As soon as Luminara stepped inside the stronghold, she was greeted by a harsh wall of suspicion—sharp-tipped spears bristling toward her from all sides, their polished points gleaming in the unforgiving desert sunlight. The SandWing soldiers moved with practiced precision, their golden scales glinting like molten metal, their expressions as unyielding as the stronghold's stone walls.

"What are you doing here, RainWing?" barked the lead guard, his voice dry and cutting, much like the arid wind outside. He studied her with narrowed eyes, his tail twitching restlessly, the poisonous barb at the end gleaming ominously.

Luminara blinked once, a picture of calm, and let a serene smile curve her lips. She raised one claw, its motion slow and deliberate, to gently nudge aside the nearest spear. "I don't think that's how Burn teaches her soldiers to treat visitors," she said, her voice laced with a cool confidence that belied the tension in the air. Her moondrop necklace pulsed softly against her chest, its faint glow barely noticeable, but it steadied her as she met their stony glares.

"Visitor?" the soldier sneered, his wings flaring slightly. "More like an intruder. No one strolls into Burn's stronghold without reason—especially not a RainWing. What business do you have here?"

The name Burn lingered in the air like the acrid smoke of a wildfire, its weight pressing down on the moment. Burn's reputation preceded her—ruthless, cunning, and dangerously ambitious. The fact that this stronghold belonged to her only made the soldiers more aggressive, their loyalty forged in fear and fire.

Luminara met the guard's glare without flinching, though her mind raced. "I've traveled far," she said smoothly, "and I need to speak with someone in authority. I'm not here to cause trouble, but I do have important information your queen would find valuable." Her gaze flicked over the surrounding soldiers, taking in the tight formation around her. "Unless, of course, you'd rather be the ones responsible for turning me away." She tilted her head, letting her words carry just enough edge to sow doubt in their minds.

The lead soldier hesitated, clearly weighing his options. The glow of her necklace caught his eye, and his brow furrowed in suspicion. "What's that?" he demanded, pointing a claw at the softly shimmering ornament. "You think Burn's stronghold is some trinket market? What kind of RainWing carries something like that?"

Luminara's smile didn't falter. "This? A gift from a very clever friend," she replied lightly, brushing the necklace with a claw. "But I assure you, it's not why I'm here. Now, are you going to waste more time interrogating me, or will you take me to someone who actually makes decisions?"

Her composure rattled them, if only slightly. The lead guard's tail twitched again, but he finally let out a low growl and signaled for the other soldiers to lower their spears. "Fine," he said grudgingly, his tone sharp with warning. "But don't think for a second that we trust you, RainWing. One wrong move, and you'll be dead before you hit the ground."

"Duly noted," Luminara replied, inclining her head graciously. Her heart thudded steadily in her chest, but outwardly she remained poised, stepping forward with a regal grace that belied the churning uncertainty within.

The soldiers formed a ring around her, escorting her deeper into the stronghold. The air grew heavier, the stone walls close and oppressive, as though they sought to smother any trace of warmth or freedom. Every step took her closer to Burn's seat of power—and, undoubtedly, closer to danger.

But Luminara's mind was sharp, and her spirit unyielding. She had survived the harsh cold of the Ice Kingdom, the treacherous political games of the RainWings, and the fiery chaos of her own heart. Whatever waited for her in this scalding fortress of ambition and cruelty, she was ready to face it.

For now, she would play along, keeping her wits about her and her secrets close. The sands might burn, but they could not break her.

💙💜

Princess Burn loomed before Luminara, her massive figure framed by the scorched banners and sunlit stone of the stronghold's throne room. Every inch of her spoke of violence and dominance—from the jagged scars that crisscrossed her golden scales to the ruthless gleam in her coal-black eyes. She sat on a throne not of elegance, but of intimidation, its base formed from skulls, some dragon-sized, others ominously smaller.

Her gaze bored into Luminara, an oppressive force in itself, and the RainWing couldn't help but shift slightly under the weight of it. Burn's tail coiled around one of the throne's lower bones, the poisonous barb scraping lazily across its surface, an idle threat in motion.

"What is your name, RainWing?" Burn growled, her voice a low, simmering fire. "And why are you here? The desert isn't a place for lazy, sleepy dragons like you." Her words dripped with disdain, each syllable sharp enough to cut.

Luminara squared her shoulders, refusing to let the insult land. She knew Burn was testing her, looking for weakness to exploit. Instead, she met the princess's glare with a steady gaze of her own. "Luminara," she said evenly, her voice calm but deliberate. "And I'm here to explore." She lifted her chin slightly, an act of subtle defiance. "The rainforest is dull for someone who's lived there their whole life."

It was a blatant lie, a fragile veneer over the truth of her long and harrowing journey. But Burn didn't know that. Burn couldn't know about the icy wastelands Luminara once called home, the sacrifices made to survive, or the burning ache of losing Darkstalker. The story Luminara had built for herself as a curious RainWing adventurer was simple, unimpressive—a safe façade to hide behind in this dangerous place.

Burn narrowed her eyes, her expression hardening into a mask of suspicion. She leaned forward, her talons gripping the armrests of her throne, and the motion was like that of a predator circling prey. "Explore, hmm?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How quaint. And here I thought your kind spent their time hanging from trees, snoring the days away." Her tone was mocking, but her dark gaze held something sharper—curiosity mingled with calculation.

Luminara held her ground, a faint smile playing at her lips. "Hanging from trees has its charms," she replied lightly, "but I needed a change of scenery. And the desert, with all its... dangers, seemed like the perfect challenge."

A rumble of amusement escaped Burn's throat, though her eyes remained cold. "A challenge, you say? Well, you certainly found one." She rose from her throne, towering over Luminara, her shadow swallowing the smaller dragon whole. "But let me be clear, RainWing—this is my territory. If you're lying to me or if you step out of line, I'll snap you in two without a second thought." She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "And I won't bother hanging your head on my throne. RainWing skulls are too small to be worth the effort."

Luminara's pulse raced, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Understood," she said, her voice steady.

Burn straightened, a flicker of approval flashing across her scarred features. "Good," she said gruffly. She motioned to one of her guards, who stepped forward. "Keep an eye on her," Burn ordered, her tone sharp. "If she's telling the truth, she'll find her 'exploration' enlightening. If she's lying..." Her lips twisted into a cruel smirk. "Well, I'm sure the desert will take care of her for me."

The guard nodded and gestured for Luminara to follow, but Burn's gaze lingered on her a moment longer, like a serpent coiled and ready to strike.

As Luminara was led out of the throne room, her heart thudded against her ribs. She had made it past Burn's first test, but she knew this was only the beginning. The desert was a dangerous place, and Burn's stronghold even more so. But if Luminara had learned anything in her long journey, it was this: survival wasn't just about strength—it was about knowing when to endure and when to strike.