Chapter Six
ZappyxxxxxZappy angled his wings to soar over the last stretch of the dark, forbidding WildWoods, excitement and weariness warring inside him.
xxxxxMy new home! he thought in ecstasy.
I can’t wait
to meet my family! Wait till Moon— The thought struck him like a lump of lead: it wasn’t likely that he’d see Moon for many many years.
xxxxxHe struggled on, weariness and sorrow threatening to overwhelm him, until he glanced forward, past the other dragons, and realized he could see the lighter trees of Keen Forest before him.
xxxxxHe painfully unlocked his aching muscles to beat his wings, and nearly fell out of the sky as Cobalt suddenly gave an ear-splitting roar, which was answered by a far-off dragon-bellow. After the response, Cobalt nodded to Scale and turned, nearly causing the lead hatchlings to crash into him.
xxxxx“It is now time for your first lesson,” he informed them in a rather bored tone, “take it away, Scale.”
xxxxx“Alright, hatchlings,” she began, “some of you may have wondered: how do we fly amongst the trees without breaking our wings?”
xxxxxShe looked miffed when her only response from the class was a blank stare.
xxxxx“Well, then, if you never noticed that, some of you might have wondered what the strange creases running across your wings are... Possibly.”
xxxxxShe gave Zappy an approving look as he nodded, “Good, good, I see someone’s got a sharp eye.
xxxxx“Anyway, they’re for doing this:” And suddenly her wings folded up where the creases were, though the rest of the wing remained rigid!
xxxxx“We can control them individually, see?” And her wing waved, up and down, up and down. “Now you try it, hatchlings.”
xxxxxZappy was amazed that he hadn’t figured that out already, and promptly tried it, as did his companions. He found it surprisingly easy, and, as Scale scanned the group, was told that he was exceptionally good at it—for a beginner. Only one or two others did it as deftly as him.
xxxxxAfter several minutes of practise, Scale nodded, satisfied that they were good enough.
xxxxx“Now,” she began, “we are going down to our Central Village, but don’t forget to fly slowly amongst the trees until you get used to them: if you go too fast or react too slowly you will easily need to visit the Healer’s Houses. Come on then!”
xxxxxZappy cautiously descended toward the trees, watching his teacher intently from above as she dove down and, as the trees neared her wings, folded them inward to avoid contact. He wasn’t certain that he wouldn’t end up at the Healer’s Houses after all. Dodging the numerous trees was going to be extremely difficult.
xxxxxHis fears, though, proved unfounded, other hatchlings went spinning into trees all over the place, but he suffered no further harm than accidentally lodging his tail in a tree trunk and a scratch across his nose from another hatchling hitting a tree and whirling dizzily across his path, limbs and tail causing havoc among the foliage and other dragons.
xxxxxHe realized, as he navigated among the trees and hatchlings, that Cobalt stared at him unceasingly, his gaze full of distrust and suspicion. Zappy was tired of the undeserved animosity.
xxxxxAfter several minutes of crashing into trees, Scale worriedly divided the hatchlings into two groups: those who had the potential to seriously hurt someone walked with her while she instructed them further, and the few who had a knack for it—like Zappy—flew ahead with Cobalt.
xxxxxAfter several moments of tense concentration, Zappy finally realized that the trees were steadily growing larger and larger until they were colossal beasts of huge magnitude.
xxxxxBigger than anything he had ever imagined, they towered miles above, proud and regal. Lords and guardians of the forest.
xxxxxZappy felt an awe fall upon him.
xxxxxAnd then he noticed the scorch marks. Big black blots marring the tree-trunks, scarring their awesome power.
xxxxxThe signs of war, Zappy thought solemnly.
xxxxxBut he soon realized he was mistaken when a pale pink snout poked out of a hole.
xxxxxWoah, we live in trees! Awesome! I wonder what Moon— he cut the thought off abruptly, and distracted himself by observing the tree-dens and appearing dragons.
xxxxxZappy suddenly realized that Cobalt was swooping down to land before the largest tree that he’d yet seen and adjusted his wings to follow.
xxxxx“Right,” the older dragon began as the last hatchling wearily landed, “this is our Meeting Hall, where our elders usually abide. You will enter one at a time, where the Eldest Elder will instruct and guide you. Now, who’s first?”
xxxxxZappy drew back, butterflies fluttering in his stomach, and realized the hatchlings around him had performed the same action, so shuffled further, until a slow emerald dragon stood closest to Cobalt.
xxxxx“Good,” he exclaimed, pleased, “in you go.” He motioned to the forbidding hole and waved the shivering hatchling forward into the abyss.
xxxxxZappy and his remaining companions meandered around the tree aimlessly until Scale and the rest of her class broke through the trees, and a roar emanated from the colossal tree.
xxxxx“Right,” Cobalt barked, curling in a ball to sleep, “line up, and wait your turn to enter.”
xxxxxThe hatchlings obeyed.
xxxxx“Alright,” Scale said as they finished the line—since Cobalt was snoring, “when you hear that roar, it means the way is clear for the next hatchling. Got it?”
