The Queen

Chapter 2: Introductions

Brand new chapter. Happy late new year.  Enjoy!

It was not even a week, and already we were gathered together for starting flying lessons soon. At this point, I had learned only my mother's name, Raven, so I suggested that we spend five minutes together to purely introduce ourselves. She agreed and flew off to catch us some fish. I ordered everyone into a circle, being the eldest despite not being the biggest. "Alright brothers and sisters, we are going to have a session of family bonding. We will start with names and why we chose them. My name is Yin, which is like Shadow but cooler." I spread my wings, showing how I willed the glowing scales on my body to move as I wanted, first forming a pattern that was like a waterfall, then feather-like patterns that were nearly identical with Mother's, whose name was Silhouette, then I shifted them back to their original positions dotting the edges and undersides of my wings like stars.

With that, I nudged the dragonet next to me, the one with blue eyes that seemed to glow at night. She started a bit before saying, "Um. Hi, my name is Phantom." For further evidence, she spread her wings, showing completely white scales on the underside like mine, but all connected as a solid mass. Phantom had been born the most white scales out of all of us, looking like a ghost if you looked up at her from the bottom. Then, as if to prove a point, all of her white scales instantly flashed black, save for two on the tips of her eyes that glowed like mine. We all took a moment to admire her ease with her ability before she made her scales like she was before, but more like mine this time, not a solid blob, but instead, forming patterns that looked like a splash of water.

I smiled encouragingly at her and nodded at the dragonet across from me, one who had emerald green eyes. He puffed out his chest a little before speaking. "My name is Eclipse because of the lining on my wings and tail." He tilted his wings toward us to show a line of connected white scales on the inner edge. After a brief moment, his body seemed to shiver for a brief moment, and there was a spiraling pattern that went through his body, and he was a shimmering white like Phantom was before.

I nodded in understanding. "Next?"

The dragonet next to me was probably the one who most resembled our mother, with the fewest white scales and. He nodded. "My name is Mystic because I want to be cool like Mother." As if to prove his point, he gestured to a few of his white scales, which formed small dots on the undersides of his wings, before they seemed to shift for a second, imitating the night sky perfectly, even the scales matching up with the constellations.

I smiled brightly. "That's cool, Mystic."

Mother just happened to return with a mouthful of mackerel at that moment, and we all snapped to attention.

"Alright, children, each take two fish and let's get started flying," she called out, as we frantically scarfed down our fish and followed her to two small cliffs adjacent to each other. Mom inclined her head toward the gap. "We will start with gliding. Who will go first?"

The four of us shared a look, and Phantom nudged me. "I'll go second if you go first," she whispered.

I grinned. "Deal." I stepped forward.

Mother nodded approvingly. "Now, children, I chose this particular cliff for a reason. Gather around and feel the wind current over the edge. Know the wind currents, for they will be your friend should you need them to be." We solemnly nodded in unison.

I took a step toward the ledge. "Spread your wings. Crouch. For moon's sake, Yin, straighten your tail. The tail is key. You cannot fly without a properly balanced tail." I straightened my ridges, crouched, and leaped off the ledge. Suddenly, the updraft seemed to catch my wings, and I was suspended in space. I laughed in glee. Phantom grinned from back on the ledge, and got into position before leaping up to join me in the air. I giggled before remembering something that mother had done when catching fish.

I tucked my wings and dived. Up above me, Eclipse let out a cry of terror as he dived after me. I flung my wings out again and shot back up to be level with the cliff, shoving Eclipse up to uneasily circle around us. I apologetically called up, "Sorry, brother!"

Mystic flies over to me, straining to hold back his laughter, and gives me a high-five.

Mother smacks me with a talon midair. "Never do that again without warning us first. Not until you're three at least."

I sigh. "Yes, Mother," before suddenly a great roar rents the air on our peaceful small island.

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