~Darkstalker
Darkstalker counted the number of talons that thumped outside of the cave. Three. The queen would have at least four guards with her; it must be Clearsight and Fathom. He sighed. And Indigo.
He had been thinking of a way to explain what he did to her. It was to make Fathom happy? So then his brain stopped worrying? And if Fathom had his scroll, then he most likely knew about the enchantment on the cup he gave him. Oops. Darkstalker had so much to explain to his friend that he wouldn't be surprised if Fathom couldn't take it and gave up on him. He wouldn't, though, would he? Darkstalker tried to check. His foresight wasn't the best, but nor was it the worst…and from what he saw, he was lucky Fathom was his friend.
"Who's to say this isn't a trick?" Darkstalker heard Indigo's voice, and grimaced. She would be the only reason why Fathom would leave.
"I've checked, it's not." Clearsight's voice said. In the moonlight, Darkstalker saw flashes of what must be Indigo's scales, trying to tell Fathom something that she didn't want Clearsight or Darkstalker to know. "At least not yet. There are some terribly clear futures where he uses this against us, but there are others where he listens and doesn't become the oppressor of over half of the tribes."
"But there are still some where he can be." Indigo pointed out. "Fathom, agree with me and let's go. I don't want to share a cave near the dragon who trapped me in a wooden carving." Her voice felt like a RainWing's acid venom to Darkstalker's heart. He never liked Indigo—she was always watching him—but it still hurt. He could be trusted. He just needed someone who did trust him to guide him.
"Even if it is a trick," Fathom said. "And I don't think it is, I at least want to be the first dragon to be killed. Not only do I never want to live through another massacre again, I'm also the one who would've started it. It was my spell. I already disobeyed my queen. I can at least try to do what I came to do." Darkstalker heard talon steps come closer to the cave, and he saw the two figures of his best and, now, only friends. Indigo followed them, grumbling both in her thoughts and somewhat audibly.
"What can I say to convince you that I'm not evil?" Darkstalker asked. He noticed that his scroll sat in Fathom's talons, and he watched as he took Clearsight's key and added it to the box with her bracelet in it.
When Clearsight, Fathom, and Indigo all sat down, Fathom spoke. "Tell me why, Darkstalker. Tell me why you trapped Indigo." His voice seemed hurt and generally curious, but his thoughts reflected a little bit of anger, which was something that scared Darkstalker a little.
"I was just trying to make you happier." Darkstalker confessed. "I can tell from your thoughts and by instinct that you read my scroll. I'm sorry. I thought that if Indigo was out of the picture, then you'd be happier and stop worrying so much. I mean, it didn't work, but still. I knew that you'd do whatever Indigo said, and you still will. All I can say, is that I'm truly sorry and I hope you understand."
"Nice speech." Indigo muttered. "But I don't buy it. Fathom, let's go. I was right before; he still can't be trusted."
"Until he shows signs of insanity, I'm staying." Fathom said firmly.
"Albatross didn't show signs of insanity. He just clicked." Indigo argued. "It could be the same for him. I don't trust anything this lying dragon says or does."
"Then leave." Fathom suggested. Darkstalker couldn't believe it, and from Clearsight's face neither could she. Fathom must either be really annoyed or stressed to snap at Indigo, of all dragons. Briefly, Darkstalker wondered if he stumbled into something more than just another timeline. But he shook off the thought as Indigo stood up and headed towards the entrance.
"I'm going to guard this cave. Just in case." She said gruffly.
Fathom looked like he was about to apologize, then Darkstalker stopped him. "Don't." He said. "It's better to explain when it's just us."
"Darkstalker…" Clearsight began.
"Shush, my love." Darkstalker said. "You start far too many sentences with my name. But, please continue."
"Darkstalker, you need to be careful." Clearsight said. "The queen—she could be trying to find a way to kill you. No matter how much horrible futures there are, I don't want you to die."
"I would also prefer not to see any of you die." Fathom said. "I've watched my own grandfather kill most of my family, I don't want to watch anyone else I love get killed either." There was a hidden layer of pain there, followed by Fathom momentarily living the moment his grandfather's life ended. Darkstalker tried to stop looking into his friend's thoughts, both Clearsight and Fathom's, but not fast enough that he couldn't see the spear thrust through Fathom's grandfather's heart.
"Trust me, I won't go insane." Darkstalker said. "I'm better than Arctic and Albatross. My soul can be trusted. I can be trusted, especially by you two. I thought of the best way to protect my soul. Give me my scroll."