Chapter 20:
New Arrivals
In the two years since knowing him, Silverlight never suspected Qibli would say anything along the lines of that. Based on what Sunny may be trying to say, she too is very happy about this news. There is a long pause at first. Sunny is speechless, based on the way she opens and closes her mouth while she takes in all this information, and then finally words become meaning.
"She … she took, my advice! That's great news! Words can't describe how much gratitude I'm feeling right now! I'm so glad she is finally having dragonets again! She deserves it so much." Should I tell dad about his ex-mate's future and that he'll be a step-father soon? He needs to know how she's doing.
"I was considerately surprised by this news too Ms. Sunny."
"We all are," Moonwatcher concludes.
"Ms. Sunny?" Silverlight begins suddenly.
"Yes Silverlight?"
"I heard your thought. Who's your father? And you should, let him know about how Queen Thorn is doing. Doesn't he have that right?"
"My father's Stonemover. He was an animus."
"Was?" Oh no. Have I brought up something I shouldn't have?
"Yes. He does not wish to use his power anymore. He fears it. Because he fears it, and fears for those he loves, he enchanted his scales to turn to stone to protect us."
"He did that to protect his family? That was very kind of him, and sad. Now he may never get to see you again. I'm sorry I, brought up your father Ms. Sunny."
"It's alright. I visit him everyday."
"Silver." Moonwatcher turns to face him. "I could take you to him later. He does like company, and new faces."
"I, guess." Maybe we shouldn't. I mean, Ms. Sunny hasn't said we can. I never even knew he was here though, and now I feel bad not seeing him for the entirety of my two years.
"Right then you four," Sunny changes the subject. "You are to come to my detention during lunch today. That means no going outside to hunt. You can eat in the prey centre, but the moment you finish, you must come to me. If you don't, I will give you detention for a week. Is that clear?"
"Yes Ms. Sunny," all four of them reply in unison.
"Now then. Off you go. None of you are to set foot off the academy grounds for the remainder of the day." She walks out of the chamber and disappears from sight somewhat rapidly, leaving Silverlight sitting down flabbergasted and confused.
She changed the subject. She doesn't want us to see Stonemover at all. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. Now she's upset. He turns his attention to Moon. "Moon. I'm going after Ms. Sunny. I need to apologise for what I said."
"But, Silver?"
"I've made up my mind. I'll see you three later." He rushes off in the direction Sunny disappeared, using his mind to find where she is going. Please don't be upset Ms. Sunny. I never meant to cause sadness.
We're not really allowed to visit him though Silver.
Now she tells me.
When I visited him, it was because I thought it was him talking to me that day I arrived here, when it was in fact Darkstalker.
I know you can't hear me Moon, but I will be asking Ms. Sunny first.
I take it you're still gonna go and visit Stonemover so if you need us Silver, we'll be in the library waiting. See you soon.
Okay Moon. Instinctively he clears his mind from all others, then calls for Sunny's using a purplish-red leaf as his focus. Soon enough, he hears her thoughts fill his head.
I know he meant well, but he made me sad. I don't want father to turn to stone forever, but there's no way I can stop it from happening. He was fine yesterday.
Damn it. I did make her cry. Now I really need to find her and apologise. He speeds up, feeling for her presence amidst the many tunnels with his mind, before taking a turn down a rather dark tunnel he never even knew was present in the school, knowing Sunny is down there.
Please still be here father. I can't bear to lose you. You must know how mother is doing. I know you miss her. And I know you have little time left.
Little time? Surely his scales turning to stone doesn't mean he's going to die. I'll hate myself for the rest of the year if that were true. It just can't be true! As he continues, small orbs of different colours start lighting up the corridors on either side, and he is specifically interested in the blue ones that he sees. "Wow." I haven't seen these orbs of light in a long while. So why did they move them down these particular tunnels? The entire school used to have them dotted about in all the chambers.
He listens out for Sunny's mind again after reaching a fork in his path, before turning right into another tunnel that starts to widen the further forward he goes. He continues walking into a large chamber, and it is there that he sees Sunny crying by the statue of a dragon. "Ms., Sunny?"
Sunny turns her gaze to him, but her eyes still water. "Oh, Silverlight." She hugs him and breaks down. "He's ... he's gone! Dad… I couldn't, see him, before..." Her words drown out amidst more tears. I wanted to … tell him.
"Ms. Sunny, I … I'm sorry for upsetting you earlier."
"You were always so kind Silver." She pauses. "I need to, talk with Starflight…" She sadly walks away, leaving Silverlight alone in the chamber with the statue of her father.
What can I do to cheer her up? She's just lost Stonemover. Who else is she gonna lose? He feels being in here is too disrespectful, but he does the only thing he could to feel better. He heads to the statue and rests a talon on the head to say a few words. "If only I could have, met you personally Stonemover. We'd have been like friends." He bows his head in respect and then heads away, but not before something catches his eye. Was it a sparkle of a tear, or a trick of the light? He may never know, but as he goes to leave a red fox appears carrying a recent kill. The reynard heading straight for the statue to place down the animal he recently killed and sits in wait for something to happen, but nothing did. Amidst a sad whining he muzzles the food closer to the head of the stone dragon, then sits again just waiting there.
