How to Find Your Fire

(WoF) Chapter 8: New Companion

By Puffnut

Starscale's POV

Starscale felt like an ice-cold dagger had been shoved into her when she had heard those words.

You're an outcast.

Never come back.

It's all your fault.

She couldn't read minds, but she could practically hear the words being shouted at her by the other dragons. Her only hope is that someone would care for Nighthunter. That poor, innocent, sweet dragonet that would never harm a scale on any dragon. How could they even think he was the culprit? And the reincarnation of Darkstalker no less! The guards had led her outside the forest and she had sat, staring at the sky for hours.

Only now had she begun to hear a noise that sounded like snoring. She perks her ears and sneaks over to where the noise is coming from. It is inside a cave, where it seems a Seawing dragonet is sleeping. What is he doing here? She stands outside the cave and starts to think. Should I go in? It is only a dragonet. I can easily take him if he attacks. Not that she wants to...

Making up her mind, she pokes her head into the cave, noticing that the Seawing is awake. Seeing, and hearing, the rattling spines on his back, she tried to look friendly. "Uhhhh.... Hi!" The poor dragon reared back and gave a startled yelp. "Wow, sheesh! Didn't mean to scare you..." She gives the dragon what she hopes looks like a smile. He seems to be lost for words and she awkwardly back up. "Well, sorry to bother you.. I should uhh... I should go..."

"Um... Wait! Ermm..." The dragon says. She sticks her head back inside. Another long awkward silence follows his words.

She sighs, noticing how he seemed to duck his head, concealing his eyes. "Why don't you come out and we can meet more formally?" He hesitates before nodding and creeping out. She takes in the fact he is a Seawing/Nightwing hybrid and suddenly understands why he was so shy. He thought I would judge him...

"Are you gonna introduce yourself or..." She begins.

"Tidalclaws, my name's Tidalclaws," he interrupts. She is irritated for second before remembering how Nighthunter did the same thing.

A flash of amusement comes into her eyes. "Well, my name's Starscale," she says. She lifts her wings as a welcoming gesture. He stares openly at them and for the first time, she can see his eyes. They are a brown chocolate color with a beautiful border of lime green and soft grey. They seem to hold more knowledge than she could ever dream to possess. She knew she is just acting jealous. A small part of her wonders if he is a mind-reader, animus, or a future teller. Judging by his hybrid self, he could easily be any of the three.

Noticing he was still staring at her wings, she quickly put them down. "What are you doing here?" she asks. She didn't mean for it to sound harsh, but it came out sounding that way anyway. She really hopes that he doesn't have Nightwing powers. It would make her feel even worse about herself. Then again, based on her luck so far, he probably did have powers.

"I.. uh.. am an.. ambassador here to see Queen Glory." It's a lie. He's lying. Starscale can tell easily. Years of being thought of as a mind reader made her into an excellent lie detector to cover up her faults. He sighs. "Ok, ok. The truth is, I just really wanted to see Queen Glory. I'm not an ambassador."

"Well, if you're looking for a guide, you've come to the wrong place. I can't help you."

"Why?" asks TidalClaws. He seems to be staring into her soul.

Now, it is Starscale's turn to lie. "I'm going on vacation to The Sanctuary." A really, really long vacation. She adds to herself. Not that he'll know. Unless, of course, he's a mind-reader. But the chances of that are really low... right?

Starscale shakes the doubts from her mind, focusing instead on TidalClaws. Once again, he looks as though he is picking through the pieces of her soul. Another sign that he's a mind-reader. Starscale reminds herself. "I better get going.." she starts, raising her wings.

"Wait!" he exclaims. She stops, halfway raising her wings. He seems to think for a minute before saying. "Could I go with you to The Sanctuary?"

"Yeah, but aren't you going to see Queen Glory?" Starscale asks.

"Yes, but since your going right now, I was thinking I could skip seeing Queen Glory until later."

She shrugs. "Whatever." She raises her wings again. "Let's go."