Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

Oh.

"HOW THE HELL," Rin exploded. "HAVE DRAGONS BEEN GOING MISSING WITHOUT US NOTICING!?!?" 

"Wait what?" Crimson frowned. "Who's missing?"

"That I know of? Haze, Boysen-"

"Hold it right there." Orange offered. "If Haze AND Boysen are gone, then we have nothing to worry about. They probably just snuck off somewhere together."

"Along with Stardust?" Permafrost demanded. 

"I retract my last statement." Rin threw up her hands.

"What are we going to do?!" She yelled.

"Maybe I should write Feather about this." Crimson suggested. "This seems like it's getting too big for us to deal with alone."

"So, what, Feather's just going to show up with a mini army and the Dragonets of Destiny are just going to let them infiltrate the school to look for three missing students?" Shore questioned. "Yeah. GREAT PLAN."

"I knew they were bad omens." Ander mumbled softly. 

"We'll work it out," Ray insisted. 

"Well, if you're SUCH A GENIUS, THEN WHAT'S YOUR PLAN!?" Crimson demanded.

"We get some weapons and go searching for them! If we can find Haze, then we have one more fierce warrior on our team, and if we find whoever's taking them, then we kill them and move on with our lives." Shore offered.

"Great plan." Rin said sarcastically. "Except that WE'VE CHECKED the entire school, and they're nowhere to be found. So, they could be anywhere on the planet, and we don't even have enough weapons for all of us."

"And not all of us know how to fight." Ray added in. 

"Then what do we do?" Ember asked. They all thought for a moment.

"I've got an idea." Ander piped up. "If someone is willing to be a sacrificial lamb." 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Haze snapped awake and instantly regretted it. Pain shot through her head as she gathered her senses and looked around. She was chained to the wall of some cave. As her eyes adjusted to the cave's darkness,she spotted more dragons chained around her. Stardust's unconscious form hung beside her. Across the room, she could barely make out two more dragons. One of them seemed to be awake and looked familiar.

"Haze?" the dragon called hoarsely.

"Boysen?" Haze proclaimed, sighing slightly. Well, she thought. At least he's alive. 

"What are you doing here?" She rolled her eyes.

"Throwing a confetti party. What do you think?"

"Got it. Stupid question." Haze's eyes narrowed, but she still couldn't make out the dragon next to Boysen.

"Who's next to you?" she asked. Boysen laughed anxiously.

"That's the weirdest part." He offered. "It's Juniper. She's been out the whole time I've been here."

"But you've been gone for days!"

"Yeah."

"....Maybe she's dead."

"Haze!"

"Just saying."

"She's breathing."

"Well did I know that?" Before Boysen could respond, the door to the cave creaked open, and a dragon stepped inside. He smirked at Haze, approaching her. Boysen wriggled against the chains holding him, eyeing Haze nervously.

"Well, it's about time I found you again." a rough voice cackled, grabbing Haze by the snout. It was then that Haze got a clear view of him before wrenching out of his grip. She knew this dragon. The dark tattoos against light scales, the long scar running down his chest...

Prickle.

She frowned, looking confused.

"You're still alive?"  she asked. 

"Haze," Boysen hissed warningly.

"Oh shush," she called back. "Seriously though. I stabbed you. Remember? Poison tail to the chest?" Prickle smirked.

"There's this thing called brightsting cactus. Helps with the poison." He reminded her.

"Dang," Haze replied, disappointed. "I thought I killed you."

"Yeah, well now it's my chance to return the favor." He growled, his talons pricking at her scales.

"Good luck with that one." Haze growled back. "I don't die easily."

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Boysen yelled angrily. Prickle paused.

"I think I'll kill him first." he offered, awaiting Haze's reaction. She spat at the Sandwing's face.

"Why do that when I'm so much fun to torture?" she teased, trying to get him away from Boysen. Prickle grinned wickedly.

"A little masochist." he purred. "you'll be fun to pick apart."