Faint candlelight shone off the Great Five-Tail River, taking its place next to the two moons shining that night — one half-full, and one just the sliver of a crescent. The golden light of flame was surprising at first, in comparison to the silver shining moons. The four weary travelers looked up the river to see the source of the light: a city flanked each side of the river, with a great bridge built between the two, stretching up to the height of the buildings nearby. Dots of flame were positioned strategically around the cities in order to light up the surrounding areas throughout the night. Each flame was contained in a small lantern placed atop a pole, and would be blown out each morning, usually by a young SkyWing or SandWing who was given much-needed food in return.
The large bridge of pearly white stone spanned across the Five-Tail River in the center, covered archways orderly arranged across it. Empty market stalls lay side-by-side across the expanse, with a couple SandWings still on the bridge, just dots in the distance to the four approaching. Closer to them were a series of docks on the right bank of the river, with a number of large cubical buildings just a little further in. Behind the four was the mouth of the Great Five-Tail River, where they had flown from.
Crystal pointed a talon to the left side of the banks, where quaint houses with red triangular roofs covered the landscape. "There," she said, "that's the SkyWing city. One of those houses should have a blue-shingled roof; that's where we should go."
Torrent squinted. Because his nightvision had turned on, it was too dark to make out different colors well, but he thought he saw a roof which looked like it might have appeared blue in the daytime. "I think that's the one," he stated, pointing a webbed talon towards it.
Schist flew a little bit further forward. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Schist asked. "Going into a SkyWing city. What if someone heard about how you killed those guards, and finds us suspicious?"
Crystal scoffed. "If things haven't changed since I was last here, no one's going to give us a second glance. It's primarily SkyWings and SandWings, but I think I saw a few MudWings, IceWings, and even the occasional SeaWing around."
"Maybe nobody will look at you twice," Griffin pointed out, "but I doubt I'm gonna be ignored."
Crystal looked over at Griffin. He was right, even if he pretended that he couldn't talk, bringing what's supposed to be a mythical creature into a large city could draw a lot of attention. And if Princess Burn got word of it, he'd be stuffed and thrown in her tower.
"Alright," she replied, "we can try sneaking you in, and if she lets us stay, we can hide you in Avalanche's house."
Griffin frowned, not exactly happy about being hidden again, but didn't protest.
Torrent scanned the area around the blue-shingled roof. "There," he said, moving his talon a bit further from the river, "it looks like there's a clearing we can land down in. It's dark, so hopefully no one should get a clear view of Griffin, and we can walk to your SkyWing friend's house from there."
Crystal gave Torrent an okay, and the four moved ahead, slowly gliding over the top of the SkyWing city on the eastern banks of the river. Torrent saw a couple SkyWings down below, but a couple of dragons flying overhead wasn't anything too unusual, and no one bothered to give the shadows above more than a short glance. As they reached the clearing, a small grassy field, they dove down, Griffin staying above the others to hide behind their wings.
Fortunately, they were the only ones in the field that night, and Griffin was able to land quickly and quietly. Not wanting to have him be seen, Torrent draped a wing over his much smaller friend, and moved towards the edge of the field, towards a small alley behind a couple of brown-roofed houses.
"I think the house is this way," Torrent quietly whispered. "It shouldn't be too far."
Crystal nodded. "I'll go in front and look out for any approaching dragons. Torrent will keep covering Griffin, and Schist will watch from behind." She quickened her pace, and stepped in front of Torrent without a moment's notice, walking down the alley.
"C'mon," she hissed back at the other three, "the longer we're out here, the greater the chance we'll be caught." Torrent and Griffin followed a short pace behind her, while Schist nervously lagged behind them, watching over his wings for any dragons who seemed like they might be following them.
They continued down the narrow back-alley until reaching the edge of a larger street. Crystal suddenly stopped, and opened her wings, trying to push Torrent backwards with them. He took a few steps away, almost running into Schist. A SkyWing muttering something angrily to herself walked directly past Crystal, not even giving her a glance. When she passed, Crystal motioned the others forwards with a claw, and quickly took them across the paved road, the cracks in the stone rushing from Griffin's talons.
