Moonwatcher listened quietly as she jogged towards the library. Letting the raindrops that controlled who she wanted to hear fall away from her mind slightly. She'd gotten a lot better at controlling her mind reading the past two years. Although she still refrained from poking around other dragons' minds, unless there was a major reason too. Like now. She thought listening intently for any sign that Obsidian, or his mind at least, wasn't following after her.
She shivered at the feeling of Obsidian's mind. It was all so sharp and jagged, It felt like she was cutting herself to pieces anytime she got anywhere near his thoughts.
"Really? How, When!?" The words cut into her like shards of ice, making her stumble slightly. Talon half raised to her head before the pain subsided.
Why does he feel so fragmented? Was this caused by his Injuries? She pondered as she saw the Library entrance come into view.
Starflight turned his head towards her as she entered. His blindfold slipped slightly as he turned, and she glimpsed a hint of the burned, scarred flesh beneath. She flinched but continued to walk towards him.
"Hello Moon, How did you like "Saphira and Thorn?" he asked.
" It was very good. I really like how they made Galbatorix in the series," she replied smiling. Starflight, seeming to sense her smile, grinned back.
" I do love it when they write a good villain," his head twitched sideways. "How's your own scroll coming along?"
"Oh-er '' She hesitated slightly "Slow, but I'm making progress" Starflight nodded.
"Just let the Ink flow naturally, The best thing you can do is just get as much as you can down then revise it later."
Finishing her greeting to Starflight, she began to slowly meander her way through the rows of scrolls. Left, left, right, right, left, right, left… She repeated the directions in her head as she came around the last corner. Revealing the rest of the Jade Winglet already waiting for her. Normally they would meet in the caves, but their last meeting spot had already gotten busted by Tsunami.
"Hey, didn't know it was night already," Qibli said. She stifled a laugh as she approached. Winter rolled his eyes.
"Spare us from your drollery, Sandsnorter." he groaned, His wing still firmly wrapped to his side.
"What does Droolery mean?" Kinkajou said, her scales flashing purple.
"It's another way of saying humor," Turtle explained. Qibli gasped in mock outrage.
"Why Wintee, are you perhaps suggesting that my humor is inadequate."
"Ye-"
"Because if so, you cold-hearted Princess" Qibli interrupted his voice rising in a false falsetto." I will have to notify the queen of your impertinence."
"PRINCESS" Winter roared, lunging for the sandwing.
Idiots. She thought smiling. Kinkajou was howling with laughter as she watched the two fight. They had done this a lot, so she knew that they weren't seriously trying to hurt each other. Nevertheless... She stepped forward, but Turtle thankfully beat her to the punch. Turtle quickly jumped in between them, claws scraping against his invulnerable skin.
"C'mon guys, save the lovemaking for later."
Winter snorted, dark blue spreading across his face. "As if"
"Nice one Turtle" Qibli grinned, rising in a mock salute. "I've taught you well, Padowan."
Moon rolled her eyes. "You've been reading too much Space Dragons." She said walking over.
"Oooooo, What's Space Dragons?" Kinkajou asked, her scales returning to their vibrant Pinks and Yellows.
"Later," Turtle whispered. Moon nodded at Turtle. thank you. She seemed to say. He nodded back "No problem"
" So what d'ya bring us here for Moon?" Kinkajou asked, bouncing up and down on her talons excitedly.
Moon took a deep breath."I wanted to talk about-"
"Obsidian" Qibli cut in. "You wanted to talk about Obsidian right?"
"You've noticed it too?" she asked. Referring to how off he felt, not just mentally. But his strange reactions.
"You mean how freaky he got when me and Qibli visited Winter?" Kinkajou asked. Qibli nodded.
"He was probably just freaked out," Turtle said. "It doesn't mean he's a bad dragon."
Kinkajou must have filled him in. Moon noted. At least that saves me some time.
"Obsidian's not that bad," Winter cut in. Surprising all of them.
"I would think you of all people would be suspicious of Obsidian," Qibli said. His usual smirk wiped from his face.
Winter's eyes flashed for a moment. His mouth twitched downward before returning to his neutral expression. "It's not like I'm not suspicious of him," he growled. " But he respects my space, unlike some dragons I know." He glowered at Qibli. She was thankful that Qibli had been teaching her to read body language since she didn't like to read anyone's mind.
"I don't think we should jump to any conclusions," She explained. "It's just that some things about him are definitely not adding up." She remembered how he'd acted during the tour. Excited, yet timid. Angry, and sad. How he stared off into space, before glancing at a wall or a shelf. "Not her, not yet. Sh*. this isn't good" His mind had felt.. Different then. Like he was speaking with two voices instead of one.
"Did you notice anything in his mind?" Winter asked. She realized she'd been staring into space for a while now.
"Oh-uh yes, I did," she stammered. "His mind feels sharp and prickly, kind of like shards of glass stuck in his head. I could barely read his mind without getting stabbed.
"Like Flame's mind?" Qibli said, his eyes hardening slightly. She shivered remembering the horrible dark twisted feeling of flames mind. choking her, muffling her.
"No, he felt okay when I did manage to hear something, it's just that his mind is either really broken or really good at keeping mind readers out." she explained.
" Did you hear anything important?" Turtle queried.
She thought over the bits and pieces she did hear. "In more ways than one," she shook her head. Blushing slightly. " No, nothing conclusive."
