Cactus' head hurt as his dark green eyes opened, adjusting to the gloom of the underground prison. He looked over to his left to see a female Rainwing lying tiredly in the next cell and a large male Mudwing on his right. He tried getting on his feet but couldn't fully stand up due to the chains wrapping around his feet, tail and wings that were bolted into the ground. He tried yanking against them, but they didn't budge.

The small Sandwing heard a light groan and glanced at the cell opposite him. The Rainwing, who he had imprisoned earlier, awoke and then jolted with a start. The chains around her tightened stopping her from moving any further. She gave a small hiss and she tried to reach the chains around her snout with her claws, then gave up.

Two torches lit up the entrance to the prison and Cactus knew that two guards would be waiting outside. The Rainwing, whose name he had yet to learn, raised her lip and tried to get her acid-filled fangs on the chains.

"Don't bother." He said and she glanced at him, panting from the effort and the hot cell. There was barely any air flow in the prison. "Queen Scorch may be unfair but she's not stupid. Those chains are stronger than your acid."

She looked around at the other dragons. A bruised Icewing laid defeated in his cell. He was older than her but looked on the verge of dying from hunger and exhuastion. A Sandwing walked in to the room, dressed in elegant armour.

Cactus recognised the Sandwing. Louse was captain of the guard and was completely loyal to Queen Scorch, he was also extremely cocky. "This one." Louse pointed to the IceWing after evaluating the imprisoned dragons like they were objects up for sale. Two guards walked in and dragged the light blue dragon out. "Yes, Queen Scorch will be pleased to see his execution."

Louse noticed the Mudwing in the cell besides Cactus staring. "The name's Swamp, right?" Louse asked though didn't wait for an answer. "You're next." The Mudwing, Swamp, flinched and Cactus looked down. A few years ago, Queen Scorch began bloody executions with her prisoners when they were at least thirteen hatching days old. "In fact, you should watch. Give you a little heads up for what's to come."

Amaya watched in fear and empathy for the terrified Mudwing who was dragged out of his cell. In the distance she heard cheering, but it was soon drowned out by the hammering of her heart. "Well, well. Look who it is." Cactus' green eyes met the captain's black ones. "Little Cactus. How's your mother going? I've heard she's gone off her rocker-"

Cactus gave a snarl, but Louse laughed. "Why am I here Louse? I didn't do anything wrong."

"Oh, but you will." Amaya cocked her head then flinched as another Sandwing guard walked in and chained a small Seawing dragonet in the cell beside her. Louse ignored the new prisoner and kept his eyes on Cactus who looked even more confused. "Oh please, you don't think I haven't realized that you hate our queen?"

"She killed my family-"

"Oh, boo hoo!" He pulled a face of false empathy. "Save me the pathetic pity party."

"What do you mean by I 'will' become a traitor." Amaya watched curiously at the two Sandwing's, pricking her ears so she wouldn't miss anything they said.

Louse's eye sparkling with mischief. "I mean it's you fate, your destiny!"

"Wha-"

"You can thank that Mudwing from earlier. He ratted you out, took a bit of convincing though. But once we threatened to pluck his wings off, he eventually gave in." Cactus shifted uncomfortably in his chains.

"Ratted me out for what!" The cheering in the distance had ended and Swamp was dragged back into his cell, but the IceWing didn't return. "All will be explained in due time." Amaya looked at the shaking Mudwing, the confused Sandwing and the timid Rainwing.

Then something caught her eye. The roof, which was made of some soft of sandstone, was crumbling slightly. Bits off sand drifted down and then there was a small crack. "I'll leave you all now. I've been invited to dinner with her majesty and her court. I'm starving." He grinned heading for the door.

The ceiling cracked further and then gave way. Chunks of heavy sandstone fell on the surprised Sandwing, completely burying him. A black scaled dragon flew in and glared at the pile of debris. "Eat that you frog-faced blob of camel spit!"