The Chosen One- Book One (Editing)

Chapter 15- The Meadow

Silverfang hiked up a hill, Icetail and Steamblade leading the group. Serpentis was coiled up on her head, slitted eyes alert. They were finally leaving the mountain area, entering the small meadow before they headed for the swampland. Icetail planned to stop for the night at the meadow, which was still pretty far away. The sun was beginning to set, and if the group didn't get there quick, they might be spotted by troll patrols at night. Silverfang flexed her wing while she walked. They would've reached the meadow faster if they could fly, but nobody was willing to leave Silverfang behind. She had practiced the last few days and could now glide for a short period of time, but it was better than dragging the wing along. The healing cream wasn't working like it was supposed to, and it was too valuable to smear it on again. Silverfang replaced the bandage daily, wrapping it carefully around the twisted wing. The pain wasn't so bad, so she didn't need any arosia. If she tried to twist it slowly back, bit by bit, she would be able to fly within the next few days. Venomwing suddenly took to the air, circling above the group for a few minutes. She dived toward the ground after the inspection was done, reporting what she saw to Icetail. "The meadow is really close to here. I think it should be just beyond that rock-" She pointed to a sharp stone a bit further in the nonexistent path. "-and then we'll be there." Icetail nodded, rearranging the pack on her back.

Silverfang dragged her tail behind her, letting it brush the soft grass of the meadow. "Finally!" Scorchtail grumbled. "Out of the mountains for good." Frozenclaw agreed. Silverfang wanted to collapse on the feathery grass and fall asleep, but she forced herself to unpack and set up the camp. "No large fires," Icetail growled. "The moon will be the main source of light for the night." Silverfang stuck her claw into her bag, pulling out a small blue box. She popped it open and swallowed the pill inside, along with some water from her canteen. "Want one?" she asked Flashscar, who nodded gratefully and gulped the Adrenalizer. Silverfang felt a burst of energy, and stretched leisurely before slinging a quiver of arrows over her shoulder and arming herself with a silver bow. "Flashscar and I'll go hunting." Icetail grunted and began to put her weapons away, leaving just a knife that she stuck into the ground. Flashscar closed her eyes, and a bolt of electricity flickered near her tail. "Good. My powers are back to normal. Let's go." Silverfang handed a knife to her friend, who also armed herself with her own bow. The two dragons headed over to the woods, where Flashscar dipped a claw into a puddle of mud and smeared two lines on each side of her face. "Gotta camouflage," she whispered. Silverfang laughed, copying her friend's silly action. "Now we're ready."

Silverfang crouched down, darting from one bush to the next. She hoped that her scales didn't stand out, even though she had rolled in mud several times. Unfortunately, no matter how much mud she rolled in or leaves she stuck onto herself, her scales still insisted on showing. Silverfang spotted a young deer nuzzling the grass. She slowly picked up a rock, careful not to shake the bush she was hiding in. She threw it near the deer, startling it towards where Flashscar was hiding. The electric dragon notched an arrow, and the deer scurried toward Flashscar's bush. Flashscar's arrow dug into the deer's neck, and the animal went down. "Great job." Silverfang said. The two dragons counted their haul. A bag full of wild berries, seven fish, a bird, and a whole deer. "This'll last us for a week, at least!" Flashscar said. The dragons dragged the deer into Steamblade's hunting bag, and hauled their catch to the camp, where the rest of the dragons had set up a fire for cooking. "We got a ton of stuff!" Silverfang yelled when they got near the camp. Scorchtail rolled his eyes. "Great. We're all starving around here." Icetail and Frozenclaw trotted over, helping them haul their kill to the campfire. Steamblade began to set up the eating utensils. Silverfang helped Venomwing skin the fish, while Icetail, Flashscar, and Frozenclaw took care of the deer. Steamblade began washing the berries, while Scorchtail got the bird. Silverfang pulled out her knife, scraping the scales off the fish she was working on. Steamblade had already dug a hole while they were hunting, and all of the garbage went into the hole. Silverfang concentrated, using her powers to lift the pile of scales and throw them into the hole. Her eyes began to glow purple, and the scales had a blue aura around them as they lifted off the ground and levitated to the hole. "Cool!" Venomwing commented, scraping the last of the scales into the hole. They took the fish to Steamblade, who chopped them up and put them in the skillet to fry. Silverfang then went to help Icetail, Flashscar, and Frozenclaw with the deer, using her powers to lift the inedible parts of the deer into the hole. It was starting to fill up, and Scorchtail wasn't done with the bird yet. Venomwing took the deer's pelt and went to wash it in the river. "Good idea. It can be used as a cover." Icetail said.