The Warmth of the Sun

Chapter 4

It took nearly the rest of the night to move each body to a hidden place. Jetstream was now in the comfort of the mud hut and his wounds were being taken care of. The two Sandwings were covered by leaves and mud, but they were not buried. Too much time was put into moving each fully grown dragon and the sibs did not care in those moments to put the attackers of their teacher to proper rest.

Leafall and Alligator were examining their work at covering the dead bodies making sure that not a single scale would show. As Alligator began to go back to the hut to see how well Mud and Treefire were healing Jetstream, Leafall was unmoving.

"Are you going to stay out for a bit?" He asked.

"Did we do the right thing? Should we feel bad that we killed them?" Her voice was soft and somber. It was like her brother's question didn't reach her hearing.

Alligator turned back seeing the lifeless eyes peering out of the camouflage of the ever changing scales. "If it helps, you can imagine them as big bagers."

"But they could speak and think like us. What if they like sitting in the sun like us and were just doing what was right. You heard them, Jetstream stole from them, which makes sense. How else could he have gotten all that we have? What if they were the good guys?"

Tears streaked down Alligators face. With shock and regret, Leafall watched as her brother cry for the first time in a long time.

Trying his best to keep his face dry, Alligator said, "I didn't know what to do. Jetstream was getting hurt and I..."

The two stood there for a time as Leafall tried to comfort the strongest among them.

There wasn't much time after Jetstream's wounds were healed that the siblings took a chance to sleep. Every wince and grown kept them awake in worry, but nothing would happen. When they did all fall asleep, they didn't wake up until the sun was nearly at its peak. Mud was the first to wake up and at first he did not see Jetstream where he was sleeping the night before. His worries were quickly dashed once he saw Jetstream standing next to the book shelf. However, what would have once stood a strong and almost noble dragon was painfully replaced by a purple and crippled dragon.

"Jetstream, you should be resting." Said Mud to his teacher. Despite the order, Jetstream continued to look through the shelves as his breathing could be heard and his movements were slow. "If you need a scroll, I'll get it for you. Please lie back down."

"I must be the one to give it to you. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it in person." When Jetstream reach out his claws for what he was looking for, he pushed through the pain and sores but could not muffle the sound caused by them. This lead to Mud waking up his brother and sisters.

Once everyone was awake but before Mud could explain the problem, Jetstream had placed his whole body back on the floor next to the book shelf. Though the sibs were concerned for his well-being, they were instead looking at the scroll separating them from their caretaker.

The scroll was like any other scroll that they had, but this one had a seal on it. The design on the seal was like the inside of a tree branch.

Treefire was the first to ask, "What is this?"

"A letter to both instruct you on where to go and an explanation for as much as I could put on that paper. I wish I could say more."

"Then say it now." Said Alligator. "Why wait for us to read a piece of paper when you're right here and can tell us yourself!"

"Alligator-"

"You have been always there for us. You would never abandon us like our parents and you won't cast us aside like them either."