Rain and Night - A Glorybringer Story

Chapter 21

After Starchaser and Grandeur had been informed of the truthful situation, Glory quickly made her way to a tall tree, where she was staying. It wasn't as comfortable as a hammock, but she was fine with it. It was warm enough, and that was important for the eggs, since there was no way Glory could let them hatch in the tribe Hatcheries. 

As the day dragged on, Glory found herself extremely lonely and bored. It was easy to find and pick fruit, yes, but it was lonely here, almost at the edge of the rainforest. She sat down, thinking. 

What if I just ... oh, yes. What if I disguise myself as some random RainWing and go to the village? Glory thought. It would be risky, sure, but ... it'll be worth it to visit Deathbringer and also see for myself what Fierceteeth is up to. 

Excited, she decided to turn herself a ridiculous bright pink (to blend in) and orange. She looked nothing like herself. Perfect. She slowly flew in the direction of the villages until she began to see small huts nestled in the trees, which meant that she'd reached the RainWing village. Immediately, Glory noticed that there were at least twenty NightWings here, in the RAINWING village, where only some NightWings were allowed to come, including Starchaser, Deathbringer and Midnight. 

Suddenly, Glory paused. Over there on the Royal Pavilion. Fierceteeth! She was standing on the Royal Pavilion, flanked by five unfamiliar NightWings, Starchaser and Cunning. She gasped. The four dragons were the ones who went missing! Nebula, Bloodwatcher, Sharpstrike, Silvermind and Jewelhunter. The ones who were close with Fierceteeth. They'd come back after Fierceteeth had secured the throne! Glory growled but stamped down the red on her wings. A few RainWings were standing before them.

Since she didn't have any idea of what she should call herself if asked, Glory went into camouflage as she approached them. She began to hear their talking. 

"But we need suntime!" She heard a RainWing complain. Suntime? What's this all about?

"Yeah!" Another added in a whining voice. "Otherwise we won't have enough energy to do stuff!"

Glory was shocked. Fierceteeth wasn't allowing them suntime? A staple of RainWing life? Was she using them as slaves? Abusing them? Forcing them to spend long hours working for the NightWings? Using her  power to make the them nothing more than servants? That pretentious young NightWing needed to get pushed off of Glory's rightful throne. 

"Glory always let us have suntime," A light blue RainWing said. Glory gasped. It was Jambu! Blue and disappointed and nothing like himself. Her brother was clearly sad.

Finally, Starchaser spoke. "Your Majesty," she said slowly to Fierceteeth, who seemed annoyed. "The RainWings have always had suntime and need it in order to live normally. Sunlight gives them energy. And since the RainWings are also working on the NightWing village now, they need more energy."

The RainWings are working on the NightWing village now? She thought. 

"The RainWings have been lazing around in the sun for centuries!" Fierceteeth snapped like a spoiled dragonet. "The NightWings have suffered for long enough, so why shouldn't they help a little?"

Seeing that their efforts were pointless, the RainWings gave up and flew away. She gazed at Jambu. He's my brother ... I should tell him I'm alive, but he might tell other dragons on accident. 

Frustrated, she flew to where she thought Deathbringer would be, but he wasn't there. After searching around, she finally found him talking grimly with Starchaser and Grandeur. 

"And she's been making the RainWings work non-stop on construction in the NightWing village," Starchaser murmured unhappily. 

Glory uncamouflaged herself and stepped into the open. "Hello," she said coolly. 

"Glory!" Deathbringer said, with a grin. "Why are you here?"

"It's boring at the edge of the rainforest," Glory said, giving him a playful nudge. "Anyways, what's going on?"

"We're trying to figure out a way to overthrow Fierceteeth," Grandeur replied. "The RainWings are being forced to work on the NightWing village, and suntime has been banned. Already a few RainWings have collapsed from overwork."

"They aren't used to this much physical labour," Starchaser added unhappily. 

Glory nodded. "Have you told anybody that I'm alive?" She asked. 

"No," Grandeur said. "I haven't told anyone."

"Me neither," Deathbringer said, shaking his head.

"Secretkeeper," Starchaser admitted. "And I've sent messages to the teachers as Jade Mountain Academy."

"Thanks," said Glory. She didn't want her friends to think she was dead. That would totally crush them and cause them to freak out. Glory twined her tail around Deathbringer's. "Anyways, goodbye. I can't stay here for long in case someone else finds me."

"Okay," Deathbringer said, evidently disappointed. Glory gave him an apologetic look, and then she flew back to where she knew she was safe from Fierceteeth's dictatorship.