Snow on the Mountain (Open to all)

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Snowscale wasn't sure, but he sensed that something was wrong. It was a feeling he sometimes got... a cold dread.
He sighed, which echoed back to him from the cave walls. Shaking his head to clear it, he did the only thing he could at the moment..... he walked to the cave mouth and took off into the sky.
Hmm... he thought. Maybe I ate something that disagreed with me....
He was only kidding himself, as he hadn't eaten in three days.
Well at least I'm the only dragon on this forsaken mountain...
He was pretty sure of that, at least.
Wind playfully ruffled his blue feather-like scales, and soon he spotted a mountain goat below him, oblivious to the small blue Skywing.
Idiotic brute. Oh well, that's where meals are made, he thought, diving down straight for the goat.
At the last instant the goat jumped away, but Snowscale succeeded in tripping it up with his tail.
"GOTCHA!" he roared in triumph, clawing open the beast's throat.
Ahhh, a nice, quiet meal to myself...

Snowscale suddenly found himself whipped around by the winds. He couldn't see anything, and a log smashed him in the wing. Bones snapped, and he screamed at the unforgiving winds. He was knocked unconscious, and then the winds took him away, towards Lightwing territory.

The twins followed the passage into an immense underwater lake. It was inhabited by fish that could be seen in the crystal-clear water, and on the far side Tempest and Fireburst were deep in conversation.

Both stared in awe as they saw the lake. This was underground!? They had never seen anything like this. Cyclone then led the pair closer, soon getting a drink. As his sister got some water, Typhoon watched the fish, but his eyes soon sighted Noticed the Bird brothers. ”Hey, sis. Look.”

Cyclone lifted her head, surprised to see the pair. ”What are they still doing here? I thought they were headed out.”

”Well, let’s wad out and try to talk to them.

The two brothers glanced over at the twins. Tempest hurriedly whispered something to Fireburst before facing them. "May we help you?"

Both looked over at the brothers before their tail twitched. Their look seemed to change every now and then, like they were having a normal conversation. Cyclone then looked across the lake. ”Sure. We can’t swim, so that’d be good.”

Tempest nodded and rose into the air. He gently lifted the twins and flew them over to the other bank. "Better?"

Both heads were surprised as they were lifted and moved to the other side of the lake, with Cyclone gripping Tempest with her for paw, accidently digging her talons into the bird. Once they were on the other side, Typhoon said ”Thank you” as Cyclone shook off the idea of falling into the lake.

”So. What are you guys doing in here anyway?”

Tempest glanced at Fireburst. "Mostly to warn Snowscale. We heard Firebrand was on his way and--"
A dark laughing filled the cavern.

Both twins jumped a bit at the laugh, though Cyclone showed more fear than her brother. She then looked at brothers. ”Should we leave.”

Fireburst looked frozen with fear. Tempest looked rattled.
"Come, come little hatchlings. All I want to know is where Snowscale went." A massive Nightwing strode into the cavern, and Fireburst made a squeaking sound.
Tempest uttered one word: "Firebrand."

Cyclone and Typhoon both hid behind the birds, fire and poison preparing the spray out of their respective maws. Cyclone peered out from behind Tempest, while Typhoon looked up at the Thunderbird, slight wisps a green gas coming from his maw with every word. ”Should we run?”

The Nightwing laughed again. "Where is there to run, little one? Home to Mama?"

Cyclone’s face went from anger to shear and utter sadness when the Nightwing said that. Her brother, on the other hand, began to growl at the much larger dragon. The red eyed twin then yelled at Firebrand. ”SHUT UP!”

The dragon laughed yet again, this time joined by an insane cackling. A horrific creature appeared beside Firebrand, and Fireburst shrieked in terror.
"STRAVEN!!!!"

The twins looked in terror as the... monster appeared. By Astral what was going on!

