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Rainwings are not known to be great travelers. Generally, they stay in their beautiful forest, slipping under the sun and eating delicious fruits while singing with tropical birds (the last part of the sentence is not quite right, but it says a lot about RainWings’s reputation.)
So what were two RainWings doing in the middle of the ocean, flying through the west ?
Except it wasn’t just two regular RainWings : the Queen’s brother, who traveled in the Kingdoms of Sand and Ice before, and a member of the Stealth Team who delivered Pantala from an ancient evil.
Pineapple was holding his partner Jambu’s talon, making sure he doesn't fall asleep in the air (it happened to him during the first time he came to Pantala). With his other paw, he was grabbing the strap of his burlap bag, shaken by the wind.
In the bag, there were a lot of seeds coming from the Rainforest. He promised to bring them to Sundew, so she could make the forest grow again, after decades of deforestation. The LeafWings deserve to live in trees that will not try to eat them. They deserve to live somewhere safe, with their dragonnets. Pantala’s coast will be beautiful, with mahogany trees, coconut trees, or cedro blanco.
In the bag, there was also his blowgun with some sleeping darts, just in case.
“YAHOUUUUUUU” screamed his boyfriend next to him. Jambu was happily flying, amazed by the large ocean.
“I never saw so much water, even during flood periods in the Rainforest !”
His scales, usually bright pink, were in a beautiful blue color, looking exactly like the high sea.
Jambu had already seen the sea before, on the beach at the south of the Rainforest, but it didn't have the feeling of adventure and freedom this horizon had. They couldn’t see the land anywhere.
I have to look at the map, I don't wanna get lost, thought Pineapple.
Before returning to Pyrrhia after the destruction of the Breath of Evil, Qibli did a few reproductions of the map of the road between the two continents, so they could come back to Pantala anytime, and vice-versa.
The next island shouldn't be far. If his memory was good, it should be Crab's Island. Lynx called it like that because Sky had been pinched by a white crab when he was searching for pretty shells.
“We are almost there ! shout Pineapple to Jambu. We can rest on Crab's Island before the night !
- Don’t worry about me ! I have already flown across the continent before ! I’m used to long travels ! I’m not tired at all ! I could fly aaaaaaaall day with you by my side !”
Pineapple laughed, but he could still see that his boyfriend was flying slower and was losing altitude. Fortunately, he could see a mound of earth at the horizon. Finally !
“The Island ! You see it ? asked Pineapple to the other Rainwing.
- Ah, thanks to the Sun, it’s over ! responded Jambu with a loud sight.
- But if you can fly aaaaaaaall day like you said, we can fly to the next one…
- No ! No ! This one is perfect !”
***
It took them some time to finally get to the land. When Jambu collapsed on the sand, more exhausted than ever, the Sun was already sinking in the ocean.
“Oh, sweet dirt ! I missed you !” he said, almost kissing the ground.
Pineapple landed next to him. While wrapping his tail around Jambu’s, he searched in his bag to make sure that nothing was missing. He got the map out of the bag to see if he was in the right direction ; they were on the good island.
Well, “Island” is a big world to describe the pill of sand and dirt they were on. There was absolutely nothing, beside a few lean bushes and two trees. Some little red crabs were running in the water, annoyed by the two giant lizards that landed on their house. In the Rainforest, some mangroves were bigger than this little rock.
I wonder if other RainWings have already come this far away from the Rainforest Kingdom…
He felt the same thing during the first day of his travel with the Stealth Team. He never had this feeling before, that he was far away from home, and may never come back.
But it will be alright this time. Because my home is Jambu. With him by my side, nothing is gonna hurt me.
Like the first time.
A shiver crossed his body, from the tail to his neck, like a bug walking on his scales.
Some flashes came to his mind, in the form of striped dragons, black and yellow, coming to him, beating him, giving him poisoned water, infesting his brain and…
“Apple, are you alright ? said Jambu behind him.
- Y-Yeah… responded Pineapple with a small voice.
- You’re shivering, you must be cold ! Come next to me.”
Jambu climbed the tallest tree of the island and settled on the biggest branch. He patted the branch with his tail, inviting his boyfriend to get beside him.
