The Angled Volcano was rumbling restlessly tonight, and nobody knew what to do. According to the history books, it had only erupted once before, and was declared dormant many eons ago. It was set at an angle on Volcano Ridge so that it would only affect the StarDragons, and nobody would know. The StarDragons couldn’t move; it would reveal them and put all their lives in jeopardy.

Shadowstar thought this was ridiculous. They were in jeopardy either way, she had tried to point out in school. But nobody had listened, and she had been sent back to the orphanage, as she often was, to get thrown into the Underwater Abyss. The Underwater Abyss was something that all the orphanage dragonets (Except Shadowstar) feared with their lives.

First, they were beaten. Then, there were chains strapped to their ankles with weights on them. They were thrown into over 100 feet deep water, freezing cold, with ice forming on their talons. At the bottom was a giant monster, too disturbing to describe. The basics? It had long teeth, sharp as razors, about the length of an adult dragon’s tail. The dragonet was supposed to either swim to the top, climb to the top, or get eaten by the monster. Shadowstar was one of the few that had ever come back, and the only one who had gone in the Underwater Abyss multiple times.

Shadowstar looked up at both moons (Ario and Tyrion), now full, from where she was in the courtyard. It had been six nights since she had seen CloudWing. Where was he? Had he given up on her? Did he decide she was weird, like everybody else did, because she had no powers? She hadn’t gotten those vibes from him, but maybe she was wrong.

I’m so selfish, she chided herself. He sacrifices so much for me, sneaking out of the palace every night, getting rejected from the palace because of me. He travels a long way every night, all for me.

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But it had been so long since she had seen him. He was her only friend, and he caused her to feel something she had never felt before (CloudWing called it happiness).

Her meetings with CloudWing were the only thing she ever looked forward to. She didn’t mind school, but all the teachers ever taught was what they thought was for “the good of the tribe” every night. She liked battle training; it gave her mind freedom and allowed her to relax. But every other subject felt like talons scraping on stone to Shadowstar.

Shadowstar was considered a hero in the orphanage. She stood up to the bullies, questioned bad rules, and helped everyone. Of course, she was sent to the Underwater Abyss a lot, but she always made it out. However, Shadowstar knew that the other orphans would turn their backs on her in an instant.

Now, Shadowstar thought, it was time to change things. She was going to run away, see the other side, find CloudWing, and fix the orphanage. She was tired of living in secrecy and having recurring nightmares about the shadowy figures (Shadowstar was sure that those were the Abyss’ fault). She would fix it, no matter what the cost.

The next day, Shadowstar roused herself from sleep.

She packed her few belongings and a little bit of food in her satchel. Keeping her head down in case she was discovered, she tiptoed past the sleeping dragonets (They all slept in one room) and out into the sunlight.

Everything was deserted, and oddly bathed in filtered sunlight. Purples and blues on the Palace that hadn’t been there before now shined their existence. Turning North, towards Volcano Ridge. The Mist blocked Shadowstar’s view, but she thought she could make out the Angled Volcano. With a flick of her tail, Shadowstar flew in that direction, out of the Mist. CloudWing, here I come, she thought joyously.