Being sick sucks :/ Fun fact. I don't like writing "Pyrrhia" because it's so hard to remember for some reason.
"Secrets. That's all I've ever done is keep secrets. Secrets from Clay and Sunny about escaping, secrets from Tsunami and Starflight about what I heard the guardians saying, secrets from Starflight about Peril…what's one more?" One more secret wouldn't be that bad. One more secret wouldn't hurt. Starflight didn't NEED to know about Tsunami. "She can defend herself. She probably has kept herself hidden for a long time by now." It wasn't a big deal if she kept it hidden for just a little while longer.
Glory glided into the cave and landed on the rough stoney floor. She tucked her wings in to make room for Starflight who still had his bewildered expression while Peril looked more annoyed than anything. She waited for more orders from Glory despite the Rainwings tiredness. The flight back to the cave took more out of her than she expected. Starflight was the one that was more active. "What do you mean you know where the Talons of peace leader is?! Why are you not acting like this is a big deal?! This is a big deal! Sunny might be there! She would definitely be there! Why are we wasting our time?! Let's go!"
This was the only time Glory ever saw Starflight look this excited in her whole life. "Figures it would be over Sunny." The Nightwings crush on the Sandwing was very obvious to any dragon that wasn't Clay or Sunny. She usually didn't care and it was the only thing she didn't make fun of him for despite how easy it would be. "I thought we needed to take a second to consider our options?"
"We do, but this is about Sunny! I know that's where she would be! Where else would she go? Nowhere! We need to find her and that's where we can find her!" His face reminded her of an adorable lizard begging for food.
She wanted to find Sunny, she wanted to get revenge on the stupid talons of peace. She wanted to spit her venom in each and everyone of those dragons' faces. But she had to remember what Scarlet told her. "It's not that simple…Sc-the dragon I found just said it was a rumor she heard."
A single slip up and Starflight already knew. She could always see the gears in Starflights head turning whether he meant to show it or not. He turned his head to stare at Peril who didn't seem to catch on. "I-Oh, we can't. I mean we shouldn't, how can we-?"
"Peril, aren't you hungry? Why don't you go get some food." Glory tried to fake a smile but it wasn't something she did normally so it looked more like a contorted frown.
The Skywing narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything at first. She walked past the two and exited the cave, blowing smoke out of her snout and looking at the sky. "You can just say you want me to leave for a little bit." She didn't sound hurt or annoyed. It sounded like she was used to it and didn't want Glory's fake care. "No, I do care. It just so happens that I also don't want her to hear this." Once she was out of earshot, Glory tilted her wing towards the back of the cave and the two began walking.
Starflight's legs tensed up. "It was Scarlet? It was a girl, she burned the tent and you don't know anyone aside from her, Sunny and me that start with S. Unless you found another dragon you didn't tell me about but you wouldn't be worried about saying it in front of Peril so it has to be Scarlet right?" Moon's she hated how he got when the Nightwing believed he guessed correctly.
"Yes, it was Scarlet." She muttered in annoyance. "She said the leader of the Talons was inside of a cave, ironically, in a mountain. They really seem to like that." She bristled.
Starflight didn't look nearly as sure of himself as he did a few seconds ago. "So you're telling me that Scarlet, the dragon that imprisoned and tried to kill all of us, found out where the Talons of peace leader, a dragon that almost every Queen wants killed, is and DIDN'T do anything?" After Glory didn't respond, he continued. "Glory, I don't think you can trust her. You of all dragons should know that."
Why did he sound so condescending? He didn't see how sure she was in herself. "She said she didn't have time to do it. She got the information second hand and wasn't sure she could trust it. Made sense to me."
Starflight looked disappointed? What did he have to be disappointed in! "Glory, she might have been lying to you. It IS Scarlet."
The Rainwing was tempted to scoff at him but resisted the urge. "You didn't see her. She was telling the truth." She had to be. Why else would she say it? "I can tell when dragons are lying. Remember?"
"You only saw seven dragons for the longest time and no offense, but we aren't that hard to read." He countered. "What if there is someone there that can kill you or hurt you?" He said with concern in his voice. "Besides, now that I think about it, how would Sunny even know where to go? It sounds like it isn't worth the risks."
