Chapter Five

Cinnamon kept her head low, staying hidden in the shadows of Leap and Flea.  Drakes peered at her with innocent curiosity, but their bloodshot eyes and dark wounds and pink-stained teeth intimidated Cinnamon instantly.  They were all skinny, almost as skinny as the Bluemist drakes, and had the same subdued air about them.

"We're here to meet with Matriarch Blight," Emerald was saying to a dark furred guard at the head of their group.

"Right this way," the guard growled, leading the Sunblaze drakes in a swerving pattern through the Ashfall camp.  The biggest difference that Cinnamon noticed between Bluemist and Ashfall so far was the numbers—there was hardly anyone left alive in Bluemist, while there seemed to be way too many drakes here.  They were splayed out everywhere, at least thirty just in this one portion of the camp.  Some of them were laying down in random places, either asleep or unconscious—it was hard to tell.  Some more standing and sitting in huddles, looking tense, glancing around anxiously as if they felt threatened by something. 

Cinnamon was sure she could hear the sound of drakelets crying from at least four different directions.

It was a relief to step out of the sweltering sun and into a huge, cool den.  In this cave, lying on a bed of furs surrounded by piles of treasure and jewelry, was a dark grey, scar riddled she-drake, pulling back her lips in a toothy smile when she saw that she had company. 

"Emerald," Matriarch Blight said, sitting up gracefully and leaping off of her pile of gold to face the visiting drakes. 

"Matriarch Blight," Emerald greeted.  "We're here for a small check-in and to introduce a new delta."

Blight's orange eyes settled on Cinnamon as Flea eagerly told the story.  The way she was looking at Cinnamon made her fur stand on end.  Blight looked completely manic, her red-stained teeth revealed as she smiled way too widely. 

"A strong one, then," Blight observed, her ears flicking.  "I could really use drakes like her around here."

"Stop thinking what you're thinking, Blight," Emerald hissed dangerously.  "She's not for sale."

For sale?? Cinnamon's mind screamed.  Of course I'm not for sale!  Why would Emerald even have to say that? 

Blight's head tipped to one side, her smile not fading a bit.  "Oh, she's not?" Blight asked, her eyes narrowing.  "How disappointing.  It's quite selfish of you, don't you think, to keep all the bravest souls to yourself?"

"Cinnamon's not for sale," Leap interjected growlingly, "because selling living drakes is so obviously wrong.  Sunblaze would never be involved in such things."

"Really..." Blight hissed.  "Not anymore, eh?  What's changed, Emerald?  I thought you seemed quite happy with our previous deals."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Emerald snarled. 

"Emerald, what does she mean?" Flea asked nervously. 

"I don't know.  She's crazy," Emerald insisted.  "Come on, we're finished here."

"Goodbye, little she-drake," Blight called as they hurried back outside.  "I'll be seeing you again soon."

"Don't listen to her," Leap said to Cinnamon.  "She's just trying to scare you."

"Sh-she's doing a great job," Cinnamon admitted.  "What was she talking about back there?  Did Emerald ever... did she ever sell a drake?"

"No!" Leap nearly shouted, making Cinnamon flinch.  "I mean, I don't think... she wouldn't..."

"Of course I didn't," Emerald said calmly, looking back at them.  "Blight is just trying t0 abolish your faith in me and tear apart our pack.  But it won't work.  Right?"

"Of course not, Emerald," Leap answered immediately.

"No," Cinnamon agreed a moment later, and Flea shook her head.

"Good," Emerald said, looking a bit too relieved.

Suddenly a charge of drakes ran by, knocking into Cinnamon and sending her skidding sideways onto her back, away from her pack-mates.

For a terrifying moment Cinnamon was lost, alone, in this horrible place, until a strong talon encircled her wrist and hauled her up. But it wasn't Leap or Flea or Emerald who'd helped her—it was a beautiful young she-drake with glistening white fur and glittering lilac coloured eyes.

"Help us," the she-drake whispered. "Please. You're the blue eyed saviour, I know it. Please help us."

"W-what do you mean?" Cinnamon asked, unnerved.

"You can save us. Please save us. Come back for us. Set us free. Promise you'll try."

"I-I promise to try," Cinnamon said honestly. "What do you mean, 'the blue-eyed saviour'?"

"I'll explain later," the white drake said, letting go of Cinnamon and turning away. "When you come back for us."

And then she was gone.

"Cinnamon, there you are!" Leap's voice cried. "I've got her!" Emerald and Flea shouldered through the crowd and found them.

"Don't run off like that," Flea scolded.

"Sorry—I-I got separated so fast, I—"

"It's fine, it's fine," Emerald interrupted impatiently. "Let's just go."

"What did that little white she-drake want?" Leap asked curiously as they walked.

"Oh, nothing," Cinnamon lied quickly, though she didn't exactly know why. "She just helped me up, and I said 'thanks', and she said 'you're welcome', and then we both said 'bye', and then she left. A completely normal and casual conversation, really. Nothing out of the ordinary." No cryptic requests or unsettling omens, that's for sure. She tried to put on her best "everything is completely normal" face.

"Right..." Leap said skeptically.

Soon they were out of the Ashfall camp, but that young she-drake's message lingered in Cinnamon's mind. Help us. You're the blue eyed saviour. Set us free. Promise you'll try. You're the blue eyed saviour, I know you are.

The blue eyed saviour. What was that supposed to mean?

They were quiet the whole walk home, or if they talked, Cinnamon didn't hear them. She was lost in her own thoughts. She still felt the desperation in the white drake's eyes. It hurt her heart. She really did want to help.

They were home before Cinnamon knew it. Moss waved, grinning, but Cinnamon couldn't bring herself to smile back, not after what she'd seen today.

"Everyone, go to your dens and get some rest," Emerald ordered. "Its been a long day."

Flea and Leap bowed and turned to leave, but Cinnamon forced herself to speak up.

"Um, actually, matriarch... I'd like to talk to you, if that's alright," Cinnamon said nervously.

"This isn't about what you heard from Blight, is it?" Emerald asked indignantly. "Because that's all a lie."

"No, its about the Ashfall drakes," Cinnamon said. "They're over there living horrible lives. They deserve better. Blight is a terrible matriarch, I can tell that easily. We have to do something to help."

Emerald's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Why?" Cinnamon blurted, astonished. "Because they're suffering! Innocent drakes are treated like crap! Its so unfair!"

"Don't raise your voice to your matriarch," Emerald warned.

"We have to help them. We have to overthrow Blight—it can't be too difficult!" Cinnamon yelped, ignoring her.

"Blight's leading tactics have nothing to do with us," Emerald growled. "How is that any of our business?"

"It's our business because that could have been us," Cinnamon growled, her tail lashing. "Those drakes are members of our own species! Does that mean nothing to you? Where's your loyalty?"

"A matriarch's loyalty is to her pack, first and only," Emerald snarled. "We owe them nothing."

"To think I used to look up to you," Cinnamon muttered, shaking her head. "Fine. If you won't do something, I will."

Cinnamon lifted her head and raised her voice for everyone to hear. "Matriarch Emerald, I hereby challenge you for the leadership of the Sunblaze pack."