Chapter 2

Where are you?

Adamant considered what had just happened. One minute he'd had Moonwatcher in his grasp, about to commit his first murder after thousands of years of waiting. Then she'd been snatched from his hold by a SeaWing, of all creatures, and whisked off to who knew where.

He couldn't see her, so she must be far off.

No matter. I do not need anyone to set me free. Soon, my power will return to me completely, and I will break out.

Moonwatcher would only have sped up the process a little.

As he sensed night begin to fall, he felt the full moon shine on the ground above him, yet he was too far below to receive it's power.

I must get out before the rising of the Blood-moon. Once I feel its rays upon me, I will destroy Pyrrhia.

I sense Moonwatcher heading to the Lost City of Night with her friends. The fools. They seem to kill me, but it is they who shall suffer.

If he'd had a face, he would have smiled.

Moonwatcher flew towards the old NightWing kingdom. It was here that Darkstalker rose to power, and it was here that he had intended to make his new kingdom.

She'd made her friends wear the sky fire, even though it had no effect on Adamant's mind-reading powers. At least they'd still have privacy from her.

"Are we almost there?" called Turtle from behind her.

"Almost!" she yelled back.

I'm going to kill you.

Three moons, they were within his range again.

How do we stop something that can snap your neck just by thinking about it whenever you get close?

"Everyone stop!" she yelled.

Qibli and Turtle halted mid-flight, but Moon had to grab hold of Kinkajou as she was going too fast to slow down.

"Everyone back up."

They landed on the ground and stopped back. Moon felt her head start turning on it's own again. Stepping back a little further, she felt Adamant's grip release her.

"Right here," she said, pointing at the floor. "That's where his range ends. If we stay behind the line, we'll be safe."

Qibli drew a line in the dirt where Moon had pointed.

So close, yet so far out of reach.

These dragons were a threat. If they somehow managed to find a way to kill him before he could break out, he wouldn't be able to destroy the world.

Straining his mind as much as he could, he reached out to communicate with the little RainWing.

Are you listening?

No answer. She was still slightly out of range. Adamant concentrated even harder. If she would just step over the line, let her curiosity get the better of her...

RainWing?

"AUGHH!" Kinkajou yelled.

"What is it?" Moon asked, frightened.

Kinkajou looked even more terrified than she was. "I heard a voice in my head!"

Moon looked down and saw Kinkajou had crossed the line.

"Hold on Kinkajou," Turtle said. "I hereby enchant—"

He didn't finish his sentence. All four of them were suddenly locked in place, unable to move.

Thank you, RainWing, for allowing me to grab hold of your mind.

Qibli growled. "Where are you!?"

I am underground. I do not need you, Moonwatcher, to set me free. This RainWing will do nicely.

Kinkajou began to move forward past the line. "What are you doing? Let me go!" she cried.

You will set me free. I'd rather not wait for another month. The Bloodmoon is in five days. If I am not set free now, I will have to wait another 10,000 years for the next one.

Moon had never felt so helpless as she watched Kinkajou walk unnaturally, like a puppet, towards the direction of the NightWing kingdom.

"Moon, help!" Kinkajou yelled.

Moon suddenly had an idea. If Adamant could communicate with non-telepaths, why couldn't she?

Hello? If the Dragonets of Destiny couldn't here her, maybe Winter was somewhere within a 100 miles nearby.

Winter?

No one responded. Perhaps she just wasn't powerful enough.

Suddenly, Kinkajou took flight.

"Kinkajou, no!" Turtle yelled.

Yes.

It was too late. Even as Adamant released his grip on them, Kinkajou was too far away for them to catch her. Adamant would just kill them before they could even get close.

"How did Adamant get hold of her?" Qibli demanded.

"She stepped over the line," said Turtle mournfully.

"What!?" Qibli exclaimed. "Why did she do that!?"

"It doesn't matter," said Moon. "We need to leave and warn everyone we can. There's nothing we can do here."

"Wait a minute," Qibli said. "Why doesn't Adamant just possess everyone and choke us all to death?"

Moon hesitated. That did confuse her. "I think," she said slowly, "that his powers are still weak. Maybe even limited in what he can actually do."

Qibli nodded. "From what I can tell, his only real power is the ability to wipe out continents."

"Yes," Turtle agreed. "I bet that he's not nearly as powerful when it comes to fighting."

Moon thought for a moment. "I noticed that while he was holding us in place, we could still speak. I think that it was taking him a lot of effort to freeze all of us at once."

"Adamant said something about a Bloodmoon," said Turtle. "I can take us back to the library and see if Starflight has some answers."

"Yeah, and we can also tell the Dragonets what happened," said Qibli. "C'mon, teleport us quick Turtle. We still have time. It could take a whole day for Kinkajou to actually reach where Adamant is."

Moon frowned. "We've been gone for 3 days. Tsunami is going to be really mad."

Qibli rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that's nothing new," he said sarcastically.

Turtle spoke. "Take us back to Jade Mountain Academy, in the library." They disappeared. Miles away, Adamant waited.