Wings Of Fire: Warning

Chapter 9.

A few minutes passed and then he saw Cacti and his mother stop at a large, gold-lined den that looked like wealthy dragons would live in it.

  I didn't know Cacti's family was rich. But then again, I know nothing about Cacti's family.

  Cacti quickly turned his head toward Strider and then gestured his head toward the side of the den.

Does he want me to go there? What am I supposed to do-

  It was too late, Cacti and his mother had gone inside, and the only directions he had been given were to go to the side of a den.

He quickly went to the side of the den, and saw some sandwings glancing weirdly at him.

   They've probably never seen me in their town before, or maybe it's the fact that I'm going to a random spot that has nothing to do with me to them.

  He noticed there something like a window or an opening in the den on the right side, where he was.

Oh, Cacti is smarter than I thought.

  He sat there, Cacti was probably being put to bed or something right now, so he might as well sleep.

But what if Cacti sneaks away to the window and tries to talk to me during the night? If he tries to wake me up his mother might hear him.

So Strider stayed awake, and waited.

                                                     ~~~

It was now morning, and Strider's eyes were bloodshot from staying awake all night.

Worst decision ever.

Not only that, BUT CACTI STILL WAS NOT TALKING TO HIM.

I shouldn't get angry, I'm none of his business. I'm lucky he's even helping me in the first place.

"Psst. Hey! Rock dragon!"

Strider looked up and saw Cacti leaning his head over me from the window.

"Shhhh, your mother might hear you."

"Oh, nah! She's still asleep, so we're ok."

"But what if she wakes-"

"She won't."

"But-"

"She won't.

"Ok."

There was silence for a moment before Cacti finally broke it. "So... What do you want?"

Strider had to rack his brain to remember what he needed Cacti for.

    "Well you know- the hut burned down last night- and I can't find Dromedary and Pecarry and I didn't know what to do so I thought I could ask for your help."

"Oh. Erm- Dromedary and Pecarry are- dead."

"WHAT!? How!?"

"Nobody knows. They were found dead in an alley last night- at least that's what my mom said.

Strider had just seen them yesterday- helping him- why would someone kill them?

"My mom thinks it was suicide- there was a knife marking in both their chest, but there was no knife. It just couldn't be themselves."

"So somebody killed them," Strider breathed out quietly.

  Somebody had impossibly burned down their hut, and killed them. Strider hadn't known them well or anything, but it still felt like a horrible feeling, like him loosing his mother. This was different though, there was still hope his mother was alive, but Dromedary and Pecarry- they are definitely dead.

"D- do you think someone is out to get me?" Strider whispered to Cacti.

"What do you mean?" Cacti asked, now having to have crawled out the window, right next to Strider.

"It's just- the rock- it felt like somebody had pushed it over, or got it to fall over by force somehow."

  "And maybe somebody burned down the hut to kill me, and maybe they killed Dromedary and Pecarry- because- well I haven't figured that part out yet."

"Why would someone want to kill you?" Cacti asked.

  "I don't know yet-" Strider admitted. "I'm probably just trying to turn this situation towards me- I'm sorry."

"Nah- I think your leading on to something."

"Maybe- W- when were the bodies found?" Strider asked.

"Last night- like- right before the hut was burned down."

"Oh no- what if it's my fault the're dead!?" Strider whispered loudly. "What if they killed them to get to me!?"

Cacti was silent.

"I need to get home now! My father and sister might be in danger" Strider cried getting up on his feet.

"Well- where do you live?" Cacti asked.

  "Just take me to the Sand Rocks, I can get to my den from there- how do I get there from here?"

"Oh- that's a hard one- I'll have to ask my brother and sister."

"Where are they?"

"At my dad's house."

  Strider was surprised at his words, for a second he had thought Cacti's life was perfect.

"I can get you to his house- but I can't go with you to the rocks," Cacti said.

"That's alright, I really appreciate your help, I hope I can repay you is some way later."

  "Nah, you don't need to, I think my family has had enough payment. Plus, it's been fun getting to do this kinda stuff."

Strider then followed Cacti to his father's house, which looked almost twice the size of Cacti's mother's den, and this giant house made Strider's den look like a snake hole.

"Oh moons," Strider breathed, staring up at the gold-lined sandstone mansion.

"I know what your thinking and my dad is rich because he kinda owns this whole town," Cacti said.

  Cacti went up to the wood door and knocked on it. The door swung open almost right that second, revealing Cacti's small, lightly colored, sister.

"Hi Cacti, what are you doing here?"

"I need you to take my friend to the Sand Rocks, please?" Cacti asked.

"I don't know- that's reeeeeeeeely far away-"

"Please? It's urgent. My sister and father are in danger of a murderer!"

"Oh- I guess that is bad- alright I'll take you th-"

"Oh thank you! Let's go!" Strider said turning and moving to the side as Cacti's sister made a confused look and slowly took the lead.

Strider couldn't get over the fact that it may be too late, that his father and sister might be both dead.

They took off from the sand out of the small town of SandWings, heading for the Sand Rocks.

If they are- then it's all my fault.