Conquest : A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

14. Disappointments

'Get that thing away from me,' said Sandstorm for the tenth time.

She was eyeing the dagger in Sunbeam's claws with utter distaste. Sunbeam sighed. 'If I move away any further, you won't be able to see me,' she called back to the SandWing-NightWing dragonet.

Sandstorm groaned, knowing Sunbeam was right.

But that didn't mean she had to like it.

'Stop fighting,' said Moon sternly, coming over. 'You must learn to get along.' 'You mean, we must learn to get along with Sandstorm,' muttered Sunbeam, rolling her eyes. Ivory high-fived her.

Sandstorm scowled.

'Moon?' called Falcon, who clearly hadn't been listening to a word they were saying. 'What do you make of this? I'm rather worried.'

He pointed to a spot in the distance.

Smoke spiralled up - enough smoke to justify that the fire was not that big, just for utilitarian purposes; perhaps to keep someone warm, or to light up an area. 

'There's no town, village or any sort of community that I know of around here,' commented Moon, squinting at the far-off smoke. 'That's exactly why I'm worried,' explained Falcon, frowning.

'Let's go check it out, slowpokes,' said Ivory. 'What are you waiting for, the end of the world?'

She sped up. 'Ivory, be careful,' warned Moon, as the others followed her. 

'Said the dragon who got herself half-killed by power-hungry psychos!' called back Ivory.

Moon sighed, muttering something along the lines of 'now I know how the Dragonets of Destiny felt with us'. Sandstorm grinned.

Ivory stopped so abruptly Sandstorm very nearly crashed into her and sent her spiralling to the ground. 'Watch where you're going!' snarled Ivory in a whisper, throwing out an arm to catch Sandstorm.

She dove neatly to the ground and gestured frantically for the rest of them to stay back. The smoke was very close now, but they still couldn't make out the features of the dragons who sat around the blazing campfire.

'I'll check it out,' Ivory told them. She slunk off into some trees and disappeared into the leaves, moving like some sort of ninja.

All they could do was wait.

Sandstorm yawned. When was the last time she'd slept? That two-hour nap after Moon's rescue?

Yeah, that was it. 

Her eyelids were heavy. She remembered Peach's house. By the time they left, it was already night. They'd been flying through the darkness, foregoing sleep, following the Mutineers' trail. And now, the first sun's rays were beginning to peek through.

She stared up at the pink-orange sky. Such a beautiful view. If only she could enjoy it.

'Storm?'

She looked around. Maelstrom was approaching her. The others were laying down for a nap.

'What're you thinking about?' he asked. She sighed. 'About me back in Jade Mountain Academy.' He nodded. 'It was weird, being that close, but leaving anyway,' he said, sitting next to her.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence.

'I'm so tired,' mumbled Sandstorm. Her best friend looked at her in surprise. 'Then sleep, genius,' he told her. She laughed.

Before she could think about what she was doing, she fell asleep sitting, with her head resting on his shoulder.

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