Wings of Fire • Path to Ascension [Book 3]

scene xii.

"Why?!" shouted J-3, staring at K-12 in confusion. "G-40 is with them!"

     "You don't know them!" K-12 shouted back, but she seemed unsure. The Supermajors behind her were blinking at Atta and the others in confusion. Ghost didn't want to stick around to find out what they would do.

     But Atta had different plans. Like with the Workers, she stepped forward, making the behemoths' eyes focus on her. "Hello," she said, "I know how this looks but please listen before you decide. We came here to deliver important news." She turned slightly to beckon Taproot forward, and as Hawker stepped out of the LeafWing's way, Ghost's light illuminated his form.

     The Supermajors... did not react well.

     "DARTWINGS!" they roared, and Ghost heard several answering cries echo from beyond their forms.

     "FALL BACK!" shouted General Viceroy as the large dragons attempted to rush forward. One reached for Atta and Ghost reacted without thinking.

     He jumped between them and shocked the Supermajor. It stumbled, trying to avoid crushing them, blinking at him in surprise. But it wasn't the only dragon Ghost was wary of.

     He glared at J-3. "You failed to mention the bells!" he hissed.

     "I wasn't sure why K-12 didn't!" replied the Worker, "But I didn't think she'd actually -"

     "I'm sorry!" K-12 wailed, trying to pull on one of the Supermajor's legs. "Stop!"

     "But the Alate is in danger!" was its reply.

     Before Atta could explain herself, the Supermajors shoved K-12 aside and pressed on. Faced with their terrifying tusks and teeth Ghost felt rooted to the ground; the ground, which was shaking with the steps of the dragons in front of him and arriving reinforcements.

     General Viceroy thundered past Atta, spreading his wings to block the dragons' views. He herded them backwards, shouting commands that Ghost didn't understand as well as pulling Eight and Longhorn behind him. J-3 joined K-12 in trying to stop the Supermajors, who only seemed more frantic in their attempts to get to Atta, and it looked like nothing could stop them. Nothing except...

     "Out of the way!" cried Metalmark as she landed in front of General Viceroy. She carried a loop of burning flamesilk, which she twirled and threw on one of the Supermajors' tusks. Instantly, the behemoth reared its head, but Hesper arrived to add his own silk. Together, father and daughter kept the Supermajor distracted while General Viceroy lobbed his own ball of silk. It didn't burn, but it covered the eyes of the second Supermajor who'd tried to cut the flamesilk ropes, and the dragon was further deterred by an explosion of flames and flesh. K-12 had tried to light her tail but it had backfired – literally.

     "No!" Atta shouted, "This is a misunderstanding! Please stand down! There's nothing to be -"

     The first Supermajor continued pulling. Metalmark and Hesper would have been thrown if it weren't for Atta reaching out and looping the flamesilk around her talons. Ghost cried out at the smell of burning scales, but the Alate merely gritted her teeth and yanked.

     It did nothing but make the Supermajor's head bob.

     Eight and the other AntWings brushed past the General. They helped anchor Atta to the ground, keeping her steady, while the first Supermajor tugged and the other tried to pull the silk off its eyes. Even though he wouldn't do much, Ghost jumped up and climbed on Atta's back, hoping he could weigh her down somehow.

     "DartWings!" bellowed the second Supermajor as it tried to put the flames on its legs out, "In the water treatment plant, sector nine! A Worker has been injured!"