Winter stared at his plate. They were having fish again. To his left, Arctic his dad, was gobbling up a second plate while his mother, Glacier, was picking out the bones of her salmon. Winter's brother, Hailstorm was eating a moose that he had somehow caught yesterday evening. His younger sister, Snowfall, was complaining about how they had fish every day and that it was making her breath stink as she stared jealousy at Hailstorm's moose.
He had to agree with his sister, the fish was dad's favorite food, so he always caught it for the family… and they had to eat it.
"If you hate your breath, why don't you brush your teeth for once?" Hailstorm said.
"Because someone keeps hiding my brush!" Snowfall snapped back, shooting a glare at Winter.
Winter snorted under his breath.
"Just catch your own food , like Hailstorm" Winter said, changing the subject.
"But I don't want want to get my claws all bloody." She whined.
"Settle down and eat," Glacier told them.
After dinner, Winter and Hailstorm went on a flight. It was one of those days where you just had to be flying. Dragons like Winter loved doing tricks in the air. Although he kept his tail close to Hailstorm, guiding him. He loved feeling the wind under his wings as he glided to their secret fort in the forest.
What a day. He thought to himself. We had a new student in class. What was her name? Moonwatcher? She was pretty shy. A Nightwing... Didn't talk a lot. That new teacher is way to strict though.
Winter's thoughts were interrupted when Hailstorm made a strange noise behind him. He looked back at his older brother and saw that he had red scratch and bite marks all over him.
Hailstorm tumbled in the fort's entrance with a loud thud. Winter shot down to his brother and landed beside him. Hailstorm was breathing heavily as blood dripped from the wounds.
"What happened!" Winter asked, panicking.
Hailstorm only replied with a weak groan.
He felt tears forming in his eyes. He would die if he didn't get help soon! Just then, Hailstorm smiled, and pulled out a red fruit from under his wing. There was a pause as Winter realized that he was faking it. Hailstorm's face turned red and then he burst into laughter.
"You idiot!" Winter roared in fury. "I thought you were gonna die!"
Hailstorm just kept laughing.
Winter stomped away from his brother and into the fort.
The fort was a small cave that he and his brother had found one day when they were out exploring. It was their secret place, no one else knew about it besides Mother, who swore to keep it a secret. They put decorations in it, like paintings, small torches and lamps, blankets, pillows, and other things to make it less cave-like and more welcoming.
Winter started to read his favorite scroll, The Honest Truth. It was a sad story of a boy who had a disease, but wanted to climb a very high mountain. In the end, he almost died of the cold but his dog, who came along, went down the mountain and got help. Just as Winter finished chapter 8, Hailstorm came in with a basket of blueberries and watermelon.
How did he pick those?
"I'm sorry about that. I went a little too far." He said
"A little too far? You covered yourself with fake blood and acted like you were dying in front of your little brother!" Winter cried. "You scared me half to death!"
Hailstorm looked sightlessly down at his claws for a moment. "Well, I brought you your favorite fruits..."
Winter glared at it, but took a few blueberries.
After some more reading and eating, Hailstorm announced that they should start heading home, and they did.