The Hescombe shopping centre was packed, and Connie, Aneena and Jane had to wrestle past the crowds flowing in all directions. It wasn't surprising, as Christmas was only a week away, and it was the only time the group had to finish their present shopping. Connie hadn't been keen to come along, given what happened at the Masterson's, but Evelyn had insisted she do something to keep her mind occupied. So here she was, weaving between the throngs and searched for a particular jewellery shop on the ground floor.
"That's the place!" Aneena called, pointing to the large glass displays on the shop in the corner. A sign above proclaimed it as 'Goldsmith Jewellers'. "I was going to get Mum a ring, but I wasn't sure which one to choose…"
"We can help there," Jane said. "Lead the way."
Connie followed her two friends to the displays, where they paused at the front one. Connie placed a hand on the glass, admiring the beautiful necklaces and bracelets. She'd already bought most of her gifts, although there was one present she had yet to find for a certain companion to pegasi…
Her eyes drifted to the men's display, and at once her gaze locked onto a set of cufflinks. They'd been made into the shape of rearing horses. Connie felt her eyes prickle, but she forced the tears back. Col would have loved those. Yet with the way things were going, she knew she'd be lucky to ever see him again, let alone give him a Christmas gift.
"Here, look." Aneena tapped at the row of rings on display. "I like the amethyst one, but the sapphire's nice, too. They're all so pretty!"
"The emerald one is beautiful," Jane breathed, her breath misting the glass. "What do you think, Connie?"
Connie didn't answer, still focused on the cufflinks.
"Aw, is something else on your mind, Connie?" Aneena teased, jabbing Connie in the ribs. Connie blinked.
"Huh? Oh, sorry," she said, her cheeks flushing. "Which ring did you want me to check out?"
"Never mind that, I see the look in your eye," Aneena smirked. "You can't be missing Col already, he's not even been gone two days!"
"O-Of course not," Connie shot back, trying not to show how close to the truth her friend was. "I was just, er, looking for some inspiration on what to get him for Christmas."
"Sure," Aneena said. "Where's he's gone, anyway?"
"Visiting his mother in Wales," Connie said quickly; it was the easiest explanation, and would be the least open to questioning.
"You must be jealous," Jane added, smiling. "Weren't you hoping to have him all to yourself for the holidays?"
"There's nothing wrong with having a break now and then," Connie answered—she wanted to get off this topic of conversation, before her heart reached bursting point. "Don't they say absence makes the heart grow fonder?"
"Doesn't mean it's true," Aneena laughed. "Alright, we'll let you off, Connie. So, as I was saying, should I go for the amethyst or the emerald?"
"Well, has your mum got more purple or green outfits?"
"Ah, good point…"
Eventually Aneena decided on the emerald ring. As she went inside to pay, Connie glanced to the men's display again. The cufflinks stared back at her, and she turned away. How could she even think about things like this, when everything was so up in the air? Col's last words echoed back to her, and she shuddered.
I won't hold back. You shouldn't, either…
"All done!" Aneena re-appeared, holding up a small gift bag tied with ribbon. "Did you see anything you like?"
Connie shrugged.
"These are all a bit out of my price range," she admitted, sliding her hands into her pockets.
"Those cufflinks aren't that bad," Jane said. "I saw you looking at them. Col likes horses, doesn't he? I bet he'd love those."
Connie swallowed back the lump in her throat.
"Maybe next time," she said. "I don't think I brought enough money, anyway." Please, talk about something else…
"Alright, that's me done," Aneena said. "How about a quick coffee before we get the bus?"
The thought of a hot drink on such a freezing day sounded good, so Connie followed her friends towards the small café at the other end of the shopping centre. As expected, there was a long line, but it moved quickly, and the scent of coffee and hot chocolate made Connie's mouth water.
The moment Aneena stepped to the counter, however, rushed steps caught Connie's attention, and she looked back.
"There…you…are!" Rat had appeared in his red coat, puffing. He caught his breath and stood tall, before he grasped Connie's hand. "I've spent ages looking for you. You need to come home with me right now."
"What?" Connie raised a brow. "Why?"
"Family emergency," Rat said, already tugging her out of the line. "I'll explain on the way."
"Okay." Connie turned to Jane; Aneena was still at the counter. "Sorry Jane, tell Aneena I have to go. We'll catch up later."
"Sure." Jane nodded.
With a parting wave to her friend, Connie followed Rat through the shopping centre and back into the high street. Rat was practically running to the main road, and Connie had to jog to keep up. Whatever had happened must have been serious if he was being so tight lipped about it.
Once at the roadside, Connie was surprised to see Evelyn waiting in her Citroen. She rolled the passenger window down and beckoned with her hand.
"About time!" she scoffed. "Get in."
Connie jumped into the front passenger seat, and Rat climbed in the back. Before she could buckle her seatbelt, Evelyn put her foot to the floor and raced off.
"Whoa,what's going on?" Connie asked, fumbling with her seatbelt.