"Then how are we going to find Sunny?!" She growled but not at him, to herself. How could she let herself be deluded? "Tsunami…go back to the Skywing kingdom, sure…where I would get killed by Skywings." Now she was glad she didn't tell Starflight about Tsunami.
Starflight took a step back and looked at the wall of the cave with sudden interest. It was how he stared at the map of Pyrrhia. "Let's think back. What would Sunny try to do if she was free?" She assumed he would have the answer but he seemed to be looking to her for one.
"Complete the prophecy." She sighed then it hit her. "The prophecey…Sunny would be…expecting us to regroup. She would expect us to regroup in the one place she wanted us too! THE CAVE!" She yelped out and turned to the entrance of the cave. "She's as the cave!"
Starflight looked amazed and frusterated that he didn't think of it first. "Of course! She always thought we could get ourselves out of anything! Maybe if we get back there she'll be there? Besides, who would expect us to head back there?"
"I'll go get Peril. You should get some sleep." Glory said with an actual smile this time. Did she hate herself for going back to the one place she never wanted to go? Yes. Did she care at this point? No.
"Are you going to tell her the dragon was Scarlet?" Starflight asked, turning from joy to worry. "She's going to ask who you saw in there."
Glory should have considered that. Was there danger in telling her about Scarlet? "I…I don't know. If she brings it up, yes." She mumbled the last part but it didn't matter. He could hear it either way. "But I don't have to tell her everything. Not yet at least." She wanted to trust Peril but now the memories of Clay's scales melting inside of themselves appeared once more.
She took a few steps out of the cave and flew through the nearby trees. The sun was setting and she only now realized how long they had been out. The muddy terrain was turning back to its normal, soft and calming dirt. The smell of smoke alerted Glory to the Skywings position and she found Peril toying with a dead bunny. She wondered whether Peril ever had any actual toys. Not that Glory had any. "Something else we have in common." "Hey Peril, you want to get some sleep?"
She stood up, putting what was left of the rabbit in her mouth and chomping down. "Yeah. So what's the new plan? Why wasn't…Sunny? Why wasn't Sunny with you?" She questioned, following her.
Glory grimaced, preparing to have this conversation for a second time. "She wasn't there. But now I know where she might be."
"Who set the tent on fire?" She was full of questions.
"...Scarlet was in there. She seemed to want me to free her." Glory said, not turning back.
"Did you? What did she say? Is she safe?"
Glory stopped. "Why do you want to know? I thought you hated her?" She questioned back.
Glory heard Peril keep her wings close to not burn the trees. "I do…I'm just curious…" She muttered sadly.
"I didn't and she looked fine." She wasn't entirely lying. "She's alive and just wanted me to free her."
"That's all she asked about?" She said, her voice a little lighter than before.
Glory shrugged, walking again towards the cave. Each step felt rough. "She mentioned where I can find the Talons of peace leader but I'm not sure I believe her. She might just be setting a trap."
"Sounds like her…" Peril said sadly and the two entered the cave where Starflight was sleeping already. Peril headed to the back of the cave and laid down, leaving Glory to herself.
The harsh wind kept Glory up. It was hard, thinking about what she had learned. Going back to the cave wouldn't be easy…"It's for Sunny. Remember it's for Sunny." Ugh, that didn't make it enjoyable. She did miss that little smile of hers and the warmth she provided…no, she NEEDED to go back and get her! Yes, her memories of that awful, cruel cave were strong but her desire to be reunited with Sunny was stronger. And Tsunami? No, that had to be a lie. Scarlet couldn't be trusted. Glory may not have seen it, but there was no way Tsunami made it. "Only one bell was rung." One bell…one death…Gill…"It wouldn't hurt to look…" Tomorrow, she'd find Sunny. Tomorrow they would have the little ball of hope that the Sandwing always provided.
"I need to take a walk." Glory hated the dark. It reminded her of when the Guardians would take away their torches as punishment. She took a few steps so she was out of the cave and began her path down the mountain. It was calm and peaceful. The outside was really something else, even better than what she imagined. Walking past the trees, she brushed her wings against the bark and felt the hard wood that decorated the plant. Why did she feel like sleeping on its branches? Despite hating the dark, she found herself enjoying this. The moons provided enough light for her to not be completely blind.