xxxxxThey all nodded.
xxxxx“Good.” She, too, lay down to sleep.
xxxxxZappy waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, until finally, he was standing before the dark entrance.
xxxxxA roar rang out, and Zappy flew up inside the gloomy tree trunk. He flew up, and up, and up, in the inky darkness, wondering where in Vernada he was headed, and suddenly detected a hint of light. He forced his aching wings to propel himself forward and shot up into an immense, dimly-lit cavern burnt into the tree.
xxxxxHe crash-landed chest-first into the sand-like substance coating the floor, and struggled to his feet, exhaustion dragging at his limbs.
xxxxx“Gender,” a bored voice said, and Zappy realized that a small, dusty-pink dragon stood before him, a stone tablet grasped in his Sclaws.
xxxxx“What?” Zappy had never heard the word before.
xxxxxThe other dragon huffed in exasperation, still staring at the rock, “Girl or boy?”
xxxxx“Boy.
xxxxx“Duh,” he added under his breath.
xxxxxThe strange dragon hastily scratched something into the tablet.
xxxxx“Colour?” he asked, still not looking up.
xxxxx“Bronze.”
xxxxxThe other dragon finally raised his head. “What—did you say?”
xxxxxZappy growled, frustrated at the stupid question, “Bronze, of course, look!”
xxxxxHe moved a little more into the light and opened and closed his wings a couple times.
xxxxx“Indeed, you certainly are,” the dragon gave him a hard look as he scratched something onto the tablet. “Wait here a moment.” He scurried off into the shadows.
xxxxxZappy sighed,
The crazy guy’s prob’ly gone to have a ‘quick’ nap, he thought in frustration.
xxxxxBut the pink dragon was back within ten minutes.
xxxxx“This way now, this way,” he said, and ushered Zappy through a nearby patch of gloom, through a door-way, and, before he could react, shoved him into the middle of a ring of great dragons.
xxxxxWell, not quite a ring, Zappy thought, as he gazed around in wonder,
more of a half-circle, really.xxxxxThe wood he stood on was slightly lower than what the Elders stood on, making them seem huger than they already were, and a tall half-circle of wood prevented him from making contact with them.
xxxxx“Welcome,” said the largest—a gigantic, emerald-green dragon with near-white eyes—as he extended his neck to smell the small new-comer. “I am Waterfall, your Eldest Elder.”
xxxxxZappy bowed his head, “It’s an honour to meet you, Sir.”
xxxxxWaterfall blew a plume of smoke, pleased and slightly amused.
xxxxx“Are you prepared to become a member of your tribe, young one?”
xxxxx“I’ll do my best.”
xxxxxA nearby dragon let out a frustrated growl, “We can’t do this!” she cried. “To much of his parent’s blood flows in his veins, look at his scales! He will disrupt—"
xxxxx“Silence!” Waterfall roared angrily, swinging his head around to glare at her. “I’m sick of your whining! He’s not his parents, and we will give him a chance at life just like every hatchling that comes through here.”
xxxxxThe other dragon sulkily subsided, glaring at Zappy.
xxxxxZappy was slightly offended, and felt like someone had just pounded him in the guts.
Are my parents so bad that they could keep me from my own tribe? he thought dismally.
They must stink. xxxxxOr maybe they’re getting me mixed up with someone else! he ended hopefully.
xxxxxHe realized Waterfall had turned again and was now speaking to him.
xxxxx“What was your name?” the great dragon asked.
xxxxx“Zappy,” he replied, excitement for his mysterious new identity sprouting inside him.
xxxxxWaterfall was overjoyed, “Wonderful!” he cried. “Wonderful! You see, young one, you are hatchling ‘Z’, so now I don’t need to think of a new name for you!
xxxxx“I love it when this happens: so easy!” he said aside to his companions.
xxxxx“You are now officially named ‘Zappy’. Good choice, hatchling.”
xxxxxZappy was majorly confused, and his feelings were all mixed up and muddled. He felt relieved, confused, frustrated, and, for some reason, he felt let-down.
xxxxxWaterfall called the dusty-pink dragon over and quickly whispered a few words in his ear.
xxxxxHe nodded and flew quickly away.
xxxxxWaterfall turned back to Zappy. “Chalk is just summoning your parents, you can meet them in a minute.”
xxxxx“Uh, Sir, don’t mind my asking,” Zappy began, “but, how can you tell who my parents are?”
xxxxxWaterfall huffed a smoky breath, “In the usual manner, you know, colour, character traits, whose nose you’ve got, that sort of thing.”
xxxxxZappy didn’t know, but he nodded anyway.
xxxxxAt that moment, Chalk re-entered the room. “Your mother is just outside that door,” he said, extending his wing to point toward a small opening in the tree.
xxxxxZappy nodded his thanks and walked away.
xxxxxAs he stepped through the doorway, he was assailed by big golden wings attempting to hug him.
xxxxx“My baby!” he heard a voice cry, moments before he was smothered in her embrace.
xxxxxAfterward she leaned back and looked him over intently, her petite golden snout wrinkling in concentration.
