DISCLAIMER: I do not own Wings of Fire. It and the characters within (Qibli, Winter, Thorn, Moon, Riptide, Kinkajou, Turtle, Capybara, Cobra, Vulture, Sunny, Peril, Tsunami) are Tui T. Sutherland's. Falcon, Oleander, Arid, Pearl, Moor and Morass were created by me.
Since it seems like I've done this before I'll just quote from the last chapter! "Ooooooof holy mother of dragons has it been a LONG time. *Hangs head shamefully..." This time I'm not even going to look at when I published the last chapter. I'll put a bigger blurb at the end for those interested but for the time being let's just get into it...
He felt cozier than he had ever in his life. With his eyes shut against the setting sun, he could still feel Winter's belly pressed close behind him. But it wasn't just the comfort of those scales sliding against his back. 'Anyone who can't see how special you are is blind.' The faint echo of Winter's words floated through his mind and he couldn't resist letting out a content hum.
As if in response, Winter shifted ever so slightly in place and nestled his chin on the top of Qibli's head as if he was protecting a newborn hatchling. Even though he didn't feel especially tired, he couldn't bring himself to move or even open his eyes.
Come on you lazy bag of sand, times ticking! He huffed and brought a talon over his face. If only getting up wasn't so hard. Was the ground comfier than normal…? Definitely not the cuddling. He flicked his ear which ended up tickling Winter's jaw, drawing out a twitch and growl.
"Oh hush, grouchy," he mumbled pleasantly and pushed his head closer against Winter which transformed the growl into a resigned rumble, just bordering a purr. Oh good, maybe that means we can laze around for a while longer.
"You're lucky you're cute when you're sleepy." Winter replied softly. He heard a croon which cut off abruptly and he stiffened. What was that?
He bent his head up at a right angle and began to search their surroundings with sleepy eyes. Winter must have thought the noise came from him because all he did was protest and nuzzle at his neck, urging him to settle down again.
Even though the sun was setting, his eyes were able to pick from bush to boulder to… dismembered talons!? "Kinkajou!?" He called out tentatively and was confirmed by a fit of giggles as the air began to fold in on itself. Winter, on the contrary, immediately froze in place, eyes snapping wide.
"I TOLD YOU TO HOLD YOUR SNOUT," an unfamiliar voice shouted, which Qibli guessed belonged to the SandWing Kinkajou was trying to hide.
"I DID, but it's IMPOSSIBLE not to react to Winter saying THAT!" Kinkajou shrieked, bouncing towards them, slowly materializing out of the background. It looked like her scales stole all the color from Winter's scales. The normal shiny but subtle blue seemed to have drained as if it was Darkstalker running towards them instead of an overjoyed Rainwing.
Suddenly he snapped out of his stupor and tried to disentangle himself as Qibli tried to stop him. "Oh come on, it's already too late, your secret is out." He said with a wide grin as he encircled Winter with his wings and tail.
Instead of a witty response, Winter's jaw flapped uselessly and he sank closer to the ground behind Qibli as if the smaller he was, the less he would exist.
"I mean WHAT? Who could have guessed? I guess you two were always hanging out with each other but together? I definitely didn't see that coming, well, maybe a little bit now that I think of it, but that is also so not fair." Kinkajou continued undeterred, pointing between Qibli and Winter. "Like, leave some for the rest of us, you know?"
"We — we're not…" Winter managed to bable.
"We totally are." Qibli said over him. To emphasize this, he rested his head lovingly against Winter and smiled at Kinkajou. Winter stopped talking and he felt him begin to shake.
Worried, Qibli turned towards him and saw that Winter's eyes were distant and he let out a sudden spasm. "Umm, Winter? Are you okay Winter?" Qibli pulled back and gently poked his side. "Uh oh, I think he's broken…"
Winter pressed himself to the ground while his jaw sped up its flapping to the speed of flower petals in a hurricane. Kinkajou and the unfamiliar sandwing slowed as they got closer and a rich purple began to tint the edges of her wings. "Oh no, was it something I said?" She tiptoed over to Winter, who was now completely on the ground, twitching periodically. "Winter?" She whispered, placing a talon gingerly on his shoulder.
