Silver Moonlight: Winterwatcher Wings of Fire University AU fanfiction

Chapter three

Winter woke to yellow light pouring through the windows, his eyes sore.

He got up, stretching his wings, bones cracking all along his body, aligning with his spine that was slanted due to him crying to sleep and not sleeping properly.

A crumpled note was left at his pillow, but Winter didn't read it, knowing it was probably from Qibli.

He showered, letting the cold water gush down his worries, slithering frozen claws over his thoughts, numbing the sorrow pain he had felt time and time again.

Today was a tiring day. Lectures passed by in a blur of confusion and daze, Winter just copied it down on his notes. He would review it later anyway. The bell rang, a irritating fleck of ongoing chimes pounding in his head and resonating in his body like a vibrating gong.

He caught a hawk for lunch, not quite eating, just staring at it. It reminded him of the snowy white hawks in the banks of the Ice Kingdom, where everything was peace and quiet and nothing like the noise and distractions here. It was painful at the same time, knowing that these were the hawks Hailstorm liked to eat. He used to seat beside Winter, animatedly talking about things going on in his daily life, munching on a hawk- what was its name? Winter hawks. The hawks Winter were named after.

Anyway, Hailstorm wouldn't be here. He never could be, ever again.

"Hey."

Winter looked up, and the familiar sunset pupils stared back at him.

Silence settled over them like a blanket, and Qibli seemed to shrug it off easily. "Are you...okay?" The SandWing stared at the uneaten hawk, which was stabbed several times by Winter with his claws unconsciously.

"I'm fine." Winter bore his eyes into Qibli, and he shifted uncomfortably, the amber earring he wore glinting in the sunlight.

Another dragon sat beside Qibli, and a flash of all-too-familiar black scales sent shivers down Winter's spine, along with a piercing stab of guilt and sorrow and anger that was too confusing to wrangle out.

"I'm Moon." She said, her voice soft like gentle fluttering petals of snow in the wind.

"Clearly." Winter narrowed his eyes at Qibli accusingly, and the yellow dragon sidled closer to Moon, his eyes nervous.

"I know you're mad at me." Moon dipped her head down, her gaze on somewhere, fixed at a point where Winter couldn't locate. "I'm sorry."

Winter was actually surprised by this. He was expecting anger or fierce defensiveness from this mysterious NightWing, but she seemed harmless for now.

"I'm Winter." He answered, focusing as much intensity and cold into his voice.

"I know," Moon smiled, her face lifting. "Maybe that's because I'm a mind reader, but I actually got your name from Qibli," She nudged the SandWing with her wing playfully. "I've heard a lot about you. Are you participating in the annual art competition?"

"Yes." Winter shot an ice-cold glare that was indirectly focused on Qibli. "In fact, I'm the representative."

"So am I," Moon said, her claws swiftly cutting through her prey like it was soft paper. "I guess we have something in common."

Winter wanted to shoot back an argument or cause distress to her, but something about Moon seemed...weirdly calm and collected, as if her aura had a influence on the dragons around her. Besides, she didn't do anything to invoke his wrath. Yet.

"Wait."

Winter's world came to a screeching stop. He had a vague memory of Qibli saying that his girlfriend was the art representative...

"Are you two dating?"

Qibli shrugged, but a hint of pink blossomed on Moon's scales, and she choked out: "I- I thought Qibli told you."

"Intertribe relationships have been happening for a while," Qibli appeared to be not affected by this. "It's not that big of a deal."

"I'm leaving," Winter stood up, his tail brushing the floor, sending tingles up his spine.

"Did we do something wrong?" Moon asked, her voice concerned and her face a mess of worry, but Winter held up a talon, his scales glittering as he prepared to leave.

"There's a crowd," Winter said, and for some weird reason Moon's eyes widened like silver moons.

She must've picked that up from my mind.

That's pretty rude, you know.

"Can't help it," Moon murmured under her breath, and sighed. "Bye, Winter."

"Bye," Qibli said, and the awkward tension was still there, sizzling and sparking like a piece of fiery tinder. His eyes drifted to the ceiling, avoiding Winter's gaze.

Winter walked off and stole a small glance when he did- Moon's claws brushing Qibli's snout, and something in his gut churned and twisted, but Winter didn't know why. His heart felt like it had been dug out, empty and lifeless.

He shook the odd feeling away, throat dry as he made his way back into the school compound.