Chapter Twenty Four

"And it just gets worse and worse," Starflight sighed, coming into the new meeting cave, holding out a message scroll. Sunny was the one to take it from him, unfolding it. The others were gathered around, aside from Glory, who was 'bonding' with her subjects during suntime. Tsunami rolled her eyes at the thought without meaning to. "Fatespeaker read it to me," he said. "Queen Glacier has completely pulled her armies back from the front lines."

"What?" Clay looked up from the cow leg he'd been chewing on, eyes wide.

Starflight nodded in the MudWing's vague direction. "All her forces have been pulled back behind the Great Icewall."

"But that leaves the northern side of the Kingdom of Sand exposed," Sunny yelped.

Clay looked dismayed. "Blister will take all that territory."

Tsunami, who had frozen in a state of shock, finally burst. "Has she gone mad?!"

"She heard about Darkstalker," Sunny said before Starflight could, looking up from the note. "She's made her forces retreat to protect them."

Clay stood up - shocking everyone by abandoning his lunch. "But that'll leave the Sky Kingdom vulnerable! Glacier and Ruby were an unstoppable united front that held the north. If the IceWings retreat-"

"Ruby could be attacked." Starflight finished grimly. "Her territory is too vast to patrol well enough to keep everyone out. Her forces alone would be stretched too thin. She won't take kindly to Glacier's actions."

"What if we talk to Prince Winter?" Tsunami suggested. "Maybe he can convince Glacier that this course of action is the epitome of STUPID!"

"Um," Sunny winced, "I don't think IceWings work like that…"

"And we have a more pressing issue…" Starflight mumbled. Sunny reached out to put a warm wing around his shoulders.

Tsunami's gut clenched with dread. "What is it?"

"Queen Moorhen has decided to press her forces along the eastern coast."

Clay blanched. "But that's SeaWing territory. The coastal villages belong to them!"

"Actually," said Starflight in that tone that used to make Tsunami cringe, because it meant he would be reciting a scroll word for word. "The coastline has been a hotly contested border between the MudWings and the SeaWings for centuries. Both sides have long standing claims to it."

Tsunami angrily began to pace, her tail lashing behind her. "Moorhen can't do this! And at the WORST time! The SeaWings will see this as an act of war!"

"They'll start fighting…" Sunny murmured, looking ill. "All our work will be undone."

Clay brushed his tail along Sunny's, always the big brother ready to console them. "We got them to stop once before, we'll do it again."

"It's not that simple, Clay!" Tsunami burst. She didn't mean to shout, and she instantly regretted it. But the anger and frustration was boiling under her scales, needing to be let out. "We've been out here for over two years, uniting warring queens mostly on their fear of a common enemy and empty promises!"

Sunny bristled. "Peace is not an empty promise!"

She stopped pacing, taking a long breath. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant that Glacier supports us because we promised to support her candidate for the throne. Ruby only follows us mostly because we are the reason she's even on her throne. My mother would much rather drag me back to the Deep Palace to keep me safe and leave the rest of you to rot. Moorhen was the weak link in the chain because she has no reason to follow us other than a fear of Blister. We've been grandstanding and fighting small skirmishes here and there, but we've got NOTHING to show for our work."

"We all agreed we didn't want to send countless dragons to slaughter in a battlefield. To give the tribes the best chance at rebuilding all they've lost." Clay gave her a hard stare. "Hit and run tactics. Wear down Blister and Morrowseer with bug-bites. That's the best way for us to do this."

"Yes, and now Moorhen has decided that we aren't getting things done fast enough. To us, this started two or three years ago. To them, it's been going on for over two decades and they've had enough."

Starflight sighed. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

They all looked at her.

Tsunami faltered. She just had all these grievances but no answers to the problem. "I… I don't know. And I don't want to say it… but I don't think we can sit around anymore…"

Sunny looked as if she might faint. "You… You want us to go to war?"

"We're already at war," murmured Starflight, stepping on his own talons to stop them trembling.

