I was curled up quietly in a clearing, my mother's sloth, Silver, keeping a close watch on me. I sighed and flared out my frills. Silver gave me a stern look and told me off with gibberish, but I ignored her.
I thumped my tail against it the grass in boredom. I had nothing to do.
As if by some miracle, Mangrove called; "DREAMCATCHER!"
"WHAT?" I answered, all fidgeting ceased.
"YOUR MOM WANTS YOU AT THE HEALER'S HUT!"
I scrambled up from the ground, happy for an excuse to see my parents. I hardly ever did, they were always off working on some project or touring the continent together.
"COMING!"
I raced up to the canopy, barely bothering to scoop Silver up with my long, curved rainwing tail.
She moved up to my neck and held on for dear life, knowing exactly how reckless I was when gliding.
I reached the platform in twenty seconds flat, just below my record. I swore.
"Dreamcatcher," Dad warned, and I winced slightly.
"Sorry." I said, looking down at my talons, pretending to be ashamed. "What is it?"
Mom looked at him with a knowing glance. This couldn't be good.
"We're sending you to Jade Mountain Academy," She said, standing tall like she was still in front of the kingdom, ruling the court. Like she wasn't talking to her daughter, just another subject.
I glared at her and hissed softly. "Excuse me? What's wrong with Mango Institute?" I asked, on the brink of whining.
"Oh, it's fine. But we need you to get out of the rainforest more often, and the institute can't do that for you," she replied.
"Then take me on your trips! There's no need to send me abroad for three years!"
"We can't do that. You're going, and there's nothing you can do about it." She said stiffly.
"Glory..." Dad said cautiously.
She sighed and continued. "Dreamcatcher, please. Don't turn this into a fight."
"I'm not! I want to stay here, in the rainforest. I need to continue training to become queen!" I protested desperately, wanting to find any obstacle to throw at them.
She just shook her head. "You leave at dawn. Any more complaining, and you stay an extra year. Got it?"
I gulped. "Yes, your majesty.
She didn't bother correcting me.
So, instead of packing, I flew over to a small clearing. It was my favorite, the one I always went to when I wanted to escape. I tried to ignore everything about Jade Mountain, but it kept forcing its way back into my thoughts. I groaned.
So, I started hunting for frogs. I don't know why I like to do that, maybe it's just fun to watch them hop around on tiny legs. They're no good as prey, but they make great short-term pets. Sometimes I'd feed one to Fog when she's asleep, and her reactions were always hilarious.
Fog had been my best friend since I was born. We were always together at school, and loved pranking Mangrove. She was basically my other half.
I kept on chasing frogs long after dark, and only went in when the sun began to rise.

"Dreamcatcher! Wake up!" Mangrove nudged me gently awake.
"Five more minutes..." I mumbled sleepily. He laughed lightly.
"Up! We're leaving in ten minutes!"
I groaned.
After I'd packed my things, we landed at the healer's platform for me to say my goodbyes.
I sighed and dropped my suitcases to look back at my parents.
I nodded at each of them in turn. "Bye Mom. Bye Dad. See you in a few weeks."
They nodded back, and I lifted off, leaving behind all I'd ever known.