Conquest : A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

8. Mines

'My scales are moldy.'

'My talons are aching.'

'My snout is itchy.'

'I'm hungry.'

'Yeah, and who asked you to join me?' snapped Sandstorm angrily, whirling around to face the source of her angst - the heir to the IceWing throne, Princess Ivory.

'They did,' grumbled Ivory. 

The IceWing princess had been single-handedly annoying each one of them ever since they'd left Jade Mountain. Sandstorm wanted to ram her head against a convenient tree, but she couldn't find any strong enough. 

Besides, she didn't want to get messy. 

They hadn't seen a water body for a full day. Yesterday evening, they'd set off, following the tracks left by Peril - who still hadn't come back - and Hibiscus's group, but at a much more considerate pace than Sandstorm when she'd first chased after them. 

The tracks were three or four days old now, but they were still discernible. 'Listen,' said Maelstrom finally, 'if you don't like it, go back. Go back right now.' 'But we're too far away - and I don't know which way Jade Mountain Academy is, or I'd be there already!' she whined.

Sandstorm looked around, realising that Ivory was right. They were completely lost, in unfamiliar SkyWing territory. She groaned and sped up until she was several tail-lengths ahead of Ivory. 

'Just wait until my mother hears that I - the heir of the throne of the IceWings - was forced to fly for days and days just because -' 'I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you,' warned Maelstrom, noticing Sandstorm's tense, rigid stance and clenched talons. 

Surprisingly, Ivory shut up. Sandstorm eased out the kinks in her muscles slowly as she flew, awkwardly twisting around to stretch her back and get the blood flowing again. Aches caused from hours of flying were difficult to get out. 

She blinked at the bright forget-me-not blue sky. Summer was probably the best season - maybe even better than spring. As a part-SandWing, she loved the sun, but not the desert sun - yeah, that was a bit too evil for her. 

She liked this sun - this warm, pleasant sun that made her feel great. But she couldn't enjoy it much. She glanced down to check if she was on the trail - and realised it stopped. 'Guys, wait!' she called, swooping down. 

There. 

This was the place she'd stopped at - where the trail ended. The tiny stream was a tail-length away. She scooped up some water and splashed her face, gently washing the scar that Skydawn's talons had caused. 

She heard thumps behind her as her friends touched down. Maelstrom and Falcon crouched beside the end of the trail - a splatter of long-dried blood - Ivory collapsed, Mysticdream and Hyacinth joined Sandstorm at the stream, and Sunbeam remained hovering, leaf-green eyes scanning the land. 

'Sandstorm,' called her best friend nervously. She jogged away from Ivory, glad of an excuse to escape her constant whining. Maelstrom was squatting beside a plant. He pointed the tips of it to Sandstorm. 

'Singed. What singes? Fire. And what are we looking for? The Firestone.' 

'Yeah, I'm not dumb, thanks. Besides, dragons breath fire, too.' 'Oh.' Maelstrom paused, stumped, and then said grumpily, 'Way to burst my bubble, Storm. I'm just going to pretend it's the Firestone trail, anyways.' 

Rolling her eyes, she inspected the burnt plant and then looked up, eyes searching the ground. A few talonsteps away was a scorch mark on the ground, and a scatter of ashes. 'This way.'