Clay pushed himself into the middle of the group, spreading his wings wide. "We're not deciding anything now. Glory needs to be part of this discussion first, and then we'll all decide. Together."

They all nodded. Tsunami could live with that. She would much prefer if they all agreed to this rather her alone push for this. She didn't want to. She desperately didn't want to be the one to voice this. A clamp was encasing her body and squeezing her for every drop of fear and worry she had, holding her in place whilst this inevitable catastrophe stalked closer and closer. The reputation for being 'the fighter', or 'the bloodthirsty one', 'the difficult one', 'bite-first-ask-questions-later' still clung to her no matter how she tried to shake it off. But couldn't the others see that she really didn't want to send the tribes back into war, but that she couldn't see another way out?

"You lot go find her and catch her up," Tsunami said. "I need to see if I can get a message to my mother and try to nip this infighting in the bud."

She stalked out of the cave, lost in her own swirling thoughts. The others watched her go, and Tsunami tried not to think they eyed her warily. Just her insecurities playing tricks on her - not that she had any, she tried to tell herself. Focusing on who she might send out with her message, she steadfastly ignored the thought of all the blood that would end up on her talons if the tribes fell into war again based on her recommendation. It wasn't easy. Add this to the growing resume of nightmares she was collecting.

Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't see the blobby green shape in the corridor until it seemed to walk out of the shadows and into her path. Tsunami startled, nearly hitting the thing that had dared jump out at her. And then when she recognised the face, she swatted him on the shoulder.

"Turtle!" she cried. "How many times have I told you; don't DO that!" It actually amazed her how often he could just blend into the background and go completely unnoticed. If she didn't know any better she would say he was half RainWing.

Her brother fiddled with his talons, ears flattened in distress. "Sorry. Couldn't help it." His eyes darted behind her to the meeting cave without meaning to. Ah, so he'd heard all that. At her stern look he ducked his head bashfully. "You're really going to go to war?"

Poor Turtle, he looked so lost and scared. Not just for himself, she realised, but for her as well. Her heart ached, and then clenched at the thought of just finding her brother, only to lose him in a battle somewhere. "I don't want to. If I can do anything to stop it, I will. But this war has gone on long enough - for everyone."

"The RainWings are well trained, but they aren't cut out for talon-to-talon combat," he said, distressed.

Tsunami nodded. "I know. Hopefully… If we can get the other queens supporting us again, we can make up the army mostly from their forces." That felt like a stab in the gut. Like she was trading away lives for more lives. Was it ethical to try and spare those that she knew and had grown attached to, by sending countless unnamed faces to be maimed and possibly die in their place?

"Either way," Turtle said quietly, "Dragons are going to die…"

He wasn't a dragonet, but Tsunami felt the need to shield him from this reality. She brushed his wing with hers and forced a smile. "Don't worry about it now. There's still much to be decided."

She went to walk past him, to find a messenger. Turtle stayed where he was, and she thought their conversation was done. But then she heard him call out to her. "Tsunami…"

There was something in his tone that made her pause, the sails along her spine standing on end. Slowly, she glanced back at him. But Turtle didn't look at her, only hunched into his wings as if he wanted the mountain to swallow him up. "There's something I need to tell you…"

The errand came bursting into Morrowseer's hut, panting and out of breath. "My Lord!" he cried. "Deathbringer's returned!"

At last, Morrowseer thought snidely. Ignoring the way his back ached from spending hours hunched over his desk, he stood and silently followed the errand out of the hut and into the settlement. Others parted out of their way, and Morrowseer noticed they nodded their heads to the dragonet in front of him. He was clearly enjoying the preferential treatment, grinning the entire way. He had to admit to himself, the dragonet was loyal. Having no parents or other duties to keep him busy, he had stuck himself to Morrowseer's side, tending to every need he had no matter the time of day. Perhaps he would reward his subservenience at some point…

But later.

