Preview:
"Moon," Qibli coaxed softly, gently taking her shaking talons in his, instantly making Winter wish he were speaking to HIM that way. A thorn of envy pricked his gut. Qibli and Moon always had a way of looking so effortlessly intimate, even when they didn't mean to.
Not the time, Winter, he scolded himself, refocusing his attention. Qibli probably wasn't even trying to act charming right now, that's just how he naturally was.
------
Winter pondered whether he would ever experience another day as temperate and magical as he had the evening before. His pessimism told him 'no' - fortune was hardly ever in Winter's favour. That was to be expected.
But he'd forgotten that things could plume in less than twenty-four hours.
The morning sun filled the school with unclaimed potential, and even Winter had to admit: he was feeling good. It took him longer to feel homesick or for his mind to get stuck in the ruts of its familiar shame for being a willing outcast of his family. But he couldn't allow himself to get sucked into it - he had class to go to, after all. And dragons to spend time with.
Winter peered at Qibli from beneath lidded eyes. Qibli always rose with the sun, and maybe as a result of it, had a little bit of it inside of him. His amber earring caught the sunlight streaking in through the sky hole, projecting magnificent rays of sparkling copper around the dorm. Qibli, oblivious to his beauty, silently sorted through his scrolls. He LOOKED like he was made for a beautiful summer day. Winter smiled contently beneath his talons as he stretched.
The day started off calm by dragon standards, the Jade Winglet met at the music cave for lessons on music theory and practice.
Winter maintained an optimism that classes like these were a wasted on him and taught him nothing practical, but he held his tongue regarding his complaints. Seeing the light in dragon's eyes brighten whenever they danced or experimented with the assortment of instruments was a good enough reason to respect music. He stood beside Moon and they observed side-by-side in withdrawn silence.
The trouble started after class as Winter and an eccentric Qibli began to return to Webs' class for day two history.
Winter listened on, amused, as Qibli spoke passionately of music and art. It was a creative and nerdy side of him Winter had yet to see. He listened and made comments, when necessary. He was enthralled by Qibli's enthusiasm which was beginning to reach even Kinkajou levels.
"It's so cool that they teach other things here besides history and math," Qibli chattered, "I mean, don't get me wrong! History is good and definitely necessary in preventing any future Sandwing Succession Wars, but having the ability to express yourself is just as important too, y'know?"
Winter concurred and grunted in his agreement, "True. We rarely played instruments in the Ice Kingdom, only for royal events. And only the instruments Queen Glacier liked. But I mean, how can a piece of metal even be considered an instrument? It's just scrap metal; you might as well just make something else out of it."
The two approached the hall to the history cave in a casual stroll.
"The triangle? That's a popular percussion instrument, Winter! How do you not know that?" Qibli sighed dramatically, "Am I going to have to be the creative genius in this relationship? Come on, you need to start pulling your weight in that field, I'm sure you know a thing or two about music." Qibli nudged Winter encouragingly
"I really don't!" Winter protested, turning up his chin to conceal his blue cheeks, "This seems like a Sandwing thing. Or maybe just a 'you' thing. Probably for the best that we stay away from it." Winter quipped, "How did you get so into it, anyway?"
"Obviously other tribes have music too, it's not like Sandwings have a patent on the music industry." Qibli explained zealously returning to his speech, "But see, back in the Outclaws, once a month we -"
"Don't go in there!!" A breathless, frantic voice shrieked, barreling towards the two, "You can't!"
Moon's wild eyes met concerned bejeweled blue and amber ones. Behind her, she blocked the entrance to the history cave with her wings.
Moon clutched her head and began sliding forward. Winter flapped his wings in alarm as both he and Qibli leaned forward to catch her.
"What is wrong with you?" Winter asked indignantly, panic lacing his tone.
He met Qibli's equally stunned expression, "What's wrong with her? A Nightwing thing?"
"I don't know many Nightwings, but I don't think fainting is a 'Nightwing thing'." he responded, stepping away to cautiously poke his head into the history cave.
"NO! STOP!" Moon cried, scrambling out of Winters arms to pull Qibli back, "Listen, you CAN'T go in there!" she gripped Qibli furiously, talons digging into his shoulders with effort. Sweat ran down the outline of her jaw.
"It's not safe! You need to get out!"
Qibli easily ducked and stepped out from her grasp worriedly.
"Okay..." Winter drawled with suspicion as he paced around behind them, "What's going on? What do you know? Why isn't it 'safe'?" he demanded firmly, like the way his father always did with him. A direct approach had always worked with Winter in the past, but seemed to only increase Moon's state of agitation. She looked as though she were about to burst into tears.
"Moon," Qibli coaxed softly, gently taking her shaking talons in his. An action that instant made Winter wish that Qibli were speaking to HIM that way. A thorn of envy pricked his gut. Qibli and Moon always had a way of looking so effortlessly intimate, even when they didn't mean to.
Not the time, Winter, he scolded himself, refocusing his attention. Qibli probably wasn't even trying to act charming right now, that's just how he naturally was.
"It's alright. It's safe in there. I've checked, and nothing looks out of place. Carnelian is there and she's -"
"WAIT, Carnelian is in there? Moon repeated, her voice rising as she spoke, "You need to get her out NOW! Please!"
As hearing her genuineness, Qibli bounded into the classroom without a second thought, booming,
"Carnelian, you and everyone else need to get out of here now! Somethings about to happen - and it's not good."
"What are you on about?" Winter heard a raspy voice gruff at him.
Winter glanced as Moon who stared intently after Qibli. She looked wild with terror. He reluctantly briefly brushed his wings with hers like Qibli always did for him as a token of comfort.
"Just do as he says." Winter ordered in agreement with Qibli, starting to help Moon walk to Kinkajou.
And that's all that was heard before fire came to swallow their world.
For a brief terrifying moment, Winter watched a fire spontaneously erupt and swallow the entire cave in flames within seconds, a bright and uncomfortably warm doom.
His eyes widened. And from in front of him Qibli flinched back, the force of the explosion angrily tossing him into a wall in its wake - as though he weighed nothing. After it came shards of glass that stabbed after him like miniature spears.
"Qibli!" Winter howled silently. All the air was forcefully released from his lungs as he himself was thrown besides Moon. He scrambled to his feet, feeling fortunate that he wasn't hurt enough to keep him from moving.
Moon coughed violently beside him as black smoke filled the air. New scrapes and scratches dotted her underbelly.
Winter stared outwardly, frozen in place by fear. Every other dragon still lay with pained expressions. What could he do? How could HE do anything when all of his other attempts in life had been fruitless?
Could he be brave, just this once?
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Fortune Favours Queen Glaciers Nephew - A Qinter Fanfic
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