Wings of Fire Legends • The Blue Comet

Chapter Eleven

Sorry for the late post! I was busy today, Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it! Stay safe and enjoy the night ;)

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There was no time for artful swinging and jumping through the canopy. Jaguar flew over the rainforest as fast as he could, watching in horror as the blue light streamed fire and the forest burned. A flock of birds erupted from the leaves and flew past him, screeching in fear, but the closer he got, the more dragon screams he could hear.

     At last, he shot through two flaming trees and into the inferno that used to be his village. The fire almost seemed to follow dragons around as they flew in panicked loops. One moment, a path would appear in the wall of flames and they would shoot for it, only for it to close in a burst of blue light as the fire raged.

     The roar of the fire caught him off guard. Jaguar could barely think over the roar of the flames, the wailing dragons, and the snapping trees.

     One thing was clear: his village was in chaos and he had no idea how to fix it. He hovered in the center of the village, watching his entire world collapsing around him.

     An arc of flame flew in front of him. Jaguar stared into the blue light as it spread its wings and another strand of fire streamed from it.

     He blinked.

     Was he hallucinating?

     I haven't eaten any giant leaf frogs today, he thought, confused, as he observed the dragon inside the fire.

     Every time it breathed flames, a scream tore from its mouth. The fire was too bright to see its tribe or age, and Jaguar could barely survive in its presence. Such an intense heat was exuded from it; he had no choice but to fly in the opposite direction.

     His village used to be hidden completely under the canopy. Their huts were built into the mess of branches of the largest trees, and come sun time the RainWings would drape themselves over the topmost branches. Throughout the day, the world was lit with a pleasant green light where dragonets could practice their swinging and camouflage skills. That pleasant green light was gone now. In its place was a cut of blue, both fire and sky, and his heart twisted in despair at the sight.

     "Jaguar!" roared a dragoness, but he did not notice. "Jaguar!"

     He blinked, finding himself perched on a blackened branch. It creaked, flames licking the tree he sat in, and Chief Hibiscus was shouting at him from a clear spot in the air.

     "Get your lazy scales moving! We don't have time to waste! Check the remaining huts and see if anyone's inside, quick before the trees fall!"

     His body answered her call before his voice did. "Yes, Chief!" he answered, wings already spread and flapping to carry him up the tree. Beside him, the trunk groaned, but held.

     The canopy was another story. While the trunk of the tree was saturated with water and had thick bark to protect itself, the leaves and smaller branches caught fire more easily – which meant the huts would be the first to go.

     He found the thick form of leaves near the trunk of the tree. Jaguar hissed as the flames burned him, but he had orders to follow. "Is anyone inside?" he screamed. No reply came.

     A CRACK! sounded above. He looked up to see a branch falling towards him. Jaguar swooped out of the way.

     This is chaos! I couldn't help even if I tried!