He put a huge talon on the dragonet's skinny shoulder, stopping him. "I need you to go to Queen Greatness. Make sure she is kept away from this meeting."

He frowned. "Sir?"

"She is tired from leading the care of the eggs in the vault. And there are certain sensitive matters I would like to discuss with our guests."

Also, he already had a headache and he was sure that if he had to listen to Greatness' shrill voice for more than a few seconds, he would kill her. All her whining and soft heartedness would just be too much today. The errand nodded and scurried off to do as he'd been told.

It wasn't hard to find Deathbringer, considering he was cornered by two shrieking dragonesses who looked like they were about to kill him. Just outside the tunnel, the would-be queen's of sand and sky loomed over the younger NightWing. Every scale and wing bristled with aggression. Deathbringer stood his ground, attempting to pass off their threats with his usual dismissive humour. But Morrowseer could see the way he tensed, the way his talons stayed near the pouch of weapons around his neck. He was half tempted to let the little worm fester in this mess, see how the females would tear him apart. But, unfortunately, there was business to be done.

"You dare to drag me back here?!" Scarlet hissed, smoke pouring from her nostrils and curling around her horns. She stomped forward, stepping into Deathbringer's space.

But he didn't move an inch. To add further insult, he inspected his talons lazily. "I would have just given you the invitation, but seeing as we had such good fun last time…"

The SkyWing looked ready to explode. "Ooh, I'm going to enjoy-"

Blister was the first to notice him coming towards them. "Morrowseer!" she barked. "Care to explain yourself? Dragging us back to this hovel on such abrupt notice. The Queen of the Sand Kingdom is not at your beck and call!"

"And yet, here you are." Morrowseer rumbled. He waved a talon to dismiss Deathbringer, the younger male scowling before slinking away. Before Blister could or Scarlet could voice their outrage, he carried on. "I would have thought you'd both welcome this opportunity to plan our next move."

Scarlet snorted derisively. "What next move? Your last brilliant plan went off so well last time."

"You failed to mention the security around Jade Mountain involved a large NightWing buried under the earth," Blister added, cold black eyes narrowed. "If his sudden appearance wasn't bad enough, your forces screaming he would drink our blood and feast on our bones was what did it! I've killed seven of my soldiers to set examples to other deserters."

"You are misinformed." he said. "The Darkstalker was there by chance. He is not associated with the Rebellion, hence why he has disappeared in the week since his reemergence." Of course, they looked at each other, confused at that. Morrowseer smirked. "Perhaps it is a good thing I keep on top of these details for you."

Scarlet growled. Blister clenched her claws into the mud. Taking note of every detail of body language, Morrowseer decided to press them in a different way. They were uncertain, frustrated. Capitalise on that, and it wouldn't be hard to convince them of what he needed.

"Whilst we sit here squabbling like dogs," he said, pacing across the clearing, infecting them with restless energy he expressed. "We are losing a prime opportunity. The Darkstalker didn't just cause chaos amongst our own ranks - but amongst our enemies as well. My spies inform me that the allied Queens are fracturing. Glacier has turned skittish and pulled all her forces back. Ruby is exposed on two fronts. And Moorhen and Coral are about to be back at each other's throats."

The pair of them glanced to one another, eyes glimmering. Beside the large fire brazier, Morrowseer stopped, all at once switching his energy from agitated to cool and calm. He became the definition of authority. His yellow eyes shone in the firelight.

"So you can either continue your posturing and empty threats, or you can focus yourselves and we can win this continent!"

Scarlet hummed thoughtfully. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"Keep fracturing them. Once their 'alliance' has dissolved, they'll be easy targets." He picked up a log and threw it onto the fire, watching the sparks throw themselves into the air, crackling furiously. Through their dance, he eyed Blister. "We cannot reach Glacier whilst she remains behind her wall. But you can still take over the territory she claimed. That'll keep her back and press Ruby."

"Not a bad idea…" A grin slowly spread across the SandWing's snout. "It'll be a good opportunity to pull out the weeds that have taken root there."

