Okay. So no more replying to reviews! I am not sure about you guys, but it takes so long for me to go back and forth replying to every review! All in all, thanks for every single one! Sorry for the late update. I was really debating over this chapter. Let's hope I can do it! And please don't hate me for not updating or perhaps not responding to any PMs... *dodged a boozoka* Frosty, was that you or was it Brent!? I swear if you two team up, the world will end.. Ahem, anyways, I decided to fully focus on this story because I truly enjoy it. I am writing ahead of time, so regular updates..hopefully! *glanced at the last time I updated* Hehe..he..he.. I also planned counselor for each Winglet, which will an important element for the story. I am trying not to overly change Jade, but sometimes you can't help it. D:
By the way... PLEASE NO MORE NIGHTWINGS OR TEACHERS! I really don't need anymore NightWings. D: There is a list on the bottom on what I really need. Any extras that I get will be in a separate group that may be used later in the story. What I REALLY need is a MudWing. Seriously. There is one spot left open in one of the Winglets then I would have a full one but no one is submitting any MudWings. If you haven't submitted 3 (teacher, male student and female student) already, please submit! Though I don't need a teacher.
The Christmas Special is short because this chapter including the special without the Author's Note is over... 6000 words!? So anyways, my brain fried by the time I finished this, so I want to ask you guys this, do you guys want a Christmas Special someday, maybe in January-ish because I haven't started it, or would you guys like for me to do it in the middle of the story in the future. Tell me what you want! And the special isn't to offend anyone and more of a funny thing I wanted to do. Enjoy!
Me: Paradise, hey! can you do the disclaimer?
Paradise:...
Me: What is with you?
Paradise:...
Me: Hel-lo?
Paradise: *stomach grumbles*...
Me: Oh, you hungry?
Paradise: ...YES! I HAVE BEEN ALREADY BEEN FOR 8 CHAPTERS AND NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF FOOD! WHERE IS THE LIZARDS YOU PROMISED ME!?
Me: Er.. Um.. We are out of time for the disclaimer! I am sad to say I don't own anything!
Paradise: I AM NOT DONE HERE! HELLO? KATE?
Me: Bye! AND MERRY CHISRTMAS! THIS IS MY GIFT!
Previously: "Is she okay?" Ealge said louder with a dark look in his eyes. Onyx kept his silence and avoided his student's eyes. "ANSWER ME!" Ealge screamed in fury.
"Eagle, calm down," Amethyst placed her claw on his shoulder, but Ealge flung it off.
"Shut up!"
"Eagle..." Onyx said slowly. "Calm down. Don't take out your anger in your friends. Shard is..."
"Shard is what!" He demanded.
"Well, she has a lot of trauma because head injuries can cause the brain to bleed and swell. When it swells, the fluid paushed against the skull, and the swelling may-"
"What are you getting at!" Eagle demanded louder. Onyx took a deep breath.
"Shard is in a coma."
...
"WHAT!"
~OoOo~
The room was silent. The scene that just took place made even Amber, who was in a shipping frenzy, stop talking. The room was filled with an emotion that which Eagle probably felt the need to run out of the room: pity. Even Paradise, who greatly disliked Eagle, felt a small tug at his heart strings with the broken look on the Skywing's face. A face that Paradise always wore when he wasn't pretending...
Pretending to be happy.. Pretending that he didn't feel the weight of the world that almost crushed him under all the guilt and pain... Pretending that there wasn't several times he thought to just give up and let it all disappear.. Pretending he didn't see the haunting bodies in his dreams almost every night until the point that he forced himself to smile as if all is well.. Pretending that there was still something for him to live for. Paradise looked up at all the solemn faces and once again put on a smile and pretended. He pretended to forget the fact that he could never touch any of these dragons or get to close to them. After all, pretending was what Paradise was the best at when it came to his naive self. And so..he pretended, and pretended, and pretended.
"Out. Get out of my infirmary." The sudden break of silence caused everyone to look at the handsome male dragon who suddenly looked decades older. He witnessed throughout the last year about how the two dragons, both an IceWing and SkyWing, grow slowly closer and closer as the walls tumbled down. He had many patients throughout his life and it was always painful to see their loved ones weep. Especially a child. He sighed loudly and forced the remainder of the students out of his territory. Yes, his. This is where even the principal can't say anything against him, not that she would. She was simply too perfect to do that.
