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So my somewhat partner is forcing me to post a little novelette I made a few years ago so here it is

The Element Wolves

Written by @asparagus-official

A Guide to the Elements

There are four known tribes of Element Wolves, each tribe consisting of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Let me tell you a bit about them:

Emberclaws

Description: Considered the “Fire” element. Usually red or orange, sometimes with yellow, with unique gold markings that differ for each wolf. Emberclaws always give off more heat than any other tribe, as well as a soft golden glow.

Abilities: Known for being fast, with sparks shooting from their tails when they fly fast enough. Usually quick and maneuverable. Can enlarge and shrink fires to their will, but they are only able to control already existing fires, not make their own.

Aquarions

Description: Considered the “Water” element. Usually blue, sometimes green or teal, with unique sapphire-blue markings that differ for each wolf.

Abilities: Incredibly fast swimmers; their strength and focus also increases in water. Can create waves to their will and control the movement of water; however, they can not make more water.

Zephyrwinds

Description: Considered the “Air” element. Usually any shade of silver, grey, or white; rarely black, although this can happen. Zephyrwinds have unique silver markings that differ for each wolf.

Abilities: Can control air currents and whip up a strong wind; these wolves are also incredibly fast flyers and can beat every other tribe in a race.

Terralyons

Description: Considered the “Earth” element. These wolves have the largest color variety, from green to brown and sometimes speckled with oranges or reds. Have unique jade-green markings that differ for each wolf.

Abilities: can cause minor earthquakes; Terralyons can also make anything bloom or grow, but it can only grow what’s already planted and can’t make seeds out of thin air. Terralyons are also known for being quite strong. They are strongest when completely surrounded by nature.

“— and that is how the Great First Four arrived and made what we have today.” The four-year-olds’ History teacher, a wizened old Terralyon, was just finishing a particularly boring lecture about Beginning of the World, or whatever everyone called it. I laid my head on the ground in front of me and covered my eyes with my paws.

When will this class be over? I thought. Hasn’t it already been an eternity or two? I was so hungry; I had skipped breakfast to go to a meeting with the National Scholarship Association Because We’re Sooooo Nice to Wolves In Need or whatever everyone called it about how I could continue going here as long as I kept working hard, blah blah blah. Above all that, I had just come from Hunting class (which, by the way, we only get to have once a quarter-moon), where we aren’t allowed to eat food, just practice catching it.

“Spark.” I heard another voice, this time female, saying my name. Oh no. I looked up with a small wince as I realized that the principal was standing over me, her expression cold as her icy blue eyes flicked over me. I knew that Miss Coral didn’t like me; she seemed to think any poor wolflet was just someone to crush underneath her paws. But as the principal stood there, radiating menace, I felt like she had a little bit more hatred reserved just for me.

“If you need to go to the healer, say something,” she said. “Do you?”

I shook my head glumly, not daring to meet her eyes. She seized my snout roughly and looked directly into my face. “Very well, then.” Her face stayed the same, pressed up against mine, but her tone was now edged with malice. “You receive detention for disrupting the class.” She let go of my snout and shook her paw, as though she were getting off any dirt she might have gotten on her shiny, perfectly sharp claws.

I rubbed my snout, careful not to show shock or outrage at the mention of the punishment. I was used to getting random detentions for “disrupting the class.”

“I expect to see you in my class in five minutes.” She said smugly. Then she strode out of the room, knocking over all my old, donated books with one sweep of her perfectly trimmed tail before whisking out of the clearing.

Just then, the History chimewing chirped, signaling the end of class. The other students filed out of the clearing while I threw myself on the floor and began frantically snatching up books, trying to make sure I could get from one side of the school to the other in time for my next class. No no no no no! That evil witch Coral had done this on purpose. She wanted me to be late, knowing full well I had her next. I picked up the last book, wrapped my vines around it, and bolted out of the class. But my heart dropped like a stone off a cliff when I heard the chimewings around me go off. The halls were much emptier now, not that it did me much good.

I paused outside of my Myths and Stories class, taking a deep breath before sliding in. Miss Coral, much to my dread, had already begun. She stopped what she was saying, looked at me with her cold, unforgettable stare, and smiled the most menacing smile I had ever seen. “Ah, Spark, I am so glad that you decided to join us at last. Now, perhaps if you arrive late, you think you’re better than the class?” She asked with mock curiosity. I didn't respond. “Well, if you think you’re better than everyone, then answer me this: what was the name of the Aquarion who discovered moonleaf?” She smiled even more.

“Um, but Miss, I don’t think we’ve learned that yet…” I stammered.

“Detention.” She snarled. “Now sit down and stay where you belong!” She barked. I moved to sit where I usually sat, as far away as possible from the group of stuck-up nobles that were sitting in a sunlit corner of the room , but Miss Coral said, “oh, not there, dear. Surely if you think you’re so important, you don't mind sitting right here?” With a wicked grin, she pointed to a spot right next to the group of nobles whispering and giggling to one another.

Just then, my arch nemesis, Sapphire, strolled in. Rich and beautiful, she was the smug, stuck-up daughter of a noble, and we hated each other. Naturally, all these traits would reserve a special place in Miss Coral’s twisted heart. “Ah, Sapphire,” she said, smiling. “You may take a seat anywhere you wish.”

Sapphire smirked and sauntered over to Skye, a rather mysterious wolflet who had just popped up one day, who was sitting in a quite comfortable spot at the front of the room. “I want to sit… here.” She pointed a long, elegant claw at the spot right where Skye was sitting.

“Oh, um, sorry, Sapphire, but I’m in this seat for today,” Skye replied, in the tone that someone would use when explaining to a newborn wolflet that two plus two equals four. “But there are seats next to me, if you want.” She waved a paw at the seat next to her, and Sapphire glanced at Miss Coral, but she was looking at something at her desk and didn't see Sapphire shooting her a glare. Fuming, Sapphire dropped herself into the seat on the left of Skye. Skye just sat there, smiling a wonderful smile at Sapphire. How did Skye have such self-control? Iwould’ve clawed stupid Sapphire’s face off by now. Miss Coral looked up from the paper on her desk and said, “now, class, open your books to page one hundred and twelve…”

***

Suddenly, the noise of the Myths and Stories Chimewing shook me out of my stupor. Was it the end of class? Yes! I jumped up and bolted towards the lunchroom.

I ate lunch alone like always, and quickly, which was a less common occurrence for me, but my next class was one of the few I didn’t hate.

I was in luck; Bookmaking was my favorite class, with the nicest teacher, Miss Breeze. She would always listen to me and didn’t care that wolves like Sapphire were supposed to be treated better than some “common street wolf.” (That last part was Miss Coral’s words, when I was eavesdropping on a conversation I probably wasn’t supposed to hear.)

As I entered the classroom, I shot a smile at Miss Breeze, and Sapphire laughed. “What a weirdo,” she said, smirking at me. “Two detentions in a row? Go back to the streets where you belong.”

Before I could lose it and tackle Sapphire, Miss Breeze stepped in. “Sapphire, please don’t say things like that in this class.”

Sapphire gave me one last withering glare and sat down next to her friends. I walked over to a seat right next to Skye, the one who had outwitted Sapphire before lunch. She smiled at me and got out her bookbinding materials.

“Today, we will start a project that we will be working on for the last quarter-moon of the term.” Miss Breeze said, spreading her silvery wings. “You will write a story in your Writing class, and once you are finished, you will bind the book. Miss Geode and I will showcase and judge the book on the story and the binding quality. Best of luck to you.” She paused. “One last thing, students. Queen Seafoam is deciding on a school to visit to look at the books the students make, so keep your claws crossed that it's us!”

