Wings of Fire • Path to Ascension [Book 3]

scene ii.

Trying my hand at some introspection and character interactions! I have to admit I'm in dire need of some feedback, so please let me know if anything is feeling off! I'm trying to experiment a bit but I'm worried I'm missing the mark and making things worse than better... so please tell me if anything is weird! I want to make my writing the best I can for you :)

And don't worry, if you think there's too much talking this chapter, then the next chapter is for you!

Next update on October 16th!

And finally, let's get on with the show!!!

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Eight seemed reluctant to let him go but Ghost could feel her body surging with small vibrations. When he asked her about it she pulled back and said, "After being trapped in my own body I feel like I could run forever." Both of her secondary talons were fidgeting more than usual and once more, Ghost turned to the DartWing who'd caused all of this with a glare.

     Except, when he turned, he was met with a surprising sight: Hawker was fretting around another dragon, this one much paler than he, who appeared to be lying on its back. Even worse, it was another DartWing.

     He levelled his glare on the dark dragon. "How many times did you break Atta's rule?"

     "About three - no, five times, but I don't care about that." Hawker returned Ghost's glare with a cavalier one of his own. "I needed their help and I couldn't have rescued Sessile without any of them aiding me."

     How dare he, thought Ghost, hating Hawker's holier-than-thou stance. It was just like the cave near the river where he'd spat at them like they were beneath him. "We told you not to. Are you so full of yourself that you decided you knew better than Atta?" Like a spark of flame, all the rage and anxiety he'd been building over the last three days was unleashed. Ghost's voice steadily grew louder. "We told you not to tell anyone else! And what do you do but exactly that! Every time we've encountered you, you do something untrustworthy!" Ghost's tail began to glow. He was about to open his jaws to drive him away but he stopped when Eight placed a talon on his shoulder.

     "Calm down, Ghost. I want to see what Lady Atta says first."

     He couldn't believe his ears. "Not you, too! Am I the only one who isn't blinded by his charm?"

     Eight glared at him. "I'm smarter than that, Ghost. I don't like him much, either, but he can be useful. In the end, it's not up to me to decide."

     "Yeah, it isn't," snapped Ghost, "but it isn't Atta's either. You forget whose jungle we're in."

     Taproot chose this time to insert himself. When he spoke, Ghost flinched and turned to the sound of his voice, which was just over his shoulder. The LeafWing was standing on the ground as if he'd been standing there the whole time (which, considering him, that was probably the case). "Hello, Hawker! I'm glad to see you made it! And what's this, another friend?"

     "You could say that," said Hawker. "Do you have any more of that antidote? She got stung during our escape."

     Ghost watched, incredulous, as Taproot didn't object to Hawker's breach of trust. He looked to Eight, who merely shrugged both sets of shoulders. "They did risk their lives, Ghost. Let Lady Atta decide."

     She seemed to think that was a good idea, but Ghost wasn't so sure. He thought of how she'd reacted to Spider's and Acantha's appearances: welcoming them with open wings. If she was that willing to tolerate them, she might tolerate Hawker too, and Ghost would have to sleep with both eyes open.