"Have your thugs see to that. In the meantime, you keep attempting to contact Coral. Make her realise her error in deserting you now that she has an enemy at her door." He turned to Scarlet. "And you can worm your way into the Sky Kingdom. Take my spies and rally as many as you can to your side. Ruby did not defeat you in traditional combat, therefore her claim to the throne hinges on how much you can make life difficult for her."

"And if our mysterious NightWing comes back?" she asked.

"Leave him to me."

As the sun dipped past the horizon, most others in Jade Mountain decided to tuck in for the night. They paired off towards their caves, but whether they actually slept or just wanted to be alone with their thoughts, Winter couldn't tell. All he knew was that the day had been as unproductive as any in the past week. He couldn't wait much longer. Tomorrow, he would go to the Dragons of Destiny and demand a plan.

Knowing he couldn't make such demands now, however, he too chose to retire for the evening. Qibli was nowhere in sight of his own cave across the hall, but that SandWing rarely slept as it was so it didn't bother Winter initially. Carrying in a lit candle to combat the dark, Winter thought that perhaps he could compose a letter to his aunt whilst he waited for exhaustion to claim him.

But what should he find waiting on his desk? A seashell - the seashell. All at once, Winter wanted to smile and freeze on the spot. He glanced back towards Qibli's cave, wondering where the scoundrel had slunk off to. Was he trying to make a point?

A part of him was tempted to find the SandWing and give him a piece of his mind. Yet he stayed, his gaze drawn back to the innocent looking seashell. All it would take was one whisper, and then he would be able to hear Moon's voice. That knowledge drew him in like a siren's song. And all of a sudden he was across the cave with the shell cupped in his talons.

He hesitated when he thought of the last words he'd said to her. He knew he needed to apologise, but would she let him? Not that he could blame her if she chose to ignore him. He deserved it.

But he would be the coward if he avoided her forever out of shame.

"Contact Moonwatcher." he whispered. Holding the shell up to his face, he swallowed thickly and said, "Moon? Are you there?"

At first, there was no answer. For a moment, he feared she had already chosen to ignore him. But then, faintly, he heard: "Winter? Is… is that you?"

He couldn't help himself, he beamed. "Yes. Yes, it's me." Laying himself out on his bed of furs, he cradled the shell. "Um. Are you alright?"

"Are the others there?"

"No, it's just me. I…" Now this was awkward. His heart began to pound in panic. "I wanted to talk to you. Hear your voice. I… I've missed you."

Another pause. He heard her sigh and then say tentatively, "I thought you didn't want to talk to me…"

"Moon… I'm sorry." He couldn't hold it back. If he didn't say the words now, he never would. And he would lose her. "I shouldn't have said those things. It was uncalled for. I've come to realise why you might have wanted to hold on to Darkstalker's friendship. I don't approve of it, I'll make that clear. But I understand why. He was your first friend. You want to trust him."

"I'm sorry too." She replied guiltily. "I've kept a lot of secrets from you. So I know that must make me seem not very trustworthy at all."

"But I do trust you, Moon. I'm just so very worried, too."

"I know." For the first time in the conversation, he heard a smile in her voice. "But you don't need to be. Darkstalker hasn't hurt me, and he isn't trying to force anything out of me. His magic is still under my control and he's slowly letting me learn about his past through his own memories. If I can learn the truth, maybe I can turn him away from whatever made him bad before."

He didn't want to lose his temper, but he felt like he had to remind her of reality. "Don't lose sight of what he really is, Moon. He is ambitious and always a step ahead. He wants his magic back. And he will do anything for the sake of his own survival."

She was quiet for an uncomfortably long time. "Maybe he's just scared…?"

Instead of going over the same thing over and over, he said truthfully, "I really do miss you, Moon."

"Careful, Winter, it sounds like you're becoming a NightWing sympathiser."

"I don't care."