Every student in the classroom gasped. A chance to have the queen of the wolves read a book made by you? The idea was incredible. My eyes were shining. Bookmaking was my passion; if Queen Seafoam liked my book, it would be a perfect opportunity to professionally write for the queen! I had to try, at least. I looked around the classroom. I pulled out a piece of paper and an inkwell. With my mind focused on this and nothing else, I dipped my claw in the glittering black ink and began writing.

As I wrote, I became lost in the words spilling themselves from the tip of my claw to the page. This was just my time to jot down ideas, but I felt myself slipping into my writing already. I got so caught up that I barely heard the end of class chimewing ring an hour later.

The next few periods went by like a blur; all the time, I was brainstorming ideas for my story. And as the final chimewing rang, I was almost relieved to head to the detention room, run by Miss Flicker, who knew my being there was unfair. She usually let her students work in detention. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice. “Well, well, well… what do we have here?” Sapphire stepped out of the shadow just outside the entranceway to the classroom behind me. “Come with me.” She smirked.

“Why would I do anything for you?” I asked impatiently.

Sapphire just sighed. “Well, we’ll do this the hard way, then.” She murmured. Then, speaking a bit louder, she said to someone behind me, “you know what to do.”

Before I could turn around, strong paws wrapped around my snout and roughly dragged me towards the nearby “abandoned broom closet.” At least, that’s what most wolves thought it was; some of us who paid attention knew about the secret door that led to the place Sapphire visited whenever she was skipping class or had some time off. They pulled me in and shut the door quietly. Another pair of paws covered my eyes while Sapphire fiddled with something in the room, and when the paws were removed, I saw a small door leading down a winding set of stairs. There was a flicker of light from the bottom, but I couldn’t see anything beyond that.

The wolf holding my snout pulled me down the stairs and threw me at the bottom. I landed with a thump, too winded to speak. I looked up to see Sapphire smiling down at me.

“Are you crazy?” I snarled. “Why did you drag me down here? I’m going to miss detention!”

Sapphire examined her paw. “I have a proposal, and don’t worry about the detention thing. If you agree, I can get those removed in a heartbeat.”

“You mean a proposal as in you blackmail me into something?” I asked, glaring daggers at her.

She smiled wickedly. “How did you know?”

“Lucky guess.” I muttered sarcastically.

“Well, let me make it short and sweet for you: you will write my story for me, and if you object, I will tell Miss Coral that you tried to blackmail me into writing your story for you!” She said, almost casually, except for the danger in her voice.

I gasped. “You want me to do what?” I asked, shocked.

She sighed again. “Ugh, don't make me waste my breath. You will write my story, and you can’t submit yours, or you can kiss that scholarship you worked so hard to get good-bye.”

I was staring at Sapphire, still trying to puzzle out what she had told me when she said, “you have five seconds to accept or we go to the principal.” The big Terralyon began counting. “Five, four… uh, what’s that number before four?”

“Three, you pebble-brain.” Sapphire snapped.

“Right, right. Three, two —”

I jumped in before he could say one. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll accept your offer.” What else could I do? I couldn't lose this scholarship. I had to do this.

Sapphire smiled widely. A nearby Zephyrwind slammed a pile of paper in front of me and an inkwell. “Start writing, loser.”

***

By the time I was finished, I knew I had missed detention, and there was no way Miss Coral would let me out of that easily, unless Sapphire held up her end of the deal and got the detention removed.

As I emerged from the broom closet, I saw the halls almost empty and could faintly hear a hum of noise coming from the prey center.

Dinner must be going on, I thought.

I headed towards the prey center, trying to make sure I wouldn’t run into Miss Coral on the way there.

Of course, fate wasn’t on my side.

“Why weren’t you in detention?” Miss Coral shrieked, descending upon me like a flock of vultures.

“Uh, well, I was —”

Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me, sweeter than honey yet sharper than a knife. “Miss Coral, don’t be mad at her. She was helping me understand a particularly difficult part of the homework. Isn’t that right, Spark?”

I nodded vigorously, and Miss Coral huffed and looked at me again. “I suppose I’ll let it slide if you were helping another student,” she said.

It was almost midnight when I dragged myself to my dorm. With a sigh, I flopped down on the moss and rubbed my tired eyes. I had spent hours writing by candlelight. But I couldn't go to sleep now; even if I couldn’t submit it, I would write a story and, maybe one day, it would become something worth my time. I could still hope, right? I pulled out the papers covered in my own ideas and continued into the night.

When the first light of dawn came, I was still writing, half asleep. I put my papers away and walked to the prey center.

The prey center, as usual, was packed with wolves hunting their food, wolves sharing their food, wolves doing everything possible with food. There was a group of five-year-old boys near the entrance of the prey center who were doing a dare to see how much of their chicken they could stuff in their snouts at once. One had bulging cheeks and only a wing and a foot dangling out of his mouth.

I just walked to a corner and waited until a large squirrel was close enough to grab, and I pounced and cleanly killed the squirrel with one bite to the back of the neck. I’d always thought it was nice how the teachers would bring back live prey for the students to hunt. When I straightened up, Skye was standing just in front of me. She turned and saw me behind her. “Hello, Spark.”

I put down my squirrel. “Oh, um, hi Skye. Yes?” I said, confused. Someone actually spoke to me? What was the occasion?

“So, I saw your expression at Bookmaking yesterday. Do you like to write?” Skye asked me.

“Um, it’s not—” I had to try to tell her that I wouldn’t be submitting a story.

“Can I see your story?” She asked.

“I haven’t really written anything yet.” I lied.

“But I can see a page sticking out of your vinewrap that says ‘STORY IDEAS’ on it,” Skye said, puzzled.

I sighed deeply. “I’ll show you everything.” I said. “How about after school? I’ll talk to you in the prey center.”

Skye nodded. “Sure. See you then.”

What was I doing? Why was I trusting this strange wolflet who I had never met before?

I don’t know why, but I just have a feeling that I can trust her, for some reason, I thought to myself.

As Skye walked away, Sapphire approached me.

“I’m not sharing,” I said, picking up my squirrel again.

“Oh, but friends always share with each other.” Sapphire said.

I just laughed through my mouthful of fur. “On what planet would you call us friends?” I asked.

“Either way, I want it,” she said. “So hand it over.”

“No.” I said firmly.

Sapphire spotted Miss Breeze walking nearby. “Miss Breeze, Spark stole my prey!” She called dramatically.

“What?” I spluttered, putting my prey down once more. “I just caught this!”

“No, you stole it from me!” Sapphire said. She tried to grab the squirrel, but I bared my teeth and she backed off.

“Spark’s telling the truth,” I heard a voice say behind me. I whipped around to see Skye standing there. “I watched her catch it.”

“They’re both lying!” Sapphire cried.

Miss Breeze looked skeptical. “Sapphire, do you realize that I watched Spark catch it too? I’m very sorry, but I will have to give you detention for lying and trying to steal another student’s prey.”

Sapphire looked shocked. “How dare you!” She yelled. “You will regret this!” Then she turned away and stormed off.

Miss Breeze left too, but Skye hung back. “Want to walk to Flying together?”

“Sure,” I said, surprised.

I felt awkward as we walked to the outside field where the students practiced using their wings. Skye, as a Zephyrwind, loved this class, and me, as an Emberclaw, was naturally fast in the air. We took off to join the others already circling the field, claws brushing the grass.

Suddenly, Coach Gust whistled and all the wolves flew down in front of her in an obedient line, hovering in the air. She looked around at us. “Today we will be practicing evasive maneuvers. So, pair yourselves up with another wolf and start dodging!” I immediately looked in Skye’s direction and was almost relieved when she met my gaze. She flew over to me and gracefully dove towards me. Five seconds before she was going to send us both crashing into the ground, I remembered what we were supposed to do.