"If it helps, I think it's super adorable that you two are together." Kinkajou continued subdued for once. "I'm sorry I was giggling… and eavesdropping."
Qibli draped a wing over Winter's back, trying to be as comforting as possible. Would that help? Or make things worse? This was brought on because we were cuddling after all, but its got to be better than standing around right? Once again, he found himself wishing someone would tell him what to do in this situation. At least, Winter did seem to relax under his touch.
Kinkajou let out a small laugh before saying. "See, now you can't deny that I am the master of stealth." She shot the unresponsive lump with a hopeful grin.
Never to miss out on an argument, Winter gave one last shake, took in a deep breath, and let out a slow sigh that ruffled his wings. "Congratulations, you can sneak up on a sleeping dragon. Dragon of the year right here." Qibli let out a silent sigh of relief and rolled his eyes at Kinkajou.
"Sleeping or not, it doesn't change the fact that I snuck up on you!" Kinkajou declared before jumping at him. "Now quit moping! I want to know what you've been up to! Schools been so boring ever since you two left. There wasn't any 'world saving' involved at all. I mean, don't get me wrong. I still love it, and meeting new dragons, and learning to read…"
"But where are all the bad guys, and magic spells, and evil defeating?" The SandWing Qibli didn't know finished for her in a shockingly similar imitation as she walked over.
"Just try not to sleep through the first half next time," He chimed in. New SandWing. Must have come to replace me, he thought, and was perplexed at the hurt feelings boiling up. Haven't seen her around the Scorpion Den or the palace. Maybe from possibility? Or another oasis city we didn't get time to visit?
Kinkajou flared her ruff and jabbed her long tail at him. "I wasn't sleeping. I was totally clobbered by the bad guy! I can't control that. Besides, it was totally heroic drawing the attacks away from you guys, so you're welcome." He let out a shudder. What if Chameleon had come after the others first? Would it all be worse? Who would be hurt then? But he snapped his head out of it. No use reminiscing about what could have happened.
The mystery SandWing snorted and bumped her side against Kinkajou's. "Totally heroic." She turned towards him and said "So you must be the famous Qibli. I'm Moloch. From what I heard I have big talons to fill." Even though she sounded rather uninterested, her words came out as a waterfall, similar to the excited torrent that normally comes from Kinkajou.
"Good to meet you Moloch, but if you want to fill my talons you'll have to find your own chilly IceWing who hates you." He stated and pulled up on Winter's horns to draw him back up. "This ones taken."
Winter snapped at his talons before dusting himself off and arranging his wings. "This one absolutely does hate you without a doubt, that much is for sure."
Moloch turned towards him and added "And you must be Winter. Kinkajou's told me all about you two. Or rather bombards my entire existence with non-stop stories of heroism and adventure." Winter seemed slightly taken aback by this, because all the renown he built in the IceKingdom was negative? Or he never thought Kinkajou would say much about him?
"All true of course." Qibli said charmingly.
"Of course it's true. I wouldn't LIE. It is exactly as awesome as I make it out to be!" She turned hurt eyes towards Moloch. "You didn't think I was lying did you? Why would I need to lie?"
"Well, you know," Moloch began casually. "It starts with one or two bad guys, and then all of a sudden it's a whole army."
"But HELLO there was an army, it's called all the NightWings. Actually two, the NightWings and the IceWings." Kinkajou shot back triumphantly and Qibli felt Winter flinch. Before it could get much farther, Qibli tried to jump in.
"But that's all a thing of the past and I wouldn't want to spend all our time talking about embarrassing heroics. Tell me about Jade Mountain!" He pushed past her and towards the towering entrance cave. "I can't believe it's only been a couple moons since we lived here!"
"It's not like we were really present while we were here anyways." Winter said, coming up beside him.
"Yes, but I was still living here," Qibli pointed out.
"I think that depends on your definition of 'living'." Winter concluded. "Which is the whole gripe against our 'troublemaking winglet,' if I remember Tsunami's lecture correctly."