"But-" one student tried to say, but was cut off by the nasty glare sent his way.
"Out I tell you! You guys already missed the first few minutes of your first class of the school year! Hurry now!" He shoved the students out of the room.
"But we don't know what is out first class!" Amethyst objected loudly. Onyx sighed in annoyance.
"Didn't your counselor tell you?" All shook their heads. Onyx did a loud sigh of annoyance. He felt a small migraine. He hated when this happens. This created extra work for him and others because of a careless mistake. No one likes extra work. No one at all. Onyx couldn't help but wonder why didn't the last year students tell any of the dragons, but then remembered who the students were. Eagle doesn't care about anyone but himself, though that is an exception to Shard but is always a whole different story when the IceWing is involved, Sunstone would find all of this amusing to his weird pleasure, Shard is well...Shard because who knows what her real motive is, and the NightWing cousins would be, in no doubt in his mind, spreading the word about bullying and forget about the new students in their fuss. He felt an even a bigger headache at the reminder of the chaos last year. "Who is your counselor for your Winglet?"
"Wait, what do you mean by counselor?" Amethyst said in a confused voice. Onyx shook his head. Most students got confused at that and their Winglet counselor was supposed to explain. He could already connect the dots about who one of the Winglet counselor was, but he wasn't sure about the other one.
"The counselor was the dragon that watched you and mentored you and welcomed you the the academy when you met your Winglets with some kind of activity. He or she was supposed to explain everything to you about Jade and that they were the ones you go to if you have any questions about Jade, and if you it goes deeper into personal problems or if we tell you to go there for some reason for your own good, then you may go to the school counselor, though she can be a bit eccentric," Onyx hesitantly said. This raised many questions about who the school counselor was, but Onyx dodged the whole topic. "So, do you get who your counselors are?" A few nodded while the rest didn't even bother to respond or acted all distracted.
"Ours is Orange for the Jade Winglet. How about you guys?" Paradise with curiosity, though distaste at their careless counselor who didn't seem to bother explain anything to them. Maybe he could've if it weren't for everyone storming off, but still! Amber beamed at Paradise when she finally got what everyone was saying, though disappointed that Eagle left because she couldn't bug anyone else about their love lives.
"Falcon! That's who!"
Orange nodded. Everything was suddenly clearer. Orange was always irresponsible and always forgot every year, but Falcon was a new teacher and probably didn't know, so that explained it
Paradise gave her a curious look. Falcon? Was that a SkyWing name? Amber didn't seem to get that Paradise and the others were confused if the expecting looks were anything to go by.
"What is with all the looks you are giving me? Jeez. Stop pressuring me!" Amber childishly whined with a pout. Paradise shook head in exasperation and Polar gave a rude eye roll.
"We want you do elaborate genius," Polar said bluntly. Amber blinked slowly and for a moment Paradise thought he saw a sliver of hurt and sadness, but then she grinned so widely that it didn't seem to fit the MudWing's face and the pain vanished so quickly that Paradise was convinced he imagined it. For some reason, that grin looked all too familiar like he saw it everyday upon someone else's face and not Amber's.
"Oh, of course! He is the art teacher and a SkyWing! He is young for all these teachers and he doesn't look bad! Such a dazzling cherry red scales and that scar makes hum ruggedly handsome! I can already imagine all the different dragons I could ship him with! I can't believe I forgot! I must add him to my Wall of Needed Shipping!" Amber pulled a little stack of papers binded together with thread and a huge title on the cover that says, WINGS OF SHIPPING, with a huge heart encircled. Amber grabbed the quill attached and scribbled down fiercely. Paradise couldn't help but wonder if this is what normal dragons acted like nowadays. Was he out of touch for that long? Amber ignored everything around her expect her weird mutterings about shipping name for Eagle and Shard and adding Hurriwave to her Wall of Shipping. Paradise felt creeped out and she wasn't even talking about him!
~OoOo~
"Don't mind her. This is normal for Amber because she is just a huge stalker," Sunstone said with a blank face except the amusement in his eyes gave him away. Amber paused and quickly pointed her quill like it was a weapon at Sunstone.
"I am not a stalker Sunstone! I am a qualified love doctor who helps those in the need of companionship!" She pointedly ignored Sunstone's loud mutter of how no one asks her. She continued loudly. "You people do not know how to grab it when it is dangling right in front of you! That is why I must come in!"