Pineapple chuckled and joined him on the tree, like they always do.
“It’s like in the Rainforest, whispered Pineapple.
- It would be more comfortable in a hammock tho.
- Your wings are comfortable enough, don’t worry, said the yellow dragon, putting his head on his partner's shoulder.
- Flying all day made me starve ! Fortunately, I brought food with me !”
- He put his talons in his own bag, and took out two fruits.
“Mango for you, my love ! he said while giving the fruit to Pineapple.
- My favorite ! Thanks you !
- I have bad memories, but I’m an expert at remembering my boyfriend’s favorite food !”
He took out a pineapple and started to devour it, without complaining about spikes.
“It’s pineappletime !”
It made Pineapple laugh. The strange fear he felt a few seconds ago disappeared in an instant. No matter where, being next to Jambu will always be the best place in the world, even in the frozen donjons of the Kingdom of Ice, or the scary underground jails of Pantala.
“That’s funny, said Jambu. The stars are the same here as in the Rainforest Kingdom !”
He pointed the sky with his wing.
“Here, under the little moon, there is the Mosquito’s constellation !”
He named it himself because at a certain angle, it looked like a mosquito, ready to sting its prey. Pineapple followed his game, and pointed with his claw a constellation, between the two other moons.
“And here, we can see the Upside down Lily.”
The five little stars looked like a flower, with the stem pointing at the top.
“I didn’t know the stars followed us, said Jambu, putting his talon in Pineapple's.
- Because they can’t lose sight of a bright pink dragon.”
Jambu laughed out loud. His voice could probably be heard miles away. But it didn’t matter : for now, there were just the two of them.
“I don’t really know what's waiting for us there, on the Lost continent, said the pink dragon. Tell me more about it.
- Okay, but first, you're gonna tell me about the Kingdom of Ice.
- Again ? But you heard this story so many times already !
- I know. I just like how you say it. And you loooove talk about you.
- Okay then, chuckled Jambu. It’s at the edge of Pyrrhia, far away from everything, a little bit like us. But this kingdom is all white ! With some blue sometimes. And on the ground, there is no ground : it's snow ! Real snow everywhere. At first, you think it’s soft and fluffy, but in reality it’s painful to walk on it, like the floor was biting your talons ! And it’s cold, very cold, colder than the river. That’s why the SandWings have a palace, a big big hut made of stone, but entirely close ! But it was grey and ugly, so they put tapestries on the walls. I liked them : they were yellow, with sand and pointed plants painted on them.”
Pineapple waited for Jambu to finish his story. He likes to imagine the glaciers, the weird black and white birds that couldn’t fly, the pine trees covered by snow. He saw the Kingdom of Ice two times, when he traveled to Pantala. But he couldn’t visit it like Jambu did. This story was like a little lullaby helping him to sleep, especially since he came back from Pantala, when nightmares came to visit him.
“Your turn now ! said Jambu. Tell me more about Pitaya !
- Pantala.
- Yes, that’s what I said.
- Well, I didn’t see much of it, but Pantala is a big place, maybe even bigger than Pyrrhia. Except it’s covered by tall yellow grass. As you know, there is almost no trees ; the HiveWings’s queen destroyed them all.
- That’s awful !
- And that’s not even the worst thing she did !”
He explained to him what Luna and Cricket told him about Pantala : the giant Hives, the Poison Jungle, how SilkWings were traited by HiveWings, the giant caves under the continent, the humans…
Then Jambu asked him to talk about his friends, the members of the Stealth Team, who saved the world.
“Well, you already know Tsunami. Sundew looks a bit like her, she’s fierce ! Moon grew up in the Rainforest, so I felt connected with her. Luna is the one who saved the world, I was there when she cut the evil plant in half ! Criquet is so clever, she didn’t stop asking questions about my scales and the Rainforest. You told me that IceWings were grumpy and cold, but Lynx wasn’t like that at all, she was so nice ! Bullfrog was timid, but he is very strong ! And there is Qibli, he is so funny !
- Funnier than me ? asked Jambu while putting his tail on Pineapple’s snout.
