Soaring Leaves

== Authors Note ==
This fanfic and its characters belong to me, Apollo 8756. Art belongs to ScrollreaderTheTribird. Please do not edit, with the exception of grammar and spelling mistakes.
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== Characters ==
* Sycamore (LeafWing, main character)
* Rowan (LeafWing, main character)
* Oak & Redwood (LeafWings, Sycamore's parents)
* Mahogany (LeafWing, Rowan's caretaker)
* Professor Heliconia (LeafWing, history teacher)
* Cedar (LeafWing, healing and chemistry teacher)
* Maple (LeafWing, librarian)
I will add more as I write!
== Prologue ==
Sycamore
"Do you think it will hatch soon?" Redwood asked anxiously.
She was worried, her and Oak's egg should have hatched by now. She fluttered her wings nervously. The egg was beautiful. It was mostly green, but mottled, like the tree tops. It had an undercoat of brown, and light yellow-green splotches near the base, not unlike sunlight filtering through the canopy. It also had an unusual shine to it.
"Yes." Oak replied sternly. "It will."
Although, Redwood could see a trace of doubt in his eyes. Their egg was due to hatch three nights ago, and both were starting to lose hope. Just as Redwood was about to succumb to tears, for it was almost morning, she heard a sharp crack and a squeak.
"It's hatching!" Oak breathed.
Redwood was sobbing out of happiness now, and Oak picked up the newly hatched dragonet. He was almost the same colors as his egg, and with a different pattern, but he still had the odd shimmer to his scales. It made him look rainbow, and Oak had a feeling that he would shine like the stars in the midday sun.
"Redwood, Its a boy. What should we call him?" He exclaimed.
Redwood had her tears under control now, and squeezed the dragonet close.
"Sycamore..." She breathed into his neck.
"Awrk?" Sycamore questioned.
Oak wrapped them both in his wings, and Sycamore fell asleep, happy and content.
Rowan
Mahogany soared through the trees of the Poison Jungle, looking for prey. She spotted a panther stalking something. Oh goodie! She thought. Maybe I can catch that too! 
She dove, snapped the panthers neck, dropped it, and ran to where the panther was stalking. Mahogany burst into a clearing, and gasped when she saw an egg. A dragon egg.
She walked up to it, and got a closer look. The egg was resting on a bed of ferns. It was mostly dark green, with specks of light brown and lighter green. A LeafWing egg.
Mahogany immediately grabbed it and hugged it close. She had always wanted a dragonet, but never found a mate. She felt a strong urge to care for it, and obeyed. She walked out of the clearing, and toward the panther.
She snatched it in her back talons, a difficult task, and held the egg in her front talons, gently. As the LeafWing flew, she thought about the egg's future. She felt like it was a girl, and even though she wasn't the mother, she decided to call the egg Rowan.
When she got to her hut, she put down some blankets and soft things, and placed the egg in the middle. As she set it down, she heard a crackling noise, and the egg shattered, leaving a mottled green female dragonet sitting on the shells.
"Graup?" She asked.
Mahogany blinked.
"GRAUP!" The dragonet yelled.
Mahogany scooped her up and rocked the baby dragon.
"Your name is Rowan, little one, and even though I'm not your mother, and you have no father, I will love you just the same." She whispered into Rowans ear.
"Awrkar." Rowan said, as if finalizing that.
Then Rowan huffed and fell asleep. Mahogany stroked her head and put her down in her pillow nest.
"Goodnight, Rowan." She whispered, and curled up beside the dragonet.
== Part One: Five Years Later ==
== Chapter One: Sycamore ==
Sycamore looked at the moons in the sky. He couldn't really sleep at night. He loved the moons and the stars, and would spent hours at night looking at them dance across the sky. Eventually, he got tired, and lay down to sleep.
"Wake up." Redwood said softly.
Sycamore opened his eyes, and saw his mom leaning over him. He pulled his blankets over his head, and Redwood pulled them back down.
"Ugh! I'm up now." He complained. "Why so early?"
"Come downstairs and we'll tell you." Redwood replied.
