Frost shifted uneasily on the bed of dried brown ferns, trying to make herself comfortable. The bedding was rough, crackling under her weight, and it smelled faintly of smoke and ash. It wasn't the worst place she'd ever slept, but it certainly wasn't the ice-cold comfort of the Ice Kingdom. Still, she tried to close her eyes and rest.

But sleep wouldn't come.

Her mind churned with everything that had happened — the dragon in the lava, the eerie words from Noxus, and the pull she'd felt, like fate itself was dragging her deeper into something dark and ancient. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those molten blue ones staring back at her, the words "how interesting" echoing in her mind like a curse.

Then came the sound of claws scraping against stone.

Frost's eyes snapped open, her muscles tensing as she lifted her head. The dim glow of the lava outside barely lit the chamber, casting shadows that twisted and flickered. Her heart pounded as she scanned the room — until her gaze locked on a figure standing at the entrance.

A SeaWing.

He was tall and lean, his scales shimmering in shades of deep green and turquoise. His frills fluttered slightly as he tilted his head, studying her with wide, curious eyes. For a moment, they just stared at each other in silence, the only sound the distant bubbling of lava.

"You're not with the Talons of Peace," the SeaWing said, his voice quiet but certain.

Frost blinked, caught off guard by his calm demeanor. "No," she said slowly, sitting up straighter. "I'm not."

The SeaWing grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming in the low light. "Good. They're boring." He stepped further into the chamber, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "I'm Squid, by the way."

Frost tilted her head. "Squid?"

"Yeah. My dad's Nautilus. He's the leader of the Talons," Squid said with a proud flick of his tail. "Big, important guy. Thinks he's saving the world or something."

Frost raised a brow beneath her blindfold. This dragon seems... oddly cheerful for someone living in a volcano.

"Why are you here?" she asked cautiously.

Squid shrugged. "I come and go. The NightWings don't really care as long as I don't bother them." He grinned again, his frills flaring slightly. "And you? What's your story? You don't look like one of the NightWings."

"I'm..." Frost hesitated for a moment, then decided on a lie. "I'm one of the dragonets of destiny."

Squid's eyes widened, and his grin grew even bigger. "No way! Seriously? So am I!"

Frost blinked. "You're... what?"

Squid laughed, his tail flicking playfully. "Okay, not officially, but I should be, right? I mean, I'm brave, smart, handsome — obviously hero material." He puffed out his chest. "I've been waiting for the prophecy to include me. Maybe you can put in a good word with that NightWing who sees the future?"

Frost couldn't help but smirk, despite herself. "Morrowseer?"

"Yeah, him! Total creep, right?" Squid shuddered dramatically. "Always glaring at everyone like he's deciding who to eat next."

Frost chuckled softly. "You're not wrong."

Squid plopped down beside her, completely at ease. "So, what brings you here? I thought the dragonets of destiny were out saving the world."

"I'm... looking for answers," Frost said carefully. "There's something I need to find."

Squid tilted his head, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "Ooh, mysterious. I like it. Can I come?"

Frost blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Come on! You clearly need a cool sidekick." Squid grinned, nudging her with his wing. "And you've got to be bored of all those serious dragons. I'm way more fun."

Frost stared at him for a moment, weighing her options. He seemed harmless enough — cheerful, a little reckless, but not a threat. And he did know the volcano better than she did.

"Fine," she said with a sigh. "But no getting in my way."

Squid saluted dramatically. "Yes, ma'am! You won't even notice I'm there. Like a shadow. A very handsome shadow."

Frost rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. This might actually be interesting.

SCEMEBREAK

Frost sighed, brushing dust off her talons as she sat quietly in the NightWing chamber. Squid had been harmless, yes, but endlessly annoying — the kind of dragon who could probably talk to a rock and keep it entertained for hours. After what felt like an eternity of his rambling, a much larger SeaWing arrived, scooped Squid up like a misbehaving hatchling, and hauled him out of the hollow without a word.

Finally. Alone.

But peace never lasted long in this cursed volcano.

The soft flap of wings drew Frost's attention, making her lift her head just in time to see a tall, imposing figure emerge from the shadows of the cave entrance. His scales were pitch black, gleaming faintly like polished obsidian, and his expression was carved into a permanent scowl. His eyes, black as voids, swept over Frost with a calculating air.

"You must be the infuriating IceWing Blister keeps ranting about," he said, his voice cool and detached.

Frost raised an eyebrow, her irritation prickling beneath her scales. "Infuriating? That's a new one. Usually, I get charming."