"We get it, Miss Love Doctor," Sunstone said sarcastically. Amber ignored the sarcastic tone and nodded acting like she won the argument.
"U-um, L-love Doc-doctor?" Amethyst shyly asked. Amber looked at Amethyst and her amber eyes locked onto Amethyst's silver ones. She gave the smaller girl a long look as if she was starring into the NightWing's very soul. Amethyst shuddered after the long examination when Amber decided to answer her question.
"Why of course! I help dragons with their love problems and sometimes pair dragons up together because they ask for my help!" Amber said excitedly and clasped her claws together.
"Not. You just are very nosy."
"Oh, be quiet Sunstone. You are just a loner and no one wants you." Amber did the mature thing and stuck her tongue out.
"Many girls think I am very charming, thank you very much," Sunstone said with a bored tone and wanted nothing with this conversation. Amber just doesn't know when to shut her mouth and learn when not to be nosy, but that is what he liked about her. She had good intentions, though annoying a bit too often for his tastes. Kind of like an annoying little sister.
"Well I can't imagine anyone wanting you with your stuck up attitude. I won't even bother to try to pair you up!"
"Good. That is what I want."
"Well, excuse me but-"
"THE QUARTZ WINGLET GOES TO ART!" Onyx exclaimed loudly when they were completely off topic. He felt uncomfortable about talking about love with his little..affection..on the principle. "Jade goes to History. I am sure you guys know where the classes are, right?" Everyone nodded slowly. "THEN GET OUT OF MY INFIRMARY!" He shoved everyone out, but blocked Amber from leaving.
"I want to go to class!" I need to start to ship people, Amber wanted to say though felt that it would be a bad excuse.
"No. You are still injured. You too, Sunstone!" Sunstone shrugged uncaringly, but Amber immediately started a flow of protests. How much meddling, excuse her, love doctor work, would she miss if she stayed!?
"Siren left though!" Amber protested. Onyx paused his attempts of trying to push Amber back into the room. Amber took the opportunity to try and shove him out of the way, but failed.
"She left!? Who let her!? And why!? She still needs to recover or at least a check up after she fainted!" Onyx felt ticked. A student left without his permission! It would make him look bad in front of Emmy! Oops. Um, he meant Emerald. They aren't even dating yet so what permission does that give him to call her Emmy? He isn't sure if she liked him back yet, and even if she did then that would mean that she liked him back and that would mean they would be dating, which they are not! Even if they were, he wouldn't call her Emmy, unless she wanted him to of course and-
"Love trouble?" Amber nearly squealed when she saw the turmoil of conflict in the SandWing's eyes. He must want to impress someone if his panic was anything to go by for jut a missing student. She must add this to her Wall!
"No," Onyx said too hurriedly, much to Amber's delight. "Anyways, why did she leave and whose fault is it?"
"It is all Sunstone's fault because he called her a weakling, from what I gathered while I was eavesdropping," Amber shamelessly admitted while nodding her head towards Sunstone. He simply shrugged.
"Guilty as charged."
Onyx sighed with exasperation before hurrying out of the cave and called towards one of the students in the Jade Winglet. "Paradise! Come here quickly! I need your help!" Paradise lanced back and nodded. He waved goodbye to the others and ran back.
"Yes?" the young SandWing said uncertainly.
~OoOo~
"So, basically, you want me to fetch Siren if I see her." Onyx nodded.
"Basically that is what I want you to do. Now, let me go give you this slip so you are excused for being late... Now off you go!"
Paradise sighed before flying back to class; flying was faster then walking! Plus, he felt too lazy.
"No flying in hallways!" Darn it!
~OoOo~
"So after that, the Scavengers were..." Blah, blah, blah. Paradise twirled a quill in his claws. He already read about all the wars! Boredom catches onto you when you basically have no life except eat and run. He already sent Siren back, and after much argument from the SeaWing, she finally left, as well as their only entertainment. And here he thought that school will be more interesting. Even the students weren't paying attention, except Amethyst who was paying rapid attention, but that didn't count because Amethyst seemed to be the type to follow rules and work hard.
Don't forget the dead bodies!
Oh right, the dead bodies. It was like a nightmare come back to life. Seriously. When will he catch a break? Paradise felt a shiver at the thought that the dragons will come here to Jade. No, they won't. They couldn't possibly...