Silverlight does not understand this at first, or why the red fox just sits there waiting for, what he thinks is movement from Stonemover. Who even was this fox to Stonemover? Not wishing to disturb the scene, Silverlight decides it is best to leave. Seeing the reynard just waiting there, now with his ears held low starts breaking his heart. The red fox lays down resting his head over his forelegs whining again. This kind of loyalty is heartbreaking. The poor creature. He doesn't understand does he? But the moment the animal looks his way, strange things start to form in his mind.
Silver sees unfamiliar surroundings moving around him in the little light. His body moving very not much like a dragon as well as a strange taste in his mouth, and then a darkened cave is entered where two dragons are. The little dragon nearly leaps onto the big dragon's back in terror when whatever Silver` is scrabbles in the dark.
A strange light is then swung around and down, and Silver could finally get an understanding as to where his mind took him. Seeing wet russet paws and a snout carrying a dead squirrel before him, he feels pointed ears as he saunters into the cave as bold as anything. A breeze brushes past his body, a feeling of wet fur moving in the wind as the little dragon just stares at him while her ears move just a touch. He scorns at her as if he certainly does not expect the little dragon to dare pick a fight with him.
"Shoo," the little dragon says sternly. "Go find yourself another cave."
Sunny? But then, who is the bigger dragon?
"Oh, this is dinner," the big dragon says, then he hinges his jaw open. To Sunny's wonder, he trots over and drops the squirrel right into the big dragon's mouth. He steps back and gives Sunny another haughty look as the big dragon begins to chew.
Whoever he is, he's a NightWing. A NightWing!
"Wow," Sunny says. Are foxes intelligent, too, like scavengers? What if all animals are smarter than we think they are? Is there going to be any prey left that I won't feel bad about eating? "How did you train it to do that?"
I heard her thought, but a fox? I don't recognise the features I saw at all.
The NightWing waits until he swallows, and then says, "I didn't. I enchanted him."
Enchanted? The NightWing must be Stonemover then.
Sunny frowns at Silverlight. "You mean with animus magic? That only works on things. Not animals."
Animal? Am I in an animal's mind?
"Turns out it works on animals," says Stonemover, "if you're desperate and try hard enough."
Sunny folds her wings in and shivers. "That's creepy."
"Dinner doesn't mind," he replies, and it takes even Silverlight a moment to figure it out.
"You call the fox Dinner?" she says.
Dinner? Am I in the fox's mind back in Stonemover's chamber?
"Why not?" His shoulder moves an infinitesimal amount, the smallest of shrugs.
"Because that's peculiar," Sunny says. "And really creepy for him, if he knew what you were saying."
"I didn't think about it," Stonemover says. "I've never introduced him to anyone before. Anyway, I only enchanted him to bring me food every few days; he still has a fine ordinary life as a fox, I'm sure."
As if in answer to this, Dinner shakes himself vigorously, scattering water all over Sunny, and then trots out of the cave again.
"I mean," Stonemover concludes, "I had to do something, or I would have starved." Silverlight hears Stonemover's last words go into quietness as he continues back down the same tunnel he came up, then back out into the rainstorm feeling the rain as if he is really there. Looking into a large pond from a ledge, Silverlight sees Dinner's full front with his own eyes, clarifying for himself that he is indeed inside the mind of the fox. But then everything around him fades back into the tunnel, and his movement slower, frailer and older with no form of food in his mouth.
Huh? I'm Dinner still? He feels so, old, so frail now. How many years am I ahead? He was younger in the last scene, and it feels later than his physical being is now.
He slowly enters Stonemover's chamber, seeing Sunny and two SandWings he has never seen before, all crying around the petrified form of Stonemover.
Oh, no. This is the future, with Stonemover completely stone.
He lowers his head in sadness as his body caves from underneath himself, causing Sunny to act in surprise and head over to him due to his whines of sadness.
"Oh, Dinner. I'm so… so sorry." She lays down next to him and strokes his head kindly as he continues to whine and cry. "We couldn't, stop this from…" The older SandWing collapses over the statue and breaks down bawling amidst her tears. "Mother!" Sunny rushes over to her and carefully helps her to stand.
I can't, take this!
"Stone… mover." She lays down with her daughter as the other SandWing rests a talon on her shoulder, nuzzling her lovingly.
"I'm so, sorry Thorn. He couldn't, be helped."
"I feel just terrible!" Thorn continues between her sobbing. "First I put that bounty on his head ten years ago, then I mate with you, and now… I can't ever … tell him how much I … missed him. I can't tell him our … good news." She pauses. "He would've, loved knowing I'll... he would've, loved knowing I'll, be a mother again. He could've met our... our little darlings one day..." She goes silent and cries again.
"Oh, honey…" Smolder pulls her close and rests his forehead on hers. "You can still tell him. His spirit is here. It'll always be with you. He'll always be alive…" He places his talon on her heart. "…right in here."
No more sadness! NO MORE SADNESS! Silverlight screams in his mind, then returns to an empty chamber drying his eyes, surprisingly comforted by Dinner rubbing himself around his feet. "Oh, Dinner. I'm so, sorry I…" He lowers his talon to give the red fox some attention by stroking him on his head. "You poor old boy." He pauses amidst a saddened smile. "If only I could've done something to save him." He massages Dinner's ears then hears a very peculiar screaming sound from outside that he sees Dinner reacting to. "You better get back to her Dinner. She's missing you." He lets the red fox run along out the chamber and towards the calling of his mate.
