Wings of Fire Fanfics--WIP

Pheonix--CH 2

Another battle with the MoorWings. Phoenix sighed, brushing her claws against the ground as she landed on the uplands of empty moorland. Well, not exactly a battle. Just her and an elite team of warriors to scout out the Moor Kingdom so she could learn the layout of the place.

She was tired. She didn't particularly want to be out here, even if she'd never admit that. She tried to focus on what it would be like once she got home- rest and warmth...

No, just more battle training.

She scanned the land, trying to distract herself from what an exhausting week this was going to be. There was empty land as far as the eye could see, the grass getting gently tossed by the wind. Far out in the distance, there was a calm lake, and a tree standing next to it, leaning over almost into the lake.

No MoorWings either. This must be a more isolated part of the Moor Kingdom. It was dark, the sun sinking, and the moons rising and it was eerily still.

Too still...

Phoenix shook herself. Ridiculous! She would kill anything that got in her way, any of those bird-killing other tribes.

"Go," she told her escort. "Go get a lay of the land. You left, and you right," she flicked her tail at each dragon's order. The two SunWings glanced at each other, then flew out in opposite directions.

"And remember the emergency call signal if anyone gets in trouble," she called after them, then turned to the lake and the saggy tree. Perhaps she should go look in that direction, west, since that was where the sun was setting.

This place was creepy. Not only was the place darkening, the area around her only illuminated by her flames. And wait- was that a crackling in the undergrowth. The grass here wasn't very long, surely she'd be able to see anyone sneaking up on her...

Unless it's one of those camo-colored MoorWings. Uneasy, she was about to let out the danger call to her escort but before she could something jumped out at her, and pinned her down to the floor with one talon, and with the other, pinned her snout to the ground, making her fire useless.

"You're going to explain yourself," a voice hissed in her ear, and before she could struggle or fight or even talk to her attacker...

It all went black.

                          .              .             .

Phoenix felt the world slowly ebb back to her and coughed in surprise as she realized she was wet, and in the sea.

She felt her fire was gone and twisted slightly to see that it was- too much time in the water caused her back to be bare and only covered in small stubby spikes and she had the thin ash-colored horns of a fireless SunWing. And she was cold and wet and the experience was generally uncomfortable. She hissed. She hated feeling weak. Weak meant unrespectable.

She craned her head back up to see a MoorWing glaring down at her.

Phoenix let out a yelp of surprise and instantly felt defensive, but without her fire... all her war training would be useless against this dragon, and she certainly wasn't in the mood to try fighting her, all wet and cold. She started shivering.

"What have you done?" she snarled at the MoorWing. She ideally wanted her voice to come out strong and threatening but it came out trembling and raspy.

Wouldn't mother and father be so disappointed in you now... captured by a lone MoorWing...

"You have crimes to answer for," the dragon hissed in response, jabbing a talon close to her face. She flinched back against her will. "You killed my sister!" the dragon continued, her voice trembling just the slightest at the latter part.

I did? Well she might have killed any MoorWing's sister in the raids she'd participated in.

"Yeah well! Your tribe is full of bird-killers," she spat. Well you don't know we have some of their eggs that are going to hatch, she thought smugly.

"Well your tribe is full of dragon- killers and conquers, which is worse!" The MoorWing spat in reply. "Everyday my tribe fights because of you bitter dragons who can't let go of their golden Sun Empire!"

If you hate conquers, you would especially hate me, Phoenix thought wryly.

She'd had enough talking with this dragon. She had to fly and fight her way out of this, it was what her parents would want.

Without responding, she spread her wings and was about to take off when the other dragon launched herself at Phoenix pinning her back down in the sea. She let out a cough and spluttered as her snout briefly went underwater.

"You're lucky I don't have my fire," Phoenix snarled.

"You're lucky I'm not killing you right here," The MoorWing cried. "Because you killed Hare!" She brought her claw down on Phoenix's snout, and she winced.

"Okay I'm sorry about your dead sister uh, Hops!"

An awkward pause. "You're not really sorry are you," said the MoorWing.

"I literally just apologized!" They said some other meaningless stuff, bantering.

Then there was a yell so fierce and another dragon suddenly launched himself at Phoenix, and pinned her to the seafloor tightly. Phoenix struggled but couldn't seem to wriggle free of the strong grip.

"What are you doing, Moth?" Her attacker yelled.

"Teaching this SunWing a lesson," 'Moth' smirked.

"Be careful Moth! That's the Sun Princess Phoenix!" her attacker yelled, and held a talon to her snout, still afraid of her fire even though it was clearly gone.

Well now I'm in trouble.

Moth's eyes widened. "Your the 'Sun conquer'?"

"Yes!" Phoenix flared, her eyes flashing. It felt good to say dramatic stuff like this, because even though her voice was still trembling the words made it threatening. "I am Princess Phoenix of the SunWings and I will bring back the Sun Empire! And by official orders I have to bring you back to the Sun kingdom!" Well, that was dramatic. She'd tried sounding like her mother, the Queen speaking out to her subjects.

She struggled with all her might against the MoorWing's grip, enjoying the look of astonishment on Moth's face.

Don't be weak Phoenix, make your tribe proud and fight!

It's what I'm prophesied to do.