Quickwrite - Story Starters: A-ha! Sunny Finally Found What she had been Looking for

 A-ha! Sunny finally found what she had been looking for. A bright green cactus stood right in front of her, its black spikes reflecting the sunlight. After visiting Blaze of the Sandwings near the Ice kingdom, the Dragonets of Destiny (including Sunny) had been trying to sought out a cactus to bring back to their - used to be - guardian, for he had been stabbed by princess Blister at the Seawing summer palace. Sunny had asked Blaze how to cure Sandwing venom, Blaze was confused about this because Sunny didn't even have a poisonous barbed tail like most Sandwings but she still answered with cactus juice. Sunny started to tug on the cactus, the sharp spikes stabbing at her hands like dragon talons.

"Don't try and bring the whole cactus, just snap one of those arm-thingies off," chuckled Tsunami, pointing at the small cactus growing off the big one. "That's what I'm - ouch, trying to do," Sunny replied, starting to cut the arm off with one of her claws, turning green-y from the cactus juice spurting out of the wound. The cactus finally broke off and the force caused Sunny to fall onto her back, leaving a little pit in the sand. She placed the cactus down and climbed to her feet, brushing sand off of her wings. Tsunami picked up the cactus stub in her talons, wincing as it pricked her palms. "Oh my goodness," shrieked Starflight. "We're trapped! Trapped in the Kingdom of Sand! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!" Starflight pathetically flapped around like a seagull with its head bitten off, flinging sand in all directions.

"Shut up," Glory chuckled, grabbing a handful of sand and throwing it at the chickened-out Nightwing. It hit him on the chest, sand getting stuck between his black scales making him look like a night sky. "Don't worry," called Clay. "The tunnel is still here, it's just covered in sand." "Oh yeah," said Sunny. "I can still see the cactus ring circling the exit." Clay started to dig and sure enough, the tunnel came into sight, Its mouth yawning in front of them. Starflight sighed in relief as Sunny nudged him, a smile spreading across his face. As they started into the dark tunnel, the warmth of the desert faded and the cold rainforest air surrounded them. Sunny stepped onto the damp, rainforest floor mud squelching between her talons. She missed the desert already. "Did you see that in the distance," asked Glory, pointing back at the tunnel."See what,"replied Starflight, scratching his head with one claw. "I saw it." "Me too Clay," said Sunny smiling. "I think." Clay chuckled. "I think," started Glory. "That it was Burn's stronghold...

Quick Write: Story Starters - Everyone had a Story About him...

 Everyone had a story about him. Some were gruesome, some were not as gruesome. Darkstalker; a 2000 year old, supposedly invincible, animus, mind reader and future-seeing Nightwing. All of the tribes say he is the son of Prince Arctic, an animus Icewing. As the word grew, he in the story did horrible moves like killing his best friend, turning himself invincible and cursing his own father to disembowel himself. As he grew in size and power Foeslayer, his mother, knew he had to be stopped.

Fathom, an animus Seawing prince who was friends, if not best friends, with Darkstalker himself, created an animus-touched bracelet to give to Darkstalker which would cause him to fall into deep forever unless the bracelet is removed or broken off of his wrist. Foolishly, Darkstalker took the bracelet from Fathom's palm, expecting it to be a gift, and carefully slid it onto his forearm. Suddenly, he unconsciously flopped to the ground, his sides rising and falling in a deep sleep. The Nightwings buried him and fled in fear of him rising from the ground and getting revenge on his tribe by picking them off one-by-one, so they searched for a new home.

"To this day onwards, dragons from every tribe fear that he will awaken and destroy Pyrrhia and everyone in it for revenge," Winter explained with a wicked grin spread across his face. "Don't be silly," replied moon with a 'are-you-serious-these-are-young-hatchlings' face on, trying to calm down the crying and screaming dragonets. "It's just a story silly old Winter over here made up right Winter?" She slung one arm around Winter, forcing her frown into a smile. "Silly old Winter," whispered Winter to Moon with a disapproval face. "Just go with it," Moon whispered back. " Yeah yeah, allright Moon. It is just a story I, silly old Winter made up," grumped Winter in a robotic voice. Moon tried to hold in her giggle along with Kinkajou and Qibli. Winter shot a frown in all three of their directions. Now the young hatchlings were even laughing and wiping away tears. "You better remember my story- I mean, the true tale of Darkstalker!" Winter shouted, stomping out of the dorm.