Silver heads back to where his friends are waiting for him, but not before he sees the same thing from before with the corner of his eye. Why did I see that again? Where did it come from? He glances back in hope he sees what it was, but continues nonetheless back to where he needs to be when nothing else happens.
Silverlight arrives in the tunnel before the library later than he intended, due to what he saw back down in Stonemover's chamber in the mind of Dinner. He still does not understand why he saw those two scenes in Dinner's eyes. He cannot explain it with his father due to their locations right now.
If only he wasn't so far away.
He then hears voices from the library as he nears, and upon entering the chamber he sees Sunny crying into Starflight's shoulder with Fatespeaker wrapping her wing around her, and Tamarin resting her talons on Sunny's shoulder. Clay is there discussing something with Webs, Grandeur and Greatness, while Tsunami heads to Sunny. Beside them, Qibli is caressing a crying Moonwatcher; Kinkajou has her head lowered, her scales a stark light blue; Yucca is looking at him in a very depressed manner.
"Never forget that he'll always be in your heart, Ms. Sunny," Tamarin consoles. "You have memories of him, and they speak a thousand words. Never let these memories of him go. Keep them alive inside the chambers of your mind."
"What can we do in his memory?" Tsunami asks gently, resting a talon on Sunny's shoulder.
"Ms. Sunny! Ms. Sunny!" Oasis says, bounding about them. "Don't be upset! We all love you a whole bunch, and so does Stonemover!" She rubs herself against Sunny's forelegs and rears on her hinds, looking up at her innocently. "He'll never forget you! And you'll never forget him!"
"Oh, little Oasis." Sunny lowers her head down and nuzzles her. "And Tamarin." She nuzzles Tamarin as well. "Thank you both for your kind words."
"Tell us a story Ms. Sunny. Me and all my friends. Pleeeeease! Tell us one about Stonemover!"
"Well." She heads off with Oasis to one of the far stone tables where the Adamantine Winglet is sitting. "There was one father told me a while ago." Her words die down into quietness that not even Silverlight could hear over the conversation next to him.
"Something must be done for Sunny. She loved Stonemover a lot," Starflight continues. "And she deserves it. She's done a lot for us. We need to return the favour."
"I agree with Starflight," Webs says. "We have to cheer Sunny up. Help her accept this loss. Keep her remembering all the good times she had with him."
"You agree with us?" Clay says, a little perplexed.
He couldn't even learn about his ex-mate's good news. And clearly Queen Thorn misses him dearly. Did she even visit him though? I don't think she even knew where he went. And now, he's gone. I couldn't even, meet him. I had all my hopes up, only for them to come crashing down. His thoughts are soon interrupted by Yucca, bawling into his chest.
"I know YuYu. I know." He wraps his arm wings around her and pulls her close to his body.
"Who was he?"
"Stonemover?"
"Yeah." She looks up into Silverlight's eyes as he meets them with his own.
"Well. He was her father. A NightWing animus."
"Stonemover hated everything about himself," Moonwatcher continues as they both look her way. "He believed he was cursed by what he was born with and then used for, and enchanted himself to turn to stone just so that everyone could be safe from him and what he feared he might become. He feared for his family too, and what he might have done to them."
"And now she'll never know him again!" She cries into his chest once more, and Silverlight sneaks a gentle lick over her salty cheek. Why does it always have to be those closest to you? Why?
"This is hurting you way too much YuYu. But I understand. You've suffered the same and miss him dearly, I know." He hugs her tightly once more. Yes. I still remember when you told me YuYu. He'll always be with you, just like I will now.
Remaining bosomly close to Silverlight, Yucca glances up at him. "I can never forget him Silver. He was my world, my everything."
"I know YuYu. I know." He licks her cheek lovingly and rubs his head against hers. "He's in your heart, and that's where he'll stay."
"Silver. I should tell you and everyone else. I had a vision while you was with Sunny not long ago."
"A vision?"
"Yes. I thought it right to tell you all now, seeing as you're here with us now Silver, that I had a vision of the Pantalan dragons I mentioned before, flying towards the academy. We should meet them on the landing ledge just outside the school."
Webs then walks up to them, specifically Moonwatcher, a little confused. "Are you sure Moonwatcher, that they're on their way right now?"
"Positive sir."
"Then I guess we all should head to the location pronto, before they arrive and miss us."
"I'll go get Sunny," Tsunami offers, before heading over to her, and this time Silver hears Sunny speaking with her. "Sunny. We have visitors coming."
"Visitors?" she says, just before finishing her story. "And that little ones, is why you should always think before you act." She laughs upon the memory. "Father learned the hard way he did."
"Can we come too miss?" Shadowrain asks. He motions to all his friends. "To see the new dragons."
"I guess so."
"Yeay!" He bounces up and down. "Come on guys! Let's go see the new dragons!"
"Quieten down Shadowrain. You are in a library afterall."
Shadowrain lowers his head in contrite. "I'm sorry, Ms. Sunny." He runs on with his friends, straight to Silverlight.
