"What in the moons…what are you doing?"
A voice made Frute snap out of his horrible memories. It took him a few seconds to remember where he was. In front of him, Russet looked more curious than concerned.
Frute looked up at her. She was about three times his size. "How do you know my name?" He asked quietly. His mind wandered new questions about Russet. It kept him from going back into his dark thoughts and memories.
"Slate told me." Russet explained. She looked around as if she was hiding something nearby, but Frute didn't think much of it. "I'm her sister, her bigwings." She looked at Frute. "Wait, do you even know who Slate is?"
Frute tried to think. "I've heard the name once." He replied. "Before now. I just can't remember when." He tried to think some more, but the name wasn't attached to anything. It was just a name, floating around his head as useless knowledge.
"In short," Russet began. "Slate was your mother. I'm your aunt. You're no-good father was Bonsai. And before you say anything, it was mine and Slate's other sister who killed Bonsai."
"So…how did you know me?" Frute asked. "I was told that my mother was like every other MudWing and left us to fend for ourselves. She would've named us, then shoved us away again. And thus we were just another troop, living by ourselves and forced to fight."
"I'm not sure why you're asking." Russet replied. "I doubt you'd believe me. But your mother did want to raise you. It was your father's fault that she didn't. And as you know, they both died."
"How do you know I'm not dead?"
"I saw the whole thing. I didn't bother going after you. I knew you'd come back, though. You loved your sibs too much."
"I didn't just 'come back'. I came back with a friend. Have you seen her?"
"What does she look like?"
"She has brown-and-red scales, about my height, with yellow, orange, and dark brown wings."
Russet seemed to think for a few moments, then shook her head. "I haven't seen her." She said. "I'm heading over to the Scorpion Den to sell something, would you like to come along?"
"I guess." Frute replied. It's better than being alone, he thought. Maybe I'll find Mye on the way. Please say she's okay…
"All right, then." Russet said. She pointed over to a cave, not that far away. "How about we rest for the night, then leave in the morning?"
Frute nodded. "That's fine."
Russet led the way to the cave, and Frute followed.
(Sorry for the short chapter; I don't want it to be full of useless knowledge.)