Wings of Fire • Path to Ascension [Book 3]

scene v.

Hey all!

I really hate to do this, but I need a short break. School is getting intense and I need to spend all my time on it. I'll have a (hopefully cool) animation by the end of it, which I promise I'll show!! 

I will be back on December 18th. 

Okay, bad news over, on to the good stuff!! 

I am SO SORRY for the late post. I had so much trouble writing it that I had to restart yesterday. I also knew that it would be long, but I didn't expect to end up with 40 pages (paperback-sized, I'm not that insane... or am I?). 

Silliness about its length aside, I am really proud of how it turned out (even if I had to cut a scene I really liked). Maybe one day I'll post a scrap book of all the things I deemed not good enough, so you can see all the silly (and sad) things that I've cut.

I also ended up going on a rant at the end of the chapter, getting slightly abstract with Ghost's perspective but it feels really nice? It was that thing where you get hijacked by the character's brain and things just flow. Idk, it almost made me cry and I hope you can feel the emotion I've tried to portray. Character arcs are happening!!!!

Anyway, I won't keep you any longer. Please, enjoy this part. I can't wait to get back to you all on December 18!!

Enough talking, Thunder: on with the show!!!!!

- ❈ -

Things were going surprisingly well... and Ghost was getting suspicious.

     It took two days to reach the Poison Jungle, but during that time they didn't encounter a single DartWing or HiveWing. Admittedly, it was because they stuck close to the cliffs, flying in a position where they couldn't be seen unless someone was directly above them. They also kept silent in case any conversation would carry to a spy trying to tail them. The snap of their wings was unavoidable, unfortunately, but it was better than nothing. It must have worked because they were not bothered the entire time they were on the coast.

     Ghost was expecting more of a fight when they neared Yellowjacket Hive – around midmorning – but by the time they reached the western expanse of the Poison Jungle, LeafWings melted out of the forest to aid them. Surrounded by a troop of LeafWings – and aided by three highly skilled DartWings, on top of the prisoners they'd rescued – it seemed highly unlikely that trouble would find them in the form of a dragon.

     That was why Ghost felt safe enough to close his eyes. He was exhausted after flying for so long and thought he deserved a little shut-eye. Their whole squadron just landed at the entrance to the safe jungle path, guarded by even more LeafWings. It was probably the only time Ghost would call it safe without sarcasm.

     Flopping down next to Eight (who was eyeing the SilkWing with curiosity and shyness), Ghost sighed, his eyelids immediately heavy. His throat was as dry as tree bark and felt about the same texture every time he swallowed. It was his wings that hurt the most, however, and although he'd hoped to fly over the canopy he might have to walk the path with the AntWings instead... if he could stay awake long enough to, that is.

     Maybe they'll carry me if I fall asleep... yeah... That sounded like a good idea. Ghost began to let himself go, idly listening to Eight coaxing a name from the SilkWing when someone touched his shoulder.

     "Do you smell that?" Eight asked.

     "Smell what," he mumbled without opening his eyes.

     "You can't smell it? Can you?" The SilkWing answered no, but a titter passed through the AntWings, all murmuring about something strong.