"Are you sure you'll be okay, meeting them Sunny?"
"I shouldn't let my father's, death … distract me from my duties. It was just a matter of time before dad became lost to us forever. I have to accept this."
"You are one strong dragon Sunny. All of us are very proud of you, and how far you've come."
"Thanks Tsunami." She starts to head off. "Better get going. Time waits for no one." She leaves from the library with Starflight beside her, and then the other teachers do the same. Silverlight follows next with his friends and Shadowrain's winglet, and they leave the library in its silence once more.
Reaching the entrance chamber did not take Silver all that long, after offering to run ahead to meet them face-to-face. However, the moment he goes to walk out a strange dragon lands on the ledge looking around. He is one Silverlight has never seen before in these specific colours and four wings unlike any he already knows. A mixture of smoky black scales with orange flecks in specific places, making him look more dominant than he actually seems.
"Em. Is this the right place? It seems like any other ordinary cave to me."
Silverlight is taken aback by the way he just spoke, very boring-sounding as though he did not seem to care. Then he spots a very stark-looking dragon, almost entirely blue with purple and lavender scales in certain places, and four wings unlike the other one's that he seems to recognise, land beside the older dragon and scrutinise the entrance.
"It could be any possible cave around here. And I don't see any recognisable dragons. Maybe try the next one."
"Hmm. I guess."
They both lift off before Silverlight could even go to walk out and greet them. Blue? Was that Blue? Then he hears Moonwatcher running beside him.
"Did you see 'em?"
"I think I saw Blue but I wasn't sure. I was being very cautious around the other one though…"
"Damn it!" Moon interrupts. "They don't know this area! How could I have been so stupid?!" She rushes out and flaps her wings after them before any of the others even arrive, without giving Silverlight a chance to ask if he could join her.
Moments later, Moonwatcher returns with a flock of eight dragons in a formation behind her.
"I was just here though…"
"Hawker you oblivious HiveWing! Pay attention!"
"Hey! It's not my fault I am slow to know you know, but oh well. It's not like I really care or anything. My job is all I need to worry about."
"As usual. Putting yourself first is 'oh so highly of you'. Hawker, you're so incorrigible," the mean-looking one rebukes.
"Jeez. That must've hurt," the one Silverlight is certain may be Blue responds.
"I am actually offended by that," Hawker complains.
"Well. She is Sundew. The truth doesn't lie," the rather beautiful caterpillar-coloured one says.
"Truth is only as true as the facts state you know Luna," the orange-gold and black blotted one states. She is wearing what Silverlight understands as glasses.
"Can we go in please? I'm getting impatient already," the deep blue and orange splotched one expresses. He looks rather much like a troublemaker in Silverlight's eyes.
"When are you not impatient?" Sundew growls. "You've been complaining the whole way here from Pantala! 'This is taking too long!' 'My wings are getting tired!' 'When will this rain stop?' 'Are we there yet?' 'Are we there yet?' ARGH. So be quiet for five seconds, and give my ears a chance to stop rattling! Please, Swordtail!"
"A little edgy are we!"
"Please settle down guys," the rather tall one interrupts, in a manner of restoring peace.
"Tell me to settle down again and you can talk to the pointy end of Bangaa!" Sundew snaps. She taps a claw on something in the pocket of her leaf vest that Silverlight guesses is a jar, and an aggressive-sounding buzzing answers. "I'm ready for a nap after flying for two days with little rest, and I don't need any more drama. The next dragon to complain is going to get stung!"
"Please don't argue. It's making me sad. Let's just go in already," whispers the older yellow-orange dragon with many black spots like freckles.
"Yeah. Before we become wet through and deaf by Sundew's arrogance," Swordtail concurs.
"ARROGANCE!" Sundew flaps her wings in a fury. "I'll show you arrogance Swordtail!" She raises her arm to strike him, but Moon quickly jumps between them.
"And now we go in everyone," Moon interrupts, clearly having heard enough bickering between them. "Jade Mountain Academy teachers and students, meet…" She raises her wing to motion at each dragon she says by name. "…Princess Sundew, Blue, Princess Cricket, Swordtail, Luna, Io, Princess Katydid and Hawker." She turns herself to face the dragons she introduced. "Pantalan residents here on visitation, meet the Jade Mountain Academy teachers and some of their students. There. Happy friends again, so please behave while you are here."
Moon walks them inside as Silverlight notices the Adamantine dragonets trying to hide underneath him when Hawker walks by.
Hawker stops and tries to be friendly. "Uhh. I will not hurt you. I have to do my duty and protect you and the school, despite not having anything else to do."
Tsunami lowers her wing to the dragonets. "Hmm. Glad you all could make it." I can tell Hawker needs a female in his life. He's so, boring-sounding and that would surely give him a reason to be excited. I hope. She seems to cast a sideways glance at Sunny as she thinks this, but Silver does not understand why. I think Sunny would enjoy the companionship after what happened to … Stonemover.
"Hmm. I should, really remain at the entrance. There's nowhere else I need to be."
Silver then sees Sunny walk up to him, extending a talon. "It is nice to finally meet you Hawker, and all of you lovely Pantalans here to visit our wonderful school."
