Wings of Fire: Forever Hoping

Chapter 2

"Are you two ready?" his father growled. Digger and Beetle both nodded at their father who then set off flying. Digger rested his talon onto Beetle's. 

"Don't be scared. We'll be okay." The two brothers looked at each other and smiled then opened their wings and followed their father. 

"Let's go! You're gonna have to fly faster if you want to become soldiers," Gnat growled. "I'm not giving the Queen two excuses of Hivewings."

"Does he ever know when to shut up?" Beetle asked. Digger smiled and shrugged his shoulders, flapping his wings to catch up with their father. They soon approached the entrance where two guards stood on the outside, wearing armor and holding spears. The entrance was a giant doorframe carved out of marble with two Hivewing faces carved into it, roaring. Gnat flicked his tongue furiously at his dragonets, eyeing them. The two quickly scurried to his side and stayed there for the rest of the walk.

"Hey, Gnat. What're you doing here? I never see you in the Hives." The three Hivewings turned their heads to a yellow and black Hivewing wearing gold bracelets, greeting them.

"Ah, I barely come here. I'm more out on missions. Hardly ever in the Hives. But the reason why I come here is to present the Queen with my dragonets, hoping she'll take them to become soldiers and so me and Honeycomb don't have to deal with them anymore." The Hivewing looked at Beetle and Digger. 

"Oh! I didn't know you and Honeycomb had dragonets." 

"We kept it a secret. She really didn't want to have any," Gnat mumbled. As his father and the Hivewing chatted, Beetle still wondered about Serpent. Should I tell Digger? No. He'd probably think he was trying to attack me and might kill Serpent thinking he's protecting me. He's a good brother and all, but I can protect myself. He folded his wings over his head and drew in the little patch of dirt on the floor. Within it, he drew bubbles and clouds. Digger nuzzled his snout into Beetle's wings and stuck out his tongue.

"Hey, Beebrain!" he laughed. "Stop being so stupid."

"You calling me stupid? Oh, how dare you! Hivewings fall at my talons when they see my beauty!" Beetle leaped at Digger and pinned him to the ground.

"Bet the girls won't find you handsome when your face is buried in dirt, huh?" Digger laughed at him.

"You know me better than that. Come on! You know I don't like girls," he snorted, pushing Beetle off with his hind legs. Beetle rolled his eyes and smiled, flaring his wings open. 

"Right...you like boys," he giggled. Digger leaped towards Beetle, but he ducked in time, making Digger land awkwardly on the ground. "Better not let father hear you say that," he whispered in Digger's ear. 

"Well, I wish you luck. They seem like they're great fighters already." The two turned their heads to Gnat and the Hivewing with the gold bracelets who waved goodbye. The two brothers waved back to the female Hivewing before flying up to a platform. They were welcomed with the sweet smell of honey. Beetle licked his lips in hunger. When they approached the platform, a Hivewing wearing a golden crown sat on a throne with a cup in her talons.

"Gnat, what are you doing here?"

"Queen Sphex," Gnat said, unfolded his wings and bowing. Beetle and Digger did the same, not wanting to get in trouble. "I have come here to present you with my dragonets, Beetle and Digger, to hopefully join your Tribe as soldiers." Queen Sphex settled her cup on the ground and approached the Beetle, her brother and father and looked at them.

"Have they been probably trained in combat? Know how to make quick decisions? Follow orders?" She swagged her tail side to side as she watched Gnat.

"I have trained them in some combat, your Majesty. They do know how to make decisions and how to follow orders. Hopefully, that's enough to please you."