"I miss you too." She said. "I miss all of you. I wish I could be home with you, but what I'm doing here is important too."

"I will get you out of there, Moon. I'll set you free, I promise."

"Qibli's right. You do belong straight out of a fairytale scroll." she laughed to herself, and Winter could perfectly picture the curve of her lips, the way she would tilt her head down. "I have to go now. Darkstalker will come find me soon."

"I'll contact you soon, alright?"

"I'd like that."

As the three moons rose, Tsunami huddled within the dark of her cave. She sat, back against the wall, talons subconsciously clenching in and out. Her tail twitched to every other heartbeat. Her eyes stared into space. Across the room, Turtle fidgeted nervously. There was no candlelight (not that either of them needed it), for they'd been sat there most of the afternoon and into the evening. Tsunami had insisted on it. They needed absolute privacy for the tale she'd been told.

She was in a state of shock, and had been for quite some time.

Her world had just been flipped. Even after everything she had heard, she didn't want to believe it. There were no words to describe the emotions she now had swirling around inside her mind.

Eventually, she had to speak. "So… you're an animus, just like Anemone?"

Turtle winced, not looking at her. "Yes…"

"Mother doesn't know, does she?" That was obvious. If Coral knew she had a second animus, she would be stupid to just let Turtle go unnoticed and wander off. "Does anyone back home know?"

He shook his head. "I didn't want anyone to know. Once, Father needed me to help the guards at the hatchery. They were sick, and he needed me to find someone to take their place to watch the eggs. I tried to use my magic but I couldn't find them. So he left to get help and then…"

"Orca's statue did it's work when no one was looking…" the horrible truth was obvious and made her heart fall. "Turtle, that wasn't your fault."

"I still disappointed him. I had a chance to be a hero, to show everyone my magic, and I failed. So I decided I wasn't meant to be someone important. That's why I keep quiet. Can't disappoint someone if they don't have expectations."

How had she not known this? Her quiet, unimpressive brother, she'd thought there was not much to know about him. When they'd first met, she found him on the outskirts of the Kingdom of the Sea, and he'd led her home. They'd both been so happy when they'd discovered they were brother and sister. She'd promised to learn everything about all her family, to make up for lost time. But then she'd learned Anemone's secret, and then everything that had happened after and Turtle was just so compliant and uncomplicated.

Was that her excuse for ignoring him? For being blind to the fact that he'd been carrying this burden alone all this time? How scary must that be, to be constantly reminded through stories and folklore that your power was dangerous and your soul was in danger of slowly being taken away…

She finally noticed that Turtle was sat staring at the floor, one talon pawing at the pouch around his neck.

Heart swelling with emotion, Tsunami swiftly rose to her feet, stormed across the cave to her brother and wrapped him up in her wings. Turtle stiffened with a choked gasp, surprised. But then, slowly, she felt him relax, felt him rest his head on her shoulder, and slowly return her embrace. Tsunami blinked her eyes rapidly. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that alone."

Turtle held onto her awkwardly, like he didn't know where to put his arms or his wings. Had he never been hugged before? She heard him sniffle a little. "You're… you're not mad?"

"No."

They sat together for a little while. Tsunami vowed, then and there, that she would be better as a sister. Turtle had finally bridged the gap and told her everything. So she now had to step up to the plate and be everything he needed. And not just for him. But for Anemone, and Auklet, and even for their confused, misguided mother.

Eventually they pulled away, Turtle quickly wiping at his eyes. Tsunami pretended not to notice. He smiled and she smiled back. "But now… we have to figure out what to do next."

"Next?" he echoed.

"You've had this power all this time but you're only telling me this now. Why?"

"Because you might be going to war. And now it's all personal. I can't watch my sister and my friends all throw themselves into danger and do nothing!" His wings drooped, his neck bent. "But… at the same time, I still don't want everyone to know, and I don't want my powers to be used to hurt other dragons."

"Are you sure?" Tsunami asked. "I don't want you to do anything that might make you uncomfortable or risk your soul."

