Here Lies Winter

AN: This takes place between the end of Chapter 6 and the start of Chapter 7 in the main story. I recommend reading it before chapter 7.

Edited: (5/30/21)

Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. My OC Flint belongs to me.

Flint:

No matter how fast Flint pumped his legs, Winter kept pulling away from him. When he lost sight of his adopted Icewing brother, he began to panic, "Winter! Slow down! I can't keep up!"

No response.

He tried running faster but stumbled momentarily. He wasn't built for sprinting through the trees like Winter was. He cursed to himself before resuming his frantic pace. There was a break in the roughage up ahead, and he could barely see Winter facing down a female Nightwing.

He saw his brother's confusion as he lifted his claws up to his neck. He kept running. He saw the trail of blue blood pooling around Winter's feet. He ran faster. He watched as the Icewing fell, "NOOOO!" He saw red once he saw Deathbringer standing above his fallen brother with a chakram poised to strike.

He broke through the trees with the loudest, angriest, and most grief-stricken roar he had ever loosed as he slammed into the two startled Nightwings. He had grabbed Deathbringer by the throat as he rolled before popping back up and bodily throwing him through a nearby small tree. The female tried to intervene by jumping on his back, but he merely jumped up before landing on his back, crushing her.

He turned with a snarl on his face and a fist poised and ready to cave her head in before stopping in surprise once he saw who it was, "Raven? W-what—AH!" he yelled in pain when another two chakrams buried themselves in his side, and he turned—momentarily forgetting his downed prey to confront his other enemy.

Except there was no one there. He turned every which way, expecting another attack at any moment before hearing a strange sound behind him. He whirled around with a growl, only to notice that Raven was gone now, too.

He loosed another ferocious roar as he yelled, "I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE MY FACE WILL BE WHEN I'M CLAWING YOUR HEART OUT! YOU HEAR ME!?"

All at once, his anger dissipated when he remembered Winter's prone form, and he rushed over—hoping beyond hope that he was still alive. "No…no, no, no…Winter!? Winter, look at me! Come on, open your eyes!"

Winter's body was motionless as Flint lost all semblance of control, and heavy tears fell to the ground. He picked up his brother's corpse and buried his face into Winter's now-warming scales as he broke down into uncontrollable sobs. His voice was broken and came out as a whimper as he begged Winter to come back, "Please don't leave me! Come back, Winter! Please, come back…"

He received no answer. He stayed like that for hours until he realized the cold-hearted truth: his brother was dead. He couldn't save him, just as he couldn't save his sisters.

The world had ripped away everyone he ever cared about, and he had lost most of his will to fight. His sisters were dead and now his brother was as well.

He placed Winter's body on his back as he began the walk back to the village. His head was hung low in despair as he whispered to the motionless corpse on his back, "I don't know if I can live without you anymore, Winter. What is my purpose now that you're gone?"

Turtle and Kinkajou:

Blaze had gone to the healer's hut after Flint took off after Winter to get her arm looked at. Turtle probably should have offered to loan her his rock, but in the heat of the moment, he had just forgotten. He and Kinkajou had been waiting next to Flint's hut for the last few hours. Both of them were beyond worried at this point.

It was when the sun was beginning to go down when they heard heavy clawsteps heading their way. They both perked up when they saw Flint break through the trees, but their hope turned to horror when they saw the motionless corpse of their friend on his back.

"W-what happened?" Turtle was able to ask while Kinkajou broke down into tears as she buried her head in his chest.

"I wasn't fast enough," the Mudwing answered in a dead-sounding tone. He placed Winter's body on the ground of his hut with great care before walking off.

"Wait, Flint! Where are you going?" Turtle yelled in confusion.

The Mudwing stopped and turned to look at them. A single tear fell down Flint's cheek, and Turtle's breath hitched at the amount of pain in his eyes. "To dig his grave."

With that, he walked off without another word. A few of Turtle's own tears mixed with Kinkajou's as he turned back to look at his fallen friend. I guess I'll never be able to make everything up to him now…

"W-we should t-tell the others, r-right?" Kinkajou sniffed as she looked up at him. Her scales had turned completely grey with splotches of white.

Turtle nodded, "I think the Queen should know, too." He pulled her closer to him again as he felt his emotions break free of their restraints. His friend was dead, and nothing—not even the powerful magic at his command—could bring him back.

Glory:

She just glared at the smug Nightwing standing in her pavilion when she walked in. He may have shrunk to a much more normal size, but she recognized the dragon who once proclaimed himself King of one of her tribes before taking them off to war with the Icewings.

"You have some nerve coming in here like you own the place!" she yelled at him. His smirk only widened. "Guards! Arrest him!"

