Darkness Falls ~ Book 1 ~ A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

Chapter 7 ~ Hunted

Run. Hide. Watch. Repeat.

That was what Mirage's life had come to, ever since that afternoon three days ago when the Shades had arrived. 

Well, she called them Shades anyways. She had no clue what they were actually called, or if they called themselves something at all, but she didn't really care. The enemy had a name; that was all that mattered.

"Where did Snipe say the supplies was again?" Lapwing, the son of Clay and Peril, as well as their acting leader asked suddenly.

"In the kitchen building, obviously. That's where all the food is kept, all the time," Leaf-cutter replied, snorting. It was no secret that the pantalan hybrid disliked Lapwing's brother, Snipe.

Mirage drifted from her reverie and back into the present. "I can't sense any nearby minds," she reported. "Although they might be using skyfire now."

"That's...worrisome," Lapwing murmured, tapping his shining golden claws against the stone floor. "So they could be sneaking up on us right now?"

"Yes," Mirage replied. "And I won't be able to detect even the hum from their minds until they're well within sight."

"We should get moving, then," Leaf-cutter suggested. "Make ourselves less of a target."

Lapwing nodded. "Let's move, everyone!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing against the hollow stone walls that surrounded them.

All of the dragons stopped whatever they were doing and began moving after their makeshift leader, not saying a word. For the next few minutes, the only noise was the scraping sound of scales and claws against stone, but by the time they reached the intersection of tunnels leading to the kitchen, a few of them were muttering excitedly to one another. 

No one had eaten since their escape, so food would be a welcome change, and everyone was looking forwards to it. Only the SandWings or demi-SandWings like Mirage didn't care as much, since they were built for surviving long amounts of time without food or water.

"What are we waiting for?" One of the whined, annoyed by the fact that they'd paused. "I want to eat now."

Mirage glanced over her shoulder and glared at Sandpiper, Lapwing's younger sister. "You'll eat eventually," she said impatiently. "Now quite whining. We're all hungry here, if you haven't noticed."

Sandpiper looked about to argue, but was distracted by the LapWing moving forwards again, meaning they were closer to the food. She hurried forwards, but not before sticking out her tongue at Mirage first.

"Lapwing is the only good one in the group, don't you think?" a Leaf-cutter asked, making Mirage jump. She hadn't noticed he'd been standing next to her the whole time, and it'd startled her.

"Yeah," she replied. "Snipe is an arrogant camel-sniffer and Sandpiper is even worse, in her own way."

Leaf-cutter barked a laugh. "Don't let them hear you say that," he chuckled. "I'm sure they'll find creative ways to punish you for such a slight."

Mirage snorted in amusement. "Creative? That doesn't really sound like them."

"Ouch," Leaf-cutter responded. "That's harsh."

"It's true," Mirage shot back jokingly. "Now come on, we'd better catch up to the others." While they'd been talking, the rest of the group had continued walking, passing them as they did.

"Good idea," Leaf-cutter replied, following her as she darted back to the front of the mob.

"Watch where you put those wings, Leafy," a mocking voice snapped, and Mirage turned to see Snipe, the son of Clay and Peril batting Leaf-cutters wings to the side, over balancing the hybrid and causing him to fall over.

"What was that for?" Mirage angrily asked the rude SkyWing/MudWing hybrid, helping Leaf-cutter back to his feet.

"His wings were in my way. Now they're not. The ends justify the means," Snipe responded smugly, his chin held high. 

"You could have just asked for him to move," Mirage shot back, glaring at him. 

Snipe studied his claws for a moment, wearing an infuriatingly self-satisfied expression. "But this way was much more effective," he finally answered. "Since now he's out of the way."

Mirage was about to reply with a withering retort, but Leaf-cutter stopped her. "He isn't worth your anger," he told her calmly. "Ignore him."

The two of them left Snipe behind and walked back over to Lapwing, who was talking to Frozenshadow, one of the non-hero dragonets that'd come with them.

"Hi, Frozenshadow!" Mirage exclaimed jubilantly, bounding over. "Are you okay? I couldn't find you after the Shades arrived for a while there."

"What Shades?" the IceWing/RainWing hybrid asked, watching her curiously.

"Oh," Mirage said, slightly embarrassed. "Just a name I made up for...them." She gestured at the ceiling, and the others seemed to understand. 

"It's a fitting name," Lapwing replied kindly. "I think it'll probably catch on fast."

"Thanks." Mirage smiled. Lapwing always had a way of making her feel important. That was probably why so many dragons liked him.

"What's that?" Frozenshadow suddenly asked, cooing her head to the side. She seemed to be listening for something, so Mirage mimicked her.

I hope Pantalus's plan works, or else we'll have no way of catching them, a nearby mind whispered. And then mother will be furious. A glimmer of satisfaction trickled off of the dragon, but was soon replaced by unease. Although I still have to succeed, just to prove that I will be a good ruler, one day.

"It's a Shade!" Mirage hissed, panicked. "We need to turn around!"

Lapwing whirled around and started moving back the way they'd came, whispering the situation to those he passed. 

"What's wrong now?" Sandpiper whined as Lapwing passed her. "I'm so hungry."

"We all are," Frozenshadow replied. "But unless you want to be caught, we need to go."

Sandpiper abruptly shut up and followed Mirage as she helped Lapwing explain what was going on to the confused crowd. 

Well, well, well. What have we here?

Mirage whirled around to see the enemy mind-voice's owner, an angry SkyWing, staring at them with malicious delight.

"The Shades are here!" Mirage exclaimed, rushing forwards as she tried to get away from the ruby-red dragon. That was all the crowd needed to hear. As one, they took off and bolted down the corridor, leaving the Shade far behind, although Mirage could hear her scrabbling to keep up.

"Everyone, to the dining hall!" Lapwing shouted over the noise, veering off down a side passage. Mirage followed, less scared now. The dining hall was filled with secret passages, for a reason Mirage still didn't know. 

"You think you've won, you puny dragonets!" a bone-chilling voice suddenly shrieked. "But we will get you eventually. Panzia is ours!"