Jackal could only imagine everything that went through Mallow's head when she heard that.
"Where in the Mud Kingdom?" Mallow asked.
"Near the rainforest," Calcite replied.
Intentional or not, Jackal knew Mallow had objections to this. Calcite couldn't have known, but still—she picked just the right spot for them to bring her.
"We can't bring you to the Mud Kingdom," Caldera said. Mallow gave her a grateful look. "That is, unless you want to get killed."
"Just claim I'm your prisoner," Calcite said.
"It's not that easy." Jackal replied, deciding he could take a turn. "We're just dragonets. Mallow's the only one big enough to qualify as an adult. We would be believed more if you said we were your prisoners."
"Which would you prefer, me to kill you, or for you to bring me someplace?" Calcite asked. "If we walked on the border of the Rainforest and Mud Kingdoms, the only problem we'd come across would be border patrols. And when we come across them, we can just go into the rainforest for a little bit. The MudWing knows how to fight; she can avoid trouble, right?"
It was hard to tell what Mallow was getting annoyed at, Calcite or the chosen destination. Eventually, she sighed. "Alright," she said. "We'll take you to the Mud Kingdom." Mallow looked at the IceWing. "But I can't promise your safety."
"Wonderful!" Calcite exclaimed, clapping a bit. "I'm exhausted, so I'll step out to my sleeping cave while you three don't do what you want. Don't wake me up if you want to stay alive. And don't think of dying unless I'm the one to kill you, in which case you are very accurate."
Once Calcite left, Mallow visibly relaxed. Then she laughed grimly. "I guess I'm not going to always be able to avoid my sibs."
"Are they that bad?" Caldera asked curiously.
"Vervain is. Flora isn't. For the most part, they're more bark than bite, but Vervain can get…a bit extreme." Mallow said, frowning now. "He's not exactly someone I want you two to meet, but we might not be able to help it. If we're lucky, they got themselves out of border patrol and we can ignore them altogether."
From what Jackal heard of Mallow's sibs, he didn't think it would be that easy.
Caldera's attention suddenly snapped to Jackal. "You never answered my question." She pointed out. "At least say if I was right or not; you don't have to explain now."
She's right, Jackal thought. He had been relieved, at the time, just a few minutes ago—now he was back wondering what he was supposed to do. Should he just tell them now? It might be easier. But Calcite might be listening. On one talon, it would make him feel a bit better. But on the other talon, Calcite might still be hearing the conversation.
"I'll tell you the whole thing if someone makes sure Calcite isn't listening," Jackal decided.
Mallow nodded, heading to stand by the entrance of the cave. It was just about as wide as she was large, so the big hybrid blocked entry and most light. She flicked her ears back to signify she was listening, and Caldera turned back to Jackal as well.
He took a deep breath. "Everything you had guessed was true, Caldera." He said, hesitant. He tried to chose his words well, even though he expected nothing but pity from the girls. "I-I'm an animus."
This got their attention. Caldera looked horrified for a moment before having the decency to change her expression to pity (even though Jackal would've preferred the former). Mallow flicked her tail, and it occurred to him that she might not know what an animus was. Eventually she looked over at him, sharing Caldera's pitied expression.
Jackal just wanted to hide. It was one thing to be pitied normally; it was another when they were pitying him because of his secret. "I found it out when I was two when I was playing make-believe. Shortly after, I realized I could enchant my blindfold to make myself see—since I don't know if it would work if I did it on myself. I didn't want to go overboard, so I limited it to black-and-white for a few feet; after that, it blurs. I didn't enchant much, just my tail, but…I still have nightmares." His voice cracked and Caldera went over to reassure him.
"I wouldn't have guessed," she murmured. "I…I'm sorry."
"You couldn't have changed it." Jackal replied, hugging her with his wing. It was more for him than her, honestly. He didn't normally enjoy it when dragons pitied him, but this was different. They were his friends.
Mallow joined them and was able to encase both of them with her wings in a hug.
Just for a moment, Jackal questioned why he had worried about telling them. This was what he had expected, sure, but it felt different. It wasn't just pity. It was sympathy. There was a reassuring difference.
Maybe someone like me can live normally after all. I might have magic, but I don't use it. I might be born blind, but as long as I have my blindfold I'd be fine. With such good friends…I wonder what I had ever been afraid of.