Starfania drew in a breath, her fingers curling in Atlas's scales. The world narrowed to the steady rise and fall of his chest, the quiet certainty in his eyes. She was right there—on the edge of the choice that would change everything. Then—Whk—thunk. Pain flared across her side, sharp and searing. Starfania gasped as an arrow grazed her, tearing through fabric and skin alike. She staggered back, eyes snapping wide—not at her own blood, but at what followed. Behind her, one of Cesar's guards crumpled to the ground, an arrow buried deep in his throat. She staggered back, eyes snapping wide—not at her own blood, but at what followed.
Behind her, one of Cesar's guards crumpled to the ground, an arrow buried deep in his throat. Dead. For a heartbeat, the world froze. Violet screamed from Drogo's back. Aeron's voice cracked. " Starfania—!"
Starfania's mind reeled. That wasn't us. She turned just in time to catch the glint of movement above—someone already melting back into the shadows, bow lowered. The Castle Keeper. Horror punched the air from her lungs.
" They're trying to kill me," she whispered—and worse, they made it look like she was responsible. Shouts erupted. Cesar's guards surged forward, fury blazing in their eyes. " Assassin!"
" Don't let her escape!"
Starfania didn't hesitate. She spun, locking eyes with Atlas, and sliced her hand through the air.
" Fly," she ordered urgently. " Highest roof. I'll meet you there."
Atlas hesitated for only a fraction of a second—then launched skyward, vanishing into the night. Aeron and Violet stared in horror as Starfania turned and ran, blood staining her sleeves.
" Star—!" Violet cried, clutching Drogo's scales. Starfania bolted through the streets as chaos exploded behind her. Cesar's guards poured in from every direction now, horns blaring, torches flaring. She vaulted over crates, slammed through narrow passageways, scrambled up ladders and stone ledges, her breath burning in her chest. Above it all, unseen, the Castle Keeper's guards repositioned—silent, patient.
She won't make it, one thought coldly. Starfania climbed—hands raw, lungs screaming—until she hauled herself onto the roof of the tallest building in the district. The city sprawled beneath her, fire and shadow tangled together. She turned. Three guards stepped forward, weapons raised, faces hard.
" Don't move!" One barked. " On your knees!"
Behind them, farther back, a fourth figure knelt at the edge of a nearby roof, bow drawn, arrow trained perfectly on her heart. The Castle Keeper's final answer. Starfania's chest heaved. She glanced at the edge of the roof—at the empty air beyond it.
No escape. For a moment, she closed her eyes. Mother. Bone. Her baby brother and now Atlas. Then she opened them—and ran.
" What are you—?!" A guard shouted. Starfania leapt. The guards rushed to the edge just as silence swallowed her falling form. Then—a thunderous rush of wind. Atlas shot up from below, wings snapping open like the night itself answering her calls. Starfania hit his back hard, arms locking around his neck as he surged skyward in one powerful motion. The archer froze. The shot was gone. Slowly, the Castle Keeper's guard lowered his bow. Too late. Above the rooftops, Violet and Aeron screamed with joy from Drogo's back.
" YES!" Violet screamed, laughing and crying at once. " She did it—she did it!"
Aeron whooped, gripping Drogo's scales as the dragon followed beside Atlas. Starfania barely had time to breathe before arrows tore through the sky again.
" Incoming!" Aeron shouted. Starfania leaned low, pressing against Atlas's neck. " Left—hard left!"
Atlas banked sharply. An arrow shattered against his wake. Below, enemy dragons launched—dark shapes clawing their way into the air. Drogo snarled, beating his wings harder. Violet shouted in a panic. " They're gaining!"
" Not for long," Starfania said through clenched teeth. She pointed ahead. " Follow me!"
They dove between spires and towers, forcing pursuers to break formation. One enemy dragon clipped a roof and spiraled away. Another loose fire that scorched, empty air as Atlas surged upward into cloud cover. The city fell away beneath them. VulcanFire burned quietly below—its flame smaller now, distant. At last, no more arrows followed. No more wings chased them. Only wind. Only stars. They slowed. Hovered. And turned back. Starfania looked down at her home—the place of fire and grief, of love and loss. Her chest tightened, but she held her gaze steady.
" Goodbye," she whispered. " For now."
