PART ONE: Webs and Caves
Two Hundred Years Later …
Chapter 1
Prancer always thought school was a silly waste of time and that his parents put him in it to distract him from the real purpose that he was made to do.
Why bother learning about how to learn to read, write, and make friends when we can go out and CRUSH ALL OF THE CAVEWINGS AT ONCE!
Prancer absolutely despised Cavewings and personally wanted to wipe their tribe off of the face of Petonix. They were the ones who had started the war with the Webwings, breaking the peaceful life that the two tribes lived in, all over some sort of artifact that they wanted that could make them rule over both the tribes without any trouble. The Webwings wanted to share the power with both of the tribes but the Cavewings wanted it all for themselves.
Cavewings were also the reason that his sister Ocho was dead. Ocho was six when Cavewings attacked the Webwings school that Ocho went to. His parents told him that there were no survivors. Prancer didn't come out from his bed for five days after hearing that news. Ocho had always looked after Prancer when he had hatched, she helped him learn to fly, learn how to use his webs, and overall was the best sister a little brother could ask for. Now all of that is gone in his life and he absolutely wants to RIP OFF EVERY CAVEWINGS HEAD that he comes across as payback for his sister.
Why did it have to be her school, he thought. Out of all the Webwing schools, why go for the one that is the farthest away from where the battling is taking place. Was this some sick act of revenge? Maybe the Cavewings knew how well his sister would have trained him to wipe out their tribe so they decided to stop that. Well too bad because their attempt won't stop me from becoming the greatest soldier in the Webwing army.
Prancer could already imagine it, being on the front lines facing down the Cavewings, wrapping them up with his webs and then slicing their throats with his claws. Sure Cavewing scales were as tough as rocks but that doesn't mean that they got a few weak spots where he can slice right through them. He would learn of all their weaknesses, all of their flaws in their army and use the information to destroy them once and for all.
How have we not defeated them sooner, he thought. Surely with our webs and better trained army than they have, we should have crushed them a long time ago. HOW ARE THEY STILL FIGHTING IN THIS WAR?!
While Prancer was thinking of all of the ways that he could easily defeat a Cavewing, his mom Frisky walked into their web at that exact moment.
Oh great, he thought. I just remembered that I was supposed to be getting ready for school and not laying down in my bed thinking about defeating Cavewings.
Prancer got up out of his bed and walked over to where his mom was waiting at the entrance. He really wasn't looking forward to whatever she had to say this time about his disobedience about doing a simple task.
"Prancer, what did I say about getting ready for school?" Frisky said.
"That I have to get ready because education is very important and will help me later in life and blah, blah, blah. Mom, why do I have to go to school? What will school help me with to defeat CAVEWIGNS!" yelled Prancer.
Frisky looked the least bit impressed by this statement. "Quiet now, we do not talk about Cavewings in this web, do you understand me? If you keep this attitude up and not pay attention in school, they are going to assign you to the renovation crew. Is that what you want, measuring webs and the structural integrity of them for the rest of your life?"
"NO!" Prancer screamed. "But I also don't want to be standing around in a boring school learning about how to grow food or be nice to each other when I can be OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES AND CRUSHING EVERY CAVEWING UNDER MY CLAWS!"
"Enough!" came a new voice entering the web and already Prancer knew this wasn't going to be his favorite day. His father, Hopper, walked into the web with an aura of disapproval on his face. Prancer never liked his parents, they were always too protective of him, not thinking that he can handle himself and that he will get himself into trouble if he is left alone for one minute.
Oh come on, he thought. Why does my dad have to back from working in the mines very early. I usually am able to escape out the door before he comes back home. Hey, who knows, maybe today he will just get what he needs and leave.
Unfortunately that is not what happened and Prancer could already feel the lecture that he was about to get.
"Prancer, what have I said about wanting to fight Cavewings. You are much too young to join the army and you would probably not last two minutes out there on the front lines."
Prancer wasn't going to take this lecture sitting down. "But dad," Prancer pleaded, "I can take care of myself and think about it, when I get out there and defeat all of the Cavewings then the caves will be safe for all of the Webwings forever."
"Or," Hopper said, "You will get torn apart in an instant from the first Cavewing that attacks you. Have you ever considered for a moment that they are twice the size of you and twice as powerful. You would never last out there, at least here you are safe and protected.
"BUT I DON'T WANNA WAIT AROUND WHILE THE CAVEWINGS KILL OUR SOLDIERS! I WANT TO WIPE THEIR TRIBE OUT OF EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW!"
"ENOUGH NOW!" Hopper ordered. "Either you leave right now for school and forget about this fighting Cavewings dream or I will find the strongest webs to tie you up in and leave you there until you get some common sense in your brain. GOT THAT?!"
Prancer shut his snout and obeyed his father that instant. As much as he wanted to continue to argue with him, being tied up in webs and forced to learn "common sense" was not how Prancer wanted to spend his day. He put his pouch with his school supplies over his neck and walked out of the web and into the tunnel to school.
Annoying parents thinking they know what is best for me, Prancer bickered in his mind. They don't respect my ideas because they think they will get me killed but I am much stronger than they think I am.
Well now that he was heading to school, at least there was someone there that would be waiting for him that he enjoyed seeing everyday.
Yes and once this dragonet is done helping me with my work, then I will go out and find a Cavewing to kill. I will rip its head off and show it to my parents, he thought happily. Yes and once I show them I can take care of myself, I will destroy the rest of the Cavewings.
