"Storm!".
The call came, echoing around his mind and urging him out off sleep.
He rolled over and put a wing over his head. "Go away, Ember....".
Ember jumped up. "Today is Strike's assessment! Get up!".
He blinked one eye open, the soothing feeling of sleep fading away. "Tell him good luck for me".
Ember swatted him again. "Come on, burnt-breath! This may be our last day with him!".
Storm took a deep breath, realizing she was right. If Strike passed his assessment, he would leave school for more intense training and then join the army.
FlickerWing dragonets started school at one year, when the were sent away from their parents and stayed in til they were six, and had their assessment.
Ember blinked up at him. "Our last day with him..."She echoes.
Storm rolled over to face her. "Hey, it's okay. You still have me.....And we will get some new students soon".
"But he was the only.....Nevermind! Let's get to the Main Hall before Ash comes".
Storm nodded and stumbled off his sleeping ledge. He too did not want to get in trouble with Ash, the school's leader and main teacher.
"Where's Strike?" He asked as they walked in to the crowded hallway.
"With a couple of his teachers"She replied as she stumbled over someone's tail.
"Ow!"
She mumbled a "sorry" over her shoulder. "I hear he'll get to meet the Queen"She said to him.
"Really?!".
Both him and Ember spun around to see the owner of the high-pitched voice.
It was Blair. "He gets to meet the Queen?" She squealed.
Ember snorted. "I think so. But, do you mind not breaking into our conversation?".
She blinked at her. "Sorry. Uh, hi Storm!".
"Hi Blair...." he grumbled under his breath.
"How are you today? Oo, do you want to sit by me during the assessment?".
Ember cut her off. "Actually, only two dragons of his choice can be there. And of course, he would choose me, his sister and Storm, his best friend".
Blair looked crestfallen. "Oh..Yeah, right. Sorry".
He smiled at her. "It's fine! I'll see you later, okay? Maybe at lunch, if the assessment is done by then".
Something odd flashed through her eyes, then she ducked her head and blushed. "Yes, of course! I'll...see you later". And with that, she vanished in a sea of moving scales.
Ember nudged him playfully. "So?".
His eye ridges shot up. "So?".
She rolled her eyes. "Three moons, it's so obvious! She has a huge crush on you".
Storm shrugged. "Yeah.....".
"What are you going to do?".
He looked at the spot she had disappeared. "Nothing. Most dragons don't even get to pick their partners, their just randomly paired. And honestly I'm not interested in that and don't really care who I get paired with".
She widened her eyes. "Well, what if you got....Nevermind! Let's get to the Main Hall".
Storm tilted his head, confused. "Are you sure? What were you going to say?".
She shook her head. "Nothing important, not as important as Strike's assessment! Let's go".
He blinked at her. "Okay".
Her scales felt cool against his as she press her wing against his side so she wouldn't lose him in the crowd. "I hope he passes!".
He nodded slowly. "Me too. It's always been his dream to be all old and boss people around".
She let out a laugh. "True, true".
They finally reached the big doors of the Main Hall. At this time, all the students were at their first class.
They could here the the hushed voices of a couple dragons inside. Strike, Ash, a few teachers, and a deep female voice I don't recognize...
Ember took a deep breath. "Ready?".
Storm nodded, and with that the doors opened and he was swept into the dark room.