Blood Beneath The Scales

Chapter 2: New Friends

After month of being in the Fire Tribe, Misty thought of it as home. She would always try to help out others and she loved helping with the hatchlings, she had also been trained on how to hunt, but only in groups.Earlier, she had overheard Blizzard and Fireweb saying that today was the day she would hunt on her own.
       "Misty, come to my den please," Fireweb called from outside her den.
       “Coming,” she called back, she had just finished cleaning her scales.
Misty walked into Fireweb’s den, Drago and Blizzard were sitting beside him. She dipped her head in acknowledgment of her leader and mentors before speaking.
       “You wanted to see me?” She asked.
Part of her knew what they wanted to say.
       “Yes, after a month of training, do you know what happens to young dragons like yourself?” Drago asked.
Misty gulped. This wasn't what she was expecting to hear, are they going to kick me out? She thought before replying.
“No sir,”
All three of them had stern looks before Fireweb started laughing and the others did too.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh Misty, we’re only pulling your tail,” Fireweb laughed.
Misty blushed, she thought they were being serious.
“Don't worry, we aren't going to kick you out or something silly like that,” Blizzard smiled, “You’re going to be hunting by yourself today,”
Misty let out a huge sigh of relief.
   “Off you go then young one, but stay away from the forest as usual,” Drago said.
“I’ll bring back the biggest sheep I can find! Don't worry I'll be fine,” she promised.
 The four of them walked out of the den, Fireweb nodded at Hazzard and Grace as Misty flew out of the exit cave, they waited a few seconds before following silently after her. She flew to the usual group hunting grounds, knowing Grace and Hazzard were following her, so she decided to throw them off by heading to one of the farms and acted like she was hunting. She could feel them leaving, she could sense life forms of dragons she’s good friends with, it was her 6th sense. She waited until their auras faded completely and then headed to the forest. Hazzard had warned her, but she knew she wouldn't get caught, she’d only go into the grotto of the forest and she was almost positive that no other dragon knew about the place and the only cave was too small for any dragon bigger than her by a foot to go through. Besides, there’s nothing indicating any dragon has been here in the past month. Misty had found the grotto when Hazzard let her explore by herself while he was helping the hunters. She flew close to the ground for a while then landed in front of the forest and weaved her way in and out of the trees, making sure to avoid leaving traces of her being in the forest. Misty entered the grotto and started to sniff around for any wildlife when suddenly something came flying out of the cave at her.      
"Oww." The thing that tackled her grumbled then jumped off her. "Who are you!?" the dragon asked, the same age and size as her by the looks of it. He had midnight black scales and a trace of golden scales around his silver eye.
        Misty got up and stared at him. "Why did you tackle me like that!?" She demanded. "That hurt!"
     "I didn't mean to! I was getting chased by my brother, I'm not supposed to be out-" He cut off as another shape came from the tunnel as fast as he did.
 The dragon was a foot taller than Misty. He was blue but his wings and spikes on his tail were red, he had a spiderweb pattern on his forehead.
"I told you to go back home, little brother!" He hissed then turned to Misty, "Who's she?"
      "I ran into her by mistake,” the younger dragon replied.
"I'm Misty." She said a bit nervously.
"Well, I'm Spider." Said the red and blue dragon. "And this one here is my younger brother, by a day, Cole. Did you say sorry to her?”
“No. I’m sorry Misty, I didn't expect anyone to be here,” Cole said.
         “It's okay. What tribe are you guys from? I'm from the Fire Tribe,”
       "We're from the Lava pit Tribe," Cole said, then glanced at Spider.
"We shouldn't be talking, Spice hates the Fire Tribe." Spider sighs.
      "Okay," Misty said.
“Maybe we can come back here when the full moon is at the highest point in the sky and meet up? I'd really like to be friends,” Cole said.
Spider shrugged.
“I don't see why not, we are on mutual territory in this area,”
“Great! I should get back to hunting, they're expecting me back before sunset,” Misty said.
“Of course, we should get back too, we'll see you soon,  Spider replied.
They all said goodbye to each other and then Misty caught two cows and a sheep on her way back home.
       “Welcome back home Misty, nice catch for your first hunt,” Blizzard praised.
       “Yay Misty!” one of the oldest hatchlings cheered.
She stumbled over to Misty and tripped over her own feet, Blizzard helped her back up.
      “Now now Star, you know you aren't supposed to be out of the den until you can fly,” he gently scolded.
      “But I can fly! See?”
Star hovered barely a foot above the ground, she was flapping her small wings so hard she looked like a bee. Misty smiled and Grace came rushing over.
       “Star! You have your mother worried sick, come on now back to the nursery,” she said.
        “But I don't  want to go back in the nursery, all the new hatchlings jump on me and I want to stay with Misty,” she whined.
Misty had an idea.
      “Grace can you take the food to Fireweb’s den. I'll be right there,”
“Of course,” she replied.
“Hop on Star, I'll fly you back to the nursery. Maybe I'll ask Bird if you can eat with me,” Misty said, laying down so the small dragon could climb up on her back.
       “Okay!” she said excitedly as she climbed on Misty’s back.
  After returning Star to the nursery, she headed to Fireweb’s den to report her hunting trip.