The Rainwing guards looked around in confusion while the Nightwings were all but shaking with fear, "I'm not going near the Darkstalker, no way! Sorry, My Queen, but I don't wish to die today!" Her glare switched from Darkstalker, who she noticed stop smirking at her captain's declaration, to her captain. "Some Captain you are, Secretfire," she scoffed at him.

"Queen Glory, if I may?" Darkstalker asked. She looked back at him before he continued, "I come to help with your…recent troubles."

"You…help? Really?" she scoffed at him again. "You only help yourself."

"Your confidence in me is flattering, but in this case, it isn't true. I'm doing this not for you nor myself," he looked away when the curtain to the pavilion opened to reveal a Seawing.

"Your Majesty?" his asked with a sullen expression. His gaze was distant, and his body seemed heavy under an invisible weight.

"Not now, Turtle, I'm—" she stopped when she looked at him and saw his condition. "By the moons, are you okay? You look terrible!"

He looked at Darkstalker for a moment with pure anger before turning his gaze back to the Queen. His anger disappeared and his tone went blank once more when he addressed her, "Winter is dead."

Her eyes flew open wide when she heard this, "He's—How? How did he…" Turtle shook his head. He didn't know. She looked down at her talons as she walked over to her desk and sat down. She put her head in her talons before knocking everything on the desk off in a fit of short-lived rage, "DAMNIT!" She sighed heavily. "Damnit," she whispered, defeated. "Thank you for telling me, Turtle. You are dismissed."

The Seawing bowed before leaving. Darkstalker took this moment to give his input, "It seems like your so-called hero has fallen. Allow me to offer my services," he bowed mockingly.

She glared at him again, "Why do I get the feeling you knew this was going to happen?"

"Because I did," he said simply, "I saw it in the possible futures."

She sneered at him, "Of course you did." She sighed, "Did you see anything else I should know?"

Darkstalker's gaze hardened, "I learned from past experience to never tell the future to a Queen, so you'll forgive me that I won't answer."

She rolled her eyes but didn't complain, "Alright fine, you can stay. I'll accept your help even if I don't like it." He bowed once more before he left. Why do I get the feeling that I will forever regret this decision?

Darkstalker:

Well, I think that went well, considering, he thought when he walked out of Glory's pavilion. He absolutely hated that a Rainwing was ruling as the Nightwing Queen. He would have taken action to remedy that situation if not for the small modicum of respect that he held for her.

That, and Moon probably wouldn't be happy with him if he did.

Either way, it didn't matter. He needed to find Moon in order to break the news to her. He was kind of looking forward to seeing her reaction…in a sort of twisted way. It's not like he took enjoyment from other's miseries. Everyone thought he did, though, so he acted like the villain they all thought him to be.

The fearful looks he received from the other Nightwings didn't sit very well with him, but he paid them no mind. He had a friend to check up on.

Friend? How many of those have I ever had? It's true. By his reckoning, only Clearsight and Fathom were even close to being considered friends of his, but they both died thousands of years ago. Turtle kind of looked like Fathom, though. At first, he hated the Seawing for that, but now it was a sort of comfort for him. Fathom did what was best for him, and now that he understood that, he wasn't angry at him anymore.

He rather hoped that he and Turtle could become friends. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend that Moon was Clearsight and Turtle was Fathom. He could pretend that everyone he knew wasn't actually long gone. He sighed.

He shouldn't focus on this right now. There was time to grieve for everyone he cared about later…where no one could see him. He needed to find Moon. He stretched out his mind to look for her before finding her in his mother's house. He smiled to himself.

It made him beyond happy that Moon and his mother got along as well as they did. He made his way over there before stopping outside of the door. Yep, they're in there. He opened the door quietly and smiled. It looked like they were cooking something…with strawberries. He wrinkled his snout in disgust. I don't think I'll ever look at a strawberry the same way again after last time.

He snuck up behind Moon before placing a paw over her eyes, "Guess who?" he whispered in her ear. Her surprised yelp made him laugh.

"What—I didn't even hear you coming! How did you…" she looked at him confused.

"Do you think I haven't learned a thing or two about blocking my thoughts from others in the last two thousand years?" he smirked. "Hey, mom," he waved at her.

"Hey, Sweetie," she smiled at him. "Did you need something?"

He nodded, "Can I borrow Moon for a few minutes? I need to talk to her about something." Moon and Hope looked between each other in confusion at his suddenly serious expression.

Moon just shrugged before following him outside. He flew up to a suntime platform with Moon behind him. It was still early morning, so there was no one else up here to hear their conversation. "What are we doing up here, Darkstalker?"

Darkstalker was silent for a moment before answer, "For some privacy. I thought the subject of discussion warranted some." He could hear her confusion through her thoughts.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Darkstalker wouldn't look at her. He merely watched the horizon with a thoughtful expression. "Darkstalker?"

