We walked up the narrow passageway, our wings connected nervously. Cliff and I were on our way to the entrance tunnel; from there we could fly to the peak as well as be able to see any incoming dragons. I fidgeted anxiously as we walked, wondering if Shard and Apricot were ok. We had agreed that we would meet up at the party yet I still couldn't help but worry if they were safe. I wondered if Sandstorm was at the dorm with them, or if she was somewhere else. I hope she was safe too. TIMTURNER! STOP WORRYING! I yelled at myself in my head. 

'Time?' I turned to Cliff as he spoke. 

'We're here.' I looked up at the entrance cave where my parents had dropped me off several days ago. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if we were doing the right thing. No, of course we weren't doing the right thing! But it was worth it. I stepped after Cliff, spreading my wings and leaping after him and outside. We looked up at the imposing peak, I couldn't see anything from here which was good because it meant that the party was well disguised. Or the founders had found it and taken it down... I shook my head. NO WORRYING ALLOWED TIMETURNER! I focused on the peak as we flew, not wanting to look at how high we were flying. 

'You ok?' Cliff asked, peering at me.

'Nope! I mean- yes.' I replied, beating my wings harder to catch up. Why was he so FLIPPING FAST? 

'I'm worried too you know.' He said as I snorted.

'What? I am!' He said, smiling at my slyly.

'No your not! I can tell.' I replied bumping into him happily.

'Oh ya?' He replied, speeding up and zooming towards the western peak. AGH! HOW WAS HE SO FAST?

'WAIT FOR ME!' I cried, pumping my wings harder. My lungs screamed at me but I kept going. The peak was nearer now and I could see a small ledge poking around the rim. Perfect to hide the party but still giving the participants a beautiful view. Cliff disappeared over the top, his red scales taken over by bare rock. I flung myself over the top after him, panting as my lungs gasped for air. I lay on the floor for a bit. When I finally looked up Cliff and a large Seawing were staring at me with large grins on their faces.

'Oh cover those teeth!' I said, scrambling up. 

'What teeth?' Cliff said, instantly making a silly face at me. I wrinkled my snout at him.

'Do you have your invite?' Asked the Seawing. I looked around, the ledge continued around the peak but there was a cave too. I guessed that was the tunnel to the real party because I could hear music on the other  side.

'Yup! There are a Rainwing and a Icewing coming too, they will be here later on.' I said, pulling out the scroll with the messy handwriting and handing it over to the webbed talons. 

'You may pass.' He said, stepping away from the doorway and indicating for us to enter. 

'Thanks Pike!' Cliff said, nodding at him before walking in. How on earth did he know a random Seawing? Pike nodded back, turning back to his post as we walked in. The passage was lit up by a line of Firefly Lamps and small glowworms which crawled up the wall sneakily. The floor was damp and I guessed it flooded quiet easily. The tunnel mist have been coming to an end because a light had popped up a few yards away. Cliff sped up, sprinting across the tunnel.

'Come on! We're almost there!' He cried, nudging me excitedly as I followed. Even I couldn't hide my excitement and I bounded along behind him, lifting my sore leg just off the floor.

We burst through the light, skidding to a stop in front of a large party. Small stalagmites dotted the ledge, their tips softened down to make a flat surface for a table. Food was dotted everywhere, on plates, running around, in the sky held by nets. Everywhere. There were already three half winglets here, chatting with friends and drinking water from glasses. Music blared in the background and I saw there was a band in the corner, made of students. As I watched one holding a guitar put it down, walking away to talk to a friend as a Sandwing zoomed in to take his place. 

'Wow.' Cliff stared, open-mouthed. 

'Ya.' I replied, already walking to an empty table and claiming it by plopping my satchel down on it. I sat down at the table while Cliff zoomed away, over to a group of Skywings. They greeted him happily, smiling and enveloping him in their wings. I looked closer at the band and saw Mite on the drums, bobbing his head to the beat. Longsight didn't stand far away, dancing around with a small Nightwing, she had hardly any white scales and her claws were long and curved. 

'Timeturner!' Longsight called over to me, beckoning. I bounded over, loosening my wings. No more pressure, just fun. 

'This is Sharpclaws, Sharpclaws this is Timeturner.' Sight said, putting a wing around me. I could hardly believe this was the same, stuttery Nightwing from a few days ago. He guided me to Mite as Sharpclaws nodded at me.

