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| Published | March 29, 2016 |
|---|---|
| Page count | 55 |
| ISBN | 978-0545957793 |
| Followed by | Darkstalker |
Runaway is the fourth book in the Winglets Quartet.
Blurb[edit | edit source]
Thousands of years before the dragonets of destiny were hatched, another destiny began ...Foeslayer the NightWing and Prince Arctic of the IceWings are legendary. According to the myths, before they became the parents of Pyrrhia's most infamous dragon, Darkstalker, Foeslayer and the NightWings kidnapped an IceWing prince. The act set off a bitter rivalry between the tribes that lasted thousands of years.But it all started so simply: Foeslayer and Arctic fell in love. They just wanted to be together; instead, a runaway dragon became a fugitive -- and changed Pyrrhia forever.
Plot[edit | edit source]
After meeting Prince Arctic, Foeslayer was in the dome when her mother, Prudence, approached her with suspicion, questioning her whereabouts. Noticing Foeslayer’s diamond earring, Prudence accused her of theft and attempted to remove it, only to be stung by its protective enchantment, cast by Arctic. Foeslayer admitted an IceWing had given it to her. Arctic, seeing their argument, intervened to protect Foeslayer but couldn’t fully prevent her punishment. When Foeslayer revealed she and Arctic had met outside, Prudence ordered her to her chambers as punishment. As Foeslayer left, she spotted Snowflake, Arctic’s wife-to-be, and felt a pang of sadness, knowing she loed Arctic.
The perspective shifted to Snowflake, who despised the IceWing royal family, especially Queen Diamond, and seethed with constant anger, as Arctic had suspected. She dreaded the idea of marrying Arctic, hating both him and his family. Snowfox, Queen Diamond’s niece, approached Snowflake, suggesting they call each other Fox and Snowflake. Fox sarcastically remarked on Snowflake’s upcoming marriage to Arctic, and when Snowflake’s disdain slipped out, Fox proposed a plan to eliminate Arctic and position herself as the future queen.
On the second-to-last night of the NightWing visit, Queen Diamond caught Arctic sneaking out of his room. He was actually heading to a secret meeting with Foeslayer but lied, claiming he was anxious about the gifting ceremony. Diamond reminded him to create a “gift of vision” to predict the weather a year in advance, as they’d discussed. Two nights earlier, Arctic had shared this with Foeslayer, who laughed and suggested a gift that could answer any question about the future, though she warned against it, fearing Diamond’s misuse. When Arctic asked for more ideas, Foeslayer jokingly said she had “eighty million.” Now, Diamond pressed Arctic to swear he’d make the gift, but he deflected, suggesting they discuss his other ideas in the morning. To ensure he stayed put, Diamond stationed two guards in his room, preventing him from meeting Foeslayer that night, leaving him frustrated.
Back to Snowflake’s perspective, she and Fox, now close friends, spied on Arctic and Foeslayer’s nightly meetings from a balcony. They devised a scheme: Snowflake would spread a rumor to Arctic that Diamond planned to kill the NightWings, particularly Foeslayer, due to failed negotiations. Meanwhile, Fox would alert the guards to expect something suspicious the next night, ensuring Arctic couldn’t escape with Foeslayer.
On the final night, Foeslayer, frustrated by Arctic’s absence for two nights, was with Prudence, who was packing to leave. As Prudence scolded Foeslayer for pacing, Arctic froze her with magic, apologized, and urged Foeslayer to run away with him for a life together. He had enchanted her earring to protect her from Diamond’s spells. Foeslayer hesitated, unwilling to abandon her tribe and mother, and suggested they go to the Night Kingdom instead. Arctic reluctantly agreed. After unfreezing Prudence, they convinced her to allow Arctic to join the Night Kingdom.
As Arctic left to freeze any dragons in their path, Prudence revealed she had orchestrated Foeslayer’s romance with Arctic, hoping for animus dragonets, but was frustrated by Foeslayer’s insistence on bringing Arctic to the Night Kingdom. As Prudence went to fetch Starclaws and Discretion, Foeslayer vowed never to tell Arctic her mother’s manipulation to spare him feeling used. The five dragons fled the palace, but six IceWing guards pursued them. Foeslayer urged Arctic to escape, but he hesitated, recognizing one guard as his weapons mentor. Fox and Snowflake shouted that the NightWings were stealing their prince, spurring the guards to attack. Arrows aimed at Foeslayer veered away due to her enchanted earring. Arctic enchanted the guards’ spears to stop them, but the spears killed the guards instead, leaving him guilt-ridden.
Snowflake confronted Arctic, accusing him of betraying his tribe for a NightWing and lunged at him. Foeslayer shot fire to repel her, but Arctic caught the flames and hurled them at Snowflake, severely burning her wings. Fox extinguished the fire with her frostbreath and vowed to kill every NightWing. At a cliff, Prudence offered Foeslayer a bracelet for safety, but she declined, trusting her earring. When Foeslayer asked about Arctic’s soul, he snapped that it wasn’t her concern. Prudence smirked at Foeslayer, but she remained determined, believing her love for Arctic would prevail, and they would face the world together forever.