On wings of burning embers

chapter 1 ash's desires

The day was bright. and the sun was shining in the high mountains of the Sky Kingdom, home of the Skywings.

Skywings were renowned for their battle capabilities, their masterful war tactics, and their impressive army of devoted skywings loyal to their queen.

But not everyone of Queen Scarlet's skywings was pleased with their position in the kingdom.

Within the one of arena's entrances, which was used for the queen's entrainment, was one lone female skywing guard. who was known as Ash she was the Dragonet of the high-ranking General Cormorant a esteemed general of Queen Scarlet Ash had once been given a horn ring by her father after a successful campaign he told her it was his lucky horn ring and so she cherished it greatly,

Ash was assigned to watch the important prisoners in the dungeons. and clean the arena when fights were concluded. Peril's fights being the most messy to clean up after.

Ash didn't harbor any Ill will towards the queen's champion especially since Ash barely knew Peril having only spoken with her a total of three times it was some very strange or awkward conversations clearly peril lacked social skills something Ash didn't blame her for she did her job and Ash did hers,

Ash hated her position in the kingdom. She was a talented fighter and a brilliant tactician. But Queen Scarlet was seemingly not seeing Ash's potential as a warrior or she was ignoring Ash's potential on purpose,

She was walking in the dungeons, looking at the prisoners. who was next in the arena the only moments she spoke to herself since the prisoners never seemed to care what she said,

"It's only a matter of time before the queen sees I'm worth so much more then a dungeon guard. I'm surely not supposed to be in this position for the rest of my life. I yearn for the thrill of battle, going claw to claw with opponents. I wish I was out there on the campaign with my father," Ash said to herself as she took a seat by the gate to the arena, seeing two dragons conversing despite the arena being empty.

"So you know the plan? If we pull this off, We can use Queen Scarlet's most trusted general as leverage for a prisoner's release," said the dark orange skywing to the sandwing. "I don't know if it's a wise idea... it would be impossible for us to fight, much less capture General Cormorant. Even if we got close, his squadron is massive, and we would get overwhelmed very easily and likely killed," the sandwing said, not agreeing with his friend's plan. The sandwing had nearly triangle-shaped black streaks running down his spine.

"Well, if not the general, there is one other option. Though it's not widely recognized, generally speaking General Cormorant dose have a daughter somewhere in the kingdom. Supposedly, she's a guard of some sort," the skywing said, grinning as his friend joined his grin. "A younger Skywing is a easy pickings. and she may have more negotiating sway it's a deal. We free your sister with the daughter of General Cormorant as leverage. If we can find her, that is," the sandwing said as they turned to walk in the direction of the gate to the dungeons. Ash motions to the inmates to keep quiet Ash then leans into the shadows,

The two dragons walked in to towards where Ash was, they looked around as Ash pretending to be asleep. "you there. What's your name?" Asked the skywing to Ash as she followed her code of honor. "I only answer to the queen and her army officials begone you are in a restricted area," Ash said, leaning away from the wall and walking towards them intimidatingly.

"Oh gosh, look at that armor; she's no ordinary guard volcano. She's a dungeon guard; she could get us in real trouble real fast!" The sandwing said with alarm upon seeing Ash's armor gifted to her by her father with Scarlet's blessing,

"Well, we could get rid of her, right? No one will miss one guard." the skywing said as his friend looked shocked. He would even suggest that, but Ash wasn't afraid and stood her ground.

But then. "Wait a second that ring. That's General Cormorant's horn ring! He gave that to his daughter!!" Said the sandwing, just now noticing the ring, he raised his tail. Ash blew a burst of flame upward to demonstrate how dangerous she was.