xxxxx“Ah,” she said finally, “you look like Goldy. You
are mine. Come met your father.” She gave him another squeeze before turning and walking toward the door in the far wall. She seemed to realize something, though, and stopped suddenly to say: “What’s your name, by the way son?”
xxxxx“Zappy,” he replied. “I named myself that and was hatchling ‘Z’.”
xxxxx“Oh,” Zappy’s mother resumed walking, and he followed as she talked, “me and Goldy were both ‘G’s. Glitter and Goldy. That’s part of why I thought we seemed so promising. Unlike Cassowary and some of the others.”
xxxxx“Some of the others?” Zappy repeated. “Do Sharpshooters have multiple mates?”
xxxxx“Oh my dear me, no,” Glitter replied, “Only one, but I had loads of admirers when I was younger.”
xxxxxZappy and Glitter exited the tree and made a bee-line for a smaller tree near-by. They entered and flew up a level, Zappy didn’t get much time to see his surroundings: his mother whisked him around too fast.
xxxxxShe stopped before a door-way and roared: “Goldy! Goldy, get up. We’ve got a son!”
xxxxxA yawning golden snout poked out of the hole, “What?” it demanded crossly, “I’m trying to slee—" he yawned yet again, interrupting himself.
xxxxx“Yeah, yeah, so was I, until that aggravating Chalk came along. But I got up to meet my son, and you will too, ‘cause that’s what good parents do.”
xxxxxThat got his attention, the older dragon gazed at Zappy blearily, and blinked, “We had a hatchling?”
xxxxx“Have,” Glitter corrected, “and a nice strong one he is, too.”
xxxxxZappy could hear the pride in her voice, and felt secure knowing that his mother, at least, loved him.
xxxxx“Oh.” Goldy swung his head to gaze at Zappy properly. “So, ah, what’s your name?”
xxxxx“Zappy,” Zappy replied. What do I call you?”
xxxxx“Pop.”
xxxxx“Off you go now, Zappy,” Glitter shooed him, “you go spend your time how you want, your room’s just down the hall, if you’re tired.”
xxxxxZappy nodded, found his way downstairs, and wandered away down the street. He didn’t understand why Cobalt and the dragon in Waterfall’s council seemed to hate him and his parents. They seemed pretty chill!
xxxxxDistracted with his thoughts, it took him awhile to realize that the street was empty, and all the previous streets had been empty, too.
xxxxxA strange feeling hit him, he was in a strange village and no-one was in sight: what was going on?
xxxxxHe finally noticed, with a sense of relief, that there was someone on the road ahead of him and made his way over.
xxxxx“Hi,” he began, “I’m Zappy—"
xxxxx“I know,” she interrupted, to his surprise.
xxxxx“You—know? How?”
xxxxx“We were in the same caverns, silly,” she said, screwing her silvery snout up to laugh, “you’re the one with the Stormrider nest-mate, right?”
xxxxx“Uh, yeah. Boy, am I glad to be rid of her!” he lied.
xxxxxShe cocked her head, giving him a crafty look, “Whatever. You don’t need to lie to me, I’m weird, like you.”
xxxxx“What?” Zappy asked dumbly.
She must’ve read my mind or something!xxxxxShe huffed a smoky breath, “Come on, why don’t you understand?
xxxxx“I’m weird, like you, most Sharpshooters prefer to sleep, I hate it, you hate it, and I use my brain. You see, we’re more affectionate (or something like that) than Stormriders, and it takes a lot to hate the dragon that you’ve lived with your whole life. Besides, you guys always hung out together! It’s not that hard to figure out, really.”
xxxxxZappy hung his head, grinning slightly, “Alright, you win, I do miss Moon. Badly.
xxxxx“But you can’t tell anyone, though. I was nearly kept out of the tribe already, if they find out that I’m friends with a Stormrider, I don’t know what’ll happen to me!”
xxxxx“Won’t say a word.”
xxxxxZappy sighed with relief, “Thanks. What’s your name now?”
xxxxx“Birch. I was hatchling ‘B’ and I’m silver. Simple.”
xxxxxZappy nodded, “Very.”
xxxxxHe paused, then said: “Where is everyone? I haven’t seen a soul except you.”
xxxxxBirch snorted derisively, “Probably sleeping, I know my folks are, and I supposedly am,” she looked slightly embarrassed as she admitted this. “It is midday, after all.
xxxxx“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
xxxxxZappy snorted, “Boring, Mum’n’Pop sent me off, anyway. Should we explore a bit?”
xxxxx“Sure, that sounds fun!”
xxxxxThey made their way through the village as Birch told Zappy about her two nest-mates, and how she was the only one of the three of them who was able to fly amongst the trees, and about her parents and older brother, while he in turn told her about Waterfall, his parents, and, in a hushed voice, so no-one could overhear, Moon.
xxxxxHe was glad to have found a new friend. Birch had the motivation to do things, like Zappy and Twinkly-Star, but, unlike Twinkly-Star, she was actually friendly, rather than nasty.
