Megan stood at the front of the Skycraft, staring at the scattered buildings soaring from one cloud wall to another. According to Mira, new Skycastles appeared everyday, only to be destroyed in the Eastern Cloudwall. So, the Sky Raiders, as Megan's new owners were called, would try to hit as many castles as possible before they disappeared forever.

Megan, like all newbies, would serve as a scout. They would take her in on a Lifeboat and leave her to fend off whatever dangers resided within the castle walls. When it was safe, she would signal the lifeboat and then the others would come and pillage the treasure. It was pretty straight forward, but scouting was definitely the most dangerous job, which was why it was left to the greenies.

Megan had to complete one hundred successful missions before she could be "promoted." She was not looking forward to it.

She examined the mark on her wrist. Mira had told her that it was a slave mark. Apparently, she couldn't get rid of it. It looked like a tattoo, only a lot more... permanent.

"Hey greenie! You're up." A man called from a lifeboat. None of them had bothered to learn her name.

She walked over and hopped into the vessel. Another man ran up to the side holding a parachute. "You might want this. If you fall, it'll slow you down and we might be able to reach you before the lifeboat stops working."

Megan looked from the parachute to the man's uncertain face. "How often does it actually help?"

The man cringed. "In all honesty, not that often."

Megan nodded. "Then why carry the extra weight?" She asked rhetorically as the first man lowered the lifeboat away from the Skycraft.

The other man stood there in a surprise, holding the parachute for a moment before regaining his composure and walking away.

The first man sat at the back of the lifeboat and steered it towards one of the many Skycastles. They hovered over a massive spired structure with many towers and a vast courtyard like an arena.

Megan stared at the unkept lawn. "That doesn't look good."

Her companion chuckled. "It never is." He brought the lifeboat almost to the ground. "Good luck."

As soon as she jumped out, he sailed away to a safe distance. Megan followed him with her gaze, rolling her eyes when he finally stopped.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped towards the castle, ready for anything.

Right as she reached the threshold, a growl sounded from within.