FruitWings - Ch 2

Instructions

"If they won't talk can I uhm, take them to the prison?" Maggie asks. Thankfully the queen has a heart. /WHAT AM I DOING?/ The queen sighs then nods. "Fine. Whatever. BUT! Bring them back tomorrow! I want answers!" The queen says. Maggie drags Slayde just outside the castle then unties her. "Follow, or you get tied up again." She says, flapping toward the prison. Slayde watches Maggie leave, then flies in the direction of her home, switching her scales to camouflage colors. Hopefully she can go fast enough that her black and silver scales won't catch anyone's attention. /There's no way I can tell anyone about this.../ Maggie flaps in front of them. "Where do you think your going? I have eagle eyes. Best eyesight." She says, tying a rope around Slayde's neck, puts weights on her wings, makes a little net out of rope in less that a minute, drops Slayde in the net, and flaps to the prison. "Wh-What's it like?" Maggie asks. "What's what like? Being nabbed and forced into prison for trying to take a walk? Delightful, really. The best experience of my life. 10 out of 10. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a relaxing vacation." Slayde says, their voice dripping with sarcasm and venom. Only figurative venom. For now. "Ugh, not that. What's it like with the Rainwings?" Maggie asks, suddenly self conscious. She feels herself blush. "Like family." Slayde whispers, then clears her throat. "How's it like FruitWings? Do you constantly experiment on random dragons you found walking in the rainforest?" Maggie rolls her eyes. "We don't normally have so much excitement in one day," She feels awkward. "I-If I let you go, will you say that you found me? Then maybe I can try being a RainWing for a day?" /WHAT AM I DOING?! I've had crushes before. But on a stranger? On an intruder?/ "Deal," Maggie nods her head. /WHAT AM I DOING!? SAY NO!!!/ But. Does she really want to stay here? This is her only chance to know what it's like to have friends who aren't the exact same as her. This is a test. She can always come back. "Well, I kinda need out first." Slayde points out. "I got you!" Cherri says cheerfully, just appearing. "Yes, I heard everything. I've been following you since you left the palace. Really, Maggie, you say you have the eyesight of a hawk, but you've got to look behind you sometimes." It slices the ropes making up the net with a claw, then takes the weights off Slayde's wings and the rope off her neck. Maggie blushes at the sight of her little sister. "Cherri! You have to stay here. I'll be back. I promise!" She says, grabbing faer wrist. "Absolutely not." Fae says primly. "I am coming with you, and you cannot stop me." Slayde rolls her eyes. "Just let her come. It's not like it's gonna hurt anything. Let's go." They launch themself into the air, looking down at the two FruitWings. Cherri follows eagerly. "No! I'm coming right back! I just don't want you to get hurt!" Maggie twines her tail around Cherri and pulls it back to the ground. "As long as you follow your end of the deal, no one will be getting hurt. RainWings aren't exactly the epitome of paranoia or violence." Slayde says dryly. "Exactly! I'll be fine! Besides, I'm the same age as you." Cherri says, pulling free. "Only since last week," Maggie mutters under her breath. "Fine. Lead the way Slayde!" Slayde pauses, staring at Maggie. "How do you know my name?" Maggie can feel her heart pounding. Thum thum thum thum. "Erm..." She makes sure to keep her wings as shut as possible. "C'mon, Mag, spill!" Cherri says, nudging her with a wing. "Yes, /Mag/, spill." Slayde says, crossing her arms. Maggie's heart keeps pounding. She doesn't say anything. "I don't feel comfortable saying." She says, feeling sweat begin to form. /WHY DID I SAY THAT!? WHY DID I SAY THEIR NAME! Maybe I could use it and then not say it? BUT ONLY FOR THAT? Right? No! No I swore never to do it! Never again./ "Y'know what? I'm gonna go ahead and add that to the deal. You tell me, or you stay here. I think you can manage a bit of discomfort after forcing me into a freaking net to bring me to prison." Slayde declares. Maggie curls and uncurls her tail. She has to. She can't tell a stranger. She squeezes her eyes shut. Focus. Focus. Focus. "Maggie? Is something wrong?" Cherri asks, eyebrows furrowing. Slayde just crosses their arms and waits. Maggie opens her eyes. They are pure white and glowing. She feels her energy draining. Everything starts to reverse. She closes her eyes again right before she says Slayde's name. "Lead the way!" Maggie calls. Nothing happened. Everything is fine. She starts to fall. She used too much energy, and feels herself fading. Dr. Roberto said not to do it too much. She did it just this morning. She used it too much. She hadn't had enough practice. She was fading...