Sunset Bay Chapter 1

Note: This is a fanfic by me (ILikeToRead) and Seawolves

It’s discontinued due to idk

## Chapter 1 : Nightshade

 Nightshade

Nightshade flew for hours until her wings ached. Yet she couldn’t, wouldn’t stop. She owed it to her. To everyone.

The raindrops pummelled her wings and back, knocking her around like a leaf in the wind. Her body wanted to stop, let go, stop fighting but her mind screamed at her to keep going.

It felt like ages later when she finally noticed the line of land in the distance. Hope blossomed in her chest. She *could* do this.

She circled around in the sky cautiously before landing in the curve of the bay, digging her talons into the golden sand. Midnight, her adopted panther cub, wriggled out of the large pouch slung across her chest with a squeak, and landed on the soft sand. Patting him absently, she glanced around the beach.

Several dragons were already there, the closest one a strange dragon in a pale sandy yellow. Judging from the stories, it looked like a.. mix of Icewing and Sandwing. An artic fox splashed near her in the shallows. Behind her, a dragon landed. She recognised the heavy landing of a Hivewing, without the trademark soft buzz of their wings. Nightwing. She guessed. She was trained to notice when dragons lifted off, when they flew, and when they landed. She noticed before long that different dragons tribes would sound different. Years of hiding in the open savannah would do that to a dragon.

The sandy yellow dragon turned and smiled a warm, slightly disturbing smile. It startled her a bit, but she figured there was no time like the present. “Hello. I’m Nightshade.” She said.

The yellow dragon said nothing. “Do you live here?” she asked.

“Hello. And no. I came here a few days ago.” She replied. Her voice sounded different, with a lilt to it, similar to her father’s voice. Her father. The hidden sadness within her trembled, and she forced it down. No time for sadness.

“That’s cool. Are you a hybrid?” she asked, examining the dragon’s colour and tail barb, like a scorpion.

“Oh yes. I am Ice – Sand.” She said, flicking her tail as her fox came to her.

“That’s cool. Is it weird being one, with different parents?” Nightshade enquired. In her experience, most dragons didn’t like to talk about their heritage, but she wanted to learn more about this odd dragon.

She watched Midnight amble over to the fox, sniffing it.

“Not too weird.” The stranger replied. “You have leafspeak? I don’t see many Leafwings around here.”

Nightshade contemplated her answer. She noticed the hybrid’s ears prick up the same moment another dragon landed behind her. Large, swift wingbeats, soft landing. Skywing. She assumed.

“I came by myself. Looking for my sister.” She replied, deciding to answer the leafspeak question another time as she watched Midnight sniff the fox in a friendly way.

“Huh.” She replied. “Nightwing over there. Behind you. I’m Mercury by the way.” She replied, smiling that strange smile again.

Nightshade fought the urge to tell her she had already noticed, instead turning around. “Oh hello.” She said, fully aware of the Skywing behind her. Mercury’s fox sniffed Midnight in return and squeaked curiously.

She heard Mercury hiss, and turned around to see her black eyes wild, storming towards the other dragons, flaring her pale-yellow wings. Nightshade frowned and followed, watching as Midnight splashed into the shallows, beckoning Sleet over, the fox gladly trotting after him and splashing around.

The Nightwing yelped and looked behind her. “WHO THE – Hurricane?!!?”

Mercury growled at the Skywing and Nightwing softly, then smiled, her smile filled with warmth and Nightshade relaxed, watching them next to the hybrid. Nearby, Midnight jumped in the shallows with excitement. Mercury tilted her head. ”You know each other?” She asked, her eyes flashing with curiosity. She sat down, with her tail away from the others, her eyes seeming to bore into everyone’s souls.

Nightshade said nothing, but watched in curiosity, an ear on Midnight who was splashing around, digging for crabs.

“Yes.” Hurricane responded, nudging her gently with his snout. “I’ve missed you Starling, and I figured I’d surprise you.”

Nightshade’s heart twisted. Watching these dragons, so happy to see each other, was a bittersweet reminder of what she came for.

Mercury sniffed, breaking Nightshade out of her thoughts. “Am Mercury. You guys are..?”

Starling broke into a smile and hugged him. “I’ve missed you SO MUCH! THREE MOONS-“

Mercury kept smiling next to her, and Nightshade’s talons curled involuntarily, and behind her, a bush bearing red fruit began to shiver. Hurricane wrapped his wings around Starling, hugging her tightly. “It felt like forever since I’ve seen you, or even been this close to you.”

Nightshade heard Mercury sniff the air again and smiled stiffly at the others. “I’m Nightshade.”