Quickwrite Story starters - Clay Didn't Mean for it to Happen...

Clay didn't mean for it to happen. He didn't even know how it happened. Just a minute ago, he was on top of Fjord, pinning him to the ground, then all of a sudden, Fjord was on top of him, tightening his grip around Clay's throat. It all happened so quickly, Clay was startled then out of nowhere, small, black blobs of liquid splattered over Fjord's face, eye and wing. The light, sky-blue Icewing blinked in confusion, wiping the inky, black blobs off his face. Suddenly, Fjord let out an ear-piercing cry, Clay covered his face and closed his eyes, preparing for Fjord to blast him with his frost breath.

Fjord stumbled back, still screaming, covering his face with his talons. His spiked tail thrashed furiously, like it had a mind of its own. Clay had to leap out of the way of Fjords body, crashing to the ground. Clay still had his hands covering his face, just daring to peek through his claws. Fjord had dark-blue patches of sizzling scales and flesh along his arm, wing and face, exactly where the liquid had hit, still bubbling. Clay thought he was going to be sick. The Icewing was dead, the crowd was laughing and Clay hadn't a clue where the venom came from. For all he knew is that he didn't have venom in his claws. He didn't want to harm Fjord, although he most certainly did. 

Quick-Write; Story Starter: It Started out, Just Like a Normal Day...

 It started out, just like a normal day. Stuck in a cave; no sky, no clouds, just rock and rock with the occasional rock. Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Starflight and Sunny had been stuck under a mountain ever since they hatched from their eggs. Their 'guardians' Webs, Kestrel and Dune, have had to train and raise these dragonets to fulfill the prophecy stop the war between the three Sandwing Queens who Blister, Blaze and Burn. The dragonet prophecy echoed through their heads.

When the war has lasted 20 years, the dragonets will come. When the land is soaked in blood and tears, the dragonets will come. Find a Seawing egg of deepest blue, Wings of Night shall come to you. The largest egg in mountain high, will give to you Wings of Sky. For Wings of Earth search through the mud, for an egg the colour of dragon's blood. And hidden away from rival queens, the Sandwing egg awaits unseen. For three queens who Blister and Blaze and Burn, two shall die and one shall learn. If she bows to a fate that is stronger and higher, she will have the power of Wings of Fire. Five eggs to hatch on brightest night, five dragons born to end the fight. Darkness will rise to bring the light, the dragonets are coming.

"FIGHT!" Kestrel boomed at Clay. "Urmm... Maybe we could stop and tal- OOF, " Kestrel had just slammed Clay into a nearby stalactite, shattering under his heavy scales. "Are all Mudwings this useless or just you?" The crimson Skywing had smoke leaking out of her nostrils, Clay knew what that meant. He just rolled out of the way of a bursting streak of fire, slamming into a stalactite as he did so. Groaning, Clay stumbled to his feet and climbed up onto the nearest stalactite. Unluckily, his tail was resting on the smooth, rock floor. Kestrel saw it plain as day leaped towards it with her talons outstretched. "Oww! You said stomping tails was cheating!" Yelled Clay, his talons slowly slipping from the stalactite; creating a horrid sound like claws on a blackboard. "I'm your teacher," replied Kestrel. "Nothing I do is cheating!" Kestrel pinned Clay to the cold rock floor, grinning.