"It is nice to meet you as well." Her scales are so, warm. And her eyes … they're so, beautiful. Maybe I will enjoy being here more than I thought after all. If only I could sound more happy instead of boring and monotonous when I talk.
Three moons, Tsunami suddenly thinks, much to Silver's surprise, if Sunny actually ends up loving him, I'm gonna actually faint!
Hawker sighs. "I'll just, haunch myself by the entrance then. I have nowhere else to be." He walks back out and perches himself down outside the entrance.
"S-Silver?" Shadowrain whimpers from underneath him. "Is the big dragon still out there?"
"If he is, I'm staying under Silver!" Caiman agrees.
"He's outside yes. But he won't hurt you." Silver begins to walk back as the others do the same, but because of the way the Adamantine Winglet dragonets are underneath him, he cannot even turn around.
"Ow!" Oasis yelps. "Don't step on my tail, Cliff!" She flicks her barbed tail in annoyance after Cliff gets off it.
"Put it not under my stompers then!"
"I'm getting cramped. It's too warm under here Silver. But big dragon is scary. I want to stay hiding."
"Peacemaker! Mind where you bump me. I'm small."
"Sorry Auklet. I didn't mean to bump you." I just wish I had a strawberry to chomp.
"Little ones. It's kinda hard to walk with you all squirming, gripping, scrabbling and squabbling under there. Especially because you're, kinda forcing me to walk backwards like a penguin."
"DRAGONETS!" Cricket squeals suddenly, making Silver jump a little. "Ooh, please let me see them!" She tries peeking under Silver to get a good look at them.
"Try not to scare them, Cricket," Katydid cautions. "Remember, we're strangers to them." My daughter is acting like a dragonet herself now.
"Yeep!" Silver yelps. "Mind where you headbutt me Caiman. It's … delicate there."
"Oops. Sorry Silver."
"I can tell you a story little ones," Cricket offers.
"Story! Story!" Auklet charges out from under Silverlight straight to the strange dragon without question.
"Be story a good one?" Cliff asks, peeking out from under Silver's hinds.
"Cliff. 'Is the story a good one?'," Silver corrects.
"That what meing say. 'Be story a good one?' See. Aren't I smarting, Silver?"
Silverlight sighs at a loss.
"It's a very good story. You all should give the nice dragon his much needed space, you know."
"Cliff will walking on out now," Cliff says simply, then does just that.
"Cliff," Greatness interrupts. "Please don't have me teach you proper Dragon from the start again."
"Sorry. I's trying miss. I's really trying."
"I know sweetie. But please try harder."
"Okay."
"I don't know if we should go. I mean, we don't know them," Malamute conditions. "Is it the right thing to do?"
"Auklet's brave. She ran straight there," Shadowrain says. We should do the same right?"
"That's because whenever 'story' is said she dashes straight there."
"Don't be a meanie MudWing, Caiman!" Auklet complains.
"Will there be strawberries involved?" Peacemaker asks. He looks at Cricket from behind Silver's right hind.
"I'm sure I could find some for you to chew on," Cricket replies.
Peacemaker rushes out too. "Yeay!"
"Oh look. Strawberry fanatic wants a strawberry."
"Well this princess wants to stay under Silver who she can trust."
"I'm a princess too, and so are Katydid and Sundew," Cricket states.
Oasis pokes her head out further. "You're all princesses?"
"That's right. Princesses stick together right?"
"Princesses stick together, they do!" She pauses. "Later Caiman!" Oasis runs out to her friends.
"Huh?"
"I'm not one for 'sticking together'," Sundew says absentmindedly from nearby the cave entrance. She is holding up a jar containing a large black wasp, watching it claw against the glass as if it wants to be let out. "No, Bangaa. I can't let you out yet," she tells the wasp, which then sits down obediently as though it understood her. I need to find her another spider to sting. It's been almost a week since the last time she caught one.
"Silver?" Shadowrain looks up to him for confirmation. "Is it, safe to come out now? I want to be brave like you."
"Sure Shadowrain. I can trust them."
"As you can trust them, then I definitely can trust them." Shadowrain heads out and stands with his friends. "Come on you two!"
Silverlight casually walks forward revealing the remaining two from underneath him without them knowing, but the moment Malamute knows he is exposed, he charges back to Silver.
"No, Silver! I don't, want to."
Silver lowers his head to him. "Be brave Malamute. You can do it."
"But…"
"Oh quit complaining Malamute," Caiman says. She struts her stuff to make herself look big and strong. "Or big hunky Caiman here pounces on you again."
"No!" Malamute runs and hides under Silver.
"You're not helping Caiman." Caiman starts to walk to the others of her winglet, glancing at Malamute in a manner that tells Silver she knows the little IceWing will follow. "Go on Malamute. Be with your friends."
"I, guess. See you, Silver." Malamute lowers his head and slowly walks towards them.
"Thanks." Silver lowers his head to Cricket.
"No worries. Logic states that with enough coaxing, even the shiest of dragons will become brave." She walks off with the little ones and Katydid, leaving Silverlight breathing a sigh of relief.
"So. Where are all your books?" Blue asks all of a sudden as he walks on after them.
"What's a, book?" Silver questions in confusion.
Their voices die down to silence as Yucca wraps her wing around him.
