Wings of Fire: Blood Ties by Ozley Choquette

Wings of Fire: Blood Ties is a in-progress book written by GossamerTheSilkWing a.k.a. It was started in 2021. It contains spoilers for important part of the third arc, so only read if you have read the third arc or are ok with a few spoilers. Please feel free to give me advice on anything! Enjoy!
== Summary ==
Mantis is a young HiveWing, and the son of Lady Mantis. When a series of mysterious events lead him towards the truth of his Hivemind imm unity, he must do everything he can to help save his best and only friend...a SilkWing.
== Prologue ==
Mantis remembered the look in his mother’s eyes. The white, motionless look in her eyes made his talons shake and his wings quiver. It was the first time he had seen the Hive Minds effect. He remembered hiding in the cupboard, waiting for it to end, how afraid he was when his mother spoke in eerie unison with the other HiveWings. 
“Admiral, I know you're here.” said his mother, along with the millions of other HiveWings. Mantis remembered gripping a skillet in his talons, ready to fight if he had to run. 
“Gotcha.” said the HiveWings in unison. Mantis heard the shouts of a young dragonet as he thrashed and clawed, presumably trying to escape the grasp of a HiveWing. 
“Did you really think you could escape?” said Queen Wasp through the mouths of the HiveWings, “I need your flamesilk! As long as you're alive, you're never leaving Pantala…” Queen Wasp snickered. 
“Get off me!” shouted the dragonet. Mantis remembered reading about flamesilk. The book told him that flamesilk was a rare anomaly that few SilkWings could produce. It was a unique type of flaming silk used for light, blacksmithing, warmth, and making glass, though it is believed that the Flamesilks had gone extinct since the old times, before the Tree Wars. 
He now knew that the book was incorrect. 
Mantis was awoken back into reality by the screams of the poor SilkWing being dragged off. Suddenly, the door to his house opened. Mantis held his breath as he heard footsteps walk down the hallway towards the kitchen. Mantis grasped the skillet tight, prepared to fight. Slowly, the cupboard door opened…it was his mother, not the white-eyed zombie he feared.
== Chapter 1 ==
2 Years later… 
“Today's the day!” Mantis shouted excitedly. Mantis grabbed his glasses and hopped joyfully into his mother’s room. “Wake up!” Mantis exclaimed, “Wake up, wake up! We're supposed to go to Cicada Hive today!”. Mantis had been waiting for his mother’s business trip all year long. He had heard of the beautiful Mosaic Garden of Cicada Hive but had never gotten the chance to see it. What made him even happier was that he would be able to visit his best friend Swallowtail, who had moved away a year before. “Come on mother! Wake up!” He shouted into her ear. His mother squirmed in annoyance as Mantis pulled her off the bed. 
“Ugh...give me a minute Mantis.” his mother groaned. 
“Mom, we're gonna be late!” Mantis shouted at the top of his lungs. 
“Fine! But hush! The entire Hive will hear you!” his mother said grumpily. 
“Hurry up then!” Mantis said impatiently. He ran to the kitchen and started tucking some fruits into his pouch. As Mantis skipped towards his room to grab his books, he noticed his mother was already at her desk, packing her many hand-crafted spy glasses and vials of valuable and scientific things. 
As Mantis made his way down the street, the neighboring HiveWings watched him with curious eyes. Mantis was saddened to see that the SilkWing servants bowed toward him, only trying to avoid angering his mother since she was the ruler of Mantis Hive. Mantis had always wished that the SilkWings had more freedom and thought it was cruel how Queen Wasp treated them. Mantis wanted to say something to them but knew his mother would get angry. He never knew why she didn't like him talking to SilkWings. He suspected that she thought SilkWings were lower beings, and they weren't worth talking to. 
“Good morning, your majesty!” shouted Stonefly from the window of the Hive Library. “Good morning Mantis!”. 
“Good morning, Stonefly,” Lady Mantis said generously. 
“Good morning to you, Stonefly!” exclaimed Mantis, “How long until I need to return my books?” Mantis asked. 
“As long as you want! You're the only one who ever brings them back intact!” Stonefly replied. 
“Thank you!” Mantis shouted.  “Faster, mom!” Mantis exclaimed, grabbing her by the claw and pulling her through the archway into the landing pad. 
“What are we doing here?” Lady Mantis asked, confused.
“We’re going to Cicada Hive; what do you mean?” Mantis asked, wondering what she meant.
“Well, we're definitely not flying there,” Lady Mantis scolded. 
