Wings of Fire Winglets: Estrayed

This is the sequel to one of Starscatter (me!)’s best works; Wings of Fire Winglets: Betrayal. The main characters are Apollo and Wasp. View their pages with discretion, as spoilers will be present. This is also part of Cloudy’s fanfiction contest.
===WARNING!===
This story contains mild violence, blood, gore, death, and themes that may/will upset some viewers such as traumatic flashbacks, self hate, and even suicidal thoughts. I do not censor these things as they are part of life and spelling “trauma” as “tr@um@“ will still trigger some people. Thank you for reading and now let us begin.
==Part One: Flashback==
===Chapter 1: Wasp===
The last two years have been a radical change of pace for a dragoness named Wasp. All at once, Queen Wasp was overturned, the SilkWings were freed (and became a decmocracy?), LeafWings came out of hiding, and Wasp . . . Was still grieving. Not a second of the day went by when she didn’t feel self-hatred pounding on her like a black cloud that never relented. Sadness and horror plagued her dreams, and when she looked at her own claws she saw her best friend, her only friend, laying dead at her claws.
Ash. The name was bitter in her mind and on her tongue. As Wasp sat on the balcony where she had spent the last two hours, she looked out at the thundering rain pouring down on Jewel Hive. Her copper scales were dull and unkept. Her eyes had changed from their usual brilliant shine to a bleary, dry grey-blue. She sighed. Her iridescent wings drooped to her sides and she gazed at the book she was trying to read.
”Wasp?”
Wasp turned and saw her father, Mimic, with her mother standing next to him. Her mind did a double-take and she slowly stood. With no emotion crossing her face she said, “Mother? Cerifly?” Her own voice sounded strange to her. She hadn’t heard it in . . . Weeks.
Cerifly looked surprised, distraught, confused, and disappointed all at once. “Wasp, is that you?” She walked up and took Wasp’s tan talon in her own. “Why, I can hardly recognize you.”
Mimic cleared his throat. “I hate to say it, but we’re not here for a reunion.” Wasp could tell he still harbored feelings for Cerifly, but refused to eat them show. 
“Why are you here?” Wasp asked quietly. “You never visit.” She looked down, her tail stopping mid swish behind her and her wings folding in protectively.
Cerifly bit her lip and drew back. Regret for . . . Something crossed her face, but the stern HiveWing replaced it with an annoyed expression. “Yes, I suppose so,” She huffed, back in her haughty, ‘I-know-everything’ demeanor.
Mimic spread his wings over Wasp and they started on a walk through the hive. “So,” he said, waving to a SilkWing as they bustled past. “We have some news.”
”Is it about the New Continent?” Wasp asked, hope rising in her voice. “Do we get to go see it?”
Cerifly rolled her eyes. “No. Mimic, just tell the poor thing. I didn’t come all the way out here for you to coddle and sugar dust Wasp into not telling her.” Wasp flinched away from her, trying to disappear under Mimic’s wing.
”Shut u—Please stop,” Mimic corrected himself in a strained tone, as if he was trying to not punch her in the face. “I will tell her, just not in a way that would destroy her. Like you would.”
”Stop arguing!” Wasp exclaimed suddenly. “Just tell me! What is it?”
Cerifly stopped in the middle of the hive. “Very well. Mimic?”
”Fine.” Mimic sighed. “The SilkWing council blames you for the death of Ash. They want to see you in court.”
Wasp blinked. Ash. Her mind whispered. I . . . What . . .NO! Wasp took a step back in pure shock. “WHAT?!” She shouted, drawing the gaze of a few HiveWings. “But . . . The . . . I . . .”
”I know,” Cerifly said gently. “That’s why I’m here. I’m coming as your defense.”
“NO!” Wasp cried. “You weren’t even there! You shouldn’t get involved—you—you can’t! I won’t let you,” She finished in a whisper. 
Mimic placed his talon on her shoulder. “Honey-bee, think for a moment. If they can just see reason—-“ He stumbled as Wasp turned in a blur and bolted. “Wasp!”
