A Brighter Future Ahead
AN: I know updates for this have been kind of sparse, but I do have to other stories to focus on, too. That, and I didn't really know where I wanted to go with the next few chapters until now. I already have the end planned, but getting to it was another thing entirely. But I have it all figured out now, so hopefully these will start coming out a bit more often.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. Copperhead is my OC and belongs to me.
Darkstalker:
Fathom was unnervingly quiet on their flight back to his and Clearsight's home. Of course, he couldn't say much about Fathom being quiet because he hadn't said a word, either. His mind was currently occupied by thoughts of what just happened to him and the fact that he just obliterated the entire Mudwing army by himself.
It didn't matter how many times he replayed the memory of what happened, he still couldn't believe he had done it. He remembered every gory detail, but it felt like he hadn't been in control of his own body—like he was being possessed or controlled by someone…or something. It was disturbing to say the least, and it made one thing abundantly clear to him: he could no longer trust himself. He couldn't trust his mind because of the voices, and he couldn't even trust his body anymore.
In an effort to drown out said voices, he stuck himself in Fathom's mind, keeping only enough awareness in his own body to keep flying. His Seawing friend was worried about Indigo—big surprise—but he was also trying to think of different reasons this might be happening. His genuine worry and fear for him rather than of him was genuinely appreciated.
The fact Fathom still trusted him when he couldn't even trust himself spoke a great deal of the Seawing's character. He really hoped he could count on his loyalty while he—while they—figured out what was happening to him.
The first time Fathom spoke since they left the battlefield was when they were outside the entrance to his and Clearsight's cave. "Do you mind if I stay here tonight?" he asked, his voice quiet and a bit dull.
"I'm sure it'd be fine," he replied. The Seawing started walking down the slope, but Darkstalker hesitated for a moment and called after him. "Fathom?" He stopped and looked back up curiously. "I want you to promise me something," he revealed.
"Alright…" he replied a bit skeptically. Apparently the Seawing had picked up on the fact that something wasn't right with how he was acting. "Are you alright?" he asked, worried at what direction this might take.
Darkstalker rubbed his eyes and shook his head. "No, Fathom, I am not alright. I just lost control over my own body and watched as it murdered ten thousand dragons. For the first time in my life, I am legitimately terrified of myself. I don't know what's happening to me or when it'll happen again. I don't even know if it'll happen again, but I'm scared of what I might do if it does," he revealed. Fathom stared at him in stunned silence, but Darkstalker wasn't even done yet. Now, the most shocking part was yet to come. He had spent the entire flight back thinking about what happened and what to do if it happened again, and he only came up with one idea that was absolutely guaranteed to work. "I know you don't like to use your magic, so you know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. But if what happened happens again…I want you to kill me."
Fathom recoiled back so forcefully, he unbalanced himself and fell on his rump. "W-What!? I'm not—"
"Promise me!" Darkstalker interrupted him forcefully, his eyes hard to show that he was being deadly serious. "I can't trust myself anymore, and animus magic is the only way to kill me now, which means…" he trailed off, not wanting to finish the statement.
"Which means I have to do it," Fathom whispered, his eyes averted. "I hope for your sake it never has to come to that. I don't want to kill my friend."
"I know," Darkstalker whispered, his eyes beginning to develop a bit of moisture which he brushed away. "I don't want to die, either, but it's the only way. Do you promise?"
Fathom nodded, standing up and closing the distance between them. The Seawing hugged him tightly, and Darkstalker didn't think twice before returning it. "I-I promise," he whispered a bit shakily. After they broke apart and settled down a bit, Fathom asked another question. "What do we tell Clearsight?"
"Nothing," he insisted. "This stays between us. You can't tell anyone about this, okay?" Fathom nodded, and the two of them walked down into the main living area of his home. "Clearsight? I'm home," he called.
His soulmate walked out of their room and stopped a few paces away from him. She stared at him for several moments before her emotions burst forth and she darted forward into his chest while letting out heavy sobs. He held her to him, the guilt eating away at him from the inside for causing her so much worry. "Y-you jerk! W-Will you p-please start listen-ning to m-me!?"
"Yes," he whispered to her. "You were right, and I was wrong. I was…so very wrong to doubt you Clearsight, but I swear I will listen to you from now on."
"I-It's about t-time!" she said, still lightly crying into his neck.
"Hello?" a familiar and very unwelcome voice called down. Indigo appeared a few moments later, and the three of them stared at her with very different expressions. Fathom was more wary of her presence than anything, the Seawing expecting things to devolve into a shouting match—or worse—any second now. Darkstalker stared at her in pure hatred, wanting nothing more than for this particular Seawing to go die in a hole somewhere. And Clearsight was more confused and concerned than anything else, wondering what happened for Indigo to merit such hostility.
"What do you want?" he growled.
Indigo watched him warily, but she didn't respond the way he expected her to. "I wanted to apologize," she said. He was suspicious of any ulterior motives, but Fathom just smiled at her. "I've been a little stressed and scared lately, and I took my frustrations out on the two of you when I shouldn't have. I'm—I'm sorry." She bowed her head, and despite his suspicion, he couldn't detect any form of lie from her. Her thoughts were remarkably well-concealed.
"What brought this on?" Fathom asked her.
"Copperhead talked to me," she said simply.
Fathom's expression seemed to dim at that. "And where is he?" he asked with a bit more bite than even he was expecting if his expression was anything to go by.
"He went home," was her equally simple reply. Then she turned to him. "Look, Darkstalker, I know you don't like me, and I'm not asking for us to be friends, but do you think we could at least tolerate each other?"
She held out a claw in offer, and he stared at it for a while. He wasn't originally planning on accepting it, but a nod from Clearsight made him sigh and clasp her talons with a nod. "Fine," he agreed.
AN: Does anyone else think Indigo's change of heart is suspicious? What's up with that? Just last chapter she was planning to have him killed, but now she's trying to make peace with Darkstalker? Something doesn't add up...
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22