"Come on hun. We should head back too." Both of them then walk back towards the recreation chamber entwining their tails and rubbing heads as they continue down the tunnel.
Silverlight and Yucca are the first to enter Sunny's chamber after eating lunch together. Silver recalls that Moon and Qibli were also feasting with each other, but he and Yucca both left before they had finished. Upon entering though, Silver is surprised to see Tsunami sitting down before them.
"Ms. Tsunami. Why are you here?"
"Just in case Ms. Sunny needs me Silver."
"Is the news about Stonemover still hitting her hard?" Silver asks.
"I guess so. Try not to mention it Silver."
"I understand." He then hears footsteps from outside and glances over his shoulder to notice Moon and Qibli just walking inside. "Oh. You've finished eating already?"
"Of course. Why else would we be here Silver?" Qibli answers before walking with Moon to sit down.
"Uh, uh, uh. Males and females will be separated in your detention today."
"Em. Why?"
Tsunami glares at him. "Qibli! Do not question. Go on. Switch places with Yucca please."
"Sorry." He stands to his feet and switches places with Yucca, who sits down accordingly next to Moon.
"Glad to make your acquaintance Qib," Silver jokes.
"Jokes are depreciative Silver."
"Come on boys! Sit!" Sunny orders. She watches them sitting to her right.
"So. Why, are they in detention this afternoon Sunny?" Tsunami questions.
"Did Flare not tell you?"
"Not that I recall."
"Now then you four lovewings. Tell Tsunami why you're in detention for the remainder of this afternoon?"
"For breaking rule number two of section five in the school brochure scroll, Ms. Tsunami," they all reply in unison.
"MATING?!" Silver knows Tsunami cannot believe what she is hearing, and she quickly seems irked by it. "Three moons! I should expel you four for that!"
"No matter, no matter," Sunny says to keep the peace. "Flare caught them just when they were about to perform … 'the act'. And by the moons was he livid."
"Your queens will be sent a letter explaining this incursion!"
"Well I doubt you'll get one to my queen miss," Silver says.
"Silver!" Qibli exclaims.
"Don't get smart with me Silver!"
"Quiet Silver," Sunny says, "or you'll have a second detention this evening."
Silverlight lowers his head. "Sorry." He raises his head again to Tsunami. "But how are you gonna get a letter to Queen Liona or Queen Novablast?"
"I'm very sure Bluebell wouldn't mind a little journey back to her home continent. I'll ask her first."
"And Queen Kalahari. She's my queen back home," blurts Yucca.
"Yucca," Silver moans. "You're not supposed to just … say things like that."
"But you did."
"That was different hun."
"Great. Queen Thorn's gonna distrust me now. I've tried all I can to be loyal to her, and now this."
"Then you shouldn't have broken rule two of section five, Qibli," Tsunami says. "This is your own problem that you need to fix yourself."
"I know. I will fix it. I must fix it. She needs to know I'm a brilliant subject of hers."
"Now then. Quiet for the remainder of lunch." They do as Sunny asks, who looks back to Tsunami. "You may go now Tsunami."
"Are you sure? I mean … you don't need any support after…" Tsunami eats her own words.
"I should be fine. I can control these four. Thank you for your concern Tsunami."
"Very well. But if you need me, I'll be just down the tunnel." She heads out without another word, while Silver lays himself down and closes his eyes amidst his utmost boredom. He hopes lunch will be over quickly so he can go back to doing what he loves, instead of nothing as the moments slowly tick away. But he gets a strange feeling like something may happen, soon. Something he has seen before in his dream. It will only be a matter of time before what he feels is next will strike, at the heart of the entire school.
It is later that evening when Moonwatcher finally finds Silverlight helping Starflight and Fatespeaker in the library, and clearly she had wondered where he had been ever since leaving from Sunny's detention chamber based on her concern. Silver carries a pile of scrolls to Starflight's desk and begins sealing them once more for the next day of reading, knowing Moon is there looking at him expecting an answer from her silent question.
"Silver?" She heads to the desk and sits down just staring at him, but Silver remains quiet while he works until Moon speaks again in a more concerning manner. "Silver!"
"Yes, I know. You've been wondering where I've been all afternoon."
"Has there been something on your mind all day?"
"No." He slides five scrolls to the side and goes back to sealing another batch Fatespeaker hands to him. "I've only felt this feeling since Sunny's detention."
"What feeling?"
"That something I saw before is gonna happen, very soon."
"Are you meaning his prophecy?"
"I am. The next thing in the prophecy. I'm worried it's gonna happen … tomorrow. I'm too concerned and I can't focus unless I'm doing something, so I've been doing errands for the teachers all afternoon, trying to take my mind off my thoughts."
"I've been looking for you all afternoon. Couldn't you have at least come to see me at some point?"
"I didn't think. I couldn't think. Everything's going crazy up here." He rubs his forehead suddenly, and then Fatespeaker rests a talon on his shoulder.
"Silver. You should rest. You've been on the move all day."
"I can't rest though Fatespeaker. I can't relax. Not with my mind going all crazy and confused!"
"Silver," Starflight begins as he walks up to him. "Perhaps you should rest. You've done a lot of work today. I don't want you straining yourself too much, not after what you've been through this week. I'm concerned for you."
