|| TAIGA || Wings of fire [Reader insert]!FEM

Winter Turning : Chapter sixteen

" I'm listening. " he said. " Not that I have a choice, apparently. "

" It's true what you've heard about the NightWings, " she said. " They really have lost their powers. There hasn't been a NightWing who could read minds or see the future in... well, a very long time. "
She took a deep breath. " Until me. "
" Because I hatched in the rainforest, " she went on, " under two full moons, I can do both. "

" Both what? " he forced out.

" See visions of the future, " she said, then hesitated. " And... read minds. "

" But you're safe now, I promise! " she said quickly, reaching toward him as he leaped back.
" The rock you're holding - it's skyfire. It can shield your thoughts from me. As long as you're holding it or wearing it close to your
scales, I can't hear anything you're thinking. "
" Sounds like another NightWing lie, " Winter snarled.

" She's not lying! " Taiga growled back.

Moon wiped raindrops from her eyes and took a deep breath. " I promise you, Winter. I can't hear anything in your mind right now. And even before, it was very... confusing. "

Behind her, Qibli let out a snort that sounded a bit too amused.
" That's how I knew about Icicle and Scarlet, " Moon said. " I heard them talking in Icicle's dream. And I heard Icicle planning to kill Starflight on her way to the library. But I can only hear what dragons are thinking right at that moment - I can't reach in and rummage around in anyone's brain or
anything like that. "

" You've been listening to us from the moment you met us, " he said.
" Deceiving us. Spying on us. " He hissed out a wisp of frostbreath, turning the
raindrops around him into tiny chunks of ice that clattered to the ground. " I should have expected as much from a NightWing. "

Taiga took a step forward, shielding Moon's side, just in case.

" Go back to Jade Mountain, all of you, " Winter said. " Leave me alone. "
He turned to the cage where his scavenger was still standing, staring mournfully out at the rain. " And you, GET OUT OF HERE! " he roared as loud as he could.

Bandit stumbled back with a cry of terror, then bolted out of the cage. The little creature tripped and sprawled on the wet leaves, scrambled upright again, and went galloping off into the dark forest.

He curled his talons around the skyfire rock. " I mean it. Go away. I'm going to the Ice Kingdom, and if you follow me, you'll die, except for Taiga- but you can't come. " He paused for a moment.
" Not that I have any objection to your deaths, just to be clear. I just don't want to listen to you all breathing and flapping and saying stupid things all the way there. "

" That can't be your plan, " Qibli said.
The SandWing was using his
' let's be sensible about this ' voice. " Go home and beg for help? By the time you get there, your brother might be dead. Your best chance is to catch Icicle. "

" Before she kills Queen Glory, " Kinkajou said fiercely. The little Rain wing was now a mango-orange color with streaks of black along her wings.

" I don't need help from any of you, " he growled. " Especially you. " He threw a glare at Moon, who folded her wings closer around herself but didn't look away.

" You do, actually, " said Qibli. " You won't get two steps into the rainforest without our help - it's full of NightWings now, and everyone knows they don't like IceWings. And if you find Scarlet, do you think she'll just tell you where your brother is Wouldn't it be useful and much more efficient to have
a mind reader with you? "

" Oh, is that what you are now? " Winter asked Moon. " A clever tool that can be used by whoever needs some quick answers? "

" I won't let anyone use me, " she said with a flash of anger. " But if I can do something good with this - this gift I didn't ask for - then yes, I'll do it. "