Free 01 Wing Warrior by Kevin Outlaw Page A

carrying. Perhaps you should read it.’
    Nimbus took a look at the sword. He had not noticed them before, but there were fine letters carved below the hilt. ‘These letters are strange to me,’ he said. ‘I do not know what they say.’
    ‘The inscription is in the language of the dragons. It says, “look to the clouds.” Nimbus is a type of cloud, isn’t it?’
    Nimbus sighed heavily. He certainly didn’t feel like a Wing Warrior. He knew he wasn’t brave enough to go to war; he was barely brave enough to go out with Tidal in his fishing boat. He was so small, and the armour was so big.
    ‘It’s okay,’ Cumulo said. ‘I won’t let you fall.’
    Nimbus patted Cumulo on the side of the neck. The scales were as rough as the bark of a coconut tree. ‘Let’s not talk about war any more. Let’s just worry about getting you hidden before people spot you and decide to chase you into the mountains with pitchforks.’
    ‘Why would they do that?’
    ‘People get scared of things that are different to them. And believe me, you are about as different as it gets.’
    ‘What’s wrong with being different?’
    ‘Some people just don’t like it. It’s silly, but people can be like that sometimes. Come on. The Forbidden River is just through here.’
    Cumulo wriggled between two trees, waking up some squirrels that had been sleeping in them and causing a small bird to dart into the sky with a screech. ‘Tight fit,’ he muttered, as he squeezed through and the trees twanged back into position behind him. ‘I think I’ve put on some weight.’
    ‘Too long sat in that cave,’ Nimbus said. He was standing on the riverbank, watching the furious water bubble and spit as it accelerated out towards the ocean. ‘This river is much faster now,’ he added, thoughtfully.
    ‘It’s the extra water from the underground cave,’ Cumulo said, dropping the sack of armour. ‘It has made this river dangerous.’
    Nimbus stared at his broken reflection in the water. ‘It’s probably ruined my fishing spot.’
    ‘I think whatever has come out of that cave with us has probably ruined a lot of fishing spots, and much more besides.’
    ‘I had the best fishing spot on the river. Maybe the best fishing spot in the world.’ Nimbus put his hand into the river; the water rippled around his fingers. ‘I don’t see any fish here now.’
    ‘There aren’t any. The thing has scared them away.’
    ‘What do you think it was?’
    ‘I really don’t know.’
    ‘Did you see the size of the tooth I found?’
    ‘I did.’
    ‘It must be a monster as big as you are.’
    ‘Bigger.’
    ‘Aren’t you afraid?’
    ‘There are few things a dragon fears.’
    Nimbus wiped his hands dry on his tunic. ‘Is it wrong to be afraid?’
    ‘I don’t think so.’
    Nimbus smiled hopefully.
    Suddenly there was an evil laugh, as twisted as the surrounding trees, and the undergrowth was alive with a flurry of activity. A small, wiry creature, no bigger than a cat, darted out of the cover of some nearby brambles and stopped in the open. It was thin and crooked, like a brown twig that had come to life, and its beady eyes burned like coals in the heart of a fire as it looked straight at Nimbus.
    Nimbus’s breath caught in his throat. He had put the sword on the ground and was too scared to even pick it up.
    Just as quickly as the creature had appeared, there was an explosion of motion from the opposite direction, and a gigantic stag burst into the clearing. The magnificent animal faced off against the small, ugly creature, and a deep and uncomfortable silence descended on the woods. It was as if everything was poised expectantly, even the trees, to see what would happen next.
    Eventually, the stag snorted challengingly, and stamped the ground with its hooves. In retaliation, the tiny stick creature made peculiar barking, yelping noises, and beat its thin chest with its hands. The stag advanced a pace, lowering its antlers. The other thing threw back