The Hidden Kingdom

I really think I'd be better at, like, advanced napping techniques.

IceWing!” he yelped, flailing over backward. Tsunami leaped to her feet, teeth bared. “Look out! It’s — oh.” Starflight took a deep breath as Glory’s scales shifted back to brown and gray. “Glory! Why would you do that to me?” “Because it’s hilarious,” she

How did you know they were there?" Glory asked. "Oh wait, I forgot, NightWings are all-knowing, all-seeing and all-brilliant, right?" "Don't forget al-wonderful and all-brilliant.

You’re nonagoshabibble,” Squid said. “Squid, be polite,

Scrolls,” Jambu said. “Um. Those are . . . ?” Starflight looked as if someone had just asked him whether breathing was really necessary.

Wait,” Glory jumped in. “What do you

That’s what I’d like to know,” she said.

Besides, Queen Battlewinner doesn’t like to have her orders questioned,” the fourth dragon spoke

doorway. Glory wasn’t quite sure how she knew this was not an ordinary hole in a rock.

WELL THEN FINE, she would just keep her visions to herself. Until she had another great one, anyway.

Handsome had perfectly imitated the noises she’d been hearing from the big-beaked birds. If that was another RainWing talent, it was one she’d never even thought of trying before.

eyes. She felt the changes shimmer across her scales. The hardest part was the extra horns IceWings had around their heads. She concentrated on making her ruff look like it was made of icicles and hoped that would do. She also couldn’t make her claws ridged like IceWing claws, and her tail wasn’t as whip-thin at the end as an IceWing’s would be. Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe there’s no way I’ll get away with it. But it was still pretty dark out . . . and she really, really wanted to know what a NightWing was doing out here. Well, she thought ruefully, if he figures me out, I guess I’ll just kill him. Somehow it didn’t sound as funny as she’d hoped. She leaped into the air and flew back to the spot where she’d seen the strange dragon. For a moment she was afraid she’d lost him, before she realized that he was lying down, his black scales half-hidden in the long shadows. Confidence, she told herself. It’s all about attitude. “Hey!” she barked, landing with a thump beside him. “Who are you, and what are you doing in our territory?” The NightWing leaped up in surprise and stared at her. He was a lot younger and smaller than Morrowseer, wiry and graceful in his movements even when he was startled. The silver scales sparkling under his wings caught the morning light like trapped stars. “Great moons. Where did you come from?” he asked. He looked up at the sky with a puzzled expression. “Where do you think?” she said. “And I’m asking the questions here. What are you doing in the Ice Kingdom?” “Technically this isn’t the Ice Kingdom yet,” he said. “Or didn’t you know that?” It isn’t? she thought. The map she’d memorized didn’t exactly have borders drawn on it, not that those would have helped her out here anyway.

Jambu shrugged apologetically. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” he said. Starflight had to sit down and fold his wings over his head for a minute. Glory

Maybe we should destroy it,” Sunny said unexpectedly. They all turned to look at her.

Queen Magnificent, I challenge you for the throne of the RainWings.

I volunteer,” Clay said. “I’m a world champion at sitting on my friends.

Forget the stupid prophecy. This is the destiny I was supposed to have.

Her wings were folded, and her scales shimmered like white gold against the red backdrop. Blaze

What was surprising, though, was discovering what Starflight got up to when he was bored. “Hey,