Hi guys. So I have a pretty long authors note today so warning. If you usually skip the authors note I would suggest reading this one :)
So the other day I was thinking about where I want to go with this story and I have decided something. In the story description it says that this story is set as if the events of the third arc didn't happen and Moon didn't have the property of the lost continent. I have decided that i am going to make this story the first of five. I'm going to be writing my own version of the third arc in a way more satisfying to me.
I don't hate the third arc or Pantala, I actually quite like it. I'm just rewriting the third arc with my own imagination. I will be borrowing some themes from the original third arc (such as mind control) but the rest will be a new story I have invented
I would love it if you guys could stick around for the other 4 stories in this "series"!
(and just a disclaimer, there is a thick bit of text in a flashback so just bear with me through that)
Thanks again to everyone reading this story! Enjoy :)
Qibli sat in his prison. The walls were dark and made of brick and it was cold. Very cold. As a Sandwing, the cold was horrible. He had been in the prison for 2 days now. Alone with himself and with nothing to do, Qibli thought back to one of his last days at Jade Mountain.
Qibli was walking over to where Moonwatcher and Kinkajou were sitting about a week ago at lunch. Hearing there conversation he decided to stand back and listen for a second. "Soooo how is everything with Qibliiii!" Said Kinkajou mischievously, nudging Moon with her tail. "Everything is fine I guess." Moon said plainly. Kinkajou looked as confused as Qibli felt. Was she sad? Did he do something wrong? Qibli thought back to his time together with Moon. No, he hadn't done anything wrong he didn't think...
"Why? What's happening?" Asked Kinkajou. Moon drew in a breath and exhaled very slowly. "The other day we were talking about when we graduate from school, and he mentioned living together in the Kingdom of Sand. But I'm not really the kind of dragon to live in the desert. I like trees and soil beneath my claws." Moon paused, thinking over what she just said "So nothing really. He is still one of the best dragons I know but its just..." Moon stopped looking ashamed. "what is it! I mean, what is it?" Said Kinkajou obviously wanting to know more. Why couldn't she talk to me about this Qibli thought. "Sometimes I just wish Winter was here you know?" Moon answered avoiding her friend's eyes. Kinkajou looked shocked. Qibli wasn't really, everyone missed Winter after he left Jade Mountain to work on Sanctuary with the remains of the Talons of Peace. "What do you mean? Do you mean it like-" said Kinkajou cutting herself off. What the Rainwing said next was the thing that shocked Qibli the most. "Do you think you made the right choice?" Kinkajou asked carefully. Moon looked at her friend in the eyes and said "I don't know."
The memories came crashing back to Qibli. Every time he thought of that day it was like claws piercing his heart everytime.
Qibli missed Moon though. Lost in his own thoughts he heard the door to his prison open. Then close. Squinting his eyes he could almost make out the shape of a dragon, not much bigger than Qibli.
"Who are you?" Qibli asked bravely "What do you want?!". The dragon chuckled. As he moved Qibli thought he saw the shine of pure white scales with a bit of blue. "I was told you were smart... So I need your help..." Said the mystery dragon in a low voice. A voice Qibli thought he recognized. "I- I WONT HELP YOU!" Cried Qibli.
"Then you are of no use to me, but you will change your mind if I have my way..." said the dragon again. Just like that the dragon left the prison, closing the door and leaving Qibli in the darkness.
Moon soared through the early morning sky along her friends. She had faltered for a second which made Winter come fly along side her.
"Hey... Are you okay?" He asked. Moon shook her head clearing her mind. "Yeah I'm fine" she said forcing a smile.
No she wasn't. She was thinking back to one of the last days she saw Qibli. He overheard Moons conversation with Kinkajou about Winter. She couldn't help thinking that she was the reason Qibli had left. Maybe he wasn't captured, but he ran away mad at Moon. The guilt washed over her. Why had she said that? She loved and still loves Qibli. Did she really mean what she said? Was she not sure which dragon she truly should've chosen?
Moon flinched as Winters voice snapped her back to reality "Okay..." He said dubiously. "I mean it, I'm fine. Just a rough night" she said. Even though Winter put on his skyfire bracelet she knew both of their thoughts were remembering there conversation in the cave.
