Mallow woke up with a figure standing in front of her. At first, she thought she was reliving the day she was defeated by Vervain, until she realized that the scales were black. But the eyes still shined with hatred and distrust.
"Did you really think I wouldn't expect you to come here?" Spectrum's voice said. "It's sad, really. I was thinking that maybe I wouldn't have to kill you…but it's too late for that."
Mallow became fully aware of her surroundings immediately. She was in a cave, by a ravine, with the distant smell of the sea in the air. She looked around. Neither Jackal nor Caldera were by her side. The cave was dark and cold.
"Where did you put them?" Mallow asked Spectrum. "What did you do to Jackal and Caldera?"
"Oh, don't worry. They're just in another cave." Spectrum replied. "Thank you, by the way. I watched how to worked together to get each other into the Night Kingdom—or the remains of it, anyway. Can you be helpful just one more time for me; why did they all leave?"
"There's a legend." Mallow explained, finding no harm in it. "I've only heard it once or twice. It says that, about two thousand years ago, there was a dragon born with foresight, mind-reading, and animus magic. His name was Darkstalker. Something happened, I guess, and the NightWings now live in hiding."
"Where?" Spectrum said. "Where do they live now."
"No one knows." Mallow replied.
Spectrum scraped her claws against Mallow's talon, causing it to bleed. "You're lying! Tell me the truth or I'll claw your throat out and display your decapitated head as a sign of achievement!" She screamed.
"I am telling the truth." Mallow said calmly. She didn't know why she was so calm. Maybe it's because she didn't see Spectrum as a huge threat. Maybe it's because she knew that Jackal and Caldera, for now, are safe.
Spectrum slashed at her again, this time by her wing. "Next time I'll aim for your heart! Tell me the truth or you'll be dying today!" She roared.
"If you kill me, you'll have to deal with Vervain." Mallow replied. "He'll kill you, because you killed me. Either that, or Jackal will kill you himself. If I die, so will you."
"I will live forever!" Spectrum said. "I will do what no one else has ever done! I will live forever, until the end of time! And I will be queen of everyone!" She leaned down to slash at Mallow again, but instead, Mallow only heard the cracking of bones as a rock flew out from nowhere and smacked into Spectrum's leg.
"Oh, sweet moons, Jackal." Mallow muttered. "You and your stupid animus magic. Don't scare me next time." She looked around, and she saw two small red and sandy-yellow shapes. Caldera and Jackal. She let out a sigh of relief. Mallow looked at Spectrum. The NightWing was now lying on the ground, bleeding and most likely unconscious.
Jackal and Caldera ran to Mallow.
"She didn't hurt you, did she?" Caldera asked.
"I'm fine." Mallow replied. "And you two are okay?" Caldera nodded.
Beside Spectrum, Jackal let out a sigh of relief. "Moons, for a second I thought I killed her. She's still breathing." He said. He turned to the others. "What should we do about her?"
"Patch her up a little, then once she wakes up makes sure she's not going to be evil." Mallow said. "Then I guess…we try to find where the NightWings live."
Jackal nodded. He walked over to examine Mallow, and hugged her, coming away slightly bloody. Mallow's heart broke, just for a second, as she remembered Frute. She pulled Caldera closer, and she hugged both of her friends. No, not friends…
Sibs.