Now, that she was older, she couldn't believe she had actually wanted to save them and protect them!

They wouldn't have done the same for me. They're both as untrustworthy and annoying as a smug NightWing!

They escaped the prison, using Blackstar's magic, and no one had ever seen them again.

Her usual outbursts of rage appeared, and she smashed her talon into the frozen pond, breaking the cloudy reflection into chunks of thin ice floating in the water.

A voice suddenly cut through the crisp air, and she whirled around, her teeth bared and her tail whipped to her side, ready to smash into someone.

But the dragon approaching had black spots scattered around his eyes and wings, and her wings drooped as she realized it was Husky. One of her ways to let out her anger was attacking someone. Preferably a NightWing.

Husky, jumped back, looking startled. Storm hid her frown as he rubbed his neck and said, "Those lessons from Avalanche are really paying off huh? You definitely heard me coming!"

Storm stared at him. Of course, I heard you coming. You shouted my name!

Storm didn't respond, and Husky's wings also drooped. "Storm, after you started training to be a warrior and the savior of the tribe, you're also so mean to everyone. I miss the old Storm."

Storm felt a twinge of sadness, knowing her brother was right. But she had to be fierce, thats what the IceWing warriors were always about. Couldn't Husky see that?

"The old Storm was weak." She said, deciding not to hiss at her already sad brother. "Only the best warriors never show any compassion or sadness."

Husky tilted his head, his face contorted into a befuddled expression. "But... doesn't that mean you're kind of placid all the time? Like, no emotion?"

Storm let out a snort. "What? No. We use our rage to help us stay a warrior all the time, especially to fight." She was done having this conversation. "Now what do you want? I'm kind of busy here." She shifted uncomfortably as Husy glanced at the pieces of ice.

Husky gave her his iconic, 'I'm onto you' expression. "Busy with what? Staring at your reflection?" Husky let out a bark of laughter as she slapped him with her wing.

"You better tell me what you called me for or I'll slap you again." She said, surprised to find her voice ticked with laughter. "A lot harder this time!"

Husky stopped laughing, wiping his eyes. "Alright, alright. Queen Siberia has requested an audience with us." Storm groaned her wings, arms, and neck falling limp.

She rolled her eyes. They always request an audience with us! Like, five times a week. Why are we so special?

Storm hissed at her own stupidity. Because we're hybrids, you pile of seal blubber!

Storm took her place in front of Husky, leading him into the palace. Since she was first place in the First Circle, she always led, unless it was the Queen, or Avalanche for instance. She still has to show respect for high-ranked dragons older than her.

Husky was at... the Third Circle, was it? He wasn't the best fighter, thats for sure. More of a, 'rather read a book than use a spear' type of dragon. Like her best friend, Blizzard. Or my mother. She shook the thought off.

They passed dragons on their way to the queen's room. Some were flying, and some were walking with furious speed, while others were relaxed and gave Storm nods of respect.

Towards the center of the palace was the queen's throne room, and it was considered rude to fly even around the room, so she was surprised to see a dragonet flapping frantically over to one of the windows. Storm called him over.

The dragonet was very small, perhaps only three years old. He had no necklace to indicate his rank, but his stance was low and he bent his neck. So he probably has a very low rank.

"What's your name, dragonet?" Storm asked. Behind her, Husky was twitching nervously. The dragonet whimpered.

"Uh, uh. Firn." Storm raised her eyebrows, and he continued, "Sixth Circle." His voice was very high-pitched and squeaky. Storm studied him for a moment. His scales were practically all white, with the slightest linings of blue on his chest and wings.

"Don't you know that it's rude to fly in the center of the palace?" Storm said. Husky let out a sigh and stepped on her tail, hissing, "Storm just let him go. He's young."

Storm whipped her tail from Husky's grasp and hit him lightly in the leg. He winced as her spikes hit his scales.

The dragonet scratched his arm nervously. "Um. Sorry. I accidentally stepped on a guard's tail, and he was chasing me. Sorry, sorry. Please let me go."

Husky gasped as hard talons sounded from behind the corner, and Storm felt her instincts kick in. She pushed Firn to the side and hid him with her wings.

A big burly guard, flanked by two other soldiers, flicked their tounges in and out, spears ready. They stopped when they saw Storm and Husky, and bowed to Storm, while Husky bowed to them.

The three guards were wearing a necklace with three circles, indicating the Third Circle, but they were guards and soldiers so Husky still bowed.

"Have you seen an audacious dragonet running through here?" The first guard asked, flicking his dented tail up and down.

Storm shook her head, and the guards ran in a different direction. Storm turned to the dragonet. "Run along. Go find your parents, and stay away from guards."

