Wings of Fire: Strike's Quest: Ch 2

As Strike rushed out of the hut, a flow of questions ran through his head.

What do the MudWings want with Granite? Why did they take him? Is it already to late to save him? Strike was so worried. He had to go right away. He had to help. He had to tell Mom and Dad. They would understand. Of course they would understand! "Mom!" Strike yelled alarmingly as he stormed into his hut. "Mom, the MudWings have kidnapped Granite and Celeste!" As Strike said this, Peril's face got increasingly more worried. "Are you absolutely sure, Strike? Are you sure you're not making this up?" Peril replied. Oh, man. Strike wanted to say, No, Mother, I'm just teasing. But he couldn't. He absolutely couldn't. "Mother, I'm serious about this. There was note written by him on his door!" Strike exclaimed. "By three moons, no." Peril muttered. "I'll send Queen Gambit a message to send some troops there, okay, honey?" Peril added. "Okay, Mom." said Strike, somewhat disappointed. I want to go! A voice in Strike's head insisted. Strike knew he wanted to go, and his mom just patronizing, belittling him even, was just unfair to Strike.

A week later, Strike was getting ready for his first day of school. Clay was preparing his backpack filled with ink, blank scrolls for writing on, Scrolls for reading, and a ruler. "Are you ready to go, son?" said Clay, looking at Strike thoughtfully, as he was so happy for him. Clay was about to fly with Strike over to school, when Peril said, "Strike, you forgot your lunchboxes!" "Okay, mom!" Strike replied as he zoomed back to the house, gave his mom a kiss,(which didn't hurt him because he was also hatched from a blood red egg.) and lifted off beside Clay. I'm so excited! Strike thought as he followed his father through the fresh morning air. Wind whipped past Strike and the sun beat down on him with it's warm rays. After Clay had gotten back signing Strike up for school, Peril had told Clay of the "incident" as she called it. I can't believe Mother thinks my brother getting abducted by MudWings is an "incident"! This is actually serious! "Uhhhh.. Dad?" Strike said to Clay. "Yes, son?" Clay replied. Clay turned his head to look back the five year old dragonet. "When are we gonna save Granite?" The big brown dragon looked back and replied with a simple "later" that made Strike want to cuff him. Why do all the adults have to decide what goes on when? I want to save Granite now! Of course Strike did not tell this to Clay, but he hated that sometimes his dad never understood him. Up ahead, Strike could see the outskirts of the Mud Kingdom. Oh... I just wanna go storm in there right now and save Granite! Strike thought ruefully as MudWing dragons flew all around the kingdom, looking at Strike and Clay quizzically. Those stupid MudWings! Why did they steal my brother? He's half MudWing! Why would they imprison their own tribe? Strike was so mad! This was so unfair! As Strike was warring with himself, and Clay was simultaneously flying and eating a mango, the School for Dragonets lay before them.

Clay turned to Strike and said,"Strike, I'll be back to pick you up in a few hours." "Have a good first day, okay? Strike looked into his father's amber eyes and said,"Okay, Dad." Clay smiled and slipped Strike's talon into his, and started up the steps into the mountain. When they got to the top, there was a line of dragons and their dragonets were in a play area. Clay told Strike to go there and wait for him. Strike agreed and looked at the line and then the other dragonets. Some of the other dragons in line Strike recognized, all of his aunts and uncles. "Hi, Aunt Sunny!" Strike said. Sunny had always been his favorite aunt because she was always very kind to him. "Hi, Strike!" Sunny replied. Strike wondered why she was here. She wasn't married and as far as Strike knew, had no dragonets of her own. Well, it doesn't matter. Strike thought to himself. He looked at the other dragonets. There was a group in the middle with four dragonets. A NightWing, a SeaWing, a RainWing, and a SandWing. They look friendly enough! Strike thought. I'm going to go talk to them! He came up to them and said, "Hello! My name is Strike! What's yours?" Then, the NightWing turned around. She was the biggest, and by the look of her, was the leader of the group. "My name is Silverdark." she said to him. "And these," the pretty purple NightWing gestured to the three dragonets nearby, "are my friends."