Wings of Fire: Dawn of The Stars

Chapter 5

Catfish quickly ran inside Sapphire's room, alarming her as he stumbled across half-rolled scrolls on the ground.
     "Sapphire!" he yelled at her. "Get up! This is important!" Catfish moved his talons around, his shoulders shaking. Sapphire got up and threw her blanket off of her.
     "What is it, Catfish?" Sapphire asked tiredly. She blinked slowly as Catfish ran off. She closed her eyes, ready to fall asleep again when a bucket of cold water poured onto her face.
     "CATFISH!" she screamed as the ocean's water went running down her face like tears. Catfish winced as Sapphire raised her talon ready to slap him. "What is it that you need is so important?"
     "I've been thinking..." Catfish began, "that maybe you and I could meet Futureseer? I mean, well me. Of c- course! Just me, you already met him. I— um. I really want to see if he can actually see the future." Catfish's shoulders started trembling like a shark ready to pounce.
     "Why?" Sapphire asked. "I mean why do you want to meet him so badly? His name doesn't mean he can see the future. If any NightWings can." Sapphire thought for a moment and looked at the leaf piles she'd slept in the other night when Amber stayed over.
Amber! Sapphire suddenly thought.
     "Also, who's going to watch Amber?" Sapphire added in quickly right about when Catfish opened his mouth to say something. Catfish suddenly frowned tipping his head down at his talons, as if thinking of how he could come along and watch Amber. Catfish sighed and looked up, facing toward Sapphire in the eyes.
     "Can Amber come, too?" he said. Sapphire looked at Catfish anxiously.
     "If you really want to come, you can come. It's just that Amber. She's a three-year old dragonet. And, there's a war going on. Remember, I nearly got caught by the NightWings. It's not safe for you at all," Sapphire said, worrying about Catfish. Catfish was always the first to stand up for her. They've grown up together for almost four years. Sapphire thought about her hatching day which was in three days. Sapphire was going to turn four.
     Sapphire's thoughts were interrupted when Catfish spoke up. "Amber can come, too. She is the NightWings' ally."
     "I guess. I'm just worried about her. We have to ask her first," Sapphire said.
     "Already done," Catfish replied.
     "What? What do you mean already done?"
     "That I already asked her and she said yes. Well, not exactly yes. More like YES! I WOULD LOVE MEETING THIS FURTURESEER DRAGON! Can he really see the future? NIGHT KINGDOM NOW!" Catfish shouted imitating Amber's voice. Sapphire laughed then realized what he just said.
     "She said yes?" Sapphire asked. Catfish nodded. "Well, I guess we could go. It would take a while to get to his den. We might need to pack up some food." Sapphire looked down at her map to Futureseer's and grabbed it. She stuffed it in her pouch and put it on. "I'll go get breakfast," Sapphire told him.
     Catfish nodded and flew out of her den. "I'll get her!" she heard Catfish shout. Sapphire walked over to her desk and put on her gold horn ring. She turned around and grabbed her The Twilight Star Legend scroll.
Another day of traveling, she thought.
     Sapphire stretched her wings and flew out her den. The sun was high up today and the waves were calm. Sapphire twirled in the sky and flew off to Jellyfish's work area. At first, Jellyfish didn't notice her until Sapphire came in front of her.
     "Oh! Sapphire, it's nice to see you! I'm a little busy constructing wood right now, so I'll need you to wait," Jellyfish said using a small hammer on the wooden block.
     "It'll be quick," Sapphire said before Jellyfish could tell her to move. "I just want to ask you if, if I can go out in the forest for a few days." Jellyfish dropped her hammer and turned towards Sapphire.
     "The forest is dangerous. You need to stay at Reef Beach," Jellyfish said in her bossy voice.
    "It'll be fine. I'm going with Catfish and Amber too. We'll stick together," Sapphire said. "And we won't travel too far," Sapphire added in quickly, lying.
     "Alright then. Just make sure to pack up your food and supplies. Take this," Jellyfish said giving Sapphire a wooden dagger.
     "Why do I need this?" Sapphire asked.
     "To hunt easier," Jellyfish said. Sapphire gave her a mean look knowing there was more to it. "And to defend yourself," she mumbled.
     "Alright then!" Sapphire exclaimed. She gave Jellyfish a hug and put the dagger in her pouch. She then flew out of the workspace heading towards Reef School. Sapphire saw a pale green and orange dragon flying towards her. Amber plummeted into Sapphire's body with her talons outstretched. Sapphire almost fell put of the sky, but regained her balance.
     "I can really come?" Amber yelled her wings flaring.
     "Yeah, you can," Sapphire beamed, "but we need to pack up supplies." She pointed over to the school.
     "I'm already packed!" Amber exclaimed. "And Catfish, too!"
     "I am!" Catfish said. He suddenly turned to Amber and whispered something in her ear.
     What is he telling her? Sapphire thought.
     "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go down to the cafeteria," Catfish said. He didn't wait for a response and swooped down towards the Reef School.
     Sapphire and Amber hovered for a moment before Amber said, "Race you!" She flew down swiftly with her large wings. Sapphire stumbled for a moment in the air and flew along with her. They landed beside the school entrance and walked down the tunnel. There were only a few SeaWings there. The rest of her classmates were in class. Luckily, Jellyfish had excused Catfish, Amber, and Sapphire from class. Catfish sat over by an empty table and beckoned them over.
     "Crab!" shouted one of the cafeteria servers.
     "Tuna!" shouted another. Sapphire raised her talon and Catfish's teacher flew by with a net. "Oh, Sapphire. Why aren't you in class?"
     "We're going on a trip around the forest. I'll be gone for a few days. Could you tell Amber's teacher?" Sapphire asked politely. The indigo SeaWing nodded. She dropped a few tunas on top of Sapphire's plate and flew away.
     "Can I have some?" Amber asked nudging Sapphire.
     "Of course!" Sapphire exclaimed handing her the fish. Sapphire looked down at her fish for a moment then sighed. She promptly ate it as Amber cooked hers.
     Catfish was eating sushi and threw his plate away. "Ready?" he asked. Sapphire nodded at the same time Amber nodded rapidly. "Alright then! Lead the way, Sapphire!" Catfish exclaimed. He walked out of the cafeteria with Sapphire and Amber, tagged along with him.
     "Let's fly!" Sapphire exclaimed as she shot through the air. She let her sparkled wings stretch and soar. Sapphire caught a glimpse at one of her wings looking at the small silver scales.
     Strange. Now that I think about it, it looks like a NightWing's.
     Sapphire grabbed her map and hovered for a moment. She then flew over to a small forest dotted with yellow flowers. The sand began to become scarce as the grass covered it. They had to fly straight and follow a river. After that they would have to go over a few hills and take a left. Then they would be at Futureseer's den.