She sprinted down the hall, jumping out a window and into the rain. No no no no no . . . She thought. I can’t relive this. Not now. Not yet. She soon found herself standing in front of a stone protruding from the ground, fresh flowers scattered over it and moss starting to grow on the slab. It read; Here lies Ash of the SilkWings. Forever remembered in our hearts; her flame will never die. Wasp sobbed uncontrollably, her skinny frame folded in half on the ground.
As the rain pattered against her scales, she looked down at her talons. Blood flashed in her vision and she sucked in a breath. She blinked, and the vision disappeared. “I’m sorry, Ash.” She squeaked. This is where you died, She thought. Not in the arms of your loved ones, out here, all alone. Killed. By me. 
Wasp rubbed her eyes as mist settled on the ground. I can’t go back, Wasp thought. I don’t want to go back. I need to start again. She looked up at the sky as the final drops of rain splashed against her wings and scales. Somewhere where I won’t be haunted by my past.
===Chapter 2: Apollo===
The sienna fields rustle under wingbeats. A teal, magenta/pink, and blue-green SilkWing glides gracefully down and lands lightly. He looks shocked. An ashen grey, orange, red, yellow, and black SilkWing dragoness about his age is lying in the field, blood soaking the ground around her. Her eye looks pierced by something, and her neck is ripped open. The dragon doesn’t seem surprised. He’s seen things worse. He places his talons on the SilkWing, and breathes something. The wounds seem to knit together, the scales sealing and blood reversing back into the dragon her gestures at a bundle of dry grass, and it weaves itself into a rope. He gently places the SilkWing on his back and ties her on, jumping into the air with his brow furrowed. Someone left her for dead, he was sure. Probably a HiveWing.
Apollo’s head snapped up, shaking himself out of his memories. His coconut husk roof was leaking, dripping annoyingly into a pail. Vines and flowers crawled into the windows, and his cupboards held nothing but some fruit. Apollo sighed. He looked over at the still-asleep dragoness lying on a bed next to his. He smiled. “Sunflower!” Apollo’s voice sounded like a mix of wind chimes and the breeze rustling through the Poison Jungle.
”Mmph . . .” Sunflower raised her head. Her blue eyes shone and she raised her head. She smiled when she saw him and jumped off the bed, walking over and twining her tail around his. “Good morning!” Her eyes then darkened. Apollo cocked his head.
”Are you alright?” He asked carefully, placing his talon on hers.
”I had a strange dream last night,” Sunflower said slowly. “It was about a HiveWing. She . . . Was standing over me, crying. I looked around me and saw I was laying in a pool of my own blood, as if she had . . . Killed me.” She shuddered and huddled closer to Apollo. “It was horrible. I felt like I knew her.”
Apollo opened and closed his mouth. “That’s . . . Strange. Very strange.” He brushed her cheek and stood. “I’m needed for a LeafWing patrol. They need to have one before they meet the HiveWings apparently,” he said disdainfully. “It’s honestly annoying. The HiveWings have changed.”
Sunflower nodded. “Are you sure I can’t come?”
”Yes,” Apollo said quickly. “You’re a flamesilk, you could still be in danger. Not all LeafWings are good.” He slipped his dagger into a sheath and buckled it onto his foreleg.
”Alright,” Sun said wistfully. “Come back safely.” Her black and grey scales shimmered and her wings fluttered, reflecting the light. “Promise?”
Apollo smiled. “I promise.” He nodded and swept out the door and into the humid Poison Jungle. His ‘guard dog’, a Venus Dragon-trap, snapped at him on his way by and he bonked it with his tail. He jumped into the air, shooting through a tiny gap in the canopy. He shook a branch off his shoulder and swooped over the trees. Apollo saw a patrol of five LeafWings on the edge of the jungle. He dove down and landed behind them, nodding his greeting. “Nettle, Green, good morning!” He high-taloned two of them and stiffly gave a half-nod to a grey-green one. He looked up and peered at the sky. “We should get going.”