When he answered, he kept his gaze on the horizon. Now, he didn't really want to see her reaction anymore. He didn't like seeing her hurt, and he could hear that a small part of her was still thinking about the Icewing. There was no avoiding it, though. "I thought you should know that the Icewing you so despise is dead," he looked at her with a blank expression when he finished.

Her expression was full of surprise…and guilt. He was afraid this might happen. "Winter…is dead?" he nodded. She looked away, but he didn't need to see her face to know her sorrow. "I'm sorry, but I need to go." She took off without another word.

He sighed. Everything was so much simpler when Icewings and Nightwings were mortal enemies. Things were so much easier back when everyone who wasn't a Nightwing was almost a guaranteed enemy…with a few exceptions. He smiled. Wherever you are, Fathom, I hope I've proven myself to you and Clearsight.

Moon:

After Darkstalker told her about what happened to Winter, she flew somewhere that no one could find her: Peacemaker's strawberry garden. He had been right. No one traveled this close to the south wall.

She touched down and noticed that there were a few weeds growing among the strawberry plants. It only served as a reminder of the other friend that she hurt and lost. Peacemaker may not have been a real dragon, but to her, he was real enough. He was almost like a little brother to her…and now he was gone.

She was glad Darkstalker was back, but she still missed Peacemaker. She began pulling out the weeds even though she knew it was futile. She didn't know a thing about gardening, and it was doubtful that anyone else would tend to this place. In time, this place would be reclaimed by the rainforest.

She stopped and just sat down as the reality settle upon her shoulders. Winter was dead, and the last thing the two of them did together was fight. They both said some terrible things, but Moon knew that Winter didn't mean any of them. He had just been hurt by what she said.

The worst part about that whole situation was that she didn't feel any regret about saying the things that she did. They weren't true, either, but…

A few tears slid down her cheeks. Winter was a troubled soul, and he didn't deserve many of the things that his life threw at him. He didn't deserve to be disowned by his family and exiled just because he wasn't the best at everything he did. He made mistakes just like all dragons. He was short-tempered, selfish at times, blunt, and he always tried to act superior than everyone around him. At least, that's how he used to be.

Winter was different now. He showed his emotions more, and it seemed like he was always trying to help those in need…especially me.

She knew he still loved her. She doubted that he ever stopped loving her, and she would be lying if she said that she didn't care for him. Despite his shortcomings, Winter was a good dragon. He would give his life for those he cared about. He did give his life, too. And how did I thank him for helping me?

Lies and falsehoods that probably damaged an already fragile soul. I'm a terrible dragon! I took advantage of him! I became everything that I hated about 'Qibli' in the end! I should go see him…one last time. He may not be able to hear my apology, but I should tell him anyway.

With her decision made, she took wing to the most probable place to find him. She alit on the walkway leading into the healer's hut. Just as she expected, Winter's body was lying on one of the beds. Surprisingly enough, his body wasn't decomposing at all, and the blood that covered the large, gruesome gash on his neck was still wet. How long ago did he die? It seems like he just did.

Flint was standing over his body protectively as he glared at her with unmeasurable anger. She could hear that he blamed her for his death, "Leave! Haven't you done enough? Let me grieve my brother in peace."

He was angry, and it sounded like he was barely holding it together, but she didn't blame him. However, she was here for a reason. "I know you blame me for what happened, Flint, and you have every right to hate me, but please…let me pay my final respects."

He growled at her, "Why? You tormented his every waking moment in life. Can you not give him a moment's peace even in death?" A few tears fell from his eyes, and that in turn prompted a few of her own tears to fall.

"He was my friend, too, Flint," she tried to plead.

Apparently it was the wrong thing to say. He stalked over to her with tense muscles and a snarl, "Your friend!? You don't deserve to call yourself his friend! He loved you, Moon, but you took advantage of him!"

She closed her eyes and looked down in shame as fresh tears fell and she began sobbing, "I know! I hate myself for doing it, and I would do anything to have him back!" She was on the ground at this point as her voice began breaking from the emotions. "W-why do I always h-hurt the ones c-closest to m-me!?" she yelled in despair.

She heard him sigh and walk over to her. "Just…go. Say what you want to say then leave." He walked away without another word, and she stood up and watched him go for a moment before turning her attention to the dragon that mattered in this situation.

Moon walked over to Winter's bed with still moist eyes and sat down beside him. His body was in remarkably pristine condition for a corpse. Did Turtle use his magic to preserve him like this forever? He looks…peaceful. She smiled sadly down at him. "I know we didn't part on the best terms, Winter," she whispered to him.

