar could see that even he looked nervous from his tail’s cat like twitch.

“Mmm that we did, but it was always for a high price. That has not changed Shadow Talon. What will you pay us in return for the favor?” Krakatoa advanced slowly forwards, never lifting his burning eyes away from Hisster's.

“We have treasure, lots of it,” Hisster answered in a slightly more panicked tone. He took a step back from the mountain that stood in front of him.

"Treasure!" the Ghost Talon spat, throwing back his head and barking a loud laugh. "I don't want more treasure, I want something more valuable," Krakatoa growled as he stepped into the shadows once more. He picked up some sort of tablet from behind his throne.

"I want the long lost Ruby of Fire," he demanded, eyeing the slightly panicked look that crossed Hisster's face, "It was our source of power. So if you want us to kill these Wisp Talons for you...you must bring us the Ruby of Fire," Krakatoa hissed, his forked tongue slithering out from between his fangs, "It's up to you. I will accept no other payment."

Zoltar felt a wave of panic pass over him. The Ruby of Fire. He’d only heard of it in legend and had been thankful that it had only been a myth. Could it really exist and if so did they really want the Ghost Talons to have that sort of power? It could be a decision the entire continent of Megalonia would end up suffering from.

‘So what?’ he thought. The rest of Megalonia hadn’t helped them when they’d needed it. Why should he care about them? All that mattered was wiping out of the Wisp Talons and getting their tribe safely to the island.

The Ghost Talons would leave them alone. They’d have given them what they wanted. The rest of the continent could just deal with what, if anything, happened.

"Okay. Okay. I'll get the Ruby. Just promise you'll get rid of the Wisp Talons," Hisster burst out finally.

Krakatoa flashed his teeth and pushed the stone tablet with words carved onto it into Hisster's paws, “Very well then. Give these things to the Riconra in the Peaks of Solitude. They will give you the Ruby, but only for these things. If you try and cheat them out of it...well..." He paused as if savoring the words in his mouth, "they’ll refuse you and we’ll destroy you and your clan…so don't try anything. Oh and one last thing. Don’t mention our name to the Riconra. It’s an act you’ll deeply regret doing."

Hisster nodded as he took the tablet and slowly back away from the towering figure.

The horde of Ghost Talons behind them parted, revealing a path back to the surface. Hisster hurried forward with Zoltar trailed close behind him.

“Shadow Talon!” Krakatoa growled as he emerged from the shadows, “Make sure you’re back by the first full moon next winter or your clan will suffer the consciences.”

...

Dark thunder clouds were rolling over the plains like the plumes of smoke streaming from the volcano in the shadow lands as Zoltar and Hisster emerged from the Ghost Talon tunnel. The dragons spread their wings and leapt into the air, the fine dust below them billowing up in the rush of wind from their wings. They rose rapidly, beating their wings in the effort the climb higher. Lightning flashed around Zoltar and Hisster as they sped home. Thunder boomed and torrents of icy rain battered their wings. Strong gusts of wind tried to hurl them out the sky. The ground below disappeared as they soared higher into the clouds, struggling to get above the raging storm.

Eventually after an exhausting fight, they broke through the top of the thunder storm. The sun was shining and the sky was blue as robin eggs. Below the clouds churned and growled like an angry sea.

Panting, Zoltar levelled out into even flight. He was drenched and freezing. Hisster looked the same as he glided beside Zoltar. In his claws, glinting from the rain, was the tablet with the list of things they needed to retrieve for the Riconra.

“Sir,” Zoltar started, “What’s the plan?”

They needed to one. They had only a few months to complete this task and at present he was the only soldier. Hisster would have to stay and manage the tribe. How he was going to accomplish such a feat on his own was a subject he was trying to steer clear of. He’d just have to give it his best shot.

Hisster sighed, “There isn’t really a plan. There’s only one thing we can do. You know as much as I do what it is,” he rubbed his snout as he looked at the stone slab in his claws.

Sighing again, he tossed it over to Zoltar, who caught it as it sailed through the air towards him.

He glanced at the words and froze as he saw the first line.

A Wisp Talon Scale,

An Ice Diamond

A Heated Nugget of Black Island Sand

He’d have to go back to Wisp Talon island.