The NightWing didn't even crack a smile. "My name is Morrowseer. Come." He gestured with a talon, not waiting for her to respond. "The Queen of the NightWings demands your presence."

Frost frowned but stood, following him out of the cave and into the open air. The heat hit her like a wall, making her scales itch. They descended a rocky path toward a plateau, where a massive cauldron of lava bubbled ominously in the center. The air reeked of sulfur, making Frost gag, but she pressed on.

Waiting near the cauldron was a young NightWing dragoness, her dark scales shimmering with hints of purple under the harsh light. She wore moon-shaped earrings and a matching necklace, the silver catching the glow of the lava. Her gaze was sharp and unwelcoming.

"Morrowseer." The dragoness's voice was cold and commanding. "Who do you think you are, interrupting my mother's rest?"

Frost winced at the venom in her tone. Mother? That could only mean one thing — this was the princess of the NightWings.

The dragoness stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Frost. "And who is this? You drag a random IceWing into our territory without permission?"

Morrowseer's expression remained impassive. "Greatness, I assure you — this is no random IceWing. Queen Battlewinner will want to see her." He sidestepped the princess with practiced ease, leading Frost closer to the cauldron.

Frost couldn't help but feel small under the piercing gaze of the young princess, who clearly wasn't impressed. The NightWing princess's eyes were like daggers, cutting through any façade of confidence Frost tried to project.

As they neared the bubbling lava, the ground trembled slightly, and a dragon began to rise from the molten pool.

A dark, towering figure emerged, steam hissing as lava dripped from her wings. Her scales shimmered with the same dark luster as the other NightWings, but her presence was overwhelming. Around her neck, jagged chunks of ice clung like a cursed collar, frost creeping along her scales even in the blistering heat. Her eyes glowed with a cold, cruel light.

This was Queen Battlewinner.

And Frost could see the damage that had been done to her.

The icy collar wrapped around her neck like a prison. Every breath she took was labored, her voice raspy and hollow. "You... bring an... IceWing... to me?" the queen rasped, glaring at Morrowseer with something between rage and disbelief. "After... what their king... did to me?"

Frost took a step back, her wings tucked close to her sides. The queen's presence was suffocating, and the hostility in her words was clear. She was barely holding herself together, the ice around her neck a constant reminder of whatever terrible injury she'd suffered.

Morrowseer didn't flinch. "I assure you, Your Majesty," he said smoothly, "this is not the IceWing who wounded you. This is Frost — daughter of Queen Glacier. The one who was... exiled from the Sky Kingdom."

The queen's glowing eyes locked onto Frost, and for a moment, there was silence.

"Ah," Battlewinner said at last, a cruel smirk playing at the edges of her mouth. "The IceWing outcast. How... fitting."

The queen's icy gaze never wavered, and her voice was laced with venom as she leaned in, her wings unfurling to reveal a hint of dark, glimmering ice beneath the lava's fiery glow. "Now tell me, Frost," she purred, her tone dripping with malice. "Why does the queen of the SandWings want you? What powers are you hiding, hm?"

Frost hissed, her claws digging into the rocky ground beneath her, but she stood tall, despite the queen's overwhelming presence. "Nothing, you overgrown slug," she spat, her voice thick with defiance.

Battlewinner reared back with a sharp, cold laugh — a sound that echoed ominously through the hollow. Her wings flicked, sending molten lava splattering across the stone floor, sizzling as it hit the cool rock. "Ah," she mused, her eyes narrowing with cruel amusement. "You carry the same arrogance that most IceWings do."

The tension in the air was palpable, and Frost felt her muscles tense in anticipation. But before she could say another word, Battlewinner's mood shifted, her expression hardening into something darker, more calculating.

"Good," the queen said, her voice now a low, deadly growl. "Bring her to the Fertile Hollow. Let Mastermind have a look at her and find out why she wears this infernal blindfold."

Frost's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mastermind. She'd heard of him — the NightWing who could see the truth of a dragon's soul, the one who could unearth their deepest secrets with a mere touch. But she wasn't about to give in so easily. Not to these NightWings.

"Mastermind won't find anything," Frost growled, her tail lashing behind her. "You're wasting your time."

Battlewinner only smiled, a twisted, cruel smile that sent a shiver down Frost's spine. "We'll see about that, won't we?" She motioned for Morrowseer to move, her wings flaring as she turned back toward the cauldron. "Take her to the Hollow. We've wasted enough time."

As Frost was led deeper into the caves, the oppressive heat of the lava grew more intense. The air seemed thick with sulfur and the promise of danger, and she knew that whatever lay ahead would be no simple test of strength. It would be a test of her very soul.