- Hum… not quite. But less annoying for sure ! responded his boyfriend while gently pushing Jambu’s tail with his wing. And I almost forgot about Sky and his human friends ! I can’t wait to present you Wren. And Axolotl. They are awesome !
- The scavengers you mentioned before ? Jambu shivered. I’m not a fan of scavengers. Deathbringer is very scared of them.
- How can you be scared of something this tiny and cute ?
- Hey, you are scared of frogs !
- It’s not the same ! Most of them are poisonous and give weird hallucinations !
- Deathbringer says that the Scavengers are dangerous too ! They are vicious.
- No they aren’t ! Don’t insult my friends !
- If they are your friends, I can make an exception.
- You better be. You never saw any scavengers in your life.
- Well actually, I did ! In the Kingdom of Ice, Glory and I saved two of them from the SandWings.
- Ah ! And did they seem vicious ?
- Hum… no, you’re right. They were small, and trembling, and fragile. Like baby sloths.
- So you’re not gonna be afraid of baby sloths, right ?
- I don’t think so, responded Jambu while shrugging his wings. Except if they have tiny pointing sticks !
- You’re lucky then, Wren doesn’t have that. She just screams a lot, like a toucan.
- I can deal with that, I love toucans.”
The scales on his snout became orange with a red spot, like a bird beak. Pineapple gently put his snout on the red stain.
“Then you’re gonna love my friends.
- I can’t wait.
- Me too.”
He was impatient to see his wonderful friends again. And he was excited to see the new Pantala, after the fall of the evil Queen Wasp.
She wasn’t really evil, said a little voice in his head. She was just controlled by Contonmouth.
But she allowed him. She didn’t fight back like Luna did.
Did it give me the right to hurt her ?
He remembers her scream when he spit his venom right in her face. How she rolled on the ground, crying like her head melted. He was right to do it. She would have hurt Tsunami and Qibli. She was a wicked tyrant. But then why was it still so hard to use his venom on her ? Why did it make him feel so awful ? So guilty ?
He got interrupted in his thoughts by his boyfriend’s snoring. He looked so kind and peaceful in his sleep.
If Jambu is in danger, would I be able to use my venom again ? Would I be ready to hurt another dragon to save him ?
The answer was obvious.
Of course I could. It would be hard, but I won’t hesitate to use every drop of my venom again if I have to.
***
The next two days happened without any problems. It was long, especially when they were only two, and not ten to keep up the conversation, but it was nice to fly beside Jambu. They go from island to island to take breaks when it is necessary, which means every time. RainWings are not supposed to travel long distances. In the forest, they use their tail to grab branches and go from tree to tree. Jambu is so strong at this game that he almost doesn't even need to use his wings. One time, he traveled to the forest's border to the Arboretum without even touching the ground. It was painfully exhausting to fly all day, especially during Suntime.
On the fourth day, they had to stay on an island during all day and night to rest, too tired to fly any further. They were on Pine's Island, the biggest island on the map. They called it like that because it was covered by trees.
On a branch, Pineapple was massaging his shoulder. His seeds bag seemed heavier every day, and he was more and more tempted to throw it in the ocean, to deliver his poor shoulder from the burden. Jambu proposed to carry it instead, but he already had his own bag, with supplies and letters that Qibli, Moon, Tsunami, Turtle, Lynx and Queen Snowfall gave them before leaving Pyrrhia. Some Silkwings and LeafWings, who stayed on the Continent, asked him to deliver their letters too. Pineapple didn’t complain, he liked to help, but it was heavy to carry on a long trip.
“I wonder if some dragons will become messengers, traveling in the two continents to deliver letters from Pyrrhia’s dragons, said Pineapple to his partner during their flight. It would be a good business.”
But definitely not mine.
His shoulder was there to remind him that. He winced under the pain. White scales appeared on his wings.
“Let me help you” proposed Jambu, putting his talons on his partner's shoulder.
He massaged them, doing little circles on his scales. Slowly, the pain became less hard. Pineapple sighted in relief.
“It feels nice. Thank you, my prince.”
He calls him like that sometimes. Since Queen Glory ruled on the Rainforest Kingdom, Jambu was technically related to royalty too, even if he never received any privilege for that. Sunny and Starflight often gave them scrolls to help them to learn how to read, telling the story about princes, princesses, forbidden love and other royalties. Pineapple found it very romantic, and called Jambu “prince” occasionally, to flatter him.