”Now that you’re finally here we can,” The grey-green LeafWing snapped. “Come on!”
They fell into a diamond formation and started forward, racing into the savannah. Apollo smiled and sprinted to keep up as they bolted across the plains. The group split off, and he charged ahead. No flying, He told himself. That’ll get you a one way ticket to getting fired. Apollo raced up to the top of a hill and looked out. No sign of any HiveWing groups. Apollo smiled. It looked like it was going to be a good day.
~~~
No no no! Apollo’s talons pounded against the ground as he ran as fast as he could. “NETTLE!” He shreiked. The LeafWing screamed as a HiveWing dragged her into the air. “I’m coming!” Apollo jumped into the air, reaching for her talon. “Let her GO!” He ordered.
The grey and orange HiveWing swung his tail at Apollo that had a metal scythe strapped to the end. “LeafWings must be exterminated,” he snarled, slicing into Apollo’s face.
Apollo roared and tackled him, wrenching Nettle free as they fell towards the ground. Nettle swooped away just before they hit the ground, and the HiveWing slammed Apollo into the ground. The SilkWing yelped in pain, rolling on the ground as he gasped for air. The HiveWing pinned him down with a sneer. “Long live Queen Wasp,” he whispered, going for Apollo’s neck. 
Dagger, I enchant you to wipe all memories from a dragon and rewrite them when you draw their blood! Apollo thought, unsheathing his dagger and backhand stabbing it into the HiveWing’s hip. The dragon screamed and toppled to the side, his eyes rolling back. Apollo stood and his eyes darkened. “Your name is Centipede. You’re a HiveWing with no family to your name. You love LeafWings and SilkWings, and hate Queen Wasp. Go to Bloodworm Hive and get a job. That’s where you live after all,” He said. Apollo tugged out the dagger, and the wound sealed. The HiveWing jumped into the air, his eyes glassy. He watched him fly away, then sighed. 
“Apollo!” Nettle bounded through the bushes. “Are you okay?” She looked around, confused. “Where did the HiveWing go?”
”He . . . Got away,” Apollo said slowly. “Disappeared into the tall grass.”
Nettle nodded. “As long as you’re okay. Come on, we should head back and tell Bush we got rid of him.”
Apollo nodded. “You’re right. Come on.”
~~~
“Atlas! Atlas!” A turquoise SilkWing shreiked. “Help!” A HiveWing dragged her away, and Apollo’s eyes filled with tears. “I . . .” His talons were frozen to the ground. As his childhood friend was dragged away, he steeled himself and ran after her. He tackled the HiveWing, and it turned to dust in his talons. “Krystal!” He exclaimed. “I’m sorry . . . Are you okay?” The SilkWing shivered and looked down at a wound on her arm. “I’m fine,” She said slowly. “What did you do to him?” Apollo bit his lip. “I—I have a gift called Animus Magic. I can enchant anything to do anything I want, but it comes with a price.” Krystal took a step back, and the hive seemed to fall away around them. She morphed into Sunflower, snarling angrily with Krystal’s voice. “Your name isn’t Atlas!” She snapped. “You LIED to me!” Apollo turned and tried to run as shadowy claws reached out of the shadows. They grabbed at his arms wings, dragging him into the goopy, inky ground. “Sunflower!” He gasped for air, straining to fight against the shadows that were suffocating him. “Help—!” Sunflower was gone. The goopy ink filled his mouth and his lungs screamed for air. Apollo kicked against the shadows, but his vision was swallowed up by darkness as his body was consumed by them.
”NO!” Apollo screamed as he shot awake. He was breathing heavily, eyes wild. No monsters, He told himself. Krystal is dead. You couldn’t save her. You only have Sunflower now, He tried to calm down, but he looked over and saw that Sunflower was missing. “Wh—Sunflower?” He jumped out of his leaf bed, and peeked out of the room. No sign of her. “Sunflower?” he whisper-called. Apollo snuck out of the hut and looked around. Where is she? He thought. What if . . . What if the enchantment hurt her in some way? She could be dying and it’s all my f—he stopped as he walked to the edge of the forest and saw Sunflower sitting there, staring up at the two full moons. “Sunflower?” He tried quietly.
