Sakura Tree

~CHAPTER FOUR~

Sakura and Grasshopper walked in uncomfortable silence. Each talonstep echoed along the walls of the hallways. The two made a turn and Grasshopper yelped as lue scales with streaks of color blurted his vision. While he had been distracted, he had run into Rainbow. By the time he sat up and rubbed his eyes, he could see Rainbow standing up and fluttering her wings.

"Hello, Grasshopper. Princess Sakura," Rainbow bowed twice, just two quick curtsy'. Rainbow turned to go and continue on her day. She glanced back to glare at Grasshopper, but it was strangely comforting because her pupils were wide. Grasshopper smiled back at her as she smiled at him. Grasshopper glanced at Sakura and immediately stopped his friendly smile. Sakura was snarling, with her pupils extremely thin. Grasshopper gulped. The thinner pupils on a Forestwing, the angrier they are. The wider the pupils on a Forestwing, the happier or more laid back a Forestwing is.

"Thank goodness she already left," Sakura growled. She thrashed her tail angrily, glaring at Rainbow as the blue and rainbow-streaked dragon flitted her pretty white wings, which were veined with gold and blue and bright green.

"What's wrong with Rainbow? I think she's nice," Grasshopper stared at Rainbow, and waved as she glanced back.

Sakura looked at him, and their eyes met and locked. Her eyes were a light magenta, meaning she was more irritated than mad. They both stared at each other for a while, then Sakura looked away and sighed. "Of course you don't know. You know nothing," She snarled the last word and whipped around ninety degrees to the left and stormed off quickly. Grasshopper yelped and rushed to catch up to her.

Eventually Sakura took a sharp turn and flung herself into a room. Grasshopper opened his mouth to speak and tried to enter, but the door shut immediately, reminding Grasshopper of a dragon-trap, and nearly snapped on Grasshopper's snout. He flinched back, and almost immediately a sing-song voice rang through the halls.

"Princess Sakura is ma-ad!" Grasshopper spun around and saw Rainbow sliding out from behind a fern in a large white pot. Grasshopper gaped, unable to find words. Hadn't Rainbow been on the other side of the palace just a few minutes ago? How had she gotten here without anybody knowing?

Rainbow swiftly and quickly slipped into a low, elegant bow. "I may escort you to your room, if you can manage to speak again?" Rainbow gave a small snort of laughter.

Grasshopper mentally shook himself. "Do you bow to everyone? I mean, I'm not royalty, and you seem like a strange Forestwing, no offence," Grasshopper blurted without thinking. "Erm, I mean, the only reason I even live in the palace is because of Sakura-" Rainbow cut him off.

"You love her. Don't worry, I can tell. And there are definitely many rumors about why you never refer to her as 'Princess Sakura', so you might want to start treating her less like a friend and more like her true self. And yes, I've been in love with a dragon of higher ranking than me... someone much more important...." Rainbow cut herself off with a sharp breath and looked up at the ceiling.

Rainbow put a talon on Grasshopper's shoulder. Her scales felt cool and slightly rough, but at the same time smooth and calming. Grasshopper opened and closed his mouth. He wanted to convince Rainbow that he liked Sakura merely as a friend, but deep down he knew that she was right. He did love Sakura. And he knew that. But it would probably be impossible for any sort of relationship between them, since Sakura was the eldest daughter and would have to become queen when Queen Redwood died. Sakura had explained so much to him that it made him feel trusted, but there were still so many obstacles. For example, they were different tribes.

Rainbow removed her palm from Grasshopper's shoulder and snatched his talon. She led him away from Sakura's room, towards his own. After a minute Rainbow let go of his talon and let him walk beside her willingly.

The two talked happily and laughed with each other. And they were having a good time in each other's company, until an accusing, angry voice growled. "She's evil. Grasshopper, she's not to be trusted." Grasshopper froze in his tracks, and along with Rainbow whirled around. Sakura stood, battle-ready, tail thrashing. Her eyes were blood-red with pupils slitted. Rainbow immediately crouched into a battle position and slitted her own eyes. Grasshopper backed up. The two female dragons circled each other, and time seemed to slow down with anticipation for one to make a move.

"Oh, Sakura, Sakura, you can't make any accusations without any proof!" Rainbow laughed. Sakura swiped a talon forward and clawed at Rainbow, but Rainbow ducked down and Sakura missed.

"You know it's the truth!" Sakura yelped, and leaped at Rainbow. Rainbow slid down onto the floor and as Sakura leaped over her she clawed at her stomach. Sakura yelped, caught off guard, and slipped. She smacked against the ground and groaned. Sakura struggled to get up, but after just a moment she was back on her feet.

"WHAT IS THE TRUTH?" Grasshopper yelped loudly. Both dragons turned their heads to face him. Rainbow glared at Sakura. "You've told him so much, and yet both of you know so little," Rainbow's smooth and convincing voice purred.

Before Grasshopper could even begin to comprehend anything, Rainbow snatched the necklace with the three keys that led to the prison off Sakura's neck; she whipped around and slammed her tail into Sakura's head, tossing Sakura into the wall. Rainbow bolted in the direction of the throne room. Grasshopper thought he heard a noise and glanced back. He thought he glimpsed a yellow-green mane flicking back, but before he went and checked who it was he found himself running towards Rainbow.

Rainbow was surprisingly quick, and Grasshopper had a hard time chasing her. However, he knew exactly the way to the throne room from here. He skidded around the corner and flung himself into the throneroom to see Rainbow swinging open the door that led to the prisons. He leaped after her and crawled down the tunnel. No matter how much he hated the tunnels, he forced himself to go as quickly as possible through the tunnel. He was also out of breath from the sudden chase he led on Rainbow.

When he exited the first tunnel, he spotted Rainbow already using her wings to practically soar across the ground. This gave her an unnaturally quick speed that Grasshopper found nearly impossible to match.

The two quickly made it to the second tunnel and Squeezed through it. Grasshopper felt his heart lunge at multiple parts of the steep tunnel, which slowed him down severely. By the time he squeezed out of the second tunnel, Rainbow had flown to the top level. Grasshopper squinted his eyes for a moment before leaping up to the top level. He saw Rainbow fiddling each of the keys repeatedly into one of the large, thick locks on a cell. Chinch tapped his foot impatiently inside.

"What's taking so long? Get it open already!" Chinch snapped. Rainbow was very obviously shaking, and her voice also shook when she spoke.

"I-I don't know! The queen must have the jail keys!" Rainbow shivered. When the two noticed Grasshopper, they both spun to face him. Chinch spun a small string of silk around his talon, but it was glowing orange, like fire. Grasshopper tackled Rainbow and knocked her over, and while she was getting up he snatched the key-string that was hanging from the lock. He turned to face Rainbow, and opened his mouth to speak, but a sizzling sound caused both dragons to face Chinch. Rainbow raised her head. Chinch was sawing the lock with the strand of silk, and, as a pure surprise to Grasshopper, the metal melted. The lock fell off, melted metal pooling to the floor.

"WHAT!? You could have just done that the whole time!" Rainbow roared and leaped onto her feet, wings outstretched in disbelief. Chinch flung open the door and stepped onto the ledge with Rainbow and Grasshopper. Chinch removed his blindfold and shook his head.

Grasshopper gasped, taken by surprise. This dragon...

Had no eyes.

A/N

hMmMmM

has anybody made the conection between Chicnh and the dragonet in the prologue yet

hMmMmM

ok ill go leave you to ponder and be a silent reader until chapter fiveeeeeeee

AND YES THESE CHAPTERS ARE COMING THE DAY THEY'RE FINISHED IM QUICK OK