Call of the Ancestors
Chapter 21: Omens and Storms
A severe headache, the feeling of not having eaten or drank anything for the last… How long? Sethelis groaned. Either this was the worst hangover of her life, or… Sudden pain as the dragoness tried to move. Her entire body ached something terribly.
"Ancestors, am I dead yet…?" She murmured, her voice sounding like gravel being ground into sand. Her senses slowly came to, but she refused to open her eye, "... Miarko? Spyro? Are either of you there?"
Speaking hurt, breathing hurt. Everything really really hurt. She tried to lift her head off of what felt like a blanket, or some kind of cloth. As she did, her neck, like everything else, really hurt causing her to groan in pain. Finally she managed to open her eye, the slitted pupil turning into night but a thin black line as she was blinded by the stinging rays of sunlight peeking into… A tent? Yes. She was in a tent. She looked down and saw that someone had propped her head up as to use her own backpack as a pillow.
"Miarko?" She tried again, a bit louder this time, more than a hoarse whisper.
Shuffling outside the tent. A shadow appeared over the flap. Familiar frills and horns. Miarko's familiar form shuffled inside the tent, a slight smile on his face. Grunting, he sat down next to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, laying a hand on her foreleg.
"As if I've sparred against a Earth dragon and then done nothing but heavy drinking for… A week?"
She replied, looking down at her blue form. At least she didn't sport any new scars. Sethelis would've never forgiven herself had she lost another limb. One eye was enough for a lifetime.
"How about you two? Where are we?"
Miarko rubbed the back of his head and sighed, "It's been some time, haven't really kept track. Maybe three days?"
Sethelis shook her head slightly. "No, that doesn't answer either of my questions. Where are we?" She asked again, tilting her head slightly.
Miarko laughed and opened the flap to the tent. Lapping waves splashed to the shore as a calm and serene wind blew through the trees on the water. They were on the western coast of the island, facing the far away White Isle.
Miarko turned back, grinning lightly, "Does that answer your question?"
Sethelis glanced out over the horizon. "Ah. Coast." The dragoness said, nodding.
And then she attempted to stand up. Joints felt stiff, as they probably should since she hadn't moved for… Had it really been three days? She managed to hobble out of the tent, take a few breaths. She saw a embered pyring campfire, and next to it sat Spyro. Wings turned to the tents and tending to some fish which was being roasted over open a flame. Miarko stepped out from the tent, standing at her side for a moment before the Fire Dragon proceeded down to the shore, looking out over the horizon in the distance. The dragoness heeded their Director no mind, especially since he seemed to be concentrating a whole lot on his cooking. Sethelis decided that she'd talk to Spyro later, if she'd need to, so she wandered down alongside her red companion.
"Being knocked out cold is what I get for making a rookie mistake." She lamented to her friend, walking alongside him as they followed the coastline.
Miarko nodded genuinely, with no mockery in his expression, "I understand why you'd say so, but you were simply overpowered. I doubt I'd have been able to take him on alone without the Director's help either."
"I am just glad you took him down. Some of my agents had been chasing that ugly mug for weeks, makes my job a little bit easier," She contemptly replied, giving a small smile back, "And then what, carried me all the way here?"
Miarko rubbed the back of his neck and laughed again, "That would be my back, lass."
"Not your finest feature, but I won't complain," The shadowy captain replied with an amused sound to her voice, "Besides, the fact that matters is that we are all alive and well enough to carry out the rest of this mission."
Miarko laughed again. His demeanor had shifted since she'd last seen him, but the Shadow Captain couldn't quite put a claw on what it was.
He continued, "Aye, but we're not entirely sure what that will mean. The Isle is still...a long ways from where we currently stride, and the Director's uncertain of any rest stops along the way. We may simply be forced to continue flying until we reach it, or die trying, I suppose."
