The group hurried down to the tunnel. Meadowhawk was the first to squeeze herself through, keeping her wings close as to not damage them. The dragonets quickly fell in line behind her. Shiver crouched into the tunnel behind Dusk, making sure to avoid his tail (even though he had it curled up).

The tunnel was rather long, taking many twists and turns. It soon tipped upwards, leading toward the exit. Meadowhawk tore away at the moss covering the escape, poking her head through the hole, only to be yanked out from the tunnel. Shiver looked up as Chestnut tried to back away, spotting two white talons seize him by the horns and drag him out. IceWings! Shiver realized.

"GO BACK! BACK!" Atlas roared, though was snatched up out of the tunnel as well. Beautiful chased after him, her scales an unusually vibrant red as she disappeared out of the hole.

"Beautiful, no!" Cascade cried, trying to go after her. Another white talon came down and grabbed his snout, causing him to let out muffled screech. Dusk hurried forward and bit the IceWing's arm. Shiver heard a loud roar from ahead as the talon was quickly jerked back.

"TALONS AND TAILS, MOVE!" Dusk shrieked. Shiver started backing up, crashing into Aether for only a moment before he moved away. One of the IceWings stuck his head through the end of the tunnel, snapping his jaws at the dragonets. Dusk shot a blast of fire at him, sending him scrambling back.

Moving backwards in the tunnel was a bit awkward, as it was too small for them to turn themselves around, but eventually the dragonets escaped back into the cave.

"What now-" Aether started.

"We go save the Guardians!" Dusk hissed.

"Wait! There's probably too many of them, though!" Boulder started. "There's only six of us left, we'd be outnumbered."

"So then what, we sit around and get caught?" Aether huffed.

"Wait, the river!" Shiver piped up. "Cascade, your mom has taken you down there a bunch of times, right? Doesn't it lead outside?"

"I- yeah!" Cascade nodded. "But it's- it's a bit of a long trip-"

"It's the only choice we have!" Starseer decided. "If we try and hide somewhere, they'll search the entire cave until we're found. We have to get out."

The group looked up, hearing a chorus of roars nearby - closer than they had been before.

"They've gotten in!" Aether yelped.

"We have to hurry!" Shiver huffed. She turned and rushed back up the path, the others close behind. They'd almost made it to the entrance when a troop of IceWing soldiers burst out from one of the tunnels. Shiver shrunk back, but Boulder jumped in front of her, spewing a stream of fire at the enemy dragons.

"Go!" Boulder shouted.

"We can't just leave you-" Shiver started, getting up.

"There's no time!" Boulder hissed. "I'll hold them off. Get out of here!"

Shiver was ushered along by the others, making their way to the river. The IceWing dove into the water, quickly resurfacing and glancing around for the others. They'd all jumped in as well, Cascade illuminating his scales.

"It's gonna get dark! Keep your eyes on me!" he yelped. Shiver quickly swam after him.

The group passed by the battle cave, one of Shiver's scrolls still left on the ground where she'd sat to watch the previous day. Oh how desperately she wanted to go back and grab it, as well as her other scrolls, but there was no time for that now.

The dragonets continued down the river, far beyond the cave. Shiver could no long see the light shining through from the battle cave. The only light source they had now was Cascade.

"How much farther?" Aether called.

"There's still a long way to go!" Cascade yelled. "At least we'll be far away from the IceWings."

Shiver swam quicker toward him. She could hardly see the others in the darkness. Her only guide that she was in the right place was Cascade.

After a while of swimming, Shiver felt the river starting to turn. "Are we almost there?" Aether asked.

"Uh, half way?" Cascade said. "Brace yourselves-"

"For what-" Starseer started.

The river suddenly dipped downwards. Shiver felt the air rushing past her face, droplets crashing against her scales. She could see Cascade moving farther ahead and tried to hurry after him. She couldn't risk losing him, especially if the river split off at some point.

"Wait up!" Shiver called, though her voice was mostly drowned out by the roaring of the water. The IceWing paddled faster. She couldn't even tell where Aether, Starseer and Dusk were, only that Cascade was moving faster and faster.

Until he suddenly dipped under the river, out of sight.

"Cascade!" Shiver roared. She could barely make out the cries of her three brothers, wondering where the SeaWing had disappeared to.

