Wings Of Fire: Whisper In The Shadows (book 1)

Chapter 19-Belladonna

A/N: Dannnggg, I'm on a roll! I've been doing like a chapter a day for the last 3 or so parts! Maybe because the chapters are getting really short... Oh well, enjoy it while you can, they'll be back to super long next book.

By the time evening came around I was thoroughly confused.

First by the piles and piles of battle scrolls that Desert had dumped by my bed in the infirmary which explained page after page of 'how to use a halberd' or the 'best situation to use the rear naked chokehold.' (yes, that's a thing.)

The next confusing thing was Bamboo's logic. Apparently, I'm allowed to train with stitches and open wounds but not with a torn wing.

And finally, the next thing that's confusing me is Bloodhunter.

One moment he acts like he likes me and the next moment he's barely talking to me. This whole day he's been fidgety and nervous and he would barely look at me when he came to see me.

Now, I know you may be thinking, 'Bella, why don't you just read his mind and figure out what's wrong!?' And first off, I would never invade someone's privacy like that- to even suggest such a thing! And secondly, he's the only dragon out of my friends that knows I'm a mindreader so he would no doubt be able to block his thoughts from me.

But if I could perhaps-

"Hey Bella, you're looking scarily like Gale right now, are you okay?" Tempest asks from where shes sitting on the edge of the bed and then reaches her talons across my forehead as if to check for fever.

"Hey, that's my job!" Bamboo grins as he lands on the edge of the healing pavilion.

"Ooh, dinner!" Tempest grins, nearly jumping with excitement as Bamboo hands her a plate of fish. 

I roll my eyes at Tempest and take my own dinner, a plate of mangos and papayas, with a smile.

"Hey, is Blizzard back yet?" Bamboo frowns guiltily.

"Not yet, he'll be back once he calms down," Tempest says.

I nibble on my mango, only half listrening to the conversation. A plan is forming in my mind...

(1 hour later)

"Are you sure that your plan will work?" Tempest asks skeptically, watching me as I study my reflection in the metal meal tray by my bed.

"Sure it will," I shrug, frowning as I notice a green scale within the cloud of red. Once the scale is the right colour I turn towards Tempest.

"But will he believe you're Storm?" She asks studying my scarlet and navy scales where I have tried to imitate Storm's glowing patches.

"I think it's fine. Plus it's nighttime, he won't be able to see properly." Of course, since Bloodhunter is a Nightwing he will be able to see perfectly fine in the dark but I don't bother to mention that.

Tempest shrugs. "Ok, well good luck... But I'm going to go see Gale again."

I smile at the dopey grin on my bestfriends face. She really does like him.

With a deep breath, I fly off the platform wonkily, trying to look like I don't know how to dodge between the thick branches.

As I'm passing the main village, I see Bamboo flying towards the infirmary and I freeze praying he doesn't recognize me.

"General Storm," Bamboo says with a respectful nod.

"Bamboo," I reply with the same level of respect. I let out a breath when Bamboo turns away, but my relief is cut short when Bamboo spins around again.