Wings of Fire: Peace (Completed)

Chapter 17- Empathy

Empathy shook Kumquat awake. He examined himself tentatively, then sighed in relief. "Are you okay?" she asked. "From the looks of it, yes," he said, the edges of his ruff turned pink. "Thanks for asking. And, well, saving me." Empathy smiled.

The two dragons curled up and went to sleep, back to back. The next morning, Empathy woke up with Mandarin standing over her. He smiled weakly and sat down in front of her. Wonder how she's doing, he thought. Saw her last night with Kumquat... maybe should ask about that. Mandarin had a memory of Kumquat and Empathy lying, asleep, heads on each other's shoulders, tails twined. It was interesting how Mandarin's thoughts always lacked 'I'. 

His gaze hardened. "I saw you last night with Kumquat." He tilted his head curiously. "Is there... something going on between you two? I know it's none of my business," he added hurriedly. "But I was just wondering."

Empathy shook her head no.  Mandarin didn't look satisfied, but he shrugged it off. When she looked around, she noticed that Kumquat was gone, as well as the rest of the Sapphire Winglet. She's last awake. Strange, Mandarin thought. "I wanna show you what they did with the caves around the Botany Classroom."

He led them into a tunnel that was open to the sky on one side and vines and flowers and leaves were on the opposite wall. Flowers of all colors were exploding from the greenery. Mandarin guided her to a pretty purple flower with white speckles on it like the night sky full of stars.

"I- I thought you might like this one." Empathy leaned next to it and sniffed it. "Is it a petunia?" She recognized the scent. "Is it?" Mandarin said.

"Empathy, I want to tell you something." "Yeah?" 

Mandarin took a breath. "I... I like you. Like, a lot. Itdoesn'tmatterifyoudon'tlikemetooIjustwantedtogetitout." They started back to the Prey Center, their talons in sync. "Well, I like you too, but not in that way. Not yet. I'm sorry."

Mandarin stared at his feet, not looking at her. Empathy changed the subject. "When do you think we'll see another DreamWing?" she asked. "That's why I'm taking you to the Prey Center. Junix has a plan."

His mind didn't reveal anything about it. When they finally arrived, Drift was in tears. Cecropia had her wing around the SeaWing's shoulders. Junix had her armor on and was sliding a large, curved weapon into a sheath on one piece.

Copper had armor on as well, with iron on his claw tips that made them as sharp as an IceWing's claws. We should've left before this could happen, his mind grumbled.

Junix's thoughts were strangely guilty and sympathetic. I didn't know she really cared. She seems more like an 'every dragon for himself' kind of SeaWing. She buzzed her wings. Sheer bounded into the cave suddenly.

"I almost missed you guys!" she panted. She snapped into her haughty self when she noticed Palo, Kumquat, and Flytrap behind her. Kumquat's face turned lily green. "W-who's that?" he asked, pointing at Junix.

Junix laughed. "I'm definitely not me," she said, deepening her husky voice so she sounded like a HiveWing soldier.

"Oh no," Empathy breathed. She heard Junix's plan from a dragon's mind behind her. Junix's  going to enter the DreamWings' home to assassinate someone. No. Empathy's head snapped up as Junix and Copper started out of the cave. As the others dispersed the little NightWing ran after them. "Wait!" she cried.

Junix stopped, peering over her shoulder. Copper kept going, blowing smoke out of his nostrils.

"Junix! Please, don't go!" she cried again. "If you're going, please, let me come! My visions could help!" Junix sighed. She put her talons on Empathy's shoulders. Her grip was cold and clammy.