Wings of Fire: A Legend's Birth (PART ONE)

Prologue

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
-- Lao Tzu

Spark couldn't really sleep. When he thought about the earlier day, he never could. By the time the sun would set his mind would be buzzing as it ran over the events. He was unable to fall asleep during that time. How could he? The majority of his thoughts were filled with Serqet.

The others often called him lovesick for her, and he honestly wasn't going to deny it. He may have been young, but Spark knew that he has head over heels for the SandWing. The way her creamy white scales shifted as she moved, the way her green eyes sparkled when she had an idea.

Spark's entire body deflated as he released an outward sigh. It wasn't a sad sigh of longing, but rather a wishful exhale of breath as Spark thought of all the things that made him happy. It was primarily just his interactions with Serqet, though. Looking back on those memories put a smile on him.

It took a few long moments before Spark was reevaluating his surroundings, his situation. He did this often, sitting under the dark moonlit sky with sand lightly grinding beneath his feet. Spark lifted his slender neck to watch the stars above flicker in and out of oblivion.

While his amber eyes stared blankly to the night above, something dark and vibrantly red dipped in and out of the edge of his peripheral vision. It barely took a second for Spark to comprehend it. Twisting his head around, Spark could make out the figures of scarlet beasts zipping through the clouds.

Why were SkyWings this far out into the desert?

It was hard to miss that the tribe was opposed by Queen Mirage and the majority of the SandWing kingdom. After all, why wouldn't they? Their northern neighbors had slaughtered hundreds of SandWing troops and civilians over the course of the war. So how did seven of them get so far the south?

Spark was suddenly shaking with worry. He didn't even notice his own fear. All of his attention was focused on those SkyWings. The hopeful part of him wished that they would turn around or fly right over the temple ruins. But that would not happen.

"Hey, Spark. Can't sleep again?"

The young SkyWing jerked himself to attention. He whipped his head around with wide eyes, his chest heaving with every sharp intake of breath. Spark's gaze slightly softened with recognition, yet he still kept his defensive stance. He needed to warn her, warn them, but he couldn't make his body move.

Courtesy tilted her head to the side gently, a puzzled expression washing over her face. She was a pretty RainWing, in her own little way. In Spark's opinion though, the colorful tribe couldn't look unattractive. They were all quite beautiful, he thought, including Courtesy.

Spark did not reply. He opened his mouth before quickly closing it, repeatedly doing this as he searched for words. How would, how could he tell Courtesy that impending doom was going to rain down on them and destroy the very thing their lives revolved around? If any of Spark's friends were to die, the prophecy would have been for nothing.

Luckily he did not have to say anything. Courtesy only had to glance above Spark's head to the looming silhouettes coming ever closer. Her expression mirrored Spark's in an instant. "Spark... Go warn the others. Get them out of here. Run."

He didn't need to be told twice.

Spark found himself skidding back into the collapsed temple. His heartbeat was beating extremely fast, and unbearably loud in his ears. The fine grains of sand dissolved into rough bricks of stone. Flaking paint marked the descent into the dark corridors. Dim torches lit up the path.