Sycamore was confused. What is going on? He thought. My mom never wakes me up! He went to the kitchen, and saw his father, Oak, flapping his wings and lashing his tail excitedly. He was reading a scroll. Oak beamed when he saw Sycamore, and patted the seat beside him with his talons. Sycamore sat, befuddled.
"Sycamore..." His mother started. "You got something!"
Sycamore could tell that she was barely containing her joy. His father passed him a scroll, the one he was reading, and Sycamore unrolled it, glancing at the title. You've been accepted to the Advanced Leafwing Academy of Pantala! Sycamore gasped. He knew the story.
Once LeafWing dragonets turned five, they were accepted to one of two schools, The Advanced Academy or The Normal Academy. That academy is where they'd spend they're time until they were 8 and deemed dragons. It had dorms, so the students lived at the school, only returning home for break and holidays. The Normal Academy offered regular courses, like healing, battle training, history, chemistry and social studies. The Advanced Academy offered those and optional special courses like Leafspeak classes, spying, HiveWing studies, and outdoor survival.
A dragonet had to be special to attend the Advanced Academy, and Sycamore was so proud to have been accepted. A small part of him wondered if it was because of his shimmer scales.
Oak interrupted his thoughts, "You must leave at dawn tomorrow, pack your stuff today. There is a list of your required supplies in the scroll."
Sycamore tore up the stairs, sat on his bed, and yanked open the scroll, reading every word of it.
You've been accepted to the Advanced Leafwing Academy of Pantala!
Congratulations, Sycamore! You are deemed special enough to attend here. Your first day is tomorrow. In this scroll, you will see a rule manual, supplies list and your schedule. Have fun and we can't wait to see you!
Rules of the Advanced Academy
# No reckless actions.
# No violence will be tolerated.
# Be respectful to all other dragons.
# Study hard.
# Remember, there's always the Normal Academy.
At this, Sycamore frowned. He didn't know dragons could be removed from their Academy and put in the other. He continued reading.
Supplies list 
* 20+ blank scrolls
* Multiple ink bottles, half black, half colored
* A satchel or bag
* Reading material
* Personal items
* At least one piece of jewelry
At this, Sycamore frowned again. Why jewelry? He thought, before remembering that is was Advanced Academy. It had to be formal, right?
Sycamore's Schedule (keep this!)
Wake up and eat by 7:30am
Social Studies 8:00am
Break: 9:00am
Healing 10:00am
Optional course 1: Spying 11:00am
Break/eat 12:00pm
History: 1:00pm
Battle Training: 2:00pm
Optional course 2: Outdoor Survival: 3:00pm
Chemistry: 4:00pm
Break: 5:00pm
Break/eat: 6:00pm
Break: 7:00pm
Sleeping by 9:30 pm
We hope that you enjoy your time at the Academy, and we wish you happy flying!
Sycamore was overjoyed and immediately began packing for school.
== Chapter Two: Rowan ==
Rowan was miserable. She couldn't believe that Mahogany had enrolled her in school! Rowan hated being cramped up in buildings. She loved the outdoors and flying. Grrr. She thought. At least I'm in the Advanced Academy. Its a little less boring.
Rowan went to the kitchen, and found a scroll on the table. On it was a letter from Mahogany. Hello Rowan, It said. I have gone to the market to get you some supplies. Please read this! From, Mahogany Rowan opened the scroll and sat down at the table, reading it.
You've been accepted to the Advanced Leafwing Academy of Pantala!
Congratulations, Rowan! You are deemed special enough to attend here. Your first day is tomorrow. In this scroll, you will see a rule manual, supplies list and your schedule. Have fun and we can't wait to see you!
Rules of the Advanced Academy
# No reckless actions.
# No violence will be tolerated.
# Be respectful to all other dragons.
# Study hard.
# Remember, there's always the Normal Academy.
Supplies list 
* 20+ blank scrolls
* Multiple ink bottles, half black, half colored
* A satchel or bag
* Reading material
* Personal items
* At least one piece of jewelry
Rowan was nervous when she read this. Jewelry!?! We can barely afford food! She thought nervously, before remembering that Mahogany was at the market. Maybe she'll buy me something! She continued reading.
