The day after his conversation with Apex and Scoria, Vireo did his chores. He helped Xylia tidy the house, his mind already drifting towards the island. He fetched water and gathered herbs, successfully avoiding any deep conversations about his plans. He met up with Peyote in the afternoon, and they spent hours speculating about the different kinds of monkeys, their shared excitement a very prominent. The hours seemed to crawl by.
The next day – the actual day before the flight – felt even longer. Vireo found it hard to concentrate on anything. He did his chores again, his movements more automatic than usual. He practiced a few wing stretches in his room, imagining the long flight over the water. He double-checked the small pouch he sometimes used for carrying interesting pebbles, though Apex had said they didn't need to bring anything. It was more for a sense of preparedness.
He ate dinner with Xylia, the usual quiet meal.
"You seem a bit restless," Xylia observed, her blue eyes studying him over her portion of roasted roots.
"Just... looking forward to playing with Peyote again tomorrow," Vireo said quickly, hoping it sounded convincing. He didn't want to invite questions about being out "all day."
She just hummed, that noncommittal sound he knew so well.
"When's dad coming back from his trip?" Vireo prodded.
"No clue," his mother answered. He had a feeling she wouldn't talk anymore, so he just decided to not anger her and ask further.
That night, Vireo made sure to go to bed early, just as Apex had advised. He lay on his sleeping mat in his room, listening to the faint sounds of the desert, his heart thumping with a mixture of excitement and a touch of nervousness. He pictured the ocean stretching out before him, the distant silhouette of the island, the exotic primates, the compact amount of trees.
Finally, the morning of the flight arrived. Vireo woke before the first hint of dawn, the air in his small room still and cool. He moved quietly, not wanting to wake Xylia. He ate a handful of dried berries and meat he'd stashed away, his stomach fluttering more with anticipation than hunger. He stretched his wings in the confined space, feeling the familiar muscles tense and relax. Today's the day, he thought, a thrill running through him.
He slipped out of the den into the pre-dawn stillness. The stars were still faintly visible in the inky sky. He took to the air, the cool morning breeze a welcome sensation against his scales, and flew towards the designated meeting spot by the river.
As he approached, he saw the large, golden silhouette of Apex already there, gazing westward, where the sky was just beginning to lighten and the moon was beginning to fade. Scoria was beside him, her dark form distinct against the paling horizon, stretching her wings with a practiced grace.
"Right on time," Apex rumbled as Vireo landed softly on the riverbank, surrounded by vegetation. His amber eyes seemed to gleam even in the low light.
"Morning," Scoria said, her voice crisp and alert.
Just then, Peyote suddenly landed beside Vireo, practically vibrating with excitement. He had no clue where he came from. "We're really doing this!" he whispered, his tail twitching.
Soon, other dragons began to arrive. A sleek dragoness with scales like polished bronze and striking violet eyes landed lightly next to Scoria. "Caliche," Apex introduced with a nod. "One of our best long-distance flyers." Cinder gave a curt, professional nod.
Then, a larger, earth-toned dragon with scales the color of clay touched down with a gentle thud. He had a calm, steady demeanor. "This is Boulder," Scoria said. "Good to have his strength if the winds pick up." Boulder rumbled a quiet greeting.
Another, slightly smaller dragon with darker brown scales dotted with burgundy on his wings and a very long, whip-like tail zipped in, landing a bit unsteadily. "And that's Barchan ," Peyote chirped, recognizing him. "He's fast, just… a little clumsy sometimes!" Barchan grinned sheepishly.
Apex waited a moment more, scanning the group. "Alright," he said, his voice carrying easily in the quiet morning. "Looks like that's everyone. Is everyone ready?"
A chorus of affirmative rumbles and flicks of tails answered him. Peyote, practically vibrating with pent-up energy, nudged Vireo's wing. "This is going to be epic, isn't it? An actual mission!"
An actual mission, yes, Vireo thought, stretching his own wings, the immense membranes catching the first hint of golden light. And not just a foraging trip or a scouting flight for potential dust-devil formations. He felt a familiar thrill. This was different from his individual flights, where he'd chase thermals alone or skim the desert dunes. This was a formation. A team. He caught a glance from Scoria, her dark scales gleaming. Her expression was all business, but he detected a faint, almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of her lips – perhaps a shared anticipation.
"Alright then," Apex announced, his powerful frame tensing. "Follow my lead. Maintain formation, conserve energy. Scoria, you're on my right flank. Caliche, left. Boulder, bring up the rear. Peyote, Barchan, you'll be on the inner flanks, maintaining visual with Scoria and Caliche. Vireo, you're with me, just off my tail, ready for any unexpected currents."
With a powerful beat of his enormous golden wings, Apex launched himself into the pre-dawn sky. The ground rushed away beneath them. Scoria followed, a dark arrow, then Caliche, a shimmering bronze streak. Boulder ascended with a steady, powerful climb, his earth-toned body a solid anchor. Peyote, with a whoop, shot into the air, almost clipping Barchan's tail as he tried to get ahead.
