Dragon- Twilight

A/N: If I could add pictures, I would. So I'mma link them. Prologue's picture: /dddttar and Chapter 1 picture: /ddl0tfj

I'll do that from now on for this site. Enjoy~

"You can do this. Just breathe a little then fall."

I breathed in deeply. My chest rose and fell at an even pace; a cool breeze brushed against my back. Through half-lidded eyes, I gazed ahead.

Stars twinkled in the remnants of the black sky as it faded into a softer blue. A streak of orange split through the horizon. The sun's rays shimmered across the sea below me, waves dancing across the light. My ears twitched. Sweet melodious chirps filled the air. A flock of birds burst out of the trees from my island. They soared past me in unison towards the sun.

A gust of wind pushed me forward. My wings ached from fluttering so hard in the air. With a hard flap, I pushed myself upward. Clouds dissipated around me as I flew higher. My attention began to fall back to the flock. My heart sunk deep into my belly. Tearing my gaze away, I flew harder and higher. I soared above the clouds briefly. I furled my wings in.

I fell.

Wind rushed over me as I continued to drop. Bracing against the onslaught, I opened my eyes. Clouds flew by in a swirl of whites and blues. Tilting my head, I saw my island coming towards me. My ears popped giving way to screaming winds. My shoulders twitched. My wings pulled away from my body as I curled my legs in.

'Breathe in...breathe out...' I thought.

A few feet from the treetops, I spun in mid-air. I curved around, becoming parallel to the forest-line. My wings burst open. I glided across, my claws grazing the branches. My chest swelled up with pride.

"I'm doing it. I'm actually doing it! I knew I cou- NO!" I cried out as a branch snagged my claw. It forced me to stop. My flight path was broken. Pain shot up my foreleg as it was pulled back while I flung forward. I gritted my teeth. I flapped as hard as I could. My wings twitched before failing me. They fell to my sides with me falling down after them. I clung to the tree trunk suspending a hundred feet off the ground. My eyes darted around looking for any shadows in the trees. Nothing lurked within the branches. I let out a sigh of relief.

A loud snap echoed throughout the woods.

"Oh no..." I whispered before plunging down.

Branch after branch I hurled into. Several broke under my weight while much tougher ones simply bounced me off of them. My teeth dug into my tongue stifling my screams. I hit the forest floor with a thud.

Silence sifted through the air as the dust settled. Face-down in the dirt, I groaned inwardly. On shaky legs I picked myself up. Rubbing a sore spot on my head, I looked around. All was still except for the leaves and branches still falling. I breathed a sigh of relief. I shook the dirt and debris off of me. I lifted the paw that got caught. I snarled at it.

Once again I surveyed the area. Ears flattened, I began walking.

Sunlight poked through the foliage lighting my path. With calculated steps I hopped over several rabbit holes and fox dens. Climbing over a falling tree, I caught the sight of a babbling brook. I scrambled my way over to it. Leaning over it, I saw several fish swimming upstream. My claws kneaded the earth.

A fish swam towards the shoreline closest to me. Curiosity shone in its eyes.

In one fell swoop it was out the water and in my mouth. It squirmed in my mouth. I moved further inland and devoured my breakfast. My belly rumbled for more. So I dove back in for a few more fish. It was during my fourth fish, something slithered over my tail. I jumped to my feet teeth bared. Falling to the ground, a snake curled back baring its own two fangs.

A low rumble formed in my throat. Snapping its jaws at me, the snake slithered closer. Its pink tongue slipped in and out at the fish. It lashed out for my fish but I snatched its head. The snake ceased moving. Frustration bubbling, I whipped the snake as far as possible.

I sat down with a thump. Cradling the fish in my forelegs, I nibbled on the carcass. My eyes darted from side to side. A shadow dipped across my vision. My heart rattled in my chest. Swallowing the rest, I ran back to the fallen tree. Panting, I looked behind me.

A rabbit crinkled its nose at me.

"Oh for the love of... It's a rabbit you idiot," I muttered to myself.

The rabbit bounded back deeper into the forest. Sighing, I turned away, walking through the sunlit path.

My wings dragged along the ground. I tensed my shoulders to lift them but they just dropped. Grumbling, I stalked through the forest. For a moment I peered over my shoulder to the sky. A bright blue with faint clouds swirled above. I tilted my head at some moving clouds. My eyes doubled in size.