“Talking about princes, started Jambu. When you were on the Lost Continent, I learned something funny the other day, during the storytime after the nap.”
Pineapple raised an eyebrow.
“Handsome told us the story of Lotus, a very old Rainwings who lived hum, two centuries ago, he said. Guess what ? He was in love with a MUDWING ! A MudWing PRINCE ! I think his name was Copperface or something like that. And they lived together in the Rainforest !
- A MudWing ? In love ?” repeated Pineapple.
He was surprised : Bullfrog told him that MudWings are not used to being in romantic relationships. Usually, they mate, lay eggs, and leave. End of the story.
I should have guessed that not every MudWings act the same. Just like the Rainwings : we all like to sleep, but some of them like Mangrove or Queen Glory don’t act like the regular RainWings. All dragons are different. That’s why the Queens sent ten dragons from each tribe to save the world ; because we need to know and to understand other dragons to make a better place.
“And what happened to Lotus and the prince ?
- We don’t really know. It’s an old story, but apparently the MudWings Queen was furious that her brother left her side. She wanted to enter the forest to bring him back. So they ran far away. Nobody knows where they went. Maybe they escaped when everybody was sleeping.
- Maybe they travelled to Pantala, who knows ?
- Or another island.
- You think there are more islands ?
- Maybe. At the North, at the East. Or at the South.
- Yeah, maybe. Guess we’ll never know.
- But they were together, so they were surely happy !”
Jambu tangled his tails in Pineapple’s. So firm, like he would never be separated from him. Pineapple didn’t need to have mindreading to know exactly what Jambu thought : “I’m right here, and I’ll never let you go.”
“Hey, Apple, can I ask you something ? said Jambu in a toneless voice.
- Anything.
- I know you’re not really okay. I saw the grey spots on your scales since you came back from your adventure. What’s happening?”
Oh Three Moons.
Yet he made sure that his bad mood couldn't be seen on his skin. He made his scales more yellow and pink than ever, so nobody would worry about him.
He didn’t want to think about that. He didn’t want others to see he was sad.
He is a RainWing. He lives in the most beautiful place in the world, with a lovely partner, sweet animals, a lot of friends, under the rule of an amazing queen. He had NO reason to be sad. RainWings shouldn't be.
“I’m okay, said Pineapple. I’m just recovering from homesickness. It will soon be over.
- You know, Sunny told me once it was okay to not be okay sometimes.
- Yeah, but I’m really fine. I assure you. I’m just tired because of the trip.”
He put his head in the hollow of his partner’s neck, cuddling.
“Okay, responded Jambu. If you say so.”
The sun was at its highest point. It was time to sleep. Hopefully, a good rest will make his bad thoughts disappear.
But when he closed his eyes, a figure appeared. The figure of a dragonnet.
***
“Pineapple ! Look ! A big big island ! It is the Lost Continent ?”
They arrived on a big island, bigger than the others they landed before. Big as a Hive, curved like a dragon’s tail, with two other rocks much smaller next to it. A large forest covered most of the island.
Oh no…
Pineapple shivered. On this island, he was attacked by Wasp’s soldiers, and captured alongside Tsunami, Qibli and Moon. He remembers the poor SilkWing who could detect him with his antennas. He remembers how three HiveWings attacked him at once. He remembers the moment one of them smashed him with a rock. He put his talons on his stomach, where a little scar was still here. He didn’t anticipate that it would be so hard to come back here again.
Don’t worry, he said to himself. No one is gonna hurt you this time. Wasp is in jail. All HiveWings are free now. And you have Jambu. And your blowgun. Just in case.
He hesitates to take it with him, but better be safe than sorry, as Qibli says.
“How did you call this one ? asked Jambu.
- The Palm tree’s Island.”
The two dragons landed on a beach, covered by white sand. The same place the battle against the HiveWings soldiers took place.
Jambu happily rolled in the sand to dry himself, after being sprayed by tides all day.
“This place is nice ! I wonder why dragons didn’t settle here.
