The Brightest Night

I order you not to die,” Tsunami said, grabbing his shoulder. “Clay, stop, STOP IT. Stop dying RIGHT NOW.” Her normally bossy voice was full of panic.

Sunny, by all the moons, quit feeling sorry for dragons who want to abduct you and sell you off.

Something is coming to shake the earth. Something is coming to scorch the ground. Jade Mountain will fall beneath thunder and ice, unless the lost city of night can be found.

Thorn gripped her claws tighter. “Sunny. You’re my daughter.

Glory had her tail curled around her talons and was holding her wings in close as wave after wave of odd colors spread through her scales. Deathbringer put one wing around her, gently, and she let him.

As each of them voted for her, Sunny felt as though her own scales might turn pink.

I’m sorry, Starflight,” she’d said, and he’d known right away what she was talking about. “I know,” he’d answered, turning his head away from her. “I just — I love you. But —” “Like a brother.” She’d hesitated, then said instead, “Not like Fatespeaker loves you.” He’d folded his wings over his face and coughed, embarrassed. “It’s all right if you love her, too,” Sunny said. “You should. She’s … she cares about you. And she’s hilarious.” He

It was a little unsettling how quiet the skies were. Clay

two legs, no wings, and holding something pointy over its head.

He was like the not-funny, not-adorable opposite of Clay, constantly hungry but in a pushy way instead of a sweetly embarrassed way.

Several RainWings stood by the water, in shades of blue and purple, holding NightWing spears.

Clay would be just as happy if nobody ever noticed how wonderful he is. Then he could sleep and eat and take care of us instead of fighting. Starflight

Tsunami was drilling RainWings in evasive maneuvers, although apparently what that actually meant was a lot of yelling things like “Pay attention!” and “Leave that toucan alone!” and “Why are you pink? Stop being pink!” and “THREE MOONS, ARE YOU EATING AGAIN?

I BEG YOUR PARDON,” Tsunami objected. “I can be VERY DIPLOMATIC when I WANT to be.

I AM GOING TO BITE THAT DRAGON’S HEAD OFF AND STUFF HIM IN A VOLCANO,” Glory roared. “Too late,” Tsunami said. “Since that’s kind of already happened. The volcano part, I mean. He’s a pile of ashes now.

Hey, I’m mad, too,” Tsunami said. “But —” “LET’S GO BACK AND KILL HIM AGAIN.

This is awesome," Tsunami said. "I'm so excited." "Going to see my very favorite dragon in all of Pyrrhia." "Are you being Glory now?" Sunny asked. "Queen of Sarcasm?" "I can be sarcastic, too! "She doesn't get to be queen of everything," Tsunami grumbled.