The SilkWing turned, and Apollo saw her eyes were flooded with tears. He sat down next to her, wrapping her in his wing. “Apollo,” she said quietly. “The dreams are getting worse. This time . . .” She looked up at the sky, the moons reflecting in her blue eyes. “It’s like I was living as a different dragon. When the SilkWings were enslaved. But I met this HiveWing . . . I can’t remember her name. The same one from the other dream. And she rescued me, and we were like sisters. But then . . .” She trailed off.
Apollo opened his mouth, but no sound came out. “Sunflower . . .” he sad softly after a while. “I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
Sunflower looked over. “W-what do you mean?” 
“I . . . Found you. We never met at Jewel Hive. I found you half-dead in the savannah and brought you back to life with something called Animus Magic. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, now that anyone can read the Book of Clearsight. I wrote your past, I . . . Gave you your past, your hopes, your dreams.” Apollo looked away. “You would have died if I hadn’t.”
”Does . . . Does that mean I’m not Sunflower? I’m someone else entirely?” Sunflower looked down at her talons. “I have a family?”
”I don’t know,” Apollo said quietly. “But I can’t live without you. I love you.” And you’re the only one I can actually protect, He thought to himself.
Sunflower buried her head in his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Apollo. I don’t want to think about this right now—I can’t. It seems impossible.”
”I know. I know.” Apollo hugged her. “I promise I’ll get rid of the enchantment once I know—“ He choked on his words. “—one I know you won’t die.” The two sat there in silence for a while longer, and Apollo sighed. 
Sunflower took his claw in hers. “Thank you, Apollo. You didn’t have to tell me, but . . . You did. That’s why I love you.”
Apollo smiled. “I do too.”
===Chapter 3: Wasp===
Stupid. Rain. Wasp winced as rainwater streamed into her eyes. She swiped at her face and continued on. She was almost to the poison jungle now. She had never been there before, but . . . It was worth a try. Wasp dove down, landing in soft underbrush. And actual grass. She smiled to herself despite the nagging thought in the back of her head that the ocean wasn’t too far away, and drowning wasn’t such a bad way to die. She shook out her wings and walked along the ground as the rain ceased into tiny mist-like particles. 
“Aha!” Wasp pounced on a wandering badger and smiled. She looked up at the sky before she ate her meal. It’s probably almost dusk now, She thought, I’ve been flying for most of the day. I should find somewhere to rest. She ate the badger and stood, feeling the slightest bit refreshed.
She walked for a bit, stumbling upon a LeafWing after a few minutes. Her eyes widened. A LeafWing! “Oh-um-hello?” She squeaked. Wasp flinched backwards as the LeafWing snarled at her, baring bloodstained teeth. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean any harm, I—I’m just looking for a place t-t-to stay!”
The LeafWing seemed to relax, and she smiled. “Sorry about that. I’m a little on edge after a HiveWing—You know what, never mind. Nettle, at your service. What did you need again?”
Wasp breathed a sigh of relief as she realized the blood was from a deer laying on the ground beside Nettle. “I’m Wasp.” After she got a shocked, enraged expression from Nettle, she quickly added, “Not the queen! Just . . . Y’know, I have the same name. I’m looking for somewhere to stay the night.”
Nettle smirked. “Alright then. I think I can help you. A SilkWing friend of mine lives on the border of the Poison Jungle, and he’d probably be happy to help you!” She grabbed the deer and grinned. “Follow me!”
~~~
Wasp’s tail flicked back and forth with an emotion she hadn’t felt in far too long. Excitement. She loved the jungle already, and she had already bombarded Nettle with a thousand questions about everything. Wasp smiled to herself. The humid air, the PLANTS, like what? Plants actually GROW here! It’s so cool! The dragonet side of her squealed, while her other side thought, I’m gonna mess this up. Whoever this SilkWing is, he’ll probably hate me. I might as well just stuff my nose in a hornet’s nest. Her jitters ceased a little as they walked up to the coconut husk roofed hut with its pleasant, vine-y walls.