“What do you mean!” Mantis said, bewildered. “Flying is faster than walking on that long bridge!”
“But the bridge is safer.” Lady Mantis spoke calmly. 
“No, it isn't! A giant bridge made out of millions of strands of flammable SilkWing silk!?” Mantis exclaimed. 
“Alright, alright.” said Lady Mantis, “How about you fly and I'll walk? You're old enough to go alone.” Lady Mantis added, “Meet me at the end of the bridge, understand?”. 
“Yes, mom,” Mantis replied. 
“Stay safe. Love you!” Lady Mantis said tenderly as she walked out the archway. 
“Love you too!” Mantis exclaimed. He bounded over to the edge of the landing pad, staring out over the savannah, and could see the faint silhouettes of Cicada and Bloodworm Hive in the distance. Mantis spread his wings and propelled himself off the edge, his yellow and black striped scales soaring into the sunrise. 
== Chapter 2 ==
It was nearly dusk by the time Mantis made it to Cicada Hive, and he could already hear crickets chirping in the savannah grass. His wings ached from the long flight, but the excitement of seeing his friend kept him going. As Mantis grew closer to the end of the bridge, a flash of blue and orange caught his eye. Mantis craned his neck in the direction of the object to see a blue and orange SilkWing fighting a group of HiveWing guards. 
“When will you learn, Swordtail?” said the honey-colored guard.
“He’ll never learn, Alderfly,” said the brawny, orangish-brown guard. 
“I hope you have fun on Misbehaviors Way,” snickered a vibrant yellow guard. The other guards laughed and gripped Swordtail tight while the yellow guard stabbed him in the leg with his tail stinger, paralyzing him. 
“Misbehaviors Way?” Mantis wondered to himself. With all the books he had read about Cicada Hive, Mantis found it surprising he had never heard about Misbehaviors Way. With one final look back at the poor SilkWing, Mantis continued flying towards the Hive.
Mantis flew down onto the silk-woven bridge to search for his mother among the crowd. He maneuvered his way through the mass of dragons with ease, but after searching for what felt like an eternity, he guessed that she must still be walking across the bridge. 
Mantis found an empty bench and thought he would sit and read. He had brought three books for the trip and was having trouble deciding which to read. Should he read “Landmarks of Pantala”, “Clearsights Journey” or “The Tree Wars”? There were just so many choices! In the end, he settled on “The Tree Wars”. Mantis got into a comfortable position, opened his book, and entered his own world...
The Tree Wars
Written by Thrips
The Tree Wars was a time of death. The Hive Wings and SilkWings faced the dangerous threat of the dreaded, bloodthirsty LeafWings. Queen Wasp vowed to protect the SilkWings if Queen Monarch stepped down from her throne and merged tribes with the HiveWings.
Once the tribes joined together to protect their home, they fought fiercely against the LeafWings. 
After the war was won, Queen Wasp destroyed every forest on Pantala to ensure the LeafWings were extinct.
Using the matter from the trees, the HiveWings created great colonies called “Hives”. Only small forests remain on Pantala, including the Poison Jungle.
Today, the world is peaceful, thanks to the Book of Clearsight. The Book of Clearsight is an ancient book written by our oldest ancestor, Clearsight. Legend has she came from across the sea, escaping her malicious husband.  She is believed to have had the power to see the future and wrote a book to protect us from every threat. Only Queens and High Priestesses are allowed to read the book. The Book of Clearsight is what led the HiveWings to victory and kept the tribes alive.
Mantis was about to read the “Biology of LeafWings” section, but was distracted by a loud shout.
“Go back to your Hive!” screamed an unknown voice. Mantis looked around frantically, trying to pinpoint the mystery dragon. 
“But we're visiting our son! We have permission from Lady Mantis herself!” shouted another voice. Mantis looked across the bench towards the entrance to Cicada Hive and saw a family of purple, yellow, and strawberry SilkWings.
“I don't care. Go back to your home.” said a vermillion HiveWing guard grimly. The guards' tone made the youngest dragonet, no older than the age of 3, cower beneath his mother’s wing. Mantis grabbed his book and walked over to the guard in anger.
“Leave those SilkWings alone and let them cross,” Mantis said fiercely to the guard. The family of SilkWings eyes was wide open with surprise. 
“Mind your own business, kid.” the guard grunted. Mantis grew furious at the guard. He was used to being called many names but did not take being denounced lightly.