Suddenly the creature called Straven was on their side of the lake, a giant knife held to Fireburst's throat. He then vanished with the bird, appearing again on Firebrand's side.
"BROTHER!" Tempest screeched, his wings spreading.
"Come with us if you want the bird to live little ones. All of you. And no tricks, or we'll see how nice this little birdie looks like covered in his own blood." the monster Fireburst had called Straven cackled, clearly insane.
Tempest flew over to them immediately as if drawn by an invisible force. The demon looked at the hatchling twins expectantly.

Both looked at each other before they began to coming closer. Neither wanted him to hurt Fireburst, but something crossed Typhoon's mind, causing him to stop the pair. They gave each other some looks before Cyclone nervously called out. "And what do you want us for, Oroka?"

"None of your buisness," the Nightwing snapped, shooting over and seizing the hatchlings. "Now, you'd better comply,
or I will rip one of your head RIGHT NOW." He tossed the hatchlings to the floor cruelly, before a bolt of lightning hit him squarely in the head.
"What in...." the demon said, his gaze trained on Tempest. Sudeenly he lurched forwards and screamed as golden claws tore through his stomach. A short man armed with two knives burst of of his chest. "Surprise you demon! The Vilidin be here! Boo and stuff!"
A creature that looked like a cross between a bear and an owl finished the demon, leaving Fireburst unharmed. It screeched in triumph and turned to face the Nightwing Firebrand.
And then a bolt of lightning blasted Firebrand into nothingness.

The twins tried to run as the Nightwing came at them, but, in a moment of lacking communication, they each ran to their side, and just got stuck there. The hatchlings were then both knocked out by the impact with the floor.

The halfling adventurer Ronin grinned at Firebrand's shocked expression. His owlbear screeched a challenge, but before either of the pair could react, he vanished.
Ah, well. For the best. He noticed the two limp hatchlings and eased Jeffry over, swimming the last few yards himself. He bent over them, unsure what to do.
Jeffry seemed to know. He chirped and splashed them with the water from the lake.

Both twins woke up almost instantly, though Typhoon was more groggy than his sister. Both looked up to see the odd creature that had dropped water on them, looking a bit scared as they did, and promptly hid from him.

Jeffry understood the dragon's fear. He didn't look sentient, but he was. And he was still able to understand the dragons, which helped to teach his foster brother Ronin. Or Vrisk, if he used the name his cursed former family called him.

Ronin chuckled a bit. "It's okay.
Me nor my friend here mean to do you harm."
He put awa his knives after washing them off, taking off his very large hat and bowing, revealing a platinum-blonde hair that was definitely not a human's.

Fireburst seemed frozen in fear still. Tempest was a bit shaken as well, but was still watching this duo cautiously.

Cyclone and Typhoon slowly lifted their heads above the rock they had hidden behind. Neither really trusted the person and creature in front of them, though Cyclone’s face showed it more, but it was clear that they knew where the had hidden. The pair didn’t move from behind their hiding spot, though they gave each other a few looks before the red eyed head spoke. ”Um.... Th...thank you.”

The odd creature seemed to be preoccupied with the fish swimming around near his feet. The small man bowed, and introduced himself: "I am the halfling adventurer extraordinaire, Ronin Lighthollow. I seek the master of this cave, as well as that demon that masquerades as a dragon."
"You seek Snowscale, then," Tempest croaked, his wings wrapped around Fireburst.
"Do you know where I may find him?"
Tempest shook his head. "He flew out a while ago, before......" Tempest froze, and his next words came like icicles out of his mouth. "Before the storm hit...."

It was clear that the pair didn’t feel comfortable right now. Neither wanted to come out from behind the rock. Typhoon still didn’t trust Ronin, and Cyclone was just creeped out. They were becoming more concerned about Fireburst, however, and slowly walked over to the birds.

Tempest followed the hatchlings' gazes. He walked over to Fireburst and poked him gently with his beak, but there was no response.
Ronin was staring at the phoenix closely. His blue-stone necklace lit up for a moment, glowing faintly and catching Tempest's attention.
"He's in shock.