I N C A N D E S C E
***

Pebbles clustered Incandesce's wings. The sharp sound of a RainWing gibbering with her friend echoed in her head.

"Three MOONS, are you even trying to be quiet?" Incandesce roared. She sat up straight, sweeping sand around with her tail.  

"Yes!" Lush responded, indignantly tangerine splotched with furious magenta. She flapped her wings and hopped out of the hammock. 

A dull noise reverberated through the halls. Lush's friend flapped down, a sedate lime green.

"See ya Kiwi!" Lush called after the RainWing. Kiwi flapped a rainbow goodbye and scampered off through the halls.

"So, where do we go?" Lush asked, poking Incandesce with her tail. 

"You think I know?" Incandesce retorted. Lush rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'm asking, aren't I?"

Incandesce grumbled and reached for the mahogany scroll rack by where she slept. 

"I think there's a map here, somewhere. And schedules." Incandesce said, brushing through the paper rolls. 

"Hey, where's Princess Grumpyface?" Lush asked. Incandesce shrugged and pulled out a scroll. She sliced the ribbon open and unrolled a map of the school. Inked delicately onto the paper were tunnels marked with different words. 

A little green path was slashed onto it, labeled Your cave.

"Follow me," Incandesce said, starting down the tunnels. The little RainWing, bounding at her tail, was surprisingly entertaining company. 

The path ended in a yawning cavern. Mahogany racks lined the walls, filled to the brim with scrolls. The cave opened at the opposite end, showing off the magnificent view of the mountains behind them. 

A rainbow semicircle of dragons sat in the middle, on cushions and fringed blankets. 

 In the middle was a large but delicate IceWing. Little black studs flashed on her pale silver wings, catching sunlight in little beams. Glittering black eyes clocked Incandesce sideways as she entered the cave, Rainbow McGlitterthoughts on her tail.

For some reason, the dragons in the cave looked like someone has dumped a pail of sunlight on them, bleaching their scales. Even Lush shifted her colors to a light violet to imitate the whitewashed scales. Incandesce peered down at her arm, feeling out of place with her dark tan limbs.

The IceWing in the middle regarded her students with an unreadable face. 

"Sssit down, everyone." She hissed.

Incandesce took a place in the semicircle, wings folded in. 

Two more dragons entered the cave and the gong rang once more. 

"Hello, class. Welcome to Jade Academy," the IceWing spoke, "My name is Himalaya."

---------------------

Incandesce flew towards Radiance. The city brimmed on the horizon line. 

"Wow..." she breathed. 

She dipped down towards the sand and circled the entrance to the city.  What should she do now? 

Look for food? Look for dragons? Try her claws in a trade?

Incandesce entered the rows of stalls and tents. The sound of yelling buzzed in her ears, smells violated her nose's privacy.

"Hey little lady! Some fancy scales ya got there! Bet they're worth some gold, eh?" some shady SandWing called at her. Incandesce ducked her head and moved quickly. 

It was hot in the desert. Very hot. 

"I mean, I know, I'm a SandWing but this is ridiculous." Incandesce muttered to herself. She didn't even know dragons could sweat.

She wound through the paths of tents, coming to rest in the shade of a deep purple one with stars on it, its thin fabric billowing in the breeze. 

She sat down with her wings over her head and started sobbing. Three years, pent up in that purgatory hole, slaving under the fat SeaWing who detested her and charmed her father-somehow-into serving her, it poured out in liquid version. 

Incandesce wept and cried for what seemed like ages. Dragons passed her by, sometimes giving second glances and even dropping a few coins. She was now an abandoned little orphan, crying her heart out over living on the streets, in need of sympathy. 

A soft voice called out, disturbing Incandesce's pity-trip. 

"Come inside, dearest..." a rich accent pulled at her, summoning her, "I can feel your pain. Come inside, we'll have a chat."

Incandesce rose. She dug a hole for the little coins she collected and sifted the sand over.

She snapped open her wings and softly entered the breezy tent.

A black dragon sat in the middle. Her talons rested on a milky orb. 

This dragon was unlike anyone Incandesce'd ever seen before. Granted, she only saw a few dragons in her life..but this one radiated an unfamiliar aura. 

Glittering white stones set in on her brows caught light. Sheathes of thin fabric, ranging from violet to indigo lay draped over her body. A bright crimson bandanna lay folded over the dragon's head, and bright iridescent orbs dangled from their ears. 

"Who-What-" Incandesce stuttered. The dragon made a hushing sound.

"You are confused. I understand." The dragon whispered. "Come sit."

Incandesce slowly approached her and sat, folding in her wings. The dragon pressed her talons on the orb in front of her and closed her eyes.

"Who...?" Incandesce started again. The NightWing nodded.

"I am Orbreader."  she explained coolly. The wind fluttered through the tent, stirring the sand underneath. It was quiet now, Incandesce could hear the sand outside hitting the tent walls. 

Orbreader spoke again. "I know you have many questions, and I normally don't do this for free, but I can sense it in you. Your emotions are tangled. I can help you sort them out."

Incandesce quivered, innocent still. "How?" 

"The moons have blessed me... I can see the future."