Nettle knocked on the door. “APOLLO!”
Apollo? Like an Apollo butterfly? Wasp thought. How neat. “Um, hello?” She tried.
A SilkWing opened the front door with a charming smile. His teal, pink-magenta, and turquoise scales were scarred in some places, but overall he looked well-kept and happy. “Yes? Who is this little HiveWing you’ve brought over?”
Nettle smiled. “She’s looking for a place to stay, so I brought her over. Okay, bye!” With that, the LeafWing slipped into the trees. Wasp stood there awkwardly, and they stared at each other for a whole two minutes.
”Apollo, let her in!” An all-too familiar voice scolded. Wasp‘s breath caught as she saw a grey and black claw pull Apollo inside. Ash stepped out of the door, a big smile on her face. She looked almost exactly the same as she did the day she was . . . Killed.
”Ash?” Wasp breathed, her eyes wide. Her heart seemed to stop beating for a moment. She felt weak. Her mind was completely silent. “Ash. Is that you?”
Ash blinked. “You’re . . . The dragon I saw in my dreams . . . Wasp?” She stepped back. “How do I know you?”
”ASH!” Wasp shouted. “You’re alive!” She went to throw herself at Ash, but the SilkWing dodged her, frightened.
“I—I don’t know you. Apollo?” She looked over at Apollo. “Please tell me I know this dragon. I do, don’t I?”
Apollo opened his mouth, then sighed. “I don’t know, but let’s find out.” He extended his talon, and Ash suddenly crumpled to the ground. Before Wasp could react, he was at her side. “Sunflower, Sunflower!” He shook her. “Wake up!”
”Sunflower?” Wasp asked. “Why are you calling her that? What’s going on?” She bared her teeth. “What did you do to her?!”
Ash groaned. She slowly opened her eyes, and tears filled them. “I . . . Can remember now. Wasp!” She leapt to her claws and rushed at Wasp. They collided in a hug, and Wasp started sobbing.
“Ash! You’re alive! I can’t believe this, Ash . . .” Wasp cried. “I was so sure that . . . That . . .”
”I know,” Ash breathed. She turned to Apollo. “Apollo saved my life. He used his powers—animus magic—to bring me back. He didn’t know what had happened, so . . .”
Apollo looked shamefully down at his claws. “I changed her memories. I was afraid if I gave her memories back, the enchantment would reverse and she would . . . Die.” He shuddered. “I couldn’t.” Apollo looked up.
Wasp looked from Ash to Apollo. “Wait, you saved her?” More tears fell from her eyes. “T-thank you.”
Ash squeezed her tighter. “I missed you. I missed you, Wasp, and I forgive you for everything.”
Apollo smiled slightly. “Um . . . Is anyone hungry?”
==Part Two: Flash Forward==
===Chapter 4: Apollo===
”Snake.” Apollo hissed as the LeafWing blocked his only way back to the house; the other routes were either flooded or overgrown. “What do you want?”
Snake had bright green, sharp edged scales and piercing yellow eyes. He had a too-long tail and wings that were frayed at the edges. He balanced a dagger dangerously on his talon and grinned. “Apollo . . .” Even his voice sounded like the hissing of a viper. “Some things are balanced on a fine line, much like your stay here in the forest.” He tossed the dagger up and caught it balancing again. “At any moment you could simply . . . Tip.” The dagger sunk into the soft earth beneath him. Snake circled Apollo, hissing. “You see, I thought we were friends. Brothers, even. But then you go and LIE to me!” Snake lunged at Apollo, not close enough to hurt him. “I got you permission from Belladonna to stay in the jungle, Apollo.”
”What do you mean?” Apollo demanded. “How did I lie to you?”
