The Quest for Fire - Into the Mists - Chapter Six

A cold dawn spread across the sky, straining to break the night’s dark grip on the land. A ghostly mist still hung over the beach, the icy tendrils grasping at the bordering forest. A lonely breeze drifted aimlessly through the tops of the trees as if lost, its melancholy moan touching the canopy.

It wasn’t until the edge of the sun surfaced from the ocean that the shadows cloaking the coast retreated back to the trees. The light slowly spread, chasing back the dark of the night, bringing warmth back to the land.

In the light of the new day a figure could be seen sitting on the shore, staring out at the swaying ocean waters. The early morning sun lit up his obsidian black scales, warming them as he sat hunched over, wings bowed, his tail curled tightly over his claws.

How could she be gone, disappearing from his life forever like a flower in full bloom wilting in the winter snows? Everything they’d planned, the family they’d talked about having, had been taken from him in one short night. There was no life left for him now, no one left to love, no home to go back to, just a tribe on the edge of death and land that had once been his home.

A gently breeze brushed his wing tips, carrying the earthy scent of the forest mingled with the salt of the sea skyward. Zoltar took in a deep breath, letting the air fill his lungs. Staring up longingly, he could see her in the clouds as they glided across the endless blue heavens. He could see her smiling in the sun’s golden rays as they touched his horns.

Sighing, he got to his paws. Nira wouldn’t want him to give up. She would have continued on if it had been him. They’d been working to save their tribe for the last three years. He couldn’t stop now. Then her death would have been in vain. His tribe was depending on him. He was the only soldier left.

He could only hope that Hisster had a plan to get rid of the Wisp Talons that didn’t involve the Shadow Talon tribe fighting. After seeing those creatures last night, he knew that his tribe wouldn’t stand a chance against them. He, Nira and Scorpus were the strongest Shadow Talons beside Hisster and they’d been overcome with ease by about ten Wisp Talons.

Zoltar growled. They shouldn’t have been so easily defeated. They were Shadow Talons; renowned throughout Megalonia for their stealth and strength in battle. How had they been so simply overpowered by some scrawny Wisp Talons? Sure they had poison, but that could have easily been avoided. They had fire, night vision and the ability to blend into the shadows without making a sound.

It could have been the fact that they were in unknown territory and it had been getting dark. It had been the best time to set an ambush.

They’d had warning though. One of the Wisp Talons must have brushed against the bush because he’d seen it just before the attack. He’d even warned the others. How could they still have been caught off guard?

A thought dawned on him, sweeping over him like a cool night mist. Scorpus had refused to listen to him when he said he’d seen something. He’d completely dismissed it. Nira and he had even tried to talk him out of staying past sunset. It was an obvious mistake. Scorpus had felt safe just because they hadn’t seen anything during the day, but every soldier knew that night time was an entirely different beast from the day. It was well known that you shouldn’t stay in possible enemy territory after dark, but Scorpus had ignored that rule, ignored his fellow soldiers warning. All because he didn’t want to make the flight back. It was his fault that they’d been ambushed, his fault that Nira had been killed.

Zoltar hissed, whipping his tail back and forth along the sand, scattering the sand in all directions.

It wasn’t like he could do anything about it now. Scorpus was dead. He’d paid for his actions. The Wisp Talons on the other paw hadn’t. They’d attached without provocation.

It was obvious now that there was no chance of a peace agreement or sharing the island. How could he have been so stupid to think that they could share the island? Never in the history of Megalonia had two tribes shared land. It was the same here and after what they’d done, he didn’t feel pity for them. They could have tried it the peaceful way. He would have even tried to talk Hisster into it. Nira would have been right by his side. She would have supported him in an appeal for peace, but she wasn’t here anymore was she? She’d been murdered by the Wisp Talons. Those creatures didn’t deserve peace. Only one tribe could have the island and he would do anything to remove those creatures from the island. He’d need outside help though. The Shadow Talons couldn’t do it on their own.

….

