Chapter 7 ~ Suspicion
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"Um, Scorch..."

Scorch looked up from his scroll, he glanced over at Starflight who was standing at his desk with a scroll in hand and the other reaching out a bit.

"I'm here, what is it?" Scorch asked. Starflight glanced over to his voice, but stayed still. "I got that scroll you needed." he said, raising the object a bit when mentioned.

Scorch got up and walked over to Starflight. As he came near, Starflight looked at him, following the sound of his footsteps. Scorch took the scroll from Starflight without a word.

Starflight hummed a little, then walked back behind his desk, using his talons to guide him.

Scorch stared at the scroll, he needed it for homework. It had information and history of all the tribes in Pyrrhia. Instead of going back to his study, he stayed, rummaging through his thoughts.

"Your still here?"

Scorch glanced over to Starflight, seeing him looking back.

"How did you know?"

"Oh! If you'd left, I would've heard your footsteps, but I can also feel your here. I don't know why or how, but I just do..." He said, trailing off, looking to the side.

Scorch hummed in response. He glanced back at the scroll. He began walking towards his small study station and began to read the scroll.

He started off with the title, reading it as History of the Phyrrian Tribes. He unrolled it completely and his eyes gazed through it, he glanced over at the end and couldn't help but to notice it was ripped.

His brows furrowed and grabbed the scroll at the tear. He then glanced up to the top of the scroll and saw that it ended exactly at the last of the seven tribes of Phyrria. MudWings, SandWings, SkyWings, all of them, they were all there. He looked closer to the tear and saw little writing he could barely make out with.

"Hmmm... Starflight." He called. Starflight's head pop out from his desk, he tilted his head towards Scorch's voice "Yes?"

"Has anyone else gotten this scroll before me?"

Starflight scratched the back of his neck, then tugged slightly at his bandages "Kinda hard to say, someone could've gotten the scroll before it came here to the school, or a dragon could've walked in here and take it to read, but as far as I know, your the only one who I know that has gotten it. Why, is there something wrong?"

Scorch looked back to the scroll, just as he was about to reply, someone walked in.

"Hello Starflight!!"

Scorch looked up seeing Ripple greeting Starflight, and decided to put aside the scroll subject for now.

"Ripple? Is that you?" Ripple smiled and nodded his head "Yup! It's me!! I came here to get a scroll." Starflight nodded and Ripple walked towards the scroll shelves.

Scorch watched as Ripple walked towards the scrolls, Ripple glanced over and saw Scorch "Oh! Hey Scorch!"

Scorch gave out a small wave and grabbed the scrolls he needed. He began to stuff them into his small bag that he brought with him.

"Your leaving now?" Ripple asked, sounding a bit disappointed. Scorch nodded "What's it up to you, anyways?"

Ripple took a step back and scratched his arm awkwardly "I was kinda hoping if we...um..." Ripple's voice trailed off and glanced to the side. Scorch rolled his eyes and now curious to what he had to say.

"Spit it out." He said flatly, Ripple looked back at him and sighed. "I was kinda hoping if you can kinda help Heron and I study."

"And why wou-"

"Um I think it's a great idea..." said Starflight "And besides, it's getting dark and I need to close the library."

Scorch glanced back to the scrolls he had, then back to Ripple. At least they're both quieter than Falcon and Nightshade.

He sighed "Alright, let's go." He finished up packing and began walking out. Ripple smiled and grabbed the scroll he needed and bid Starflight goodnight.

The two began walking through the halls, both in silence. Scorch kept his face and eyes forward, curious of what could the teared peice been about.

"Um, I haven't told anyone, if you were wondering..."

Scorch looked down at Ripple, confused to what he was referring to.

Ripple looked up at him and took notice of it. "Oh, um about our little conversation at the lake, I didn't tell anyone about...y'know..."

Scorch suddenly remembered about it, it's been a few days now, so why did he mentioned it just now?

Is he trying to gain my trust? What are you planning SeaWing...

Scorch hummed in response then broke his gaze from Ripple. Just as Ripple was about to speak, they took a corner and bumped into a certain MudWing.

"Heron, what are you doing here, aren't you suppose to be waiting for us at our cave?" Ripple asked, Heron looked surprised, or annoyed actually but he hid it and quickly did some hand gestures. Scorch only knew little about sign language, but luckily Ripple understood Heron completely.

Once Heron finished, Ripple read out what he said. "You need to go. Go where?" He asked, Heron did a couple more, the only one Scorch understood was when he made a face and pointed to his forehead with with his right talon and pointed to his stomach with his left talon, which to what Scorch knew, it read 'sick'.

"You feel sick and need to see Clay, well do you want us to help you get there?" Heron shook his head and hands, saying no, he then gestured 'I can manage.' then hurriedly walked off.

"I guess he needed to see Clay badly." Ripple said, sounding concern. Ripple continued walking but Scorch stayed for awhile, he hid himself around the corner and peered over at Heron. For one, he acted suspicious, Heron looks completely healthy and looked a bit annoyed when be saw Scorch and Ripple. He also looked like he was in a rush.

Heron kept walking towards where it should lead to Clay, but he took a glance back, then went to a different direction, leading towards the exit.

Scorch eyed the MudWing, suspicion growing inside of him. Maybe it's one of those 'its always the quiet ones' kinda deal, either way, Scorch questioned why Heron lied to Ripple and him, what was he up to at a time like this?

Only one way to find out...