Rowan's Schedule (keep this!)
Wake up and eat by 7:30am
Healing 8:00am
Break: 9:00am
Social Studies: 10:00am
Optional course 1: HiveWing studies 11:00am
Break/eat 12:00pm
History: 1:00pm
Chemistry: 2:00pm
Optional course 2: Outdoor Survival: 3:00pm
Battle Training: 4:00pm
Break: 5:00pm
Break/eat: 6:00pm
Break: 7:00pm
Sleeping by 9:30 pm
We hope that you enjoy your time at the Academy, and we wish you happy flying!
Rowan was very nervous and happy, but sad because she knew that she had to leave Mahogany. She flipped Mahogany's note over. Still bored? It said. Start packing! We leave at dawn tomorrow. She went to her corner, and packed a few personal items, along with her favorite scroll. Tales of the LeafWings She shoved all that in a satchel and waited for Mahogany to come home.
== Chapter Three: Sycamore ==
Sycamore bolted out of bed. TODAYS THE DAY!! His mind screamed. He ran down to the door, where his satchel was waiting. Yesterday, him and his parents went and bought all his supplies. He was ready!
"Hello, Sycamore!" His mom sang. "Ready for the big day?"
"Yes!" He said enthusiastically.
"Alright, now be safe and we'll see you in a month." Oak put in.
"What?" Sycamore was crestfallen. "You're not coming?"
"No." Redwood said. "Your father and I need to get to work."
"Oh."
Sadly, he wrapped his wings around both of them and smiled.
"Bye mom, bye dad. See you in a month." Then grabbed his satchel and flew out the door, towards the Academy.
== Chapter Four: Rowan ==
Rowan sighed.
"Hello empty house!" She called out.
No-one answered. She sighed again. Mahogany was a great 'mom', but she was ALWAYS gone. Rowan had woken up before dawn, and read the note on the table, after eating a piece of leopard.
The letter read; Rowan, Today's your first day at the academy! All your supplies are in the satchel by the door. I also got you a shine berry bracelet! Leave at dawn. Mahogany. 
Beside the note, there was the shine berry bracelet. Shine berries were a special type of berry that shone when they were dried. Rowan remembered. She slipped it on her wrist and grabbed the satchel. She then flew out the door toward the academy.
The Advanced academy was a rather large building, made out of leaves and few wood. It had some walls made out of stones. The whole thing was rather square-ish, surrounding a center courtyard. It also had one large landing platform in the front, that led to the entrance. The academy itself was 2 stories tall, with a gong tower rising up from the courtyard.
As Rowan touched down on the landing platform of the Academy, she saw another LeafWing almost crash into her and she yelped in alarm.
"Gah!" He said. "Sorry about that!"
He got to his feet and Rowan saw that he had a beautiful shimmer to his scales. It made him look rainbow-y.
"Hello, she said. "My names Rowan. What's yours?"
"Sycamore." he replied earnestly.
"Nice to meet you. I hope I see you again." She said, smiling.
"Me too." He replied, also smiling.
They were interrupted by a loud gong, and a dragon yelling, "First class starts in five minutes!"
Rowan tore open her welcome scroll.
"First class, Healing." She mumbled, and flew off to find it.
Healing was BORING! Her teacher, Cedar, who also taught chemistry, was just lecturing about the healing plants of the poison jungle. The rest of her classes dragged by, until History, where she found Sycamore in her class. The history room was bland, the only decorations being a few scroll racks and the teachers blackboard.
"Hi!" She whispered and slid into a seat beside Sycamore.
He smiled back, and the teacher started.
"Attention class." he started. "My name is Professor Heliconia, and today we will be learning about a legend."
Rowan saw confusion written across everyone's faces, and Heliconia did too, so he resumed.
"I'm sure you've all heard of the legend that says how the first dragons got here," He continued. "Well where did they come from?"
Murmurs ran through the class, and Rowan perked up, interested.
"It all started on one continent..."
