Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

Everything Falls Apart

A/N: This will be a painful part for all you cliffhanger haters. 

Sand Kingdom.

They were in the middle of a battle. Coal sliced at an Icewing with his tail and ducked underneath him, quickly glancing around for any sign of Squelch. The two of them stuck close together during the fights, making sure they both had back up if needed. Roars of anger and sounds of fire and frostbreath clashed with the sound of screams and weapons clashing. Coal caught sight of familiar brown scales and spotted Squelch struggling against a pair of Icewings. 

"Squelch!" he called out, racing over to help his friend. Squelch's eyes darted over and they widened.

"Coal, behind you!" Squelch called out as a blast of frostbreath burned at his leg. Coal whipped around to see an Icewing spear sailing right at his chest. 

Sea Kingdom.

Kelp and Geyser were discussing a plot the Seawings were planning when a splash sounded from the water. Kelp's ears pricked up and he glanced at the ocean.

"Probably just some dolphin." Geyser guessed. But Kelp's sharp eyes caught sight of green scales under the waves.

"You should go home." Kelp insisted. If someone was lurking, Geyser could not be found with him. His promise to Seashell rang out through his mind. Before Geyser could reply, dragons shot out of the ocean, their teeth bared. "RUN!" Kelp yelled, shoving Geyser up towards the sky. The seawing took off as fast as he could fly, and Kelp started to follow. But the second he had taken to warn Geyser had cost him. Rough dragons quickly pinned him to the ground, recognizing him. 

"Well, well, well," one of them snarled. "What do we have here?"

"Something tells me Queen Coral is going to be very happy today." another smirked. Kelp's heart sank. 

Rainforest.

Glory tried her best to keep her scales a neutral color. The Icewings were trying something new in their latest search. They had been asking questions- lots of questions- about Rainkeeper. The questioning only made them more nervous about where Rainkeeper was, and if he was okay. The Icewings paced the floor. All the dragonets of the forest were in a line and the Icewings inspected them thoroughly. They had been instructed to draw something, probably because Rainkeeper was an artist, Glory presumed. Although she had no idea what a dragonet's artist ability had to do with finding hybrids. Joy's dragonets were hidden away as usual, but Apple was among the other dragonets. Glory bit back a reaction as one of the Icewings snatched Apple's drawings and handed it over. 

"Where's your father?" He questioned Apple. 

"He's away in the war." she replied casually. 

"Is he now?"

"Yes." Apple snapped. The Icewings murmured to themselves and Glory closed her eyes. She knew that they had caught something. Apple may have looked like a Rainwing, but she had too much sass for one. They were more mellow. One of the Icewings approached Glory.

"We'll be taking that one," he nodded at Apple. "For a bit more interrogation." Glory froze. Refusing to let her go would only confirm that she was indeed a hybrid. But doing nothing would mean that Rainkeeper's only child would most likely be killed. 

"Alright." she agreed ruefully. "But I expect her to be back here in two days."

"Of course."

"In the same condition she is now." There was a hesitation.

"Of course, Your majesty." Apple's eyes widened as the Icewings guided her away. What were they leading her into?