Danger of the Shadows

Tsunami Flats

As they reached the start of Water Clan territory, Riptide could smell the fresh sea water and hear the waves crashing onto the shore. It felt great, even natural! She wondered if Demon or Spirit felt that way when they came to their new home.

"Where exactly are we going?" Riptide asked. "To the Tsunami flats. That's the place where new dragons like you first go to, to sort out if you belong in the water, or on land. Follow me." Nightshade suddenly dived down to land on an island below. Riptide was surprised that it was so close. Wouldn't it be out farther to sea?

Nightshade walked towards some vines coming down from the rocks. He brushed them aside to reveal a tunnel. "Go through this tunnel, and you will reach the Tsunami flats. All of our homes and places are hidden, so that no other dragons can find us and attack." Nightshade walked into the tunnel, and Riptide followed him.

After a short amount of walking, they reached the entrance of the Tsunami flats. There were pools of water, both hot and cold scattered around, and caves on the side of the walls, with some dragons poking their heads out. Dragonets, such as Riptide himself, were playing around. Some older ones were talking together and laughing, and the younger ones were chasing each other around the whole place.

"This is amazing!" Riptide exclaimed. Nightshade laughed. "Yup, I felt the same thing when I first got here! Come with me, I will pair you up with my other dragonet. In Water clan, some mentors, such as me, have two dragonets to train. Lucky, you and Orchid are about the same age, I think you will really like her!"

Nightshade led Riptide to one of the caves, around the middle level. "This is Orchid, you guys will train together! I will come back to you guys in a bit, just stay in this cave!" Orchid was an Imperial dragon, with purple and white splashed over her, and blue peacock wings.

"Hi! I'm Orchid, like Nightshade said, what's your name?" This dragonet was really excited. "I'm Riptide!"

The two became best friends immediately. Over the course of time, they shared jokes, secrets, and even who their family was (or what they thought).

"I know one of my parents, her name is Seafoam. She's currently in the Ocean Palace, the one under the sea, so you can't spot her right now." Orchid told. "My dad, I don't know him. My mother says that he died in one of the battles when I was very young, so I don't have any memories of him. I have one older sister who lives in the deep, so what about you?"

"Well," Riptide began to speak. "I don't know who my parents are, but I think they might be from seperate flights."

Orchid gasped. "Why? That's not allowed!"

"I think so because I have one sister, Demon, and she was sorted into Shadow Clan, so I think one of my parents may be here, and one might be in Shadow."

Orchid thought for a minute. Then she said, "Well, it is very common for siblings to be sorted that way, but still, it's not allowed for dragons of the different flights to get together!"

Riptide was a bit upset. Was she forbidden? She wasn't even supposed to be born, she wasn't supposed to exist.

Suddenly, snapping her out of her misery, Nightshade flew up to their cave, and poked his head in. "Ready for your first tour?"

Orchid jumped up in excitement. "YES!!! Let's go!!!"

Orchid zoomed out of the cave, and Riptide followed. This could be a distaction, and even fun! They followed Nightshade around, and he explained the design and facts about the place. Finally, instead of flying back to the cave, Nightshade dived down to one of the pools of water, and landed gently beside it. "What are we doing now?" Riptide asked, confused.

"We need to see if you two belong in the deep ocean palace, or on land. I will test you two with water to see how you react, and test your DNA for possible genes. How about Orchid first?"

Orchid stepped forward, excited. Nightshade a bit of her blood, and put it into a container. "This container will show the genes in the blood." He then told Orchid to step into the water, and swim around for a bit. He then examined her claws, and back for a bit and finally told her she was done.

Taking one last look at the container, Nightshade said, "Well, you belong in the deep ocean Palace! Not too surprising as your mother also lived in the deep." Orchid leaped in joy. She would finally see her mother and sister again!

"Riptide, ready?" Nightshade asked. She nodded and stepped forward. Doing the same thing, he also took her blood and then examined her claws. Will I be in the same palace as Orchid? What happens if I belong on land? Which one of us will Nightshade choose?

"You can go back Riptide." Riptide stepped back to Orchid. "I wonder which palace you belong in!" Orchid whispered. After what seemed like enternity, Nightshade finally came to them. "Riptide, you belong in the deep ocean Palace with Orchid!" At least a hundred mini celebrations went off in Riptide's head. She would stay with Orchid!

"Ok, now that we are done with that, you two can return to your cave. If your not comforable sharing one, I can arrage Riptide to have a sepreate cave." Nightshade explained.

"Thats ok! We can share one!" Orchid chirpped. Riptide furosily nodded his head. "Yes, we can share one!"

Nightshade smiled at them, then hovered in the air for a moment. "Alright, goodnight then! We will be traveling to the Deep Ocean Palace tomorrow, so sleep soundly!" Nightshade flew away to his own cave, which was a couple caves higher then theirs.

Orchid and Riptide flew to their own cave, and setteled down to sleep. "Goodnight Orchid" "Goodnight Riptide". That night, Riptides dreams were all about how grand the Deep Ocean Palace would be, and how everything would be great.