Cherry

Cherry the Red Valkyrie

"Just because I agree with you that doesn't mean I like you."

Cherry's teenage girl and the leader of the group she created called "Crimson Wings". It was her idea of others' noticing her abilities and letting her join the Plague guard. Unfortunately there are only 2 members of the CW being her and her friend Paprika and they're wayy to inexperienced and young to be in a real guard but they let them handle small cases like scavenging and patrolling the area. She likes recording everything in her diary, it's her seventeenth one mostly because she keeps losing them out of her forgetfulness and clumsiness.

THIS STORY WILL BE IMPROVED

She was born in a tough grounds of the Plague and lived in a large group of dragons. All of them weren't really interested in battling, but there were exceptions. One of those exceptions she saw turned her life into something she could never imagine. Little skydancer was jumping rapidly all around her mother, just to finally make her look at her.
"But mooooom pleeease, can I???" She strongly grabbed Demonia's mantle with her tiny paws and didn't want to let it go. Not this time. Despite being almost a fully grown hatchling, sometimes she was awfully childish, and it was driving her mother crazy. Demonia was trying to pull her daughter off her expensive cloak, but that little skydancer was not going to lose this time.
"Girls... Shouldn't... Be... Warriors!" Demonia pulled the cloak towards her chest with all her might. Then she noticed that her stubborn daughter was tangling in the air, holding by the corner of her clothing with her small fists. Little girl had a very mad expression and angrily sticked out her tongue. Thats it. Demonia had enough. You could almost see a pulsing, red veins on her temple. She gritted her teeth.
"Tell me, please... What is so special about being a barbaric and dimwitted lout for you, anyway?" Demonia sat down with grace and her daughter slowly fall on the ground next to her, still firmly holding the mantle in her small fists.
"I wanna be like Silver! That's SO cool!" Hatchling kicked the air in excitement, lying on the back on rocky and red floor. Her mother tiredly sighned and turned serious.
"Cherry... Let's just say... Silver was made for this. She was working VERY hard to be this muscular and strong, and just because you saw her doing her job for a one day, that doesn't mean that you can be like that in the blink of eye." Demonia got up and started to walk, pulling her daughter after her. Cherry was sliding on her back and looking at her mother upside down. Little skydancer felt as if she actually achived something this time, after all those countless requests.
"A whole lot of determination, courage, loyalty, and of course willing to die for what you are protecting. That's what you need to be a warrior, my daughter. I can tell just by looking. You are not made for this." She squatted and tried to comfort her small girl who was ready to burst out with tears at any moment.
"Please, try to understand you are just not made for it, sweetie." Cherry got up, all covered in slime, and strongly hugged her Mother's chest, almost making her fall over. Her small body was trembling.
"B-But I will be! Please, just belive in me and I'm sure I will be able to do it!" She freed Demonia and hit her chest with her little paw.
"I will protect my family!" Cherry bit her lip and firmly shut her eyes. Her mother was so stunned, that she haven't even complained about her dress being dusty. She haven't felt a fear like that one for a very long time. She doesn't want her child to sacrafise herself for her, but she didn't had a heart to stop her right now.
*It seems like it's not just a whim this time... Very well, then...* Demonia just slightly noded and gently pat Cherry's head with her slender fingers. She looked at the ground and felt a bit abashed.
"I'll talk with Silver about this... but I-I don't want you to whimper about the soreness every evening after getting back from practice." She slowly started talking faster and rub Cherry's head stronger with every pat.
"And you must really start eating healthier if you want to be strong, no more candies, understand?... And also... Please, remember to be more mature from now on. Nobody wants to be saved by a silly and impish newbie... But try not to be too serious, or others might think that you are haughty and insolent, oh! And also..." Little skydancer was very confused, hearing all this tips and advices, but overjoyed like never before in her life. She was just standing there and looking at her Mother with eyes opened widely, and she couldn't believe her ears. She really agreed. Cherry's lips turned into a big smile and she gromped her Mother. Cuddling in her soft feathered chest she felt a comforting warmth of mothers love. Demonia was questioning her choice, but she couldn't say no to her little girl. Not after she just heard how a small child wants to protect her. She's so young, and yet so determined.