The four moved on like this, staying out of sight, until Torrent pointed to a large barn, no, a house, which stood out from the surrounding area like a gryphon in the Sea Kingdom. A blue-shingled roof rested on top, covering the inside from any rain. "I think that's it," he pointed out.
Crystal nodded. "Griffin, stay hidden here until I'm sure she'll let us stay," she ordered, "Torrent and Schist, come with me."
The two other dragons followed her directions, and walked to the door of the house. Crystal took a deep breath in, then gave a sharp rap on the old door. A few seconds later, a bright crimson SkyWing pushed open the door in a furious hiss, almost knocking Crystal back.
"You," Avalanche hissed. "I said I'd knock your teeth out if you came back." She tapped a few of her claws on the ground in a threatening fashion, glaring at the IceWing in front of her.
Crystal sighed. "I need someplace to stay, alright? Would you mind letting us sleep here for a while?"
"Us?" Avalanche asked with a hint of exaggeration, as if she already knew Crystal had brought friends. She peered her head around the edge of the door, noticing the large SeaWing standing behind Crystal, and the MudWing with half his scales seared off. "Interesting group you've brought here," she clucked. "You said you wouldn't come back."
"I know," Crystal smiled, trying to reply in her sweetest voice, "but we're really in a bit of a pinch here, and could use a place to rest our wings. If you want payment, we can offer it."
"Trying to bribe me, eh?" Avalanche snorted, looking over towards Schist in an uncomfortable stare. She scanned up and down his right side, looking over his scars. "What happened to you?" she asked, with an air of condescension. "Fell into a vat of lava?"
"He ran in —" Crystal started to answer for the MudWing, before Avalanche silenced her, pushing her head away with a claw.
"I want him to answer," she sneered. "C'mon, cat got your tongue?" The SkyWing suddenly gave a slight frown at the mention of cats, and glanced around the area, before turning back to Schist.
"I attacked a dragon with scales as hot as lava," Schist hissed, shaking slightly. "That's all."
Avalanche smiled sinisterly. "I believe I know the type of SkyWing you're talking about. Unfortunate, isn't it?" She turned back to Crystal. "Fine, you and your strange friends may stay here, for now. Is it just you three?" She asked this last question with a hint of confusion, as if she was expecting more.
Crystal shook her head. "We have a fourth." She waved a claw to Griffin, motioning him to come out of hiding.
The small gryphon quickly ran towards the house, not wanting to be caught by any onlookers. Avalanche looked on in surprise. "Well, what is that?" she asked in contempt. "Sorry, but we have enough pets here already."
"He's not a pet," Torrent growled at her. She gave him a look of skepticism, before Griffin spoke up.
"I'm not," Griffin stated matter-of-factly.
Avalanche nodded with a slight smile, and opened the door wide, for them to enter. They quickly went into the one-room house, trying to make sure Griffin stayed outside for as little as possible. An empty fireplace was in one side of the room, and various items and litter were scattered around the floor, except for in a small corner of the room which was strangely clear.
Crystal furrowed her snout at a pungent scent. "What's that smell?" she asked.
"Cat piss," Avalanche hissed, gritting her teeth. "The nasty buggers are everywhere. You'll see more of them soon enough, I guarantee it." She turned towards Griffin, and closed the door behind him. "Hopefully none of them try to eat our pretty birdy," she commented. She reached a talon out to Griffin, trying to stroke his feathers. He quickly took a step back and gave her a hiss in response, then turned back to the others with a frown.
"Look," Torrent replied with a growl behind his voice, "thank you so much for letting us stay, but don't touch Griffin." He mustered holding back a snarl.
Avalanche licked her lips, flicking her tongue in and out of her teeth, but didn't make a reply.
Crystal brushed aside a little bit of the clutter, some scrolls, rocks, and burnt firewood, then lied down on the stone floor uncomfortably. She was not particularly looking forward to staying with Avalanche. Hopefully, they'd be out of the city soon.