Flying unto Death - Supplement to WoF: WT

Flying unto Death

US Hardcover Version
Wings of Fire: Winter Turning
Page 269

"They lifted off into a cloudy gray sky, flying southwest with Tundra and Narwhal in the lead and Hailstorm trailing at the back, as befitted with his last-place standing. Winter had to struggle to keep up with Queen Glacier's pace, but she didn't seem to notice.

And since he had a feeling he was about to die, he told her almost everything - about Icicle trying to kill Starflight and how Winter stopped her; about the rainforest and the volcano; about going in search of Scarlet, meeting Pyrite, and encountering the mysterious NightWing in the valley..."

Glacier listened and nodded as they flew, a bit interested in his description of his life since arriving at the JMA. Winter went on telling her about how he and his trio saved Hailstorm (leaving out Moons mind reading abilities) and how he's been coping since his transformation from Pyrite back to his former self. The battle with Scarlets NightWing assistant touched her more ferocious side, she hid a sigh upon hearing how Kinkajou was injured, then carried in the net to Possibility and given a difficult diagnosis by the MudWing healer.

"Could I tell you something... more private?" Winter said looking at Glacier with a bit of uncertainty. He knew he was first in the rankings, but he still wondered if it was appropriate to ask the Queen to make accommodations to him after just already having been bestown the rank. "Sure." Glacier replied, just then Winter dove down to the icy plains and landed in front of a small tunnel in the ice. He headed inside and the Queen followed him, she motioned with a flick of the tail for the others to stay out so as to grant Winters wish for privacy.

The walls of the tunnel were smooth and with a pristine blue hue. Given the mouths angle, somewhat away from the setting sun, darkness quickly enshrouded the pair and the Queen could just make out the subtle features of Winter's face and his expressions as they stopped shortly after rounding a small corner both taking a seat in the thin layer of crackley snow. Winter appeared quite down about his future prospects in The Diamond Trial and having to compete against his brother. After sitting in silence with nothing but the wind blowing Winter spoke over his shoulder to the Queen.

"While I was away from the kingdom and Jade Mountain without your permission to rescue my brother..." he said with a sigh as he lowered his head "... I think I might have fallen in love with a sworn enemy...". Glacier remained unmoved in her seated position and raised an eye ridge in curiousity. "You fell in love with the enemy?" "Yes, and I know if Mother and Father were to find out, it would only give them further reason to not associate with me and bring them further down in the rankings more than they already are and that alone would make them want to disown me even more. I'm already despised by my own parents enough as it is that they set up this Diamond Trial just to get rid of me once and for all..."

Glacier remained quiet for another moment and listened to Winters breathing becoming audibly deeper every few breaths. "Every time I try and rise up in the rankings I just cause another calamity for my family and bring scorn upon my name." he said, his voice rising abit. "Whenever I'm at home Icicle just glares at me while Mother and Father purposefully ignore me, but they always notice when a flake of snow falls on Hailstorm.. And what does he do but bring me out of the kingdom only to get himself captured by the SkyWings... When I finally do rescue him and bring him home I'm given a "thank you" in the form of a death sentence!" Winter paused baring his teeth, the anger and grief evident in his voice. "Oh well, I'm the son that tried, failed, tried again and failed even worse than before. I'm no warrior, I'm a snow monster that no one wants around!"

Glacier sighed and sat on Winters left side and threw a wing across the hunched-over dragon and lowered her head so it was just a bit higher up than Winters who was looking sullenly at his talons. "Oh my poor nephew. It seems as if your parents look down upon you because they expect you to measure up to Hailstorms abilities." "How can I, he's two years older than I am." "Winter have you forgotten that some hatchlings are being measured on the adults rankings? Just because you're young doesn't make you insignificant to everyone else. In fact, if your family looks so low upon you, why don't you try and impress them, do something outstanding, something that... isn't Winter?"