Oh yeah! Blue Moon is back, baby! -punches the air-
I'm slowly working through the writer's block I've had with this story, but I think I'd like to finish 'The Blind Warrior and the Butcherbird' before I finish this one. You'll see why later on.
This chapter seems a touch choppy to me, but whatever. Let me know if you think that's the case and I'll work on fixing it. :3
Anyway, I've you all waiting long enough, so enjoy Chapter 12 of 'Blue Moon'
Disclaimer: I don't own Storm Hawks or the song 'Loch Lomond'.
Something Dark on the Horizon
Aerrow had managed to pull Piper off of Finn before she could do any serious damage, but the sharpshooter didn't escape without a 'souvenir' of his escapade; Finn would sport a black eye for a week or so. According to Piper, he deserved it.
"Save some for me, now." Aerrow joked. Finn took advantage of the pair's distraction to make his escape.
"Some leader you are." Peregrine chuckled. Aerrow turned to see his parents walking up behind them.
"Don't blame them," Ever-loyal Junko defended his leader, "Finn interrupted Aerrow and Piper's romantic moment." Aerrow wanted to slap himself in the face. He restrained himself, but his face flushed as red as his hair. He caught Piper blushing too.
"So your navigator is also your girlfriend?" Peregrine teased his son, laughing. Aerrow mumbled something that sounded vaguely like, 'She's not my girlfriend.' Piper couldn't help giggling. "Tsk, tsk, the Counsel won't like that." Aerrow's expression hardened.
"The Counsel can take a flying leap, for all I care." Aerrow muttered bitterly. Piper squeezed his shoulder and Peregrine raised an eyebrow.
"They denied us our status as an official squadron, even though Aerrow passed the Trials." Piper explained. "They told us we're too young, so for now, at least, we're basically a rogue squadron." Peregrine suddenly looked furious.
"Those senile old bats wouldn't know talent if it kicked them all the way to Zartacla." Peregrine growled bitterly, "I was only sixteen when I passed the Trials." Aerrow's mother, Seychelle, put her hand on her husband's shoulder.
"They wouldn't let us become an official squadron for another two years, though, if I recall correctly." Seychelle reminded Peregrine. The old Storm Hawk sighed.
"Yes, I remember that," Peregrine clapped Aerrow on the shoulder with a chuckle, "We're quite a pair, aren't we, Aerrow?" Aerrow couldn't help grinning.
"We don't need to be official anyway. It's the deeds that define heroes, not the age." Aerrow agreed, standing a little straighter. Peregrine flashed a lopsided grin.
"That's the spirit. Come on, I can smell lunch cooking." Piper raised an eyebrow.
"You don't need to eat, though, do you?" the navigator inquired.
"No, but you try not eating for ten years and see if you don't miss it." The former sky knight winked at her and turned on his heel towards the food. Piper and Aerrow exchanged nonplussed grins and followed after.
"No heavy training until you've healed. We don't want those cuts to open again." Weaverbird was adamant. Aerrow sighed with frustration. He finally had his boundless energy and optimism back after being bedridden for so long; all he wanted to do was work his muscles a bit, to bring them back up to their original standards. He rubbed the bandages over his chest in an irritated manner, as though willing himself to heal faster. Weaverbird gently nosed his hand away.
"It's only for a few more days. I have to say, you're healing at an extraordinary rate. It must be from being exposed to the Dragon Crystal for so long." Aerrow shrugged. Peregrine clapped him on the shoulder.
"I'll show you some milder techniques. If that's alright with our resident healer, of course." The former Storm Hawk looked to Weaverbird. The Dragoness snuffed slightly.
"Very well. Nothing too strenuous, though." She trotted off towards Silverglow. Aerrow and Piper exchanged a perplexed glance.
"She seems a little more subdued than usual." Aerrow remarked. Piper shook her head and sighed.
"It's because the month will be over soon." When Aerrow didn't reply, Piper explained, "It's been almost twelve years since Silverglow's death. They only have a few more days together and then he'll return to the spirit world. She'll have to live out the rest of her life alone." Comprehension dawned on Aerrow's face and he glanced back at the two Dragons with a sympathetic expression gracing his features.
The two Dragons conversed for a while and Weaverbird drew her harp from her pack and tuned it. Silverglow retrieved a large silver pennywhistle from the same pack and blew into it. It produced a sweet low note. Weaverbird started plucking out a tune on the harp and Silverglow launched into a sad song that Piper knew to be from Terra Scott. Silverglow even managed to pull off the correct accent. Weaverbird sang the chorus while Silverglow played the pennywhistle
"By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond."
"O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye.
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond."
"'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond.
Where in deep purple hue, the hieland hills we view,
And the moon comin' out in the gloamin'."
"O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye.
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond."
"The wee birdies sing and the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping,
But the broken heart, it kens nae second spring again,
Tho' the waefu' may cease from their greeting."
"O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye.
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond."
Peregrine and Seychelle were showing Aerrow and Piper some of the slower 'Combat Dances' of Sky Fu. Weaverbird and Silverglow had padded over to watch, or in Weaverbird's case, supervise.
As Aerrow and Piper shifted into another striking and blocking position, something drew Weaverbird's sapphire eyes eastwards. A turquoise dot rapidly became visible on the horizon. As it grew closer, it resolved itself into a very familiar shape. Weaverbird's eyes widened and she leaped into Aerrow's and Piper's training space.
"Look out!" The Dragoness swept them aside with her wings just as a turquoise Dragon crash landed in the rocks. He bounced a few times before skidding to a violent stop, obviously unconscious. Weaverbird rushed to his side, nearly knocking Aerrow and Piper over in her haste.
"Oh Gladepool, your wings!" Weaverbird cried despondently as she examined her cousin for injuries. The thick, leathery membrane was tattered; blood seeped from the rips in the skin. How he had managed to fly all this way, Weaverbird couldn't even begin to guess. She eased his wings back onto his back and bound them with healing energy from her crystal.
Weaverbird continued checking the rest of Gladepool's battered body for serious injuries. One of his ears was ripped and there were several scratches on his face, but he seemed to be alright otherwise. His orange eyes fluttered briefly and he croaked something unintelligible. Weaverbird ran a paw along his neck, smoothing down his frazzled crest.
"Piper, could you fetch some water for me?" Piper nodded and dashed off, returning with a large bowl filled with cool, clean water. She eased it between Gladepool's lips and poured a little of the water into his mouth. He swallowed and soon drained three more bowls of water before opening his eyes. Weaverbird settled herself in front of him and nuzzled his cheek in a comforting gesture.
"Gladepool, what happened?" The Dragoness inquired softly. The turquoise Drake was silent for a long moment before he painfully raised his head.
"We were attacked. They just swarmed us without warning. We've been held hostage for days… No food… No water. I spoke up against the leader and got my wings torn to shreds for it. I barely managed to get away..." His flanks heaved with wracking coughs and Weaverbird made him take another drink. Once the coughing had subsided, Weaverbird continued.
"Who attacked you?" The Dragoness asked, trying to keep her voice level. Gladepool's orange eyes widened until the whites could be seen. He shook slightly and whimpered like a frightened kit. Weaverbird smoothed down his crest again and hummed a soothing tune in his good ear. Gladepool gripped the ground with his toes, claws scraping on the rocks. He shut his eyes tightly. The next word he uttered chilled everyone in the vicinity to the very bone.
"Demons."
Dun dun duunnn! :0 This story's finally starting to reach it's climax! :)
