Iridescence (WoF Fanfic)

Chapter 2

Iridescence was just walking out the door to talk to Dreamstealer when a MudWing came careening into the room, swerving around her and leaping into the bowl of mud. Dirt splattered everywhere. Iri scowled at the MudWing, who was sinking into the mud with a contented expression.

"What's your problem?!" Iri snapped. Mud was dripping off Iri's wings, and curling down her horns into her eyes. The MudWing looked up, and Iri realized with a start that her eyes were brilliant amber and gold swirls. The MudWing blinked her enormous eyes slowly.

"I'm Cormorant. You are...?" The MudWing answered, seeming a bit put off. Iridescence suddenly remembered that she was acting like a mannerless hatchling. Embarrassed pink crept up her wings, and she quickly folded them in.

"Sorry, I must of been very rude. I just . . . don't like slimy things on my scales. I'm Iridescence, but you can call me Iri for short. Nice to meet you, Cormorant." Iri extended a talon. Cormorant took it and they shook talons. "You have stunning eyes." Iri said shyly. Cormorant smiled, and responded with, "Yeah, I get that a lot. You on the other talon, have a very nice name." Here Iridescence smiled back. Just then Dreamstealer walked through the doorway, catching his wing on a stalactite. He wrestled it off, growling. He looked up and noticed Cormorant.

"Oh, hi. My name is Dreamstealer. You're Cormorant, I presume?" he dipped his head in greeting. She nodded back, and gestured to Iridescence with her wing.

"This is one of my clawmates, Iridescence."

"I know. We're best friends, right Iri?" Dreamstealer grinned.

"Well, we would be, if you didn't attack me every three seconds!" Iri retorted. Dreamstealer laughed, then darted forward and barreled into her shoulder. She stumbled backward, and Dreamstealer grabbed her front talons, then shoved them at her. Iri fell on her back and he jumped onto of her and flipped her onto her belly. Dreamstealer flattened her tail to the ground with his, and pinned her wings with his rear talons. She was trapped. Iri flailed around, but in vain. She snarled at him, her teeth snapping inches from his snout. Suddenly, she had an idea. Iri glanced at the ground, and her scales turned the exact color of the cave floor. Dreamstealer grunted with confusion, and she sunk her claws into cracks in the stone floor. She propelled herself forward, using her forelegs to yank her body out of his grasp. Still invisible, she launched herself off the wall while Dreamstealer was still distracted. Iridescence smashed into his chest, he crashed to the floor. She could feel the wind get knocked out of him as she smacked his thrashing tail with hers. She forced his tail to the ground while detaining his wings with hers. She shimmered into view, vibrant blue-purple pride filling her scales.

"Ha! Got you!"

"Rargh! I'll get you next time!" he growled, but his eyes were teasing. She leapt off him, lashing her tail triumphantly. Cormorant was watching silently, her beautiful eyes darting from one dragonet to the other. Iri felt her wings speckling with happy pink and amused yellow splatters. Suddenly, Cormorant threw her head back and laughed until tears sprang to her eyes. Iri and Dreamstealer exchanged a look, and though they didn't really know why, they began to laugh too. When the giggles had finally subsided, Iri asked Cormorant if she knew when the other clawmate would arrive. Cormorant shook her head. Iri shrugged and glanced up at Dreamstealer.

"Hey, want to go find the library?" Iridescence inquired. Dreamstealer entire face lit up. With an immense grin he nodded excitedly. Iri looked at Cormorant, who shook her head and said,

"Nah, I'll rather stay here. I can't read very well, and I haven't been in mud for TWO WHOLE DAYS." Iri nodded, walking out the door with Dreamstealer on her heels. She pulled out her welcome scroll from between her horn and her ear where it had been tucked.