Wings of Fire Hunter of Dragons *TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 4 - My Heart's Home

A/N: The image above is supposed to be of a NightWing dragonet named Prophecy (actually off the cover of the German versioned The Dark Secret)

I swished my tail back and forth. Greatness and I watched as Deathbringer pounced on the albatross and brought it down easily. He dragged it off into the trees, then quickly killed it.

"Excellent!" Greatness said admiringly. "You can certainly hunt." She glanced towards the falcon and the seagull he'd already caught, and he proudly added the albatross to the pile.

"Can I eat them? Or do they go to feeding the tribe?" Deathbringer asked. Greatness paused.

"I think feeding the tribe," she said at last. "But take the seagull, at least."

Deathbringer darted forwards and began swallowing the seagull, tearing away feathers as he ate. Greatness turned to me.

"Your turn to prove to me that you can hunt," she ordered. "Go! Catch whatever you feel most comfortable catching. Just do it. Act like I'm not here. Good luck Hunter."

I growled. Like that's easy. Greatness was about as subtle as a killer whale, she flapped around shouting encouragement. It was almost like she was trying to make it harder.

Deathbringer grinned at me through a mouthful of feathers and I smacked him with my tail before launching myself into the air. To my irritation, Greatness followed.

Have fun Hunt, Deathbringer's voice said mischievously in my head. I'm sure you'll hunt well. The omen proves it?

What omen? I snarled back as I circled the ocean. I almost wished it was fighting. It wasn't that I particularly disliked hunting, but fighting and battle were my real areas of expertise. I loved matching my enemy's every move, training for a purpose, staying hidden then striking, seeing the surprise in their faces. It was what I was good at. What I could do well and learn quickly. As for hunting....well, that was even more boring than the same old battle techniques.

The omen is your nameeeee! Deathbringer's voice floated into my mind. I could practically hear his delighted laughter.

When I get back, I'm going to kill you, I snapped. He didn't answer after that, and I was glad I'd finally shut him up.

Carefully I watched the ocean below me. I hesitated for about thirty seconds, then dived underwater. I searched around, stubbornly ignoring the salty sting of my eyes.

If you ignore the pain, then you won't feel it. It won't affect you.

I caught a flash of silver and dived after it. My breath was running out and I longed to fly to the surface to breathe. But I determinedly held back from going back for air as I chased after the fish, using my tail and wings to propel myself forwards. I'd learnt not to use my claws and legs, then weren't webbed and only made you flail around. Instead I tucked them close to my body and slipped through the water smoothly.

After a few more seconds of agony, I broke the surface with a trout hanging limply from my jaws. I shook the fish, killing it, and shot into the air.

I sharply whirled round, dumped the fish near the shore and an almost hysterical with laughter Deathbringer, then swung round and back to sea.

****

I cautiously stepped off the edge of the volcano, spreading my wings, flew towards the Sky Kingdom. I was on another mission.

But this one was a little different.

****

"Hunter!" Gale was waiting for me on the cliff. He beamed at me as I landed, shaking rain off my wings in annoyance. "Back again? Wow, you must enjoy my company."