The nights near the Wyrmwound are truly horryfying. Those lit toxins puddles and bones sticking out of the meat-like ground are disgusting, but when you live in such place ever since coming out of the poisonous bubble, you start to think that this view is at some point beautiful. Or maybe she was just weird. Thats what she thought, while jumping on the ribs of the colosal ridgeback skeleton with full speed. Her feet were bouncing off the round sides of the chest bones like a rabbit. The gaps between the ribs were almost three meters long, but she could really feel the progress. When she was starting she wasn't even able to jump half of the gap, but now... it's a childs play. She jumped from the last rib with the full force. Her feathers were waving in the air and she could see the center of the Wyrmwound from the air. This moment was so gorgeous, almost as if the time freezed. Her crimson scarf was fluttering on the wind. She felt so proud. She really did improved in those few, short years. She pulled her front paws forward and was ready to land on the ground, when she suddenly remembered.
*Wait a second... I still need to delive-* Her small face painfully hit the ground and she made a few meters long ditch. That hurt, just like the first attempts. She was lying in the trench and slowly raised her head. The whole world was spinning and she felt nauseous.
"Oh, God... How could I forgot?!" She touched her swollen nose and slowly got up.
*I still have time before the sunset. I need to hurry.* She looked at the orange, cloudy sky and rushed towards her lair. The Snapper was still sitting on a large chair sculped in skull and reading something though her thick glasses. Cherry quickly rushed towards her and while gasping for air she took out an old looking book. Some dryed plants were sticking out of it. She moved towards the sitting Snapper on the wavy legs and gave the book to her. The snapper looked at her with its old eyes and smiled:
"Oh, thank you sweetheart. I was just thinking about it!" Said old woman with a kind tone. She put the book on the shelf behind her and pat the skydancer's head.
"I can always count on The Red Wings, do I?" The old snapper giggled while gently rubbing Cherry's bleeding nose. Cherry felt proud and straightened up.
"It's Crimson Wings ma'am, and yes. Whenever you need anything, we will help." She hit her iron chestplace with her paw, and then noticed that something was missing.
*What? Where is it???* She looked all around her and looked at the Snapper. The old women shruged and gave her a confused look. Cherry took a bow and rushed outside.
*Where? Where? Where? Where did I dropped it??* A large rib was sticking out of the ground. Cherrys leg tripped and she fell over on the warm ground. Once again, on her face, a blood spilled form her nose even more this time. She was lying on the ground in despair, completely abashed to look up she covered her face with her paws.
*I can't believe it. I really am-"
"Clumsy as usual, huh?" Cherry slowly looked up and saw a black mirror smiling to her and reaching to her his paw. In his palm was something small and shining. Cherry quickly got up abashed and took the red piece of metal from the mirror, attaching it to her breastplate. Everything is on it's right place now.
"Y-You didn't had to help me. But still... Thanks..." Cherry face was blushing but luckly for her it was really dark. The moon already rised up. The mirror crossed his arms and improved his glasses.
"The great leader of Crimson Wings not only lost it's badge, but also thanked me. You must've hit your head real hard." The mirror smirked and sat down. Cherry had an angry look and was desperatly trying to not look in his direction.
"Whatever, four eyes." The mirror turned towards her with an annoyed face. Cherry slightly laughed and rubbed her lumpy nose.
"By the way, miss Valkyrie, have you made any progress with our task from-" Cherry made an determined face and took out a small key form her sack. Mirrors eyes shined for a moment.
"Of course I did. Who do you think we are? She haven't noticed when I took it from her pocket." She smiled and swirled the key by its hole on her finger.
"Now we just have to get to the locked up part of the library, get that old book and put it back, right? Where is the meeting place?" Mirror turned back to her and looked at the silver moon.
"Don't worry about it. Now its my part of the task to do. I do apologise though to make you get through the most difficult part." He improved his glasses again. Cherry was a bit confused, she could never imagine her proud companion to actually apologise.
*I guess he's right. Paprika gathered information about book's whereabouts, I took the key and now its his turn to take it to the customer. Fair enough.* She came closer to the mirror and tossed the key to him. He quickly turned around and catched it with it's claws.
"Don't forget to bring it back on time. We don't want to have any trouble by "borrowing it." She flew up to the moon. The mirror was just silently observing her while firmly holding the key in his paws.
"Don't let us down, four eyes." She smiled to him and flew towards her homelair. It might have been just her imagination but there was something odd about him. Looking back she could see him heading towards the Wyrmwound.