Oh, yes they can.
Yeah. They always manage to track him eventually- wait! Who said that?
You, duh.
Great. I am talking to myself. Kill me now.
Sure. That will kill both of us, but on the bright side, you won't be going crazy anymore!
Yay! Let's party then and while we are at it, go chop off my head!
Your sarcasm is showing.
I had no idea!
Jeez. Who woke up on the wrong side of the cave?
I woke up before dawn in my defense! It was still really late! Do you know how tiring it is to fly from the Ice Kingdom to here nonstop!
Blah, blah, blah.
Hey! I am talking to you!
You are talking to yourself. You aren't exactly sane here.
Shut up!
"Excuse me Paradise, but did you just tell me to shut up?" Cairo said. Paradise blinked. Everyone was staring at him and he felt uncomfortable. Most of the time when he gets stared at, it isn't exactly for the best reasons.
"No?"
"If you say so." Paradise blinked at the easy shrug off, but who was he to complain? Getting in trouble will just attract attention! Cairo, the History teacher, seemed to have little patience for some of his fellow classmates, like River who won't stop throwing stuff across the room. He seemed to have enough on his plate without Paradise. The SandWing was a bit on the old side, Paradise observed, and also skinny, but wore way too many jewelry for Paradise's taste. Isn't that heavy and uncomfortable? He preferred comfort over luxury. Wow. He never knew that a dragon can carry more jewelry than a sunken treasure box. You learn something new everyday!
"Anyways, the SeaWing developed a tactic against the..." Where was he? Oh yeah. The treasure box of a dragon. Seriously. The dragon had rings on each talon and necklaces that seemed that if Cairo leaned too much to a side, he would collapse. A real life treasure box. A family, no, a few generations could live off all the stuff Cairo had on display, whether it was accessories he was wearing or the large collection of history items on the wall. He seemed to have a very special place for jewelry because one while section of the wall is dedicated to all his jewels, with even little labels and all! Talk about a boring hobby. Not that Paradise could say a thing about hobbies, except maybe the occasional painting, but that was more of a way to deal with everything in his life. His life was screwed up. Don't ask, but it is just screwed up. Nothing more, nothing less-
"PINK PONIES ARE POOPING OUT RAINBOW DRAGONETS!"
CRASH!
"Ow!"
"Keep your limbs to yourself!" Yellow barred her fangs towards the MudWing who jumped on top of her in the sudden yelling.
"Sorry, couldn't help being attracted to the angel, such as yourself," River somehow managed to flirt while in a awkward position of being pressed up against Yellow after he fell, which was because of the sudden push made by Amethyst in her panic.
"Get. Off."
"Aww. Why do you want me off so quickly? Do you actually perhaps like being together like this?"
"In your dreams," she grunted. Nope. She definitely didn't like being so close to River even with his beautiful eyes, inches from her and how his smell of earth and honey made her dizzy. Nope. Not at all.
"Please don't kill me?" Paradise asked when he landed on top of Polar by accident after he tripped.
"Oh for crying out loud Paradise, just get off me," she replied as she tried to push the SandWing off her. Why was he bigger than her!?
"Oh, sorry." He got up and tried to help the IceWing up, but she got up herself. She barely even looked in his direction. Paradise sighed at her rudeness. It was becoming annoying, but they barely knew each other for a day. He can't help her attitude.
"What was that for?" Polar asked curiously at the teacher, while completely ignoring the dragon besides her. She could feel his piercing stare from behind, and she was afraid to turn around and see what emotions are in his eyes. She didn't want to see what others thought of her, even if it was from a suspicious dragon.
"Because," Cairo shrugged off casually. "You guys weren't paying attention."
"We were!" Yellow yelled loudly, not wanting to admit she was daydreaming while the teacher rambled on about something she couldn't care less about.
"Kind of," Paradise added. Yellow shot a glare towards the SandWing. He shrugged.
"It is true."
"Hey! Don't talk to her like that! Treat girls with well deserved respect!" River yelled underneath Yellow. Yellow quickly scowled and whacked the MudWing with her tail. Splatters of red pooped up on her scales, before fading back into yellow.
"I don't need someone to protect me! Girls aren't made of glass! We are just as strong as you guys!" Yellow scolded the male dragon. River scoffed before sighing.