- Because it’s still far from Pantala…”
He didn’t like returning to this place. The sounds of the battle came back to his head.
“Hey, do you mind if we go to the forest ? he asked.
- Under the trees ? But there is so much more sun on the beach !
- I know, but I would prefer to go there…
- I’m fine where I am right now, I don’t want to move, said Jambu with a sleepy voice.
- Very well ! Do what you want !” screamed Pineapple.
He grabbed his bag and flew to the forest, without looking at Jambu. If he doesn’t want to listen to him, good for him ! He is so stubborn and annoying sometimes !
He used his tail to jump on the trees, looking for a good spot, somewhere he could be safe. A thorn scratched him and he stubbed his head at a branch. His bag got stuck on a long thorn. Upset, Pineapple started to pull on his bag, but the thorn ran through the burlap, and seeds began to drop from it.
“NOOO !”
The LeafWings need them to build their forest again ! He came down from the tree, and began to pick up the seeds on the ground. But there were so many, and little, and they were the same color as the ground, and…
He put as many as he could in his bag, but there was still a big hole in the bag, and the little brown nuts escaped from it as soon as he brought them back.
I ruined everything…
“Pineapple ? he heard in his back. PINEAPPLE ? Where are you ?”
His boyfriend was searching for him.
He didn’t want Jambu to see him like that.
He didn't know why. He just didn’t want to.
Pineapple hid behind the three and used his camouflage to be invisible.
Please don’t find me.
But Jambu was very good at hide-and-seek. Especially since he trained with Deathbringer to detect invisible dragons. It didn’t took him long to find the torn bag on the ground. Hidden behind his tree, Pineapple saw him raise his head, trying to see him in the branches.
“Pineapple ? Hum… Are you angry at me ? Can we talk ?”
He nervously sampled his talons.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to upset you. If I did something wrong, tell me. Please.”
Pineapple didn’t know what to respond. He felt himself stupid.
“I know you’re behind this tree, Apple. Can you come out, please ?”
Without any reason to refuse, Pineapple came out of his hiding. But he stayed invisible.
“Why did you run like that ? asked Jambu, looking him in the eyes like he could really see him.
- Because… because… I’m sorry, I don’t know why, it was stupid.
- No, don’t apologize ! You know this place better than me
- I felt… I don’t know, insecure ? This…”
He took a deep breath, taking his time to find the right words.
“This is the place we got attacked during our mission. Wasp’s soldiers knocked me off and captured me and the beach. That’s how I got infected by the Breath of Evil. I’m sorry, it’s dumb.”
Jambu didn’t say anything. He was looking at him, with a torn snout and sad eyes. Without saying a word, he walked in his direction and gave him a tight hug.
“I’m sorry. It must be hard.”
Pineapple turned visible and put his head between his partner’s wing and his shoulder.
“It is.
- So tell me about it.”
Pineapple didn’t want to talk about it. It would make it real again. But it was too heavy to carry.
“You remember what I told you about the Breath of Evil ?
- The wicked plant ?
- It wasn’t just a plant. There were two entities who controlled it. A human, Cottonmouth, and a… a dragonnet. A tiny dragonnet.”
He started to feel the tears coming through his eyes.
“She was just a hatchling ! And yet she was trapped in the mind of this plant for five thousand years ! It’s centuries, and centuries, and centuries, trapped with a wicked human ! She couldn’t live, she couldn’t move, with no sun, no friends, no family ! She had no choices in her life ! We… Luna, Moon and I tried to help her, to save her. We really tried. I shared my memories with her, so she could see the Rainforest. She cried and screamed because she could never see any of that, never be touched by anyone ! And I couldn’t do anything ! At the end, Luna cut the stem of the plant, to stop all this rampage, but she died ! She disappeared ! Luna swore to me that she accepted her fate, but I can’t get her out of my memory ! I wish… I wish we could save everyone.”
He collapsed on the ground. His scales were completely pale blue. He was crying against Jambu’s shoulder. He never did before.
But it wasn’t just that.
Sometimes, he thinks about The Scorching and the truth behind it. How so many dragons destroyed so many, many, many humans.