The Ridgeback was stomping the ground heavily and waving her tail. Her angry eyes were looking at the ground and she was mumling something to herself. Cherry was just sitting on the big spine that was coming out of the fleshy ground and writing in her diary.
*It's getting thin... Wow... So many of my unsettling thoughts in one place could cause a major mind break down. Honestly though, I will never reread any of this, but I feel sorry for anyone who would dare to do it. Well, props for you, dear.* She closed her notebook and put it in her belt.
"Good grief! How long does it take to write some lovey-dovey scribbles?! Are you finally done!?" Ridgeback moaned with dissatisfaction and turned towards Cherry, who shaked her head.
"Don't be ridiculous Paprika. I don't have time for romance, and even if I did, I wouldn't wasted it on anyone except myself. Nobody deserves to be my free time." She slowly flew up towards South. Her feathers were waving on the warm wind of the Boneyard. Paprika flew after her and smirked.
"Hmph, thats exactly why I respect you. You're selfish." Cherry didn't turn around and continued to look at the horizon. A very distant, gigantic reservoir with sparkling blue water appeared. It looked so beautiful that almost everyone could think that it's a mirage. But it was real. It was The Sea of a Thousand Currents. Cherry eyes shined and she could already smell the salt in the air. She looked back and saw that ridgeback did a few loops in the air from happiness. It was their first long mission. No doubt that Paprika is excited.
*Too bad I can't.* Cherry became cloudy. Ridgeback flew closer to her and looked at her thoughtful face.
"Y'know. Its kinda weird to see you so... Off guard. You're the same chill and cool Skydancer I know. But I can tell that this mission is killing you" Cherry frowned, her glassed were reflecting  the rays of sunshine. Ridgeback cleared her throat and continued.
"Just don't push yourself, ok? You still haven't recovered entirely." Paprika turned towards Cherry with a concerned smile, looking at pink scars on her legs. Cherry closed her eyes and improved her glasses.
"I'm not reckless like you. I know when it's time to stop, and it surely is not. Not until I find a proper Crimson Wing." They both flew above the clearly blue water. It was so clear as if there wasn't any water at all, just a perfect reflection of the sky. The scent of salt was quickly mixed with the dust and ash. It was hard to breathe, so they both started to fly only meters above the ocean.
"It seems that the Ashfall Waste is closer than we thought." Paprika scratched her nose and sneezed.
"Weren't you excited a few minutes ago?" Cherry asked, and flew even lower to touch the sea with her paw. The water was warm. Paprika followed her and grinned.
"All this flying is making me tired. It's good that we're finally getting closer, so we can rest there. I just hope that we won't run into any of those fiery idiots." She made an annoyed face and hit her reflection.
"Why do you want to fraternize with our enemy?" Cherry looked at a small, metal badge with red wing attached to her brestplace and sighned.
"I hope you mean YOUR enemy. We need a good and strong fire dragon. We won't survive without anyone with an actual battling skills." Paprika frowned and yelled. The water shaked beneath her.
"What do you mean with actual battling skills?! I AM good battler you little-" She was interrupted by Cherry, who slightly laughed.
"You mean Your berserker mode? Thats just pure fury and bloodlust. Don't get me wrong, but we need someone with guts AND brains." Paprika spitted and made an resentful look. Cherry smiled and saw the black as coal ground, with the giant black smoke at the horizon. They are getting near.

