Wings of Fire - The LostWing Chronicles, Book 1 - The Awoken

Chapter 16

As Anadrom followed the flow of dragonets out of the classroom, waiting until she was one of the last in line so she didn't have to compete with anyone for space, Tamandua slid up next to her. The kind ocean-blue eyes of the SeaWing/RainWing emanated compassion and a sort of remorseful wonder, which calmed the racing of her heart after that discussion. "How are you doing?" she asked softly, reaching a wing out to rest gently on Anadrom's shoulder as they moved forward. Her scales were cool and soft, like how she imagined rainforest leaves must feel, and it reminded her comfortingly of her home in the coral reef. "After that assembly yesterday - having everything that happened to you brought up at once like that, and in front of a bunch of unknown dragonets - that can't be pleasant, not in the least."

"No," Anadrom admitted, with a slight shake of her head. Tamandua knew exactly how she felt at the moment, and could tell exactly what was bothering her. It's incredible - I can read other dragons myself, but when I do, I have no idea how to convey what I see to them. I just stammer and end up confusing them more. "Everyone keeps calling me LostWing, too. I - I don't really like that." She swallowed and looked down at her talons. "I do feel lost, all of the time now. I am - I am just a relic of the past, an accidental survivor who will never belong."

Tamandua looked crushed, gazing sorrowfully at her. "I can't imagine what that's like for you. Just know that not many dragons could have gone through what happened to you. Really, Anadrom, it's amazing. Winter and Qibli were so mean to you, as were almost all of the tribe you belong to, and you've forgiven them all. Being able to understand other dragons is what other animuses have been lacking through all these years - they all think that they're special because they deserve to be and that they have the right to shape the world as they please. If I'm right about you, the opposite is true for you; you can't understand why such power was given to you, and you want to protect everyone else from it above all else."

Anadrom nodded, and the hybrid gave her a warm smile. "You'll fit in here, don't worry. Every dragonet in this academy is brilliantly unusual and you're just like all of them in that and other regards. We're all different, and because of that we're all the same. You are a capable dragonet, from what I've seen. Everything will be okay here. And - I really, really want you to know I'm not being nice so you'll enchant something for me. You promised not to already, I know, but I don't want you to think I'm being insincere for a moment." There was no need for Tamandua to elaborate on this final statement; Anadrom had been able to tell from the warmth in her eyes that she had been telling nothing but the truth the entire time.

"I know," she said. "Thanks, Tamandua." She wanted to express her growing admiration for the compassionate hybrid, but as always, nothing came to her. Then they had arrived at the prey center, where animals and fruit were neatly organized into pens and shelves, and Peregrine came rushing over.

"Heya, slowpokes!" she beamed. "Here, Tamandua, I grabbed a pomegranate for you before the RainWing rush arrived." She handed the shining red fruit over carefully, looking guiltily at Anadrom. "I would grab you something too, but - er - what do you like? Wait - I know - I'll show you around myself! Way to go, me, not being a terrible new classmate. Follow me!"

"Thanks, Peregrine!" Tamandua called, and the IceWing performed a little skip of happiness as she led Anadrom through the room.

"She was probably trying to cheer you up?" Peregrine guessed. "Webs was pretty stern, right? Well, you probably don't want to think about that, so - here's the prey center instead! This used to just be a cave full of prey and fruit scattered about, but that was chaos, so they reorganized it. When the winglets and teachers go out hunting, any prey they catch but don't want to eat at the time is brought back here and stored away. There are shipments from all of the Kingdoms, as well, and prey and fruit brought up from the farms below. It's organized alphabetically, left to right and top to bottom, by the name of the food specifically. For example, mountain goat is right here. Yay, they have one today! Oh, and yes, there's ovens over there for cooking, so dragons don't start fires everywhere to char their prey. It tastes much better cooked and not all ashy, to be honest." The IceWing grabbed a section of the goat and rushed off, and Anadrom followed, selecting some berries out of curiosity.