Vervada

Her claws tore at the earth.

Vervada could not see. She could not determine up from down in her prison. Everything was gone. There was nothing, nothing-

Then it all came crashing down. The Ridgeback hit the ground with a heavy whumpf, hard enough to shake the ground as she gasped and writhed, gathering her wits about her. She could smell fresh air. Rain. Grass. There was a sweet smell, though she couldn't understand it, couldn't place it-

Until she saw the Skydancer who's feathers shimmered like stars. Cordelia, she would be told later. She smelled sweet, like fresh baked goods. Vervada's eyes darted around her, the spines along her back trembling as she shifted, defensive, ready to lash out at the dragons gathering around her until-

"Vervada!"

She gasped. Her head jerked, the purple hues searching desperately for the Pearlcatcher.

Her Queen.

Chisai lived.

She was given an explanation as she recovered, tended to the Skydancer Ioneth, watched over by the massive Guardian, Asoren, with crackling scars across his hide. How she had been trapped, it seemed, by magic similar to what had captured Chisai. How it, too, had affected her - the only thing that kept her head attached was the same magic that had trapped her.

Her Queen lived, but their Kingdom was long gone. At least one other survived, Chisai whispered, looking over the thick scars that marred the Ridgeback's face. And if one survived, perhaps others...