Prologue
“Run, run as far and as fast as you can,” he thought, lungs burning, claws pounding against the sandstone walls of the city as the shouts grew louder behind him.
“GET BACK HERE!” one of the guards bellowed.
Viper didn’t look back. He couldn’t. If he hesitated, they’d catch him. He tore through the narrow alleys of the outer ring, wings tucked tight against his sides to avoid clipping the walls. His tail scraped a crate as he turned hard.
“All I have to do is get to the gates,” he whispered to himself, breath hitching. “Fly out of here, and I’m gone.”
He sprinted around a corner—then stopped short.
Two guards were waiting. Spears lowered. Armor glinting in the moonlight.
“Three moons,” Viper cursed under his breath. “There’s more of you?”
One of the guards grinned, cocky and cruel. “Just come peacefully, and we won’t hurt you... too much.”
Viper’s heart hammered. “What did I even do to make Cinder so mad?” he said aloud, half to himself.
Before the guard could answer, he lunged—spear aimed straight at Viper’s chest.
But before it could strike, the guard stopped mid-charge—eyes wide. A blade burst through his side. He dropped without a sound.
The other guards faltered. One yelled, “He’s not alone!” Then they turned and ran, tails whipping behind them.
Viper stood frozen.
A dragon stepped into the alley, pulling her blade free. She was tall, silver-scaled, with a fierce look in her eyes. Another dragon trailed just behind her, shorter, paler, with a lively grin and calm stance despite what had just happened.
“Who are you?” Viper demanded, tense.
“Hey, calm down,” the taller one said, her voice firm but kind. “We’re here to help. I’m Dawn, and this is Manchineel.”
“Hey,” said Manchineel, giving a small wave, as if this was all perfectly normal.
Viper’s wings twitched, unsure. “Why? Why did you help me?”
They looked at each other briefly. Just for a moment. Too long.
“We were passing through the area,” Dawn said finally, “and saw the guards chasing you. Thought you could use a hand.”
They turned to leave.
“Wait!” Viper called. “Can I come with you?”
Dawn hesitated. Then she nodded. “Sure.”
Later That Night
Viper sat in his room again. The town guards had found him not long after, but they’d only stared at him strangely before saying, “You’re not the dragon we were after.” No apology. No explanation.
He was too tired to be angry. Just... confused. The image of the dead guard, the other dragons running, Dawn’s sword, Manchineel’s odd calmness — it all blurred in his head.
He wondered if they made it out okay. If they’d really just happened to be there.
He didn’t know who the guards had been looking for.
He just knew one thing:
They probably weren’t done with him.
That was his final thought before sleep dragged him under.