== Chapter Five: Sycamore ==
"It all started on one continent...." The teacher stated. "The continent is now known as the Distant Kingdom. Certain scholars believe that it is where we originated from, but no-one knows for sure." He paused to take a breath. "I will tell you a legend about it now, and we will continue working on it tomorrow." He paused again, before continuing in a deeper voice.
"It is known as The Legend of Pyhrria. Across the sea, there lies a land of different dragons, odd dragons. No-one knows how many there really are, but we know that there are seven different lands. An Ice land, of cold and snow, A Sand land, of dry and hot, A Sky land of mountains and clouds. There is also a Mud land, of wet and swampy, a Rain land of lush jungle."
At this many students gasped, including Sycamore. A million thought were running through his head. Jungle!?! Does that mean there are trees?! Is it poisonous? How big? Why don't we live there?
 Heliconia continued, "A Sea land of deep blue water, and a Night land, of dark and powerful. These seven lands make up the Distant Kingdom!" By now, Heliconia's voice was booming out the words, as if his life depended on it. "Alas, we cannot go there, as no-one knows where to go and how far. There is a rumer though, the Distant Kingdom has trees."
Heliconia hissed that last word, trees, then stopped. Exhausted, Sycamore guessed. The class broke into hopeful and excited chattering and he spun to face Rowan, seeing her eyes shining, he asked,
"What? Its only a legend, a tall tale."
"You don't understand Sycamore, my whole life I've had dreams of me flying away to another land, with peace and trees." She murmured.
"B-but, t-that's, t-that's...." Sycamore stuttered.
"I know its far fetched, " She said sadly, "but I believe it will come true."
Sycamore sighed, it was going to be a long day.
== Chapter Six: Rowan ==
Rowan could barely think after History class, all she could think was The legend, my dreams, that's my DESTINY! School passed by in a blur, and so did everything else. Rowan felt like she was floating on a cloud. she ate with Sycamore, and was delighted to find that they were in the same dorm.
The dorms were just rooms, but with a small pond in a corner, and leafy ledges for sleeping along the walls. beside each ledge, there were cubbies and a small scroll rack. On the opposite wall from the door, there was a large window, and a small ledge below it to curl up and read.
She unpacked her stuff on a ledge above Sycamore, and a billion thought ran through her head, leftover from History, but they were all stopped by one chilling, exciting possibility. What if I went there? She held on to that idea as if it was a lifeline. She went to bed happily, excited to see what her dreams came up with.
Rowan was woken at about midnight by a shuffling noise under her. Sycamore. She peered over her leafy ledge and saw him looking out the large window, gazing at the three moons and stars. To of them were full tonight, and the third was a crescent on the horizon. She hopped down quietly beside him and sat.
"Hello." he joked, whispering. "Welcome to the moon seat."
Rowan inhaled, and slowly let it out. "It's gorgeous!" She whispered back. "I feel like I'm in the sky with them."
"I know." He replied. "I do this all the time at home."
"Sycamore, " Rowan started. "I need to talk to you about something."
"Well now's a good time." He replied, and just as he finished, Rowan launched into her idea.
"Listen. In history, I realized that there is another continent, and before I woke up, I had a dream that we went west to find it. When we got there, there were lush trees ad beautiful forests. Plants everywhere and none ate you! Sycamore, I believe that its my destiny to find this continent and live on it. But, I don't want to go alone."
She looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
"I'll go too." He said, but Rowan saw a glimmer of doubt in his eyes, hidden under the excitement and hope.
== Chapter Seven: Sycamore ==
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?! Sycamore's brain screeched YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE!? 
Sycamore and Rowan had spent most of the night talking and planning their 'escape.' Sycamore had used one of his scrolls, and in Rowan's deep purple in, they had written out a plan to escape Pantala. At about 1:00am, Rowan had fallen asleep, so Sycamore had heaved her onto her ledge, and lay down himself.
Which brought him to now. With his mind screaming at itself. Shut up! He told his brain. I chose to go with Rowan because I want to! He started packing his stuff for class.
Just then, Rowan woke up.
"Hello, sleepyhead." Sycamore teased.
