Francesco Marino

Herding the dragons down to the field beneath us, I land lightly in my human form. My fellow dragons follow suit. We had brought clothes to change in, but I don't bother.

"My people, my dragons, my clanmates, heed my words." I glanced over the crowd.

Several were staring down at our lost member, Julia Summer. I crossed over to her. Already, I had shut her eyes, when she had first died. Her body was broken, bent, but her face at least showed signs of peace. My heart ached to see the first casualty of the war.

"The Fanged Serpents are here and have sighted us as their next clan to dominate and destroy. Why they have chosen us, why they want us dead, I don't know. I do know that we will not go down without a fight. We will find a way to survive. We will take the battle to them if we have to."

"They're the ones killing the humans," Stefan Vivies said.

He was one of the strongest fighters we had, but he was also a bulky, massive dragon who lacked speed. Hmm. Perhaps it would be best if we trained to always fight in pairs. Stefan would need a speedy dragon to compliment him.

"Yes," I said. When I first alerted the clan to the presence of the Fanged Serpents, I had not gone into that detail.

"Humans are innocents," A female cried from the back, and many murmured their consent.

I could not say what possessed me to say this, perhaps because I missed her so much, was so concerned for her safety, but I blurted out, "They have captured one, a female bu the name of Audrey Wright."

"Kidnapped?" someone called.

"How do you know that she lives?" someone else asked.

"How do you know her name?" Stefan asked.

I swallowed hard, cursing my stupidity. I shouldn't have said anything.

Thinking quickly, I blurted out, "She's my mate."

Okay, maybe I hadn't been thinking after all, but once the shock wore off their faces, my dragons nodded. Now, they would do all they could to save Audrey should the opportunity present itself.

Just then, Stefan fell to one knee.

"What is it?" I asked, crossing over the three strides I needed to be by his side.

I was slashed," he said through gritted teeth. "I didn't think anything of it…"

A few others began to show signs of pain and agony. All of them had been slashed, and immediately, I thought of Damon and how he wasn't healing properly.

Had the Fanged Serpents done something to their claws to poison us? Was there a poison that could affect us? Even kill us?

I bid the healthy ones to bring those injured to the mansion. Training would resume one the ill ones were taken care of. We didn't have time to waste.

Audrey, I swear we will find a way to save you. We haven't forgotten about you.

I was torn, so bloody torn, between wanting to save her and my people and to rip apart, claw to ribbons, and blast to high heavens the Fanged Serpents.

One way or another, I knew this war would not last long. Either we would rise above and fly on, or we would crash and burn and be the next clan to submit to the Fanged Serpents.

The latter sure as hell better not happen.