Chapter 9

Canopy

Canopy woke up to a bright light shining in her eyes. She opened them, forgetting where she was for a second. She gazed in awe at the trees. She looked around seeing the others in their normal sleeping pile. She stood up letting out a yawn as she stretched.

They had found a small area with enough cover not to be seen. They were high in a mountain range overlooking the Diamond Spray Delta. Constellation had confirmed it by looking at one of the scrolls she had brought with.

Canopy stretched her wings gliding down towards the ground below them. They had caught a few mountain goats yesterday after getting out of their cave, but she figured they would like something to eat when they woke up.

Her eyes scanned the ground below taking in all the sights. She spotted a small river that flowed through, down to the delta. She landed next to it, dipping a talon into the cool water. Droplets flew off her as the river flowed past her. She took her talon out watching the water. Soon she saw something silver glide in the water. She edged closer watching the fish swim upstream. As it did she dived into the water biting down on the scaly creature.

She pulled her head up out of the water and dropped it away from the water. It flopped hopelessly as it tried to get back to its spot in the river. She watched it come to a slow stop in flops. She looked back over the water looking for more.

She held onto the five fish she had as she flew back to the others. They were all awake and … panicking? She dropped the fish and landed next to them. "What happened?" she asked.

The others turned to her. "Where have you been?" Aries jumped forwards.

"Hunting," she said as Aries looked over her.

"You couldn't tell us first?" Dusk shouted quietly.

"I figured I'd be back before you got up," Canopy shrugged. "I guess it took longer."

"We were worried." Abyss was about in tears.

"Guy's, I'm alright." She looked at them all. "I promise."

They each grumbled and grabbed a fish to eat. Canopy grabbed a fish and brought it over to Abyss. She tossed it to him. "Hey. Nothing can take me down. You know it."

He gave a slight smile as he began to gnaw on the fish. Canopy smiled and went to sit by the ledge. "Hey, what about you? There's no fish left." Abyss spoke up.

"I'll be alright. You guy's need to eat." she smiled. She looked back over the ledge as birds flew past singing their birdsong. Small clouds moved along the horizon as the sun shone brightly in the morning. In the far distance she could hear what she thought was a waterfall. A goat bleated not too far away and she was half tempted to go catch it.

She inhaled the smell of all the flowers in the morning breeze. A butterfly landed on a branch close to Canopy. She looked over to it and held a talon up for it to flutter on. She brought it closer to her face to see it in full colors. It was a dark magenta with swirls of light blue and bright yellow on the outside of its wings. She blew at it just a tiny bit and it flew away towards another tree. She watched it go with a smile on her face.

A woosh of air drew her attention to the sky. The others were done eating now and were sitting in the shade behind her. Another whoosh caused her to look over. She squinted seeing two dark shapes flying right towards them.

"Hurry hide," she scrambled backwards warning the others. "Dragons incoming."

The others looked around and hurried over to a nook in the rock. She pushed the five of them into it hoping it was big enough for all of them. "Canopy there's not enough room." Constellation gasped as room was taken up.

"Is there enough room for you five?" She asked, looking back at the two dark dragons.

"Yes but what about you?" Constellation looked at Canopy.

"I'll be fine. I look enough like a Leafwing that they might suspect me to be one." she pushed Dusk's tail in. "Be quiet. I'll be alright."

She stood there trying not to look inconspicuous as the two dragons landed on the plateau. She walked towards them holding her head high.

"We know what you are," one of them said.

"Why don't you all come out and face us," the other growled more to himself.

"I'm the only one here." Canopy tried to convince them.

"I knew we should have tried to come from below." one put a talon on her face. "Next time we're sticking to my plan."

The second one snorted to the other. "Whatever. We know you're all hybrids and we're not here to hurt you."

Abyss was the first one to appear from the little cave. "I told you to stay hidden." Canopy hissed to him.

"I can't let you stand out here alone can I." he hissed back. The others followed in pursuit as they all stood next to her.

She sighed at them and looked at the two Mudwings. "What do you want?"

"We saw you when you were out hunting. We figured there were more of you by how many fish you had," one explained. "I'm Gator and this is Egret."

"We just wanted to ask why you're out here," Egret said, her voice calm. "We don't see many hybrids. Usually Queen Ember captures them all before they can get too far."

"We used to live in a cave not too far from here. We ran out of food and assumed it would be better out here than starve to death there." Constellation shifted her wings.

"What do you mean Queen Ember would capture hybrids?" Canopy realized what they had said.

The two Mudwings looked at each other. "Queen Ember uses hybrids for her own dirty work. She caught a group of hybrids just a few days ago."

"I feel sorry for them," Gators wings slumped a little. He shook himself. "Anyway, we wanted to warn you before any Skywing soldiers found you. You should probably get away from here."

"Thanks, I guess." Canopy tilted her head at the two.

"We should get going." Egret started towards the ledge. "Be careful out here. And good luck."

Canopy watched as the two Mudwings soared over the trees and disappeared into the distance. She turned around to face the others. "There's more hybrids out here."

"We have to find them," Abyss jumped up.

"How would we find them?" Aries asked.

"The Mudwings said Queen Ember had them," Canopy looked to the mountains. "We go there, and rescue them."