"'Having spent a night.' There! That sounds like a pretty good definition," he exclaimed and turned towards Kinkajou and Moloch. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, and because you spent a night in Sanctuary now, does that mean you live there?" Winter fired back. "Of course not. That's absurd."
Qibli let out a swoon. "Aww, you totally asked me to live with you! I didn't realize it at the time but now…"
"NO." Winter growled and pointed a sharp claw between his eyes. "Get those inane thoughts out of your head right this second."
"Shhhhh, it's okay, I know what you're saying… deep, deeeeep, down there!" He exclaimed, waving away Winter's talon. "Or at least what you're saying subconsciously." He gave him a wide innocent look.
Winter just let out his signature snort before turning away towards the landscape and ignoring him. When Qibli looked back at Kinkajou, she had the widest grin plastered over her face and mouthed 'so cute.'
He cleared his throat in embarrassment at the twin pairs of glowing eyes hooked onto him. "Well, ahem, as I was saying, enough about us! How has Jade Mountain been?" he tried to deflect again.
"Uh no, that is definitely not enough about you. What are you two doing here? And why the gloomy serious faces when you were talking to Sunny?" Kinkajou asked a little too astutely. "Also how and WHAT in the great baboons caused you two to end up together? There has to be a story about that!"
Arrgghhh just let me distract you! He thought ruefully. Qibli shook his wings slightly. I mean sure, they're curious right? But it really can't be that interesting? It is just my boring life in the Sand Kingdom, not that much to get excited about.
"Well you might as well tell them…" Winter surrendered, "you know she'll only keep asking." Kinkajou gave Winter a delighted look which she transferred quickly onto Qibli
Qibli looked sideways at him, a little surprised that he'd be okay with it. But then again out of everyone in our winglet, he does seem closer with Kinkajou, perhaps for her scavenger capturing potential. "Well, if you insist… It all started with Winter, diligently guarding his one, secret have you, but true sleeping love: me!" He mimed, telling the story with his front talons in addition to his words.
Winter just covered his face and settled his spines as Qibli filled Kinkajou and Moloch in about the events at Sanctuary and chasing his grandfather…
Kinkajou let out a small growl. "So your grandfathers back? Is that snake Chameleon with him? I'm still ready for a nice long conversation with that dragon." Her ruff had changed to the dark red they always became when talking about Peril's father.
"I doubt it," Qibli said, scratching his chin. "I have a feeling my grandfather would have no use for him now that he can't change forms."
"Good riddance," Winter said.
"I mean, you can't really blame him right? He was banished from the tribe just because he couldn't change his scales. I can't help feel a little bad for him."
Winter prodded him in the side. "You can't be serious, he trapped Hailstorm and did Scarlet's bidding. Not to mention trying to throw your tribe into another war!"
"And, also clobbered me pretty badly," Kinkajou added in a voice that sounded more like she was thinking 'look how tough I was for it!' instead of 'ack, evil bad guy!'
"Well, yes, with all that it's a lot less forgivable," Qibli conceded in a drawn out voice. "But maybe he just needs a second chance. I mean, Peril also did all of Scarlet's bidding but we can all agree that she's on the right side of the dune now."
Winter's expression said that he still wasn't the biggest fan of the copper dragon. "Well, I didn't need a second chance," Winter snapped, "and I turned out just fine in banishment."
"If that's what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night." Qibli smiled at him and patted Winter's talon.
Winter bared his teeth at Qibli, so he nuzzled him in the cheek. "Don't worry, you turned out more than fine." Winter still gave him a prickly, suspicious look in the tense seconds of silence that followed. Finally his expression gave in. Maybe I am able to cuddle my way through his frosty exterior, he thought excitedly.
"Probably because of me," Qibli continued nonetheless. "I just have that charm with dragons!" Kinkajou let out a giggle and Qibli let out a loud cry followed by a "OOF" as he was shoved to the ground and subsequently pinned by a cold dragon. As long as I don't push him too far. He chidded himself. Oh who am I kidding, it's too much fun!
"That charm being one that gets you thrown to the ground. It's incredibly infuriating," Winter stated in an icy voice Qibli heard close to his head. All he could see though were two white wings draped beside him and felt all four of Winter's talons pressed close around him. He twitched his nose as the dust kicked up around his snout.