Rowan was confused.
"Wha-?" She started, but was interrupted by Sycamore, saying,
"You fell asleep in the middle of a sentence while we were talking last night. I had to drag you onto your ledge."
He chuckled, and Rowan blushed, ducking her head.
Sycamore glanced at the rising sun.
"Come on," he said. "Hurry up or we're going to be late!"
Rowan whacked him with her tail.
"Silly!" She said, giggling. "Weren't you paying attention during the evening news? The headmaster said that we have today to 'adjust to school life'."
"Oh." He blushed, and Rowan giggled again.
"Come on, lets go to the library! Maybe we can find more about The Distant Kingdoms!" She said, and ran out the door.
He ran out the door behind her, straining to catch up. Sycamore wondered what they would find.
== Chapter Eight: Rowan ==
Rowan slowed down as she neared the library. She glanced behind her and saw Sycamore running as hard as he could, but trying to run slow. She giggled, and felt all warm inside looking at him.
She whacked herself. Stop it Rowan! She chided.
She continued walking toward the library.
Sycamore caught up, gasping for breath, and they entered the library.
Rowan gasped. It was AMAZING! Every wall was lined from top to bottom with giant scroll racks, stuffed to the brim. To one side, there was a desk where an elderly LeafWing sat.
The librarian. Rowan guessed.
To the other side, there were soft chairs and piles of pillows and leaves for dragonets to read scrolls in. There was a male LeafWing sitting in one chair, reading. He waved, and went back to his scroll.
In the middle of the room there was rows and rows of MORE scroll racks, each one with a color coded ink dot. Rowan wondered what those meant.
"Hello," the librarian said. "My name is Maple. How can I help you?"
"Hi, -um- we'd like to -um- know where the -um- Myths and Legends section is." Rowan replied, cutting Sycamore off.
"Purple ink dots." Maple replied. "Taking anything out?"
"Only if we find what were looking for." Rowan said.
"Alright, have a good time." Maple finished, and turned to some scrolls on her desk.
Sycamore dashed up to the rows, and found one with a purple ink dot.
"Here!" He exclaimed, and started searching through the scrolls.
Rowan joined him, and together, after about half an hour, they found four scrolls that had to do with the origins of Pantala or Distant Kingdoms.
Rowan had brought another blank scroll, and she tore it in half. She gave it to Sycamore.
"Here. Use this to take notes. We can study it after in our dorm. Write down anything that you find useful." She told him.
"Alright." He replied.
There were ink pots all over the library, so none had to worry about that.
Rowan sat down in a pillow pile and sighed. It reminded her of Mahogany and her home. She opened a scroll and started reading.
== Chapter Nine: Sycamore ==
After about an hour, Rowan was finally done reading her scrolls. She was a slow reader. Sycamore scampered over to her and they exchanged scroll pieces. Rowans read;
Scroll 1: The Legend of the Distant Kingdom.
* Same story as the history class one.
Scroll 2: Clearsight
* Clearsight is apparently a Distant Kingdoms dragon.
* She came from the continent to here, to warn elders of a storm.
* Also, she is the mother of ALL HiveWings.
* She is known as a Night Dragon, or a NightWing.
"Wow!" Sycamore said breathlessly. "Clearsight came here?!"
"Apparently so." Rowan replied, smiling.
Sycamore's scroll's Mystery Dragons, and The Origin of Pantala, hadn't had any good information. The first described some shadow dragons and 'ghosts' living on Pantala's coastline. The second only said the legend that they'd all heard as dragonets. How the first dragons came here and defeated some plant, blah blah blah.
"Come on, lets get back to the dorm." Sycamore said earnestly.
He stalked out, Rowan following behind.
== Chapter Ten: Rowan ==
Rowans brain was almost exploded. Clearsight?! She came here, to PANTALA!?! And nobody told us?! Rowan was so excited she could barely think straight.
The rest of her day was spent flying, or chatting with Sycamore in the dorm. Soon, the sun started setting, turning the sky fiery orange, and dying the undersides of the clouds light magenta. Sycamore and Rowan had talked all afternoon about the plan and when to do it. Now, it was getting late.