Suddenly, she let out a booming roar, bits of spit spattering over Clay's face. Frowning, Kestrel turned around to meet eyes with Tsunami, a magnificent sea-blue Seawing with fierce, dark blue eyes. She was holding a crimson scale in her mouth. "How nice of you," Kestrel started, glancing down at the bare spot in her scales then quickly looking back up a Tsunami. "Saving the dragon who tried to kill you in your egg." Tsunami rolled her eyes and spat out the scale to reply to Kestrel. "Luckily, you big dragons were there to save the day and now we get to hear about it all the time," said Tsunami sarcastically. Kestrel sighed. "Another unimpressive sesion Mudwing," grumbled Kestrel as she exited the training room through a dark tunnel. Clay sighed in relief. "Wait! Tsunami, Kestrel is going to be so mean to you tomorrow, " panicked Clay. "Oh no!" Tsunami laughed. "I have never seen Kestel be mean before!" "Haha... Owww." Tsunami glanced at Clay. "Are you hurt?" Asked Tsunami. "Yeah, I guess," replied Clay.

Tsunami stared down her snout at Clay. "Jump in the river." "What?" Said Clay surprised. 'Jump in the river' was what Tsunami said to solve any problem. 'Stubbed your claw? Jump in the river! Acing Wings? Jump in the river! Ate to many cows? Jump in the river!' It obviously hasn't occurred to her that she is the only one that likes water, because she is the only Seawing under the mountain besides Webs. "I am NOT jumping into the river! It's too col, too-too... uhh colder," muttered Clay. Tsunami frowned at him. "Fiiiiine," sighed Tsunami, scraping one claw along the stone floor. Suddenly, Tsunami's face lit up. "Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you- well, ask you how you felt about escaping?" "Escaping!" Clay repeated. "You mean exiting the cave before our guardians tell us!?" "Yes," Tsunami said slowly. "But what about the others and the other tribes and, and the prophecy we have to fulfill and-!" "Yes or no," Tsunami interrupted. "Urmmm... how?" "How what?" "How will we escape?" Stumbled Clay. "I don't know yet," replied Tsunami, crouching down to fiddle with a loose rock. "Moo!" "What's that," asked Tsunami. Clay knew exactly what it was. Before Clay could say anything, Tsunami shouted "Cows!" And raced off. "Dinner! Cows! Hooray!" Clay Called, racing towards the dinner cave, forgetting about escaping completely.

Reading Questions - Wings of Fire: Winter Turning

 Wings of Fire: Winter Turning

Tui.T.Sutherland

Discussing  my Personal choice of book with others

Why did you choose this book? 

Ever since I was five, I have been obsessed with dragons; collecting them, drawing them and trying to read about them. It was very rare for me to find books about dragons but after being introduced to this book series, I can’t stop reading Tui’s books.

If you were a character, what would you have done differently in a situation in the story?

If I were Winter, I wouldn't of been as grumpy and grouchy because his Winglet decided to help him save Hailstorm and stop Icicle from harming Queen Glory.  

Where is the book set?

‘Winter Turning’ is set in many different biomes around Pyrrhia including the rainforest and the destroyed Nightwing island.

If the book was a tv show, what actors would you cast?

If Wings of Fire became a major movie, it is most likely to be animated so it depends on their voices which, to be honest, I don’t know a lot of names of voice actors.

Think about structure & language features

If the main character lived next door, would you be friends?

Definitely, but he is a dragon, I’m a human. He is around 10 times bigger than me but luckily, he is a dragon who would rather keep me as a pet so, more like keeping each other as pets rather than friends.

What does the place look like in your head as you read? Would you like to visit there?

I always imagine Pyrrhia as a beautiful dragon-shaped island, the rainforest (or Rainkingdom) as a huge, green forest with multiple multi-coloured flowers but muddy and damp around the forest floor. The  Rainwings would sleep and rest in hammocks made of strong leaves and live in rounded treehouses, made of leaves, amongst the trees.

Why do you think the author wrote this book?

Tui.T.Sutherland is fascinated with mythical beasts of all kinds so after writing the book ‘The Dragonet Prophecy’, the book took flight so she has written over 15 books for the series ‘Wings of Fire’.

What new words or facts did you learn?

Heaps! Well, only 1 or 2 because most of them I haven’t a clue what they mean. I have learnt what impervious means though, I have used it in my writing twice!