With a powerful beat of his enormous golden wings, Apex launched himself into the pre-dawn sky. The ground rushed away beneath them. Scoria followed, then Caliche. Boulder ascended with a steady, powerful climb, his earth-toned body a solid anchor. Peyote, with a whoop, shot into the air, almost clipping Barchan's tail as he tried to get ahead.
"Watch it, bird-brain!" Barchan hissed, correcting his own slightly wobbly ascent.
"Oops! Sorry, Barchan!" Peyote chirped, already falling into his assigned position with surprising precision.
Vireo, having observed the slight chaos, timed his own launch, putting in an extra beat of his wings to position himself perfectly behind Apex. The air, crisp and cool, sang around his scales. This is what it feels like to fly with a purpose.
They climbed steadily, the wind rushing past, a deep hum filling Vireo's ears. The desert below, usually a patchwork of browns and tans, was now taking on soft purples and oranges as the sun crested the horizon. The distant mountains, home to the Volcanic Dragons, shimmered like purple-black jagged teeth against the rising sun.
"Altitude, everyone," Apex rumbled, his voice cutting through the wind. "We want to stay above the usual currents but low enough to avoid detection if any aerial scouts are out."
"Clear," Scoria called out, her voice crisp and clear, despite the distance. "Maintaining six hundred spans."
Caliche, a picture of effortless grace, simply nodded her head in response, her movements fluid and economical. Vireo noticed how her wings, unlike his own, had an almost iridescent quality, catching the light in shifting patterns. She didn't waste a single beat.
"Peyote," Apex's voice came again, "stop trying to race Barchan. Maintain your position."
"But he was looking at me!" Peyote whined.
"I'm just trying to stay balanced!" Barchan retorted, a slight wobble in his flight path. "You're all over the place! And I can look wherever I want!"
Vireo chuckled internally. Some things never change, even when you're soaring through the sky. He appreciated the lighthearted banter. It cut through the tension of the mission, whatever it was.
"We'll be over the Great Water soon," Apex announced after a while, his voice a steady presence. "We'll do a quick dive, see if we can snag breakfast. Keep an eye out for schools of silverfish – they're usually plentiful this time of year just off the coast."
The familiar scent of dry earth and desert scrub began to give way to a sharper, saltier tang. Below, the browns and tans of the desert melted into the deep, blue of the ocean. It stretched out before them, vast under the now fully risen sun. For Vireo, who had spent most of his life in the arid lands, the sheer expanse of water was always a breathtaking sight.
"There!" Scoria called out, her voice sharp. She tilted a wing, pointing downwards. "Looks like a decent school, starboard side!"
"Alright, hunters, let's go!" Apex commanded. "Vireo, Peyote, Barchan, you three stay up here with Boulder and keep watch. Caliche, with me and Scoria. Quick and clean."
With a coordinated tilt of their wings, Apex, Scoria, Cinder, and Caliche peeled off from the formation, tucking their wings for a steep dive towards the shimmering surface of the water. Vireo watched them go, marveling at their speed and precision. They hit the water with surprisingly little splash, disappearing beneath the waves.
Peyote fidgeted beside him. "I think I should just ignore what he said and try to catch something."
Barchan scoffed. "You'd probably just scare them all away with your splashing."
"I would definitely not!"
"I'm sure you would."
"Quiet, you two," Boulder rumbled from behind them. "Keep your eyes peeled. Not everything in the ocean is friendly."
A few tense minutes passed. Then, one by one, the hunting party resurfaced, each with a wriggling, silver fish clamped firmly in their jaws and talons. They rejoined the formation, gulping down their catches and handing some to Vireo, Peyote, Barchan, and Boulder.
"Good haul," Apex said, wiping his snout with a foreclaw. "Alright, back on course. The island should be visible within a an hour I think."
They resumed their steady flight, the only sounds the rhythmic beat of their wings and the rush of the wind. The sun climbed higher, warming their scales. Vireo found himself scanning the horizon with an eagerness that matched Peyote's.
It was Peyote, naturally, who spotted it first. "There! Look!" he yelled, pointing a claw. "Is that it?"
Vireo followed his gaze. At first, it was just a hazy smudge on the distant horizon, a darker patch against the endless blue. But as they flew closer, it began to take shape – a lush, green jewel rising from the ocean. Jagged cliffs met a white-sanded beach, and beyond that, a dense, vibrant jungle rose towards a central, mist-shrouded peak. Waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs in silver ribbons.
"That's our island," Apex confirmed, a note of satisfaction in his voice. "Prepare for landing. We'll aim for that stretch of beach on the western side. Looks clear."
The group adjusted their course, excitement rippling through them. The air grew thick with the scent of damp earth, exotic flowers, and the smell of a thriving forest. As they descended, Vireo could make out strange, colorful birds perched between the trees and the sound of waves crashing gently on the shore. They circled once, Apex and Scoria scanning for any dangers, before gliding down to a smooth landing on the soft, warm sand.