"Those are some… Grim odds, but we've been up against similar opposition before. Just less possessed townsfolk and more flying until our wings give in." She replied, honestly not being too keen on drowning herself in the hunt for some mythological island that may or may not even exist at all.
She had to admit, she was skeptical, despite Spyro's claims.
But there was one matter she had to deal with first: "And you are hiding something from me. Or rather, you're at least acting different. And you better not tell me that it is my freshly awoken mind playing tricks on me," She said, turning to face him once they were far enough away from camp.
She halted, sitting down upon her haunches. Miarko took the hint, stretching out his legs and sat down himself, staring out over the horizon.
After some moments of silence, he laughed lightly, "Call it a change in perspective."
"And here I thought I was the one who liked being vague," The Shadow said, puffing up her cheeks before exhaling, "What perspective are we talking here? Emotional? Belief? Morality?"
Miarko took a paw and stroked one of the frills under his chin, "Perhaps a bit of the first and the last," he responded smoothly, before waving a paw, "Nothing to concern yourself with, Seth."
"And you need to realise that your concerns are my concerns too, now," The dragoness spoke.
She was being adamant about making sure that two things happen: This mission needed to go smoothly, and all three of the dragons undertaking had to remain in good health from start to finish.
"We're a team," she ended, placing her snout against his neck, "You better speak up or I'll get it out of you somehow," she then "threatened" the red dragon.
Miarko rubbed a paw on the back of his neck again and sighed, "We may have some things we need to discuss, but not right now. I cannot compromise this operation any further with personal issues."
His words caused her to frown. "I.. Do not like the tone of that, Miarko. Are you sure you shouldn't just get it off your wings now?"
The young dragon sighed and put a paw to his face, before taking in a breath and leaning down to her snout, and planting a kiss onto her maw. He quickly rested his head against hers and sighed once more.
"I do not want to burden you with the things I've done," he spoke, "I do not believe this is the time, Seth."
The dragoness sighed. Defeated.
"If you truly say so, I will make the mistake of the century and trust your judgement." She teased, leaning against him slightly.
Just… For a moment, taking it slow. Nothing else to think about besides the wind, which was idly blowing out over the sea, and the waves lapping against the shore in a steady rhythm.
"... Sometimes I think to myself: What in the name of all the Ancestors have we gotten ourselves into. It is… Kind of scary to think about, isn't it?"
The young dragon beside her sighed and shook his head, "I say that to myself every day."
"I suppose that means we're the best dragons for the job, then," Seth mused, her tone being insincere when compared to the grim topic.
The Fire Dragon that was holding her laughed again, "I think we are."
"Really? I appreciate your optimism," Seth retorted, snickering lightly before sighing.
Deep breath in, deep breath out, "...We might need to get back to Spyro soon. Either he'll have burnt the fish or started wondering where we are."
Miarko chuckled before picking himself back up off the ground, "We've not been gone that long, Seth."
The Fire Dragon helped her up off the ground and straightened her out, seeking to keep her from succumbing to her exhaustion and pain again. The Shadow Captain leaned on him as they continued back to camp. They'd not gone far, and only a few moments later, the still-kneeling form of the Purple Dragon came into clear view. The Director seemed to be finishing up the last touches onto grilling the last fish that he'd caught, putting it on a travel plate and setting it on the iron griller atop the fire.
Spyro smiled and nodded at the pair as they came back into view, "Enjoy your walk?" he asked, a slight bit of mockery in his voice.
"I feel as if every muscle in my body is on fire, but besides that? I am doing great," the dragoness retorted, standing on her own for the final couple of steps, "Now then, what has the master chef made for his loyal foot soldiers, then? Final meal before our flight?" She continued, eye looking between the director and his handiwork.
"Some sort of ocean fish," Spyro shrugged, "I don't know, my education in the swamps didn't include fish identification outside those in the the marshes and rivers."
The Purple Dragon handed over the fish he'd worked on, it was a long thing with a long head, a multitude of fins along its body. This earned a light chuckle from Miarko.
