Wings of Fire: The Return of Wasp

Chapter 3

Wasp had believed that she would have to rot in the flamesilk cavern for the rest of her life, cut away from her tribe that she led for her whole life.

Now, she was following some ominous SilkWing through the tunnels where her beloved flamesilk fugitives, Blue and Luna escaped through. Wasp was still very unhappy about that, if those useless little worms hadn't escaped, she would have still been queen and she would have a higher flamesilk production rate. 

Wasp still wasn't sure why she was following a lowly SilkWing, HiveWings never listened to SilkWings. It seemed that the ominous aura of Tiger seemed to draw her closer to the SilkWing like how moths are attracted to light.

Wasp wasn't exactly happy about that metaphor, as moths seemed to have a relation towards one of her missing flamesilks. Wasp really wanted to get her claws on Luna and rip off her face in front of her beloved Swordtail that she seemed to adore deeply. It would be really satisfying when she gets her claws on her wanted fugitives.

"This way," Tiger seemed to mutter to himself as if he just remembered the directions of the cave they padded through.

"Mrrph," Wasp grumbled, following Tiger through a twisted corridor and nearly tripping on the damp stones beneath her aching talons.

Wasp felt a tad bit annoyed, she felt as if this SilkWing was the boss of her even though she was queen! She could possibly lead the way by herself, why should she follow the SilkWing? He should be following her! But this SilkWing wasn't ordinary, thought Wasp. She climbed over a sharp stone that jutted out from the damp earth that had a distant tang of salt. 

Wasp sniffed, salt! If she could smell salt, she was nearing the ocean! That is one step closer to her beloved flamesilks, her leafspeaker, her resistant HiveWing and her troublesome little tortured blue and orange SilkWing. 

Wasp followed Tiger through the tunnel, flickers of dark blue and yellow of his scales glittered in the dim rays of light from the cracks on the roof of the cave.

"Nearing my destination," Tiger said suddenly, flicking his wings for Wasp to stop. 

"I thought we were going to the beach?" Wasp growled, jabbing Tiger with her tail. "Stop stalling! Let's go! The faster we move, the faster I can get my claws on my fugitives." 

"No," Tiger shook his head simply, blocking Wasp's view. "Queen Jewel had stationed a talonful of guards there just in case you, or your sisters managed to escape your little flamesilk cavern prison. I entered a different way, we need to turn here." He said, pointing a claw at another opening where the cave split. Wasp could hear the waves crashing from another opening. "This way leads straight to Wasp Hive — your Hive. There, we can gain an army and take down the LeafSilk Kingdom by force and drive out all the wee' little SilkWings and LeafWings from their homes and kill them as easily as ants." 

Wasp smiled cruelly. Yes! I should've thought of that sooner! Gain an army! I'm sure that a fraction of my tribe will still support me.

Wasp kept her cruel grin as she followed Tiger down the left cave, her hopes rising as she thought of a battalion of her HiveWing army capturing Luna, Blue, Sundew and little Cricket and locking them up in the flamesilk cavern to be tortured.

Wasp climbed over the slippery stones when she heard a hubbub of voices up ahead. 

Wasps' eyes stretched wide.

She saw a light up ahead, and a pale beige looking shape that swarmed with HiveWings. She saw her own face on wooden carvings that seemed to be clawed at or in the process of being taken down.

Disloyal cowards! Wasp thought mutinously, baring her teeth as Tiger continued to the front. Following a puny little HiveWing who is obsessed with glittery stuff and playing dress-up-fashion-show tea party nonsense! Jewel doesn't even know how to rule a whole tribe properly! I am the best queen!

But something seemed different about a group of HiveWings at the entrance of the cave, they all wore some sort of adornment or scarve, or some type of armor embedded with a wasp. Some sort of revolutionary for me?

"Ah, yes." Tiger grinned at Wasp with all his teeth, his yellow eyes glittered maliciously. "You've seem to notice those HiveWings, ey?"

"I did." Wasp hissed at him, pulling her wings back in a regal manner.

"You see, before I went to save your butt from that cave, I found a rather rebellious group of HiveWings who wanted you back as queen. So I informed them I was saving you and that we should start our own — what's it.. — Chrysalis like the SilkWings had when you were ruling. But now, our own revolutionary group where we recruit dragons who support you — all kinds. We will fight Jewel then attack the LeafSilk Kingdom... and yeah. You should know." Tiger growled, pushing Wasp to the entrance. She staggered but a few sturdy HiveWings caught her.

"Are these the only dragons we have?" Wasp growled at Tiger, her venom melted part of her face aching as always.

"Ah, for now. Our main mission for now is getting recruitments in secret like the Chrysalis." Tiger answered simply, eyeing Wasp Hive anxiously.

"Then let's go!" Wasp snapped, as the other HiveWings nodded their approval, handing some sort of wasp related crown to her.

"Wait," Tiger said. "First step is introducing ourselves."

"Seems pointless." Wasp muttered, narrowing her eyes at the other five HiveWings who glanced at each other. "But alright."

"Er, I am Sand Wasp." Said a sandy colored HiveWing with large black spots. He chuckled. "I was actually named after you, your majesty." Sand Wasp bowed at Wasp who felt very much pleased for someone's dragonet who was named after the rightful queen.

"I am Silverfish." A haughty looking red HiveWing said, lifting his head up stiffly. He tilted his head at a startled orange HiveWing.

The HiveWing squeaked, her eyes widening slightly as if she just figured out that Wasp just came now. "Oh!" She cried, elbowing Silverfish who gave her a disgruntled look. "Right, right! I am Vespid... I am so thrilled to see you again, your majesty." She dipped her head politely despite the surprise of the Ex-HiveWing Queen standing a few tail-lengths away.

Wasp snorted. "Why not kill this one?" She said, pointing at Vespid who looked at Wasp in utter disbelief. 

"No, no!" Tiger chuckled, a deep low laugh. "This is your ally, not a foe. She is willing to help you, not the opposite. Not nice of you Wasp on our first impressions especially since she was the most eager to meet you."

"Oh, splendid." Wasp grumbled. "And who in the right mind of Clearsight said I was going to be nice?"

Tiger shrugged, he seemed out of answers. He flicked his tail at a darker red HiveWing with yellow spots on his tail, talons and wings.

"I am Hookworm." He murmured, teeth gritted. He flicked his wings at another female HiveWing.

"I am Ladybug." She hissed, her namesake was well fitted as she was a rich red color, dappled with black scales along her neck, back, tail and wings.

"Now that we know our allies, let's get on our mission and gain a Hive-full of allies who will help you overthrow the LeafSilk Kingdom, and Jewel." Tiger said, spreading his wings with a smug expression.

"That shall do." Wasp grinned with all her teeth.

That's right. 

Oh, you wait, little Luna.

I am coming, don't you worry.

And expect more.

As oh, the vengeance has just begun.