The Lost One: Chapters 22-24: A WOF Fanfic

Instructions

TW: I don't think so? Mentions of blood i guess. First chgapter inside! Chapter 23 The flight to the rainforest was the fastest Winter had ever flown. He clutched the heavy scroll, his mind racing through all the ways Glory could punish him. But the thought of Crystal's pale, frightened scales fueled his wings. Kinkajou was their eyes. She flew ahead, perfectly camouflaged in the thick canopy, relying on her sharp vision and knowledge of the terrain to spot the perimeter guards. Qibli and Moon flew low and silent on either side of Winter. Suddenly, a small, perfectly camouflaged mango dropped from the canopy ahead, hitting the forest floor with a faint thud. Qibli immediately pulled Winter and Moon down, shoving them behind a cluster of giant ferns. “Guard up ahead,” Qibli muttered, knowing the dropped mango was Kinkajou’s signal. “Glory didn’t waste any time. We go around. Stay low, IceWing. Your scales look like a beacon down here.”They finally reached the healer’s hut, sneaking in the back way that only Kinkajou knew. They found Crystal propped up on her hammock, looking fiercely unhappy."You did it," Crystal whispered, her eyes wide as Winter gingerly handed her the stolen scroll."We did it," Qibli corrected, rubbing his sore neck. "And if you get us expelled, you owe me a dozen goat skewers."Moon stayed by the entrance, her dark scales shifting with nervousness, listening for approaching thoughts. Crystal ignored Qibli, her talons tearing through the pale-yellow ribbon. The heavy scroll unrolled, revealing neat, cramped SilkWing script. She began to read aloud, her voice tight with anticipation. "The Royal SilkWing bloodline was blessed with flamesilk in every generation. However, legend warns of the 'The Lost One', a creature of mixed lineage who would possess the power of the Royal Flame but would lack the pure SilkWing core required to contain it. The fire of the Lost One is said to be volatile and uncontrollable, capable of consuming the dragon from the inside out if not handled with absolute knowledge and care." Crystal’s voice broke. She looked at her wrists, the pale, chalky scales suddenly terrifying. "It's true. It's exactly what Jambu said. My HiveWing scales are fighting the fire." "Keep reading!" Winter urged, his voice frantic. She continued, the prophecy growing darker: "The Lost One's birth will be signaled by the convergence of the three lights: the Sun, the Sky, and the Moon. They shall carry the curse of the volatile fire. To control it, the Lost One must find the Queen’s Crown—a sacred, vanished artifact used by the ancient SilkWing monarchs to stabilize the flamesilk of their hybrid ancestors." Crystal slammed the scroll shut. She wasn't just unstable; she was part of a terrifying legend. "I'm a prophecy," she breathed. "And I'm dangerous." Qibli’s eyes gleamed, all traces of sarcasm gone. "A sacred, vanished artifact? A Queen's Crown? This is why the SandWing—the boss—is after you. They don't just want the fire; they want whatever magic is in this Crown to control your power." Crystal looked at the door, where she could hear the faint thud of a guard patrol. " Glory wants me to stay here and be safe. But safety means letting this instability consume me, and letting the boss win. We have to move."She looked at her wingmates—Qibli, the strategist; Winter, the loyal runner; Kinkajou, the silent observer. She knew her mission now. "Forget the Academy. We have to find the Queen's Crown. We're going to the Lost Continent." Chapter 24 Two moons later. Crystal pressed her forehead against the thick, humid glass of the RainWing healing hut, watching a heavy curtain of rain lash the jungle. She was healed—the wounds from the SandWing impostor were long gone, and even the rib fractures were mended. But the confinement had worn her spirit thin. She lifted her talons and examined her wrists. The pale, chalky scales hadn't spread, but they hadn't faded either. They were a constant, visible ticking clock, a reminder that every day spent locked in the rainforest was a day the Queen's Crown remained lost, and a day her unstable Flamesilk festered. The Lost One. The prophecy haunted her sleep. A rustling sound announced Qibli. He slipped past the heavy curtain that served as the entrance, his tail wrapped around a tightly bound bundle of dried meat and jerky.“Just barely made it past Jambu’s last patrol,” Qibli muttered, tossing the bundle onto the hammock. “He’s distracted, though. Glory’s scales have been permanently gray-green for the last week. No one can find anything about this ‘Crown’ thing, and she’s beside herself.”