A Brighter Future Ahead
AN: Before I get into the chapter, I just wanted to apologize for how long it's been taking me to post new chapters of anything recently. I said before that I would have more free time to write during the summer, and I do, but none of that matters if I don't actually write anything. I've been getting distracted lately, either reading other fanfictions or playing Skyrim again, but from here on out, I promise to do better. I will make myself write at least 1000 words a day.
Which is why I wrote this whole thing while I had a headache. I am going to do better at posting things. Anyways, let's just get into the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. My OCs Copperhead and Cobra belong to me.
Clearsight:
Fathom had left shortly after their conversation last night, so when she awoke and left a still-sleeping Darkstalker in bed to restoke the fire in the common-room, she was left alone with her thoughts. What am I going to do? She thought to herself in an almost desperate voice. I can't just let him go off and wait for it to happen again. I need to make him understand—
"Understand what?" a sleepy sounding voice sounded behind her. She jumped in surprise at the sudden interruption of her thoughts.
She smacked him on the shoulder for that. "Don't do that! You scared me!" He sat down next to her with a soft 'sorry', and her expression softened. "How are you feeling?"
"I've got a dull headache and my ears keep ringing, but I think I'm okay," he replied honestly. "Fathom left?" he asked, to which she nodded. Darkstalker looked a bit down at that. "I didn't get a chance to tell him 'thank you'," he said softly.
"You can tell him next time you see him, but I already gave him thanks enough, I think," she said with a small smile. He smiled back at her—at least until her smile fell and she looked down sadly.
He gently cupped her chin and began stroking her cheek with a thumb. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned. However, his voice held his love for her in it, as well.
She relished in the contact for a short moment of blissful serenity before she spoke, gravely. "We need to talk. It's important," she stated.
He blinked at her in slight surprise but nodded regardless as he dropped his talon back to the ground. "Um…yeah…okay. I'm all ears," he said.
However, before she could say anything, an unfamiliar voice interrupted her. "Lord Darkstalker? Are you feeling well this morning?"
Darkstalker sighed and looked at her apologetically before answering. "Yes, I'm fine," he called back, hoping that was the end of it.
Alas, it was not to be. "That's wonderful news," he said, though he didn't sound very relieved. "Queen Anaconda has requested your presence. Both Fathom and Copperhead are already there and are waiting on you."
Darkstalker scowled at that, and Clearsight thought that her soulmate would tell the guard to go away for now, but her hopes were quickly dashed when Darkstalker spoke. "Alright, fine! I'll be right there!" he replied before turning an apologetic gaze to Clearsight. "Sorry. I guess we'll talk later?"
Though he phrased it like a question, he didn't wait for her reply. Clearsight watched him leave with dread building in her chest. "N-no, Darkstalker, wait!" she called.
"It's okay," he reassured her as he kept walking. "We'll talk later, I promise, and I'll be back before you know it."
How can he not hear my desperation? Are you even listening to me!? She mentally shouted to no effect. Darkstalker just kept walking. Desperate to make him stay and listen to her, she said the one thing she knew would get his attention. "Darkstalker I love you, but if you leave this cave right now, I won't be here when you get back!"
He froze mid-step near the exit, just like she knew he would. Since he hadn't said or done anything yet, she continued to try and make him understand the gravity of this situation. "I saved you from yourself once and gave you a second chance! If you leave right now, I won't be able to protect you, and chances are you won't get a third!"
He finally turned to her—his expression conveying both shock and confusion. "What do you—"
"Lord Darkstalker, I must insist we leave, now," the Rainwing pressed. "The Queen is a very busy dragon, especially with recent events, so it's best not to—"
Darkstalker growled at the interruption and blatant disrespect from the guard. "SHUT UP!" he roared. "Tell the Queen that my time is my own. I'll be there when it suits me," he replied, dangerously close to losing his temper.
There was a long moment of silence before there was a reply. "Very well," the Rainwing said, though both of them could hear the outrage in his voice.
Once she heard wing beats, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, you certainly have my attention," Darkstalker spoke. He walked back and sat before her and grasped her talons in his. "What's going on, Clearsight?"
"I know you said you didn't want me to," she began, "But I've been looking through the threads just in case." Darkstalker didn't look too pleased by that, but he let her continue. "I saw what happened to you yesterday in a vision. That's what I wanted to tell you about before you left."
Darkstalker looked away, his expression full of both shame and regret for not listening to her yesterday. "Do you know why it happened?" he asked after a moment.
She shook her head, "No. And that scares me. Usually I would see at least something, but…I haven't. It doesn't matter how far I look or how many threads I look through." She could almost see his brain at work as he tried to think of possible answers. "That's not the worst part, either. I've seen it happen to you again and again, and every time it does, a lot of dragons end up dead."
"What should I do, then?" he asked softly. He looked at her, and her breath hitched when she saw something in his eyes she never thought she would see…
Fear.
Whatever this was—whatever had happened to him and would keep happening to him—had him truly scared for the first time since they had known each other.
"I don't know yet, but you can't let yourself be dragged into this conflict. It isn't yours! It doesn't matter if Anaconda throws us out or tries to imprison us, okay? We'll go somewhere else. We'll find somewhere to live where no one will ever find us," she promised him. "We'll have our three dragonets one day, and you'll be a great father," she said softly as she nuzzled under his jaw.
Darkstalker held her all the more tightly after hearing that, and that's where they spent the majority of the morning.
AN: So, things are starting to get a bit more serious, huh? Just what is happening to Darkstalker? Will they ever find out? Will they ever find peace?
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22
