Azrael pulled Summer along. Summer was clinging onto her cane.
"Az! Could you possibly slow down?" Summer asked.
"Not with those guards out there!"
Azrael turned into a tight alleyway, where one of the secret passageways was. But to his disappointment, one of the Frost dragons was standing in front of it. "Your Majesties."
"Uhh...Tundra. Good to see you." Azrael stammered.
Tundra narrowed her eyes at Azrael and Summer. "Aren't you two supposed to be inside?"
"That's where we're trying to get..." Summer said.
"Oh! You're trying to get back inside? Let me call the guards! They'll help you!" Tundra purred.
Azrael and Summer panicked. "NO NO NO!"
"Guards!" Tundra called, attracting the attention of nearby guards.
"Shut up!" Summer growled quietly through gritted teeth.
But it was too late. A group of guards was already approaching them. One of them, the general, having an expression of disappointment.
Tundra gave Azrael a gentle nudge. "They're trying to get back in. Can you help them?"
The general nods. "Yes, Tundra. And we will see to it that they make it inside safely."
Azrael gently set Summer down and one of the guards picked her up, bringing her onto his snow leopard.
The general gave Azrael a scolding look as Azrael hesitantly climbed onto his snow leopard. "Your father will hear about this. You may not care about your own reputation, boy, but don't drag your sister down with you."
One day, Az, Azrael thought to himself. One day you'll take down an entire army andfather will be proud.
The general lead the other guards back to the castle. Azrael started to wonder if following Summer out of the castle was a good idea to begin with.
Upon arriving outside the castle doors, Summer was set down carefully.
Summer curtsied. "Thank you, sir!"
The guard gave a small smile. "You're welcome, princess."
The general lead the two siblings inside, where they saw the king laughing, drinking wine and eating delicacies with his servants and advisors as they celebrated the ten year anniversary of peace between humans and dragons. "Please, please, Maggie! Take a break! Come drink with us!" The king insisted.
Maggie, one of maids, set her duster down, and hurried to join the group. "Oh, thank you, Your Majesty!"
The general cleared his throat. "King, Edric."
King Edric's icy gray eyes immediately look at Summer and he smiles warmly. "My darling, what were you doing outside? Are you alright? Did my reckless son drag you into another one of his foolish escapades?"
The advisors and servants chuckle, shaking their heads at Azrael.
"No, father, actually I-"
King Edric put his wine glass down and walked over to Summer, shooting Azrael a sharp glare as he went to Summer's side. "Now, now, darling. It wasn't your fault. You're just a child. Now, why don't you come and feast with us? You look famished."
"I'm also thirsty too. But can I get my water in a glass like yours?" Summer asked, her eyes wide.
King Edric chuckled, brushing a strand of Summer's golden-blonde hair from her face. "Anything for you, darling."
Kind Edric then looked at the general. "General Harold, see to it that Azrael returns to his room. And make sure he doesn't leave this time."
General Harold gave a sharp nod. Azrael sighed, letting himself get pulled away.
"You are a disgrace to your family, Azrael. A prince who cannot be trusted outside the castle walls is no prince at all," said General Harold.
Azrael nodded. "I know sir."
They stopped in front of Azrael's room. General Harold shot Azrael a sharp glare. "Well if you know, then start behaving."
Meanwhile...239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFc8o4sURn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NHYoEV1Pu
"Your Majesty!" Frostbite called.
Shadow and Tiny Wings turned their heads.
Tiny Wings smiled. "Frostbite! I thought you said you were attending the festival in Glaciera."
"And I thought you said you were attending the festival in Astoria," Frostbite purred.
Tiny Wings tilted her head. "I said I would think about it."
Frostbite walked up to her side and bumped her playfully, earning a quiet growl from Shadow.
"Come on, Your Majesty, don't you wanna know how Cole and Elanor are doing?" Frostbite purred.
Tiny Wings chuckled "I'm pretty sure Aurora will tell me all about it when she comes by tomorrow."
