DISCLAIMER: I do not own Wings of Fire. It and the characters within (Qibli, Winter, Thorn, Moon) are Tui T. Sutherland's.

Hello! After reading WoF I really wanted to see what would happen if Qinter was a reality (because gosh they are cute) so I'm going to write a small AU. I wanted to keep it as canon as possible BUT of course, Moon and Qibli can't be in a relationship (sorry Moon!).

This prologue is then a modified scene in the sand palace observatory in the epilogue from Darkness of Dragons. I really hope I got each personality correct. This is my first story really ever written so apologies if its super awkward with typos and poor grammar everywhere! Critiques are always welcome!

EDIT: It appears some of the italics aren't working? I tried to go back and add them... We'll see if they stick.

Qibli's wings were trembling as he rose towards the sand palace observatory. She's in there, waiting for me. He tried to steady his breathing and beating heart as he entered an opening splitting the roof.

"This place is perfect," Moon said when she heard him enter. She was still peering through the large golden telescope that occupied the middle of the room. "The moons are so clear! I wish I could stare at them all night. Well," she added, turning towards him with her smile that sparkled like the stars above. "That and maybe a couple astronomy scrolls."

"Lucky for you, I know just where we keep those" Qibli said, smiling back. "I DO live here after all." At this, Moon's smile fell at the corners and he immediately regretted what he said.

"Qibli…" Moon started, as she closed the distance between them. "Please come back, we — I miss you" she whispered as she met his eyes.

This is it. This is the moment I've been dreading. But I have to say it. He couldn't bear to hold her swirling gaze as he replied. "You should be saying this to Winter."

"Winter…" she started.

"Yes!" he continued passionately, looking back up at her. "He cares for you so much. You're as much a part of him as his shadow, and he's always at his best around you. He lost his family, his tribe, and…" Qibli dropped his gaze to his talons before continuing, "and he loves you more than anything. He can't lose you too." NEITHER CAN I, his mind screamed treacherously.

The silence that followed his outburst felt like an eternity until he was rescued by the touch of Moon's talon making him look at her.

"He won't lose me." she said fiercely. "And I think he's stronger than you give him credit for. This isn't the end Qibli, there is so much more for all of us in the future. Together as our Winglet, and," she paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And I hope me and you. Together."

Qibli was stunned into taking a step back. YES! This is everything I have ever hoped for since the first day of school! She's my rising sun over the sweeping dunes, giving me warmth and driving away the darkness.

When he didn't say anything she continued. "You make me laugh, smile and believe in the goodness of dragons. You steady my wings like the wind when I falter. I've come to rely on you like a strong boulder in a river. So, can we try? Being together?" she finished adding a shy smile.

As he opened his mouth to reply, Winter's face flashed through his mind. His clawmate, his friend — no, his best friend. Someone who's been through so much and deserves much better.

"I, I can't Moon." He heard her breath catch and she took a step back hiding her face from him. This time it was Qibli who reached out and took her front talon in his.

"I want to, Moon. Believe me. You're the best thing to happen to me but, well, Winter already came to me." Qibli gave Moon's talon a gentle squeeze and her confused eyes rose to meet his. "He's my clawmate Moon, and my best friend! I'd do anything to help him, and I think he needs our support now."

"When? Did he threaten you?" she asked, her anger surfacing like lizards in the morning sun.

"No! Moon, quite the opposite," Qibli corrected, trying to sooth her. "He sent a letter a week ago asking if I'd help him and the Talons of Peace expand Sanctuary. I think he knew I had won your heart, and he said there wasn't any rush." Pausing, he saw Moon's eyes soften and took it as his cue to continue. "I think he's made really good progress but I think he misses our old winglet. It's just him you know. You have Turtle and Kinkajou, and I have Thorn and the Outclaws."

Her anger was now replaced with confusion. "I could help too couldn't I? We could go to Sanctuary…" she began pleadingly before abruptly stopping.

What was that? His mind jumped in immediately. Was there something else on her mind? Did she already regret coming to me? What is she hiding? I mean, it wouldn't be a good idea for Moon to be around Winter right now, I don't think Winter's heart is healed enough to face a daily reminder of his heartbreak. Is that what she's thinking of? Probably. But you're saying no right now so does it matter? Am I saying no? When she didn't continue he asked. "What's wrong? Is it another vision? Do you need to be somewhere?"

She smiled at him. "Perceptive as always. I think… I think something important is going to happen on the eastern coast of the sand kingdom, someone... I... need to meet." But the way she looked at him made him think does she mean we? "But you're right. Even though I think Winter's strong enough to manage on his own, I was convinced he wouldn't come back to us at Possibility."

"Hold on Moon," Qibli jumped in shaking his head as if he was clearing off cobwebs. "If you had a vision I think it'd be more important than building Sanctuary." More important than supporting your friends?

"Qibli, even I know you don't believe that. You care so much about dragons you just meet. I can only imagine how much more you care about helping Winter." At this Qibli shuffled his front talons sheepishly and shifted his gaze to the glistening stars peeking past the observatory roof. When he didn't respond, he felt a wing wrap around his back.

Startled, he looked at Moon and saw her smiling back at him. "That's the amazing thing about you, how much you care. It's… it's what I love about you, why I love you."

He could feel his pulse quicken, the words I've been wishing for since I met her. He opened his mouth to respond but before any words came out, Moon quickly continued.

"Which is why I understand your decision to help Winter." He heard and felt her shaky breath as she finished. "I do care deeply for him as well you know."

Qibli couldn't help but let out a short snort. "Must you tease me already? I can already feel my regret bubbling up" he said with a sigh. Turning back towards the night sky, he began tracing the sharp stars through the dark sky.

In the moment of tender silence, he could hear the insects chirping and wind blowing beyond the walls. Both dragons sat there listening to nature's soft symphony, content with each other's company.

Finally, he felt Moon shift to her feet. "Let's see how our paths intersect in the future. If it's meant to be, it's where we'll end up. If not," she said, turning towards him with a sad smile. "At the very least, I know I'll have one of the most amazing friends a dragon can have."

"Moon…" he started, but she was already turning away and leaping into the air. She said it was the right thing to do, and that she understood, he thought reassuring himself as he watched her strong wings blend into the night. But still, I can't help but wonder: have I made a horrible mistake I'll only come to regret?