I dropped down a little bit, but the wind coming off from Skye’s wings knocked me into a fast air current. I tumbled off balance and Skye dove at me again. Great Elements, she was fast! But Emberclaws were known for being fast, too. I turned and bolted away, spinning and dropping into sudden dives. A trail of sparks fanned out behind me and Skye hung back, waiting for the sparks to dissipate before charging after me again. A sudden, unexpected twist of wind caught me and flipped me over. As I saw Skye’s amused expression, I realized that she had changed the air current on me. But suddenly, someone crashed into Skye.

“What are you doing?” I yelped at Sapphire as Skye went flying a few wolf-lengths away.

Without thinking, I dove after Skye, catching her before she hit the ground.

I landed quickly with Skye, who was panting.

“Are you okay?” I asked, worried.

Skye nodded and wheezed, “Just got the wind knocked out of me.”

As soon as I heard that Skye was fine, I leaped back into the air, facing Sapphire, who was hovering nearby.

Nobody was getting away with hurting Skye.

“What did you do that for?” I yelled.

Sapphire didn’t answer. With a gleeful grin on her face, she sped towards me, and there was no play acting in her expression. She was ready to knock me out of the air if she caught me. I did the same thing I practiced with Skye, ducking and rolling to a nearby air current. As Sapphire flew past me, I shot out my paws and pushed up at her underbelly, knocking the wind out of her.

Now you know how Skye feels, I thought triumphantly.

She lost her balance for a moment as I flipped over and sped away. I felt sparks forming behind me. Aquarions were built for water, not air, and had no chance of catching up. As I glanced around breathlessly, I realized that everyone had stopped practicing to stare up at me and Sapphire, who was now charging down on me again. I saw the coach over by Skye, who was still sitting down, panting.

I turned and shot up into the sky, seeing blue fur flash below me.

“Stop!” I cried. “You need to calm —”

A burst of wind knocked me off balance, cutting off my yell as Sapphire went whooshing past, aiming a blow at my head. I heard Skye yell, “no!” And heard wingbeats a few moments later as she jumped up into the air to stop Sapphire. She grabbed Sapphire’s back paws, and more students leaped up to hold her wings and tail. Sapphire stopped.

“Oops.” She said, “I got so caught up in the maneuvers that I guess I forgot to slow down.” She waved her paw dismissively.

Just then, the end-of-class Chimewing rang. I waited for Skye and walked with her out of the clearing.

“Are you okay? I asked.

“Yeah. When I saw Sapphire about to hit you out of the air, I didn’t even stop to think before coming after her.”

“Thanks for protecting me,” I said.

“You’re the one who stopped me from getting a concussion.” Skye said. “I should be thanking you.”

“See you after Elements.” I waved good-bye to her and we went in separate directions. This was the only class I didn’t have with Skye. Elements was a class about the element that your wolf tribe was based on, and mine, Emberclaws, was Fire while Skye’s, Zephyrwinds, was Wind. On the bright side, Sapphire’s was Water with the other Aquarions, so neither of us saw her! And I had the nicest Emberclaw teaching us, Miss Char. She was wild and was usually pretty lenient about rules and loved teaching us about our element’s special abilities. I whisked off to my class, not aware of the daggers Sapphire was shooting at me with her gaze.

***

As I walked into Elements, Miss Char looked up from her attendance clipboard. “Spark, sit down, please.” She said. “The class is about to begin.”

Elements passed quickly by, with Miss Char explaining about training with fire and how hot an Emberclaw’s fire can get.

The next period, Writing, wasn’t too eventful either; all that happened was Miss Geode telling us about the book competition. When lunch came around, I caught a small rabbit and worked on my story while I ate it.

The next three periods, History, Myths and Stories, and Bookmaking, went by quicker than I expected. But as soon as I finished Bookmaking, I saw Skye and quickly brought her to the cafeteria before Sapphire and her minions could find me.

“So, spill the beans,” Skye said, “what is the deal with your story?”

Dropping my head, I gave in and told her everything — about how Sapphire had blackmailed me, about how she wouldn't let me submit my own story.

“So… Sapphire blackmailed you into writing a story for her and not submitting your own?” Skye asked.

I winced. “In a nutshell.”

Skye sat up straighter. “We have to do something!” She declared a little louder than before. “Let’s—”

I pressed my paw to her snout before she could continue. “They’re coming!” I said. Sapphire stalked in, a look of hatred on her face. When she saw me, she shouted, “there you are!” And waved the Terralyon, Mud, I think his name was, over to me. He grabbed me and we went through the whole ritual of someone covering my eyes, then leading me down to the secret room and me writing for hours. I had decided to make the story into a sappy romance novel, but Sapphire loved it. Well, at least the few parts read aloud to her by the Zephyrwind watching me and reading over my shoulder.

Sapphire let me out much earlier this time, and I found Skye pacing impatiently outside the door. “Finally! I was beginning to think Sapphire was keeping you prisoner down there.”

“She kind of was,” I grumbled as Skye grabbed my paw and headed for the cafeteria again.

“I want to ask you something,” Skye said, pulling me to a corner.

“What do you need?” I asked, sitting down next to her.

“Well, I want to ask you… can you teach me how to survive in a big school like this?” Skye said.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“Well, I’ve only ever been here for a half-moon, and I’ve never been in an actual school before,” Skye replied. “What’s it like?”

“Where were you before?” I asked.

“Homeschooled,” Skye replied.

“Well, you asked the wrong wolflet. I’m probably the most awkward one in the entire school!”

Well, that makes one thing we have in common,” Skye said. “But I’m worried I’ll be bullied, or betrayed, or pranked, or get bad grades or —”

I cut Skye off before the small tears in her eyes could grow. “You could, but why worry about the future when you could have fun in the present?”

Skye laughed. “Thanks. I needed that.” she said.

She paused for a second, then pulled me into a hug, wrapping her wings around me, and I returned the gesture.

“Thanks for being my only friend,” I whispered, some tears of my own forming.

“Anytime,” Skye said, smiling one of her big smiles.

Then, she glanced out of one of the large windows embedded in the wall of the prey center.

“It’s getting late.” She indicated to the pink-purple sky outside. “Good night.”

“Night,” I answered, walking to my dorm. But I couldn’t help looking back one last time at Skye before she disappeared from my sight.

That night, all I could think about was Skye. Why couldn’t I get that big smile out of my head? What was going on?

Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, the silvery wolflet still present in my thoughts.

***

In the morning, I woke up at the usual time, quickly brushed my fur, and grabbed my vinewrap.

As I stepped out of my dorm room, I was suddenly ambushed again by Mud. I gave a muffled sigh. I was used to this by now, so I just let him drag me into Sapphire’s hangout.

“About time.” She snarled. “Get to work!”

I took out my previous notes and started writing until I had finished the rough draft and begun editing it.

As I wrote, my mind drifted back to what happened in Flying. Would Sapphire hurt Skye worse if she continued being friends with me? I couldn’t bear the thought of Skye being injured.

“Can I leave now?” I asked Sapphire when I had finished editing the first chapter.

“Yes, fine, you may leave.” She said, waving a paw at the door. “Mud, take her out, will you?”

As Mud pushed me back up the tunnel, I glanced at the rough stone walls. This looked like it had been carved after the school was designed. But when? Sapphire certainly didn’t do it. I’d be surprised if she even touched these dirty, rough walls. So, perhaps her father had a team of builders to do it.

That wolf spoils Sapphire rotten, I thought to myself. I’d finished my own rough draft, and was planning to do most of the edits tonight. But to my surprise, Skye was waiting for me again. “Can you show me your story?” She asked.