The dragonet nodded, taking steps back. He flapped his wings and soared toward the window, glancing back at Storm. He almost flew right into the wall, but he banked to the left and tumbled out the window.

"Stupid dragonet." She muttered, but she found herself not too annoyed.

As they neared the throne room, Storm noticed that the number of dragons dropped drastically. She saw one glance at them and then quickly away, and a guard gave them a pitiful look.

What's going on? She wondered. Husky yawned nervously when they came within sight of the throne room. Storm shifted. Her mind quickly ran into anxious thoughts.

This happened every time she was in the throne room. She wound down into a spiral, wondering if this was the moment she would mess up. If this was the moment her queen would point out everything wrong with her.

She would never do that. Storm said passionately. But her spikes still rattled as she approached the guards. They stood rigid, eyeing Storm and Husky warily, but Storm especially.

Queen Siberia's guards bowed to no one. They were to maintain position at all times, and question even the most loyal dragons. But they don't trust me at all She reminded herself. Because I'm an animus.

She tilted her wings, giving the guards a nod. The guards turned when Storm and Husky passed them and walked into the throne room. Their wings spread out slightly, a single that the queen was in an audience or meeting.

She noticed all the other guards on the other exits and entrances do the same. Storm lifted up her wings, putting on the soldier formation she had learned when she was little.

Beside her, Husky did the same. It was customary for audiences to have the dragon the queen was speaking to be in the exact middle. Storm bowed deeply, spreading her wings out wide.

She noticed Avalanche by the queen's throne. Oh right. Avalanche was second in command, basically one of the second rulers of the kingdom. On the other side was Snowdrift, third in command. 

It was uncommon for the male dragon to be second, and the female to be third because back traditionally only queens would be in charge. But the IceWing queen always handpicked the second and third in command, and she picked Avalanche and Snowdrift. Storm hoped to be one of those dragons one day.

Imagine, sitting beside the throne at the queen's talons. She would ask me for advice, and I could protect her even more easily.

Queen Siberia sat regally on the throne. Her scales shimmered with crystals, staring at the IceWings in front of her. Siberia flicked her tail, and Storm looked up at her.

Huh- Storm was confused. The queen looked furious. She looked like a NightWing had suddenly shown up at her palace begging for mercy. Wait.

Storm was horribly good at guessing, but she knew she shouldn't jump to conclusions. Behind her, a yelp echoed off the throne room walls, but Storm didn't dare turn around. In the throne room, you're attention was to be on the queen at all times.

"Blizzard," Her calm voice didn't match the anger on her face. "Please excuse us. This is a private audience." Husky turned, his eyes alight with happiness as he looked at Blizzard. Storm rolled her eyes.

Oh, poor Husky. So naive. Storm knew Husky liked her friend. It was gross if you asked her. She had no interest in loving someone or being loved for that matter. She tilted her head the slightest bit to see Blizzard set down the moon globes she was working with.

Blizzard bowed and said with her voice filled with pride, "Yes Your Majesty,"

Siberia bristled, as the guards let Blizzard through, and she turned her attention back to Storm and Husky.

"Something horrible has happened in the Ice Kingdom." She began. "Unfortunately at the moment I'm unable to inform you, so Avalanche and Snowdrift will lead and tell you. You are dismissed."

They nodded, bowing and following Avalanche and Snowdrift out the door. Storm tried to recall what she knew about both of them.

Storm knew Avalanche personally, he was her trainer, and he had taught her everything she knew, and when she was younger he went to his school, the Academy of Claws.

Snowdrift was a hardworking IceWing. She was born into a low-ranked family, but she worked herself up to become one of the queen's most loyal citizens. She was great with advice, and one of the top warriors in the kingdom.

Avalanche and Snowdrift took the back way out, and Storm noticed the pathway was slanting down. The dungeon? She had never been here before. Are they going to show us a prisoner? She growled softly, wondering if it was another invading NightWing.

Storm had killed plenty of NightWings before in battle, but never when the dragon was defenseless. Is that what they're going to ask me to do? Or will they make Husky do it?

She glanced at her brother, who was twitching excitedly. "What do you think it is?" He whispered. Storm just shrugged.

Avalanche and Snowdrift were very quiet on the way to the destination. What is down here that is making them act this way?

Storm shivered. Avalanche looked back at her and said slowly. "Control your nerves, young IceWings. What you are about to see may shock you, but I'm asking you to give them a chance. Don't attack even though I taught you to."

Storm's heart plunged. 

No, no, no, no, no! She knew who it was, her first training session, if they ever came back, she was supposed to attack them and shred them to pieces.

Snowdrift spread her wing as she opened the last door, revealing two dragons huddling together for warmth.

"I present," Snowdrift and Avalanche said in unison. "Your parents."