"Cod, Director," he said after calming his laugh, "These are cod, an ocean fish. Didn't you originally grow up in this area?"
Spyro rolled his eyes at the additional comment, "Yes, and I spent the formative years of my childhood thinking I was a dragonfly. You're such a comedian, Miarko," he responded with some bite in his voice.
Miarko rose an eye ridge at this comment, "Did you now? You knew that you probably were about...fifty times the size of any dragonfly that I've seen, right?"
"Yes, and by a hatchling's logic I was just a… Much larger and purple dragonfly," The Director explained, chuckling slightly at his past self, "That didn't glow. And couldn't fly properly."
"I heard you didn't even learn how to fly properly until you got outta that...time crystal that you laid in for three years," Miarko stifled out a laugh before composing himself again, "Certainly lacked the proper education most of us were able to obtain, mate."
"I may be your friend, Miarko, but I am also your superior," Spyro warned, his voice insincere and joking, "But you are right. I did not master flight until I was well into my teens," He ended, seemingly ever so slightly embarrassed.
Miarko simply laughed in return, shaking his head. The three settled into silence as the meal was finished and quickly devoured by the trio of weary dragons. The waves continued to lap at the shore, but the tide did not seem to be coming in, causing their camp to be safe from the water, at least for the time being. Time passed, no. Crept.
Eventually their little campfire died out, and Sethelis rose up from the ground, "I'll fetch some more wood. Or are we heading out soon? My wings feels rested, and far less sore than they did a few hours ago," The dragoness informed her comrades, "It is up to you two, really. Just say the word and I'll pack my things."
The trio of warriors looked up. Despite Spyro's wanting to get towards the Isle on this day, it was looking to be impossible. The sun was beginning to peak down over the horizon to their west, and they would need as much visibility as possible to be able to follow the currents and find their way to the distant island.
Spyro shook his head after returning his gaze to Sethelis, sighing, "We've been camped here for a few days and I'd rather we get going as soon as we can, but I do not want to navigate during the night, stars to follow or nought. Your condition needs another night to improve anyways. Let us remain here for one more night, but I expect both of you to be ready to continue with our mission by sunrise on the morrow."
Sethelis was visibly displeased with this, a small frown upon her face as she sighed, saluting, "... Yes Director."
The Director sighed and put a paw to his face, shaking his head, "Captain, I understand your want to finish this assignment, but I wish not to push our luck, and I would prefer to follow the current and the tides to the Isle, not guessing from the placement of the stars."
Sethelis simply saluted silently and moved away from the campfire. Miarko's eyes traced over to Spyro, the man simply responded with a huff. With another shake of his head, the tired-looking Director stood up onto his paws and he too retreated from the fire, leaving the Fire Captain alone, his deep blue eyes returning to observe the sparks on the driftwood. The Captain sighed to himself, putting a paw over his face. The day seemed to have taken a turn that he hadn't anticipated.
After a few minutes the dragoness returned, carrying what appeared to be just enough wood for the flames to revitalize it for just another hour, she unfolded her wing and the dry twigs fell onto the embers, the blue dragon settling down. "Where did the Director go?" She asked, her voice still and more quiet than usual.
Miarko motioned off into the tent, "Asleep already, I guess. Think he's had enough of the day. Spent most of it just waiting for you to awaken, like we have been through the last few." And indeed, if one kept quiet for long enough they could hear the purple dragon snoring.
"Good," Seth merely said, sighing in relief, "Because I won't give up on wanting a truthful answer from you. We might die tomorrow, so I want to know that if I end up drowning somewhere out in the middle of nowhere I can do so knowing what secret it is you so adamantly keep from me," The dragoness spoke, her yellow eye peering straight at the Captain of the 17th, "We need to be able to trust each other fully if this is going to work, Miarko."