“Sure,” I said. I pulled out the stack of papers and handed them to her. As she began to read, a complicated mix of emotions spread across her snout.

“Wow.” She said, “this is really good.”

I sighed. “I can’t turn it in. It was part of Sapphire’s blackmail that I can’t submit my own story, only hers.”

“I don't know what to do about Sapphire.” Skye said.

The worried train of thought crossed my mind again, and I thought about what Sapphire might do to Skye if she got on her bad side.

“Sapphire isn’t your problem, don’t worry.” I put a paw on her shoulder.

She looked at me with hope gleaming in her eyes. “Oh, she absolutely is. You’d need a head injury or two to not notice any of the horrible things she’s doing!”

“In that case, how is Miss Coral not in a healer’s center already?” I laughed.

Skye smiled. “Anyways, keep writing your story, Spark. One day, maybe that will become more than just a school project.”

I returned her grin. “Thanks for the support, but I doubt that’s ever going to happen as long as Sapphire's around.”

Yet I didn’t tell her how I had the same hope, buried deep inside me like the last ember in a dying fire. What if my story was published someday? I could at least write it.

But it was with a heavy heart that I dragged myself back to my dorm.

***

The next morning, I was prodded awake by Sapphire again. “Come on, get up, lazybones,” she said impatiently.

“Huh?” I asked sleepily, rubbing my eyes with my paws.

“Up!” Sapphire yelled into my ear.

I jumped out of my bed and glared at Sapphire. “Ever heard of manners, Princess?” I asked sarcastically.

“Finish writing the story this morning,” she said, pushing the papers in front of me. “You still need to bind it later.”

I just glared and set to work doing edits and organizing the papers.

When I finally got to the last page, I breathed a sigh of relief. Well, that was over for now.

Looking satisfied, Sapphire grabbed the stack of papers and swept away towards the prey center.

I waited a few minutes, then walked over to my vinewrap and pulled out my own story. This seemed like the perfect time to write it, after all.

It’s only a half day today, Spark, so you’ll have plenty of time to bind it, I thought.

I dipped my claw in a bottle of emerald-green ink and began scratching out words and adding punctuation to the script in front of me. By the time I was starting to transfer the draft onto my final draft paper, my paws were aching, but I kept going.

When I lifted my eyes from the papers and straightened up I saw Skye standing behind me.

“Want to come to the prey center with me?” She asked.

“No, no, I have to finish this,” I mumbled, burying myself in my papers again.

“Come on, Spark, you know the project isn’t due until three days from now!” Skye grabbed my tail and started dragging me to the prey center.

“Hey!” I protested, but I barely had time to push my papers into my vinewrap and grab the whole thing before Skye pulled me out of the room.

When we finally got to the prey center, Skye released me and I jumped upright, rubbing my tail and scowling while trying to squash an amused smile.

“Rude!” I said indignantly and swatted her with my flame-red wings.

“Well, now you can actually eat!” Skye laughed, ducking away and blocking my wings with her own silver ones.

Then, we jumped into the mimic-grass clearing where prey was running around, clearly scared by the many wolves. Skye snatched a rabbit running by and sat down to eat. I grabbed a pawful of starberries and offered some to Skye, who took a few and ripped off a chunk of the rabbit as a trade.

We sat in silence for a few moments, broken only by the sound of our chewing and the other students creeping up on their prey. But when I put a starberry in my mouth, time seemed to stop for a second. The delicious, tart taste washed over my tongue and I popped another one in my mouth. The crisp, delicious skin was like a fragile shell, protecting the tart, juicy fruit inside. I popped a few more in my mouth before Skye broke the silence.

“I’ve — never actually eaten a starberry before,” she admitted.

“WHAT?” I surged up, shocked. “You haven’t had the most delicious thing in the whole world? Here, try one!” I held out a starberry. This one was perfectly ripe, and it took all my willpower not to eat it myself.

Skye took it and put it in her mouth. Her expression became blissful, and she looked around for another to eat.

“These are soooo good,” Skye said longingly. “I can totally see why you’re obsessed with them.”

“Right?” I asked. “Most wolves seem to think sunfruit is the way to go. But they’re way too sweet, in my opinion.”

“I agree,” Skye said, smiling at me. She picked a few more starberries from a nearby bush and popped them in her mouth as well.

I joined her and the rabbit and the starberries tasted perfect together.

Just then, the warning bell rang and students began filing out of the hall. I crammed the rest of the rabbit in my mouth, picked up my vinewrap from where I had placed it on the floor a few feet away, and hurried after my classmates to Elements.

The moment all of us sat down, Miss Char unclipped the leaves covering the windows, letting sunlight flow in.

“Today, we have a special treat,” Miss Char said. “We will be going on a little field trip.”

With that, all the Emberclaws lined up eagerly behind Miss Char and we took off, fanning out behind her like a flock of birds.

I flew up to the front of the pack where Miss Char was.

“Where are we going?” I asked, smiling at her.

“You’ll just have to wait and see, Spark.” Miss Char returned my smile, but it faded into a strict expression when one of Sapphire’s few Emberclaw minions flew a bit closer.

I dropped back to the middle of the pack with an inward sigh.

Sapphire manages to ruin my life even when she’s not here, I thought dejectedly.

But I didn't have much time to think about it, because Miss Char suddenly dove, and in one graceful motion, the class followed.

We had practiced this synchronized motion in Flying, in our Diving unit. Diving was my favorite thing, next to bookmaking and writing.

I tucked my wings in close and dove with the rest of the class. The wind slicing through my fur was wrapping me in its icy claws, perfectly combated by the heat the other Emberclaws gave off and the sparks shooting in every direction from the students.

Soon enough, I saw what Miss Char was aiming for. It was a large patch of stone, like a bare spot in the forest around us.

Miss Char’s wings snapped open, followed by all the other students. Air whooshed up in my face at the abrupt stop and the class drifted down together.

The students formed a ring around Miss Char. Miss Char grabbed two stones and began hitting them together. As soon as sparks flew, Miss Char enlarged one and it landed on a pile of leaves in the middle of the clearing, which burst into flames. Suddenly, Miss Char pulled a great ball of fire from the flames in front of her, and all the students flinched back a little bit.

“Students, don't be afraid of your own element! Today we will learn to grow, shrink, and control fire. Are there any volunteers to take some of the fire in front of me and begin?”

All the students stood there, no one willing to be the first one.

But I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“Spark, good. Come take some fire, and don't be worried. This can't hurt you. After all, it is your element.”

Scared, I walked slowly up to the massive ball of fire in front of Miss Char. She concentrated on the fire and a small chunk broke off, dancing and swirling.

I took over from there, moving the fire to my own will. Carefully, I walked back until I was back in the ring of students. I sat down and held my paws in front of me, moving the fire along with them. Soon, many other students had stepped forwards and had also gotten fireballs.

I just watched my fireball, spinning and twirling between my claws. Concentrating, I managed to spin it into a tornado shape and it danced around.

“Excellent, Spark!” Miss Char called, and I felt something as warm and bright as the fire in front of me rise up in my chest.

I grew the tornado a bit larger and then even bigger until it was half the size of me instead of a tiny spiral in my paws. But before I could experiment more, Miss Char called, “Students, please take your fireball and merge it with the one in my claws. Preferably at the size you started at, please.”

The students all let their fireballs drift towards Miss Char until the fireball was back to what it looked like before the students had taken bits of it, and Miss Char threw the fireball down onto a large pile of wood in the center of the clearing. Soon, a big fire whooshed up from the pile of wood.

“I want you to shrink it to half its size!” Miss Char called over the roar of the fire.

I joined the others in raising our paws and shrinking the fire down until it was as small as a campfire.