"But just because you can pin me doesn't mean you win every conversation…" Qibli said in a muffled voice. "You can't deny Chameleon's story is fairly sad. What if you were banished just because you looked different?" Qibli asked whole heartedly.
Kinkajou fell silent as she thought about it. Even Winter quieted and stilled. Maybe he's actually listening, or at least considering that, Qibli thought impressed. He tried to look back at Winter but his face was still hidden from sight. The way Winter shifted above him made him feel like he'd come to a conclusion he didn't want to admit.
"You two really never skip a beat do you," Qibli heard Moloch's voice, a welcome scapegoat to his question. It sounded distant as if he didn't want to get too close, lest he get caught in the fray.
"Again, I don't lie," Kinkajou exclaimed sharply, grasping for the distraction. From his vantage point, he could see her twist towards the direction he assumed Moloch was in. "And I told you here's another adventure I've been missing out on. That wasn't a lie either!."
"It's not like you missed the most exciting bits from the last one." Winter pointed out, also shaking off the silence. "In fact, I believe you know more than me about it since this unhelpful pile of sand still won't tell me anything about Darkstalker's great defeat." Qibli felt a couple taps on his nose and let out a disgruntled huff, still completely immobilized.
"Yeah, a great defeat that Glory got so mad about. Something something I was supposed to stay away from danger and the old Night Kingdom. It was all 'do you listen' and 'how difficult is it to understand words', and 'this is why you're in school, so you can understand what I'm saying' or 'do you not understand what Queen of the RainWings means'?" Qibli saw Kinkajou look at him but he couldn't respond in time. "It's not like he would have hurt us anyways, or killed us more specifically, because of Moon. But Glory wouldn't see that. And she was pretty upset at Moon too. She promised us a million years of cruelty if we left school again…" Kinkajou finished wistfully, as if she was imagining all the ways she could turn cruelty into a game.
"But Moon isn't here anyways right?" Qibli finally managed to croak out amid Kinkajou's ramblings. With a gasp he tapped Winter's talon that was helping to pin him down. "Could I please get up?" he whispered, starting to feel a bit out of breath. To his surprise, Winter got off and pulled him up. Qibli snuck him a grateful smile as Kinkajou kept talking oblivious to their exchange.
"RIGHT, Moon and Turtle and Tsunami. While I'm stuck here away from all of the excitement. New continents! Can you believe that?!"
"Stuck with me," Moloch added, waving at herself with an outstretched wing.
"I don't mean it in a bad way!" Kinkajou gasped at her as a dark blue swept through her scales for the briefest moment. "I mean, maybe in a 'I would rather be off on an adventure in a distant land' way, but not in a mean 'Moloch is bad company' kind of way!"
"Good save," Qibli chuckled.
"Wouldn't everyone?" Kinkajou asked aghast, turning between the three dragons.
"I'm pretty happy being safe," Moloch clarified.
"I, for one, would love to stop looking over my shoulder constantly," Qibli said just as Grandfather probably wouldn't attack so close to Jade Mountain… too much exposure, floated through his mind. But did she say new continent?
Winter beat him to it. "New continent?" He asked pointedly, finally looking intrigued.
Kinkajou's face flushed a deep purple in response. "Rrr! I wasn't supposed to mention that." She twisted her talons in nervousness (or excitement, he honestly couldn't tell) and looked between Winter and Qibli. "But Moon would have told you if you asked so I'm sure it's fine." He could practically imagine the war crossing her thoughts: New secrets to tell! But promising not to tell…
"Moon had a vision about strange visitors on the coast, I'm surprised she didn't mention anything to you Qibli." The words tumbled out as fast as he snapped up their meaning. Because she didn't want to distract me? Or she didn't want my help? He took a second to remind himself of their conversation in the observatory, calming his nerves.
"From a different continent across the coast? How is that even possible! If it was that easy to cross then someone must have done it before now…" The excitement started to seep into himself.