Miarko didn't look at her. He was silent for a good half minute, the man seemed to be considering how to respond. He finally looked at her, his eyes said...it was hard to tell. A mix of elation, somberness, and...dread?
"Have you ever read my full file? The psych report, everything?" he asked, slowly.
Sethelis felt a slight bewilderment brush over her. She had peered at his papers a few times. Once when they were first assigned, another just to make sure, and once on a lunch break just because she wanted to know some of his early history and her boredom got the better of her.
"Well, I have glanced through it a few times," She curtly admitted, feeling just a little… Embarrassed? Some thoughts crept into her mind. "Is it really wrong to want to know about your co-workers? Sure, a little invasion of privacy maybe, but…?" That doubting voice in her head told her as she sat quiet, looking over at the seemingly afraid Miarko.
The Dragon hesitated for a few more moments, looking back at the fire, "You don't seem like you know, then."
"And even if I don't know now, you might as well tell me, because there is nothing that stops me from finding out exactly what it is you are talking about once we make it back home," The dragoness pressed, feeling displeased with his lack of cooperation. Sure, he might not want to part with his secrets, but she knew it'd just be a matter of time.
He continued to stare the fire. The reports had mentioned the burning fires that coursed through his veins, but not the general interest that the young Captain seemed to take in every flame that he saw.
"I was mated to a Ness' once," he said simply, quietly.
"Yes. Keesha, right? " Sethelis looked down at her paws. "Is this about her?"
Miarko continued looking at the fire, his eyes not returning to her, "It's been...weighing on my mind lately. I felt as if you had the right to know. About her and...my son."
Sethelis blinked. There had been no records of a son! "I'm sorry, but… You have a son?" She asked, looking at the male in disbelief, "I-I mean, sure. I anticipated the odd bastard given your infamous track record, but a actual legitimate son?"
Miarko looked at her finally. His eyes spoke of a deep-rooted sadness. It was immediately clear to her why he had brought up the subject.
"I-... Ah. I see," The dragoness felt stumped.
Sure, she had dealt with death for the majority of her career, and has had colleagues she'd called friends, had her profession allowed it, die in duty and from other causes. But this felt… Different. She didn't know how to speak, what to say. The words felt wrong when she formulated them in her mind, and ultimately decided against speaking. She got up, trudging over to Miarko's side, laying back down. She knew it was risky, and waited as if to reassure that Spyro was still asleep.
Her wing extended, draping over Miarko's back. She sighed hushedly, her voice night upon a whisper now, "I won't ever be able to replace them, but I will damn sure do my best to make you feel better. Got it?"
Miarko smiled lightly and sighed out again, shaking his head, "I've dealt with it terribly. Throw myself at other women to try to find something to ease the pain. Terrible way to cope, but I can't help myself. I've tried…"
"I know this is going to sound terrible, but… " Seth admittedly felt a little coy. Even if she really did not want to, "... It eventually got you to me, right? I know you've said similar things to at least two hundred others, but I dare put my bets on this one. And yes. I can allow myself to be naïve," The dragoness ended.
She leaned up against the red Dragon as the fires continued to slowly flicker in front of them. The pair, the couple, settled into silence, each occupied by their own thoughts on the matter. Not long after, the only sound between them was the lapping of the waves and the subtle breathing of sleep.
Splash!
The red Dragon nearly flew out of his bones as the fire was splashed out in front of him. Tired eyes looked up at a purple form of a dragon in front of him. The sky was barely even becoming lightened out, only small streaks of blue had begun to pierce the utter blackness of night.
Spyro stood over the slumbering couple, simply grinning, "Are you two ready, or would you like some more time of snuggling up to one another?"
A sudden twitch was felt next to him as Sethelis sprung to life with a yelp, scrambling to stand up at seemingly several foot distance away "Whuh!? How did I end up here? I went to sleep in my tent!" She called, evidently lying.