Snake tugged the dagger out of the ground and pointed at Apollo. “You lied. You said you were harmless. You’re an animus, Apollo. Don’t think I didn’t see that heartfelt reunion yesterday.”
“Snake, calm down,” Apollo ordered as the LeafWing pointed the dagger at him. “Snake . . .”
”You’ll regret this, Apollo. You’ll regret everything, I promise you.” Snake turned with the flick of his tail and slipped into the forest.
~~~
Apollo bit his lip as he walked into the hut. “Sunflower—uh, Ash?” He called. As soon as he stepped into the door, he sighed with releif. Wasp and Ash were giggling uncontrollably, both on the verge of tears. Apollo smirked. “What’s going on in here?”
Wasp regained her composure and smiled. “Nothing.”
Apollo shrugged. “If you say so.” He glanced over at Ash, who was now silent. “Okay, seriously, what’s wrong?”
Ash stood up and took a deep breath. “I’m leaving. I have to find myself again. I want to see the LeafSilk kingdom for myself, now that I’m. . . Alive again, I suppose.” She wrapped him in a hug. “I’m sorry, Apollo. I just have to—“
”No, I understand.” Apollo whispered. Even though it felt like his heart was being harpooned, torn out, thrown out the window and jumped on, he watched her pick up her bag and sling it over her shoulder. “I’ll miss you, Su—Ash.”
Ash smiled sadly. “I’ll always be your Sunflower. I’ll come back one day, I promise. But . . . Friends for now. Besides . . .” She gave Wasp a sidelong glance. “You have another dragoness to worry about now. See you around, Apollo. Wasp.”
Wasp rubbed tears off her face. “I’ll come find you soon, promise. Send me a message, okay?”
Ash nodded. “Deal.” 
Apollo stood there silently as she waved and walked out the door. Her wings spread and she jumped into the air, twisting into a corkscrew before disappearing. I’ll miss you more than you know. He thought. But now you have freedom, and I know that’s all you’ve ever wanted.
”So . . .” Wasp said after a while of silence. “Want to go hunting?”
Apollo smiled. “Sure!”
~~~
Apollo had lost track of Wasp. Where did she go!? “Wasp!” He called, pacing through the trees. She could get eaten by a Venus Dragon Trap! He growled to himself. “Wasp, where are you?!” The SilkWing darted through the forest, looking for any sign of where she might have gone. He stopped cold as he saw drag marks in the grass, large enough to be a juvenile dragon like wasp. He narrowed his eyes and muttered, “Snake, what did you do to her . . .” He saw the familiar mark Snake left on his hunting territory: a slash of blood across a tree. Apollo felt it. It’s not dried. This could have happened only five minutes ago. Apollo crouched low to the ground and gazed at the drag marks. Yep, he went this way. Apollo sped forward, following the drag marks until he came to a densely wooded area, and the bent grass was completely swallowed up by the woods.
Apollo’s eye caught on something, and he walked over to a tree. A scratch mark, with HiveWing stinger venom in it. “Wasp!” Apollo shouted. “Wasp, I’m coming!” He squeezed through the trees, folding his wings tight to his body to weave through the tree trunks. “WASP!”
BAM!
Apollo groaned as he hit the ground, trapped on all sides by trees. Snake sneered down at him. “They say the blood of an Animi does wonders for one’s health,“ The LeafWing hissed sadistically. Apollo roared as Snake descended on him, going for his neck. Apollo used some silk to tie his tail to his wing, but soon Apollo was on the ground, breathing hard. 
“Snake . . . Where is Wasp?” Apollo demanded.
Snake’s grin grew wider. “In. Her. Grave!” Snake launched at him again, slicing open Apollo’s neck. 
Apollo fell to the ground, limp as blood poured out. Heal! He commanded, and his scales knit back together. Pure fury ignited in his eyes and he pointed at Snake. Snake made a strangled noise and clawed at his throat. Apollo released him, then started banging his head against a tree. Snake cried out in pain, shoving Apollo backwards. Big mistake.
