Starfania told Violet to scoot over, and she did without hesitation. Atlas seemed to understand her intent immediately. He lowered his stance, muscles coiling beneath his scales, and began to sprint. In one fluid motion, Starfania vaulted onto his back, her body aligning perfectly with his movement as if they were a single being. Aeron, clearly impressed, mirrored her actions, mounting Drogo with focused determination.
The instant Starfania settled into place, Atlas surged forward. With a powerful thrust, his wings tore through the air, launching them skyward at a breathtaking speed. The wind roared past them, a symphony of rushing whispers that echoed their exhilaration. Below, the land blurred into a patchwork of greens and browns as Atlas climbed higher. Violet tightened her grip—not from fear, but from the sheer thrill of it. This was freedom. Aeron, riding atop Drogo, kept pace easily. The familiar rhythm of flight ignited a fierce, competitive spark within him as Drogo's powerful wings beat in steady harmony with Atlas's.
They sliced through scattered clouds, sunlight flashing across sleek scales and outstretched wings.
" Keep a sharp eye out for any signs!" Violet shouted over the roar of the wind, adrenaline surging through her. Their mission had never been clearer. They had a target—and nothing would distract them now. Atlas banked left, circling to gain altitude, with Drogo following close behind. From above, the world unfolded like a vast quilt, the lingering scent they were tracking now blending with the crisp, clean air of the sky. Atlas was relentless, racing across the heavens like a bolt of lightning. Starfania felt the raw powers in every beat of his wings—in every tilt, every dive. And then, just as suddenly as he had accelerated, he slowed.
His body tensed. One wing adjusted as he eased into a hover, suspended effortlessly in midair. Atlas inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring as he sampled the currents. Drogo mirrored the motion, slowing beside him. Aeron blinked in confusion and called out, " Whoa—he was flying like a demon a second ago! What made him stop so suddenly?"
Atlas closed his eyes, tilting his head slightly, as if listening to something only he could hear. His body turned in a slow, graceful spiral, deliberate.
" I think he's deciding which way to go next," Starfania said quietly.
Drogo squinted against the bright light, clearly trying to read Atlas's intent. The sky stretched endlessly around them—open, inviting—yet something seemed to hold Atlas in place. Aeron leaned forward, curiosity sharpening his voice. " You really think he's weighing his options? Shouldn't that just be instinct for a dragon like him?"
Starfania shrugged, her gaze never leaving Atlas. " Maybe. But sometimes even instincts need a moment. There's more to him than speed and power."
At last, Atlas opened his eyes. Determination flared within them, bright and steady. He drew in a deep breath of crisp air, then spread his wings wide. For just a heartbeat, uncertainty flickered in his gaze—then resolve overtook it. Violet placed a hand on Starfania's shoulder, excitement bubbling in her voice. " Look! He's gearing up again. I think he's made his choice."
As if on cue, Atlas angled his body toward the distant mountains, where the sun dipped low along the horizon. With a thunderous beat of his wings, he launched forward once more, surging through the sky and leaving a trail of awe in his wake. Starfania smiled, her grip steady, her heart certain. Whatever waited for them ahead—they were ready. Atlas surged forward, the hesitation gone as if it never existed. The air screamed past them, colder now, sharper, carrying with it the metallic tang of stone and storm. The mountains ahead loomed larger with every heartbeat—jagged silhouettes cutting into the horizon like broken teeth.
Starfania leaned instinctively with Atlas's movement, her grip steady, her trust absolute. She could feel his thoughts through the bond—not words, but intent. Certainty. Lyam was this way. Aeron guided Drogo closer, matching their trajectory.
" Mountains aren't exactly welcoming," he called out. " If Lyam's hiding out there, he's either desperate…or brilliant."
" Probably both," Violet replied, squinting ahead as the wind tugged at her hair. Despite the danger, there was awe in her voice. " I've never flown this far from VulcanFire before."
Below them, the land shifted again. Green grave way to slate-gray rock and winding ravines that split the earth like old scars.
Smoke drifted faintly from somewhere ahead—not the thick plumes of a campfire, but thin, erratic trails, as if something had burned recently and been abandoned just as fast. Starfania's smile faded.
" There," she whispered. " You see that?"
Atlas growled low in his chest, a warning sound. His wings angled, slowing just enough for them to take in the sight below—a narrow canyon deep into the mountainside. At its mouth were the remnants of another skirmish: scorched stone, shattered crates, and the unmistakable red-black insignia of VulcanFire half-buried in rumble. Drogo let out a sharp snort, smoke puffing from his nostrils.
" We're close," Aeron muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Atlas circled once, carefully this time. The wind here was treacherous, whipping unpredictably through the canyon walls. Starfania felt his caution, his awareness stretching outward like an invisible thread.
" He's nearby," she said, certainty settling in her chest. " Atlas wouldn't react like this otherwise."
Violet tightened her grip slightly. " Do you think he's hurt?"
Starfania didn't answer right away. Her eyes traced the ground below, the signs of flight and pursuit, the way the earth had been torn up in desperate, uneven paths.
" Yes," she finally said. " But he's still fighting."
Atlas descended slowly, choosing a high ledge overlooking the canyon rather than plunging straight down. Drogo followed, landing with a heavy thud beside them. The wind howled between the cliffs, carrying with it the distant echo of something—metal scraping stone, or perhaps a labored breath carried too far. Starfania slid from Atlas's back, her boots crunching against the gravel. Her heart pounded, not with fear, but with urgency.
" This is it," she said, meeting Aeron and Violet's eyes. " We don't know what we're walking into."
Aeron straightened, resolve hardening in his expression. " Doesn't matter. We didn't come this far to turn back now."
Violet nodded, swallowing her nerves. " Let's find him before VulcanFire does."
Atlas stepped forward, placing himself slightly ahead of them, his massive form shielding without smothering. His wings folded, but his tail flicked restlessly, ready. Starfania rested a hand against his side, grounding herself in his warmth.
" Alright," she whispered. " Lead the way."
And together, they moved toward the canyon's shadow—toward Lyam, and whatever fate waited among the stone and fire.