“A PoisonWing I presume.” Said Mercury

Nightshade stalled again before she answered, hearing the sound of wingbeats – much like the waves before the sound of talons thumping lightly down on the sand. Seawing. She catalogued each different landing and wingbeat and filed them away in her head for later. She saw Mercury’s head snap around and see the Seawing, surprised that the other dragon could hear as well as she could.

Starling gave a wave before turning back to Hurricane. “It’s so good to see you, Hurricane.”

Nightshade decided to give her answer. “I’m both PoisonWing and SapWing.” She said calmly, all traces of her earlier discomfort gone as she watched Sleet bounce as a wave caught her and washed over her. Then Mercury clicked her tongue and a very wet Sleet bounded up the beach, just as Midnight squealed and a crab bit his nose. She turned and saw the other Seawing – a reddish colour give Mercury a cautious wave.

“I’m sorry for not trying to find you when you were… gone.” She heard Hurricane say quietly as she watched Mercury return the Seawing’s wave. “Hello.” She called.

“It’s… it’s fine. You’re here now, and that’s what matters.” She heard Starling reply. “Let’s greet everyone else!” Hurricane nodded, letting her go as Nightshade waded into the surf, Midnight at her heels.

Nightshade sat by herself, digging her talons into the surf, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She head Mercury trot over to the SeaWing and sit down. “Hello. Am Mercury.” She said, a smile in her voice.

Nightshade dug hader, ignoring the introductions all around her, ignoring the fact that she was alone. “Hiya,” The Seawing’s informal greeting sounded cautious and unsure. “My name’s Lionfish.” Nightshade heard rustling and figured the newcomer was adjusting something – a satchel perhaps. “Nice.” She heard Mercury reply. “Going to find food.” she mumbled and trudged into the water. Nightshade decided that it was a good time to go out further, ignoring the tiny fish around her as she waded further into the water, feeling Mercury’s gaze on her as the hybrid waded deeper into the water. Nightshade waded deeper in the other direction until her legs were fully underwater, her talons matching the dark seaweed down below. Nearby, she saw Mercury shiver as she made the seaweed grow up and reach her legs, then pounce on a fish, then another, and finally, a third. She heard the hybrid walking back up to shore.

Nightshade dug deeper, as a dragon dropped a fish in front of her. She looked up, surprised. “Coming to eat?” Mercury asked gently.

Nightshade looked up, surprised. “Thanks.” She said gratefully, giving a smile. She heard a sound that had been ingrained into mind – the soft buzz of wings accompanied by a heavy thump. A Hivewing. She heard him step into the water and walk somewhere nearby. A small click followed, like claws. “Don’t spray anyone, whippers.” He chortled.

Somewhere nearby, another Hivewing flew by. Nightshade took a bite of the fish. It was cool and succulent, with a taste like the sea, completely different to the salty, dried strips of fish that were sold in the Hives, or the occasional bland minnow caught in the Snarling River. Next to her, Mercury’s head snapped to the HiveWing in the air. She seemed to have an uncanny ability to sense a new presence. She flashed a smile at Nightshade and trotted back to the other dragon. Nightshade felt a pang of sadness as she left, and wondered if she should follow.

Nightshade decided on the latter and followed, carrying the rest of the fish. Maybe she could find friends here. She sat down next to Mercury and nibbled at the fish as Mercury’s eyes followed the HiveWing.

“Another new dragon. I think there will be enough huts. There’s room in the palace too.” She said to Nightshade, glancing at the huts and the palace, glimmering in the distance. She sniffed the air and turned to face the HiveWing Nightshade had heard earlier, with the bugs.

”There’s a palace? Wow. Who lives there?” asked Nightshade, watching the other HiveWing – an orange-y colour, dive into the palace and quickly advance out again, taking a scenic route around the bay.

Mercury shrugged. “Whoever owns this place. A SeaWing. I talked to them when I arrived. They said anyone could stay in the huts or the palace.” She said, frowning as she watched the orange HiveWing. Unconsciously, they started to walk towards the palace, Nightshade beckoning Midnight over and feeding him bits of fish.

“Wow. That’s generous.” She remarked, frowning as she watched the other HiveWing, wondering who they were.

“It is.” Mercury agreed. She finally seemed to notice that they were walking up the smooth quartz steps to the palace. “We should find your hut.” She said to Nightshade.

“Ok. Where do you stay?” she asked, beckoning Midnight from the waves. Mercury pointed to a hut close to the water.

“There.” She said.

“Cool. Nice views.” She replied as they walked through the smooth white walls of the palace. The floor was marble, with the odd pot plant scattered here and there. Mercury trailed behind her, looking at the blank walls. A sign with large, bold type that read: RECPETION hung over a large entryway, opening up to a large, airy room with bay windows overlooking the ocean. A large, circular wooden desk set into the corner house a large scroll and several keys. The rest of the room was devoted to colourful stools and potted plants