Miss Char called, “Now put it out!”

The students set to work doing that, too. We all concentrated even harder and soon enough, the fire was barely a flicker. Then we all brought our paws down and the fire went out.

After the fire was out, I decided to try to make some more, to keep experimenting on my own. I concentrated and a ball of flame appeared between my claws.

But just then, I realized that every other student was staring at me, confused. Worried, I put out the fire in between my claws. Was I not supposed to do that?

“Um,” I said, unsure of what happened. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Spark, see me after class,” Miss Char said with a note of shock in her voice. “Class, let’s fly back now.”

Confused, I leapt into the air after the others and began flying back to the school.

It was a quick journey back, and we arrived just in time to hear the warning chimewing go off. All of the students grabbed their vinewraps and waited by the door.

“Spark, come here, please,” Miss Char said. “I will write you a pass for your next class so you don't get marked down as late.”

Cautiously, I walked over to Miss Char just as the end-of-class chimewing rang and the other students almost ran out of the door.

“Am… am I in trouble, Miss Char?” I asked nervously.

“No, Spark. On the contrary, you are here for a good reason,” Miss Char said, and she seemed almost… impressed with me.

“What did I do that was so good?” I asked, kind of shocked with myself.

“Spark, you have an incredibly strong control over fire,” Miss Char replied.

“I do?” I questioned.

“That connection with an element hasn’t been seen in millennia. Not since the Great First Four themselves!”

At this revelation, shock spread throughout me like I was burning up from the inside.

“D-did you just say the Great First Four?” I barely managed to squeak.

“Yes, Spark, I did.” Miss Char said, and she sounded a tiny bit impressed with me. “In fact, I want to begin tutoring you. That incredible talent can’t go to waste.”

I’m sorry, Miss Char, but I don’t think I can right now. I have an enormous project due for another subject in about two days, and I need to focus on that.” I said.

“Very well, Spark. I will see you tomorrow, and let me write you a late pass for your next class,” Miss Char said, while pulling a small slip of paper off of a nearby shelf and writing something on it. “Give this to your teacher.”

“Thank you, Miss Char.” I took the slip of paper from her and walked out of the classroom.

The History classroom was right next to the Elements classroom, and I slipped in to see all of the students working on something silently.

I handed the paper to my History teacher and sat at the open desk next to Skye. She looked up from her paper and mouthed, “what happened?”

“I’ll explain later,” I mouthed back.

Skye sighed quietly, clearly impatient for answers, but went back to her paper.

After some silent work, I heard the warning Chimewing go off and the class began quietly packing up.

I packed up quickly, preparing for Myths and Stories and the Sapphire-Coral drama that would lie ahead.

And it was just as drama-filled as expected.

As soon as Sapphire saw me, a wicked smile spread across her elegant snout. She flounced up to me. “How’s the book going, freak?” Sapphire asked, lowering her voice.

Then, she handed me the stack of papers she had collected from me this morning.

“Fine, Sapphire,” I said, trying not to scream. It was so unfair that my work would be published under Sapphire’s name!

I thought of my own set of papers tucked into the bottom of my vinewrap.

I have Bookmaking next, and I can finish both my book and Sapphire’s book today and tomorrow, I thought, gritting my teeth.

Then, I just brushed past Sapphire and sat next to Skye. Sapphire let out a small, annoyed huff and sat in her own seat surrounded by a crowd of handsome-looking boys and beautiful nobles. One of the boys, a large, muscular Zephyrwind, smiled a goofy grin at Sapphire, but I could tell that it was forced.

But when I looked next to me, I saw Skye, smiling a big, real smile at me, and I returned a wider smile.

“Class, today, we will be learning about the myth of just how powerful the Great First Four were,” Miss Coral said. “We all know that they were almost the pure elements themselves, so naturally, they had incredible control over their powers. Ocean, the first Aquarion, could create whirlpools and water tornadoes with one splash of her tail.

“Stone, the first Terralyon, could create earthquakes and make trees and flowers sprout with the flick of his claw.

“Gale, the first Zephyrwind, could control the air currents and make a powerful wind sweep through anywhere he wanted.

“And Cinder, the first Emberclaw, could put out and generate fires to her will. She could twirl fires into tornadoes effortlessly, and could enlarge the size of any fire. All of the current Emberclaws have to pull from an already naturally made fire.” Miss Coral finished her lecture, and a lot of the students were impressed by the First Four’s powers.

Suddenly, I heard a voice from the back of the class. “Miss Coral, are there any wolves with that kind of control over their element today?” The voice belonged to Coal, a dark red Emberclaw who was in a few of my classes.

“No, Coal, the First Four are the only ones with that power—”

“But Miss Coral, there is,” he said defiantly.

“And who might that be, Coal? Yourself?” Miss Coral asked with amusement creeping into her voice.

“No, not me, but today in Elements, we went to practice with fire, and Spark was just as powerful as that.” Coal answered.

All eyes in the classroom turned to me. Even Skye looked shocked.

“She — she what?” Miss Coral managed to say. “Spark, is this true? Any Emberclaws in this classroom, you must have seen it,”

All of the Emberclaws nodded, and Miss Coral looked stunned. “Spark, show us.”

“Is that safe, Miss Coral?” I asked.

“Do it,” Miss Coral demanded.

Worriedly, I lifted my paws and demonstrated my power, making sure to keep the little ball of fire between my claws away from anything flammable.

“B-but that’s impossible—” Miss Coral started to say, but was cut off by the warning chimewing. I put the fire out, grabbed my books and papers, wrapped them up in my vinewrap, and lined up by the entrance.

When I glanced behind me, I saw Sapphire’s shocked expression and savored every second of it. For once, I was the superior one.

But then Sapphire shook herself and got ready to leave just as the chimewing went off.

I hurried to Bookmaking and sat down almost immediately. I needed to get this done quickly. After all, I had two books to do. I pulled out Sapphire’s book first and then my leather, thread, and ruler. I measured out two pieces of the leather just a bit bigger than the cover and cut them with my claws down the ruler. It was a decent slice, and I pulled out my ink and wrote a fancy title on the book in equally fancy lettering. I made sure to add “By Sapphire of the Aquarions” on the cover and an intriguing sneak peek on the back. I chose a silver thread to bind the book and all in all, it came out pretty nicely. When I peeked at the clock, though, I saw that almost all of the time had passed and I put the book on my desk to let the ink dry while I put away all of my materials. I had a special thin gold leaf that I could use for my own book later. I had saved up a little moonleaf to get it, and the gold would look perfect on the cover of my novel. I didn’t have Writing with Sapphire, so I could bind it there. Just as I finished packing up my binding materials, the warning chimewing went off. I picked up the now bound book and checked the ink. It was dry, so I held it to my chest so no one would see this in my paws and later recognize it as Sapphire’s.

Suddenly, the chimewing rang and I hurried to Writing. I would need even more time to bind my own book, and when I got into the classroom and sat down, I pulled out a slightly bigger stack of papers than Sapphire’s book, all of which was my novel. I pulled out a few more materials this time, like the gold leaf that I would use for the letters, as well as the glue I would use to not only glue the gold to the cover, but use it for a completely different style of binding. I measured down to the smallest hair what size I would need but kept the front and back cover in one big piece. I laid the papers down and put glue on the spine, sticking the papers in the book. I closed it and it fit perfectly. The dimensions and everything were perfect, and the glue dried quickly. Then, I got to work on the front cover. I cut out perfect letters from thin, fabric-like sheets of gold and glued them on the front of the book. This time, I put “By Spark of the Emberclaws” on the cover. I put a mysterious sneak peek on the back and finished it off with some final touches, like decoration on the spine and smoothing out the edges to make a perfect book.