"I am not even going to try. Even though if you are strong, I will still treat you girls with respect," he stated firmly. Yellow snorted loudly at his words. Yeah right.
"More like flirt obnoxiously." River puffed out his chest at the rudeness, which was true, but she barely knew him! He doesn't flirt with girls..all the time..but still! What did these dragons know about him!
"If only you took your studies seriously as much as girls," Cairo stated casually. This causes all the students' curiosity to peak. The flirt's studies?
"Wh-what? My studies? What does that have anything to do with out conversation?" said a nervous River. The reason why his grades were terrible was because of everything at home. River shook his head. No, don't think about the nightmares. Polar gave the MudWing a blunt look.
"You do know we are in school, right? Your studies have to do with everything! Unless you plan to live under a rock the whole time and flirt with girls all day."
Paradise winced sympathetically. Polar, blunt as usual, huh? The whole time since kept up the Ice Queen demeanor, except the whole attack incident, which strangely enough, no one has talked about it yet. Who attacked the students anyways? And what was with that warning?
"Who cares about studies though?"
"Your parents?" Amethyst piped in, not stammering for once. She seemed for relaxed now, Paradise noticed, even after the incident in which she completely broke down. That worried Paradise greatly, so it was nice to see her act more calm after the whole incident and not here the stammer, though it was quite cute. Such a shame she stopped.
River froze at the mention of his parents. What should he say? Just come out with the truth and perhaps get a pity party on his hands? No. He would rather not.
"Actually, his parents-"
"SHUT UP!" River yelled loudly, embarrassed. He did not want his pity back story being told. That was a touchy subject. Cairo took pity on his student, mostly because Principle Emerald will have his head if she finds out he told private information, but pity none the less.
"Why weren't you kids paying attention?" he demanded. He was paid to teach, after all! Plus, if his students failed the class, it was all on him. An angry mob of parents wouldn't be good for anyone and he wasn't saying that just to save his own skin!
The students that knew what happened shuffled quietly. All but River, who looked at his fellow Jade groupmates with confusion, grew quiet. River probably was bored and wasn't paying attention either way, Cairo thought with annoyance. He made a mental note that River needed to improve this habit. Emerald would probably want to know this to improve the MudWing's terrible grades. "Paradise? Polar? Yellow? Amethyst?" Silence met his words. Cairo grounded his teeth. He would drag it out of his students if he could, but that wouldn't be good if he touched a scale on them.
River, seeing no one speak up, grew frustrated. It was getting on his nerves about how everyone was keeping secrets. Here he thought coming to school, all the secrets would stop when he came to another school. Though let's face it; the reason he came to school wasn't just for the girls. He was keeping a secret as well.
"Amethyst, why don't you tell the class why the rest are being so secretive?" Cairo ordered, seeing how shy the girl was and the easiest to wiggle the answers out of. Amethyst looked up, her silver eyes wide at the being the one singled out. She looked like a child just caught in the act.
"Amethyst," Cairo repeated, laying down the pressure on the young NightWing. Amethyst took a deep breath. Paradise glanced worriedly at the girl. I can do this, she thought, trying to overcome her shyness.
"Well," Amethyst started slowly. "Polar, Paradise and I were in the Art Room when we heard a ruckus and rushed over to the scene, and then we saw..."
Paradise closed his eyes as his not-friend explained everything. The dead bodies gave him quite a fright. He thought they found him again and everyone here would be killed just for associating with him. That is how bad it has become. Technically, it wasn't the dragons who were looking for him fault, but the people who hired them to find him at all costs. Paradise smiled bitterly. They have gone to far to go back to the good times. They hurt innocent people and his friends just to get their claws on him. There was no going back.
"..so after that we were kicked out after finding out Shard was in a coma, caused by the trauma from the head injuries that caused the brain to bleed and swell or something like that," Amethyst finished. She took a deep breath. That was long explanation.
River was shocked that he missed everything and how everyone but him knew what was going on. How did he not know! Cairo, who was silent at the whole explanation, finally spoke. "So, that is why everyone is out of it and Siren and Eagle isn't here." Everyone nodded. He sighed loudly. "Then there is no use for your lot to be in here. Now, get going!" No one budges, confused why they were getting kicked out for the second time today.
"What? Why are we getting kicked out!" Paradise spoke out for everyone. The rest nodded, even Polar was confused.