"And how do you know she's in Astoria?" Frostbite asked.
"Aurora told me!" Tiny Wings replied.
Shadow clears his throat, taking Tiny Wings's talons into his. "Ya know, I was really planning to show you a discovery of mine. Something far more interesting than some festival gossip."
Frostbite smirks, his eyes narrowing as he resists the urge to lounge out at Shadow. "Oh? You mean those weird glowing mushrooms? Hate to break it to you, but I already saw those last year."
"Oooooh! Mushrooms! What do they do? Do they glow in different colors? Can we eat them??" Tiny Wings purred.
Both Shadow and Frostbite stare at Tiny Wings.
"I wanna see the mushrooms!" She chirps.
Shadow sighs but can't help the tiniest, fondest smile creeping onto his face. Of course she'd get excited about the mushrooms. Meanwhile, Frostbite just snickers, shaking his head.
"Alright, alright, calm down, Your Majesty," Frostbite teases. "You sound like a hatchling who just learned what fire is."
Tiny Wings gasps, offended. "Excuse me?! I am the mighty Queen of Draconia! My fire is as bright as the sun itself! And you think mushrooms are more exciting than me?"
Shadow smirks, seizing the opportunity. "Never, Tiny Wings. Nothing is more exciting than you."
Frostbite rolls his eyes so hard he might see his own brain. "Ugh. Alright. Let's just show her the mushrooms before she combusts from excitement."
As the trio treks toward Shadow’s “discovery,” Frostbite keeps pace beside Tiny Wings, trying to steal back some attention.
"You know, Your Majesty, I could show you a frozen waterfall that sparkles under moonlight. Way more majestic than fungus.” Frostbite purred.
"Can the waterfall glow in seven colors and sing when touched?” Shadow asked, deadpan.
Frostbite was silent for a moment. “...No.”
Shadow: “Then sit down, Ice Cube.”
Tiny Wings gasped. “Wait… THE MUSHROOMS SING?!”
Shadow completely rolled with it. “Only when you hum to them first.”
They reach the mushrooms, and Tiny Wings immediately runs up to one and starts humming.
Silence.
Her tail flicks. "They're not singing!"
"Try humming louder," Frostbite suggested.
Tiny Wings sucked in a dramatic breath, puffing out her chest like a noble bard ready to perform for the royal court.
Then she belted a hum.
It was not on-key.
It echoed off the cavern walls like a dying walrus trying to whistle.
Frostbite snorted so hard he choked on his own frost breath.
Shadow, barely holding it together, cleared his throat. “Beautiful. Truly. The mushrooms are probably speechless from awe.”
Tiny Wings glared at them, then poked the glowing cap of a mushroom with one claw. “Sing, you coward.”
The mushrooms did not, in fact, sing.
Instead, they just pulsed with a gentle golden glow, casting warm light on her furious little face. She squinted at it like she was about to throw hands with a fungus.
“Shadow, you promised they’d sing,” she said, voice full of betrayal.
“I said some dragons claim they sing,” he said, a smirk tugging at his snout. “Usually after eating them.”
“WHAT.”
“They’re mildly hallucinogenic,” Frostbite added casually with a smirk. "Probably."
Tiny Wings gave them both a betrayed gasp. “You lied to your QUEEN?”
Shadow crouched dramatically. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I merely wanted to share the wonder of the glowing mushroom caves.”
Frostbite rolled his eyes. “He wanted to impress you. It’s not that deep.”
Shadow shot him a glare. “You were literally flexing about waterfalls.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, is showing someone actual natural beauty less impressive than a mushroom light–”
“THEY’RE GLOWY AND THEY’RE FRIENDS,” Tiny Wings interrupted, scooping one of the mushrooms up like it was a puppy. “His name is Jeffrey now.”
Shadow blinked. “...Of course."
Frostbite groaned. “Of all the things that could've stolen her heart... it’s a mushroom.”
ns216.73.216.37da2
and then Add to home screen.