“I am the son of Lady Mantis. I order you to let them cross.” Mantis spoke sternly. Mantis caught a glimpse of surprise in the guard’s eyes, but it instead turned into a face of ridicule. 	
“Do you really expect me to believe that?” the guard said mockingly. Mantis searched his mind, looking for something to say, but his thoughts were cut short by his mother’s voice.
“Yes, you will believe it.” Lady Mantis said, appearing on the other side of the guard.
“Lady Mantis...I...I didn't…” the guard stuttered.
“Didn't mean to insult my son?” Lady Mantis said expectantly. Mantis smiled slightly with pleasure.
“I...I wouldn’t...” The guard tried to speak out. Mantis could see he was in extreme distress due to the presence of his mother and ushered for her to back down.
“Well then, I guess you're innocent.” Lady Mantis responded. Mantis pointed to the SilkWings, then towards the Hive’s entrance, signaling his mother to let them go.
“And let these SilkWings cross; I gave them permission to go to Cicada Hive, didn't I?” Lady Mantis said in a queenly voice. The SilkWings nodded energetically. 
“Yes, Lady Mantis.” the guard spat out in worry.
“Now then, carry on,” said Lady Mantis, beginning to walk away. Mantis looked at the SilkWings happily and was grateful to see that they smiled back at him. 
“Mantis, come along now!” Lady Mantis shouted from a distance. The youngest SilkWing waved goodbye to Mantis as he walked away, full of gratitude. 
“Mantis, you know I don't like you getting mixed up in SilkWings problems.” Lady Mantis scolded.
“I know...but I can't just stand and watch the SilkWings be oppressed,” Mantis said solemnly. Lady Mantis looked him in the eyes, her pupils glimmering.
“Mantis. I know how much you care about them, but one day it's going to get you in big trouble.” Lady Mantis warned. Mantis avoided his mother’s gaze the entire time they walked. He had tried convincing his mother that they should help the SilkWings thousands of times, but she never understood. Suddenly, Mantis had a flashback. It was his mother. His white-eyed, emotionless, mother. “The Hive Mind.” he thought, frightened. “Why can Queen Wasp control the other HiveWings, but not me?” Mantis asked himself suddenly. 
“Mantis? Honey, are you ok?” Lady Mantis asked, shaking him.
“I’m...I’m fine…” Mantis said, awoken back into reality. Lady Mantis looked at him with suspicious eyes, but she continued walking instead of asking him more questions. Mantis knew that she was worried about him. 
They walked through a large, arched doorway that led them to the market. Mantises jaw dropped in awe at the number of booths and stalls surrounding the walkways. Everywhere he looked, dragons were selling cosmetics, nick-nacks, valuable items, and more. Colorful weavings done by SilkWings resided in a stall to the left. The sweet fragrance of candy lingered in a small shop to the right. A large booth selling jade, amber, and topaz jewelry flourished a few stalls ahead of him. Even when Mantis looked up, he could see the lights of the market glowing many levels above him. Mantis was speechless. It was more than he had ever dreamed. 
“It's...beautiful,” Mantis said breathlessly. Lady Mantis smiled at him, then clutched his talon and started to run through the market. 
“Where are we going?” Mantis uttered, taken by surprise. 
“To the sixth level!” Lady Mantis shouted, “I have a meeting with Lady Cicada.” Mantises stomach dropped.
“Lady Cicada?” Mantis asked sickly.
“Yes, you remember her, don't you?” Lady Mantis replied.
“How could I not? She nearly strangled me to death on my filth birthday…” Mantis said sarcastically.
“Oh, don't be so bleak; you know she didn't mean to hurt you.” Lady Mantis assured him.
“Are you kidding? She said I was an annoying, bothersome, lingering, little gnat!” Mantis said, irritated. Lady Mantis gave him a sideways glance. After a long time of running through the market, they finally made it to the sixth level. Lady Cicada’s Mansion loomed over the small houses that lined the street, casting a dark shadow over the colonie. Her house was built using dark ebony wood. Here and there, mysterious designs made from wenge wood added an ancient feel to the house. 
“Mom? Can I explore the Hive instead?” Mantis asked, hopefully. He could see his mother thinking it through.
“Hm...I guess...just don't get into trouble.” Lady Mantis told him.
“I won't, mom.” Mantis replied.
“And don't talk to any SilkWings!” Lady Mantis shouted at Mantis as he sprinted towards the stairwell. Mantis was one step closer to seeing his friend once again. 
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Semi-Canon)
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)