(I do not own Wings of Fire.)
Lobster groaned as he came back to consciousness, he cracked his eyes open, the scene before him was blurry at first, but it all became sharp and clear after a few blinks. His talons gripped the moss bed below him, his whole body burned, but not as badly as he had expected.
'Wait. Moss?' Lobster realized, he gingerly lifted his head and looked at what he was lying on, it was a fresh moss patch large enough to fit an adult dragon. 'Huh.' Lobster thought, he released his harsh grip on the moss and relaxed slightly. 'Where am I?' he wondered, he turned his head and glanced around the room.
The cave Lobster was in was a medical room, at least that was what Lobster thought it looked like. There were several moss bed and ledges in the cave, and there was a shelf carved into one of the walls, medical supplies like cactus milk and bandages were arranged neatly on it. 'How did I get here?' Lobster wondered, he noticed someone lying near him and looked down, Silverscales snored softly with her tail draped over his and her head rested halfway on the moss bed.
'Silverscales...' Lobster thought, he reached out a claw and rested it on hers, she expression was strained, but she visibly relaxed when she felt Lobster's touch.
Lobster smiled softly, it was always satisfying to see Silverscales sleep with a relaxed expression whenever she was tense before, he sighed deeply and rested his head on his other claw. "She refused to leave your side you know." Lobster whipped his head around and sat up, he flinched from the stinging pain that shot up his back.
Tsunami was leaning on the wall near the doorway, smiling at Lobster like he was caught having a moment with Silverscales. "Cute." Tsunami commented, she entered the cave and sat down next to the moss bed Lobster lied on, careful not to disturb Silverscales.
She looked at Lobster with a worried and relieved expression, "I was so worried Lobster!" she said, "When Clay told us that he found you, possibly dead, in that cave full of dragonet bodies, it took all of my willpower to not rush here immediately to see you! I know you want to keep your runaway thing a secret and all, but still..."
Lobster felt awkward when Tsunami mentioned his little secret, the secret that only very few dragons and dragonets know about. He glanced at his wings, the royal markings where still covered in the grey pigment he managed to make. "I know. I'm sorry." Lobster apologized, "I know it wasn't the best action to take," he looked at Tsunami, "But Starfruit was about to get killed! Murdered! I had to stop that dragon!"
Tsunami lifted her claws halfway as if to say: Woah! Calm down! "Hey, hey. Don't worry, I get it." she assured, "Believe me, I know."
Lobster turned his head towards Silverscales as she mumbled and stirred, her eyes cracked open in the tiniest bit. "I'll go tell the rest of your friends that you're up." Tsunami informed before standing, she winked at Lobster in a teasing way before leaving the cave. Lobster didn't have time to decipher what the wink meant before he felt Silverscales' claw move under his, "Lobster?" she mumbled.
Lobster crouched lower, in between sitting up and lying down, he held Silverscales' claw in his, "It's okay Silly, I'm here." Lobster soothed. He watched and smiled as Silverscales woke up, blinking her sleepiness away.
She lifted her head from the moss bed and shook her head as if that action would wake her up instantly. She immediately looked up at Lobster's face, which had a small smile on it as he looked back at her.
For a moment, Silverscales had her jaw hanging as she stared at his pink eyes, but suddenly, she exploded into happiness. "LOBSTER!" Silverscales exclaimed, she sat up immediately and embraced the SeaWing. Lobster was stunned by the sudden movement, he took a while to register the action.
Then tears fell onto Lobster's shoulder, and he was brought back to reality, the pain that was still there was registered. "Okay! Ow ow ow ow ow!" Lobster cried, he gently pulled away from Silverscales, "Hurts." he said. Silverscales was crying a little, but she was smiling when Lobster faced her, he smiled a little too.
"Sorry." Silverscales apologized, sniffling after. Lobster chuckled, he wanted to reach a claw up to wipe away her tears, but he realized his claw was occupied. Lobster glanced down and saw that he was still holding Silverscales' claw in his, this did not go unnoticed by her, she looked down too. The two stared at their claws, then at each other.
Lobster felt his face heat up at the same time as Silverscales blushed, they let go and fiddled with their talons, Lobster felt rather awkward. "What... what happened?" Lobster asked, looking up from his talons.
