Chapter 13

Mist

"It sounds like a Shimmerwing." Mist looked to Turtle. "I don't know who though."

"All I know was it had the frilled spines like a Seawing but no gills or luminescent scales." Turtle looked out to sea.

"They don't have either. They can hold their breaths for up to twelve hours, so they don't need the use of gills. They also have sign language." Mist explained. "We must be closer than we realized."

"What will happen when we reach the Shimmerwing Kingdom?" Turtle asked anxiously.

"We'll probably be swarmed by the royal guard but if we show no threats they'll let us pass. Once I speak with Queen Azule everything should be alright." Mist stretched a wing up.

"We should rest now." Tsunami turned towards the group. "If we are closer we should get there by tomorrow."

Mist nodded. "She's right."

The others got up and wandered over to their spots. Mist sat at the beach and watched as the three moons rose higher and higher. She was so close. So close she could almost hear her mothers voice.

Mist let out a deep sigh.

"Is everything alright?" Mist turned her head to Moon.

"Yes." she nodded. Mist turned back towards the sea. "Just can't believe everything that's happened."

"Neither can we, to be honest." Moon sat next to her.

"I can't wait to get home. I miss the Kingdom." She watched the waves.

"A year ago when we were helping the dragons on Pantala, I was a part of the group sent to see how things were going. This was when the Hivewing Queen was controlling all of the Hivewings. While I was there I missed home. My friends. My mother. But I made friends." Moon gestured to a few of the others.

Mist smiled. "I'm glad."

Moon smiled back. "Try and get some sleep."

Mist nodded. As Moon walked away, Mist curled into a slight ball facing the ocean. Her eyelids closed as sleep overtook her.

In her dreams Mist was wandering the palace, watching as dragonets ran around the halls. She smiled as one jumped over the other in attempts to dodge the other's attack. She remembered this. It was when she was 3 years old. Her mothers friend was off on a training mission and her son had to stay behind. Rush had been a lot of fun in the palace. When news had returned of his mothers disappearance he was taken to an orphanage. They never spoke again.

Young Mist and Rush blew past and trampled each other down. Rush landed on top and smiled victoriously. "Nice try, but I always win."

"Oh yeah?" Young Mist had flung him over and twisted around on top of him so fast he didn't have time to blink.

"Think again." she smirked.

He barked out a laugh and pushed her off. Mist smiled at the memory. Maybe she could find him once she got back. She stood still as young Mist and Rush ran off down another corridor.

Mist closed her eyes. She opened them to reveal a warm light above her and the smell of saltwater hung in the air. She blinked a few times at the sudden light and stretched. She yawned widely and looked around. Most of the others were still asleep except for Sundew and Qibli. Mist got up and shook sand off her wing.

Mist looked over the water to see Turtle also awake. He was in the water swimming towards the island they were on. He came up with fish in his talons.

"Morning." He handed her one.

"Good morning." She took the fish.

"As soon as the others get some food we'll leave." Tsunami came up behind Turtle, fish hanging in her talons as well.

"Sounds good." Mist nodded.

Turtle and Tsunami walked past her, waking up each of the others, sliding a fish towards them. Clay had woken up as soon as he smelled the fish and gulped in down in two bites. Mist ate her in a couple of bites and watched the sea as she waited for the others to finish.

As she waited pelicans flew overhead and dived into the water, picking up small fish with their strange beaks. One of the Pelicans caught a fish far too big for it and dropped it back into the sea, causing a big splash.

Sundew and Tsunami walked up next to Mist and sat next to her. "You should be at the front of the group. Better the Shimmerwings see a Neighboring tribe than us." Sundew said.

"I agree." Tsunami said.

"Ok. Are we all ready?" Mist asked.

"Just about." Tsunami looked back. "Some of us need to gather our things. We'll let you know." With that Tsunami and Sundew walked back off to the group.

Mist gave a small sigh and looked at the group. She was kind of excited but afraid of what the other tribes might think. What would her mother think?

Going to the Shimmerwings first was their best option. They had an open kingdom, allowing anyone in and out, so long they follow the rules. The Storm Kingdom might be a little harder to enter.

A small crab made its way towards her and she picked it up. The crab was a purple color with white lines running between the purple dots. Leopard crabs were native to the sea around the Shimmerwing Kingdom. Mist never realized they had lived out this far. Setting it back down it bolted for the sea. She watched it go into the blue water and disappear under the sand.

Seagulls called overhead as they made their way out to sea. The waves washed the beach in a glowing foam. The sun reflected a bright light over the water casting strange shadows across the trees. Mist flicked her tail, causing sand to swerve around her tail. Water rippled as she dipped her tail in the water.

"Mist?" Mist turned her head towards the voice. It was Sunny.

"Yes?" Mist answered.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"Alright. We are as well. Tsunami told you the plan?" Sunny asked.

"She did. I will stay at the front as we get there." Mist told her.

"Ok." Sunny walked away.

Mist looked back at the group. They mostly seemed to be ready. Tsunami nodded at her letting her know they were ready. Mist nodded back. She opened her wings, taking off. The sun had risen about an hour ago. If they flew fast they could make it there before dark. At that Mist kept a fast pace, but made sure the others were keeping up.

They flew on for about 3 hours before seeing it. An island, large enough to fit thousands of dragons. The beaches covered in sand and salt water pools were coated in dragons of all different colors ranging from red to indigo to yellow.

In the middle of the island, a large palace stood tall. The Shimmerwing Kingdom. They made it.