Changing Times: Mountains Crumbling

Chapter One

"Calm down, Toad. Everything's going to be fine. I doubt that anyone there'll be as bad as Mother was."
"At least, I hope so."
Taking a deep breathe, Toad changed direction, soaring down, towards the large, grassy outcrop.
With a soft whump, he landed in the tall grass, a cloud of disturbed insects buzzing up, circling around his head. With an annoying grunt, Toad shook his head, scattering the insects every which way.
Nervously, he glanced at the small group of dragonets gathered beside the entrance. Even though none of them were looking at him, he felt as if they were, silently judging his every move.
With slow, shaky steps, Toad made his way towards the entrance, trying his hardest not to arouse the attention of the dragonets by the door.
"Are they looking? What are they thinking? God, I'd give anything to be able to read minds, right about now!"
"But then, I'd be able to see all the things dragons really think about me. Honestly, I'd rather not know about that! Ignorance is bliss, after all."
"I wish."
Worried thoughts racing through his mind, Toad slipped into the main entrance cave, pressing his wings against his sides.
The minute he stepped inside, the steady chatter that had assaulted his ears the minute he stepped inside, stopped. Cheerful voices cut off, suddenly, leaving an apprehensive silence in their place.
Toad could feel hundreds of eyes on him, as he strode towards the short Nightwing, who was handing out scrolls.
As he drew level with the small Nightwing, he noticed that his talons were shaking.
"I-Is this where you get your scrolls?" he asked, knowing full well that it was, but wanting to say anything, just to break the silence.
"Y-Yes. N-Name, please?" the pale grey Nightwing stammered, turning to face the stack of scrolls piled behind him.
"Toad." he answered, trying to ignore the whispers he could hear stirring behind him.
"What if he's in my Winglet?"
"Fearsome, isn't he?"
"How do you think he got all those scars?"
"H-Here you go," the Nightwing stuttered, shoving two scrolls into his talons, "One's a map of the school, and the other contains other information you may need throughout the year."
Toad gave him a short nod, before turning and hustling down a well-lit corridor.
                                  *
Toad slid through the crowded hallways, trying his hardest not to bump into dragons. His eyes were glued to his scroll, trusting it to help him navigate the school's twisting corridors.
Suddenly, his foot caught on a Skywing tail, and he tumbled to the ground, his scroll skittering out of his claws.
"Three moons, what were you doing, rushing around like that? No wonder you fell over!" a cherry- red Skywing snapped, smoke pouring out of her nostrils.
"Cool it, Arson. He just wants to get his cave, just like everyone else." a pale turquoise Seawing shot back, her luminescent scales flashing in a hypnotizing pattern.
Toad clambered to his talons, gathering up his scroll as he went.
"Cave 16, Cave 16, where is it...There!"
As he continued down the corridor, Toad caught sight of the number '16' hanging above a nearby cave. With a relieved sigh, he slid inside, glad to get away from the crowded corridors and constant stares.
The cave had a small hole in its roof, which allowed brilliant sunlight to leach in, spotlighting a pile of woven, sand-covered carpets on one side of the room. A small, wooden bookshelf occupied one wall, full to the brim with bright coloured titles. Across from the dusty carpets was a rock pond, mud bubbling within.
"This is definately my cave."
A tired smile creeping across his face, Toad slid towards the mud pond, his tail swishing, lightly. As he slid into the warm pond, he felt his muscles relax and all of  his worries drift away.
Yawning, slightly, Toad's eyelids drifted shut, as warmth spread through his bones.
                                   *
After a short time, a commotion outside caught Toad's attention. Hesitantly, he raised his head, shaking mud out of his eyes.
Suddenly, a sandy yellow blur burst into the room.
"Hi! I'm Jasper! Are you a Mudwing? That's so cool! I've only ever spoken to a few Mudwings before! What's your name? What Winglet are you in? Are we in the same winglet?" he fired off, flaring his dusky wings wide.
Toad struggled to comprehend the questions that had just been fired his way, his brain struggling to pick them apart.
The male Sandwing lowered his wings, as a stray sunbeam hit his scales. His scales were a pale, dusky yellow, covered with brown speckles. Several bracelets adorned his arms, and his ears were dripping with earrings. A few gold bands were even wrapped around his horns.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I'm just so excited to be here!" he cried, flaring his wings again.
"Th-That's OK. My name's Toad." he replied, nervously, watching as Jasper flopped onto the sandy carpets.
"You've got the right idea, you know." he said, turning his head in Toad's direction.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we've got class soon. Better rest up, hey?"
"Wait, we have class? How soon?"
"Oh, don't worry, we still have a while."
With a worried sigh, Toad sank back into the mud, his heart racing, fearfully.
"Soon, I'll be meeting my new Winglet. I hope they're not awful."
"And I hope they don't stare."