The Guardians took away every chance at seeing beyond the cave right out from under them. The five were never allowed to see actual plants and animals in their natural habitats. It was only when Webs was feeling nice that he would give them a glimpse of the world beyond. You'd think being part of a great big destiny would insure that they would be taught about the world they needed to save. "You aren't part of it, remember?" She growled in her head. She was always reminded of that. "You aren't meant to save the world. And without Clay, they can't do it either." Of course…No Clay, no prophecy.
"How am I going to break it to Sunny?" Why didn't she think about that?! Her reaction would be worse than Starfligh. He was hurt, but Sunny would be destroyed. She was far more attached to the larger dragon. It wasn't a secret that she probably liked him more than any of the others. (Which Starflight was always jealous of) How was she going to tell her? What could she say? How could she even begin to bring it up? No, she wouldn't worry about that right now. She needed to get back to the cave and sleep. She needed to think. She needed to sleep. Anything but consider what Sunny will feel like when she learns about Clay.
She walked back along the path and only bumped into a tree once. In the darkness she could make out a few animals that she didn't recognize before taking some steps into the cave. She decided to stay away from the other two and sleep at the entrance. She blended in with the brownish gray rocks, matching her rather dull mood. All of that thinking was straining her brain. A few minutes later, she would be met with sleep at last.
Glory watched as Starflight was taken into battle training with Kestrel. He looked miserable, his tail dragging on the rocky cave floor and his ears bent down. He gave her a pitiful look before disappearing behind the exit to the sleeping cave. While Clay and Sunny were getting help from Dune on their last test. Somehow, even Tsunami passed though Sunny WAS sick. Glory walked by the Seawing and looked up at the map.
"Does Starflight still think we're here?" She asked, pointing to a mountain range in the Skywing kingdom.
Tsunami nodded. "Yeah. He said it makes sense geographically. Something about being hidden but imagine a much longer, detailed explanation with too many words thrown in."
Glory chuckled, almost hearing his know-it-all voice in the Seawings tone. "Stop, he's going to complain to Clay." She snickered.
The two laughed at the idea of Starflight complaining to Clay.
Glory looked back at the map, staring at the Rainforest in the bottom part of the map. "So, what do you plan on doing after you leave?"
Tsunami shrugged. "Obviously, take my rightful place as future heir to the Seawing throne." Great, she was still on about that. "Then help you four end the war of course."
"Once you guys find your Skywing that is." She said and received a scroll thrown at the back of her head. "Hey!"
Tsunami was glaring at Glory. "Say that again and I'll bite your tail."
Glory flared her wings up defensively. "I'm just stating the obvious. You need a Skywing to complete the prophecy."
"And I'm just saying that we don't need one. It calls for four dragons and a grouchy one. We have four dragons and a grouchy one so shut up."
"I am NOT grouchy." She bristled.
Tsunami smirked and put on a fake voice that Glory found particularly annoying. "Oh Starflight, do go on about how AMAZING the GREAT and POWERFUL Nightwings are because we all want to hear that right now!" She ended with a sharp cough as imitating Glory's monotone voice did not do well for Tsunami's gruff tone.
"That's called being sarcastic, not being grouchy." Glory said snidely.
Tsunami shrugged, sitting back on her perch. "Same difference. So have you and Starflight decided who's going to ask Clay about leaving the cave?"
The Rainwing grinned, knowing the answer. "Well first, he went on about how we should tell Sunny but after I brought up the rock tower incident he dropped it," Tsunami nodded her head in agreement. "Then we agreed that the next time Clay has battle training, you can go get him for dinner afterwards and tell him when the two of you are alone. Great plan, right?"
The Seawings' frustrated grunt was music to her ears. "I said I wasn't going to tell him!"
Glory snickered. "Then maybe you shouldn't have missed our last meeting. Study with Starflight so you don't have to spend extra time with Webs."
"Oh I am SO biting your tail next time we have to practice together." The aggravated Seawing muttered, curling up and trying to fall asleep, making Glory realize that didn't sound like such a bad idea.
The sun sneaking past the trees that shaded Glory from any Skywing/Sandwing patrols woke Glory from her slumber as the image of the Sea blue Seawing slowly disappeared from her mind. She wished she could reach out and grab the fragments, holding on to what little of her friend she could reach only for it to dematerialize in front of her. That was when she felt hot tears flooding down her face that must have been flowing before she even woke up.