A War of Sand and Snow

Chapter 8: Oasis

WINTER POV

Winter was already wondering if this was a good idea.

I mean, he had only just met the Sandwing, what made him think Qibli was better than the Icewings he had grown up around, what made him more trustworthy? It was a thought that was circulating in his head, and eventually he worked it down to no more than the fact that there was a chance Qibli wouldn't harm him, there wasn't a chance the Icewings wouldn't now.

So that was how Winter found himself here, wrapped up in a cloak, burning under the hot desert sun, flying after Qibli to an unknown destination. Sweat trickled down the Iceiwng's face, his scales felt like they were on fire, a fact which the itchy cloth that was all over them didn't help. What was worse, though, were the little concerned glances that Qibli kept sending back at him.

He watched as the pale yellow dragon veered midair and turned to face him.

"There's an oasis down there, I was thinking maybe we could stop. Get a drink, maybe cool off." He said, an odd smile on his snout. Winter was too exhausted to do anything but nod, and the moment he acknowledged it, his mouth was burning with thirst. Winter followed Qibli down to the ground, and the moment he landed, he ripped off the damned cloak, panting in the sun, and Qibli raised an eyebrow. Winter looked around at where they were, and saw that it was indeed an oasis, and large one at that, a small lake surrounded by palm trees that blocked the brunt of the sun.

He stood there, observing, until the Sandwing let out a whoop and threw himself in the water with an almighty splash. Winter gawked at the Sandwing, then scowled.

"WHY would you do that, you cactus-licking freak?" He said in disbelief.

"To check if it was a mirage, you glorified Ice cube!" The Sandwing drawled back. "It's not." He added helpfully.

Slowly, almost reluctantly, Winter made his way to the water's edge, and, in a far more graceful and dignified fashion, began to make his way in.

That was, until Qibli rolled his eyes, grabbed him, and practically threw him into the water. Winter came up sputtering and gasping, and once his coughing had abated, he scowled at the Sandwing.

"WHAT in the name of ALL PYRRHIA was THAT for!!" The pale dragon shouted. Qibli shrugged.

"You were taking too long, and it was killing my soul to watch you ever so slowly walk into the water in a dignified way." He said, swimming around to Winter's other side. "Swimming isn't supposed to be dignified. And anyways, don't you feel better now?" He pointed out.

Winter scowled, because the Sandwing was right. He did feel much better now, his scales cool and refreshed, and he had to admit, if it weren't for the fact that it was with his potential mortal enemy, he would find this pretty relaxing.

"So..." Qibli's voice broke the silence, and Winter tensed. "I'm sure your stuffy-snow-sniffing snout won't answer, but care to explain why you were being chased?" He shuffled uncomfortably, water cool water running over his talons with a sloshing sound.

"They were chasing me because they..." he hesitated, not sure he should tell this dragon the biggest reason. "Because they think I betrayed them."

"Ah." Qibli said, and uncomfortable look on his face. "....and...did you?"

"NO." Winter snapped. " I would never. I am the nephew of Queen Glacier, my loyalty to her is unquestionable." He felt a weird ripple go through him when Qibli's eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch, and the golden dragon's body tensed, suddenly making him seem much more threatening. "I mean...until now, of course." He added. He felt his own brain struggling to process the truth of his words, he was betraying Queen Glacier. He was doing exactly what Icicle thought he was doing, siding with the dragons that might have killed Snowfall. He took a deep breath, and that's when Qibli apparently decided that there had been enough serious talk.