Cactus was unbound, the SeaWings were stupid enough to think she couldn't hurt them. She growled deeply, waiting for the dragon to turn around.

He did.

Cactus sprang from the sinking island and sank her claws into the SeaWing's skin. She clawed at his face and wings, finally shoving the barb of her tail through his back and out his chest. The SeaWing howled, and Cactus leaped from his falling body back to the burning, sinking slab of rock, watching the blood and venom float away in the waves.

Cactus ran back to the others, unlocking Corundum's chains. The SkyWing flared her wings and stretched her wrists.

"Thanks, you did good." Corundum nodded and took off into the skies.

Cactus then ran to unchain Squelch, who in turn freed Solstice. The MudWing went to work on Einstein's chains.

"You won't regret it, newbie." Solstice grinned weakly before passing out from the heat and smoke. Squelch threw the IceWing over his shoulder and took off.

"Cactus! Come on! I'll take you to safety!" Einstein shouted after the SandWing.

Cactus spun around, "I have to help Nameless!" A scroll-shelf fell, more flames erupted from the splintering wood.

"You won't make it!" Einstein protested, tugging on Cactus's arm, coughing as more smoke filled their lungs. The SandWing stared him dead in the eyes. Einstein took the hint and flew off.

Cactus ran to Nameless's side. The NightWing was on the verge of death. She clawed frantically at the locks on his wings.

"C-cactus." He coughed, drops of blood flecking the stone floor. "Go, go now! I'll be a-alright.." He used the rest of his fading strength to shove her away towards the entrance.

"NO!" Cactus shouted, tears clouding her already minimal vision from the smoke, "You are NOT DYING TODAY!!!" She ran back to try the locks once again.

"Go..." He said again, hyperventilating.

With a deafening crash, scroll-shelves fell from over the entrance, blocking the only way for Cactus to escape. More shelves fell over Nameless, crushing him. The NightWing howled in pain and fell unconscious.

"No!" Cactus screamed, the falling rubble causing her to jump away from the unconscious NightWing. The water began rising through the tunnel, flooding the stone floor.

Cactus had no choice but to dive through the tunnels and escape with her life. She plunged headfirst into the rising water, as it soothed her smoky scales.

It's not over yet... C'mon Cactus! You can do it! Swim for your life!

Cactus paddled furiously through the water, navigating the dark, narrow sea tunnels by touch. Kraken wasn't there to lead the way with his glowing stripes, so she had to swim through almost pitch black water, bumping into a tunnel wall every few moments.

About halfway through the tunnels, the fire sprang up in the SandWing's chest again. This time, neither Squelch or Kraken were here to give her air.

Cactus kept swimming.

There is no way you are dying like this! Keep going, you're almost there!

Cactus kept swimming as a tightening feeling gripped her chest and throat, the rest of her body going numb. Cactus thrashed, and saw a bright flash of green light before blacking out.