"Papa?" Syra hushed, frozen by his sudden intensity.

The air became eerily still. Rigel's pupils widened, focusing on the splatter of lights nestled in the valley below. The crash of wood echoed up the hills followed by the clamor of screams and battle cries. From the depths of the trees, a shadow rose and descended upon the city, spewing thick pillars of flames.

"Get inside," Rigel commanded.

"What? Why?"

"Now!" Rigel whipped his tail around Syra and slung her towards the lair entrance. Above her, the air whirred with wingbeats as dragons poured from the caves dotting the mountain range. All headed for Altaira.

"What's going on?" Syra pleaded, resisting her father's shepherding.

"No time. Cassius! Petra!" Rigel's voice boomed into the tunnel, with the twins scrambling outside moments later.

"What's happening?" Petra's voice wavered a slight as she and Cassius ducked away from the wave of adults surging out of the cave.

"I need you to stay here." Rigel said, sliding Syra over to her siblings. "All of you."

The twins nodded and Rigel lept into the sky, the rush of wind from his wings nearly toppling them over.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Syra called after Rigel, racing to the edge of the ledge.

"Let's go, Syra!" Cassius beckoned her as he and Petra returned to the tunnel.

The sound of flapping made him double back. She was gone.

"Syra!" he roared, "Come back!" But all he could see was her small frame jetting down the mountainside.

The firelight grew as Syra neared the city. Illuminated by the flames, the human army collided with the wave of ogres making their way through the shacks and cottages of the outer city. They shrieked and boomed and stumbled as fire rained down from Montari's reinforcements. The stench of charred ogre flesh hit Syra hard even at this distance.

Below her, the human merchants fled their wagons heading for the mountain's safety. A pair of black and gold heads caught Syra's attention as Ethan and Aidan ran through the fields with an ogre thundering close behind.

"Go to the mountain!" Ethan yelled, waving at the ogre and ducking into the forest. As rehearsed, Aidan veered into the meadow that ascended to the Montari lair. But, being the lazy brute it was, the ogre took after the smaller, easier kill.

"Aidan!" Syra roared and dove towards the scrambling boy.

"Marrak, stop!" Rigel's voice cut through the chaos and Syra looked up to see her father slamming into a massive Ignis dragon.

The Ignis male righted himself midair and banked into a rising thermal, lifting himself to face off with Rigel.

"What are you doing, Marrak?" Rigel roared with a crack of concern as the two circled each other like vultures, "We had an agreement--this is Montari territory!"

Marrak turned his bull-like horns at the Montari leader, "That agreement was between you Vayguards. It no longer applies to me." His jet black scales glowed like fresh lava as his throat filled with flames, "All thanks to you!"

"What?" Rigel hesitated at the accusation, "What are you talking about? What happened, Marra--"

White-hot plasma surged from Marrak's jowls and Rigel howled, dodging too late for his tail to miss the blow.

"Damn it, Marrak, just talk to me! We can work this out!" Rigel hissed as he swerved left and right, dodging the bombarding blasts. "Just leave the humans out of it!" Looping around, Rigel retaliated with a cone of blue flames.

Marrak smirked and let the searing torrent crash over his back. The thick coating of basalt, garnet, and obsidian from his countless dives through Mount Blackstone simply sparkled in the fire light.

"Don't act like you don't remember!" He twisted and flared his wings, the sudden drag causing Rigel to collide right into him. They fell, spiraling downwards, talons locked. "One mistake," His chest glowed and rumbled, "One mistake and I lost my clan, my family...all because you refused to listen to me!" His dark red eyes held Rigel's as firm as his talons, "Now I'm returning the favor."

Marrak's flames surged in his throat and Rigel clamped his jaws around Marrak's neck, twisting his body, and redirecting the flames downward. Downward towards the meadow, and towards Aidan.

Syra's back muscles screamed as she pumped her wings harder. Swooping over Aidan, she threw up a barrier around them. Aidan screamed as he watched the ogre's body incinerate in front of him, the flames breaking over the golden dome like water over stone.

Marrak's eyes widened at the sight of Rigel's daughter. She was no longer a mere hatchling who insisted on perching on his horns. Now she stood a budding mage protecting a human.

"Well, looky here! Someone's quiet brave!"

"Marrak, don't! She's still a wyrmling!"

A dark and giddy grin slid across Marrak's eel-like face, "Oh, but she's your favorite."

His hind foot slashed at Rigel's underbelly, slinging him off. He dove at Syra and Rigel bolted after him.

Below, the barrier faded and Aidan curled into a ball, screaming.

"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you! I promise," Syra insisted.

Aidan poked his head from under his arms and started in surprise. "It's you!" He said, recalling their earlier meeting.

"Syra!" Rigel slammed into Marrak and they skidded across the meadow, the heat from Marrak's body burning a scar through the patches of greenery.

"You will not harm her." Rigel pinned Marrak to the ground and his scales glowed from the heat. He winced and Marrak chuckled. With a thrash of his tail to the ground, Marrak flipped Rigel onto his back and shoved his face into the dirt.

"You need to wisen up, Rigel." Marrak sneered, his snout pressed to Rigel's cheek. "You really think that because Draco's your ancestor that you and your line are infallible."

Rigel squirmed and roared under Marrak's greater mass and a flicker of pity passed across Marrak's narrowed eyes, "You truly do know nothing."

Steaming blood dripped from his neck wound and landed on Rigel's face, causing his scales to melt. Rigel clenched his jaw from the hot pain and Marrak laughed out loud. "You can't even take a little heat!"

He gripped Rigel's throat with a clawed hand and held him steady, "I'll say it again so you can hear: Nova was a mistake. But the rest of your clan won't be. I will find those shards, Rigel. No matter how well Alder hid them, I will find them and and melt your entire mountain if I have to." Marrak grinned at Syra's fear-struck face, "Starting with her."