Then the river seemingly disappeared beneath Shiver. The IceWing shrieked as she plummeted, the water too heavy on her wings for her to fly away.  She soon splashed down into the river below, vaguely aware of three other objects landing somewhere near here. Shiver looked around, soon spotting a bright light up ahead. Cascade.

Shiver paddled forward. The river seemed a lot calmer now, slower than before. Cascade made his way up to the surface, Shiver following close behind.

The IceWing gasped for air as soon as she emerged. "Everybody alright?" Cascade asked.

"You slimy eel!" Aether hissed. "You didn't tell us there was a waterfall!"

"I did!" Cascade yelped. "You didn't hear?"

"We were all too busy having water stuck in our ears!" Dusk hissed.

"Well sor-ry," Cascade huffed.

"How much farther?" Starseer asked.

"We're halfway there," Cascade answered.

"Halfway?" Aether gasped.

"It's just a slow ride from here," Cascade said. "So. Try to relax."

"Ah, yes. Let's all relax. Not like everybody else is getting kidnapped right now," Shiver huffed. "No, we're just on a lovely river ride."

"Your sarcasm isn't gonna save anybody," Aether huffed.

"Never said it would," Shiver growled.

"Guys, now isn't the time," Starseer sighed. Shiver turned and hurried after Cascade.

The dragonets continued on down the river for quite some time. Shiver's legs were becoming sore from paddling so much, but she couldn't fall behind. After a while, the IceWing noticed a light up ahead.

"Are we almost out?" Shiver asked.

"Yeah!" Cascade called. "There's another waterfall - a smaller one. So. Before you guys yell at me again."

The group turned a corner and were heading toward an opening in the cave. Shiver hurried ahead, desperate to be free of the tunnel. "Wait up!" Starseer yelped.

Shiver tumbled over the waterfall, falling into the lake below. The others followed quickly after. The IceWing paddled back up to the surface, taking a breath of air before looking around.

The lake was surrounded by IceWing soldiers.

"Oh moons.." Dusk mumbled. Shiver glanced at the others. What were they supposed to do now?

"FLY!" Starseer shrieked.

Shiver lunged out from the water, shooting up into the air. The IceWings flew after the group, their teeth bared in vicious snarls. Shiver swerved and maneuvered around their sharp talons, soaring higher and higher into the sky. However, a loud yelp snatched her attention away from escaping. Shiver turned her head to find that two IceWing soldiers had grabbed Cascade, yanking him back to the ground.

Shiver snarled and raced back down, barrelling into one of the IceWing soldiers. The two crashed into the grass below. Shiver forced the larger dragon's head down, snarling at them ferociously. The dragonet didn't have time to notice the two other IceWings coming up behind her, snatching her up. Shiver screeched, whirling around and sinking her teeth into one soldier's arm.

"ACK! You worm!" the IceWing snarled. The other gripped at her jaws and yanked her off. Shiver shook her head, trying to escape the soldier's grasp, but was pinned onto the ground, the larger dragon's talon over her snout to keep her from biting.

Shiver looked to the side. Dusk and Starseer had already been chained up. One IceWing had taken ahold of Dusk's tail while another was wrapping chains around it, to keep him from stabbing anyone, Shiver supposed. Aether was still trying to fight the soldiers off, but was clearly outnumbered. And then there was Cascade, just barely flying out of the IceWings' grasp. Go, Cascade, go find the Talons and get help, she thought desperately. However, one of the soldiers opened his jaw and shot a blast of ice at Cascade's wing, knocking him out of the sky and sending him barrelling back down into the lake. No!

Another soldier headed over to Shiver with a bunch of chains and clamps in talon. He handed it to the dragon holding her down, who then clamped up her snout. Shiver snarled and fought viciously against him, but it was no use. Another clamp was locked onto her neck, and a few more to her wings. One soldier lifted her head and hooked a long chain to the clamp on her neck.

"Come along," he said, yanking her up. Shiver snarled, planting her claws into the ground. The soldier tugged at the chain, managing to drag her across the dirt a bit, but Shiver hardly budged. Until another IceWing pricked her hind leg with their spear, causing her to jump forward.

"Move," they hissed. A low growl rumbled in Shiver's throat, but she padded after the other soldier.

The five dragonets were taken back to the cave entrance. Shiver's blood ran cold (as if it wasn't cold enough) at the sight they arrived to.