"Do you think the Distant Kingdom is better then here?" Sycamore asked.
"Yes." Rowan replied firmly. "It will be. I'm sure of that."
Sycamore twined his tail around hers, and they sat there, gazing at the sunset, not saying anything, until it slowly sunk beneath the horizon. Rowan untwined her tail and stood up.
"We should sleep tonight. Tomorrow we have school." She said, and flew up to her ledge.
Sycamore flapped up too, and lay down, resting his green head on his talons. Rowan slid her tail off of her ledge, and waved the leaf-shaped tip in Sycamore's face, but he was already asleep. She sighed, and gazed at his peaceful face.
"One day, Sycamore, one day I'll tell you how I really feel." She murmured softly, then lifted up her tail, and dozed off.
== Chapter Eleven: Sycamore ==
Sycamore was soaring, soaring above the most trees he'd ever seen. He had left Pantala with Rowan, and made it. They had come ashore on a large beach, and the best part was, it was lined with trees! They weren't being worshipped and treasured, so Sycamore guessed they were common.
Rowan had run up to them and wrapped her wings around as many as she could, sobbing. Sycamore joined her, and when they finished, they'd flown up in the air and gazed at the thousands upon millions of glorious trees, but in the distance, Rowan had spotted a large creature, red as the sunset, and they both dove into the forest.
Sycamore shuddered and Rowan curled up beside him, shivering. They were in a tree's canopy, hiding from the red dragon. Suddenly, they heard a loud crashing of talons and tail, and the red dragon emerged. It walked up to their tree, roared, and a hissing noise erupted from it mouth. It opened wide, and Sycamore saw a glowing something in it throat. It got closer and closer, until...
'Splash!' Sycamore jolted out of his dream and stared at Rowan sitting on him.
"Ugh!" He complained. "Why are you sitting on me? And why am I wet?"
She scampered off, and Sycamore saw that he was on the floor, not his ledge,
"Wha-?" He started, but Rowan started talking, interrupting him.
"I was sleeping, and I heard a loud thump, so I flew down and saw you curled up on the floor, shivering, and staring at the window with a wide eyed, horrified expression. I tried everything I could to wake you up, because you were obviously terrified. I whacked you, whispered n your ear, yelled in your ear, I tried everything! Eventually, I dove in the small pool and splashed you with my tail. You stirred, but didn't wake up, so that's why I was sitting on you." She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. Now, " She continued, changing tones in an instant. "Care to explain what you were dreaming about?" She cocked her head.
"Well.." He started, and relayed the whole story to her.
By the end, she was the one wide eyed.
"You saw trees?! We were there? Oh Sycamore, this means its going to happen!"
She twirled wildly around the room, and fell in the pool with a sploosh. Sycamore chuckled, and checked the sun, which was already clear of the horizon, and lighting up the sky.
"GAH!!" He screeched. "We're late!"
"No we're not silly." Rowan dismissed him from the pool. "Its a day off!"
The realization dawned across her slowly.
"Augh! You're right Sycamore! That was yesterday!"
She leapt out and started dashing around the small room, picking up stuff and throwing it into her satchel, Sycamore doing the same thing.
Five minutes later, they were off to their respective classes. Late.
== Chapter Twelve: Rowan ==
Rowan's classes the day before had all been like, 'Hello, welcome to this class! This is what we'll be doing. Blah, blah, blah.' Today was the actual learning.
She sighed, and mumbled. "I wish I was outside, flying."
Her first class, Healing, was mildly interesting. The dragonets learned about a certain plant, Sparkweed, that helped heal small injuries.
Social Studies and HiveWing Studies were both very boring. Who liked learning about a stupid war and stupid HiveWings? She thought bitterly.
At lunch, she sat with Sycamore, and they chatted about their idea some more.
History was also extremely boring, along with Chemistry. Rowan hated writing, especially about her thoughts and what her experiment did.
Outdoor Survival was fun, and she had it with Sycamore! They were partners, and worked together to build a small leaf hut for the next class. It was a bit lopsided, but stayed up, unlike the dragonet's next to theirs.