"I know, I just can't." He carries the ten scrolls he sealed back to their cubbyholes, thinking about things. I need to keep moving. I need to get to the bottom of this feeling. Perhaps they're right, maybe I should rest and just see what happens tomorrow. But if it's what happens to… No! That won't happen! I'll keep him safe! I'll keep everyone I care about safe! But, what if I can't. Amalthea said I was not strong enough yet. If I try anything, I'll just fail. He places the last of the scrolls in their respective places, then sighs in relief. I need to clear my head. I need to figure this out!
"Silver! There you are!"
"Yu?" He looks up to see her curiously studying his emotions.
"What's the matter Silver?"
"I don't know Yu. My head's all scrambled. I can't focus!" He pauses as she walks up to him. "My mind's in a riddle and I don't know how to solve it."
"So start at the beginning."
"Since leaving detention, my mind is all in a kerfuffle. I feel something's gonna happen soon, and then hints to his prophecy run through my head, showing me constantly the future things I want to avoid. Starflight dying. Darkmatter, killing me. Nightblade finding us. The bleeding dragon. I can't figure it out! It doesn't feel like it's in order!"
"Maybe rest your mind so it can focus."
"But there's more Yucca."
"Oh?"
"Since the Pantalans arrived here, there have been certain … complications."
"Complications?"
"Like one of them disappearing! One of them dying! One getting hurt bad! It feels like Darkmatter is sending me a code of what he is planning to do, now that they have arrived here."
"How is he still getting to you Silver? Anemone enchanted that anklet you're wearing, to protect you from him I thought."
"She still enchanted it to do that, but I also asked for a way to learn of his plans so I could strategize accordingly and stop whatever he has planned from actually happening. I just, never thought it would be so, difficult." Yes, it is true. A tiny strand of string is all that keeps him from me. But it feels like he will try to force his control on me again, using that minute connection he has with me. I regret asking her for this, but it's the only way for me to save everyone I hold dear.
"It's getting late. We should head back to our caves," Yucca says to Silver as she rubs her head with his before walking with him towards their winglet's tunnel. "Maybe a good night's roost will help clear your head for you to solve this puzzle." Silver accepts her offer, but as he waves to Starflight and Fatespeaker with Moon following close behind, he hears a thought belonging to somebody who's mental voice he does not recognise at first.
Hybrid? Yes … I think. Stressed by something? Looks busy. Works late in the library? Seems to love the SandWing called … Yucca? Yes, that's her name. He seems like an interesting dragon. I must study him closely for the next few days.
"Blue?" Silver looks around but does not see him, then shrugs as he wraps his arm wing round Yucca before rubbing his head with hers again.
Sharp. Quick to notice things. Very fancy-looking wings I've never before seen. Definitely loves the SandWing Yucca. I'll study him more tomorrow.
Blue is very curious about me it seems. But I just hope Yucca, Fatespeaker, Moon and Starflight are right about resting. I'm worried I won't be able to unless I'm with YuYu. I want her to sleep with me, but it isn't allowed. I miss her comfort. It's the only comfort keeping me sane. They both enter into their sleeping tunnel, but Silver does not want her to leave him. "Yucca. Is it alright if you, rest with me for a bit? Before the others arrive, I mean…"
"Sure. If it helps you relax and roost, I'll gladly do it in place of Serac."
A sigh of relief. "Thank you." He enters his sleeping cave with Yucca by his side. "But I just can't shake off this feeling YuYu." Hawker, Sundew, Cricket and Blue. They seem to be targets. Luna, Io, Swordtail and Katydid. They seem to just be in his way. But about Sundew. Why does she talk to bugs like they're dragons?
"Try and rest Silver. You need it." Laying down, he closes his eyes amidst her warm caress and loving licks as he slowly drifts off to sleep.
I just hope the Pantalans will be safe, here…
Silverlight wakes feeling refreshed and amazing, remembering how Yucca helped him to sleep off his worries last night and although he felt her heading away after the others arrived, he never stirred even when Serac took over the duty of comforting him. But he did listen, and still recalls what they said to each other.
"Yucca! What are you doing in our sleeping cave?" he hears Serac question.
"He asked me to comfort him, so he could sleep easier. Why would I say no? He needs me Serac!" he hears Yucca acclaim.
"But… you could've been caught."
"Serac! He's been stressed all afternoon. Only I can really help him through it, and he asked so nicely too."
"What's causing his stress?"
"The riddles all running around in his head. He can't solve them. He can't focus because of them. He had to keep doing things today just to keep his mind off of them."
"Then we need to help him solve them."
"That's why I helped him to roost when we came back here. He's been asleep since. He needs enough sleep so he has the energy to figure it out in the morning."
"He's been asleep since before curfew time? Jeez. Now I know he is struggling to cope." Silverlight then hears him clamber into their cave, and lay down next to him. He feels him wrap a wing over his body, and place his head right beside his own. "Silver. We'll help you through this. Count on it." The gentle cool breath that he breathes on Silver after their heads touch, finally causes him to drift into a deeper sleep, where everything around him goes silent.