But soon, I lost track of time and Miss Geode suddenly tapped me on the shoulder.

“Spark?” Miss Geode said kindly.

“Yes, Miss Geode?” I asked, looking up from my now finished book.

“Spark, all of the other students left for lunch about five minutes ago,” Miss Geode said.

I looked around at the bare classroom. “Oh.”

Then, Miss Geode saw my book. “Spark, that binding looks beautiful!” She said. “May I read it?”

Embarrassed, I picked up the book and held it to my chest. “I’m not submitting it,” I said. Then, I picked up all of my materials, threw them in my vinewrap, and walked out of the classroom as fast as possible without outright sprinting.

I need to meet with Sapphire to give her the book, I thought, thinking of the other book in my vinewrap.

And sure enough, as soon as I entered the prey, one of Sapphire’s minions grabbed me and dragged me to a dark corner in the back of the cave.

Again, I thought, bored.

“Well, loser, do you have the finished book or not?” She asked.

I didn't say anything. I just grabbed my vinewrap and pulled out the bound book.

Sapphire grabbed the book and grinned. “This doesn’t look half bad, Emberclaw,” she said, turning over the book in her claws.

Then, Sapphire swept away, leaving me in the shadows.

But I walked over to the river where a lot of the Aquarions were hanging out and I noticed how a lot of the wolves quickly cleared a path. Almost like they were… scared of me.

Whatever. I thought dismissively. What did I care what these wolves thought of me?

I quickly caught two large trout and a pawful of minnows and went to sit in a grassy patch further away from the exit and grabbed a handful of starberries just as Skye walked up.

“Care to share some of those with me?”

“Um, hi Skye,” I said, a little awkwardly, and I felt my fur turn a tiny bit redder than it already was. What was I thinking? I didn’t… like like Skye, did I? She was just a friend… right?

I handed some of the starberries to her and Skye settled herself next to me.

“Here,” I said, handing her a trout and a few of the minnows. Skye gladly accepted, but when she bit into a minnow, she made a face.

“What’s up?” I asked, noticing the look on her face.

“Sorry, I just kind of… am not very used to raw fish,” she said. “There was usually a fire to cook food on back at home.”

“Oh, here,” I said. Then I lifted my paws again and a small globe of fire appeared. I blew on it and a flame licked around the fish in her claws and then around the ones on the ground.

“Woah,” Skye said, clearly stunned. But she shook her expression off and bit into the prey. She smiled. “Thanks, Spark.”

“No problem,” I said. But then a large group of wolves came up to me.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Well, I was just wondering…” A large male Emberclaw began slowly. “…how do you do it?” He asked.

“My fire? I was just born that way, I guess,” I shrugged.

“Well, do you think you could, um, set our prey on fire, too?” Another one, this one a Terralyon, asked.

“And why would I do that for you?” I demanded.

“Uh, I can pay you,” the Emberclaw said again. He held up a large vine sack of what looked like moonleaf.

I surveyed the wolves. There were about ten of them, all of them with rabbits or squirrels or fish.

“Fine,” I said, slightly annoyed.

All of the wolves lined up eagerly, and I lifted my claws to reveal a globe of fire, this one a bit larger, and blew it at the fish the Aquarion held out in front of him.

I kept the fire at a reasonably low temperature, as not to burn the fish or the wolflet.

I did this for all of the wolves, and by the last wolf, I was really, really out of breath. As the last wolf stepped up, the Emberclaw who had spoken in the beginning, I roasted the rabbit he had in his claws. He pulled out the bag of moonleaf he had shown me and tossed it to me. I caught it deftly and he dipped his head to me. They all walked away and I turned to Skye, still panting a bit.

“That looked tiring,” Skye said.

“Worth… it…” I wheezed. I opened the bag and saw a small pile of moonleaf sparkling back at me.

When I looked up, I saw even more wolves with prey and moonleaf, standing near me, but thankfully, Skye intervened. “Sorry, but Spark is tired out from that, and she won’t be doing any more fire today,” Skye put a wing around me and together, we walked out of the cave with a lot of disappointed faces behind me.

And together, we walked to the Emberclaws’ dorms.

When we arrived, I looked at Skye. “Can I show you something?” I asked excitedly.

“Sure!” Skye smiled.

I pulled out my book and showed it to Skye.

“Oh, wow,” Skye breathed, “May I read it?”

I handed the book to her. “Enjoy!”

Skye opened the book and began quickly flipping through the pages. Did she read that fast?

After a few minutes, Skye reached the last page and looked up. “Wow, that was good. If you were allowed to submit it, I think it would be chosen by the queen,” She handed the book back to me.

“You really think so?” I asked.

“Spark, I think that book could win against professional writers,” she said confidently.

“Thanks, Skye,” I said, hugging her. “I needed that.”

Then, Skye swept off to the Zephyrwinds’ dorm and I curled up on my bed, thinking.

What an eventful day, I thought. I finally finished the project that’s been making me feel like I’ve been submerged in murky water for the past quarter-moon. It turns out I’m as powerful as one of the First Four, and Skye thinks my book could’ve won.

What an eventful day indeed.

***

Later, while I was still curled up on my moss despite the bright sun shining cheerfully near the middle of the sky, I just couldn't take it. I had spent the past several hours in my moss, just thinking, so I decided to take a walk to clear my head.

I got up and walked out of my cave. I was only a short way away from my dorm when I heard shouting coming from an empty classroom up ahead. I crept nearer and was surprised to hear Sapphire’s voice with a wolf I didn't know.

“What do you mean, you’re going to seal my relaxation room for a moon! Will you still pay the school to choose my book?” I heard Sapphire shriek.

Oh, is that what she calls her hideout? I thought, amused.

“Yes, I will still pay the school to choose your book. And I mean exactly what I said. No daughter of mine is going to have a detention! Trying to steal another student’s prey? Do you need to practice basic Hunting like you’re a newborn wolflet? And who is this wolflet you tried to steal from? I’ve heard stories…”

Sapphire huffed. “Spark just has a weird connection with fire! She’s really no one special, and the way she showed off her powers during Myths and Stories was unbearable!”

I clenched my teeth, trying not to scream. Showing off? Miss Coral had demanded I do it!

Suddenly, I heard pawsteps draw closer to the door, and I ducked behind a large green plant near the door. I pressed myself to the floor as Sapphire stormed right past me. Towards my dormitory, I realized. I thought of the layout of the school I had memorized and pinpointed exactly where I was, and realized that the prey center was pretty close. I jumped up and began walking as fast as I casually could but crashed right into a fully-grown male Aquarion. He kept a stoic face. “I would watch it, little wolflet,” He said in the same voice as the one I heard in the classroom. I mumbled an apology and kept walking, not daring to look back.

When I got right outside the prey center, I slowed and as casually as I could muster, walked into the bustling clearing. I picked a pawful of starberries and sat down to eat them. I kept shifting on my paws, waiting for the moment for Sapphire to burst in, but that moment never came. In fact, I didn't even seeSapphire until she was right behind me. I turned around and jumped when I saw her standing there.

I yelped in surprise and dodged as the Zephyrwind next to Sapphire reached out a paw to clamp around my snout. I was definitely used to this by now.

“Come with us,” Sapphire said with an undertone of irritation.

I followed her, making my face resemble one of confusion and annoyance.

Sure enough, we stopped outside the classroom where I had heard Sapphire and her father talking. Sapphire went in first, followed by a Zephyrwind and then me and the Terralyon.

“Father, I have the wolflet you so desperately wanted.” Sapphire announced a little dramatically.

When I looked at the Aquarion, I saw a spark of recognition light up in his eyes. “You’re the wolflet I bumped into!” He said.

“Who are you?” I asked. I couldn’t let him know I had heard his earlier conversation.