The Guardians had all been chained up, all except Diamondback, who was nowhere to be found. He must have escaped, Shiver realized. Good. He'll find the Talons and save us. Boulder was among them too, their eyes lighting up at the sight of their friends.

Another troop was returning - this one bringing the rest of the dragonets along. Shiver noticed how Beautiful's snout was binded shut as well. She also noticed how two of the IceWings had a patch of scales that were slowly melting.

"General," one of the soldiers greeted.

"Where's Beige?" the general questioned.

"A puddle, now," another soldier huffed. "Thanks to this snake." Beautiful snarled in response, her scales shifting through shades of red and black.

Did they really kill someone? Shiver wondered, her legs suddenly feeling unsteady.

"Hmm. We'll inform his family when we get back," the general nodded.

"Where's the Queen?" the other soldier questioned.

"Right here." A new, melodic voice sang from the cave entrance.

A huge, lavender-tinted IceWing stepped out onto the grass. Her body was adorned with a multitude of gems and jewelry. A large, silver crown rested on her head and wrapped around her horns. Her eyes were pitch black voids, from a distance it would be easy to assume she had no eyes at all.

"Queen Vortex," Starseer realized. The NightWing dropped down into a bow, and Shiver felt compelled to do the same. It was her queen, after all.

"This is all of them?" Queen Vortex asked.

"All ten," the general nodded.

"Marvelous," the Queen smirked.

"Let them go!" Dolphin hissed. "The Dragonets have to end the war!"

"Which is why I have to take them, dear," Queen Vortex answered. "I can't be assured this war will end unless I have my eye on them. Oh, I'm so glad your friend lead us out here."

Friend? Shiver wondered.

Then another troop stepped out from the cave, and the dragon leading them..

Oh no.

Diamondback.

The hybrid took the lead over the troop, his scales completely unscathed. He hadn't fought. He let the IceWings capture them. He turned them over.

"Diamondback?" Meadowhawk sobbed.

"You traitor," Goliath snarled. "The Talons will never welcome you back after this!"

"Oh please, as if I want to go back," Diamondback huffed. "I've had it with the Talons, with this mountain, with those brats."

Shiver snarled fiercely.

"I never should've left the Ice Kingdom," Diamondback growled. "Let alone sign myself up to be trapped under a rock."

"But why drag us down with you?" Aardvark snarled. "You could've gone back on your own. We would've assumed you dead."

"Simple," Diamondback replied. "You were my bargaining chip."

"Bargaining chip!" Frog hissed.

"Do you really believe I'd let him back into my kingdom empty taloned?" Queen Vortex smirked. "I don't take kindly to dragons who abandon their tribe. However, to offer up the Dragonets of Destiny.. well, I can make a few exceptions."

"You selfish worm!" Dolphin snarled, attempting to lunge at him. Two soldiers quickly yanked her back by her chain, however.

"You won't get away with this. The Talons will save us!" Farcaller hissed.

"They can try," Queen Vortex commented. "I doubt they'd make it very far."

"You can't do this!" Goliath roared.

"Oh, but I can," the Queen smirked. "I have the legendary Dragonets of Destiny in my very talons. As if I'd give them up because some insect says so."

"Diamondback, we trusted you!" Cascade cried. "I thought you loved us!"

"There's only two dragons I love," Diamondback responded. "And they're back in the Ice Kingdom."

"You're a monster," Dolphin snarled.

"Call me all the names you like," Diamondback sighed. "I already have what I want."

"Majesty, we should head back now," the general said. "The others are waiting."

"Hmm, I suppose you're right," Queen Vortex nodded. The large IceWing then reached under her wing and grabbed a dark purple, almost black, gem.

"What is that?" Chestnut questioned.

"This?" Queen Vortex asked, holding the gem up for Chestnut to see. "It's something we like to call the Gift of Transportation. Allow me to demonstrate."

The Queen held the gem out in front of her and started waving it around in a circle. The air in front of her sparked and glowed, before a large portal opened up. Shiver's eyes widened. On the other side of the opening was a long hallway, and plenty of dragons. Mainly IceWing soldiers, but Shiver caught a glimpse of a few MudWings and RainWings in the distance, who were now being ushered away. Are those prisoners?

"Come along," the Queen ordered, stepping through the portal. The soldier who had ahold of Shiver yanked her forward, forcing her to follow after the Queen. Not that struggling mattered much anyway, now. They were being taken captive by the IceWings, whether they liked it or not.