Kinkajou shrugged, flashing different bright colors along her wings. "You'll have to ask her yourself. Maybe by then Turtle and Tsunami will be back."
"Hold on," Winter said, dragging Qibli back to reality. "We have enough issues to figure out on this continent. And that's not just finding your grandfather, but also finding homes for dragons after the war. I don't see why we have to go looking for trouble." As much as I want to go chase after mysterious dragons, he's right. He conceded to himself. One thing at a time.
"Hey! Wait!" She suddenly perked up. "That reminds me, you totally left out everything about your scavenger sanctuary. I heard all about your town but not about any studies. Whatever happened to the scavengers I helped you catch?"
"Oh, that didn't work out since they sort of ran away." Winter said uninformatively.
"You lost them? But we spent the whole day catching them!" Kinkajou exclaimed in surprise.
"Well I was careful!" Winter started, "but they're very intelligent!"
"Ha, more intelligent than you?" Qibli joked. "I can't tell if that says more about scavengers or your own intellect."
Winter opened his mouth to snap a retort but it hung uselessly as he processed Qibli's words. "Anyways," Winter declared, deciding to ignore him. "Riptide and I agreed that it might be easier to construct the town without having to manage a pen of escape-prone and sometimes very violent scavengers."
"Well good for them then!" Kinkajou said happily.
"Unless they escaped into some other hungry dragon's clutches." Moloch mentioned.
Winter visibly shivered. I can't believe how much he cares about scavengers, Qibli thought amused and unfortunately his stomach let out a little growl just at that moment. Winter turned a convulsive glare towards him.
Leaning into it, Qibli shuffled his shoulders and said "oooof, on the topic of tasty snacks, it was quite a long flight and I could use something to eat!" He stood up and lept a pace away just as frosty snowflakes flew out of Winter's nose. Kinkajou turned towards him as well with a horrified look.
"Don't you dare," Winter said in a voice that breathed ice over Qibli's spine. "You will be an icicle before you get anywhere close to a scavenger."
His claws scraped against the bare stone as he ignored Winter and walked towards the entrance. Kinkajou and Moloch got up to follow him just as Winter bellowed "QIBLI!" causing a few students to peek out the entrance.
Instead of replying he gave Kinkajou a nudge with his wings. "So, up for some adventure in the Rainforest? You can see your best friend Queen Glory."
Her wings drooped slightly as she bounced along beside him, her long tail flicking back and forth. "I don't think so, I wouldn't want to leave with Turtle and Moon already gone. Like, if anything would be a good reason to be expelled, it'd probably be 'abandoning school on multiple accounts and halving the students in your winglet'." She gave him a reluctant smile. "I guess you'll just have to say 'hi' to Glory for me."
"Well, at this rate there'll still be lots of trouble whenever you're not busy with school so don't worry about missing out," Qibli said in consolation. Is that bad? Wishing for danger?
"Do you know where in the Rainforest you're going to be searching through?" Kinkajou asked as they picked past various groups of students, many who turned to stare at the newcomers.
The sunlight began to dim as he was taken deeper into the caverns and tried to recall what Pearl had discussed on their way over. "A lot of it seems to be small settlements of no more than a handful of dragons. But there does seem to be a newer, larger village she mentioned…" One of the few in Rainforest given the tribe's habits of staying close together.
She tilted her head up in thought before recognition lit her eyes. "OH, I think I know which one you're talking about!" Kinkajou exclaimed. "Some of the NightWings and RainWings started a collaborative village on the outskirts of the rainforest close to the east"
"Really?" Qibli said, perhaps a little too doubtfully before falling silent. I thought NightWings still couldn't stand the Rainwings, they still seemed stubborn and arrogant. But he reminded himself of what he observed last time he visited. It felt like more RainWings hung around the NightWing village as if it was a meeting place for both tribes. The most surprising part was that the NightWings didn't seem to mind. He shook his head vigorously and flicked his wings. It's not like dragons can't change Qibli, he scolded himself.
