The next thing Scorch knew was that Synthesis was waking him up for school. He mumbled "I'm awake" to her with his eyes still closed but he didn't think she understood. "Come on!" She said excitedly, "Today's the big day! Get up!" Then she headed over to her bed to gather her things.

Scorch sat up a inspected his leg. It felt better than yesterday and Aglow did a flawless paint job, so it didn't even look injured. Even though he wanted to take a look at what the wound looked like, we was afraid if he lifted the bandage, he would mess it up.

Scorch stood up and shook out his wings. He stretched out his claws as he thought, I'm so ready for battle training. I'll show Sulfur I'm not just  her little brother.

"Come on," he said to Synthesis, "We don't want to be late!" He hurried out the door with Synthesis close behind. 

The streets were busy that morning; with dragons running in all different direction and some flying overhead. Scorch hissed at a dull green StreamWing who stepped on one of his front talons on the way there.

It was pretty difficult getting to the academy but they made it eventually. Scorch could hear Synthesis take a breath of relief once they got there. "So I'll see you later?" He said to her. "Yeah, let's meet out here, in front of the academy." He nodded then headed to the hall that said "Battle Training".

In this hall there was only one room to go to on the right. This room was much larger than the painting room and was filled with dragons from every tribe. When he looked a little harder he saw there was one color missing from the room of dragons; red; his color; HeatWings were missing. Then he noticed that there were HeatWings in the room, but huddled in a corner, outcast from the others. What is going on? He saw that the dragons would occasionally glare at the group of HeatWings.

He didn't understand this. He thought all dragons were supposed to be equal in the Ring of Wings. Scorch headed over to the other HeatWings not knowing how to feel about this. Confused? Mad? "Hey," he said, "why are you guys over here in the corner instead of with the other dragons?" "Because the other tribes don't like us anymore." A black HeatWing dappled with red scales spat, "It's because of our new queen. I think they know what her plans are for the other tribes." "Plans? What plans?" "Well didn't you hear? Rumor has it that Volcanic is going to destroy the other tribes, one by one, so HeatWings can rule Scardaska. And by the way the other tribes are treating us right now, I agree with Queen Volcanic's plans." Then the black HeatWing casted a glare at the other dragons.

Scorch blinked at the HeatWing for a few seconds. Whaaat?! Queen Volcanic can't do that! The rumors can't be true, they just can't! An image of Synthesis flashed into his mind with deep worry. Scorch slowly walked away without responding to the other HeatWing.

What was he supposed to do? Stay here and do the battle training he waited so long to do or go back to the Kingdom of Heat and find out what's really going on.