"Well, no one is focusing. There is no reason for me to waste my breath in you guys. Might as well allow you to run around to get your head cleared up. This was the only class today. The real stuff starts tomorrow and you will meet the rest of your teachers. Now, get going! Class dismissed!" Those two words caused the kids to slowly spill out of the the cave, dazed. They all spilt up with no particular destination.
Paradise somehow managed to wander into a room with shelves of scrolls. He smiled calmly. The familiar sight put his nerves somewhat at ease. He barely noticed anyone else was in the room, surrounding himself with something that felt familiar. All was well. He forgot all about bodies or his worries, remembering how he sheltered himself with scrolls, something he used to despise, when everything went wrong. He felt truly at peace with no bothers...for only one minute. His sharp senses felt a presence behind him. His talon twitched. Honestly, can he get some relaxation for a few minutes! Was that too much to ask for? Then again, everything was too much to ask for with him after the Accident.
"So you need something?" a voice behind him asked. He turned around to see a petite NightWing with pitch black scales with a navy underbelly, silver scales rim her eyes, which made them look bigger. He noticed a small pouch around her neck, which contained the checkout stamp. She must be the librarian, he thought. He felt nervous. Was he in trouble? Uh oh. He must have been staring for too long, because the female awkwardly shuffled. She smiled gently at Paraidse, letting him know he wasn't in trouble, much to his relief. He finally replied to her question.
"No." It came out more like a question, nothing like Paradise wanted it to. He didn't need anything..right?
"Oh, sorry. You wanted peace and quiet, didn't you?" The librarian smiled softly. Paradise felt a swarm of unease build up. Who was she?
"How did you-"
"I was born under one full moon," she cut Paradise off. Paradise's eye widen in realization. He stiffened softly, trying to keep his mind blank of anything suspicious about his past. He didn't want his cover blown. He eyed the adult NightWing warily.
"My name's Nightdancer," she said with a kind tone. Paradise didn't let his guard down.
"I didn't ask for your name," he stated and took a small step back. What could she possibly have up her claw? Was she trying to make him let his guard down?
"But you seem to be someone who wants company. You didn't exactly come for the scrolls. The best way is to talk it out," the librarian, Nightdancer, told him. Paradise tried to relax. She didn't seem like someone with bad intentions, but he had to still be wary of her at all times.
"Using your mind reading powers?" Paradise curiously asked. Was she someone who was nosy and try to poke into someone's mind?
"Yeah," Nightdancer chuckled softly. "And I am not someone nosy. I usually use it to help people with searching for their scrolls. Nothing more and nothing less, but that isn't the point. You wanna talk?"
"I don't want to talk it out!" Paradise softly protested, keeping in mind that she was the librarian. He had his fair share of librarians.
Nightdancer shrugged. "Then talk about something you like. Sometimes the things you love can help with your problems, if you don't want a shoulder to lean on."
Paradise felt guilty at her words. "I didn't mean-"
Nightdancer waved him off. "I know you didn't mean it in that way. For me, when I have problems, I flee towards the world of stories. I guess you can call me a somewhat bookworm, but I truly love to write stories."
Paradise fully realizing that this female was trying to help him. If that was the case, it would be the polite thing to make a conversation, however short.
"Really? I don't love scrolls, but they were kind of a haven for me. A comfort I had when I felt down, I guess you can say. You write?"
Nightdancer glowed at the mention of her beloved hobby. "Nothing big or complete, but I love it. Maybe I can show you sometime." Paradise smiled politely.
"That would be nice."
Nightdancer clasped her claws together. Excitedly, she said, "Why not now! There is nothing like the present!" Paradise smiled at one of his favorite quotes, which was on the parchment in the bag around his beck, but blinked in confusion.
"Wh-what? Don't you have work?"
Nightdancer waved off Paradise's words. "I am sure she won't mind me slacking off for a few minutes. Plus, I am helping you, no?"
Paradise was confused. She? And he didn't even agree to anything in the first place! Before he could open his snout to protest, a shrill voice rang.
"Nightdancer, where are you! I didn't hire to have your heads up in the clouds! These scrolls don't organize themselves!"
Nightdancer sighed sadly. "Looks like Irukandji is calling for me. Work calls. Honestly, you think she would be nicer because school just started and new students. For a librarian, she sure can be quite snappish and sarcastic."