I dove into a massive bush, curling myself into a tight ball. Through the leaves, I saw shadows dancing across the trees. Two members of my pack landed. They were looking around before sliding away from each other. A third member landed between them: my brother. He dwarfed the two easily. Red eyes gleamed with hunger. Those eyes landed on my hiding spot. I silently begged my heart to be quiet. He stalked towards the bush. He raised a paw ready to strike. I closed my eyes shut.

"Over there!" The scent of deer hit my nose.

My brother twisted his neck back. I saw him crouch low before taking off to the skies. Shaking like a leaf, I watched as the trio flew into the distance.

The sun rose high in the sky before I finally left the bush.

"Too close...Too far away..." I whimpered.

With shaky vision I looked up. Nothing but clouds. Head lowered, I turned away walking through the forest once more. I dragged my claws through fallen leaves leaving a dirt trail in my wake. A rotten smell hit my nose. My nostrils flared. I made a break through the trees. The earth below me started shifting from hard dirt to glittering soft sand. Bursting through the trees, I came face to face with the sea. I trotted closer to the shore. An ocean breeze washed over me and my muscles relaxed.

Waves crashed onto the shore, submerging my feet in water. A laugh tickled my throat. I bit it down to avoid making any noise. I walked further into the water until only my head stuck out. Flaring my wings out, I floated through the water.

Seagulls called one another before they dove into the water. I watched them with utter fascination. Tilting my head, I saw them work as one, gathering fish. My eyes followed them back to the beach. They squawked at one another briefly. Ears flattening down again, I watched as they flew off inland.

I looked to my left. I then looked to my right.

I was alone.

"Like always." I whispered to myself.

To the horizon I looked. Deep blue waters were all that I saw. I squinted a little as a harsh light crossed my vision. Shielding myself with my wing, I peered through the shadow. My heart sunk in my belly. The sun no longer hung high in the sky. It had lowered quite a bit.

"It's so late, Mother will kill me!" I yelped.

Wings flapping frantically, I burst from the sea. I flew as fast and hard as my wings could take me. I whipped my head back and forth looking down. The forest skimmed by with empty clearings here and there. My hearing was deafened by my heart pounding. I side glanced to the left for a moment.

I screeched to a halt. A strangled cry left me as familiar shapes came into view. I dove down to a small clearing. My feet had hit the ground but I kept running. My pack was in sight. I came to a halt panting hard. They looked at me with curious eyes. None approached me.

They parted giving way to a path. They all bowed as my Mother made her way towards me. I smiled at her and met her halfway.

She smacked me.

I recoiled back and stared at my Mother with wide eyes. A low growl chilled me to the bone. Stepping back, I asked, "w-what did you..?"

"Where were you?" My Mother snapped. Her wings burst open making her appear imposing and dangerous. Her eyes narrowed onto me as she began circling me. My pack looked on distantly. I turned around following my Mother. From out the corner of my eye, I saw my brother sitting in the path. I stopped in my tracks. He was smiling.

Mother smacked me again. I looked over my shoulder to see Mother baring her teeth. I shrunk back. She shakes her head at me. She said, "You are late! The sun has nearly set bringing in the night. Everyone has done their share, your brother especially," she beams at my brother who puffs out his chest. My Mother continued speaking, "but you were nowhere to be found. You did not help in preparing the nests. You did not help hunt for food. You did not help care for the hatchlings. Were you off gallivanting again?"

Several voices started speaking all at once. I heard complaints, worries, more commentary about me. None spoke of me favorably. I squeezed my eyes shut to try to block it all out.

Mother lifted my chin up, her claw digging in. The sting forced my eyes open. I saw her lean in close and ask once more, "Where were you?"

Swallowing the hard lump in my throat, I replied, "I-I was flying. Above the island so I could survey it better."

She eyed me, a dark glint in her eyes.

"Why? You are not a scout, girl." She asked.

"I want to do more for the pack. And I was also...practicing. My spinning so I could be more agile and more helpful in hunting." I replied my voice softening near the end. Mother's eyes widened at me. She pulled away from, her claw going with her. Her paw lifted up and I closed my eyes bracing myself.