After boring school, the two of them had two hours to work on their escape plan.
"Hey, Rowan." Sycamore said, after she had arrived in their dorm.
He was reading over the scroll that they had made the night before, an inkpot close by.
"Hi!" She replied, and sat down next to him. "What are you doing?"
She leaned over his shoulder, her flexible green spines brushing against his side. She shivered at the touch, and smiled.
"I'm fixing the mistakes that we -erm- you, made last night." He answered. "You spelled Pantala, Pintayla."
He chuckled, and she flushed pink.
"To be fair," She retorted. "It was nearly midnight!"
"Well, anyway, I wanted to ask you something." He said, rather glumly. "When are we leaving?"
Rowan paused, unsure. A voice in her brain told her to never leave, but she shut it out, and replaced it with a positive voice, cheering her on. She looked Sycamore dead in his eyes, and said, "Tonight."
== Chapter Thirteen: Sycamore ==
At that last word, Sycamore's heart stopped and his blood ran cold. He felt like he was covered in poisonous centipedes, and shivered involuntarily.
"B-but-b-but-" He stuttered, and glanced up at Rowan.
She was already on her ledge, digging through her stuff. She emerged with two scrolls, and some black ink.
"Here." She said, and handed him the scroll. "If you want to write a message to someone, use this."
He was jolted out of his stupor with the brush of her talons, and immediately started writing, his claw flying across the page.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Recently, I have become aware of a place known as the Distant Kingdom. It has trees, and a non-poisonous jungle. I have decided to go there. I am bringing someone else, my best friend, Rowan. She will help me out of any problems. If I don't return, please believe that I have made it. I'm sorry that I have to do this, but it is my destiny. I love you.
Your son, Sycamore
He held it up, and decided that it was good.
"Done yet?" He asked Rowan.
"Yeah, " She replied. "Want to read it?"
"Sure!" He answered, and handed her his.
She took it, and started reading. Sycamore stared at her face for a brief moment, a smile spreading along his snout. He then turned his attention to the scroll in his talons.
Dear Mahogany,
I'm leaving. I know about a place called the Distant Kingdom. It has trees, a jungle and other dragons. It seems like a better place for me. I'm going with my boyfriend best friend, Sycamore. 
Sycamore smiled, and stared at that last sentence. Does she feel the same way about me that I feel about her? He wondered, and continued reading.
We are leaving tonight. By the time that you get this, I will be off Pantala. I miss you alot.
Rowan
He glanced at the sun, which was sinking below the horizon.
"Rowan, we should get a bit of sleep first." He said to her.
"Yeah." She answered. "By the way, nice letter."
"Yours too." He replied, smiling.
They flew up to their ledges, and Sycamore dozed off.
== Chapter Fourteen: Rowan ==
Rowan woke up and glanced out the window. The moons were high in the sky, all three of them, shining brightly, and surrounded by stars. Night. She slipped off her ledge and gently shook Sycamore.
"Wake up." She whispered.
He groaned and sat up, blinking. Rowan looked into his eyes, and knew that he knew it was time.
"Lets grab our stuff." He said, and rolled off the ledge.
They went over to their cubbies and grabbed the bags that they had prepared yesterday and the letters. Sycamore also grabbed a leafy blanket from his ledge. When they were both ready, Rowan opened the flap out and left, adrenaline fueling her. They snuck through the silent school, only stopping to check if anyone was awake.
"This place is scary at night." Sycamore observed, glancing at the empty hallways.
"Mhm." Rowan agreed.
She spotted a glimpse of light ahead. The exit! She thought excitedly.
"There." She whispered to Sycamore, and they walked a bit faster.
Near the end, they heard a large crash. Rowan froze. They slowly slunk to the edges of the hallway, enveloping themselves in shadow, and watched as a dragon emerged from the room closest to them.
It hissed, and glared at the spot where they had just been. Rowan watched, terrified as it moved closer, practically breathing down her neck.
"Hmm. Must've been a mouse." The dragon said, and slunk back into the room.