Sometimes, he thinks about the NightWings, and how they kidnapped innocent RainWings and torture them on a horrible island full of fire and smoke.
Sometimes, he thinks about the HiveWings, who let their evil queen almost exterminate all the LeafWings, and how they treated the SilkWings like slaves after the War.
Sometimes, he was so sad to know that so many bad dragons existed, and still exist today, who made so many people suffer. The sadness could come at any moment of the day, when he doesn’t expect it. Sometimes he was so overwhelmed by the sadness that he could barely move. But he couldn’t tell anyone, because RainWings aren’t supposed to be sad.
Sometimes, he regretted knowing the truth about other dragons. He was happier when he didn’t know.
And worst of all, he was afraid now. Afraid that all these bad dragons could return and attack him. Or worse ; attacking Jambu.
He told all of that to his partner.
“This year has been amazing. The world seems to be becoming bigger and bigger, but so is the number of bad dragons. We never had any enemies before. And… I’m scared that the world will become so big… that I lost you.”
- I’m so sorry , I didn’t know, I didn’t see it, responded Jambu with a trembling voice.
- You couldn’t.
- I… I worry too. That’s why I trained with Deathbringer. I’m scared that a bad dragon will come to us. But I know I know that as long as we are together, nothing can hurt us. And we are not alone : we have many many amazing friends who have already saved the world before, like you did ! If anything happens, they will help us. Everybody is trying their best to build a better world, as beautiful as the Rainforest ! And as kind and good as you !”
Pineapple chuckled. Only Jambu could say something so corny but sweet at the same time. Only him can make him laugh when he is feeling bad.
While he whipped his tears, he saw his bag on the ground.
“I ruined it…
- There is nothing we can’t fix ! exclaimed Jambu. It should not be harder than weaving a hammock.”
He took a few long leaves on the ground, rolled them to make them thinner and started to weave them like vines, to stitch the bag.
“Done !” he happily screamed when he presented the bag.
It was a bit clumsy, but it can easily last for the rest of the trip. Pineapple couldn't believe it. He immediately felt better, like if Jambu casted a spell on him
“It’s perfect ! Thank you, my prince !
- Anything for my sweet Apple !”
***
The night passed without any problems, so as the next one. They slept together, keeping eachother's talons and tails in their own. Pineapple still had nightmares, but they seemed far, far away in his mind. Waking up beside his partner was enough to keep the fear away.
Jambu is like the sweet Sun : a warm ball of light who illuminates his way, like a torch in a dark cave. That’s why the morning is his favorite moment of the day : because it means he will begin another day with him. Watching him waking up is the best gift life ever gave to him.
With Jambu, the Sun rises twice each day.
“Pineapple ! Stop daydreaming and look !”
In front of them, there was a large coast of sand. Giant rocks were driven into the ground, looking like dragon’s claws. Orange and yellow grass covered the land. And at the horizon, Pineapple could see a giant edifice, so big we could see it miles away. A Hive !
“Pantala ! It’s Pantala ! The lost Continent ! We arrived !
- Three Moons ! I thought we'd never arrive !
- No we’re coming ! We did it, Jambu ! We are the first RainWings in the world to travel to Pantala alone !
- I can’t wait to eat their fruits ! And to climb their Hive, it seems funny ! Do they have any pets ?
- Only one way to know it !”
He wanted to fly faster, but he didn’t want to tiring himself and collapse in the ocean, so close to their goal.
He will see his dear friend Sky and the humans !
He will give the three’s seed to Sundew to help her to cover Pantalas in threes !
He will talk with Cricket for hours, she will present him her parents, and he will learn to know Blue better, and at the same time, he can present them Jambu !
And he will see Luna again. He hoped that she finished her tapistrie, the one she promised to make, with all the dragons of Pyrriah and Pantala united. He hoped she added Freedom on it.
Pineapple turned his head to Jambu. His partner gave him the brightest smile ever known to dragonhood.
A lot of dragons think that RainWings are weak, but I’m not ! I traveled over the ocean, fought an evil queen and helped to save the world from a demonic plant. I have many fears, but I’m not alone ! And I will help everyone to make the world a better place.
But for now, I will enjoy my time with my friends. Because being happy is the reason I’ve been born.