The group had been following the river for some time, but there was still no sign of the VulcanFire encampment. Starfania was about to tell her friends to make camp here until Violet gazed downward, as she noticed the scorching land below them. As she spoke barely above a whisper. " What happened here? "
" I don't know, but I'm afraid it's not gonna be a pretty sight. " Starfania said as she saw the land change before her. Intrigued and wary, they cautiously descend to get a closer look. The land was barren, stripped of life, with deep scars with deep scars of fire and war carved into the soil. Drogo and Atlas hovered for their rider to see, their keen eyes scanning the devastation. No sign of life–only silence, save for the distant crackling of smoldering embers.
With growing unease, they pressed on, the air thick with the scent of ash and smoke. Slowly landing down on the charred land, the dragons made a crunching sound. Both Starfania and Aeron got off of Atlas and Drogo. When Violet tried to get off Atlas, both Starfania and Aeron told Violet to stay on Atlas. Just in case something was to, he could protect her. Violet hesitated, her heart racing. She glanced around at the desolate landscape, feeling the weight of their words. The remnants of what once might have been a vibrant forest lay in ashes, twisted trunks reaching up like skeletal fingers. Starfania knelt to inspect a small, smoldering patch of grass, while Aeron kept a watchful eye on the horizon. Shadows danced ominously in the flickering light, and a chill ran down Violet's spine.
"Look," said Aeron, breaking the heavy silence.
As they continued exploring the charred land, a cluster of tents gradually emerged through the haze, their outline barely invisible against the outline. Starfania's heart pounded as she turned to Aeron, certainty settling in her voice. " I think we've found it. "
The camp was in shambles. Once-sturdy tents had collapsed, their fabric scorched and torn. The ground, blackened and lifeless, bore the heavy imprint of battle. Smoke still curled into the sky, carrying with it the echoes of suffering–distant cries, agonized screams, the remnants of a conflict that had already decided its victor. And then, amid the ruin, their eyes fell upon a solitary fiery red banner. With a sun ray spreading outward with flames and wildflowers surrounding the sun.
Starfania's breath hitched. The emblem of their home kingdom–VulcanFire. A wave of despair crashed over them, heavier than they had ever known. No enemy was responsible for this.. This was the mark of their homeland. This was the first time they were seeing why their hometown was feared outside of Avalon. For so long, they had lived under the illusion of power, of honor. But now, standing amidst the wreckage left in its wake, the truth was undeniable. Starfania knew her father hated dragons to his core, but the length he would go too. Was something she had never witnessed firsthand. Aeron's grip tightened on Starfania's shoulder, grounding her amid the chaos. There were no cheerful voices, no laughter echoing through the trees. Just a haunting silence, punctuated by the crackle of dying embers. She could almost feel the weight of their ancestors watching, judging.
Questions swirled in her mind like the surrounding smoke. How could this be? What had led to such destruction? Together, they stepped deeper into the remnants of the camp. The air was thick with the scent of burnt wood and ash, a stark reminder of what had been lost. They stumbled over debris—broken spears, shattered shields—each piece a testament to a battle fought and a life extinguished. She searched desperately for signs of life, but all she found was the eerie stillness that clung to the ground like a shroud. Then, just beyond the tents, a glimmer caught her eye. A half-buried trinket sparkled among the ashes. Kneeling down, she brushed away the soot to reveal a small locket, its surface scratched but still intact.
She opened it to find a faded picture of a smiling child, innocent in the face of such horror. Tears pricked at her eyes as she closed the locket, realizing that this place held memories beyond her own.
"Do you think anyone survived?" Aeron's voice broke through her thoughts, heavy with uncertainty. Starfania shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. The weight of defeat hung thick around them, each unanswered question a reminder of the lives that had been shattered here. They moved cautiously, each step a painful reminder of their mission and its implications. What they had come seeking was now overshadowed by the reality of what lay before them. This wasn't just a search for knowledge; it was a confrontation with their past and a reckoning with their future. In every burned tent and shattered sign, they saw the reflection of their own choices. Starfania clenched her fists, knowing that they had to find a way to restore the honor that had been lost. The burden of their heritage was not something they could escape. They were inseparable from it, for better or worse.