Wings of Fire: Forever Hoping

Chapter 5

Though Snowbird hadn't liked the idea, Quietdeath had pursuaded him into allowing Condor and Beetle attend Jade Mountain, promising him that she'd give him some replacements until they returned. 

Waking up from his soft pillows one last time before school had start, Beetle turned to look out his window. He caught a glimpse of two dragonets playing tag. One being the familiar Sandwing Rattlesnake and the other being Jauari, a Rainwing-Silkwing hybrid who Beetle had accidently bumped into while walking through Tranquility with Condor. Down below him, he noticed Condor talking with Cleverclaws. Exiting his home, he entered on their conversation. 

"You're lucky you get to go to Jade Mountain," Cleverclaws said to Condor.

"Why won't your mother let you attend?" Condor asked.

"She doesn't want me outside of Tranquility. That's why she has me in the building job because of my animus powers," Cleverclaws responded as he held up his arm to show his enchanted bracelet. "And she also said that it's dangerous. She says that if I go out, I'll be captured and forced to use my powers."

"You're one of the most powerful dragons on both Pyrrhia and Pantala! Seems like your mother is too overprotective." The red Skywing turned their head to face their friend. "Hey Beetle!" Beetle waved his talons to the two.

"I'd like you to meet my very good friend Cleverclaws," Condor introduced. The black Nightwind dipped his head to Beetle and smiled. "We were both born the same moon. I was just born first." Cleverclaws rolled his eyes while Condor laughed. 

"How are you feeling?" Cleverclaws asked as he noticed Beetle worry on his face. Beetle shrugged his shoulders and glanced at his talons. 

"I don't know. I've never really been around so many dragons of different tribes. I also don't want to fail as well. My father was very strict on us if we failed something. He did some awful stuff such as starving us." Condor wrapped their wing around Beetle and tried to comfort him.

"I'm sorry, Beetle." Though he was very uncomfortable with what Condor was doing, he let it slide. Cleverclaws sprawled out one of his wings in between Condor and Beetle and pushed the Skywing away from Beetle a little.

"Thank you," he mouthed. Cleverclaws winked. 

"Well, I'm excited to go to Jade Mountain. It'll be nice to be around dragons who live in tribes. I wonder what it's like." Beetle turned his head away from Condor and glanced at Cleverclaws. 

"I just hope my brother is okay. He's probably serving the Queen right now." The Nightwing moved to the side of the pathway to allow passing dragons to walk without moving around him. 

"I hear that Queen Sphex is a weird Queen. Is that true?" Cleverclaws asked as he continuously flicked his tail.

"She kind of is? The only thing that's weird is her laws. We were only allowed a certain amount of food for a week. Anything we caught had to be turned in for the next pass out. And if we wanted to become a soldier, she'd make us fight a soldier that's more experienced than us. Let's just say, most loose. She enforces that soldiers have partners because she'll only allow their dragonets to join under strict training."

"Wow. I'm glad that Queen Curse is not like that. I hear she's an excellent queen." Cleverclaws tapped his talons on the dirt as he listened carefully to Beetle.

"She isn't all bad. Sure, her laws are...unlawful, but she's fair. She's helped her tribe out of many situations and has even stopped a war from breaking out between the Leafwings and Sandwings." The three dragonets all turned their heads as Tranquility's leader approached them.

"Well, you seem to have some accomplishes Quietdeath," Condor joked. The Rainwing Nightwing hybrid rolled her eyes at the Skywing. 

"Unfortunately, I have personal guards. My self-appointed army commander, Sibera, gave me guards once I received a death threat from Flamelilly."