All for the Wing, Right?

The Elite

"I'm Niarra the senior wing leader of the quadrant and the head of the first wing. Section Leaders and Squad Leaders take your positions now."

Violent explains the Sections and Squads to Rhiannon. We are instructed to follow the roll to determine our position. Tara gets separated from us quickly. We all three are called into Flame Section second wing. We get into formation quickly, and I take a deep breathe as I don't see Riorson in our ranks.

My attention is caught by the wing leaders arguing over something. I mentally face palm as I have a good idea of what's about to happen. Dain silences Violet and Rhiannon. The Wing Leaders snapping back to attention quickly.

"Dain Aetos you and your squad will switch with Ora Bienhavens."

Dain nods and tells us to follow him. I know where this is going and I don't like it.

"We're moving to fourth wing."

Violent whispers to me, looking like all the color drained from her face. I nod and continue looking forward. Xaden begins to speak with us.

"You're all cadets now. Take a look at your squad. These are the only people guaranteed by codex not to kill you. But just because they can't end your life doesn't mean others won't. You want a dragon? Earn one. And I bet you feel pretty bad ass, don't you first years? You feel invincible after the parapet, don't you? You think you're untouchable , you're on the way to becoming the elite few. The chosen."

I hear the wings beating and Rhiannon's comment. The eight dragons flying right at us brings up a few memories for sure. As the winds from their wings hit us I make sure Violet isn't blown over. When they land I stare blankly at Xaden. The screams erupt and I watch Violet mask her fear in front of me. The navy blue dragon staring her down and blowing steam onto Violet. The green one next to me clicks right in my ear. I bow my head and wait for it to disengage with me. It slowly backs up and I pear right back at Riorson.

A cadet runs and I watch along with everyone else as he runs next to the arch with the quote everyone knows. A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead. The cadet that ran is now burned alive by the red dragon above.

"Anyone else feel like changing their mind? No... excellent. Roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer. A third of you the year after that. And the same your next year. No one cares who your mommy or daddy is here. Even King Tauri's second son died during his Threshing. So tell me again, do you feel invincible now that you've made it into the rider's quadrant. Untouchable? Elite? Because you are not untouchable or special to them. To them you're just the prey.

The next day:

The roll is being read atop the Dias. We all are wearing rider black today, and all of us first years now have a 4 point star on our collar bones, and a patch to designate our wing. I received a patch for the fastest time across the parapet.

I found a vest made of dragon scale left under my pillow last night. Mira had kept it secret since there is 156 of us in the first year floor, but I know Violet wears a similar one. The names roll on for another few minutes, but the formation is over. The squad leaders begin giving orders to their designated squads, including Dain who I partially tune out. I memorized our academic schedule last night and went over it with Rhiannon and Violet.

Dain acts like he has no idea who me or Violet are and Rhiannon makes a comment to Violet about that. He discusses schedules and orders the second and third years to get to class.

"First years at least one of you should have memorized your academic schedule when it was handed out yesterday. Stick together I expect all you to be alive when we meet later this afternoon in the sparring gym."