The scales burning feeling at the bottom of our bellies, sweat falling down on the steamy and dry ground and a lava jets that could melt you in minute.
And, of course, a giant and impermeable clouds of ash above their heads. This really is the Ashfall Waste. The birthplace of Flamecaller and their future member of the team. We are used to high temperatures after living in the second hottest place in the entire dragon World. Paguebringer trains her children to be the best, what would it make us if we couldn't endure a bit of heat? Paprika smashed the rock with her foot and turned towards Cherry with an angry face.
"For the love of god, Cherry! You were writing in that wretched notebook just a few hours ago! Stop lenghtening our mission!" She hit the ground with her fist and the subsoil made a thin cracking sound. In an annoyed way, Cherry closed her diary and flew down to Paprika.
"This is a report. I have to write everything down." Skydancer improved her glasses. Ridgeback moaned and scratched her fluffy ears.
"No, it doesn't, you are writing a diary here and  we don't have anyone to give our relations to anyway. Whatever, let's go already." Cherry put her paw on Paprika's shoulder to stop her from flying off in random direction, as she was about to do just now.
"Where exacly do you wish to go, anyway?" Ridgeback angrily sighned and sat down tired.
"Fine, tell me where to go, capitan." Cherry smiled in satisfaction and took out from her pocket two small and shining pieces of paper with a flaming pattern.
"This is my big plan. If it'll work, we'll gain a very powerful companion. Wouldn't you agree?" Paprika rubed her blank eyes with widely open mouth. Those little paper were tickets to the grand finale of the Lavapit Tournamet. A slightly illegal competition between the bravest and toughest dragons. Only fire dragons can participate, but everyone can go and enjoy watching the battle.
"Are you nuts?! Do you really think that someone as BIG as Blaze the Mask himself would join some random and cheap group of brats?! Forgeit it, girl!" Paprika fell on her back and waved her tail. Cherry tossed her a piece of paper and sat down next to her. Those tickets are their only chance of meeting the great hero of The Fire land. If they won't get to talk to him AND convince him, this mission will be worthless.
*I really am picky when it comes to new friendships, but I can't let out group get so brutally hurt agian. I won't let that one big mistake I made ruin my dream of becoming the general.* She crushed the ticket in her paw and looked at the gigantic volcano in the distance.
"Let's go, Paprika. I'm sure he'll listen to us if we just follow my plan. And more specificlaly, YOU follow the plan." Ridgeback sat down and scratched the back of her head, looking unsurely at The Great Furnace. Spilling lava was almost making a river path that was guiding them to the end of their task.

The whole cave was gigantic, but they still had a problem getting to the first seats. It was dark and the only light they could see were flared totems around the ring in the middle. They were going in that direction for almost half an hour, but they still couldn't get there. How BIG is this cavern anyway? Cherry was saving her money for months just to get as close as she can to him. This mission is worth almost every coin she had gathered in her entire life.
*Failure is not an option.* She thought and followed Paprika, they squeezed between two ridgebacks who were shouting some swears at the losing dragon on the ring. They were too amazed to notice some little girls. It's always like that. Not taken seriously and not even noticed by anyone. As long as they are young, nobody will ever see their potential. That's what this mission is about. Impress Blaze the Mask, make him their ally and gain respect. Piece of cake, right? It would be a lot easier if they could fly, but rules are the rules - dragons who are not participating are not allowed to fly until the fight is over. That makes it a lot more difficult.
*Move it, idiots! We need to pass. He'll probably just leave as always and then, it'll be impossible to find him.* Cherry thought and saw how Paprika grived her teeth. That wasn't good. Suddenly, she pulled Cherry towards her. Ridgeback's claws were digging into her armor. They both fell over on the other side, two dragons who were blocking the way haven't felt a thing and continued to observe the battle. After getting up, they noticed that they were in the second line. Cherry shaked off the dust from her tail and looked around. All the dragons around them had very concentrated expressions and turned silent, then suddenly she heard a loud thump and everyone on the grandstands cheered with all the air in their lungs. Cherry quickly looked at the massive ring and saw how orange Imperial is standing on the head of the beaten up Guardian. His mask was completely covering his face, yet the smoke was coming from the bottom of it. He took a bow and everyone screamed with joy, clapping and vivading to him like crazy. This Imperial is no one other than the best champion and the most honorable worker of the Ashfall Waste.
"Bleh, we didn't make it in time to see the fight. What a waste." Paprika moaned and came closer to the ring. She was intensly staring at Blaze's mask. Cherry felt uneasy about it. They know each other for years, so she knows darn well what her friend wants to do and she wasn't very confident about it.
*For gods sake. I told her that this is a plan B. We haven't even tried the plan A!* Cherry hold her head and sat down.
"You big fool..." Skydancer whispered to herself and saw how her friend jumps above the ring fence. Paprikas white anthenas waved as she made it on the other side.
"Hm? Is that your friend?" Said a shady looking coalt in a long cloak and a fedora who was sitting next ot her. She glanced at him and deeply sighned.
"Well... you could say that." The coalt giggled and pulled the hat on his face. She reclutantly looked at the ring and saw Paprika aready getting fired up for a battle.
"Oh? Would you look at that! We have another candidate! This is gonna be an interesting battle! Or maybe we should call it a comb-out, shrimp?" The Commentator smiled at ridgeback and standed at the ring and pit, his hand in the air. Blaze the Mask was standing there without  saying a thing, but the smoke that was coming from his mask was getting thicker. The audience shouted some comment that she's just a brat and that shell be whipped out in a minute, but Paprika didn't cared about those words. Her eyes were already lit up. It was too late to stop her now.

