I awoke, my mind clouded in a haze, the remnants of an unsettling dream still lingering at the edges of my thoughts. A headache pressed at the front of my skull, a dull, insistent throb. As I stirred, I felt my hand rise instinctively to my temples, my fingers brushing against the unfamiliar shape of my head. The sensation was strange—my nails, sharp and elongated, glided effortlessly across my skin. They were not human nails, no—these were talons, gleaming black with streaks of gold running like molten rivers through their scales. The contrast between the darkness and the brilliance of the gold sent a thrill up my spine, as if they were alive, pulsing with energy.

I smiled, a quiet, satisfied expression curving my lips. The world around me began to sharpen into focus, and I realized—this was no dream. I was here, I was in the world of Wings of Fire. The air around me felt different, tinged with the scent of ancient forests and the crackle of a coming storm. I was on Pyrrhia, a land of dragons and legends, a world where I truly belonged.

And as the warmth of realization washed over me, I felt the deep, intuitive pull of the NightWing tribe settle into my bones. The scales across my body began to hum with the certainty of it, dark as the night sky and streaked with gold, as though reflecting the stars themselves.

I was going to be a NightWing. A dragon of the shadows, with powers of the mind and the potential to soar above the world in the great, star-streaked skies. There was no turning back now, only the thrilling promise of what awaited me in this new reality.

"Oh, hello there," I heard a cheerful voice call, and I turned, squinting against the shimmering light that was filtering through the sky.

There, standing before me, was a copper SkyWing dragonet—her scales gleaming like polished bronze, but with undertones of gold that danced in the light as she moved. Her wings were spread slightly, revealing their vibrant, fiery patterns, and her bright blue eyes locked onto mine with a curious intensity.

"I'm Peril," she said, her voice ringing with a playful lilt. "Who are you?"

I took a moment, adjusting to the reality of meeting another dragon—someone who, like me, had come from a world of stories, legends, and imagination. I gave a small, confident smile, feeling a strange connection to her already, as if fate had woven our paths together.

"I'm Midnightwhisper," I replied, the name rolling off my tongue like it had always belonged to me. "But you can call me Midnight."

Peril's eyes sparkled with intrigue, and she tilted her head, a grin creeping across her face. She folded her wings back gracefully, the movement like a ripple of flame curling against the wind.

"Well, you better come along then," she said, a playful edge to her tone. "I can't say I've seen you around before. But you look like someone who belongs in the skies. So, what are you waiting for? We've got places to go."

Her words were an invitation, and without hesitation, I felt the pull of adventure stir within me. The world of Pyrrhia was vast and full of secrets—secrets that, with Peril by my side, I was eager to uncover. I nodded, my wings fluttering in eager anticipation.

"Lead the way," I said, and with that, we soared into the unknown together.

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We flew for what felt like hours, the wind rushing beneath our wings as the landscape of Pyrrhia unfolded in breathtaking views. Mountains rose in the distance, their jagged peaks glistening against the copper sky, framed by dark, swirling clouds. Peril led the way, her wings cutting through the air with grace and speed, her fiery copper scales gleaming like a flame in the sunlight.

Finally, we approached a towering mountain with twin, jagged peaks, one taller than the other, their tips scraping the very heavens. Peril circled around it, the landscape opening up below, and as we neared, she called back to me, her voice tinged with excitement.

"This is it," she said, the pride in her voice undeniable. "The Mountain. It's a school for dragonets—dragons around my age, learning to harness their powers, their strengths. It's where I've spent most of my time."

I took in the mountain, the sheer scale of it. The peaks stood like twin guardians, and at the base, I could see various cave entrances and winding paths carved into the rock. I felt a sense of awe; this place was ancient, full of wisdom and hidden knowledge, waiting for me to discover it.

But then, Peril's voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked down at her with a raised brow.

"You... you might want to be careful," she said nervously, her eyes darting to my wings. "My firescales, they're—"

I cut her off, a small laugh escaping my lips, though I could hear the concern in her voice.

"Peril, fire has never bothered me," I reassured her, shaking my head. "I've always been able to handle it. I promise, I won't get burned."

Her eyes widened slightly, unsure whether to believe me, but then she gave a reluctant nod. I could sense her unease, her instincts flaring up as if she wanted to protect me from something I didn't even fear. It made me smile again, this time softer, as I placed a reassuring claw on her shoulder.

"You'll see," I added gently, my wings flexing in anticipation as we hovered just above the mountain's base. "I'm stronger than I look."

She hesitated for a moment longer, but then, as though deciding to trust me, she grinned back and flew ahead, leading me towards the heart of the mountain.

"I still can't believe you're older than me by so much," she called over her shoulder, her voice brightening. "You look like you're just as young as the rest of us. You'll fit in fine, Midnight. Even if you're a little bigger than me."

I chuckled, gliding after her. There was something exhilarating about flying with a dragon like Peril—someone who was already fierce, yet so full of warmth and loyalty.

As we soared towards the school, I felt a sense of destiny shift inside me. The world of dragons awaited, full of new challenges, new friends, and perhaps even more than I could ever imagine.