Wings of Fire • Dragon of Warriors [3]

Chapter Four

"Pass over the Infirmary and then disperse to let the dragonet land," Gullwing directed. "After that, every dragon carrying fish will head over to the Inventory Hall to drop them off."

     Quickclaws followed the other's lead, staying in formation and flying wherever Gullwing directed. Once above a platform leading into the island, the SwiftScales around him dispersed. Quickclaws hovered, staying where he was, looking for his friends to see what they would do.

     As Eagletalon flew down, Quickclaws looked around for Lightningtail. He saw her following the wounded dragonet and his ears pricked up in interest. He trusted her and hoped she would be able to find out what was bothering him, so he didn't follow.

     Approaching wingbeats sounded and Speedscar flew up beside him. "You're free for the day if you and your friends want to get together. Just get home with enough time to sleep," he added.

     "Thanks!" Quickclaws said, nodding as well. "I'll go home when it's time."

     Since Lightningtail was talking to Eagletalon, he flew after Rainwind and Thunderclap instead. Catching up with them, he cut into a conversation they were having.

     "Why does she think she needs to talk to him?" Rainwind asked. Quickclaws blinked then looked behind him, following the princess' gaze to see Lightningtail standing with Eagletalon on the platform.

     "Maybe she's just making sure he's alright," Thunderclap tried.

     Quickclaws nodded. "He seemed pretty bothered earlier. Even I would talk to him."

     "Then why don't you?" Rainwind asked just as they landed on a platform across the bay to wait.

     "Why don't you?" Quickclaws shot back jokingly, poking her chest with a smile.

     Rainwind huffed at him. "Because he hurt my cousin!"

     "Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean that you have to give him the cold shoulder," Quickclaws argued. He sat down and curled his tail around him so it wouldn't go numb. "Dragons deserve a second chance, especially from her. If she's going to be the next Queen then she needs to be fair. You don't need to be the same, but at least be polite."

     "Where's the line drawn?" Rainwind asked.

     Quickclaws was at a loss, then, spotting Lightningtail flying over, decided to change the subject. "Look! She's coming back," he said. "Besides, no matter what anyone thinks, Lightningtail is the one who decides where the line is drawn. It'll be her job someday!"

     Rainwind grumbled something unintelligible and Thunderclap tried to cheer her up as Lightningtail arrived. The flap of her wings announced her presence and she landed gracefully on the edge of the platform.

     Greeting her with a smile, Quickclaws shuffled his wings. "Hey," he said.

     She smiled back at him. "Hey to you, too." Lightningtail moved closer to the rest of the group. "So, I have a plan."

     "A plan for what?" Thunderclap asked. Rainwind was looking over their shoulders to the Infirmary with a glare.

      Lightningtail gestured to the collapsed cliffs to Quickclaws' left. He glanced at where she was pointing.

     "As we were flying back, I remembered that the cliffs had collapsed right over Brisktail's home."

     Thunderclap nodded. "Yeah. What do you plan on doing?"

     "Well, when we found him two days ago, he came to us. We were at the tunnel collapse and he went there on his own. What if after he ran away, he went home? To look for more evidence or perhaps to just get away from his Father?"