Silverscales sighed, then she hiccuped again. "You... Starfruit, she... you were..." Silverscales couldn't speak, for she was starting to cry again. Lobster felt alarmed, he reached out and wiped away Silverscales' tears, "Hey, hey. Shh... It's okay. It's okay." he comforted. "I'm here aren't I?"
But apparently, if Silverscales started to cry, nothing can stop her. Lobster saw a question in he eyes, he sighed, and he spread his claws and wings out. Silverscales leaned forward and hugged him tightly, crying like a newly hatched hatchling. Lobster grunted from the pain from his wounds, but he bared it and hugged Silverscales back, patting her back as she cried.
It was only then did Lobster register the rest in the cave with him. He glanced about him, his winglet had arrived with Tsunami behind them. Tsunami could not help herself and smiled as if she was watching something good happening to a sibling or friend of hers, Starfruit only looked confused when Gravel let a snicker pass his snout.
Lobster stuck a tongue out at them briefly before he continued to pat Silverscales' back as she continued to cry, then he felt someone nudge his tail. Looking down, Lobster saw that it was Starfruit, she was looking at him with tears in her eyes and a worried expression. Lobster sighed and wrapped his tail around Starfruit, pulling her close for a group hug.
"Aww..." Gravel blurted, Lobster turned to half-heartedly glare at the MudWing, who was starting to grin. Lobster saw Falcon glanced at Gravel, then he looked at Lobster and his group hug, as if wondering: 'You like this?'
Though, the question in his eyes seemed to be for Gravel.
Tsunami let out a soft chuckle, "I'll leave you guys alone for now, I'm sure you all have winglet matters to discuss." she said. She glanced at Lobster one last time before leaving the cave.
Once Lobster suspected that she were out of earshot, he broke the hug he still held with Silverscales and Starfruit as Blizzard criticized, "You told me that I shouldn't meddle with this affair, hypocrite." It was obvious that Blizzard was being half sarcastic.
Lobster waved the comment away, "Yeah yeah, I get it." he grumbled. Silverscales wiped away the last of her tears, "Starfruit said you attacked the mystery dragon, you made a noise that sounded scary she said. Like a shriek." she informed. Lobster looked at Starfruit, who was rubbing the back of her neck, her scales now had purple running along the tips.
And now that Lobster thought of it, his throat felt scratchy and dry, like it had after he pounced onto the mystery dragon. "I guess I did." Lobster mumbled, rubbing his throat.
"What happened after I..." Lobster glanced at Silverscales, then at Blizzard, "...fainted?" he asked. Blizzard shrugged, his face still had the look of annoyance, "Beats me. Based on what we've heard from Clay and Starfruit, Clay heard the fight when he was patrolling the halls, and it was Starfruit's voice that attracted him to the room. Clay was able to treat your injuries and you were unconscious for like, 3 days."
Lobster squawked a sound of surprise, "3 days?!" he echoed. 'It only felt like one day! How can I be out for 3 days?!' he thought, 'Was I on the void for two days before the light appeared?'
Glow held up her claws as if Lobster was yelling in front of her, "Woah woah!" she said, "Don't worry, Queen Glory herself stayed with Starfruit to make sure she was safe. And Clay came by every night to keep you and Silverscales out of harm's way."
Lobster realized that when he said it aloud, it sounded like his was worried for Silverscales, which he had to admit, he was. Lobster looked at the smaller wounds that were already healed and at the others that were on the mend, he then was reminded of the mystery dragon when he arrived to save Starfruit.
"Starfruit." he called, looking to the tiny RainWing, "How did you end up in the cave? You went way beyond your class."
Starfruit tapped her chin, "Well... I was looking for my class, and I was sure I was nearing it. But then a dragon came and told me that she was a teacher in the school, she said she'll help me find my class. I was wary at first, but she sounded so nice and trustworthy that I followed her. When I realized the trick, it had been too late." she explained. Lobster's ears perked up, and it seemed like Blizzard realized something as well.
"She?" Lobster repeated, Starfruit nodded, "Yeah. I heard she was last teaching History class three days ago." she said. "Why so specific?" Falcon asked, "You could just say she teaches history."
