NEXT CHAPTER! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** Qibli fell asleep that night, but he didn’t have nightmares about his family like usual, but this time he dreamt of Winter. What would Thorn think of him? She probably didn’t mind him gallivanting with an IceWing as she had fallen for Stonemover, a NightWing. But Winter’s family would be devastated. Qibli wasn’t an IceWing, so what in Pyrrhia would they do to Winter if they found out Qibli liked him? His creepy sister Icicle would kill him. For sure. He woke up with a start as three bells rang signaling that he was late. He fell off his sleeping ledge and hit the floor at an awkward angle. Wasn’t it nighttime a few minutes ago? Or did Qibli sleep for a really long time? Winter was still asleep, snoozing on the moss bed in their cave. He walked over to the sleeping ice dragon and prodded him in the snout. Winter looked really cute, his eyes were closed and his ears were flopped over his face. “Get your sand - smelling claws off me you idiot,” he said and rolled over off the bed. “I can’t even believe I fell asleep that long.” Qibli watched Winter walk to the history cave and followed behind him. The history cave was the biggest study cave, after the library and prey center. Webs, their teacher, was sitting behind a large flat rock with a couple dozen scrolls layed around him. He looked up and shot Qibli a warm smile and began to unroll a scroll with the words ‘for jade winglet’ written on it. Umber, their MudWing clawmate who wasn’t here yesterday, was sitting next to Moon with a shy smile on his face. Winter had sat at the far end of the cave and was staring at the board in front of the cave with a map of Pyrrhia on it. Turtle and Kinkajou were near Webs, questioning him about RainWing history and the grumpy SkyWing, Carnelian was perched on a stalactite near the back of the cave. Qibli walked up to Winter and sat beside him. Winter looked at him, mildly alarmed and then he blushed a little and looked away. “Hello, students, for those of you who do not know me, I am Webs, one of the guardians of the dragonets of destiny and your history teacher. Today we will be discussing pre - scorching history,” started the SeaWing, he rolled out a scroll and started reading off it. “The Scorching began over five thousand years ago, before queens and tribes, there were more scavengers back then…” his voice melted into the background as Qibli saw Icicle pass by. She looked at him, immense disapproval crossing her face and she walked away haughtily. Winter saw her too and worry flashed across his face. ~~~ Qibli walked out of the history cave for lunch at the prey center when Moon approached him. She looked extremely anxious, but Umber was nearby and tented a wing over her. She took a deep breath and walked up to Qibli. “Okay. Don’t be mad, but I can read minds,” she said, words rushing out as fast as possible. Qibli froze in shock. WHAT?! What had she seen in there, why was she telling him now?! Why wa- he was broken off mid thought by Umber, who looked at him and said, “Don’t worry, I just found out yesterday. Moon told me, Kinkajou and Turtle and she was going to tell you and Winter when she heard something… disturbing to say the least. Moon sent him a grateful look and turned her gaze to Qibli. “I told you early because I heard someone’s mind last night. Someone at this school is plotting to kill you. He or she was dreaming about ways to kill you tonight,” Moon continued. Qibli froze again. Kill him? Tonight?! This was worse than giving away Thorn’s secrets to Moon. He might never see Thorn again! Oh no no NO. This was bad. “I want to help you, Qibli, you seem nice and you are one of the smartest dragons I have ever seen. You’ll find a way out of this. We have a whole day left to figure out who the potential murderer is. Umber and I will help you. Turtle and Kinkajou said they’d keep an eye out too, but you need to tell Winter. He can help you,” she said. Umber nodded and Qibli finally got his mouth back. “W- what about - what about the..” he broke off. Moon nodded and shot him a sympathetic look. “You’d be happy with him, he feels the same way about you,” she said and a firework went off in his heart. Winter liked him! The small happiness of having someone who liked him in that way almost died down the fear of having someone who was trying to kill him. He sent Moon and Umber a thankful nod and walked to the prey center to find Winter. Winter was sitting on a rock bench eating some type of fish and looked up when he saw Qibli approaching. “We need to talk,” he said, and Winter followed him to their cave with a confused look on his face. (cont)
“You are the weirdest dragon I have ever met and will remain so, but what is so important that you need to make me stop eating my lunch?” Winter asked. “The fact that someone is trying to kill me,” Qibli replied in a grave voice. Winter shuffled his talons nervously. “How do you know?” he asked, and Qibli explained about Moon and her powers. Winter looked both worried and angry. “We just found out those powers weren't real and now they actually exist?! Although I suppose that it doesn’t matter now because - uh - you might have died if she didn’t tell you… But it’s still not right,” Winter said, after listening to his speech. Qibli knew he didn’t mean it, but he was too worried to make a crack about royal IceWing manners. “I have a very real idea of who’s trying to kill you… It’s my sister Icicle,” said Winter. *** First - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1004749117/ Next - ttps://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1009318730/ Previous - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1007422053/