"Librarian?" Paradise echoed. What? He thought she was the librarian!
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. My name is Nightdancer, the librarian assistant. You must have thought I was in charge. Most think I should be, since I can be nicer than Irukandji, but she has a kind soul beneath everything. Anyways, it was nice meeting you! Next time, right? I will show you my stories. See you later!" Nightdancer told him quickly, before rushing off to attend to her duties. Paradise blinked dazedly before hesitantly waving the female off. Talking to someone sure took his mind off things.
Nightdancer seemed nice, though her mind reading powers can be a problem later on. I have to be careful, he thought before leaving the library. He blinked at the darkness of the caves. Trickles of moonlight sank through cracks in the cave, casting long creepy shadows . He didn't realize it was so late. Did he and Nightdancer talk for that long? He sighed at the prospect of waking up tomorrow for classes. He trudged his way down the cave towards his room with his clawmate.
The eerie of the night was ordinary for Paradise. Even without the light, he could perfectly navigate his way around. He entered the opening to see one bed occupied. Eagle must be already asleep, he thought. The SkyWing's back towards him. He trugged his way towards his bed. He tried to get comfortable, before allowing the wariness of the first day to take over. His first eventful day at Jade was finally over.
~OoOo~
The moons glowed brightly. Their light shined down upon the Jade Academy. The scraps of talons rang through the night. One dragon leaned against the wall of the entrance to Jade. The dragon slowly scratched the rock below the dragons's feet. The dragon's ears twitched, hearing the gentle flap of wings. The dragon froze and tried to lean father back into the shadows where the dragon hide. The dragon know what the meant. He was here.
A SandWing gently landed at the entrance, moving quietly without a sounds. The SandWing approached the dragon hiding in the shadows.
"Have you done what they wanted?" the SandWing hissed towards the shadows.
"No." The SandWing flapped his wings unhappily.
"Not yet?" Inside the shadows, the dragon rolled his eyes.
"Patience, please."
The SandWing growled. "Patience, you ask? How can we have patience when we have heard about the way you are handling your part of the deal? They aren't happy." The dragon waved the SandWing off.
"I needed the teachers not to suspect me. It is only the first day. All of this was a warning and a distraction. One step at a time before I can strike again. If you want to reach your goal, I will hold up my end of the bargain as long as they do." The SandWing growled warningly again.
"Of course they will! But can you?" The dragon smirked confidently.
"We will see."
~OoOo~
BONUS! CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!
Amber giggled mischievously. She easily sneaked around the school and hid when dragons came by. She smiled happily. This would be the best Christmas yet!
~The Next Day~
"Christmas? What is that? A name of a bug?" Paradise asked in a confused voice. Amethyst giggled and gave a dazzling smile, which made Paradise feel a weird feeling in his chest. Was he sick? He better go to the infirmary later to check.
"Of corse not! It is a holiday I read about. Scavenger used to celebrate it, mainly revolving around the bonds with friends and family. A day when everyone you love gets together. It was quite an interesting tradition to read about!"
"Family?" Paradise echoed, thinking about his brother. Amethyst nodded.
"Yeah, anyways it was about the celebration of...huh? Why is everyone gathered?" Amethyst said, pointing towards the doorway of one of the caves. Paradise shrugged and the two ventured towards the crowd. They didn't see much, only watched as Sunstone pushed his way through the crowd and ran away. Paradise and Amethyst gave each other confused looks before trying to get closer towards the scene.
"-I hate you!" A loud familiar voice yelled in the middle of the scene. Paradise apologized to another student as he shoved his way through the crowd with Amethyst closely following. Amethyst gave a quiet gasp when Siren, the source of the loud yell, stormed away from the scene. "What are you all looking at!" She barked loudly before everyone made way for the dragon to leave. Students whispered before dissipating because none wanted to be at the end of Siren's wrath.
"I wonder what made Siren so angry?" Amethyst said out loud worriedly. When everyone left, the two friends saw two familiar faces at the doorway. "Amber? Eagle? What are you two doing here?" Amethyst said.
Eagle and Paradise scowled at each other, neither wanting to be in the other's company. Eagle shoved a talon towards the MudWing.
"Ask her. She is butting her snout into other people's businesses again," Eagle stated with a snarl. Amber playfully rolled her eyes.