Beside her, Aeron and Violet fell silent, each carrying their own unspoken farewell. Ahead, the horizon stretched wide and unknown. Wings up. Heart steady. They flew on—unaware that far behind them, in the deepest shadows of VulcanFire, the Castle Keeper was already smiling. The game had only just begun. Violet slept soundly on Drogo's back, her breathing slow and even, one arm loosely draped around one of his scales. The terror of the escape had finally loosened its grip on her, exhaustion claiming what fear no longer could. Above them, the night stretched wide and endless, stars scattered like embers across velvet darkness.
Aeron and Starfania guided their dragons in silence, the steady rhythm of wings cutting through the cool air. Even Atlas's powerful beats had begun to slow, fatigue tugging at him after the relentless flight. Starfania scanned the horizon, eyes narrowing until—
" There," she murmured. A small island rested below, cradled by moonlight, ringed with pale sand and dark, whispering trees. It looked untouched. Safe. Or at least safer than the sky. She leaned forward, pressing her hand to Atlas's neck. " Easy. Let's rest."
Atlas angled downward, gliding with careful precision. He touched down first, claws sinking into damp sand with a soft thud, wings folding protectively around his body.
Moments later, Drogo landed beside him, shaking out his wings before lowering himself. The night grew quiet. Aeron carefully lifted Violet from Drogo's back, mindful not to wake her. She stirred faintly but didn't open her eyes as he laid her down on a patch of grass just beyond the shoreline. He draped his cloak over her shoulders, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face. Starfania dismounted slowly, boots sinking into cool sand. She looked around, taking in the unfamiliar place—the hush of waves, the distant cry of something unseen, the way the moon painted silver along the water's edge.
" Can you believe we actually did it?" She whispered, as if the land itself might hear. Aeron nodded, eyes sweeping the shore. " I don't think it's hit me yet."
Drogo curled nearby, tail flicking lazily, while Atlas remained upright—watchful, alert, his presence a silent promise of protection.
" Let's set up camp," Starfania said softly.
" Yeah," Aeron agreed. " Before we both collapse."
They worked quietly. Driftwood crackled as Starfania gathered it, arranging a small fire ring while Aeron sparked a flame. Soon, warm light flickered between them, pushing back the shadows just enough to feel human again. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Starfania broke the silence. " What do you think happens now?"
Aeron exhaled, staring into the fire. " Honestly? I don't know."
A small smile tugged at his lips. " But whatever it is…it won't be ordinary."
She smiled at that. But as she shifted, her hand pressed instinctively to her side. Aeron noticed. His gaze dropped to the darkened fabric beneath her fingers—and the faint, unmistakable red soaking through.
" Star," he said sharply, standing. " You're hurt."
She opened her mouth immediately. " It's nothing. Just a scratch—"
Atlas nudged her firmly with his snout, a low, disapproving rumble vibrating in his chest. She sighed. " …Traitor."
Aeron didn't smile. He crouched quickly, already reaching for nearby plants, crushing leaves between his fingers until their sharp, herbal scent filled the air.
" Sit," he said gently but firmly.
She obeyed. As he cleaned the graze, his touch careful and practiced, the adrenaline finally drained from her body. Pain flared properly now—dull, aching, real.
" That could've been worse," he muttered. " A few inches lower—"
" But it wasn't," she whispered. He tied the makeshift bandage and sat back on his heels, eyes lingering on the wound longer than necessary. Neither spoke. The fire cracked. The waves rolled in and out. Then it hit them.
" We really left," Starfania whispered. Aeron swallowed. " Yeah."
" No castle. No guards. No…home."
The word hung between them, heavy and fragile.
" I didn't even say goodbye properly," she admitted, voice tight. " To my father. To…any of it."
Aeron looked down at his hands. " Me neither. But if we stayed—"
He shook his head. " We wouldn't have survived. Not really."
She nodded, eyes stinging. Atlas lowered himself beside her, massive and warm, his wing curling slightly as if to shelter her from the night. Starfania leaned into him, then looked back at Aeron.
" Thank you," she whispered. " For not hesitating. For staying."
He met her gaze, something steady and unbreakable in his eyes.
" Where you go," he said, " I go."
The fire burned low. Violet slept on. And beneath the endless sky, on a nameless island far from everything they knew, they faced the quiet truth together—they were no longer running. They were becoming.