The Warmth of the Sun

Chapter 5

Days had passed since they all left their old home. They had to move quickly. There were three places they needed to go to and each place required them to convince someone to help them. On top of that, they needed to be careful not to get captured by the Sandwings. The Sandwings wouldn't know who they were, but it would be safer to remain hidden from them.

However, they never before had to fly for so long. Much of the days were spent resting in the sun and only the thought of Jetstream kept them from staying in one place for too long. Now they were near the border between the Mud Kingdom and the Night Kingdom. Treefire was resting on a tree branch next to Leafall who was leaning on the trunk. Alligator was slouched over a smooth rock and Mud was flat on the ground.

"At least we can take in more of the sun while flying in the open." said Treefire with her wings drooping to her side. Everyone else was equally tired.

"Which is why I thought we could fly near endlessly during the day." Alligator groaned as he tried to address his sister. "I guess more strength really isn't the same as more stamina. Hey Leafall, how much further to the Sandwing? What was his name, Adder?"

Leafall began to think. "We still need to go over the mountains of the Nightwing territory before we get to the...." She pulled out the marked map of Pyrrhia from her satchel. "Scorpion's Den. And yes, his name is Adder."

"I love The King of Thieves stories Jetstream wrote about Basilisk." Mud said dreamingly. "King of the Sand and rival to Queen Sunburn!"

Leafall giggled brightly at her little brother's wonder. "Thankfully we won't have to encounter him. Adder is only near the den."

Mud raises his head. A curious thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Leaf? Since we'll be going through Nightwing territory, shouldn't we meet the Nightwing first?"

"Lostbringer is in the City of the Night which is northward. I guess it is closer to where we are now."

"I wonder if the Nightwings will know we're coming." Treefire barely audible with her head on the tree branch.

"The Nightwing aren't omnipotent." Alligator rose up on the rock to look towards the Cloud Mountains that held the Nightwing home. "Just because they can see the future doesn't mean everything is revealed to them."

"We don't know that." Treefire was beginning to doze off.

Everything they read and everything Jetstream told them about the Nightwings was vague. Any prophecy they told came true. Every time they predicted the future it came to pass. They were the reason why Pyrrhia hasn't had a war in many years. They offered their skills to whoever could pay and they refused to take a side in any conflict. They were also the hardest to conquer even without any natural advantage like the Icewings' tundra or Seawings' desert. But what were the limits of their powers? Do they all have the same abilities and if not, what determines which dragon gets what ability?

Regardless, they needed to get into the City of the Night without being caught. The Nightwing territory was mostly safe to travers by members of other tribes, but the city was off limits to those who weren't invited. Getting in shouldn't be hard as long as they had the ability to change their scales. Even if they were to be found out, they could just blend in with their surroundings and escape that way. The only problem with that was Nightwings could also read minds.

Suddenly, Treefire perked up, nearly knocking her sister off the tree. "Did the letter say Lostbringer was in the city?"

Leafall pulled out said letter while glaring at her sister.

for: Alligator, Treefire, Leafall, Mud, Lostbringer, Adder

The time has come for all of you to meet. I do not know where I am at this time, but now is the time for you to move on without me.