The mask was lying on the ground. It's orange light was no longer lit. The smoke was not coming from its bottom, but from the lit cigarette of its welder. Imperial sticked the patch on the ridgebacks cheek and bandaged her forehead and arm. She was just sitting there patiently and completely embarresed to look at him. Her red scales weren't enough to cover her uneasiness. Cherry was just walking here and there behind them, all stressed out, biting her clawtips and wondering if it would be alright to kill her stupid friend for possibly ruining the whole mission.
"Its done. Try not to move too much, kiddo." Imperial cut the bandage with his claws and slightly tapped the ridgeback in her horn. Cherry quickly came closer and shaked imperials paw in thanks.
"We are very grateful for your kindness, mister. We won't be able to thank you enough." Paprika bit her lip and jumped off the chair next to Cherry.
"Thanks, gramps." She mummled under her nose and turned her head in other direction. The imperial gently smiled and let out a smoke. Cherry was so angry that she really was ready to scold the ridgeback for ruining the plan at any minute, but she had to hold back. Despite mess she made, this plan is not failed yet. Skydancer looked at the imperial with a nervous look and coughed.
"We didn't wanted things to turn out like this, but allow us to  introduce ourselves. We are the Crimson Wings. A stong willed and determined group of warriors, and we are currently looking for a new members. So if you-" She was interrupted by Imperial, who showed an index finger in front of her face and let out another smoke.
"I know what you're trying to say. Too bad to dissapoint you, kid, but I am not interested. I have to stay here. This place needs me." He sat down on the chair and put a paw on his mask. Cherry was stunned. Her offer never been so quickly rejected before. Paprika came closer to the Imperial and looked at him with the same mad gaze like before. She showed her fangs and slightly growled.
"Fight me again. We will prove that we need you more than this sh*thole." Paprika's eyes burned. He kindly smiled and extinguished cigarette in his paw.
"I like you. You're hotblooded, as if you were a true fire dragon. I'm looking forward to fight with you for REAL next time." He blinked to her. Paprika was furious and tried to fold her paw into a fist, but she was stopped by pulsating pain in her wounded arm. This man hit her the most sensitive spot - taking it easy on her. Cherry tried to comfort Paprika, but not a single word came out of her mouth when she saw the somber look on her face. Imperial lit up another cigarette with his fire breath and stood up.
"Please, do something about those faces. I can't look at them... Listen. I can't leave this place, I really can't, but I can volounteer to help you out a bit." He came closer and looked at the scars on Cherry's legs and on Paprika's eye.
"Ever since I saw you guys I can't get my eyes off from those deep scars. It hurts to look at them, but I'm sure that it hurt you a lot more. Look, I won't be able to participate in those mission of yours, but I can give you a hand when it comes in training or smithing an armor, and even a some wise advices and maybe... one day... you kids will be a local heroes, just like me." He cheerfully smiled and pat their heads. They both looked at him with amazement. Really? It was a lot easier that they thought. Finally, they achived something by themselves. It wasn't exacly what they planned, but hey, it worked. They really are just a bunch of brats, but with his help they will be a real group of warriors. Cherry took out the badge from her pouch. It was just a piece of cheap metal, poorly coloured in red to represent wing. She tossed it to the Imperial and grinned.
"Welcome to the Crimson Wings, Mister." The imperial gazed at the badge and pinned it to his mask with a slight smile. Paprika smirked and crossed her arms.
"Yo, so how should we call you? You are like our Master now, right?" The imperial got a bit abashed and scratched his head.
"Call me whatever you like, kid." Cherry happily clapped her paws and and looked imperial deep in his old eyes.
"How about Master Blaze?" She was impatiently waiting for him to react. The imperial schruged and let out a smoke.
"Sounds cool." Cherry noded and Paprika pulled her back by her collar. Ridgeback yawned and let go of the overjoyed skydancer.
"Master or not, you are still an old geezer to me... AND a perverted one too. To just so boldly gaze at young girls scars!" She growled and once again tried to fold a fist, but the pain stopped her from doing so. Cherry smiled with satisfaction and pulled out her diary.
*This entry will be a lot more positive then the last ones.* She sat down and took out the feather.