There's SNOW place like Jade Mountain (A Wings of Fire Holiday Short)

Chapter 5

"Tsunami?" Anemone peaked her head into the legendary dragonet of Destiny's cave, a place that was usually off limits to students, but since Anemone was royalty, she was exempt from that rule. It also helped that she was Tsunami's sister. Anemone found Tsunami and Clay sitting side-by-side by a giant wooden board nailed to the wall, the words: 'curriculum,' written in large bold messy claw writing.

At the sound of her arrival, the two dragons both turned around, "Anenome!" Tsunami said, "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you." Anemone replied, shifting the bag around her neck so it was hidden from her view, "Can we talk? Alone?" She looked at Clay, silently telling her that she didn't want him in the room with them.

"O-Oh! Yeah! I just realized I have something to do." Clay said, walking to the door and bumping into Anenome, "Right now. Away from here." He stepped out, poking his head back in one more time, "Bye."

Anemone rolled her eyes, brushing the spot off where Clay had run into her. She didn't like being touched by other dragons, especially dragons who quite literally rolled in mud all day, "So you finally have time to come visit, hm?" Tsunami said, resting on her bed which was adorned with a painting of her mother sitting on a crudely made frame on a little table at the foot of the bed, "Well go on, sit down."

"Sorry, I've been busy with school and stuff," Anemone said, sitting down next to her sister.

"That's funny considering your grades are frighteningly low, and some of our staff have told us that you have been mysteriously disappearing in between classes..." Tsunami looked over at her with a knowing smirk, "But you don't happen to know about either of those things, wouldn't you?"

Anemone tried to keep her gaze neutral as she talked. She had been leaving classes early, leaving the school entirely, and going swimming when she wasn't feeling like learning or an assignment came up she just didn't want to do. Sometimes she just did not go to class in general and roamed the halls of the school, "Don't worry about me." Anemone said, knowing she had to say something, as the guilt was written all over her face, "It's none of your concern."

"Mhm... Then why do I not believe you?" She sighed, "Anenome, I know some of the stuff you're learning isn't your favorite, and I know you'd rather be doing anything else, but you can't be-"

Tsunami stopped, head turning to the door as Clay came back inside, "Sorry!" He said in a whisper, as if he was trying to be conspicuous, "I just needed to grab something." He said, walking inside, grabbing a scroll from the nearby bookshelf, and walking back out.

"...But you can't be missing class like that." Tsunami finished, "Times are different, Anemone, you can't be disappearing or leaving the mountain like that. Dragons will start to worry, and well..."

It didn't take long for Anenome to read the look on her sister's face that told her exactly what she was referring to. Ever since the bombing in the history cave, the school has toughened up on rules and regulations, and although it has been three years since the incidents at the start of Jade Mountain, many dragons are still nervous, especially the school's loyal founders. One thing was for certain, and all the students were well aware of this from the assembly that had taken place weeks after Darkstalker's transformation. If one more incident like that happened again, they would be forced to close the school for their safety. Anemone swallowed, wondering to herself if now was a good time to change the subject. She looked down at her bag, remembering why she was there. "Don't tell Mother," Anemone said, tilting her head and giving her the look she used to give her mother whenever she wanted something.

"The grades are one thing, Anemone, but you cannot be skipping classes. Seriously. I know I seem like I'm kidding, but I'm dead serious." She put her hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes, "Please? For me?"

There was something in Tsunami's eyes that made Anenome forget her protests and just simply nod. Tsunami looked pleased, "I'm sorry."

"I know." Tsunami said, brushing her wing affectionately against hers, "So was that what you wanted? To be yelled at by me? Or was there something else?" She giggled.

"Yes, I have a little delivery for you. From mother."

Tsunami's tail wavered enthusiastically, "Mother?" She repeated.

Anemone slipped off her bag, feeling the cool brown leather against her webs as she opened it up, fishing out a little object wrapped up with the special waterproof paper the Seawings used to bring Coral's works to the deep palace, "This was supposed to be for me as an early present, but I kind of wanted you to have it." She shoved it into Tsunami's talons, "Don't worry, you'll be getting your present in a few days."

Tsunami gave her a hesitant look, Anemone nodded, allowing her to accept the gift. Tsunami used her claw to slice off the paper like she was opening up a fish. In her paws lay a little red box, a little dolphin carved in the middle of the wooden container. Tsunami opened it, gasping quietly as she pulled out a long strand of pearls.

"I just wanted to say sorry." Anemone burst out, "For all of that. You know, for letting Darkstalker get me all excited and mean and stuff, and I'm sorry I said what I said that day. I'm sorry for hurting Moon and Kinkajou and I'm sorry for forgetting you!" She leaped towards her sister, hugging her tight, pressing her face onto her body in a soft cry.

Tsunami dropped the pearls onto the bed, looking down at her sister. She carefully placed her talons on her sister's back, pulling her close and resting her head on hers, "I love you, little sister."

Anemone sniffed, "I love you too, Tsunami."

This. Tsunami thought as she nuzzled the top of her sister's head, This is what I've been wanting ever since I met her. I don't want to see her as a threat, as a rival, I want to see her as what she is: My sister. My sister...

"Come home with me." Anemone said, "During the break. Please."

Anemone picked up the pearl necklace and dropped it onto her taller sister's head, she smiled, "I would love to, little sister."

"Great." She said happily, hugging her again as if this was exactly what she had also wanted. The moment was perfect, just perfect. Until the sound of hulking talonsteps pulled them out of it.

"Clay!" Tsunami shouted, making him and Anenome jump, "Get out, we're trying to have a sentimental moment!"

"Sorry sorry sorry!" Clay said, dropping the scroll he was carrying, "I just need to grab something else."

Tsunami pointed to the door, "GO." She said firmly.

"I just remembered. I don't need to grab something else." Said Clay, walking backward out of the cave, "I'll go now."