Misfits of Vernada ~Wattys2016~

XIII

Moon

Moon stood on a ledge on the edge of the volcano, the full moon shining on her and Sparkles. They were both being initiated that day. The only other dragon was Flame, the guard, for which Moon was glad, as Sparkles would most likely attacked her if he wasn't.

The other hatchlings weren't allowed to watch the initiation, but their turn would come soon enough. Bloodfang intended to set Twinkly-star free and have them hunt her down. Moon hoped that she would manage to survive, but she didn't know what to do to help.

Obsidian burst out of the lava, pulling Moon from her thoughts. She was huge, and majestic in flight. Her great wings dripped lava, and her red eye glinted like a ruby. Behind her flew Magma, then Bloodfang and Tornado. After them, the rest of the dragons flew, landing around the rim of the volcano on o the islands of floating rocks.

Obsidian and Magma landed in front of the tow hatchlings.

"Moon, Sparkles, you have each killed a Sharpshooter. You are each worthy fighters. You are both ready to become full Stormriders," Magma said.

"Sparkles, step forward." The black hatchling did, smirking at Moon. "From now until you return, you have no name. Dive into the lava to become a full member and receive your name. Flame will show you the way."

The black hatchling bowed his head, and dove into the lava. There was silence; every eye was on the spot where he had vanished.

He was gone for so long, Moon wondered if he was dead. Suddenly, he burst up, his eyes wide. He flew back to where Magma and Obsidian waited, and landed in front of them. He was shaking slightly, but stood strong and looked at his leaders.

"Well done, hatchling .You have faced your fear, and shall be called Fang! You are now a full member of the Stormriders," Magma said, to the cheers of the other dragons.

The newly named Fang bowed his head, and padded back.

"Moon, step forward." She did, thoughts rushing through her head.

'What did Spar- no, Fang, see? What will my name be? I wonder what Zappy's name is. I wonder if he's okay?"

"From now until your return you have no name. Dive into the lava. To become a full member of the Stormriders."

She took a deep breath, and dove under. Flame nodded to her, and she followed him though the lava. He led her through a tong tunnel. Then they surfaced into a large cave, a tunnel leading off it.

"A Stormrider must be able to face their fears. Go hatchling, and meet Nightmare," Flame said.

The hatchling nodded, and padded through the tunnel. It was pitch black, and she shuddered. She felt the tunnel widen, she was now in a cave.

A presence surrounded her, a terrifying one.

"W-who's there?" she asked.

"I am Nightmare. Let me show you what you fear!" a voice boomed, causing the hatchling to flinch.

"How-,' she started to say, but suddenly was no longer in the cave. She glanced around, she was in a battlefield, dragons roaring and fighting. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see blood, not wanting to fall prey to her Bloodlust.

Something whizzed past her head and she blinked her eyes open in time to see a Sharpshooter tail, dripping with blood, sail over her head. She roared, aware of how close she had come to being killed.

'No!' part of her mind shouted. 'This is just an illusion!' But she leapt into battle, fangs bared and claws out.

She fought for what seemed like hours, blood flying from her claws, the metallic taste in her mouth.

Finally she stopped; there were no more foes. She stood on a pile of dead dragons. She had killed them all.

She glanced around, and saw something that made her heart stop. A bronze Sharpshooter tail lay limp on the pile.

"No," she whispered, rushed to it. Zappy lay at her feet, dying. "No, Zappy, no!" she cried. The Sharpshooter looked up at her, fear in his eyes. Then they closed, and he was gone.

"She's a monster!" a voice cried. The purple dragon turned to see Lily, Rock, Cricket and all her other friends staring at her.

"No, please, I-," she began. But they backed off, fear in their eyes.

They turned, and rushed away, leaving her alone with Zappy's limp body.

"Its not true, its not true, Nightmare is playing tricks on your mind!" she cried. But it seemed so real. She could smell his blood, feel it between her claws.

"Make it stop!" she shouted, tears dripping from her eyes.

Suddenly, she was back in the dark room, shaking uncontrollably.

"I have shown you what you fear. Leave," Nightmare boomed.

The hatchling stood, and made her shaky way out the tunnel. Flame nodded to her, and together they made their way back to the surface.

The purple dragon flew to Magma and Obsidian, telling herself over and over that it was just a vision, that Nightmare had been tricking her, that it hadn't happened.

'Just because it didn't happen, that doesn't mean it won't. I'm a monster!" she thought.

"Well done hatchling," Obsidian said and she landed in front of the great black dragon. "You have faced your fear and shall now be called Luna. You are now a full member of the Stormriders."

Luna bowed her head, and backed off. Congratulations were all round, but she barely paid attention to them.

'I'm a monster. If I even seen a drop of blood I become a bloodthirsty monster. Who would want to be near me?"

She swam back through the lava, tears welling in her eyes. She noticed Fang; the black dragon glanced at her, and for once there was no anger in his eyes, only fear.

'I wonder what he saw,' Luna thought.

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