The Raging Storm

Four: Together Again

"Take a left at this bush."Ashanko declared, waving their hand to the blueberry bush.

Cloudreader walked in that direction, grabbing a blueberry as she went. Ashanko was giving her directions to where they thought her friends would be.

"So, you're sure there is a abandoned building this way?"Cloudreader frowned, pushing aside some ferns.

"Yeah.I stayed in it for a little while before I found the tunnels."Ashanko nodded, sliding of Cloudreader's back to walk alongside her.

"Will you come with us to the distant kingdoms when we go?"Cloudreader asked the scavenger.She liked Ashanko very much, and would miss them, even if she'd only known them for two hours.

"Possibly! I've always wanted to go there.Without help from a dragon, I doubt I'd make it there."
Ashanko nodded again, starting to skip.

"Because you're always welcome." Cloudreader smiled, petting the scavenger's head gently.
Ashanko sent her a playful glare.

"Cloudreader!? Cloudreader!?"a terrified cry sounded suddenly, causing them both to freeze in their tracks.

"That's Fleece!"Cloudreader blurted. "And it sounds like he's in trouble!"

"Let's go!"Ashanko grasped onto Cloudreader's leg as she took off toward the crying.
She spotted white scales, and sighed in relief, although that soon turned to cold fear as she saw medium sized brown creatures circling him.

"Wolves!"Ashanko growled, climbing up Cloudreader's scales to perch on her horns.

"Get away from my nephew!" Cloudreader roared, slashing the nearest wolf across the face.It whimpered, running around in circles.

Fleece darted for Cloudreader and snatched onto her tail, tears streaming down his cheeks and his back talon bloody.

The wolves began circling Cloudreader, darting in and nipping at her.
She slashed them with her claws every time they did, but they didn't seem to be giving up.

Then, Whisper, River and the SandWing were there, blasting fire at the wolves and clawing their fur out in clumps.

Oh yeah! My fire! I forgot about that!

Charging it up quickly, Cloudreader blasted the hot flames at a black and brown wolf, catching it in the side.
The stinky smell of burning fur surrounding them, and the wolves howled in pain, running away.

Only the largest of them all was left, snarling and howling at them.
His eyes was swollen shut and his tail was burnt to a stub, but he kept fighting.He lunged for River and clamped his jaws around her tail.

"Ouch!"she screeched, whipping her  tail around and around, trying to fling him off.She dug her claws into the ground and gave one last fling, and the wolf went flying.

That was when Cloudreader noticed, River had more SeaWing in her then she'd seen before!
She had webbed black talons, a thick tail and that strange SeaWing chin gobble.

"River, are you okay?!"Cloudreader rushed to her side, inspecting the hybrid's tail.It had bite marks, and a bit of blood, but other than that it looked fine.

"Yeah, I'm good.Thanks though."River smiled lightly, rubbing her tail with her talons.

"Who's that?"Whisper pointed to the scavenger on Cloudreader's head.

"Oh, Right! Guys, this is Ashanko! They helped me find Fleece!"
Cloudreader grasped Ashanko gently and lowered them to the ground.

"Hi!"Fleece let go of Cloudreader's tail to walk up and sniff Ashanko's hair. "You smell funny!"

Ashanko grinned, scratching Fleece's neck. "You do, too!"

Whisper's eyes widened. "So it's true? Scavengers can speak dragon?"

"Yep! Ashanko can't speak full dragon yet, but most words they know."Cloudreader explained to the shocked NightWing.

"I'm coming with you guys to the distant kingdoms!"Ashanko sat down on Whisper's talon, crossing their right leg over their left leg.

"Fun."River rolled her eyes, turning away from the group to sit down and poke at a blob of moss.

"River, aren't you going to greet our new friend?"Cloudreader excused herself to go over and sit down beside River.She was worried about her.She didn't usually act like this.

"Nah.Everyone else has that covered."River rolled her eyes, focusing her gaze on a caterpillar.

"Are you alright?"Cloudreader nudged her side with a wing.

"I don't know, Cloud."River sighed, glancing sideways at the Weather dragon. "Is anyone?"

Cloudreader remained silent. "I know I'm not.And you have every right to not be.With the state of the world right now, I'd be shocked if anyone was happy."

"Thank you for understanding."River leaned on Cloudreader's shoulder, her petite talons scuffing the ground. "Cloudreader, I have a question...."

"Yes?"

"Will you adopt me? Like, as a mother and daughter thing? It might be too soon to be asking this, but, I really like you, and you are good mother material....."River looked at the ground.

"Oh, River......"her voice was soft and caring. "If that's what you'd like, then, of course I'll adopt you..."Cloudreader pulled River into her arms and wrapped her wings around her small black body.

"Really?"River looked excited.Then she frowned. "But what about Ashanko? Aren't they your best friend now...?"

"No.Ashanko is a good friend of mine, but you will always be my best friend, and daughter." Cloudreader rolled her eyes playfully. "Are you afraid of Ashanko taking over your role?"

"Yes! They seem so....Amazing! What if no one likes me anymore!?"
River whisper-shouted, casting the scavenger a look.

"You need not worry,"Cloudreader smiled. "Everyone loves you.You're such a good friend to Fleece, and I think Whisper enjoys your company."

"Fleece is adorable,"River grinned. "But, he's friends with everyone."

"True enough."Cloudreader laughed, carrying River over to where everyone was gathered.

"So,"Ashanko pointed to a drawn map in the dirt. "The distant kingdoms should be over there.If we can get to the shore and rest, we can fly to the kingdom."

"How long will it take?"Whisper asked curiously, tilting his head.

"I'm not sure.Depends on the speed we're going at.As much as seven days.Mabye less? I don't know."
Ashanko shrugged.

"Then let's get going."Cloudreader held out her talons, and Fleece crawled up them to perch on her back.
River then crawled up next to him.
Great.She'd have a heavy load.

"What about this guy?"Whisper blurted, revealing the SandWing dragonet from under his belly.He let out a screech, rushing forward and diving under Cloudreader's stomach.

"What's your name little one?" Cloudreader grabbed him in her talons and held him right by her face.

"Lantis,"he frowned. "I think?"

"Lantis.....Cute! Would you like to come with us to the Distant Kingdoms, Lantis?" Cloudreader asked.

"Yeah! Anywhere away from those mean dragons."he crawled up onto her back, sitting down beside Fleece.

Great.Now Cloudreader had three young dragons on her back.

"You sure none of you want to ride with Whisper?" Cloudreader smiled weakly.

"Yep!"they all answered at once.

"You're a dragonet-whisperer."Ashanko laughed, climbing up onto Cloudreader's head.

"You, too?" Cloudreader giggled.

"Yeah! Whisper isn't popular."they chuckled.

As they walked for the shore, Cloudreader couldn't help but feel they were being followed.

I just hope whoever is following us, isn't evil.