Thunder clapped all around me as I fly through the clouds. The lightning danced this way and that as it deflected off my spine-spikes. I hear a roar in the distance and bank toward it. It sounded like Jean.

Lightning flashes and thunder claps again, though this time I see the silhouette of Hagin to my left. Jean roars again, closer now. I can hear pain in his tone and jaws snapping together.

Hagin, with me! I dive from the clouds toward Jean's roar. I could sense Hagin following. I catch sight of Jean grappling with a demon, a huxa to be exact.

The huxa saw us as we breached the clouds. It began trying to untangle itself from Jean but didn't have time. Jean swiftly grabbed ahold of one of it legs in the split second distraction we caused and ripped it from its body. It screeched in pain and tried going for Jean's exposed neck, but I was quicker. I smashed into them, claws latching onto the huxa, puncturing its hide. My jaws clamped down on the huxa's crest and I jerk my head sideways as hard as I can. Hagin joins the fray by tearing into the huxa's haunches and back legs.

With three dragons the huxa didn't stand a chance. It was rather large, but with how many claws were now latched into it, it was losing a lot of blood. It was slowing down by the second and within forty Jean had a clean shot at its throat. That last screech was deafening. The dying screech.

Ok, on three we drop it. Jean's husky voice rumbles.

One, two, three. We all let go.

I watch as the huxa falls a thousand feet before crashing into the craggy rock of the mountains below. Its body crumples as its bones break. It finally stops in the ravine at the base of the mountain.

A minute passes before I speak.

So are you going to explain Jean? I rumble as watch the ravine for signs of other demons. I flap my wings slowly, arching them a bit to catch the air and keep myself in place.

Can I do it as we fly back to our station? His hanging tail gave away that he was tired. He must have been battling the huxa for a while.

As long you're finished before we arrive so I know what we're telling the Commander. Satisfied with not seeing any movement, I angle myself south and let the wind do the work. Hagin flies alongside me to the right, silent but listening.

I was out patrolling the north border near Mirse Crag when I caught the scent of a huxa. I didn't think anything of it as I started following the trail. I realized something was wrong as I reached the top of the crag. There were four huxa eating a herd of the humans' sheep. They had slaughtered close to thirty of them and the human shepherd.

That doesn't make sense. Huxa don't usually eat sheep nor hunt in packs. They're solitary creatures. I glance at Jean. I hadn't had time to actually assess his wounds until now and could see he'd been in quite the fight. His tiredness made sense now.

It gets worse Kiara. The huxa you and Hagin helped me dispatch just now was like an alpha to them. He was down the ridge at the waterhole when I killed the first huxa. The other three attacked as a unit. I barely killed two before the alpha joined the last one. Together they rammed me off the cliff so I took to the clouds to get the upper hand. I used the lightning to kill the other huxa before diving for the alpha. I realized my error too late.

Hagin broke his silence. What error? Beyond the fact that you decided to engage with a pack of huxa when huxa aren't supposed to work in packs?

Jean tipped his muzzle down, an admittance of guilt. Yes. But the alpha wasn't just a normal huxa. It was Ligo. The huxa that has been attacking the humans in Holland.

That definitely doesn't make sense either. Are you sure you didn't hit your head Jean? I look at his face, trying to see if there was any noticeable damage. Hard to do when our hides are black and you're flying through a thunderstorm at night.

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Kiara, I'm sure it was Ligo. He had the same jagged scar from eye to mouth and missing toe on his front left paw.

We should tell the Commander. Hagin said. As soon as we're back. If huxa are starting to rally it's going to be a problem, much less the fact that Ligo was alpha. There are plenty of other Ligos in the world that could step into the alpha role for these new packs.

I agree, but what do you think will be my punishment? Jean sounded a touch worried.

I think the Commander will see your wounds as enough punishment for tracking alone. You're about to provide very useful, albeit disturbing, information to him. I scan the clouds around us. I sensed something but couldn't quite place what or where it was. We have company guys. Keep flying like you don't know.

Where are they? Hagin takes a deep breath through his nose, trying to scent them.

Don't freak out. I don't know. I'm not even sure what she is.

She? Hagin and Jean ask simultaneously.

All I'm picking up is that whatever it is, is a she. I continue scanning the clouds.

Lovely. Hagin growls.

If we can't see her, she can't see us. Jean mutters childishly.

She might be able to sense us like I can. I remind him. My power isn't as rare as some think.

It's rare in Cardinals. And there shouldn't be any other dragons besides Cardinals around here for hundreds of miles. Hagin glances at me before scanning the clouds too.

It's like she's refracting her presence. I lean into my ability more, focusing harder. I think she's a magnetic type.

There's a few of those in Knoxville. Jean flexes his talons. But only one female if things haven't changed there. Her name is Dionaa.

I've heard of her. I continue fishing the sky. Magnetic type dragons are hard to track with lightning around.

Another flash of lightning streaks through the clouds. It bounces off of us to our left before arcing downward.

There! On our left about a hundred feet out. I twist, going up and over Jean.

She comes into view with two wingbeats: a beautiful purple dragon with a metallic sheen. Her cheekbones and crest had small white scales that trailed along her spine to a white-tipped tail. She was about my size, which is weird if she's magnetic as they're typically smaller. She angled to face me.

Is there a reason you're flying alongside us? I keep my tone neutral.

I smelled huxa and tracked it to you three. I saw your friend take on the group of them at Mirse Crag. I was going to greet you once out of the storm so you wouldn't think I was stalking you. She narrows her eyes. How did you know I was here?

I'm a Cardinal.

Her expression was blank for a moment before she seemed to no longer care. Why were the huxa in a pack?

We have no idea. We plan to inform our Commander and see if he has any answers for us.

Can I come too? I saw this two days ago. Her voice is unlike any I've heard. Quiet, strong, with a hint of an accent.

Why don't you report to your own Commander? I don't hide the skepticism in my voice.

Her mood sombered. I don't have a Commander. I'm the last of my pack now thanks to the huxa. That's what I'm wanting to report. There is something going on among the demons. A war is coming.

War. War was finally coming.

What's your name?

Jensing. Her face relaxed in relief. I'm Jensing.