"Just making sure you are okay." He said half smiling at her. Moon stared at him in shock. Why didn't he yell at me demanding what I was thinking about? She thought. No, he might not be that dragon anymore. There was no doubt about it that when they showed up to Sanctuary, Winter seemed differnt. Kinkajou mentioned to her once that he was trying to change but it was hard for him because it goes against everything he was raised as.
Her thoughts about Winter were cut off by the feeling of a prophecy weighing on her. The dream she was having. Qibli trapped. Kinkajou by the blue fire. Winter, Turtle, Peril frozen. As she faltered she felt Kinkajou swooping under her and Turtle flying beside her.
"Can we- take a break?" Said Moon between breaths. Turtle nodded. "I spotted a field over there, we can go rest." He said motioning to the grass below them.
The grass was amazing under Moons talons. Soft and green. It reminded her of the rainforest she had left behind to come to Jade Mountain. She stopped, just breathing wait for the prophecy to pass. Kinkajou shot her a worried look.
"Peril and I will go find something to eat" said Turtle. "What?! I never agreed to tha-" Stopped Peril seeing Moon "I mean yes. Yummy scorched food." As they flew off, only Winter, Moon and Kinkajou were left. "Ill go with them" said Kinkajou giving Moon a look. It made it awkward that it was just Winter and Moon.
Oh no, what am I supposed to say? Thought Moon. Then Winters talons were near her shoulders, she inhaled not knowing what to do she stood still. Then to her surprise, Winter pushed her into the grass and starts laughing hysterically. "Why did you do that?!" Said Moon shocked. "Breaking the ice. Pun intended" he replied grinning. Laughing along to Moon gets up and pulls him into the grass as well. "NO ONE DISRESPECTS AN EX ICEWING PRINCE" Said Winter in a high pitched voice. Both of them just lay on the grass beside eachother. A few moments passed.
No! What are you doing!? She chose Qibli, get up Winter. Thought Winter. Moon puzzled over why she could hear his mind and then realized. His skyfire had fallen off, but he hadn't noticed yet. When Moon was about to say something she was cut off by his mind again.
Why is she doing this to me?
Moon winced. What did he mean? Quickly Moon said "Your skyfire fell off" avoiding his piercing blue eyes. Winter got up right away to go retrieve it from the field of flowers.
When he walked back to her Moon tried to say something but Winter cut in.
"No, me first" he said in a tone similar to the one he had when they first met. "What are we doing Moon? We are out here looking for clues to lead us to your boyfriend. Why are you doing this to me? It hurt when you chose Qibli! I was finally doing okay and then you show up in my town and now you are playing with my feelings?" Said Winter sounding genuinely hurt.
"Winter-" started Moon. "No. NO! THREE MOONS! JUST STOP IT PLEASE!" He cried. Moon just sat there. She wanted to make things better, she really did. "Winter I'm sorry! Please you have to understand-". "Understand what, Moon." He said, saying her name as if it tasted like rotten fish. Moon couldn't help a single tear escape from her eye. "that's it my fault. I don't think Qibli was taken I think he left." She said softly. "Why would he leave?" Said Winter coldly "he had everything he could've wanted."
"BECAUSE I SAID THAT I WASN'T SURE IF I SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN HIM!" The words escaped her mouth before she could do anything to stop them. But Winter didn't look shocked. "I heard. You did though, you chose him and you can't change your mind." He said bitterly.
You chose him and you can't change your mind.
Why couldn't she? Why couldn't she have a trial run before deciding for sure?
Even though the bad timing Moon felt the prophecy again. The same scene but this time she saw an Icewing. One she recognized.
"Icicle" Moon said out loud.
Winter looked at her at the mention of his sister's name.
"Sorry, stupid vision stuff." She tried to explain. "Okay." He said avoiding her eyes.
Moon automatically felt guilt in so many ways. Saying that about not being sure, leading Winter on (even if it was accidentally), Darkstalker.
Moon hadn't had time to process anything since the times she was alone waiting for her mother in the rainforest as a dragonet. She always had so much time to think about things when her mother was on the valcano with the rest of her tribe. She hadn't had the same time to think forever. It was get to Jade Moutain, immediately leave to find Icicle, free Darkstalker, magic plague, battle of Jade Moutain, Darkstalker defeated and then immediately Qibli goes missing. It had been an exhausting year.
After a while the rest of the group returned with various prey and fruits. Choosing a few Moon decided to focus everything on Qibli. On finding him.
No distractions, find him then difficult decisions later.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings Of Fire.