Rowan let out a massive sigh of relief, and glanced at Sycamore, who was creeping toward the moonlight, and tip-taloned after him. They burst into the light, the three moons shining on them. Rowan glanced up at them, and prayed. Please let us get to the Distant Kingdom, moons.
Sycamore spoke, interrupting her. "We should deliver these fast." He gestured to their letters.
Rowan nodded, and spread her wings, flying towards Mahogany.
== Chapter Fifteen: Sycamore ==
Sycamore watched Rowan spread her beautiful wings, and did the same, his shimmering scales glowing blue and white in the moonlight. He took off, flapping as quietly as he could.
Sycamore gently opened the door to his house, and peered inside. His parents were both sleeping silently. He snuck in and gazed at their faces for a long moment. A tear slid down his cheek, followed by another and another, until he was pouring his heart out, silently.
"I'll miss you." He choked out.
Reluctantly, he turned to the table and placed his note in the center, weighing it down with his mothers favorite table piece, a hardened lump of clear sap, with a shine berry inside.
He then went around his house and collected a few things for the journey. Combined with the stuff already in his bag, this is what he got.
* A large satchel
* A blank scroll
* An inkpot
* A blanket
* A drawing of his parents
* A few pouches of insects
* 7 pouches of clean water
* 3 pouches each of berries, nuts and seeds
* 7 pouches of dried meat
* 2 scrolls; Tales of the LeafWings, and Things to do when your bored.
Sycamore stood in front of his parents, preparing to say the final goodbye. He had promised to meet Rowan back at the Academy when they were both done. He looked at their faces, so unsuspecting of anything, and took a deep breath.
"Mom... dad.." He whispered, "I'm sorry that I have to do this. Please remember that I love you."
He hunched over to give each of them an awkward hug, tears falling onto them. Then, he flew away.
== Chapter Sixteen: Rowan ==
Rowan could see the fireflies in her house. Great. She thought. Mahogany's up. How wonderful. She slunk beside the house and hid behind a bush. 
Should I wait until she's asleep, or just barge in then fly away? She mused. Hmm...
Rowan peeked in the front window. Mahogany was sitting at the table, reading a scroll. The window behind her was open, and a light breeze was blowing in.
Rowan made up her mind and came up at the window. She carefully folded the letter into a dragon, something Mahogany had taught her, and threw it into the room. Mahogany turned, and Rowan ducked, then flew away, leaving Mahogany with the note. 
It would take her a while to unfold, by then I'll be gone. She thought as she flapped away. 
The village was peaceful at night, the many leaf huts, the dull glow of fireflies around them. It was beautiful really, and a tear fell out of Rowan's eye before she replaced it with grim determination.
Too late, she realized that she hadn't been able to get anything from her house. 
I hope Sycamore brought alot of stuff. She worried.
Rowan spotted the Academy below her, and saw a tiny green dot that must be Sycamore. She dove, the wind whistling in her ears, and landed behind him, making him jump.
"Ack!" He yelped, and spun around to see an empty-taloned Rowan. "Oh, Its just you. Wait? Where's all your stuff?"
"Mahogany was up." Rowan replied solemnly. "I threw the note and flew away."
"Well then good thing I brought extra!" Sycamore said, holding up a small bag of stuff.
Rowan smiled, and took the bag from him. She peered inside, and saw some food, a blanket, and some ink. 
"Do you actually know which direction the Distant Kingdoms are?" Sycamore asked her. 
"I think. The scroll I read about Clearsight said that she came from Dragonfly Bay, so if we go there and fly straight, we should be able to get to the Kingdoms." Rowan replied. 
Sycamore nodded, and pulled out a scroll. It was a map of Pantala. 
"Where did you get that?" Rowan asked.
"It's inside one of my scrolls, and I thought it would be useful. According to this, Dragonfly bay is that way." He pointed to the west.
"Alright." Rowan said. "Then we go that way."
She spread her wings and jumped into the air, Sycamore following close behind. Rowan didn't even look back.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Genre (Adventure)
Category:Fanfictions (Canon)
Category:Content (Apollo 8756)