Unfinished Stories

Firefly's Story Pt. 3

 Webs forgot about our conversation and started asking Fatespeaker questions. Questions like : "Under attack? By who?" Fatespeaker was freaking out, so Starflight answered for. "We do not know," he told Webs, "Fatespeaker was waiting for her class in the library when Tsunami burst into the room telling us we were under attack. She told us to protect the dragonets. We tried to ask her who was attacking, but by then she was running down the hall to go tell Clay and Sunny." Starflight gave each teacher instructions on what to do. "I will warn everybody else if Tsunami has not gotten to everybody. Fatespeaker, go round up all the dragonets and take them . . . ." He hesitated. Webs filled in for him. He said, "Take them to the prey center. It is the biggest room and it should keep the dragonets busy for a while. This could be an opportunity for the dragonets to get to know each other, and for them to practice their hunting skills." "Good idea," Starflight said, "and Webs, you can help Fatespeaker by watching each class she drops off at the prey center. When Fatespeaker has brought all the classes into the prey center, she is going to help you watch the dragonets. Just to be safe, take rocks with you into the prey center. You will use those rocks to build a wall blocking the entrance. After I am finished warning everyone, I will come join you. It should not take long, but do not finish the rock wall before I get there, all right?" "Yes, Starflight. We will start right away," Fatespeaker told him. With that, Starflight and Fatespeaker rushed out of the room.

Webs turned around to look at us. He said, "OK, students, gather as many scrolls as you can and lets go." "Why do we need a lot of scrolls," Cliff asked. "A lot of our students can not wait to learn about the war. When you guys get bored of hunting, we will learn more about the war. If we do not have enough scrolls, some of you will have to share," Webs answered. I asked, "Can we read with our friends, not the whole school?" "Sure, if you want," he said. Yes, I can not wait to learn more. Mother said it would be exciting, I thought. "Out we go," Webs said, with as many scrolls he could carry. Each dragonet, including me, grabbed as many scrolls we could carry, and followed Webs to the hunting center.

Another winglet was already waiting there. We hopped over the small rock wall, used to make sure prey does not escape, and followed Webs to the far end of the cave. We dropped our scrolls there, and Webs started organizing the scrolls, putting nine or ten scrolls in five piles, probably for each winglet.

My winglet and I huddled together, each a little worried. We sat together in silence for a couple of moments. Finally, Auklet broke the silence. "Everyone, this is Firefly. Firefly is from the rainforest, and her mom is the queen, and she loves mangos, and she doesn't like it when her friends treat her like she is a queen. She likes it when her friends treat her like she is just a normal dragon, not a high and mighty princess," she said. I was surprised she knew that. I never told her that, but maybe since she is a princess as well, she would know how I would feel. I said, "Hi, everybody, anyway, now that we are all together, do you guys want to read or do you guys want to eat? I have a better idea! We can all get something to eat, but it can not be too messy, and then we read together while we eat!" Everybody nodded in agreement.

Bumblebee, Maple, Swallowtail, and I went over to the fruit pile under a tree. Snowstorm, Crocodile, and Auklet went over to the lake near the back of the room to get a fish. Cliff and Eclipse went to catch a chicken. Coyote went to go find a lizard. A couple minutes later, we all met up together under a tree. Bumblebee, Maple, Swallowtail, and I brought mangos, bananas, apples, pears, and some more mangos, Snowstorm, Crocodile, and Auklet each brought back a salmon, Cliff and Eclipse each brought back a dead hen, poor hens, and Coyote brought back two lizards, poor innocent lizards.

By then all the winglets were in the prey center, huddled together, and Starflight was also in the cave. Eclipse said, "I will be right back." "Where are you going," Cliff asked, his voice full of worry. "I am just going to say hi to my dad," she said, flicking her tail at Starflight. I am going to learn about everybody's parents today, aren't I, I thought, full of amazement. "OK, but hurry back," Cliff said. Eclipse wrapped her tail around his, "I will be right back, I promise." She hurried off and gave Starflight a big hug. At first, Starflight was puzzled, but then he realized that only two dragonets gave him hugs, and it was one of his daughters. I heard him say, "Hi Eclipse, how are you doing? Do you like your winglet? Is anything wrong?" "I am fine, Daddy. I just wanted to come say hi," she said. "Ok, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. How about you go back to your friends? Do you like them?" "I like them very much, Daddy. I am going to go back now. Bye." With one more hug, she left her father and came back to us. As she did, I wanted to watch something.