Wings of Fire Hunter of Dragons *TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 3 - Wings of Wind

A/N: The image above is of the SkyWing Hunter met earlier. His name will be revealed further on. The image is from the German edition Wings of Fire books, and that's what the German illustrator drew as a typical SkyWing.

When Deathbringer and I returned to the volcano, it was way after nightfall.

Quickstrike was waiting for us, scowling impatiently when we walked into the dragonet dormitory. The tiny dragonet Fierceteeth was there too, Farsight was trying to make her go to sleep.

"Where were you?" she snarled. She looked us over. We were shivering and cold and wet from rain. "Were you out in the storm?"

"We were hunting," I hurriedly growled back before Deathbringer could announce where we actually were. "We tried to shelter until it blew over, but we decided to come now."

Quickstrike glared at us. "Well, we have some good news," she said, lashing her tail. "Greatness has agreed you training should be more...interesting. She's going to be taking over your training for the next week, while I'm on a mission."

I snorted. "The nervous Princess Greatness? Train us?" Even Deathbringer looked amused.

"Don't underestimate her," Quickstrike warned me. "She's smart and inventive. You can learn a lot off her."

"When are you leaving?" Deathbringer asked.

She flicked her tail. "Tomorrow. Dawn. You probably won't even see me go."

"Where are you going?" I demanded. "Which dragon are you killing?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, suspicion lighting her black gaze. "Why do you want to know, Hunter? Are you thinking of going with me?"

"Of course not!" I said, annoyed. "I'm just curious."

Quickstrike paused, then spoke. "I'm killing General Aurora. It'll be difficult, because she's in the Ice Kingdom."

I snorted. "Good luck with that."

Quickstrike glared at me. "You think you would be able to kill her better than me, huh? I'd like to see that."

I went over to the crevice that Deathbringer and I slept in and pulled the scruffy blanket over my head. Deathbringer slid in beside me and twined my tail with his.

"Maybe I could."

****

There was a reason why I hardly slept that night.

My dreams were plagued with thoughts of that moons-blasted SkyWing.

Even once I finally managed to fall asleep, he would come into my mind. Be there, Standing there, smiling teasingly, telling me to come back soon, his handsome face almost glowing. I would wake up immediately, then snarl out loud whenever that happened. Deathbringer could sense something was off, but didn't ask me. He just curled his tail tighter around mine in comfort.

I sighed softly. Deathbringer? I thought to him, wondering if this was me testing him. We had never actually spoken of our possible telepathic ability, but maybe it was time to find out if it was true, or just my imagination.

What is it Hunt? I'm trying to sleep, came the answer. I shifted my wings. Maybe it all was my imagination. Maybe it wasn't real at all.

I can't sleep, I sent back to him.

Same. But the reason why I can't sleep is because of you moving and waking up all the time. I'm asking Quickstrike for a private cave, his mind replied jokingly.

Death, can I ask you something? Anything?

Of course. Ask away Hunt.

I hesitated, then decided to do it.