Night felt that she was lying on something soft. Not as soft as her moss beds, as she could slightly feel the wooden floor. It felt like a sort of…feather mattress. Night opened her eyes. She was in a sort of cell. It seemed big enough for her to walk in a circle, wings spread. Night sat up and eyed the cell.
She could spot many cells on either side of her and behind. The ones behind had their doors open, leading to a huge room. Night stood up and walked through the cells. The huge room had an enormous pool, deeper than three adult dragons, wider than four and longer than ten.
"Hey!" A voice called from outside the prison. Night turned and walked back to her cell. Standing on the other side was a Mudwing holding two dead rabbits.
"Here," he said, throwing them at Night. She caught them and bit into the first one. The Mudwing stomped up the tree branch.
Wait… this is all a huge tree? Night wondered and squinted. The prison was on a gigantic branch, which had rough bark, with a brown so dark it was almost black. Night spotted several leaf huts on other branches across from her. A dragon from each tribe emerged from each of the huts and grouped together right outside Night's cell. Sunlight shone through the huge leaves, so Night could see each dragon clearly.
Crimson had mainly light red scales, but she also had a darker red back, orange underbelly and orange wings. Her face was furious and kept glaring at Night.
The Mudwing had orange and brown scales, but also had a brown back, similar colour to the tree bark. His face was grumpy, and a little bored. He held a small weapon that looked like a wrecking ball.
The Icewing that had pinned her down had a mix of different shades of blue, from a light blue underbelly, to dark blue spikes. Night had never seen an Icewing so blue. She also had circular earrings like Crimson, but black instead of lime green. Her face was slightly irritated, but softened when the Nightwing brushed his black wings with her light blue wings.
The Nightwing was mainly black except his grey underbelly and spikes, and a few silver scales here and there. He edged closer to the Icewing, trying to keep a distance from Crimson. Night understood that.
The Seawing came closer to the bars. She had these huge, bright pink earrings, three in each ear. Night personally thought it was a foolish thing to do. The earrings could easily be ripped out. The Seawing had green scales, with a lighter or darker green here and there. She had a curious face. At least she seemed friendly.
The Sandwing had sandy yellow scales, but more dark. He had seven scars running down his snout from near the horns to right behind the nose. Although his tail was coiled, his face was also friendly.
The Rainwing held her wings in a way that made Night immediately realise she was the boss. She wore a necklace with a gold crown. She had purple scales with a dark blue back and spikes, acid green underwing and sky blue wings. She didn't have a single scar, so either she was smart enough to not get any, or she didn't fight often. The way she and the Sandwing acted around each other randomly made Night miss Qibli.
"Hello," The Rainwing said calmly, "Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Venom, The Sandwing is Cacti, The Icewing is Frozen, the Nightwing is Futureseer, the Skywing is Crimson, the Mudwing is Crocodile and the Seawing is Tidal." She smiled at Night. Night felt her shoulders relax. The situation felt more comfortable.
She knows how to make others relax. Night noticed. So they are more likely to tell the truth and not try to kill them. Smart.
"Seriously. I wanna kill her already," Crimson grumbled. Night stiffened. Venom shot her a glare and Night felt a satisfaction to see Crimson looking scared. She folded her wings around herself and eyed Night. Night could tell Crimson wanted to break the bars and snap her neck, but she couldn't.
"Sorry about that. What's your name?" Venom asked curiously, tilting her head at Night.
I actually want to tell them. Huh. Night thought and stood taller.
"My name is Nightlight. But you can call me Night," Night answered. Venom nodded. Cacti grinned down at her. Crimson let out a snort.
"Okay, Night. Don't worry. We are going against Crimson's wishes. We won't kill you. You will be useful. BUT, if you don't agree, your mother is nearby. Crocodile, please collect Sharpclaws," Venom said and smiled at Cacti, who brushed one of her wings.
"Okay, Venom," Crocodile replied and walked off. Crimson stomped off after him.
