Icewing

Prologue

     The full moon shone brightly over the forest as Star glided above the treetops. Her best friend Mystery flew a short distance behind her. All of a sudden, Star saw a bright orange light coming from beneath the undergrowth. She searched the air and detected an acrid tang. "Mystery! Fire!" she shouted. Star dived down through the trees to find a ravenous forest fire ripping through the trees. She roosted on a nearby branch to wait for Mystery. Why is she taking so long? It'll get to the roosting place before we can tell the rest of the colony! Star thought frantically. Star, what's going on! Where'd you go? Mystery was sending a message to her. Star sent her a picture of the fire. A few moments later, Mystery descended to roost beside her. "What should we do?" Mystery asked, her voice quivering with fear. "What can we do, Mystery?" Star replied. "We should at least tell the rest of our colony." Mystery said. Star nodded and took off with her closest friend to the roosting place.

     "We've spotted a forest fire! It's heading right for the oak!" Mystery alerted. Gwen, colony leader, flew down from her roost to confront the two. "Where is this forest fire?" Gwen asked calmly. Even though the roosting tree was full of activity and fear, Gwen stayed perfectly calm. "Mystery. Can you show me the fire?" Gwen asked. Mystery nodded and went off into the night with the leader. Star flew to her roost to find her brother asleep. Hmph. He'll sleep through the loudest thunderstorm and the coldest winter. "Hey Stone!" Star shouted. "Wha-?" Stone muttered. "Forest fire." Star replied simply. "Wha-?!" Stone shouted. He said "Don't worry, little sister. I shall keep you safe from the awful fire!" Star chuckled. "How are you going to do that, exactly?" Star inquired. Stone just shrugged and said "I dunno." Star rolled her eyes and went off to find their mother. She found her mother discussing the fire with the Council of Elders, the elderly bats. "... a few moments." Star heard her mother say once she was in earshot. Harold spotted her first. "Hello little Star. Forest fires are quite dangerous, you know." Star nodded in greeting. "Hi Harold, Yes I know forest fires aren't the safest thing." she replied. "Good child. Very good, You were saying Linda?" he continued to her mother. Star flew back to her roost to tell Stone where their mother was.

     Gwen came back with Mystery a few minutes later. "Silverwings." she addressed the colony. The buzzing oak quieted down as ther leader spoke. "As you may already know, a fire has ravaged through our forest." A few murmurs came from those who were not in the oak when the news came. "Did the owls cause the fire?" came a voice from among the terrified colony. "I do not know. I will confront the leader of the owls at dawn tomorrow. For now, I need at least twelve bats to come with me so we can put out the fire." Gwen flew to where the Council of Elders were roosting to discuss who should go with her. Once the group had been chosen, Star went to say goodbye and wish the group luck. The group had left by the time she went to her other friend's roost. "Hey Midnight. Wanna go hunting?" Star called. "Sure. Be there in a minute." she called back. Just then her brother flew up behind her. "Goin' hunting?" he asked. "Yeah. Why?" Star replied. "I wanted to come with you. Just to make sure you don't get hurt." he said. "Whatever. Come if you want to be bored to death by our chatter." Star agreed. "Ready yet?" Star asked as Midnight flew out to meet them. "Yup. Let's go!" she exclaimed.

     The three bats took a path around the fire, Star taking the lead to guide them around the area. The hunting was better than they expected and they still had some time to stay out and enjoy the night. "This is a wonderful summer night, right Star?" Midnight said in a lulled voice. Star nodded. Stone searched the air and found an animal heading their way. "What's that?" he asked. Star and Midnight did the same and both found the animal. "I think it's an-" Star began. "Owl!" Stone cried out. The powerful creature came barreling towards the bats as they fled back to the roosting place to alert the colony. But they weren't fast enough and the owl stopped them at a nearby tree. "Hold it right there, Silverwings!" the fearsome animal shouted.