Wings of Fire: A Pale Moon Rises

Chapter 11: Day and Night

Palemoon sat in the dark. The air was fresh, and the night was ebony. Rain clouds covered the stars.

He took a shaky breath. I'm finally here, he thought to himself, Like Veno- Violet, and I, always dreamed. Still, I can't help but wonder if my sisters are out there, in the NightWing village, pretending to be loyal to Queen Glory. I haven't crossed paths with them yet, but I have to warn somebody, don't I?

Palemoon's night vision was good enough that he thought he might be able to recognize them in the dark, but his general vision issues would still cause a problem. Am I brave enough to leave this treehouse and search the NightWing village for my deadly sisters?

No. He decided, I may be cowardly, but I'm not an idiot. They won't cause trouble just yet, I'm sure. I'll tell Queen Glory about them first thing tomorrow. Violet said she always has that assassin, Deathbringer, trailing her. Maybe he can take care of them.

Palemoon dispelled the worries from his mind. None of this is important right now, all that matters is that I'm here, with Violet and with Justice.

Violet and Justice lay on a dragon pile on a large cushion at the edge of the room, which Rose had set up for them. Palemoon gently curled himself around them, lending his warmth. He could smell the scales of his friends, and hear their slow and calm breathing, which told him everything was right in the world. They were safe. They were together.

***

Palemoon woke up to someone shaking him by the shoulder.

"Wake up Moonie!" Violet exclaimed, "The sun is high in the sky. You've slept in quite enough mister."

"Uhrrghh..." Palemoon groaned in protest, "Haven't I earned some sleep?"

"Trust me," Violet said in an excited tone, "You'll want to see everything in the RainWing village. Besides, Queen Glory swore to keep all citizens registered. We just have to go, give our names and hatching dates, and get a sketch of us taken! Isn't that awesome? Apparently they do that in lots of other tribes too, the RainWings just kind of fell out of keeping track of their dragons. We all saw how that turned out."

"I already had my sketch taken!" Palemoon said, turning snout down into his pillow.

"Yeah, but it all burned up..." Violet reminded him, "You're in a new kingdom now."

"Right..." Palemoon said, "Fine. Let's go." He sat up groggily. The sun streamed golden through the window. It looked like he had almost slept until noon, suntime for the RainWings. I wonder if NightWings can join in on suntime, Palemoon thought, his mind still clouded with sleep, his body still sore with exhaustion.

He picked up his glasses from a bedside table, cleaned them from the bits of soot still remaining, and put them on. The world came into a sharper vision, yet still blurred slightly around the edges.

Violet twined her tail with his, and led him out of the treehouse, where they burst into flight, their tails still knotted together.

"What about breakfast?" Palemoon complained.

Violet rolled her eyes, "I told you, when we get to the village I'll show you all the fruit you could possibly want!"

They awkwardly looped and swirled between the tight knit branches. Violet had a few weeks of practice, so she guided Palemoon, but it took much longer than it would have for a local RainWing.

Eventually they made it to the village set in the canopy, interconnecting huts and walkways bright with sunshine and flowers.

They passed an orange and brown Rainwing as they made their way to the new Records Centre (a leafy hut nearly identical to all the others). Violet bared her gleaming white teeth at the dragon and hissed. The stranger flinched and raised his wings in a defensive manner, "Still feisty I see?" He asked. He wore a perpetually bored expression, and his tone was flat.