Ashly 'Ace' Talons's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Ace kicked off the cliff edge and let the wind catch her wings. Pegi rose beside her, both of them climbing fast toward the Titans gathered below the ridge. They needed to pull attention — give Harold his opening. She scanned the sky above them, searching for the shape she'd seen twice before. The white-domed retreat on the clifftop fell away beneath them. Ace banked left, leading Pegi in a wide arc over the valley. Below, the scorched meadow spread out like a black scar across the green hillside. Orange bursts of withered flowers marked where the fire had burned hottest. Those patterns matched the southern coast. She'd seen them before, and she'd been right then too. The Titans spotted them. Energy blasts crackled up from the shattered column in the clearing. Ace rolled right, felt the heat pass her wing. Pegi dove low, drawing three more shots. Good. Harold would have his window now. But Ace kept her eyes on the clouds above. The thing that made those burn patterns was still out there. A shadow moved through the mist overhead. Ace's chest tightened. She pulled up hard, putting herself between Pegi and whatever was coming. The Chimera broke through the cloud cover, all three heads breathing fire. She'd drawn its attention. Now she just had to keep flying.