Steelwar

Years pass, dozens of them. Hundreds maybe? She didn't know anymore. All she knew for sure was these dragons did not belong here. This was not their land or their home! Her King would not stand for these intruders.

King...her King. For a moment her mind travels back to a time and place long forgotten. A beautiful kingdom, ruled by an incredible King. He ruled with iron claws but he was still a kind soul. She stayed by his side no matter what. Every decision, every battle, no matter the outcome. She stayed by her King. She was the one who found him...when he...no.

NO! Her King was still ruling strong. She snaps herself back to reality. The sun is setting. The last of the warm rays are creeping down to hide behind the distant mountains. Her job is just beginning. One of the many jobs her great King had assigned her. Night watch, it was one of her favorite tasks. She didn't mind to be alone. It was peaceful. Plus protecting her King and his Kingdom while they rested was a job she never trusted any other dragon with. It had to be done right. She flies the territory edges, watching out for unwelcome guests. She knew she heard wingbeats earlier. Distant, but near enough to faintly hear drumming sounds of at least three sets of wings. Smoke. She takes a deep breath through her nose. Letting the smell of distant ash and flame direct her to the campfire. She flies low, circling the camp as she recaps what she knows of these intruders. Three distinct sets of wingbeats. One much larger than the other two. Slower and steadier. A sound only the wings of a large Imperial can make. The other two was fast, fast enough it took her a while to hear the two separate sets of wings. Snappers. Large bodies and smaller wings means faster strokes to keep them in the air.

She lands a decent ways away from the camp. Creeping on silent claws to watch these trespassers. The Imperial is stretched out next to the fire. He is old. Much older than her. The two snappers are much younger than him. Looks like they could be younger than her. She listens for a moment. It doesn't take long to figure out the Imperial is telling the younger two tales of the current leader of this territory. She can't help but feel proud for a moment. Knowing her powerful King is ruling this land. "The queen of this land is creepier than any dragon I have ever met. It is said she speaks to shadows..." Their voices fade as if she was flying with them and suddenly began to fall from the sky. No her King...he rules this land...he...

She drifts back to the world she was in before. The night she found her King. She was on a patrol one night when she saw smoke rising in the distance from her Kings chambers. She flew faster than her wings had ever carried her. Other guards tried to stop her from flying into the burning tower but she barreled past them. Once inside, the smell of smoke and flame cloud her nose. She cries out for her king. She throws her full weight into the bedroom door to open it as quickly as she could. The king laid just above the door. Sprawled out on the floor. His wings were burned beyond use. His tail and back legs had been pinned by falling debris. His claws reaching for the door that was just out of his reach. His once beautiful feathers, apparel, and jewels were now charred and burned to nothing. She froze for a long moment before two other guards pulled her from the doorway. They were able to get her out of the burning castle just moments before it crumbled in front of them. The other guards tried to tell her they knew the king had passed long before she got there. One of them was trying to tell her the rafter that had pinned him, killed him on impact. She didn't hear them. Her tears fogged her vision as she shakes her head. "No...NO NO. He is alive! He must have escaped!" She threw herself into the air. "We have to find him! He is out there somewhere! This is still his land!" She cries.

"I will protect it with my life..." She whispers to herself. She is standing in the brush watching the Imperial and two snappers again. "This is not your land!" She snarls from the brush. The three dragons turn startled to face her. She launches herself from the bushes, and pins one of the Snappers. "Leave, leave NOW!" The Imperial lashes her with his tail to get her off the Snapper. She catches herself and skids to a stop. "This land is now yours. And is not that False Queens either! This is your final warning, now GO!" The three dragons took off in a panic. She carefully puts out their campfire before returning to her patrol route again.



There are a lot of stories surrounding this land she calls home. Some dragons say the spirit of an angry Coatl known only as SteelWar chases out any dragon ignorant enough to try to stay here. Others say its only an old wise tale. Everyone knows that the Old Kings best guard died as she tried to carry out the king and the castle collapsed around her.