Starfruit shook her head as she looked at Falcon, "Because she left the academy three days ago. Dragonets said she retired." she explained. "Retired? On the same day you were attacked?" Gravel inquired, Starfruit nodded in confirmation.
"So we know what the mystery dragon sounds like, and we know their gender. But we don't know what she looks like or her name, or even her tribe..." Blizzard mumbled, he looked at Lobster and Silverscales, "Do you think the academy keeps records of their teachers?"
Silverscales shrugged and Lobster shook his head, "Unlikely. If they did, they would already know who the mystery dragon is." he explained, "Have any dragonets died over the last three days I was out?"
Everyone solemnly nodded, "Unfortunately." Falcon murmured. "Clay and his friends tried to stop the dragon." Glow started, "But they couldn't catch her." Gravel continued, "Not even Tsunami and her night vision." Starfruit finished.
Lobster was slightly puzzled at the way his winglet continued each other's sentences as if they knew exactly what the other thought, but he shrugged the feeling off and decided to focus on the matter in the present.
"Well," Lobster blurted, he stretched and tested his limbs for any aches that might disturb his movements and whatnot, the worst was an annoying throb. "I don't know about you all, but I plan on finding this dragon's hideout." he said, he opened his eyes to find his winglet staring at him with shock and worry.
"Wait what?!" Blizzard hollered, he glanced at Glow, who had a talon in front of her snout, a signal to quiet down. Blizzard did as Glow silently requested, "You said this wasn't our business." he reminded. Lobster turned a little to Silverscales, but his gaze remained on Blizzard, "It was." he said. "Until this mystery dragon attacked Starfruit. Whoever hurts my friend won't be forgiven easily, if at all." Lobster continued on, he stood and flapped his wings, testing if they were capable of flying without much discomfort.
"You can't just change your mind like that!" Blizzard argued, standing abruptly. Lobster was immediately aware of it and spread his wings slightly, but as if he could fly out of a cave. "Why not?" Lobster questioned, Blizzard opened his mouth to speak, a talon pointing at Lobster.
But words were lost on Blizzard's tongue, he clenched his claws and withdrew back into a sitting position, glaring at Lobster as he did.
Lobster huffed softly, "I'm going to find this hideout," he declared, looking to Silverscales when he spoke. "You coming with me?" he asked, Silverscales stared back at him, unsure.
"But Lobster..." Silverscales started, "What about you? Aren't you worried for your own safety?" she asked. Lobster lowered his head and looked away, but only briefly, he looked back at Silverscales. "To be honest... I am." he admitted, "I didn't want to get involved in this, I wanted to leave this to Clay and the others.
"But that mystery dragon attacked Starfruit! And she almost killed her! I don't like dragons who try to kill my friends, not one bit." Lobster swallowed his anger, "I don't want to let it go that easily."
Silverscales glanced at Starfruit, who had walked up to her and placed herself under her wing, then back at Lobster. The SeaWing was worried that Silverscales wouldn't come with him, but she seemed to swallow her doubt and put on a determined look.
"I'll follow you over a cliff if I have to." Silverscales asserted, she picked Starfruit up and placed her atop her head, "No doubt this fella wouldn't leave us behind."
Starfruit raised her head, determination creeping onto her face. Her scales were now dappled with orange, a colour of determination. "Hey! This is a winglet! Not a trio!" Gravel piped up, "When I was with my sibs, I learned that birds of a feather flock together! In this flock, we're all birds of that feather. So count me in."
Glow seemed to reach a decision after hearing Gravel's words, "Me too! I want this mystery dragon stopped for good!" she announced. Blizzard looked at the little SandWing with surprise, he grumbled and straightened himself, "Me too." he said.
Everyone turned to Falcon, who was still silent, he glanced at all of his winglet members. Lobster noticed his gaze landed on Gravel the longest.
Finally, Falcon scoffed and looked away, eyes closed as if to avoid making eye contact. "Fine. But just so you all know, this plan stinks." he grumbled.
Silverscales smiled and turned to Lobster, "So, what now? Mister Mystery-dragon-hunter?" she asked, raising an eye crest. Lobster smirked at Silverscales' joke, "First, we play the waiting game."