Transported: A Wings of Fire story

Plan B

Flame, Sundew, Cricket, Moon, Star, Kori, Anemone, and Hailstorm were gathered inside in a circle.
Flame had just finished up his pitch on what to do next, though it was safe to say that the group had a mix of responses.

"Hold on, so your grand idea is to rebuild the most wanted criminal group to date? THAT'S your plan?!" Kori exclaimed.

"Prety much," Flame confirmed.

"But how are we going to do that? And what makes you think the new group would stand a chance even if we do?" Hailstorm pointed out.

"Well, do you have a better idea!?" Flame snapped as he stood up. "Because, if so, then we'd all love to hear it!"
Hailstorm didn't speak, and after a few moments, Flame sat back down.
"Didn't think so..."

The room fell quiet a few seconds later with no other input.
Anemone took it upon herself to break the silence.
"Okay... Assuming we decided to go through with your idea, Flame," She started.
"Who exactly do you plan to recruit to make the new group?"

Flame paused for a moment before he eventually spoke again.
"Us."

This took most of the dragons present by surprise, at least those who weren't already part of the past team.

"You want US!? Are you out of your mind!?" Anemone cried.
"We don't stand a CHANCE against the gatekeeper!"

Flame shrugged.
"Maybe not right now, but with training, I reckon we stand a chance,"

The group wasn't convinced.
"I think you're delusional," Sundew stated.
"But assuming we go through with this, who's going to train us? You?"

Flame shook his head quickly.
"What?! No! Of course not! I'm not good enough to train you..." He turned to Star, Moon, and Cricket.
"They are, though. They can each take a few of us as students."

Cricket and Sundew's eyes widened.
"WHAT!?"

Sundew growled in surprise.
"You can't be serious..."

Flame shot her a mischievous smile.
"Oh, I'm dead serious, actually, I was planning on having you under Cricket's wing specifically, since you're friends with her,"

Cricket quickly stepped forth.
"F-Flame, I think you're overestimating my capabilities here!" She cried.
"I'm not a fighter, I CAN'T fight! I don't know how!"

Flame dismissed her claim.
"Daniel didn't just let anyone join the team... So the fact you were able to become a Heathen says enough,"

Cricket shook her head.
"I-I... I don't deserve to be one! I made a deal with the Gatekeeper, alright! I did it behind his back! He never recruited me! He just caught me..." She fell silent.

Flame shrugged.
"So? That's what we all did, doesn't change anything,"

"Yeah! So it also doesn't change the fact that I can't fight, let alone teach it!" Cricket cried out.

Flame wasn't convinced.
"You fought against a whole army of Hivewings on Pantala and survived, which requires at least some sort of skill," he pointed out.

Cricket shuddered.
"Barely... It would be dead if it weren't for-" She cut herself off.
Her eyes started to tear up, though she wiped them away before they escaped.

Cricket let out a breath.
"I would have died if it wasn't for Blue... He saved my life multiple times over..." Her lips trembled.
"Yet... Yet I couldn't save him..."

A flash of sadness reflected within Sundew's eyes as she listened in.
Her wing extended outwards slightly as if it wanted to wrap around Cricket's body, but it stopped halfway through.