"It's Argot," Evelyn said, driving faster than the speed limit allowed. Her face was tight. "His family's been attacked by a group of wild pegasi."
"What?!" Connie sat bolt upright. "Are they alright?"
"I don't know, but Dr. Brock is just about to head over to see them," Evelyn said. "He wanted you to come along and help."
"Right." Connie sank back in her seat. She couldn't believe this. "But what about my link to Skylark?"
"Dr. Brock will take you to see him right after," Evelyn said. "It should be fine. Just give me a ring when Dr. Brock brings you back."
The rest of the drive was quiet. The roads narrowed, and they entered the suburbs. Connie had never visited Dr. Brock's house before, so she wasn't sure what to look out for. However, as they turned into a narrow close, she quickly spotted him on his drive, dressed in his motorcycle gear. Evelyn parked on the opposite side, and everyone got out.
"Hello everyone," Dr. Brock raised his hand in greeting. "Thank you for coming here so fast." His eyes fell to Connie. "Connie, I trust you've heard the news?"
"Yes, and I'm so sorry," Connie said.
"It isn't your fault," Dr. Brock consoled. "The best we can do now is see to the dragons' injuries." He gestured to the packs loaded onto the motorcycle. "Sean, I'd be grateful if you could assist as well."
Rat cringed at the use of his real name, but nodded nonetheless.
"Do you want me to get any more help?" Evelyn asked.
"We should be fine," Dr. Brock said. "We don't want to draw too much attention to the area." He rubbed his chin. "A pity Windfoal isn't around, but hopefully Argot and his family are not too badly hurt."
Sighing, Connie got into the motorcycle sidecar, taking the red helmet off the seat, while Dr. Brock offered blue one to Rat. Once he'd strapped it on, Rat mounted up behind Dr. Brock. The engine rumbled into life, and then they were back on the road, heading towards the western cliffs. It was too noisy for conversation, so Connie gripped the sidecar, tense. She knew the wild pegasi attacks had become more frequent, but this was too much. She hoped Argand and her family were alright.
Eventually they stopped at a viewpoint that overlooked the bay. With the grey clouds and mist, it was a pretty miserable sight, but Connie ignored it as she picked up a pack from the motorbike. The dragons needed her.
"It's a two mile walk from here, I'm afraid," Dr. Brock said. "Argot lives in a series of caves inside the cliffs, and the path can be troublesome. Just follow me, and take care of the loose rock."
Nodding, Connie and Rat sauntered behind him onto the country path. The hard dirt turned to uneven stone, and soon they were climbing the narrow natural steps around the cliff. The ground was damp, and some areas were slick with puddles, so they took their time.
Connie's foot almost skidded on a slick rock, so she gripped the cliff wall to steady herself. She could sense the stone sprites within, lethargic from the cold. They spiralled to the warmth of her hand, drawing it away, and Connie had to let go before her fingers turned numb. It seemed the dragons weren't the only ones who had made their home here.
Finally the cliffs parted, revealing a series of sheltered caves and jagged rocks. At once Connie felt Argand's presence, her delight at seeing her companion mixed with the pain of her injuries.
"Argand, we're here!" Connie called. Crouching low, she scuttled down the narrow cliff face, skidding over the loose rocks, until she came to the centre of the caves. She looked around, but she couldn't see any sign of the dragons.
"They're in the caves," Dr. Brock said; he must have been communicating with his companion. "Argot is the worst hurt, we should tend to him first."
As they set off towards the nearest cave, Connie spotted Argand limp out. Her left wing sported a nasty tear, and it was caked in old blood. A silver dragon slightly larger than she was emerged behind her, and his front leg was at a crooked angle.
"Companion!" Argand limped forward, and brushed her head against Connie's shoulder. Connie felt warmth flow from her, banishing the chilly air. "I am so glad you have come."
"What happened?" Connie asked, checking the tear on the dragon's wing. "Who did this?"
The silver dragon snorted angrily.
"Those barbaric pegasi!" he rumbled, his eyes flaring. "Unprovoked they entered our home, kicking and biting, catching us off guard. Argand and I fought them, but then they injured Father…"
Connie blinked. Father? Did this mean Argand had a brother?
"Please see Father first," Argand pleaded. "They broke his tail and hurt his face, and he still bleeds."
Connie nodded, sliding the pack off her shoulder. She was relieved the damage was less than expected, yet she remained angry it had even happened. She knew exactly why Col had targeted Argot's family, and she clenched her fist. Stormbolt was going too far…
"So, what'd they say?" Rat asked, perched on a wet rock, his pack in his hands.
"The pegasi attacked them out of the blue," Connie explained. "Argand and her brother fought them off, but they've badly hurt Argot."
"Connie!" Dr. Brock's voice echoed from the nearside cave, where Argot was sitting. "I need the medical supplies in your pack."