That was the big dilemma that now faced them. Turtle's power could change the war. Animus magic that wasn't constrained by some curse of requesting permission. But this was her brother. Once, she'd thought magic could end the war in an instant. A spell to kill an army. A spell to make all the homes of their enemies crumble on top of them. A spell that would kill Morrowseer and Blister slowly for everything they'd done. How could she ask sweet Turtle to do any of that? And what if big spells like that cost him larger parts of his soul? Yet magic wasn't a gift to do nothing with.

Where was the line in the sand? How much magic was too much?

Turtle took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His smile was sad. "I don't think it's a question of want, anymore. It's a question of must."

Moon had to admit, the throne room was very pretty when the light of the three moons shone down through the glass roof. She waited in the gigantic room, sat at the foot of the throne, gazing up at the moons and allowing their tranquility to wash over her. Her spirit felt lighter tonight. Her smile was easy and almost carefree.

Winter's conversation still replayed in her head. She'd awoken to his voice and though at first had expected more of his scolding, he had surprised her with his sincerity. How she'd wished to be able to read his mind, to know how he really felt when he said those words. To believe that he truly forgave her, that he trusted her even after everything she'd done - that was what made her smile.

The moons had shifted a little, and she knew it must be a couple of hours past moonrise by now. Where was Darkstalker? He was usually never this late. Though he did not respond to her mind when she called to him, she thought she could distantly hear the murmurings of his mind. Worried, she finally decided to get up and start looking for him.

Though they'd lived in this castle for a week, she still wasn't entirely sure where he slept. Maybe that curious secret room she'd found him in on that first night? It was worth a try. It took her a while to find her way back to that unimportant corridor right at the top of a staircase, with the ordinary door by the window overlooking the city. She could hear nothing inside, nor could she feel Darkstalker's mind. Perhaps she should move on, and find him elsewhere? But the sudden urge to open the door and look beyond crawled up her spine and whispered behind her ear insistently. Before she knew what she was doing, she reached out to touch the cold iron handle.

Claws seized her shoulder. Moon shrieked and leapt away, spinning. Huge dark wings and a single line of white scales on the inside of each filled her vision. Darkstalker loomed over her, his silver-blue eyes seeming to glow in the dim light. Where had the moonlight gone?

"Moon?" Darkstalker asked, tilting his head at her. "What're you doing?"

It took her a moment to breathe, to calm her racing heart. Why did she think he would be mad? He spoke to her normally and didn't seem to be overly upset. So why was her stomach eating itself in anxiety?

"Sorry," she said. "You were late - I was looking for you, and-"

"Ah," he gave a half smile, scratching at his wrist sheepishly. "Apologies, my dear, I merely overslept."

Moon frowned, confused. She could've sworn she'd heard some whisper of his mind a little while ago. Usually that meant he was awake. Had she been mistaken and simply overheard the echoes of dreams?

"At least you know you slept well," she said instead. "After everything that happened last night…"

"I doubt either of us are sleeping well whilst we inhabit this decrepit husk." He picked up a piece of rubble that had cracked and fallen off the windowsill, pretending to have not heard her last sentence. Moon supposed that was reasonable, he was probably still shaken about the meteore. Before she could ask further, he snapped his talons, eyes wide with excitement. "Ah! That's what we'll be working on tonight! Let's start bringing the castle back to its glory days, and start living like real dragons, not ghosts. Does that sound good?"

"It would be nice to sleep on a bed that doesn't smell of mould."

"Then we'll start on the living quarters," he grinned, "and while we're at it, we can focus on your defences when you're otherwise occupied."

He went to lead her away, but Moon paused, glancing back at the door. "Darkstalker? What is in that room?"

It was such an ordinary door, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to it. Like something inside was calling to her. A touch at her talon. She turned forward again. Darkstalker held her claws in his, and though his mind was mystifyingly blank, his eyes held the slightest trace of fear.

