When Thunder walked in the shouting ceased. She saw all of the dragons they had come to Phyrriah with, the RiverWings, StormWings and ForestWings.

Her father was glaring at one of the other StormWings, and Rainstorm stood off to the side.

"She can't go back to Ventus." Said her father.

"The FlameWings would kill her."

"With the new power she has she could wipe them out before they had the chance." Growled the other dragon.

Thunder looked from one dragon to the other, feeling very tired.

"You're using her as weapon?" Growled Thunderhead.

"She's my daughter, not a weapon."

Suddenly Thunder snapped.

"STOP!" She roared, glaring at the adult dragons.

Everyone fell silent.

"I am not a weapon, I won't be used as one." She stated, turning her gaze to the other StormWing.

"My father is right. The FlameWings will kill me as soon as they see me. My power takes strength, and I'm not strong enough to make the journey across the ocean."

"We need to send two StormWings, two ForestWings and two RiverWings back to Ventus. The FlameWings are coming, and we need to beat them here." Said Thunder.

Everyone looked to Thunderhead to see if he agreed. He sighed.

"She has a point." He said.

"I'll go with Hurricane." He said, pointing to the dragon he had been arguing with.

"Thorn and I will go." Said a ForestWing, stepping up to stand beside Thunderhead.

"Waterfall and I will go with you." Said a dark blue RiverWing.

Thunder nodded.

"You need to gather as many dragons as you can and bring them here." She said.

"The FlameWings will bring the CaveWings and the DesertWings as well." She said.

"We need to be ready."

"We'll help you." Said a voice behind them.

They all turned to see Tsunami come up behind them.

"I'm sure Glory has some willing RainWings and NightWings who would want to fight."

Thunder smiled.

"Where are we keeping the dragons we bring?" Asked Waterfall.

"They can settle along the outskirts of the Rainforest Kingdom." Came another voice.

It was Glory.

"And yes, I have RainWings and NightWings that would be willing to fight." She said.

"When I return to my kingdom I will gather what dragons I can."

"Then we have a plan?" Asked Thunder, glancing from dragon to dragon.

"Yes." Said Thunderhead.

"You can take food from our stock here and in the Rainforest." Said Tsunami.

The dragons nodded their thanks.

"We leave at dusk, no sooner, no later." Said Thunderhead.

"We will only make our moves at night, to keep from being found out." He said.

"On our way there, stick together. When you have gathered as many dragons as possible, meet at Drgaonskull Point."

The dragons all nodded.

"Meet outside the academy so we can leave as a group."

With those parting words the meeting was dismissed and the dragons who leaving went to go get ready.

Thunder sighed. She wished she could go with them, see her home again, but she knew that it was far to dangerous. She was their only hope against the FlameWings. If she got injured or died...

She shook off those thoughts as she helped her father pack. Thunder helped him put food in the pouches they had taken with them on the journey here, trying to read his expression.

His stormy blue eyes didn't betray any emotion, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. When her mother came into the room he looked up.

"Promise to come back." She said.

"We both need you."

"I will, Nimbus. I promise you and Thunder." He said, looking at them both.

"I'm doing this for you."

Thunderhead slipped the pouch over his neck and went to go meet the others in front of the Academy. Thunder followed close behind.

"Is everyone here?" Asked Thunderhead.

The assembled dragons nodded.

"Good. Let us fly with all haste towards Ventus."

With those parting words the six dragons took off into the sky, their wings beats long and powerful. Thunder watched as her father took the lead, the others spreading out to either side of him.

Thunder watched until they disappeared into the dying sunlight, then returned to her cave. The StormWing curled up under the window, neglecting the soft sleeping alcove.

Come back. She thought.

All of you.

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

The flight back to Ventus wasn't as brutal as the first. The sky was clear, and the stars winked above them. The water of the wide ocean spread out below them.

Thunderhead's wings still ached when they were nearing Ventus however, and he could tell the dragons around him were tired as well.

"How much farther?" Asked Thorn, his voice strained.

"Not far." Said Thunderhead, turning his eyes to where the thin outline of the continent could be seen.

But something was wrong. What looked like patches of orange dotted the land, and a Smokey gray haze covered the island.

Please no... he thought.

He beat his wings faster, as did the other dragons. The scene they looked upon was devastating. The forests burned bright and orange, smoke rose from the trees.

It all seemed to be burning, the whole continent on fire, the mountains the only safe place.

"They've destroyed everything." Waterfall said, her eyes reflecting the orange-red glow of the flames.

The group of dragons flew over the flames, the heat scorching their underbellies.

"Look for survivors at the caves and villages." He said.

"Stay together, the FlameWings could still be here."

The dragons all nodded and split off, each group going to search a village. Thunderhead and Hurricane tucked in their wings and dove for a group of StormWing caves, landing in the clearing.

The smoke stung Thunderhead's eyes, making them water. They checked the caves, but no one was there. When they ventured further into the forest it was a different story.

The bodies of dragons lay crumpled on the forest floor, ForestWings and StormWings both. Most were badly burned, and some wore the black and silver armor of the StormWing armor or the emerald green and brown armor of the ForestWing army.

Spears lay on the ground around them, helmets lay dented and melted on the ground. It was hard to tell how long ago the battle had been fought, but it was fairly new.

FlameWing bodies lay in amongst the others, their scarlet armor glimmering faintly in the dying light of the smoldering flames. The StormWing and ForestWing bodies outnumbered them by many many dragons.

It made Thunderhead sick to his stomach looking at the dead dragons, dragons that hadn't deserved to die, who had done nothing wrong. Then anger surged within him.

"Thunderhead." Said Hurricane, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Another dragon." He said.

Thunderhead looked up, and immediately knew that the dragon wasn't friendly. A snarling FlameWing approaches them from out of the smoke, scratches covering his light orange scales.

Both Hurricane and Thunderhead looked at each other and then at the FlameWing, digging their claws into the ground.

The two dragons took in a deep breath, the backs of their throats glowing white as they prepared their fire.

The battle was about to begin.