Chapter Three
Brook
Brook was lost inside her head. She did this a lot, striving to stay grounded, but it was too hard. Sometimes, like when Frost was talking, it was just so boring that she faded out. Right now was one of those times. Frost was lecturing them like there was no tomorrow, and Brook's attention span was to short to listen for anything more than a minute or two at time, before she needed a break. She hoped that this would be over soon. There were only so many ways a dragon could keep herself occupied with her own thoughts.
Fate was kind, and time was swift, and Frost's speech was interrupted by the arrival of three shapes in the distance. They were dragons, obviously, and Brook could only hope that this meant…
"The other gaurdians are back!" Shrieked Rhododendron excitedly.
"Great." Flicker rolled her eyes. "Now we won't have to listen to this." Brook sighed. Rhododendron was so outgoing and Flicker was so tough. Why couldn't she be like them?
Because you're useless. Whispered a tiny voice in her head. You'll never be as good as your friends. Brook's head drooped. This was a constant thought, and she listened to it far too often.
"Ah, the other gaurdians." Frost breathed. "Now I can finally have some help with you unruly dragons." She continued, looking pointedly at Flicker.
"Should we fly out to meet them?" Rhododendron inquired cheerfully.
"I don't think so. How do we know that it's them and not just any other dragons? We should wait for them to arrive. Then, if they are enemies, we can fight them on our own turf." Crystal put in commandingly, lashing her whip thin tail.
"Like I said before, melodramatic." Flicker said irritatibly. Brook sighed again. Crystal was so smart and...and...leadery. She really needed to stop comparing herself to her friends. It never had positive results.
During all of this, the mysterious dragon-shaped shadows drew ever closer, until the glint of Nightwing silver, Sandwing gold, and Skywing red could be seen. Soon they were near enough for all their details to be made out.
"It is them! Whoopeeeeeee!" Rhododendron sang, spinning in dizzying circles.
"They look so...grim." Siren commented softly. Brook nodded her agreement. Normally, Thunderhead the Skywing looked grumpy, but at least Sandstone could be counted on for a backhanded smile, and Mountainmover always appeared like he was deep in thought, much like Darkmystic, who had stayed quiet throughout the whole affair. Today, however, all their expressions were stoic and hard as they drew closer to the cave where the others awaited.
As soon as the first talons clicked against the stone floor, Rhododendron was talking.
"OHMYGOSH, how ARE you guys, it's been like forever since you left that was a LOOOONG meeting, what did you talk about, did you bring any food…"
"SILENCE!" Roared Thunderhead. Rhododendron paused, looking slightly miffed.
"Frost, we need to talk." Sandstone stated urgently, glancing sadly at Brook and her friends. "The dragons are eleven years old now, fully matured, and…" She paused, again directing her gaze at the assembled dragons. Frost noticed.
"Out. Now. Everybody except for Mountainmover, Sandstone, Thunderhead, and myself. Out. NOW!" She roared, her voice sharper than usual.
"But…" Flicker cried, slightly outraged. Crystal's snout looked as angry as Flicker sounded.
"I SAID OUT!" Frost repeated, more insistently and louder. Far from cowed, Flicker and Crystal looked ready to fight.
"Come on," Siren butted in, gently nudging the two enraged dragons towards the cave entrance. "They need to talk. Calm down and let's give them their privacy." Her soothing voice had the desired effect, and Brook followed slowly as they one by one took off into the sky. Never one to challenge authority, the shy Mudwing flapped out of the cave obligingly, leaving the stone-faced gaurdians to conduct their mysterious conversation.
