Don't Fall in Love with the Night

Chapter 13

     Sunny burst out of the tunnel first, in tears, later followed by Tsunami and Clay, who had his fireproof wings wrapped around Starflight. Starflight was unconscious, and all four received treatment from RainWings who brought them water, along with a sleeping dart for Starflight. 

     Tsunami, gulping down some water, surveyed the dragons in the clearing, not exactly sure what to do. She looked dazed and confused. Sunny was crying and trying to help Bullfrog the healer with Starflight. Clay stepped forward and whispered something into Tsunami's ear. "Right, right" she muttered. Raising her voice, she addressed both tribes. "All of you, try to get some sleep for the rest of tonight. RainWings, I'll have you take shifts to watch over the NightWings, because we don't trust them yet. At all." She glared at the tribe, and their mutterings faded to silence. "Please get them some fruit and water, then come to me, and I'll - I'll assign shifts." Her voice shook towards the end, but she just turned away from them and back towards her friends.

     Prism joined the crowd of RainWings waiting for their assignments, but was dismissed by the general. "You've worked hard enough," Tsunami insisted. "Soldiers who went into that place of  death and doom are excused for the night." 

     Prism didn't even try to argue, returning to her living space hoping to get some sleep. Tiredly pushing away the vines surrounding her space, she was immediately tackled with a hug. She looked down, seeing Buttercup holding her tightly. She hugged the dragonet. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep?" Prism asked gently.

     "I... I couldn't. I was too worried." Buttercup's anxious eyes looked up at Prism. She wrinkled her nose. "You smell like smoke. But you're safe now, right?" The dragonet worriedly patted at the older dragon's scales, scraping off soot.

     Prism smiled reassuringly and pulled her back into a hug. "I'm fine."

     Buttercup sighed with relief. "The battle went well? Was anyone hurt?"

     "Everyone's fine," Prism replied. They settled into her hammock while Prism explained how it went. 

     She was at the part where she was saving the other prisoners when Buttercup broke in. "Tualang? You saved Tualang?" Prism nodded, and the yellow-hued dragonet continued. "I noticed Tualang was missing, since he would always tell those great stories, but since no one cared I thought it was fine. They... they were really trapped in there?"

     "Yes." Prism felt sick.

     "Oh." Buttercup's voice was bleak and hushed. She rested her head on Prism's shoulder. Prism hugged her niece closer, and went on, finishing her telling of the events of the night. By the end, Buttercup's eyes were huge with worry. "The NightWings are going to live here? With us?"

     "Yes, darling."

     "But, won't they try to hurt us?"

     "I don't think so. Certainly not on my watch. Maybe this experience has humbled them, and they'll act better now." Even so, Prism didn't believe her own words and had the same worries. "Now, let's try to get some sleep. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."

     Buttercup curled up next to Prism. "Good night, Auntie Prism."

     "Good night, Buttercup. Sweet dreams."

     "Sweet dreams. Love you."

                                                                                   *****

     Prism woke up early, regardless of the late night she'd had. She quietly yawned trying not to disturb Buttercup, who was still asleep next to her. Getting out of the hammock without disturbing her niece, she noticed the buttercup sign she had carved on one of her trees, reminding her to be the best dragon she could be. She ran her claws lightly over it, vowing to become a better RainWing. Turning around she saw Mirage, who was sleeping on a bed of ferns in Prism's living space. Her friend had probably come to sleep after her watch, afraid to be alone. Prism smiled, then remembered that the NightWings were in her rainforest. Muttering under her breath, Prism pushed aside the vines and took off, guessing that the NightWings would still have to be guarded. 

     The day was cloudy and cool, but not too chilly. Prism tried not to worry about the NightWings, but what she'd heard about them from General Tsunami kept replaying in her brain. Vicious, violent, bloodthirsty...

     The NightWings were in the same clearing when Prism arrived, although she was hoping it was all just a dream. A nightmare, in fact. General Tsunami was still suspiciously keeping guard, looking like she'd been there all night, along with a couple of other RainWing guards. She probably has, reflected Prism. Most of the NightWings were asleep, although some were restlessly awake, huddled in a group and whispering.

     Prism landed next to Tsunami, asking where she'd be most helpful. "Well," the general mused, trying to suppress a yawn, "We've started plans for a sort of village where the NightWings can live, since they'll need some place to stay." She glanced over at the tribe and snorted. "At least for now. I'm not sure how long they'll be here. But we already chose a spot for them to live, and we'll need help building huts and the like for them, since most of them can't do it for themselves.

     "Anyway, we'll need some extra talons. There are already some RainWings working, and I'll probably send some NightWings over to help, after I've inspected them." Tsunami lowered her voice. "Watch out for them, Prism. Not all of them are bad - Fatespeaker, for example - but others are bitter about this situation and can be deadly." Her fierce green eyes drilled the information into Prism.

     Prism nodded. "I'll be on my guard."

     The general gave her directions to the site of the future NightWing village, and the RainWing promptly took off. A short flight later, she saw some RainWings below and descended. She recognized Citrus, Hyacinth, and Poinsettia from battle training, along with some other RainWings, especially the ones known for their building skills. Poinsettia waved to Prism, and Prism returned the greeting, changing direction to go speak with her. 

     "I'm sorting out all the materials gathered from the forest for the huts," explained Poinsettia. "Wanna help?"

     "Of course," answered Prism.

     For a moment, Prism wondered about the awkward lack of conversation - she was never good with talking, but hopefully Poinsettia was chatty enough to make up for that. Right on cue, Poinsettia stepped into the role of conversation-starter. Sorting a bundle of leaves into a pile, she inquired, "Did you hear what the NightWings did last night, after we saved their sorry selves?"

     Prism shook her head. "Bad news?"

     Poinsettia nodded. "A group of them kidnapped Sunny. You know, the small golden dragonet. During all the confusion, they just snatched her and ran into the rainforest." She shuddered. "What a barbaric tribe. Even with all that we're doing for them."

     Shocked, Prism momentarily paused from untangling vines that other workers had gathered. Frustration bubbled up inside of her. "They really are as terrible as everyone says, aren't they?"

      Poinsettia shrugged. "After this village is done, I hope I have nothing to do with them again. I don't see why we're even helping them in the first place."

     Prism murmured agreement, her thoughts racing. Kidnapping? She wondered if any NightWings were good at all, as Tsunami had suggested. Poinsettia, an avid gossiper, filled the silence chattering about different RainWings, Prism only half-listening and putting in her input here and there. She did catch that there was beginning to be gossip about Mirage and Iguana's relationship beginning, and she smiled to herself. 

     At mid-morning, the RainWings took a break. Already, the bare structures of huts were showing, and the workers sat down to a well-deserved snack break.

     Just when they were about to get back to work, three more RainWings arrived - Starfruit, Mirage, and Iguana. Prism excitedly got up to greet her friend, but stopped when she saw the group's expression.

     "Well," announced Starfruit with a sarcastic tone, "We have more talons ready to help."

     Standing behind the three RainWings was a group of four NightWings.

     Dun dun DUNNNNNNNNN! Welp, sorry to all you NightWing-lovers, but the prejudice is real, considering the circumstances. Hopefully it'll get better... but I guess you'll have to read to find out ;3
     Vote if ya liked it, don't if ya didn't.