     They were all silent for most of the flight until they reached the hills. Amber was the first to speak.
     "So after we go over these, we'll be at Futureseer's den?" she asked. Sapphire nodded and Catfish speeded up towards the hills.
     "Wait up!" Sapphire cried. Both of the dragonets flew after him. The hills were layered with all sorts of flowers; roses, orchids, cauliflowers, alliums, dandelions, and peonies. Amber quickly flew down to pick a dandelion and flew back up. Catfish pulled to a stop and glanced around.
     "You're pretty fast for a SeaWing!" Amber exclaimed.
     "Shh," Catfish said covering Amber's mouth. He tilted his head and his ears were perked up. Sapphire looked around wondering what Catfish was listening for. Then, she heard it. Catfish looked up to the sky and saw dragons. Not any dragons, SeaWing soldiers from the Kingdom of Sea.
     "Duck!" Sapphire whispered pulling down the pale green and orange dragons. They flew into a ravine in the hills and peeked. There were two of them. An indigo SeaWing and an aquamarine SeaWing. They looked around and started chatting with each other. Sapphire moved a bit closer, straining her ears to hear what they were talking about.
     "—have any sight about it?" one of them asked.
     "No, but I'm sure — and Queen Azure told us to find them," the second soldier said.
     "I'm pretty sure she just told us to — the NightWing, Nightroar. He was the one who caused this war," the first one said. She looked up and turned back to the second SeaWing soldier.
     "Don't forget Emerald, too. We already have her captive — identify her dragonet. Possibly looking like a mix between a SeaWing and NightWing," the indigo dragon said.
     A hybrid? Sapphire thought. Weird looking probably... like me.
     "The places Nightroar could've flown to hide their egg are—" she was interrupted by loud wingbeats. A dark green SeaWing went over and started booming orders to them. Sapphire was pulled back by Catfish so she couldn't hear what they were saying anymore. The SeaWing soldiers nodded and flew away. For a moment, Sapphire thought the dark green SeaWing was looking straight at them, but he then flew away. After no dragons were in sight, Sapphire, Catfish, and Amber decided to fly out.
     "Who were those?" Amber asked nervously.
     "SeaWing soldiers," Catfish replied. "Did you pick up any important information?" he asked Sapphire.
     "I did. They were talking about a NightWing named Nightroar, who apparently started the war between SeaWings and NightWings along with a SeaWing named Emerald," Sapphire said. "If I heard correctly, they had an egg together. A hybrid dragonet. It seems like the SeaWing Queen ordered them to find it." Sapphire said hybrid with an excited expression. Catfish nodded and looked over the hills.
     "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go meet Futureseer!" Catfish exclaimed.
     "Futureseer!" Amber chanted. Sapphire hushed her and flew over the hills.
     A small cave that looked out of place emerged from the distance. It was quite hidden around large pine trees, but Sapphire had seen it immediately. Once she got used to it, she could spot it from anywhere. She carefully flew down and landed a few feet away from the door. Amber came down first with her fast wings, although Catfish was still pretty fast as he shot down beside them. Sapphire took deep breaths and slowly walked towards the door. She raised her talon ready to knock, but a thought paused her.
     This is Futureseer. I know he saved me and wouldn't hurt any of my friends. I trust him, Sapphire thought. Just knock on the door.
     She knocked on the wooden door softly with a thump, thump, bump. She backed away, bringing in her wings closer to her as the sparkled undersides slowly glimmered away, covering Catfish and Amber. She could hear talonsteps coming by and held her breath. The thing she was worried about was that if the NightWings have found him and were guarding the den.
     The black dragonet opened the door with a cautious expression. When he saw Sapphire, his dark eyes went wide in surprise and relief.
     "Sapphire!" Futureseer exclaimed. "You're really here! I didn't actually think you would come visit." He walked in front of her and stared into her dark green eyes.
     "Hi, Futureseer," she began. "It's so nice to see you again. Did I say thank you about the salt plant yet? Thank you."
     Futureseer breamed and opened his mouth to say something. "But, I have some friends who want to meet you," she said, moving aside so her wings could uncover the SkyWing and SeaWing. Futureseer's expression was unpredictable as he walked towards them. His eyes were mostly on Amber as he scowled at her. Amber winced and Catfish came closer to her, twining his tail around hers. Sapphire felt a stab of guilt as he noticed how Futureseer was feeling. A SkyWing with his best friend who was a SeaWing. SeaWings and SkyWings were enemies in the war. Futureseer stared at them for a moment. Out of nowhere, fire hissed from the trees hitting Catfish.