Nodding at Rat, the two hurried to Dr. Brock, who was sitting beside Argot. Connie's heart broke when she saw him. The proud dragon was lying in a heap, his right wing twisted out of shape. Chunks were missing from his tail, and a deep score lined his face, just missing his eye. She could even feel his physical pain, and tears misted in her eyes.
"Oh no…"
"It's alright," Dr. Brock said. "These will heal, but we need to control his pain first."
Forcing back her tears, Connie fished in her pack, producing bandages and antiseptics. Dr. Brock took them, and carefully cleaned and dressed each injury. Connie felt Argot flinch when the dressings were applied, and she bit her lip. So much needless suffering, and all because of her…
Once Dr. Brock was done, he turned his attention to Argand. Argand sat at his feet, and he studied the tear in her wing. Rummaging in Rat's pack, he brought out some sutures and a needle.
"You won't be able to fly for some days," Dr. Brock said, stitching up the tear. "You must rest and let it heal."
Argand bared her fangs, but said nothing. When Dr. Brock finished, she settled beside Connie, resting her head in her lap.
"Why did the pegasi do this?" she asked, her eyes heavy with sorrow. "We have done nothing against them. I thought they were our friends."
Connie sighed, stroking her dragon companion's neck. She knew too well the reason the pegasi had attacked, but she wasn't sure she wanted to share it.
"It was a provocation, wasn't it?" Dr. Brock looked at Connie, his eyes sincere. Connie lowered her gaze.
"What does he mean, Connie?" Rat asked.
Connie let out a slow breath.
"He means that Col did this on purpose to get to me," she said. "He knows Argand is my companion, so if he hurt her, I'd seek him out for revenge. He wants to fight me."
Rat snarled.
"How could he…" His slammed his fist against his thigh. "This Stormbolt needs to go, now!"
"I could not agree more," Dr. Brock said, as he splinted the silver dragon's leg. "But he is so very dangerous, more so because of how little we know about him."
"He must be destroyed!" Argand's brother roared. He glared at Connie pleadingly. "Universal, take me when next you meet with this vile creature, and I swear I shall incinerate him from the heavens with my own breath!"
"Haemator, calm yourself." Argot lifted his head from where he was resting. Although he looked weary, his eyes revealed his fresh resolve. "I will not have us stoop to their level of cruelty."
"They will only attack again, Father!" Argand protested. "And now we are not at full strength, who knows how far they will go the next time…"
"They need to be taught a lesson!" Haemator added.
"That lesson is not for you to give," Argot answered sharply. He turned towards Connie, resting his head on the ground again. "Universal, I beg of you, no matter the hurt this has caused your heart, do not seek revenge for us."
"I wasn't planning to," Connie replied truthfully.
"But you're going to have to face Col, right?" Rat asked.
"Connie will do no such thing," Dr. Brock broke in. Connie met his gaze, knowing full well he'd have read her mind. She did want to go after Col, but not for revenge, as Argot feared. She wanted him to realise what he was doing, as she knew he'd never attack innocent creatures. Yet even if she did confront him, how was she going to get through to him? He'd made his feelings clear back at the Masterson's. He was going to prove his superiority to her, to all the mythical creatures, and he wasn't shy of hurting whoever he needed to in order to prove himself.
"We can't let this keep happening," Connie said at last. "Col wants to face me, to prove he's stronger, and he'll only keep trying to provoke me. If I stay hidden, he could do something even worse than this."
"You can't face him alone, Connie," Dr. Brock protested.
"So I'll just sit around and let him attack Sentinel, or anyone else close to me?" Connie challenged. Her frustration got the better of her, and she stood up, her arms shaking. "Someone has to stand up to him!"
"Connie, it's not that I doubt your strength," Dr. Brock said. "But meeting an open challenge issued by Col is only going to work in his favour. He is trying to play your emotions against you. The key to freeing him is not through fighting."
Connie opened her mouth to retort, when Argot bellowed. Even Argand and Haemator cowered at the sound.
"Listen to your elder, Universal," Argot said. "You cannot defeat an enemy when you have so little knowledge of him, and least of all when such pain and rage boil in your heart."
Connie held her head in her hands, and sank against the rocks.
"So what should I do?" she murmured. "I don't know how to reach Col, and I've tried looking for more information about Stormbolt, and there isn't any!"
"Maybe we've just not looked in the right area," Dr. Brock said. "The legend you told us about mentioned your ancestor, Helena. Perhaps if we looked for records about her, we could find a clue."
Connie closed her eyes. She didn't like being forced to watch those she cared about get hurt for her sake, but deep down she knew Dr. Brock and Argot were right. If she wanted Col back, she couldn't do it through force. It would only make him more eager to fight back. She had to find another way to get him out of Stormbolt's clutches.
"I guess that's the best we can do for now," she conceded. "I'll go back to the universal reading room tomorrow, see if I can find anything else."
"That's the spirit," Dr. Brock said.
Argand nuzzled Connie's shoulder.
"You can do it," she said.
"You must," Argot corrected. "For the sake of your friend, his companion, and all of us."