“I am Sir Nautilus. You must be the wolflet with… unusual powers.”

I bristled. “So what if I am?” I said defensively.

Nautilus looked down his snout at me. “Show me,” he said.

I opened my mouth to make another remark, but stopped myself.

Don’t argue with him, Spark! I scolded myself. I lifted my claws and fire appeared between them. I purposely made it a little wilder than I usually did to scare him a bit, and it seemed to be working.

I grew the fire even bigger and began trying to morph it into a shape. I shaped it into a square, and then threw it up in the air and “caught” it. As I caught it, I made it look like it was one of those play water-bombs, something that I sometimes saw some of the one-year-old Aquarions play with that broke on impact and splashed someone with water. The fire looked like it was spilling over my paws, and then I shaped it back into a sphere. I closed my claw delicately around it, putting it out.

The Aquarion stood there with his mouth slightly open, but closed it quickly and waved over one of his guards, who produced a glass sphere with a little latch in the top where you could pour something in.

“Try to put some fire in this,” he said, holding it out to me.

Puzzled, I produced a small sphere that could fit through the hole at the top and dropped it in there like it was some sort of fire pebble. Quickly, he closed the sphere and latched it.

Sir Nautilus seemed pleased with himself somehow, but when I dropped my paws, the fire fizzled out. The Aquarion made an annoyed face. It was a fire with no efficient fuel source other than my power; when I stopped using my power, what would he expect to happen? Sir Nautilus quickly masked his sour expression and stood up, beckoning to his guards, who went out of the room ahead of him.

“We’re done here. Sapphire, have a wonderful time at school,” Sir Nautilus said before walking out of the room and taking to the skies. A few of the guards went up next to him, and a few hung back until Sir Nautilus was fully in the air.

Sapphire, who I had forgotten was even in the same room as me, made an annoyed face similar to her father, and left in the exact same way. I could definitely see the resemblance between Sapphire and Sir Nautilus.

I waited a few minutes after Sapphire left before leaving myself.

Maybe some flying can clear my mind, I thought. I spread my wings and jumped into the air, looking down at the school below me.

But as the school unfolded below me, I suddenly saw Skye hurtling towards me.

“Spark!” She yelled, flying at top speed straight at me.

We crashed right into each other and only barely managed to untangle our wings and stop ourselves before we both hit the ground.

We both blushed a bit at the sudden contact and pulled away quickly.

“What’s wrong, Skye?” I asked.

“I just heard the announcement… Queen Seafoam has chosen our school to inspect the winning book!” Skye yelped excitedly.

“That’s incredible news!” I did a quick loop in the air at this news. “When will she be here?”

“Tomorrow. She’s going to be watching the showcasing of each book before the school decides what book won.” Skye answered.

Suddenly, I heard the noise of the Curfew Chimewings go off, and we looked at each other quickly before bolting to our respective dorms before someone noticed we were out after curfew.

I managed to slip into the dorm seconds before the Emberclaw monitoring curfew walked in.

“Is everyone here?” She asked, busily scratching at a piece of paper in front of her.

“Yes, Miss Ash,” all of the wolves said in unison.

“Well, everyone get some sleep, because Queen Seafoam is coming tomorrow,” Miss Ash said before sweeping out.

We all clambered under our moss excitedly, waiting for tomorrow.

As soon as I was sure everyone around me was fast asleep, I pulled the book out of the vinewrap next to my bed. I looked at it in the dim light that all of the Emberclaws gave off, and right then, I felt incredibly disappointed I couldn’t publish my book. I had worked so hard on it, hoping against hope that it would be seen somehow, but it just wouldn’t happen. Sighing, I tucked the book back in my vinewrap and drifted off to sleep.

***

My eyes opened a bit when I felt a claw prodding me gently awake. “Who’s there?” I mumbled into my moss.

“Spark, you’re going to be late for the showcasing!” Skye’s voice yelled.

I shot out of my moss, scattering it everywhere, and looked at Skye. “Hurry, let’s go!” I called as I raced towards the auditorium where the showcasing would take place.

As I was running out of the room, I scooped up my book. I could at least bring it, even if it wasn’t going to be recognized. I tucked it under my wing and kept going.

Skye fell into step behind me, and together, we ran to the show.

We both skidded to a stop right outside the entrance of the auditorium and walked in casually.

The seats were already full of wolves of every element. Mostly, each element hung out with others with that same element, but I could see a few wolves from different elements hanging out together.

Skye and I chose a spot near the front and settled down just as the torches dimmed. We saw Miss Char and Miss Ash, along with all of the other Emberclaw teachers, slowly dimming the fires to a flicker.

Miss Coral stepped forwards with a large smile on her face. “Hello, students and honored guests!”

At the words “honored guests” Miss Coral’s gaze darted to Queen Seafoam, who was sitting in the front row with several guards occupying the seats around her.

“We will now begin showcasing the seven-year-olds’ books,” Miss Coral said. “We will read the sneak peek of each story and decide the top three from each age group, then the top one from each age group consecutively.”

As I heard the sneak peeks of the stories, I got lost in my imagination. Mystery, fantasy, fiction, and even nonfiction and graphic novels were among the stories. I could be thinking about a mysterious murder on a farm and then be pulled into a fairy tale. This happened to me often, where I would get pulled into the story and watch the whole thing happen from my mind.

Soon, they began reading the six-year-olds’ books, and then the five-year-olds’, and finally, it was the four-year-olds’ turn to have their books read.

Skye’s book was first, about a thrilling mystery full of betrayal and secrets, and then there were several other books from people I didn’t know before I heard Sapphire’s book called.

“...This exciting romance novel is sure to keep you on your toes!” Miss Coral finished the last sentence before looking around. “Those are all of the submitted stories. Now, the fellow teachers and I will be judging the book and deciding on three books to fully read from each grade.”

All of the teachers began looking through the stacks of books, talking to one another. A hushed conversion rose above the crowd, but it wasn’t long before Miss Coral spoke again. “Students, we have a final decision,” she called over the hubbub. The auditorium quickly fell silent, and the teachers each brought a book forward. I could recognize Skye’s book in Miss Breeze’s paws, and Skye grabbed my paw excitedly.

“For the six-year-olds, in third we have the historical fiction book made by Seaweed, in second the fairy tale written by Smolder, and, in first place for the six-year-olds, the graphic novel written by…”

As Miss Coral kept listing winning names and books, Skye and I waited impatiently for the four-year-olds’ books to be announced. Finally, Miss Coral got to the end of the five-year-olds’ books.

“For the four-year-olds’ books, we have the murder mystery written by Skye,” Miss Coral began, and Skye looked like she was about to burst with excitement.

“We have the graphic novel written by Gravel, and we have the romance novel written by Sapphire,” Miss Coral finished. “Can all of the three books’ authors, of all ages, please come up on the stage before we announce the four-year old’s winner, seeing as this is their first year competing?”

Skye stood up, along with several other wolves in the room, and made their way up to the stage. I saw Sapphire among them with a smirk on her face.

The teachers shook paws with all of the winners one by one, congratulating them, until all of the authors were in a line on the stage, facing the audience.

“And the final winner for the four-year olds is…” Miss Coral paused for dramatic effect. “Sapphire of the Aquarions!”

Some students cheered, while others stayed silent and looked a bit angry.

Those students probably knew about the bribery to get her — no, my — book chosen, I thought with a flash of anger.

“Sapphire, why don’t you tell us about your story,” Miss Coral said kindly.

Sapphire froze. “W-what about it?” she asked.

“How did you come up with the idea? Is the main character based off of anyone you know?” Miss Coral asked.

“Um…” Sapphire started.

