Next chapter! BTW, everyone, I got Shadow's and Onyx's names mixed up. I fixed it now. Sorry for the confusion!
Chapter 3
"Alright, alright, wake up, rise and shine," Kasper called. The children awoke, quite groggy, but not complaining. "Let's go! It's the start of a new day! And the sooner we get going, the sooner we start! The sooner we start, the sooner we finish! Let's go!"
"I feel like I'm in an army camp," a falcon muttered.
"You are in one, dunce," the fennec fox snapped. Onyx didn't know exactly what to do, so she just followed the fennec fox. She had already accepted this place, but it was all so confusing. The sun hadn't even come up yet, thoug the sky was becoming gradually lighter. Kasper led them into the cave, and inside, the smokewolf was waiting.
"What are your names?" He asked them, his ruby red eyes narrowed.
The fennec fox stepped up first. "I'm Faedon."
Onyx looked at the fennec fox, then to the other children, before clearing her throat and looking back at the smokewolf. "My name is Onyx."
The falcon stepped beside them and said, "I'm Arcturus."
"Daruk," the golden eagle said.
"I am Garron," said a wolf pup.
"Haylei." The grizzly bear cub dipped her head respectfully.
"I'm Otulissa." The charcoal foal bowed her head.
"I'm Nyra," a sooty owlet offered her name.
"Spirit," the gryphon stepped forward.
The smokewolf nodded. "Thank you." He began to mutter an unknown language under his breath.
"What's he doing?" Onyx whispered to Faedon.
Faedon shrugged. "Don't ask me." Around the children's backs, smoke began to swirl. Though Onyx didn't have it for some strange reason, she began to panic until the smoke dispersed. It revealed large, elegant wings that were the same color as that particular child's pelt. Onyx calmed down as she realized the smoke's purpose.
"Wow!" Garron exclaimed, flexing his new wings. Onyx smirked a bit; she had been born with wings, and the sight of the other creatures' amazement was amusing, to say the least.
"When are we going to learn to use them?" Otulissa asked.
"Today."
"How much...- farther," Onyx managed to push out, standing as best as she could against the growing winds. She raised her head to make her body as aerodynamic as possible.
"I don't know," Garron shouted over the wind, "but keep going! Endure it!"
"I think I was planning on doing that!" Onyx snapped, mustering up all her strength as a fierce gust slammed into them. This was tough.
Finally, the smokewolf raised his head and let out a howl. The wind suddenly stopped, and the children collapsed, gasping for air. The smokewolf lofted down to them and said, "you may all take a break for now." Onyx let out a sigh of relief. Ever since they had gotten their wings earlier that morning, they had been going through many grueling training exercises. It was noon now, but Onyx still felt amazingly energized.
"So, what do you think of this place?" Otulissa asked, walking to Onyx's side.
"I love it," Onyx said. "They're tough, but I can already see that they really do care about and appreciate us."
"I agree," Otulissa agreed, nodding. "My family would never have let me train like this!"
"I can't believe they would abandon us like that!" Haylei exclaimed, walking up to join the conversation.
"Well, it's a good thing they did," Onyx said, "because if they didn't, we wouldn't be here. And I think we all agree; this place is much better than our old homes."
"Without a doubt," Haylei nodded enthusiastically.
"Alright, let's go," The smokewolf said, coming up from behind them. Onyx rose to her paws, grinning. She felt ready to take on the whole world, answering to the smokewolf's every command. And that's exactly what she was going to do one day.