"And I know that this is too late, but if you can hear me…I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything. Flint told me that you thought about me a lot," she sighed wistfully. "I thought of you, too…especially on the bad days. I always wondered if I did the right thing by letting you leave that night on Jade Mountain. Looking back, I wish I had gone with you…because I loved you, too." She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek as she began crying again, "You were one of the best friends I ever had…and I'll never forget you!"

Her grief was so great that she didn't notice another visitor watching the scene with her own tears.

Blaze:

Blaze had all but disappeared once news of Winter's death had spread around the village. Though many of the dragons here didn't know him personally, they knew by the expressions of his friends and the Queen that a dragon undeserving of this fate had been taken from the world.

In these times, despair and grief were common, but no matter how many good dragons had lost their lives, no one had gotten used to living without their friends and loved ones.

Blaze's entire family besides Smolder was dead, and the two of them had never really interacted much. She had lived alone for almost three years and Winter turned out to be her first true friend, but still she had been robbed of his company.

When she had sworn her service to him, he had no way of knowing just how much that simple action meant. There was just something about him that drew her in. Maybe it was his charm or his manner or maybe it was because his heart was always in the right place.

He was always trying to help those in need, but this time, it had cost him his life. She should have been there behind him when he ran off after the assassin. She should have done something—anything—to aid him rather than worrying about herself, but she hadn't. Now, she had to live with the consequences of her choice.

When she first heard the news, she had felt as if her world meant nothing anymore. Her one, true friend was dead…and she didn't do anything to prevent it. What was the point of all of her suffering in the desert if she couldn't deal with one large cut? Worse had befallen her during that time, and she had pushed through it.

She didn't know anymore. She wanted to catch the ones responsible, but she didn't even know where to start. Winter had been her leader. She would have followed him wherever his path lead if he asked her to. He had earned her loyalty and dedication through his kind deed to her.

She had finally decided to go visit his body to say everything she had wanted to say to him when she saw Moon doing the same. She didn't want to confront her right now as she had a feeling that the Nightwing knew the truth. Winter had made a lasting impact on the both of them…but his heart only belonged to one.

Unfortunately, she wasn't that one.

It was hard to accept, but she had to in order to move on. Winter would never have loved her like he did Moon. She had given her heart to the wrong dragon for the right reasons. I doubt there will ever be another like him. One has to hope, though.

She would go to his funeral tomorrow, and she would see him off on his journey like the friend she knew he needed.

She spent the entire night and the following morning alone before going to the clearing that she had spoken to him before the Nightwing village bombing. The others were already gathered when she arrived. They looked at her with the same saddened expressions that she doubtless had.

Winter's body was sitting on a wooden pedestal next to an empty grave. Somehow, the sight of that hole made this whole ordeal seem more final. Which was kind of stupid since he was already dead.

There was a silence as those gathered—Blaze, Moon, Flint, Turtle, and Kinkajou—tried to think of anything to say, "S-should we say something?" Turtle asked.

Flint looked at him with a weary expression, "What's to say? He's dead, and he's not coming back."

"He doesn't deserve silence," Moon said softly. "He didn't deserve a lot of the things that happened to him."

"What will you miss most about him?" Kinkajou asked the group.

Flint answered first, "His company."

Turtle answered next, "His selflessness."

Blaze looked down as she whispered, "His kind heart."

Kinkajou chuckled weakly, "His sense of humor. What about you, Moon?"

The Nightwing was silent for a long time as she gazed at Winter's body. When she answered, it wasn't what any of them expected, "His voice."

Another silence fell over the group until a blinding light shot forth from Winter's body. When it died away, Winter's wing shot out and struck Flint in the face as the Icewing's body sat bolt upright with wild, unfocused eyes. Blaze screamed. This is impossible! How is he…!

The others were gathered around him in a panic as they tried to figure out what was going on when he fell back down unconscious…but alive. His chest was steadily rising and falling and his heart pounded steadily against his chest.

Everyone gathered turned to look at Turtle, but he just shrugged absently as he stared with an uncomprehending gaze at his now alive friend, "It wasn't me."

?:

She watched the touching scene with interest. It had been a long time since she had traveled to the mortal world. Their customs were alien to her immortal mind, but maybe she could gain insight when her charge awoke.

Part of his soul was stuck in the Spirit Realm, so she had to imbue part of her essence to fill the void. It was a risk, but she believed him strong enough to withstand the energy surge. Though he survived the process, it would take his body some time to adjust to her energy.

The world would be much different when he awoke, but this time he would not be facing this enemy alone. She would be there to help him.

To guide him.

She walked through the panicking mortals gathered around him. She gently stroked his spikes as she whispered in his ear, "I will be watching over you, Prince Winter."

AN: This is the last one until Chapter 18, so enjoy the main story for a while.

Until Next Time

AdmiralCole22