Proboscis Book 1: Clouds Parting- A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

~ Chapter 8 ~

"So, is Ash going to turn into a mass killer?" Stratus asked Basalt. She was scared, but she tried not to show it.

"I don't know," Basalt answered, sighing. "If she does turn into a murderer, we're probably all going to die."

"Don't worry," Queen Tambora said calmly. "If I remember correctly, I think she's only ever used her animus magic twice."

"What for?" Quartz asked, curiously.

"One time by accident. That's how we figured she was an animus. Then, she used her magic to stop the VoidWings," Queen Tambora answered.

"That's relieving," Stratus said.

Queen Tambora, we need to talk to you," Quartz said the Queen.

"Yes?" The Queen replied, inquisitively.

"We're thinking we need to go to the other kingdoms and recruit other dragons, so we were thinking we would leave at dawn tomorrow," Stratus said.

"Oh, okay..." The Queen said, her face dropping, "But, it's dangerous out there for six-year-old dragons!"

"Well, how do you think we got here?" Stratus shot back at the flaring queen.

Queen Tambora sighed, and said, "Fine, but promise me you'll get some rest before you go. It'll be a long day tomorrow."

"Alright," Stratus said as she and a dazed and confused Quartz wandered off to their sleeping quarters.

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Stratus suddenly woke up, velvet blankets still on top of her. Ugh... I was having the most wonderful dream... who woke me up? She looked to her side and could see Quartz, sprawled across the bed and snoring, his crystal body refracting the little light around him. Argh, so that's what woke me up... Her thoughts were interrupted by their door creaking open, and talon steps outside.

"Shh... Be quieter, Lava!" The dragon whispered to another dragon.

Stratus laid back down as if she were asleep, but her eye was still cracked open. As the door fully opened, Stratus almost screamed, as she saw the Queen in the door, with another dragon, both with spears in their hands. The Queen!? But... why?

Queen Tambora must have seen Stratus's wide eyes, because she said, "Oh, honey. This isn't personal, it's just that it's too dangerous out there for you kids..."

"You shut up! We can fend for ourselves, so we don't need you to boss us around!" Stratus yelled as she bolted up from her bed.

Tambora sighed, and said, "Fine, I was hoping it wouldn't come to this... Lava, Eruption, Combustion! Seize them!"

"Quartz! Come on!" Stratus screamed as she pulled him up from his bed.

"Topaz... What are you doing?" Quartz slurred, still groggy, "I wanna go eat my pie..."

Stratus ran out the entrance to the Glass Oak Garden. Whoa, if the VoidWings didn't attack, this would've been so cool... Stratus thought as she dragged a half-asleep Quartz through the tinkling of the glass as it chimed together in the night wind.

"Quartz! Wake up!" Stratus yelled, prodding Quartz with her claw.

"Huh?" Quartz answered. "What's going on?" Quartz jolted up as she saw the BlazeWings chasing after the two.

"Run!" Stratus screamed. They ran out of the palace, causing almost every BlazeWing in the kingdom to wake up. Quartz saw Basalt staring out of his window, watching Stratus and Quartz while they were being chased.