Snake’s eyes widened as his exposed belly was ripped open by an invisible force. He staggered forward, then dropped to the earth, dead.
===Chapter 5: Wasp ===
Wasp snuck up behind the eagle in the tree, her claws digging into the earth. She leapt up, wings spread to the sides. Right before her talons met the eagle, something smashed into her side. Her yelp was muffled as a LeafWing swiftly tied her snout shut and wrapped her claws and wings together. She writhed on the ground, lashing her tail barb at the dragon. The LeafWing smashed her snout into the grass, cutting off her air supply. The LeafWing shoved a bag over her hand and started dragging her away.
~~~
When Wasp came to, she found herself in a damp hole. Dirt pressed in on her on all sides, and she felt about to suffocate. Wasp felt that her wrists were unbound, and she scraped against the dirt above her. I am NOT being buried alive, Wasp told herself, forcing with the last energy inside of her to sit up. Her head burst through soft soil, and she gasped in air.
Wasp struggled out of the hole and collapsed on the ground. “Ugh . . .” she drank in the air, just laying there for a moment. Oh no. Apollo! He could be hurt—! “Apollo!” She cried. “Are you there?” She stood shakily, flinging dirt off her wings. She steadied herself on a tree, and winced as she noticed a large gash in her side. Ow. OW that HURTS. Wasp clutched her side and looked around. She didn’t know this part of the forest—or, any part of the forest really. “Apollo?”
”Wasp!” A muffled call came. “Wasp?”
”Apollo! I’m over here!” Wasp shouted. She heard the snapping of branches and rustling of leaves, the Apollo burst through the trees. His talons were bloodstained. Wasp flinched backwards. “What happened?”
Apollo sighed. “A LeafWing—his name was Snake—found out about my magic. We used to be very close, but we drifted apart. When he found out I was hiding my magic, he retaliated and . . .” He looked her up and down. “Are you okay?”
”Half suffocated and bleeding out, but other than that, yeah,” Wasp said lightheadedly. Apollo knelt down next to her and placed his talons on the wound. It sealed up, and Wasp shuddered. “That felt really weird.”
Apollo looked away. “Wasp, I killed Snake with animus magic. I’m worried I could be loosing my soul.”
Wasp smiled at him. “Hey, you came looking for me didn’t you?”
”You’re right. Come on, let’s get back to the hut. I’m sure you’re still hungry.” Apollo smiled slightly.
Wasp nodded. “Okay.” She looked around. “You lead, I have no idea where we are.”
~~~
Wasp followed Apollo into Cicada Hive, her tail flicking nervously behind her. 
“This way,” Apollo said, “Produce this way.” He turned a corner, and they found themselves in a large market. Apollo smiled and led Wasp down the fruit aisle. Apollo handed Wasp a list. “Would you mind getting these things for me?”
Wasp nodded. “Of course.” She wandered the aisles for a moment, then found the papayas. She picked up a few, before freezing in place. A loud chanting flooded her ears, and she turned around slowly. A gang of HiveWings and a few SilkWings were protesting, waving signs and yelling.
”BRING BACK QUEEN WASP!” They were shouting. “BRING THE QUEEN BACK!”
HiveWing guards were shouting not-so-nice insults back at them, eyes blazing furiously.
”What’s going on here?” Wasp exclaimed. “Why do you want Wasp back?!”
One of the SilkWings chucked a dragonfruit at her, and Wasp barely dodged. “She protected us! She was the best queen we could have ever asked for!”
”She BRAINWASHED us!” The HiveWing general thundered. “Disperse, or I’ll make you!”
Wasp looked from the guard to the rioters. “Can we settle this peacefully?”
”WASP! LOOK OUT!” Wasp heard Apollo shout from across the market.
Wasp turned just in time to have a rock fly full-force into the side of her face. She yelped and tried to regain her balance, but instinctively dropped low to the ground as she was the rioters were throwing rocks at everyone. 
The HiveWing general moved forward, guards on his flank. “I ORDER you to DISPERSE!” The General blocked another rock flying Wasp’s direction and snarled dangerously.
