Qibli x reader: Chasing Stars

Chapter 18, part 1

(I'm splitting this chapter for time reasons. It is almost midnight, so I'm really tired. I finally got this to upload! Okay, this is my drawing of the Jade Winglet. Before you ask, it's Peril in the background because Carnelian is, y'know, dead. What do you guys think?)

(Qibli's POV again)

I woke up to find that Winter wasn't there. 'Good' My mind thought. 'Unless he went after Star.' Another part of my brain whispered.

My talons barely touched the ground as I raced to find Star. She and Kinkajou weren't in their sleeping caves. I began to panic. 'What happened?! Star, where are you? WHAT HAPPENED!'  I screamed in my head. Breathing heavily, I decided to ask around the school. Who could I ask? The heads of the school were out of question. They would get suspicious. Kinkajou? Where was Kinkajou? No. I needed someone now.

I started with Peril. I know, I know, but she was the closest, and since Star defended her when she arrived, she might just care. I talked to her. "Hmm. I think I saw her earlier. She was heading out to get some air. I saw another NightWing and an IceWing following her. I didn't think much of it, but they haven't come back. I wonder what happened?" Peril looked mildly concerned.

I heard someone yelling outside, and before I knew it my wings were beating the air, trying to make it to where Star was. I knew it was Star. Her voice was the highlight of my life, her smile made me want to keep her curled up in my wing, safe and protected.

I saw Star falling from the sky, and Winter was above her, along with Moon. Moon seemed frozen. I couldn't believe it. My little shooting Star was falling from the sky. Star looked as though she were unconscious... or dead... 'no, she can't be, she can't be.'

I raced to catch her. She was dangerously close to the ground. I flapped my wings faster, and talons gripped my shoulders. Winter's wild eyes gleamed like cold silver. "Let her go, Qibli. Let the runt save herself. You'd be much better off without that waste of space." Winter spat. I readied a burst of fire, and shot it into Winter's face. 

It was then I noticed Kinkajou. She wrestled Winter off me (which didn't take much considering he was roaring in pain and outrage) and we both raced for Star's forearms.

I caught Star just when her tail brushed the ground. Gasping from terror and tiredness, me and Kinkajou brought her to an opening in the mountain and set her down. Moon was right behind us, looking so afraid and distressed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know Winter would do that, i just didn't know what to do!" she wailed. Kinkajou patted her shoulder. 

"I say you should've let her fall. She deserved it for what she said." Winter snarled. I roared in outrage, leaping for Winter with ferocity. Winter struggled, and I clawed at his side. He pushed me off him and jumped a few feet back. He readied his frostbreath, and I heard a voice.

"Stop!" Star cried, jumping in front of us both. "I'm okay!" She was heaving, and her sides shook in terror.

(Star's POV + flashback)

I had woken up. A conversation rang in my mind. Was that Queen Scarlet? Who knew. Kinkajou was up as soon as I opened my eyes, and she looked determined. "I'm going to teach that little snowball to mind his own business." She said to me, referring to Winter.

I wanted to look for Qibli, but Kinkajou insisted we let him sleep. I couldn't stop her, so I went along. We ran right into Winter and Moon on our way out, and Winter looked furious. "We should take this outside, NightWing." Winter growled. I gulped, but nodded. Moon looked almost confused. 'I can't hear his thoughts. He's shielding from me.' She thought.

I couldn't care less. Soon enough, our wings were flapping in the air. "What do you want to talk about?" I asked. "I want the truth. Either you set that fire, or you know who did." Winter snarled. I didn't know why he was being so scary about this.

"I don't know who set that fire, Winter. I'm trying to find out." I said tiredly. "I think it was one of you NightWing heathens. Well, besides Moon, of course." Winter said haughtily. I bristled. Normally, I was pretty nice, but not when I've been harassed for God knows how long.

"Maybe it was another dragon tribe. It doesn't have to just be the NightWings every. Single. Time. Heck, maybe it was your suspicious sister! It could've been, since you IceWings are so cold-" I snapped, and the last thing I saw was Winter's serrated claws slashing at my throat.

(Flashback over)

I swept my wings out so Winter couldn't leap at Qibli. "Qibli, I promise. It's fine." I flinched at the angry flames that seemed to dance in his eyes. "He could've killed you!" He barked.

"You... you could've died." His expression softened like ice melting away. "Qibli..." I had no words. It was true. But I'd provoked Winter. If I hadn't this wouldn't have even happened. I shook my head sadly. Kinkajou put a wing around me, and I noticed her scales had turned an angry blood red color.

"Winter. What Star said was true. You always accuse the NightWings for everything. Whatever you believe, the NightWings are not always the center of evil in the world!" Kinkajou snapped. "It could've been an IceWing, it could've been a SeaWing, it doesn't matter! Winter, I love you, but please stop accusing my sister! I love her, but I can't stand the way that I've been treating her since I've met you. It needs to stop." Moon spoke up, gently pushing Kinkajou away and wrapping me in her warm embrace. 

This was how I always wanted us. Sisters, with nothing else to distract us. In that moment, I could only feel love for my sister, and for Qibli. She glared daggers at Winter, who seemed at a loss for words. I tried to read his mind. 'No way. She loves me too much... I can't believe it. I... could it have been her? My own-'

I stopped intruding. Winter seemed to give up. "I won't tell. You better find out who did this. Moon... come with me. Just... just do it." He said. Moon hesitated. I wiggled out of her hug. "You can go. He needs someone." I said. Moon hesitated some more, then left, giving me a slight smile.

Qibli was next in line for the hug train. "I almost lost you." He said. Kinkajou stood there patiently, a yellow-purple color surrounding her scales. "I'll be by your side forever, Qibli. Nothing could break us apart." I said, pressing my head into his scales. This was where I was meant to be; for now, and for always. Everything else could wait.

After all... what's a few more minutes with the one you love most?

(Okay. I had some ideas for x readers. When I finish the ones I already have, of course. Leo Valdez x reader, Jayfeather x reader. I was also thinking of maybe a Lafayette x reader (Hamilton) and there's some Warrior cat book idea I had. It's going to be a story, obviously, but if anyone wants a character of theirs put into it, then they can ask me. Nothing inappropriate, of course. Have a lovely day!