The fires from Mount Mokewtu burned bright against the starless sky as Zoltar soared into the Shadow Lands. The jagged cracks ripping through the ground seemed to fly with him as he tore through the air.

He landed just outside the tunnels leading to Hisster’s quarters. Racing down the tunnels, Zoltar kept his eyes on the tunnel ahead, not turning to look at his cave as he ran past.

Before long he reached the throne room. Hisster was scanning through some books perched on a ledge carved from the rock wall. He looked up, startled as Zoltar burst in.

Zoltar screeched to a halt and hurriedly bowed, sweeping his wings to the ground.

“Zoltar,” Hisster walked over, scanning the tunnel from where Zoltar had just come. A few seconds past and Hisster asked, “Where are the others?”

Zoltar stood up, clinching his paws, “They didn’t make it,” he said is a cold voice. He gripped the emotions boiling within him, locking them in a box where they could not escape. He couldn’t let them come to the surface. He couldn’t let them break free.

“What happened?” Hisster’s face darkened and his tail started to lash.

“You were right about those Wisp Talons,” Zoltar spat, gritting his teeth, “They were on the island. They ambushed us just after dusk. Scorpus fell to a spear after he decided we should stay after dark,” Zoltar snarled under his breath. He was almost glad Scorpus hadn’t made it out. How could he let this happen? He was their leader. He was supposed to make the decisions; the right ones. Decisions that would keep them safe, but his lack of caution or lack of wanting to fly back had cost him his wife’s life. He was luck that the Wisp Talons killed him, because if he’d escaped and Nira hadn’t, Zoltar would have killed him himself. “Nira and I nearly made it out, but Nira was bitten by one of those creatures. I managed to get her out of there, but she was … poisoned. She didn’t make it,” His voice faded to a whisper and he looked away from Hisster. He swallowed the lump building in his throat, pushing down on his feelings.

“Ohh,’ Hisster said, a look of guilt flashing across his eyes, “I’m…sorry for your loss.”

“Ahh, it’s not like it’s your fault,” Zoltar flattened his ears and sighed. It wasn’t Hisster’s fault. He hadn’t been the one to make them stay out after dark in enemy territory. “You didn’t even know if the Wisp Talons were on the island,” He snorted, “I guess there’s no question of it now? We have to get rid of them if we want the island. You said before that you had a plan.”

“Yes, the plan,” Hisster shifted his wings, “I want to go to the Ghost Talons. They have offered their… shall we say... services before when a dragon tribe has completed a task or given enough treasure. I want their help to destroy those Wisp Talons, leaving the island free for us to take.”

A strange coldness swept over Zoltar at the mention of the Ghost Talons. Sure, he wanted to get rid of the Wisp Talons, but did they have to get the help from those dragons, “With the upmost respect Sir, are you sure bringing the Ghost Talons into it is the best idea? Look at what happened to the Wind Talons. What’s to stop the Ghost Talons from doing that to our tribe?”

“I understand Zoltar, but we don’t have a lot of options here and the Ghost Talons have only done that once. The likelihood that they’d accept gold from the Wisp Talons over what we’re going to give them is highly unlikely.”

Zoltar looked at him, questioningly.

“Long before I became chief, the Shadow Talons used to trade with the Wisp Talons. They would give us rare plants, animals and healing herbs in return for gold, silver and jewels. You know why?” Hisster bared his teeth before snarling, “They didn’t have any. That tribe has no treasure. They couldn’t persuade the Ghost Talons to change sides even if they wanted to. That’s why I’m willing to take this risk.”

Zoltar nodded slowly, the cold unease lifting. If they could get the Ghost Talons on their side, the Wisp Talons would fall like trees before a raging storm. It was worth a try. What did they have to lose at this point?

“Let’s do it then,” Zoltar hissed

“Good. Then it’s settled. We’ll leave for the Forbidden Hills in the morning.”

Chapter 7: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/work/felistia/The-Quest-for-Fire--Into-the-Mists--Chapter-Seven-144578