"Oh, be quiet. You dragons don't know when you need the help of a love doctor! Right, partner?" Amber said with a large grin. Eagle frowned at the girl.
"I never agreed to even be your partner! I gave up after the first few times when you dragged me around to do "love doctor" work. Do you think I want to be here?" Eagle disagreed. The two argued (read: Eagle arguing and Amber being stubborn in her views) loudly and Paradise sighed. And here he thought something important was happening. He decided to talk away from this and began walking towards the doorway to his cave with Amethyst struggling to catch up.
"I am leaving!" Eagle yelled loudly and began to head back it his cave to rest and get away from the headache he felt coming on.
Amethyst gasped softly, seeing the green plant tied to the doorway. She froze in her tracks. All the pieces fell into place. Why Amber, why? This was Amber after all, then again.
"Paradise don't-" she tried to warm him, but it was too late. Paradise and Eagle walked into each other, trying to go through the doorway.
"Watch where you are going!" Eagle barked at Paradise. Paradise scowled in reply.
"I could say the same to you." The glaring contest was interrupted by the cackle by Amber. Paradise looked at the MudWing weirdly, but Eagle looked up and swore quietly. He forgot about that!
"What? Do you know something?" Paradise gave his clawmate a confused look. Eagle sighed and covered his eyes before pointing up. "A plant? What is that?"
"A mistletoe," a voice interjected. Paradise looked up to see the composed Polar.
"Mistletoe?" Paradise echoed. Polar nodded.
"A parasitic flowering plant that grows attached to, and within, the vascular system of a tree and shrub. What is it doing attached to the doorway towards the caves?" Polar asked curiously.
"Anyone who meets under a mistletoe kiss. It is a Christmas tradition!" Amethyst said. Realization dawned upon Paradise and blood drained from his scales.
"We-we have to.."
"Kiss!" Amber giggled. The two rivals glared at each other.
"This is never to be mentioned," Eagle warned and Paradise nodded with distaste. With Amber here, there is no way to get out of this, is there? Paradise thought with dread.
Slowly, the two leaned together and Eagle pressed his snout...
Against the side of face. The two quickly withdrew and Eagle ran away, with the idea to scrub his snout until his scales came out.
Paradise shuddered. Worst. Christmas. Ever.
Jade Winglet: Main/secondary
Counselor: Orange, Sub/hallway
SandWing (Paradise) Main
SkyWing (Eagle) Main
SeaWing (Siren) Main
MudWing (River) Secondary
NightWing (Amethyst) Main
RainWing (Yellow) Semi-main
IceWing (Polar) main
~OoOo~
Sapphire Winglet: Main/Secondary/Side
Counselor: Vine, Battle teacher
SandWing (Scorch) side
SkyWing (Spire) secondary
SeaWing (Hurricane) Secondary
MudWing (Reed) Side
NightWing (Miseryheart) Side
RainWing (Blue) Main, kinda
IceWing (Shiver) side
~OoOo~
Quartz Winglet: Secondary/Side
Counselor: Falcon, Art
SandWing (Scorpion) Secondary
SkyWing (Sunstone) secondary
SeaWing (Wave) side
MudWing (Amber) Secondary
NightWing (Soulcrusher) side
RainWing (Diamond) secondary kind of
IceWing (Shard) secondary
~OoOo~
Diamond Winglet: Side/extra
Counselor, NightDancer, Librarian assistant
SandWing (Fang) side
SkyWing (Aeolus) extra
SeaWing (Shrimp) side
MudWing (open)
NightWing (Shadowflare) side
RainWing (Jubilee) extra
IceWing (Aegolus) side
~OoOo~
Opal Winglet: Side/extra
Counselor: Cairo, History
SandWing (open)
SkyWing (Bloom) side
SeaWing (open)
MudWing (open)
NightWing (Dreamstar) side
RainWing (Guava) extra
IceWing (open)
~OoOo~
Teachers:
Librarian: (Irukandji)
Battle: (Vine)
History: (Cairo)
Hallway monitor/substitute: (Orange)
Principle: (Emerald "Emmy")
Healer: (Sardonyx, "Onyx")
Regular teacher/Scroll Manager: (Garnet)
Counselor/Prey room watcher: (Mimosa)
Librarian assistant: (Nightdancer)
Art Teacher: (Falcon)
~OoOo~
-mysteryreader6626 signing out