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“IceWings! Yes!” Clay said. “That sounds like a great plan. Let’s do that. No mysterious dragon-killing things in the Ice Kingdom. Right? What are those animals they have up there? Penguins? I bet I could beat a penguin or two in battle. Couldn’t I? How big are they? Maybe just one penguin.”
“The sun recharges our scales while we sleep,” she explained. “It makes us prettier, better at camouflage, smarter, and happier. What could be more important than that?” “Oh,” Starflight said again. He studied Glory like a scroll that finally made sense. “Oh. Happier? Like . . . less grouchy?” “Shut up,” Glory said, giving him a shove.
“Go ahead,” Starflight said. “It’s OK. I’ll watch them.” He shook his wings and puffed out his chest imposingly, which came across a bit like a tree frog trying to look menacing. “Wake me if you need to,” Glory said. “If I hear someone shrieking like a tiny scavenger, I’ll assume it’s you.”
“Nothing’s going to get me!” Tsunami yelled, leaping to her feet. “I’ll fight off any poisonous bugs! ACK WHERE ARE WE?” She wobbled on her talons and tipped over with a thud. “Don’t move too fast,” Jambu suggested helpfully. “The tranquilizer takes a little while to completely wear off.” “TRANQUILIZER?” Tsunami shouted. “How dare you —” “Tsunami, stop yelling,” Glory said. “Or I’ll ask him to knock you out again.” “I’d like to see him try!” Tsunami cried. “Please do,” Glory said to Jambu. “Do you have any darts that last for, say, days?”
“I’m awake,” Clay muttered. He buried his head under his talons. “I’m just waiting until Glory and Tsunami stop fighting. I was dreaming about sheep and buffalo and bears. They were all on the table in front of me and I had to decide which to eat first. Oh, and they all smelled like melons. That part was kind of weird.”
“Mshish vemmy shmewy,” Clay mumbled around the fruit in his jaws. “Yes, those fruits are,” said Mangrove. “It’ll probably take you an hour to swallow it and then several days to pick the bits out of your teeth.” “Ha,” Starflight said. “Let’s take a few back for Tsunami.”
“But you’ve seen them in scrolls, right?” Starflight said. “Scrolls,” Jambu said. “Um. Those are . . . ?” Starflight looked as if someone had just asked him whether breathing was really necessary. “You don’t have any scrolls?” he gasped. “Don’t you read? Do you really not read? Not anything?” Jambu shrugged apologetically. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” he said. Starflight had to sit down and fold his wings over his head for a minute.
“MudWings and SeaWings are the enemy here,” Glory pointed out. “And no offense, guys, but it’s not like Starflight or Sunny would be much help.” “No offense?” Sunny squeaked. “How am I not supposed to be offended by that?” She lashed her tail and scowled.
Some kind of insect was desperately announcing the end of the world in a shrill whine from the top of their tree. If Glory had been able to see it, she would have eaten it in a heartbeat, just to shut it up.
“I volunteer,” Clay said. “I’m a world champion at sitting on my friends.”
“You don’t know anything about this dragon,” Magnificent complained, pointing at Glory. “I know she’ll be a better queen than you,” said Grandeur. She turned to the assembled tribe with a sweeping gesture. “Behold! Your new queen! Queen Glory of the RainWings!” And they cheered. Glory stepped back, dazzled, as what looked like the whole tribe rose into the air, beating their wings and singing out joyfully. The rainbow of different colors was swept away on a tide of sunflower-gold excitement, and Glory thought to herself, Wow. I’m a queen. Queen Glory of the RainWings. That’ll be my name in the
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