Kinkajou gave him a puzzled look at his sudden possession but continued anyway. "Yeah because we're AWESOME and Glory has definitely been pushing for some changes that even the grouchiest NightWing can get behind. Anyways, it sprung up recently and Glory supports it since she likes the idea of the RainWings and NightWings starting something together. She thinks it could also be good for building relationships with other tribes." Being close towards the east would put it right in the middle of the Rainforest, Mud Kingdom, and Kingdom of the Sea, he conceded. Which also means it would be a good place to set up an outpost for Vulture if he wants quick access to three separate kingdoms.
"It's actually very pretty. The mix between hammocks, shelters and buildings on the ground is done really nicely!" Kinkajou continued, reminiscing about the village. "Or, so I've heard. Not as great as the RainWing village, but unique in it's own way."
"Well, you'll have to take me when school lets out," Moloch said, coming up behind them.
"Deal!" Kinkajou shouted, pumping her wings excitedly, throwing dust into his nose.
He let out a sneeze before falling back to walk with Winter, letting the conversation fall away from him as Kinkajou launched into more stories about all the reasons the Rainforest was the best place on Pyrrhia.
Immersed in his surroundings, he realized how weird it was to be walking the halls once again. With all of his memories coursing through him, he wasn't sure it would ever feel normal. A small part of him had convinced himself it wouldn't be a big deal, but being here now was a completely different story.
The look on Winter's face, half wistful half cautions, gave him the impression that he felt the same. Everything was familiar yet foreign. The color of dancing firelight on the otherwise colorless rocks plagued his memories with both anxiety and reminded him of warm nights with friends. Just stop thinking of it, he scolded his mind. Stop reminiscing about the past and what could have happened. Keep your snout pointed forward toward the future. If it's buried in the past I can't appreciate what's next.
"Would you forget it all?" Qibli asked quietly, unable to reign in his spontaneous mind.
"What kind of question is that?" Winter replied.
"A serious one." Even though Winter said the right words, the tone made it seem like he was having the same thoughts. A moment of silence passed between them. "Even if I can't stand thinking about it at times since the memories are just overwhelming, I don't think I would. I just have to learn to live with it, and see the positive side of it."
"Good job you answered your own question." Winter muttered. Even though the response was sarcastic, it felt good to finally have someone he could be open with. And he felt like he didn't have to wonder whether Winter found his questions annoying. I bet he does, but it's something he signed up for after all.
"In the end I wouldn't either. I'd want to, but I think that's just the easy way out. It's much harder to try and come to terms with what's happened." Qibli turned to meet Winter's eyes briefly before his eyes drifted back towards Kinkajou and Moloch up ahead. He let out his wing ever so slightly so he could draw comfort from Winter's brushing back against his. The two of them were left to their own thoughts before the noisy chaotic nature of the prey center offered a welcome distraction,
With the opening into the vast valley looming ahead, he could already smell and feel the sweeping breeze brush by him. He took a deep calming breath as groups of dragons spread out before him, students taking a break from their classes to practice hunting, or just to lay down and relax. No chances for getting lost in my own mind among the bustling chaos.
As if the world meant to taunt him, just as his talons touched the cool pleasant grass, the loud conversation dimmed to hushed whispers. Instead of a distraction to his mind, the silence propelled his pumping heart. He instantly regretted looking around as his eyes now darted from group to group, between numerous pairs of eyes, all latched painfully onto his scales.
As always, constructive criticism is appreciated! I know this chapter is a bit shorter, but it feels a bit like a transition point in the story so I didn't want to push it too far. That said, there will be another chapter! Sometime... I really want to get back into building out the world and working more with a character's feelings, emotions and thoughts so hopefully that can help motivate myself.
Now, given the massive break in the story, I thought I'd give a little life update. If you're just here for Qinter, look away! Boring life things! Over the time I was away, I graduated from University, moved home, and began working full time. Sufficive to say, it's been a big adjustment in the "wow, there are a lot fewer hours in the day" kind of way. Everyone who has been leaving encouraging words through reviews or messages helps a lot to get me motivated, so a big thank you from the bottom of my heart! It always makes me happy to know people are enjoying this adventure. Hopefully as time goes on, I'll learn to better balance everything, but in the meantime I'll be just as excited as you are to see where the story leads us.
3 - Kyr