"Did anyone notice the way he walked?" Qibli asked. They all hesitated looking at Qibli. " He walked like a dragonet." He explained."The way he shuffled his feet forward instead of lifting them."
She thought back again to the tour. How he kept stumbling and tripping. It definitely wasen't how a normal dragon walked. It was like he knew how to run and crawl at the same time.
"He could just be clumsy," Kinkajou said.
"True" Turtle sighed.
"I think we should keep an eye on him," Winter said. "He's not that bad, but if what you're saying is true. Then we should watch and see what he does."
"Do you think he might be another Icicle?" Turtle asked. Winter flinched slightly at the mention of his sister's name.
Moon shook her head. "No, but I do think we should still try to watch him"
"I agree," Qibli said
"Me too," Kinkajou said
"Me three" Turtle added
Winter just nodded, silently confirming his agreement.
…
Obsidian was falling. He fell through the mist caverns of his mind as memory fragments whipped past him, too fast to see properly. Twisting his head down, he realized he was about to fall into one. He closed his eyes preparing for Impact.
…
"Heads up Monarch. " Someone was shouting for her. She opened her eyes to see her sister barreling towards her. She yelped, trying to dodge out of the way as Mamba careened into her. Sending them both tumbling into the cold water of the Oasis. She came up spluttering, coughing out all the water she had swallowed. "You cactus brain," she cursed, diving after her laughing sister. They continued to grapple with each other beneath the water, giggling and playing as the sun dipped closer to the horizon.
Eventually, they crawled up onto the shore, their bodies spent as they gasped and coughed on the sand.
"I *Pant* *Pant* Win," She said. spitting out the words along with her spent lungs.
"No" Mamba coughed. "I do"
She tried to growl out a response but instead, she laughed. The laughter cut through her exhaustion like paper. She began to laugh more and more, she couldn't stop.
"Monarch?" she heard Mamba ask. She heard her footsteps getting closer and farther away at the same time.
I can't breathe, she thought distantly. Her body writhed in the sand as she continued to laugh. Black beginning to encroach on the edges of her vision. She howled her mirth into the dying light of the sun. Laughing and choking.
"MONARCH," Mamba screamed. She could feel her sister shaking her, shouting her name. The front door of the house burst open, and she could see her mother racing toward them, as darkness claimed her.
…
"WHAT!" He jumped as someone roared right next to him. He turned to see a dragon completely covered in shadow. Like a gaping void in the dream, he couldn't make out any of their features in the darkness. The terrain around him was also covered in shadow, the same black mist swirling around them.
"HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN" The dragon wailed again.
He tried to cover his ears, run, move, do something. But he couldn't. He was once again shoved into the background. Forced to watch the vision playing out in front of him.
"YOU PROMISED, KNOWING THEY WOULD DIE" The void growled, staring up at another figure.
Looking up, chills shot down his spine as he beheld the figure in front of him. A Sandwing sat calmly on a giant throne. Inlaid with gems and bones. The dragon wore a black cape, also inlined with gold. His entire body was covered in black dragon skull tattoos, covering almost all of his pale yellow scales. "Vulture," he remembered.
Vulture's onyx black eyes glittered menacingly, he felt himself sinking deeper into those lifeless eyes as he stared at them. Like small dark black holes, glittering with mallice.
"Casualties are necessary for the bigger picture of our goals dear. —-" Vulture purred.
It felt like someone was pouring freezing water down his neck just listening to him.
"But-" The dragon next to him tried to protest.
"It was just a few worthless criminals." Vulture reasoned. His voice is catering and soothing. "It is tragic but in the face of the bigger picture necessary."" It's not my fault, they decided to try to kill them instead of capture them."
"You still could have sent someone else, someone who knew what they were doing." The void argued, her voice dropping in intensity.
"Well, I did send that one sandwing. She's been a part of my group for years, and never failed an assignment I gave her until now," Vulture explained.
" So you could say that it was a test. To make sure your own promises were up to code with my expectations."
"That's not helping" The voice growled next to her- him. He reminded himself. That dream messed with me more than I thought.
"Well if it's any consolation, one of them did survive…" Vulture said. grabbing a small ring he began to twirl it slowly in his hand. Shifting from one talon to another.
"I've sent some of my eyes and ears to follow them, They will report back to us soon" Obsidian's eyes widened. Not him, not him, not him. His mind muttered. Over and over as he stared up at the dark, pale sandwing.
The dragon next to him hesitated.
"Fine" its shadowed head turned away from the underworld leader.
"Just try not to kill too many people this time," she growled as she walked out.
He noticed that their dark features were beginning to lighten. He quickly tried to follow but was still rooted in place. The dragon walked out of the room and out of sight.
Vulture's eyes glittered above him. His dragon tattoos all seemed to stare at him as Vulture stared after the figure. He smiled, but the smile never reached his eyes. "Promises upon Promises." he muttered softly, " You don't really expect me to keep all of them, J-"
…
He was falling again. This time lurching upward like a speeding rocket shot into space. The dark mist swirled faster and faster around him, propelling him even further into the darkness. He saw shards of glass begin to fall past him. A giant piece hurtled at him from the darkness. He tried to move, to turn, but the shard sliced into his wing. Tearing through it like paper. He roared, more tiny shards tearing into his chest, his talons. A giant wall of broken glass rushed to meet him. He wailed as he slammed into it. And he could have sworn he heard someone else scream with him as his bones shattered, his muscles tore, and every atom in his body screamed…
...