Qibli x reader: Chasing Stars

Chapter 7 (Plus A/N)

(Could only find pictures of Moon x Qibli, and since I dunno how to take pictures of my drawings from my computer, this stuff will have to do. Also, calm down, Kinkajou! Now for the Author's note. Holy freaking crap, 100 reads!? Really? You people like this cringe? Okay wow. Also, I might be getting my hands on the first five books, so I can do an (insert dragon here) x reader, so just let me know in the comments. And this whole Qibli x reader thing will stay throughout books six through ten... once I get them. Enjoy the story. Also, the reference was Zootopia, for those who didn't get it in the last chapter. Heh.)

I soared through the clouds, feeling the wind in my wings. It felt nice, although I noticed that Qibli was flying close to me, not even bothering to act like he wasn't watching me. I just don't know why felt so close to me? Who would care about a runt? Secretkeeper tried not to show it, but I knew that she liked Moon more than me. I didn't like it, but I lived with it. I assumed that the dragonets here would be the same, but maybe Qibli could be the friend I had always wanted. 

I scented something meaty, so I circled lower, finding a goat. I gave a smile. I wasn't good at hunting, but maybe with surprise... I looked around to make sure there were no other dragons around. Besides Qibli, no others were close. I swooped down, and grabbed it in my claws. I flew with it up high, but I ended up dropping it on the ground. I dove after it, and it's neck broke on impact, but I didn't really mind. "Well, I suppose that's one way to hunt." Moon said, landing next to me suddenly, making me jump. 

Qibli came too, but slower, obviously seeing my reaction. "It was too heavy." I told her, in my pouty voice. She punched my arm, and I winced. "Wow! Nice catch. Carnelian, did you see that?" Qibli shouted. Great. More dragons to know about this absolute failure. "I thought NightWings didn't know how to hunt." Carnelian said, eyeing the goat jealously.

"I thought so too!" Kinkajou chimed in, her snout stained with blackberry juice. "Starflight told me they do this thing where they bite their prey, then wait for it to die of infection. Then they sniff it out and eat the dead things. It seems horrible, like even more disgusting than regular hunting." 

"Um, gross." Qibli groaned.

"Well, they're not supposed to do that anymore. Glory and Deathbringer are teaching them how to hunt properly. And, since me and Star lived in the jungle, we had to teach ourselves how to hunt." Moon said. I stepped forward shyly. "Do you want to share it?" I asked. 

"Really?" Qibli said, smiling at me. "That would be great. I'm going to need more practice to learn how to hunt here. Too many hiding places, and the land is all folded and squiggly. Give me the desert and some lizards any day." He chuckled.

"I don't think it will take you too long to figure out hunting here." I told him. His eyes were darting across the landscape, storing his observations in stacks in his mind. He was also trying to guess whether I meant it about sharing the goat, and if I'd like him better if he was self-sufficient, or if he would accept my offer with appropriate gratitude.

"I'll catch my own food, thank you very much." Carnelian said grumpily. I'm guessing today was a bit of a bad day. She flew off, broadcasting offensive thoughts. "Good work! Let's take this all to the prey center and eat there." Tsunami called, with another SeaWing who had a net full of fish in his talons. Most of us followed her back, but I was having trouble getting my prey up in the air. Qibli put a hand on my shoulder, and I looked up. "Want me to get it?" He asked. I nodded, grateful.

I didn't want to go to the prey center, with all the other dragon's thoughts and feelings. It was too much for me to handle.

'If you're always cowering alone in a cave, you'll waste your powers completely.' Said the voice in my head. 'Easy for you to say! Clearly, you don't get splitting headaches every time you walk into a crowd.' I grumbled.