'You want a turn? Mite asked as I nodded, overwhelmed at how much was happening. 

'Go ahead; try em out!' Called Mite as he jumped over with Longsight and Sharpclaws, dancing along. I looked at the drums. I had never played before, I didn't even know why I had accepted. I tapped ne experimentally with my tail and it thrummed around the area quietly. I listened to the music around me, tapping the drum with my tail to stay on beat. The world disappeared around me as I began tapping drums with my front legs. There was just music... music that I would listen to forever. All my worries were beat away with each thump, happiness swarming around me. And I was playing! My body moved like it wasn't mine, moving as if on its own. I felt like the music was inside me. The music was me. I bobbed my head, swaying along with the beat.

'Wow! I didn't know you could play that well!' Called Cliff from by the Skywings.

'I didn't know I could play at all!' I called back, laughing. Then Cliff stopped talking to the Skywings around him. He was staring at the tunnel that Pike guarded. I stopped playin g instantly. Had the Founders found us? We were in so much trouble! All the worries came swarming back, buzzing around my head like wasps. Then a silver veiled body walked in, her eyes shining. Her tail flickered across the floor as she walked in and I glimpsed a blue scar underneath the veil hiding her face. Shard. Not soon after Apricot waltzed in behind her. She worse chains of lilies around her neck and a purple veil to match. Both dragons had long pieces of fabric entwined through their wings, tails and necks. Making them look like pieces of artwork, beautiful and unique. 

'Apricot?' Cliff said, staring. 

'Yes Prince Cliff?' She replied, makin her tone a bit higher to sound more important. 

'Oh I'm sorry you majesty.' Cliff lay low, a fake bow to a fake Queen.

'Oh, such manners.' The Rainwing said, lifting her chin but smiling down at the Skywing. He grinned back, rising to stand. He  was a head-height taller than her and looked down to see her. He began introducing her to his Skywing friends. Meanwhile, Shard had walked away to sit at a low table by herself, scanning the crowd hopefully. I nodded to Mite.

'Be right back.' I slithered off, hiding behind large Mudwings to stay put of Shards sight. I snuck around behind her, getting ready to pounce.

'Boo!' I jumped up from behind her, baring my fangs and flapping my wings. Shard fell down, covering her head with her wings.

'Please don't-' She peeped through her wings at the hybrid before her 'Time?' She asked, lowering her wings slowly; still wary of me. 

'That is I!' I replied, thumping down beside her. 

'WHY DID YOU DO THAT!' She cried, shoving me with her speckled wing but having no effect.

'Eh. It was funny.' I replied, keeping our wings together.

'IT WAS NOT!' She said, grinning at me.

'Well- maybe a little...' She gave in, looking at me shyly. 

'Hey, can I show you something?' I asked, darting back to my feet and reaching out an arm to help her up. 

'Sure.' She said, taking it. I lifted her up and shivered at how cold her scales were. She righted one of her veils before following me, glancing around nervously. 

'Here, check it out! A drumming set!' I said, grinning like a monkey on sugar rush. 

'Um.. cool?' She said.

'No wait, look! Can you dance?' I asked as I installed myself behind the vacated drums. 

'I don't know. I've never tried it before.' She said shyly, looking up at me. She was smaller than Apricot, I realized. Even though Apricot was younger. She smiled up at me nervously. I tapped my tail on the drum, starting the next song as the dragonets around me began to play. Then I added in the bigger drum, the small one, all three, until the song was blazing out over the audience. I was lost again in the music as Shard began to dance. Twirling and spinning around and around me, closing her eyes in bliss. Mite winked at me staring at Shard and I stuck my tongue out at  him, Sandstorm's trick. Sandstorm. I felt bad again. I should have taken her with. She would be crushed to find out I had picked Shard instead. Why had I been so stupid and selfish? I stopped drumming, giving an apologetic look at Shard before darting into the air. I flew up and up into the clouds surrounding the western peak of Jade Mountain. Then I dived, the wind whistled past my ears as I spiraled downwards. I had to fetch Sandstorm. She deserved this, not me. She deserved to enjoy herself for once and I had taken it away from her. The host would just have to survive with five dragonets from Jade Winglet because I wasn't going to change my mind anytime soon.

LOL That was a long chapter. I would write more but I think I should rather start a new chapter. Hope you like it!