Rigel snarled and roared, spewing flames into Marrak's face. Marrak rocketed into the air with Rigel on his tail.

Syra nudged Aidan to his feet and pulled him away from the city. "Come on! You have to get out of here."

"Wait, my brother!" Aidan said, ducking away and running towards the forest with Syra chasing after him.

***

The sky above the forest vibrated with roars of battle as Rigel and Marrak wrestled and exchanged slashing blows.

Marrak swung his clawed hand and caught the side of Rigel's neck. Blood flew, pearling and falling into the trees. Rigel fell, but managed to correct himself, slamming into Marrak's chest. Marrak clawed his sides and Rigel clamped his jaws around Marrak's previous neck wound, using the pain in his sides to bite down harder and crack through the igneous armor.

He couldn't hold on long. An Ignis' body temperature mirrors their volcanic habitat and, despite the fire-proof lining, his mouth was beginning to char.

Rigel pumped his large powerful wings, dragging Marrak higher. He peaked then dove, plummeting for the trees. With a guttural heave, he slung Marrak downward, sending him crashing through the canopy.

Marrak's hide was stoney and thick, but hollow bones would still shatter. Rigel just hoped that was enough. He strained to stay airborne and return to the lair. Blood dribbled down his chest and all he could taste was metal. He focused on the three specks awaiting him on the ledge, but his head swam and shadows ate away at the periphery of his vision. It had better been enough.

***

Below the burning canopy, Ethan steadied himself on a boulder to huff back his breath. His eyes darted behind him, but no ogre followed.

"Shit."

He dashed back towards the meadow when a roar whizzed overhead. The trees crashed and a heavy thud shook the ground. He crouched behind the boulder and covered his face from the flying debris. When the dust settled, Marrak laid crumpled and limp on the ground meer feet away. The last embers of a barrier dissipated and a deep groan rumbled in his bloodied throat.

"Magic?" Ethan hushed to himself.

"Surprised?" Marrak's voice was faint and raw. Like the Montari, the Ignis weren't known for being overly talented in magical arts. Marrak was among the few blessed with the skill.

Ethan jumped back in surprise, tripping on roots and falling flat in the dirt. Marrak simply watched the boy fumble for his sword with ladened eyes.

"Who are you?" Ethan demanded, pointing his sword at Marrak. "Why are you attacking us? What did we do to you?"

A chuckle scratched at Marrak's throat--the pitiful thing thought a sword actually usefull.

"Nothing," He grinned at Ethan's confused expression and rose on shaky legs. "I merely needed to flush out the king."

"Ethan!" Aidan's voice called through the forest.

"Run away!" Ethan gripped his sword with steeled hands and dashed forward, aiming for Marrak's throat.

Marrak let him come.

The metal screeched against stone, then snapped.

"Damn it." Ethan watched the tip flop into the dirt and stumbled back, but kept his stubby blade raised.

"Now," Marrak growled, filling his chest with fire. "On to Act Two."

***

Aidan and Syra weaved through the forest after Ethan and were greeted by a flash of fire through the trees.

"Ethan!" Aidan screamed, leaping over fallen limbs.

They burst through the underbrush and skidded to a halt.

"Ethan, where are y--"

Their eyes filled with horror at the sight of Ethan's body lying burnt on the ground. His princely clothes and silken hair were charred, leaving only scorched and melted flesh.

"Oh no..." Syra whimpered.

"Ethan!" Aidan wailed and fell to his knees beside his brother, searching for any sign of life but careful not to touch him. He didn't stir.

"Why?" Aidan's broken voice wavered with his shaking, pools forming in his young eyes.

"I-I don't kno--"

"Why? What did we ever do to you?" Aidan screamed, snarling up at Syra who faltered, not knowing what to say.

"Ethan! Aidan!" A middle-aged man called from horseback, his purple cloak singed.

"Papa!" Aidan cried, running to his father in sobs.

Syra darted deeper into the forest, watching from beneath a bush.

Rogan lept from the horse and wrapped tight arms around him, "Thank goodness you're safe! Where's Eth--"

Rogan went pale as he stared down at his eldest son. "No...no it can't!" He fell to Ethan's side and lifted his head with gentle, trembling hands. "Ethan? Ethan, wake up my son. Please?" He bit down hard on his lower lip but the tears still came.

"Dad?" Ethan's squeak was barely audible.

"Ethan!" Rogan and Aidan breathed in relief. "Thank the heavens!"

"Dad?" Ethan continued, though his breathing was labored and shallow. "I'm sorry."

"What? Why should you be sorry? You're alive!" Whether it was out of hope or denial, he kept smiling down at his son.

"He got me first. The dragon."

"A dragon did this?" Rogan exclaimed; the stab of betrayal was palpable. Ethan tried to nod but his green eyes glazed over.

"Ethan, stay with me!" Rogan had to shake him to keep him conscious.

"Sorry, dad. Seems I'm a bit sleepy." A weak smile creased the raw skin on the side of his face.

"Listen to me," Rogan pleaded, "You have to stay awake. If not you'll--"

"It's okay. It's doesn't hurt."

"But I don't--I don't want you to go!" Aidan burst into tears.

Ethan just smiled, "You gotta be strong now, little one." He strained to talk. "I wasn't strong enough and this city is going to need you. The kingdom will need you."

"But I need you now."

"Promise?" Ethan held out a shaking index finger.

Aidan sniffed back a sob and nodded, latching his tiny finger in Ethan's, "Promise."

Syra could watch no longer. She slipped from under the bush and hurried back to the lair, with a sinking feeling in her gut.