However, Sethelis wasn't the lead of the Shadows for nothing, and to Miarko's surprise it seemed like Spyro… Bought her lie. Or not. It was hard to tell, since the purple hero merely chuckled and turned away from the two.
"We'll be heading out ASAP. We've wasted enough precious time as it is." Their Director explained, stretching his orange and golden wings. "Pack up your things, I'll be waiting for you here."
Miarko stretched his wings and groaned, "Here we go again."
The two captains took little time in readying themselves to fly, and soon enough the three dragons took the leap out from the beachhead and up to the air, their wings sending water splashing as the three picked up speed and height. Soon enough the dragons were soaring far over the sea, looking either down for landmarks or to Spyro for directions. And they flew. \
For hours, and hours.
The morning grew to midday, the sun standing right above them, sending it's warm rays down upon their wings and backs. Eventually it passed over to afternoon, and still no mystical white island in sight. Miarko had to admit that he felt just a small sting of doubt. And even more so regret when the three burst through a cloudbank just to see a large storm further ahead.
"I hope you two are good at flying through turbulence, because we've-" Spyro got interrupted by Sethelis, who flew on the purple dragon's right-wing side.
"If we fly through that storm we're as good as dead, Director! Lightning, winds? We're at best going to be steered off course, and at worst get struck out of the sky!"
She called. And as if on cue, lightning rumbled and lit up the dark mass of clouds. Miarko felt his heart sink when Spyro simply got a steely determined look and said "We must get through. That is an order."
The Captain of the 17th remained silent during the exchange, but was just as worried as Sethelis, and despite him not showing it, Spyro as well. The storm looked like bad news. They continued beating their wings against the sky, even as the dark clouds grew over top of them and enveloped the blue skies. At some points they could not even see the dark tormenting seas beneath the three.
Then, they were in the thick of it.
Lightning strikes and flashes all around them. Terrible beating and crashing waves down below. Rain pounded at the horns and skulls. Each looked downwards, attempting to save their eyes for what lay ahead, but it was no use.
A flash.
Sethelis was the first one to be struck, sending her careening down into the waves below.
"No!"
Miarko dove after her, attempting to catch her before she reached the waves.
Another flash.
White.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Spyro felt cold, and a splitting headache. At first he had seen his Captains go down by lightning, and now here he was. Had been struck not long after.
"Am I dead?" He murmured, eyelids heavy. Refusing to open.
He heard no sound. No, wait… A single sound, besides the beating of his own heart and the breath coming in from his nose. But it was… Slowing down? Suddenly his heart had stopped. He felt no need to breathe. The ticking sound was slowed down to a crawl.
A voice broke the silence, "No, young dragon. You are simply dreaming," A familiar voice, calm. Fatherly, even. Spyro felt a lump form in his throat, "So it was true then?" He managed to force out, eyes finally fluttering open.
His purple body was unceremoniously sprawled out across a carved stone platform, seemingly floating in an empty space. He looked around, and stars came into view. Planets. "You are still alive?" He called out into the void, the voice returning to answer.
"Yes, young dragon. I am still here." Spyro felt tears, but held them back. He wasn't going to cry now.
The legendary hero took a deep breath to collect himself, before speaking, "Then why did you not contact me, Ignitus? Surely you saw this coming!" he called, "I do not know how these dreams, visions or whatever you want to call them works. But if you could reach me now, why could you not earlier?" He felt his anger flare.
There was no reply.
Spyro got up, pacing around in a circle. "Why, Ignitus?" he called again.
No reply.
"Why!?"
A/N: Ah, finally we get the return of our favorite old dragon! Even if he is only with us in voice. Or hallucination. Who knows!?
It seems luck has favored me and Mike, as we've managed to line up our schedules more and more often, which in turn means more for you guys to read! I hope you're liking it so far, and please stay put for the next chapter.
And as always, we appreciate any and all feedback! Reviews are always read and responded to when we can get to them.
See you next time!
-Mike & Hawk