Wings of Fire: The Fall of Twilight

Book 1: The Waterfall of Dreams

Author's Note: The very beginning of the story! We wrote this, like, three months ago, yet I feel so nostalgic for some reason. Bleh, I guess I'm just too emotional. Anywho, you might get confuzzled by the huge array of characters that will be introduced throughout this series, please avoid getting overwhelmed. :3

Chapter 1: Arguments

Darkmoon was lying down, reading the scrolls that Aerus had stolen from the guardians. Her shiny, black scales were shimmering against the small rays of sunlight that peeked through the tiny pores that dotted the ceiling.

Scarab sat in the corner, staring up at the ceiling with an irritated sigh, "I wish the guardians would give us something to do instead of locking us in a room every time we finish our lessons..." His sandy yellow scales were duller than Darkmoon's, and they didn't sparkle.

"I'm sure there's a reason why we're being locked up." Darkmoon acknowledged without looking up, keeping her eyes focused on the scrolls as Drane spoke up.

"Well, either way, we've got to get out of here. I'm getting sick and tired of being in here, day in and day out, we're here nonstop!" The TwilightWing paced back and forth with her head down low, her expression was angry, and she bared her teeth.

Drane had sleek black scales like Darkmoon, but red, swirling patterns covered her back and wings, curling down her legs, tail, and underbelly. The red scales glowed lightly, and the spiky braces around her forelegs and neck jutted out menacingly. She had been deep in thought as well, but spoke up when she grew interested in the conversation.

"Of course you like it here," Scarab rolled his eyes at Darkmoon, "They let you read as much as you want." His tail flicked back and forth dangerously, and Aerus inched away from him. "Scarab," the SkyWing said, "Remember that your tail is venomous, please..."

Aerus was a tall, slim dragon with blood red scales. His wings were a bit bigger than everyone else's, because he was naturally supposed to be a better flier since he was a SkyWing.

"Oh, please," Darkmoon retaliated as she still kept her eyes focused on the scrolls laid out beneath her, "If it weren't for Aerus, I wouldn't have these scrolls. And they certainly don't know anything about it."

Aerus smiled and sat up proudly when she said his name, "I doubt Tidal will even notice the scrolls are gone. I stole them very cautiously." Scarab rolled his eyes once again, and Drane gave a snort of disbelief while keeping her head down low.

Ocean looked concern. The SeaWing's smooth blue scales were shining the brightest, and the unlit, pale patterns crossing her body and wings matched the tones perfectly. But she was the smallest of the dragonets, and was often accidentally babied by the others.

"I don't think that was a very good idea, Areus." she piped up, worried, "It was nice of you, but you know how Roselina gets when she finds out we did something wrong."

"Wrong?" Aerus said, angrily, "What's wrong is the fact that they're keeping us here! Taking a few scrolls is nothing compared to what they do to us." He lowered his eyes to the floor, "They're the ones that are wrong."

Drizzle patted Ocean on the head, bright yellow streaking across his forest green wings, "No, she's right, Aerus." He sighed and said in a low voice, "Roselina will probably punish all of us for what you did..." Aerus looked away nervously from the gazes of the other dragonets.

"Yeah, so?" Drane shot back, "What are they gonna do? Keep us grounded? Take away the scrolls that we had to steal in order to get? The only thing that we ever do down here is argue and play Ocean's ridiculous games!" She grew angrier and snarls as she remembers how Roselina had treated her the past six years.

Every dragonet shuddered as they each remembered the horrible punishments Roselina would dish out to them.

The wicked RainWing would always use whichever things the dragonets disliked most against them. She would spray Scarab with water, blow fire at Iciris, forbid Ocean from swimming, and other torturous groundings.

Drane could tell Ocean was offended by what she had said. The little SeaWing's eyes were hurt as she crouched against the stone floor and draped Drizzle's wing over her. Since Drizzle was the second smallest dragonet and not much bigger than Ocean, the wing didn't cover her completely.

Like Roselina, Drizzle was a RainWing. Unlike Roselina, Drizzle was actually nice. He was calm and curious, and it usually showed on his scales, which could change color with his emotions or to match his surroundings.

Suddenly, Stone's head peeked over the edge of the wall. The big MudWing had been sitting by the door, daydreaming like he usually did when he was bored.

"Hey guys," he grinned jokingly, "Speaking of the witch herself, Roselina's on her way here." He quickly seated himself beside Aerus just as the large RainWing came barging in, a look of annoyance on her face.

Before speaking, she gave each and every dragonet a suspicious scowl, as if she had heard whatever each of them had said about her. She paused her gaze on Stone, searching for any sign of guilt on his face. Then her eyes trailed towards Drane, who was still pacing, to which Roselina yelled, "Drane! Stop pacing this instance and pay attention! I have something important to say to you all."

Drane hissed at Roselina as she sat, but she then grew silent and glared at her intently as she listened.

"As I was about to say," Roselina peered at the dragonets, a look of 'I can't stand any one of you' written all over her face, "a very important and special guest is coming over, and so we need all of you immature hatchlings to behave!"

"Especially you," Roselina angrily stared down Stone. He was usually causing mischief, usually harmless pranks on the other dragonets. He gave her a wide grin and said, "What? Me? I don't know what you mean." He nodded his head towards Drane, "She's the one you want to worry about."

While Roselina was somewhat distracted with Stone and Drane, Aerus glanced the scrolls that were still lying in front of Darkmoon. If Roselina saw them... they'd all be in deep trouble. He quickly swept the scrolls behind him with his tail. Darkmoon's eyes followed the scrolls as they were moved behind him, but Iciris quickly stomped on the NightWing's tail, to which Darkmoon yelped.

Roselina swung her head towards the three dragonets, and Darkmoon quickly sat down next to Iciris, and tried to give Roselina an innocent smile, but it came out as an uneasy smirk.

"So..." Drizzle said, quickly, as he looked down at his talons to avoid Roselina's glare, "Who's stopping by? That SkyWing that you keep visiting?" Scarab wanted to claw Drizzle; he didn't want Roselina to keep talking, he wanted her to leave.

"If you brats must know..."Roselina closed her eyes as she sat and rested her head on her forearms, "No, it's not Cloudess... wait." Her eyes opened and she raised her head, "How did you know I was visiting a SkyWing? Only me and Tidal know about that!"

"Aerus told us." Drizzle glanced over innocently to Aerus, but when he saw Aerus' anger, his scales turned a deep orange. Roselina's scales, on the other talon, were turning the deepest scarlet the dragonets had ever seen.

Roselina turned towards Aerus slowly and strode over to him, "How ever might have you found out about that?" her voice was calm, but Aerus knew she was about to blow as he shrunk against the wall nervously.

They both heard footsteps approaching, but Roselina didn't even blink. She stared at Aerus dangerously, until the footsteps entered the room, "Um... Roselina?"

It was Tidal. The dragonets' other guardian, Tidal was nicer than Roselina, but still was strict, and not the best guardian ever. He was a SeaWing, just like Ocean, but he was bigger and a couple years older.

"Hey, the Talons of Peace request an audience with you." he frowned.

"Yes, I know that." Roselina nodded.

"They want it now." Tidal glanced wooriedly behind him as more footsteps approached.

"Talons of Peace?" Drizzle whispered to Darkmoon.

"A group of 'peaceful' dragons. That's great and all..." Darkmoon glowered at the dragon that entered, "Except that they're the reason why we're destined to grow in an underground cave."