Anticipation

Deep within the Spirit Glade stood the slender young Bishel Dragon known as Willowisp. Her scales were the deep blue of the night sky. The dark of her scales contrasted sharply with the glowing blue bioluminescent spots that ran the length of her body on both sides of her spine from head to tailtip. Curved black fins also ran the length of her spine ending in tiny spikes at the end of her tail. Two black horns curved back from her head, ending in wicked points. Her eyes were closed and her head was held high, taking in the mood of the forest around her. The blue flames on her legs and tail cast an eerie glow on the trees around her. She stood statue still, barely breathing. Only the slight trembling of her glowing dragonfly - like wings betrayed the tension within her. Suddenly, she released the breath she had been holding in a whoosh and relaxed, a grin spreading across her face.

Excitement was buzzing throughout the forest. The feeling was so strong it was almost like a physical force. Unable to contain herself any longer, Willowisp crouched for a moment, her muscles tensing before launching herself into a run. Digging her claws into the earth for added traction, she pushed herself ever faster. She streaked across the forest floor, the wind whistling along her back fins, her blue flames streaming behind her. The mists quickly flowing back into the gap she had created with her passage. Soon a silvery arboreal glided in beside her. It's glowing white eyes met her glowing blue ones, a sort of mischievous light dancing within. It then pumped its wings to gain altitude, leaving her behind in the mists. Unable to run any faster, Willowisp answered the unspoken challenge by launching herself into the sky. Her energy wings beating rapidly to put on even more speed. They raced ever upward, expertly avoiding the branches until they burst above the canopy into the starlit night. Having burned off most of their nervous energy, the two dragons glided silently for a while.

*Hey Rainmist, do you think either of us will be chosen tomorrow?* Willowisp asked. The silver looked thoughtful for a moment then answered *Hmm, we've both worked very hard and our tests went well. We may have only just graduated, but I think we have a chance. In any case, it's getting late I need to get some sleep before the Council meets. If I am summoned, I don't want to be caught napping!* With that, Rainmist banked left and dropped through an open space in the canopy.

Her friend's day may be over, but Willowisp had just awakened. Most of the residents of the Spirit Glade were nocturnal. The light within the Glade didn't vary much, but in the few places where the trees thinned, daylight was able to spear down into the mists, hurting the light sensitive eyes of many. Left alone to her thoughts, Willowisp decided to practice some of her lessons. She began with an evasive pattern, gaining and dropping altitude rapidly, spinning and turning at a moment's notice. The memory of her instructor's voice echoing through her mind "Whether you are being attacked on the ground or in the sky, the best way to evade the enemy is to be unpredictable. Use your skills and the environment around you to your advantage." With that in mind, she began one of the trickiest maneuvers she had mastered. Spotting a brief break in the canopy, she dove down amongst the branches and started weaving through the treetops. Slipping through gaps barely wide enough for her body, her soft blue energy wings flickering fitfully as they passed through the branches and leaves.

For hours she went over her lessons, controlling the temperature and brightness of her blue flames, setting things alight and putting them out again with a thought, running search patterns in the sky, hiding in the shadows and dimming her glow, locating edible plants and animals, listing the ones that could be used as medicine... Exhausted from her efforts, Willowisp landed on a branch that looked like it could hold her weight, sinking her claws into the rough bark to prevent her from slipping. As she sat, gazing up at the stars through the leaves above, she thought about what lay ahead. She had trained long and hard to be allowed the chance to adventure out into the lands beyond the edge of Duskwood. She came from a long line of blues, many of which had been explorers, mapmakers and scouts. It was a dream of many of Duskwood's Bishel Dragons to find other clans, any group that had managed to survive the war. Many dragons had been sent looking for them over the years. They often would return with stories they had heard of clans in far off lands, but so far, no contact had been made with any clan outside of Duskwood.

As she sat on the gently swaying branch, a long mournful howl rose through the night air. It was soon joined by others until the entire night was filled with a symphony of wolf's song. The song spoke of exploring strange lands, of open plains and snow covered mountains, of fire and ice, smoke and storms, and of proving oneself. With the sound vibrating through the forest, other creatures began to add their own voices to the songs. Willowisp closed her eyes, letting the sound roll over her in waves. She listened for a while, catching the rhythm and tones in her mind before adding her own trilling voice to the songs of the night.