Scales of Desire
Chapter 102: The Forgotten Ones

Chapter 102: The Forgotten Ones

The tranquility of Unity Spire was shattered by the urgent beating of wings. A young scout dragon landed in the central courtyard, his scales still smoking from an arduous flight. "Lady Aria!" he called out, his mental voice tinged with panic. "We've received reports of an attack on the eastern border!"

Aria, who had been deep in discussion with the Joint Council, rushed to meet the messenger. "Calm yourself, brave one. Tell me what you've seen."

The scout took a deep breath, his sides heaving. "A village near the Misty Canyons... it's been razed to the ground. The survivors speak of dragons unlike any they've encountered before."

A ripple of concern passed through the gathering crowd. Drakon stepped forward, his massive form casting a shadow over the younger dragon. "Unlike how?" he rumbled, his eyes narrowing.

"They described them as... primal, My Lord. Wild-eyed and feral, with scales of deepest black. They attacked without warning or mercy."

Aria's mind raced as she processed this information. In all their efforts to unite humans and dragons, had they overlooked a faction? "Assemble a response team immediately," she ordered. "We need to investigate this threat and offer aid to the survivors."

As preparations were made, Ezra approached Aria, his face etched with concern. "I've heard whispers of such dragons," he said in a low voice. "Legends speak of a clan that retreated into the depths of the earth centuries ago, shunning all contact with the outside world."

Lena, who had been listening nearby, joined the conversation. "But why would they surface now? And with such violence?"

"That's what we need to find out," Aria replied grimly. "If there's a whole clan of dragons we've been unaware of, it could destabilize everything we've worked for."

Within hours, a team was assembled. Aria insisted on leading the mission herself, accompanied by Drakon, Ezra, and a select group of human and dragon experts. As they prepared to depart, Lysandra approached her father, her young face set with determination.

"I want to come too," she declared. "I can help."

Drakon's expression softened as he regarded his daughter. "Your courage does you credit, little one. But this mission may be too dangerous."

Aria intervened, seeing the fire in Lysandra's eyes. "Perhaps there's a compromise. Lysandra, you've shown great skill in reconnaissance. Why don't you fly ahead of us, scouting the terrain? But at the first sign of danger, you retreat to safety. Agreed?"

Both Drakon and Lysandra nodded, the young hybrid's face lighting up with pride at being given such an important task.

As the team took flight, Aria couldn't shake a sense of unease. They had worked so hard to create a world of unity and understanding. The emergence of this unknown faction felt like a step backwards, a reminder of the divisions that had once torn their world apart.

The journey to the Misty Canyons was tense, each member of the team lost in their own thoughts. As they neared their destination, Lysandra returned from a scouting run, her expression grave.

"The village is still smoldering," she reported. "But I saw movement in the canyons to the east. Something big."

Aria nodded, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "We'll land outside the village. Approach with caution - we don't know what we're dealing with."

The scene that greeted them was one of devastation. Houses lay in ruins, fields were scorched, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke. Survivors huddled in makeshift shelters, their eyes wide with fear as the team approached. As Aria and her companions offered aid and began to gather information, a low rumble echoed through the canyons. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a shadow fell over the ruined village.

From the mists emerged a dragon of immense size, its scales as black as night. Behind it came others, smaller but no less fierce. Their eyes glowed with an inner fire, and their movements were fluid and predatory.

Drakon moved to stand protectively in front of the group, his mental voice resonating with authority. "Who are you that attack innocent villages? Show yourselves and explain your actions!"

The lead dragon regarded them with ancient, inscrutable eyes. When it spoke, its mental voice was like gravel scraping against stone. "We are the Shadowscale Clan, the last true dragons. We have slumbered in the depths for centuries, guarding the old ways. And now we awake to find our world overrun by weakness and compromise."

Aria stepped forward, her voice calm despite the tension thrumming through her body. "I am Aria of Unity Spire. We seek no quarrel with you. But we cannot allow innocent lives to be threatened."

The Shadowscale leader's eyes narrowed. "Unity Spire," it spat. "A monument to the dilution of our kind. You would have us bow and scrape to humans, breed with them until the purity of our bloodline is lost forever."

"You misunderstand," Aria replied, fighting to keep her voice steady. "We seek balance, not subjugation. Humans and dragons working together, each bringing their unique strengths to create a better world for all."

A ripple of discontent passed through the Shadowscale ranks. Their leader reared up, wings unfurling to block out the sky. "Pretty words, but we have seen the truth. Your 'unity' is nothing but a slow death for dragonkind. We will not allow it to spread further."

Ezra stepped forward, his eyes locked on the Shadowscale leader. "You speak of purity and old ways," he said, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. "But do you not see that isolation has left you stagnant? The world has moved forward while you slumbered."

The lead dragon's eyes flashed with anger, but before it could respond, Lysandra darted forward. "Please," she called out, her voice ringing clear across the ruined village. "Look at me. I am both human and dragon, and I am stronger for it. We don't have to be enemies."

A hush fell over both groups as the Shadowscales regarded Lysandra with a mixture of curiosity and revulsion. The lead dragon's expression was unreadable as it considered the young hybrid.

Aria seized the moment of hesitation. "We invite you to come to Unity Spire," she said. "See for yourselves what we have built. Judge us not by your fears, but by our actions."

For a long moment, tension crackled in the air like lightning. Then, slowly, the Shadowscale leader lowered its head. "We will consider your words," it rumbled. "But know this - if we find your 'unity' wanting, we will not hesitate to cleanse this land of your influence."

As the Shadowscales retreated into the mists, Aria felt a weight settle on her shoulders. They had averted immediate conflict, but at what cost? The emergence of this isolationist faction posed a threat not just to their physical safety, but to the very ideals they had fought so hard to establish.

Drakon moved to her side, his mental voice tinged with concern. "This is not over," he said softly.

Aria nodded, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the Shadowscales had vanished. "No," she agreed. "I fear it's only beginning."

As the team began the work of aiding the villagers and planning their next moves, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the precipice of a new chapter in their world's history. The Forgotten Ones had awakened, and with them came challenges that would test the very foundations of the unity they had built.