”We only take orders from Queen Wasp!” The HiveWing rioters shouted. 
“ARREST THEM!” The general demanded. The guards moved in on the rioters, and soon they were handcuffed.
Wasp didn’t realize it until after they were being led away, but she was shaking. Her eyes were wide in terror, and her heart was beating fast. Too fast. Breathing shallow, Wasp closed her eyes. The only thing that met her was the screaming of Ash, the blood on her talons, the calm and sad look on Ash’s face as she fell to the ground. No, Ash is okay! Wasp screamed at herself, trying to drown out the other screams in her ears. 
“Wasp! Wasp, are you okay?” Wasp slowly opened her eyes and saw Apollo. “You’re shaking—are you okay?”
”No,” Wasp murmured. “I’m not.”
===Chapter 6: Apollo===
Apollo wrapped his wing around Wasp. “Come on, Wasp,” He said gently. “We should go.” 
Wasp gave a tiny squeak and buried her head in Apollo’s wing. Her breathing was hard and tears were running down her face. “Please,” She breathed. “I can’t—“
Apollo slowly started to walk, keeping her under his wing. “Just take a deep breath,” He said. “I know. Come on.”
”You don’t know!” Wasp sobbed. “This is all my fault . . .”
Apollo sighed and hugged her. “I do, trust me. I do know. I know the feeling of inadvertently killing your best friend. The guilt, self-hate, and the nightmares. Trust me, I know.” I know it too well, He added mentally. “Let’s go home.”
~~~
”BIRDS!” Apollo shouted out the window. “SHUT! UP!” Hilariously, the birds fell silent. He sighed, propping himself up on the windowsill. “Wasp?”
Wasp poked her head out of her room. “What?” She asked quietly.
”I need some help. The BIRDS—are being so loud I can’t hear myself think and I need to get this letter to the SilkWing council as soon as possible.” Apollo groaned.
Wasp looked down at the paper. “You have two words. ‘Dear council’.” She looked over at him. “You are so hopeless.”
Apollo smiled a little bit. “Honestly I was hoping my stupidity would cheer you up a bit.” She gave him a blank look. “No?” He tried. “Okay then.” He picked up a leaf pillow and smacked her on the head with it. “Pillow fight!”
”Wait, what—“ Wasp yelped as she was hit in the shoulder with another pillow. She picked one up off the bed and smacked Apollo back, trying to hold back giggles. “Stop it!” She laughed as Apollo smothered her.
”Okay, okay,” Apollo laughed. “That always cheered up my sister.”
”You have a sister?” Wasp replied. “How did I not know that?”
Apollo looked over at her. “Probably because she’s dead.”
”Oh . . .” Wasp said quietly. “Sorry.”
The SilkWing shrugged. “Don’t be. She’s been gone for a while now. The poor thing was shoved off of a Silk bridge before she got her wings.” He sighed again, not noticing a pillow flying at him from the corner of his eye. Apollo yelped as he was smacked in the face.
Wasp grinned. “Got you!”
”Come here!” Apollo exclaimed, picking up the pillow and chasing after her. “Stop running!” He laughed as Wasp bolted out the door and climbed up a tree. They both laughed hysterically as a bird swooped down and grabbed the pillow, flying away over the trees. 
“I knew I could cheer you up,” They chorused. Apollo and Wasp looked away from each other, both flushed.
”So . . .” Wasp said after a while of awkward silence. “Want to go chase down a bird and get the pillow back?”
~~~A Few Years Later~~~
”Raven!” Apollo shouted. “Ace, where is your sister?” He looked down at a Hive-Silk dragonet that looked very much like him. 
Ace grinned toothily. “She’s in the cellar.”
”SHE’S WHAT?!” Wasp shouted from the other room. “Ace! She knows she’s not supposed to be down there!
Ace giggled. “Yeah, she knows.”
Wasp smiled and looked over at Apollo. “What are we going to do with them?”
==The End==
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Mature Content
Category:Genre (Adventure)