Wings of Fire: The Glorious Tower (dead)

Part 7: Dolphin

Aloha spread a crinkled map out on the stiff cool ground in front of them. She was a royal purple today, splattered with splotches of a maroon-ier shade of purple, and fuchsia. "We're here right now." She pointed to the southeastern coast of the Mud Kingdom. It was right next to the southernmost river in the Mud Kingdom, the Caiman River. 

It was named so for the abundance of caimans found there. Me and my friends were camping on the shore of the Caiman. and it was exactly noon. The sun shone fiercely in the sky. Back home in Deep Reef Island, the air had just as warm. But there was a LOT of moisture. It was as if the air itself was alive. 

Just like everything in the Deep Reef. There were clownfish and sea snakes and all kinds of plants and manta rays and clams and all sorts of beautiful fish, and farther out in the open there were whales and jellyfish and mollusks and... and I loved it. And I missed it. I missed my home and the palace and my pet dolphin and my sister. 

My sister. Her warm sky blue eyes and her slate gray and deep desaturated blue scales. The way they complimented and clashed with each other at the same tim- Wait. why was I going on and on about how homesick I was? Being sad wouldn't help anyone and it certainly wouldn't save the world from a crazy IceWing animus. -

I concentrated on listening to Andromeda as she talked about wether or not to go to  Mount Elevation to see if the Glorious Tower was there. And Toad on why to go to Falcon Island since it was  closer to the Ice Kingdom. And then Bighorn on how about Heat Island it's practically five wingbeats away from the Ice Kingdom and then Caribou just decide already you DELUSIONAL POMPOUS SNOB-HEADED SACK OF POTATOES-

I laughed hard at that. 

"Good insult. I'll keep it for further notice. Thanks, Cari." Ember replied.  

Caribou stared at him. "What did you just call me?" she asked.

"Cari." I snorted ."Real nice, Em." 

Aloha smiled. "Nice to know I'm not the only nickname-giver around here." 

Ember and me smiled back. 

"Let's take a break and give everyone nicknames. We've definitely been working very hard." Andromeda offered. 

"Definitely." Toad said slyly. 

"Okay! Me first. Dolphin, I'm going to give you a nickname right now," Bighorn said. "Dol!"  

Caribou laughed. "My turn, my turn. Aloha, your nickname's officially Aloh." 

"That's good. My turn-" Ember was interrupted by me. "No way! You already nicknamed Cari! It's Aloh's turn now."

Aloha smiled again. "That stuck fast. Okay, hmm... Andromeda, I know I gave you a nickname before, but I just got a better one. Andro!" 

Andromeda laughed. "Better than Andy or Roro. My turn so Toad, your official nickname's... nothing! Because your name is short and sweet just as it is." 

Toad dramatically put his claw over his heart. "Thank you so much, Andro! By the way, Andy?! I'm so tempted to use that... Anyways, Bighorn. Your nickname is... Bi."

"Bi... nice. Hi, I'm Bi! True! Anyways I nicknamed Dol so I guess we're done here."

"I need to go to the Ice Kingdom" Caribou said. Out of the blue. "Uh. Okay but why?" Ember asked, confused. "Because there are some islands on the Northern Sea. The Haven of Bronze should be on of those islands." "Can't we come with you?" I asked. "Unfortunately no."

"Why not?" Aloha asked. Caribou looked hesitant for a minute, but then she sighed. "I guess I'll have to tell you. But it's a secret only IceWings know. You have to swear not to tell anyone else. And show your hands!" She added, glaring at Andromeda.