“The main character?” Miss Coral sounded confused, then suspicious. “Do you know their name?”

“Um… Grass?” Sapphire said with uncertainty.

“Sapphire, Grass is the main character’s friend,” Miss Coral said with exasperation. “The main character’s name is Cloud. Did you even write this story?”

Suddenly, an Aquarion stepped forward — one of Sapphire’s minions.

“No, she didn’t,” the Aquarion called. The entire crowd gasped.

“He’s lying!” Sapphire shrieked, glaring at the Aquarion who had spoken.

“I’m not,” he said, meeting her gaze coldly. “I was there when she blackmailed a fellow student into writing it for her. If the identity of this student is discovered, I just want everyone to know that writing Sapphire’s story for her was not that student’s choice.” His gaze flickered to me for a millisecond, and then returned to Sapphire.

Suddenly, Mud stood up from the crowd. “I was there too,” He called.

Miss Coral glared at Sapphire. “Which student did you blackmail,” she asked, her voice low and dangerous.

Sapphire looked frantic. “No!” She cried. “They’re all lying! It’s not true!”

But Miss Coral ignored Sapphire. “Since Sapphire most certainly cheated on this assignment, I will give the award to her runner-up… Skye of the Zephyrwinds!”

This time, when the students cheered, it was loud and happy. Skye pressed her paws to her snout in shock, and everyone on the stage began congratulating her. I stood up and cheered for my friend until my voice was hoarse.

When the crowd had finally settled, Skye stepped forwards. “Thank you!” She called to the crowd.

Miss Coral stepped forwards. “Skye, what prompted you to write this thrilling murder mystery?” she asked.

“I have always had an eye for murder mysteries, and could usually figure them out fast,” Skye began. “I wanted to challenge myself to write a murder mystery with such an unexpected plot twist, no one would see it coming. I hope I did that to the best of my abilities.”

Miss Coral smiled. “You certainly wrote the true killer’s mask on him well,” she said. “Now, if Queen Seafoam would step on to the stage to meet this brilliant writer, then —”

Skye cut her off before she could finish. “But there is a writing mind much, much greater and more advanced than mine,” she said.

I froze. Was she really…

“The wolflet who I am talking about was the student Sapphire blackmailed into writing her story, and was blackmailed into not submitting her own story.” Skye said, “Even though she knew she could not submit it, she wrote and bound a book anyway. I have seen it myself, and I know that it is much better than mine. My friend, please come up onto the stage to get the respect you deserve.”

I stood up on shaky paws, clutching my book to my chest.

Skye beckoned me forwards, and when I got to the stage, I gave her a hug.

“Thank you,” I whispered in her ear. “Thank you so, so much.”

As I handed the book to Miss Coral, recognition sparked in Miss Geode’s eyes. “Spark, that’s the book I saw you making!”

I nodded, and suddenly, a blur of blue came out of nowhere.

In an instant, I was on the floor with Sapphire standing over me “You little rat!” Sapphire shrieked. “I told you you couldn’t write a story or I would go to the principal! The story you wrote for me isn’t bound as well as your stupid book! Well, I’ll show you, you worm!”

Sapphire grabbed my book out of Miss Coral’s talons, but I heard someone scream, “no!” and tackle Sapphire before she could do anything to the book.

“Get off of me, you peasant!” Sapphire screamed. Skye was sitting on top of Sapphire and two of Queen Seafoam’s guards stepped up onto the stage to drag Sapphire off. They grabbed her back legs and tail and began pulling Sapphire off of the stage, and she frantically tried to keep a grip on the smooth surface, her claws leaving grooves in the polished wood.

When Sapphire finally disappeared out of the room, Queen Seafoam stepped forwards. She picked up my book off of the floor and opened it.

As soon as she had read the first few pages, she closed the book and looked at me. “Wolflet, come with me,” she said, and then walked out of the room with my book tucked under her arm.

I followed her nervously as we made our way to an empty classroom, far from the students in the auditorium.

We went in and a guard closed the door behind us.

“What’s your name?” the queen asked me.

“Um, S-Spark, Your Majesty,” I stammered.

“Your writing skills are extraordinary, Spark,” Queen Seafoam said. “And I have heard rumors that you are… strongly connected to your Element?”

“Yes, Queen Seafoam, I am,” I said.

“May I see?” she asked.

Carefully, nervously, I lifted my claws and concentrated until a ball of fire appeared in between them. Queen Seafoam gasped.

“This — this is impossible!” She said.

I made the fire burst into a flurry of sparks that each quickly vanished before turning up to Queen Seafoam. “Queen Seafoam, do you mind if I get my friend Skye?” I asked.

“Is your friend the one who won second in the competition?” Queen Seafoam asked.

“Yes, Your Highness,” I said, and Queen Seafoam nodded. “Also an extraordinary writing mind.” She turned to one of her guards. “Please bring Skye of the Zephyrwinds here, the runner-up of the four-year-olds.”

The guard nodded and swept out of the room, and Queen Seafoam turned to me again. “Spark, your powers are incredible,” she said. “But be very, very careful. Not just of yourself, but of how many wolves will try to steal that power from you,”

Before I could say anything, Skye came into the room, followed by the guard Queen Seafoam had sent to go get her and a kind-eyed male Zephyrwind that looked a lot like Skye. Skye came over to me, and we quickly hugged each other before she stood next to me, our wings brushing each others’.

“Spark, do you think you would be interested in coming to work for the palace?” Queen Seafoam asked me.

“Do — do you think I could bring Skye?” I asked, looking at my friend.

“Of course, if Skye is willing and her legal guardian is willing,” Queen Seafoam answered.

“You must be Skye’s father,” Queen Seafoam said, turning to the wolf that had entered with Skye.

“Yes, I am,” the Zephyrwind said, bowing to the queen.

“Very well then. Do you give your daughter consent to move into the royal palace and work for me as a writer?” Queen Seafoam asked.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Skye’s father said.

Skye looked at me excitedly. “We’re going to be writers!” She whispered to me.

“I can’t wait!” I whispered back.

“Your Majesty, can we go get our things from our dorms?” Skye asked.

“Of course,” the queen said.

We walked to the dorms together and packed up for the last time.

I threw the few belongings I had into my school vinewrap — all of my books, my bookbinding materials, and a small glass statue I had made in an extracurricular glassblowing class last year. I carefully wrapped the statue in a cloth before placing it gingerly on top of all of my books. I put my favorite and only fantasy novel in there, one I had read a million times and just kept reading it over and over.

As I was putting the final few things into my vinewrap, I saw Skye enter out of the corner of my eye, her own vinewrap slung over her shoulder.

I quickly finished packing and Skye sat down on the floor next to me, taking in the dorms for the final time.

“Excited to leave?” I asked, half-joking.

“You know, I never knew it was possible to make so many memories in just a quarter-moon,” Skye said. “But every day that you were part of was a memorable one.”

I blushed. “I could say the same thing to you, Skye,” I said, smiling and trying to hold back a tear from slipping out of my eye.

“Spark, I’m going to say something really, really cringy,” Skye warned.

“Fire away,” I said.

“I just… I feel like every time I see you, it’s like you lit a fire inside me,” Skye said, “I can see why you were named Spark. I didn’t know it was possible to fall in love so quickly… but I think I already have.”

Skye’s silver eyes bore into mine, looking at me, and I returned her gaze.

“I think I fell for you the moment I first saw you outwitting Sapphire,” I breathed, smiling warmly, and the two of us embraced, wrapping our wings around each other.

“Let’s go change the world,” I said, standing up and offering a paw to Skye. She took it and stood next to me, vinewraps slung over our shoulders.

“Lead the way, my love,” Skye said, and we walked towards our destinies.

Together.

Forever.

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