It was that specific point that helped him finally roost in peace, the moment Serac's head touched his own. This may explain why I feel very close to Serac. And I'm glad they both are offering to help me figure out what will happen today. I need all the help I can get. He decides to climb over Serac and head out into the tunnel, waiting for Starflight to arrive, brushing his tail over Serac's back without realising, which causes Serac to stir rapidly into a stand with a cry of sorts.
"Eeyaaah!"
"Sorry Serac. I never meant to freak you out."
"Don't do that again! That gave me a chill up my spine! It did!"
Dart then peers in to the cave with a curious eye, before joking like he always does. "But, Serac. You already have a chill up your spine. You're completely cold-scaled."
"Well excuse me for being cold-scaled!" He mumbles something to himself as he clambers out, that only Silver seems to hear, and heads away annoyed. "Tch. As usual, the joker makes a joke about me. It's not my fault I was born an IceWing. No acceptance for my tribe at all. Humph. I should freeze his butt then rip the ice clean off. That should make him scream."
"Was it something I said?"
"Maybe you shouldn't, joke about his tribe in future Dart."
"I never meant any harm." He pauses. "Be back in a jiffy." He changes the subject and in seconds he is gone again. When Starflight arrives as the others sit themselves down in order, Dart returns and heads to his place in the line.
"Good morning Diamond Winglet."
"Morning Mr. Starflight," they all reply in unison, and then Starflight jots down something in the scroll.
"All seven accounted for. Very good. You may refresh yourselves now." Starflight then heads off again, back to the library, leaving Silver and his winglet to freshen themselves for the new school day, as they go to the places they always do every morning.
Silverlight is walking back from the hot springs of Clay's healing chamber with both Yucca and Serac alongside him, looking concerned as though they are wondering when he will have another session. Silver suddenly places a talon on his head and stops, as all the riddles charge through his head again repeatedly in the order they always do. Starflight dying. Darkmatter, killing me. Nightblade finding us. The bleeding dragon. Sundew disappearing. Blue dying. Hawker getting hurt bad. Io, Swordtail, Luna and Katydid, captives. Cricket dying.
"Silver?" Yucca's voice does not get his attention.
"Let me try," Serac offers, before his talons rest on his shoulders. "Silver? We're here for you. Please, talk to us."
Yes. The same order. Like before. Starflight dying. Darkmatter, killing me. Nightblade finding us. The bleeding dragon. Sundew disappearing. Blue dying. Hawker getting hurt bad. Io, Swordtail, Luna and Katydid, captives. Cricket dying. Messier imprisoned. Yucca changing. Huh? Those two are new. Damn it! What is this meaning? What is the order? "I need to lay down." He heads to the recreation chamber without a second thought, shrugging the pair of them off amidst his thoughts as he continues down the tunnel. Sorry you two. I heard you. But I need to figure this out.
"He's having another session!" Yucca cries.
"This is bad," Serac's voice states, and Silver hears him running to where he just went with Yucca following close behind.
It had two extra. Starflight dying. Darkmatter, killing me. Nightblade finding us. The bleeding dragon. Sundew disappearing. Blue dying. Hawker getting hurt bad. Io, Swordtail, Luna and Katydid, captives. Cricket dying. Messier imprisoned. Yucca changing. The two extra again. A NightWing blacksmith. Who is she? When did she come in? The riddle plays through his mind again. "What are you trying to tell me mind? Please keep to the thing I've felt will happen since yesterday."
"Focus Silver. I'm sure you'll get it," Yucca says as she lays down beside him.
"Think. What do you feel is the closest to happening now?" Serac asks as he rests on the other side. "Or, maybe the process of elimination might work."
"What do you mean Serac?" Yucca asks looking to him.
"You'll see." He directs his attention back at Silver. "Silver. Which things do you feel, or know, are much farther away than now? Eliminate those, but don't forget them."
"May I, have a scroll Serac? I should write this down."
"Sure." He reaches for his geography map. "Use the back of my map."
"But, it'll ruin it."
"It's not a problem. I'll just redraw it on a fresh scroll later."
"No. I don't want to ruin it. I'll use something else."
"Then I'll do it." He unclips his map and takes out some ink, then turns the scroll over and dips a claw in the vial. "So. Tell me all that is in your head."
"I guess." He then starts telling him the order of the riddle which Serac writes down, then explains which ones are the farthest he thinks from happening. By the end of his explanation only four parts of the riddle remain, while the rest are only struckthrough once so they can still be read.
"So. That leaves these four. Starflight dying; Nightblade finding us; the bleeding dragon; and Hawker getting badly hurt." He pauses scrutinising the words with Silver and Yucca.
"And you are sure those four parts will be happening soon?"
"Yes. Within the week, but three of them feel like they are happening now, or will be happening soon."
"Which three?" Serac is suddenly concerned all over again. "Silver! Which three?"
Silver draws a strikethrough over Starflight dying, and notices the pair of them staring in awe as he points at the three that remain.
"Those three." Suddenly he sees the real scene unfolding in his mind, and rapidly rises to his feet. "No! It's happening! It's happening now! Leave him alone! Leave him alone!" He rushes to the entrance chamber just when a dragon crashes before him, bleeding profusely from a deep wound on his torso.
"Run," the strange dragon weakly cries struggling to stay conscious, but Silver just stares in horror at the presence of Nightblade's manic arrival, as she laughs amidst a grimace of disturbing joy.