"Moon, I am willing to share with you my most personal memories. But that room… that's private. I'll give you anything you ask. But not that. Yet."

She nodded, comprehending what it was he now asked of her. With a sigh and a smile, he led the way back into the heart of the castle. Moon followed, pushing back thoughts of the door and the mystery it burned into her head.

They returned to the living quarters and set about their task. Darkstalker asked for permission to rebuild the stone structures and bring the wood furniture back to splendor with magic. Moon let him have it, knowing she would have a story out of him later. Whilst he directed stones and cement to fix itself and for creeper vines crawling into the brickwork to uproot themselves, Moon went about the business of cleaning the rooms. She swept away debris and dust and then fetched buckets of water to heat so that she could scrub the blankets and mattresses (which had to be helped by a little magic or else be too ruined by time to save). She even washed down the windows once the foliage had been cleared away and the glass repaired. It was satisfying work to slowly watch her room and several others suddenly become liveable again, as if they hadn't been abandoned for two thousand years and instead had been lived in as a home.

Whilst they worked, they went about their lesson. Darkstalker directed Moon to keep up her shield she had gotten good at last night. She had to try and keep him out even when she was otherwise occupied doing other physical things. The results were hit and miss. Moon remembered how that melody she always heard in Darkstalker's mind had worked to protect her thoughts so well last night, she employed the same trick now. At first, it worked just like before, giving her a great confidence boost. But doing physical activities distracted her thought process, and then her mind would begin to wonder. She couldn't help but think of the door, of Darkstalker keeping it's domain a secret. And then she thought of Winter and his warnings. And then she thought of her earlier conversation with the IceWing. And that devolved into thinking of Winter in general and what his opinion on this palace would be. Would he find it repulsive, being so alien from the Castles she saw in his mind of the Ice Kingdom? Or would he be fascinated in them slowly restoring history?

I see the little idiot is causing you to lose your focus… Darkstalker rumbled inside her mind. Moon panicked for a split second, but then realised that she hadn't been thinking of her magical conversation, and Qibli had assured her he wouldn't be able to find out about it from her mind anyway. She looked over her shoulder. Darkstalker was inspecting his work, but his lips were pursed. "If you wish to daydream about this infatuation, then we'll stop the lesson right here."

"I was not daydreaming," she felt the need to defend herself automatically. "And I am not infatuated!"

"Moon, your mind was all I had for two years, and let me tell you - your thoughts of him were always the most nauseating." He rolled his eyes at her. Then he sat on his haunches, clasped his talons together and set his voice up a whole octave. "'His mind is like a hall of ice-mirrors! He's so tragic, filled with self loathing, but I know he's so good!' Trust me, Moon. I've seen inside that idiot's soul, and it isn't that deep."

She stood, tail lashing, but she couldn't really understand why his behaviour was irritating her so much. "I bet everyone told Clearsight the same thing about you!"

A pause. "That was different."

"How?" When he wouldn't answer, she felt his mind fracture a little, like it was trying to jump to one thing but kept deflecting away. Moon took a breath and softened her tone in sympathy. "I know you loved her, but you never want to talk about her. I've only rarely seen her in your memories. It's like you want to skip over her."

"Wouldn't you be the same if your lover betrayed you?" he asked. He picked at the scales on ribs, his touch seeming to linger on the feel of his bones through his flesh. Though he had gained a little weight in the past week, he was still incredibly thin. "She was the one thing I thought I could depend on. Everything I did was for her. For us. For our future."

Moon came towards him, and brushed his tail with hers. "Darkstalker…?"

"Please, Moon," he whispered, closing his eyes. "I'll give you any story but that one."

"But the longer you don't talk about it, the longer you're in pain." She hated seeing him like this. It felt like his grief was tearing her apart as well. Perhaps, if she understood, she could help him to mourn properly.

Slowly, he opened his eyes to gaze into hers. "Very well."

Uncurling his claws, he held out his talon, and she took it.