"I heard you could mind read," Futureseer said, stepping closer to her, blinking. Frozen tilted her head at Night. Night reluctantly nodded. She wasn't gonna lie, especially when they had her mother. Futureseer stared at her with his mouth open. Venom and Cacti gasped. Frozen nodded at Night with a satisfied smile.
"Wow," Tidal said, looking at Night with a grin.
"Cool," Cacti said. Venom's wings turned pink for a second, before she changed them back.
"You will be very useful," Venom said and turned towards Crocodile and Crimson, dragging Sharpclaws along. Cacti followed her to them.
"Put her in with Night," Venom ordered. Crocodile opened the door and he threw Sharpclaws in Night's cell before locking it again. They all walked off. Night let out a gasp.
Sharpclaws turned to her and wrapped her wings around Night, the two of them sobbing.
"I'm so sorry you are here too," Sharpclaws whispered, squeezing Night's claws.
"It's okay. I won't let them hurt you," Night said fiercely. Sharpclaws smiled weakly at her.
"Don't worry about your mum. I'm just happy you're okay," Sharpclaws said, pulling Night closer. Night looked up at her mother.
"Me too," She said quietly, snuggling into Sharpclaws.
Your tail! Are you okay? Sharpclaws wondered worriedly, gently picking up Night's tail and inspecting it. She gasped.
"I'm fine, Mother," Night reassured and let out a sigh. Sharpclaws let go of Night's tail and sat down, her wings still around Night.
"Mother, I made friends! Wonderful dragonets! When we escape, you should meet them!" Night cried as cheerfully as she could. Sharpclaws smile was real now, but faded away when she thought, You mean…if?
Night winced. Although her mother worried a lot, Sharpclaws was mostly positive, shining light on any of their problems. If she was negative, it had to be bad.
Well…it is. I'm trapped in a cell, gonna be used by the Menace and if I don't listen to everything they say, they will hurt Mother. Night thought ruefully. Her mother walked to the mattress and curled up to rest. Night snuggled up against her side, trying to hold in her tears.
At least Kinkajou and Qibli are safe. Wait… what if they were captured too?! No, otherwise I would have been threatened with them too. Hmm, I wonder if they are looking for me. Night thought. I hope they will. Kinkajou's determination and Qibli's intelligence would be really useful right now. Night slowly fell into a deep sleep.
—-
"Night, time to get up," Sharpclaws whispered. Night slowly opened her eyes. Sharpclaw was sitting next to her on the mattress. Night sat up and saw Frozen and Futureseer outside her cell. Night jumped.
"Hello Nightwi- Night," Frozen corrected herself, "Come with us." Night raised her eyebrows at them.
"Not without my mother," Night declared, shuffling closer to Sharpclaws to shelter from Frozen's icy glare. Futureseer shook his head and opened the cell. Frozen stepped in and grabbed Night.
"Hey!" Both Night and Sharpclaws cried at the same time. Frozen stomped off, dragging Night along with her. Futureseer locked the cell and followed Frozen. They walked to a huge hut, bigger than the rest. Frozen threw Night across the room and both her and Futureseer stepped in.
"Oof!" Night yelped, landing on the wooden floor. She turned to see the whole group standing around a table and staring at her. Night shook out her wings and stood beside Futureseer and Tidal.
"Hello Night," Venom said, tapping the table to get everyone's attention. Night turned to Venom. She felt out of place, standing with adult dragons, killers of many. Night shivered.
"Hi," Night replied, feeling a little better now that everyone's eyes were on Venom.
"Night, I just want to ask you a simple question. Then, after you have answered it, you can go back to your cell and your mother," Venom explained, turning to Night.
"W-what?" Night asked. She had a bad feeling about whatever this "question" could be.
Venom smiled at her and asked, "Where is Queen Glory's Palace?"
(BTW, I'm starting up school again so I have to unfortunately release chapters less often)