Mother patted my head. I looked up at her stunned

"Good job, I'm proud of you," Mother cooed at me, nuzzling my cheek. Embarrassed I look away. Mother smiled at me before facing the pack. She said, "there will be no punishment today. You all have done well this day. Now let us eat!" The pack bowed once more as my Mother walked by. I followed her though I saw wary glances.

Something heavy bumped into me. Muscles tensing up I looked to my right. My brother. A grin was plastered on his face at me. Bile hit my tongue.

I swallowed it down before plastering on a smile. Cooly, I asked him, "Can I help you?"

"You're training to become a hunter?" He asked, his rough voice grating against my ears. I grimaced. Before I could reply, he had cut me off, "That's great sis. Ya know, I can teach you the skills you need. I am the best hunter here after all."

It had taken all of my strength not to roll my eyes at him. Nodding, I added, "And you are the biggest. I'm sure that helps greatly."

Once more he puffed his chest out. His lips curled into a huge toothy grin as he laid his wing over me. "The best and the biggest. At everything," he curls his wing in and pulling me with him. He dipped his head down and said to me, "Tell ya what? I'll give you private lessons. Show you all of my best tricks. You'll be the only one who knows them."

I pushed him away. I gave him a disapproving look. I asked, "You never showed mom?"

Shrugging, he said, "I learned them from her. Gotta keep it in the family you know?"

"Riiiight," I said.

We finally came upon that night's meal which was a huge mound of fish. Stomachs rumbled all around me. I looked over my shoulder and jumped out of the way. My pack stampeded tore into the fish. Pieces flung out from the frenzy in all sizes. From these the hatchlings snatched them up, running off.

I rose on my haunches to see if I could get anything. My eye caught an opening so I ran. Pushing my way in, I anchored myself and scooped up a fish head.

My muzzle brushed against something. I stared into my brother's eyes.

The edges of his eyes were black as night; the irises were small and sharp. He held the other end of the fish. He glared at me and growled, "Mine."

I was shaking like a leaf. My brother towered over me, more so than the others thanks to my smaller stature. My lower jaw twitched as if to let go. My stomach growled.

He tugged on the end, the fish almost pulled out of my mouth. "No!" I growled back. I slapped my brother's face.

It was as if the whole world stopped. Everyone froze. My Mother looked on in disbelief. My brother dropped his half with me holding onto the other. I gulped hard.

"You..." My brother said in a deep and low tone. I stepped several paces away from him, dropping the fish. Mother rushed over laying a wing over my brother. She shushed him stroking his back. The ringing in my ears canceled out most of it. What I heard though frightened me to the core.

Mother told him not to kill me.

I saw him shove our Mother to the ground as he rushes me. My back hits the ground hard. The pain dulled fast as fear took over. He had me pinned. Teeth bared and a deranged look in his eyes, my brother hissed at me, "You hit me! No one makes a fool out of me!"

"NO!" Mother screamed as she slammed into him. Taken by surprise, my brother toppled away from me. Sounds of snaps and growls exploded onto the scene. Several members rushed over to help, jumping over me in the process. Through their legs, I saw my Mother and the pack try to subdue my brother.

I scrambled to my feet and take off into the forest. The fight faded away though sobs escaped me. I made my way across the island. The trees were thicker there. It was untamed. My brother was too big. I squeezed myself through, branches scratching me. A rather sharp branch pricked into my left side. It dragged against the scars there. I bit my tongue. Tears rolling down my face, I pushed my way through. I had no idea what prey lived in this area. Or if it was safe. I was safe though. And that was all I cared about at the time.

The trees were beginning to thin out a little. Enough that I saw the sky through the treetops. Pinks and purples swirled together across the sky. A hint of orange peeked beneath them from the setting sun. A strange sense of peace washed over me.

Cool air filled my lungs as I took a deep breath. I tore my gaze from the sky onto the path ahead. A large bush stood before me. My legs were beginning to ache as I moved towards it.

Blowing out a puff of air, I spread my wings and jumped. I soared over the bush with ease. I landed on the other side with not much ease. My legs gave out as I hit the ground. I braced myself. Annoyed, I picked myself up shaking the dirt off. I looked ahead.

Two figures stood before me. One large and one small. They both locked eyes with me and I heard the latter gasp.

"IS THAT ANOTHER NIGHTFURY?!"

Gonna be a fun ride with this story I think~