— Chapter 14 —

Qibli

Qibli followed Winter, the nephew of Queen Glacier, onto this hallway, he did feel bad for the small Nightwing that's being dragged down that hall, and he could imagine it did not feel good to be gripped by an Icewing like that, but there's too much at stake right now.

It hasn't even been a week since school started, and someone already got beaten down badly in a dark room that then exploded? That was making Qibli's mind race, trying to think of suspects and methods to make an explosion like that, because it was clearly a delayed explosion and both Moon and Turtle had only seen this Nightwing, so whoever the perpetrator was, they must have done something to set that up for later.

Obviously the first suspect in most cases would be the one that was already on the scene, but Qibli felt like the smaller dragon must've been a victim in this case, beating himself up like that wouldn't be easy. It could technically be to look like a victim and not be suspected, but being clearly unconscious in a room that's going to explode is far too dumb of a plan that would need assuming someone would come in and get him out beforehand.

So he looked expectantly at Winter, who finally stopped moving and placed the dragon he was dragging near a wall. Qibli didn't quite agree on an Icewing forcefully dragging someone hurt like that, but Winter wasn't moving too fast, and looking at his talons, Qibli could see the pressure he used to hold wasn't much, so at least he might be somewhat able to be mindful of others! Maybe Prince Terrible can be Prince Kindaterrible.

"There's a lot to ask right now," Winter said coldly. "So I'll get right into it, what do you know about the explosion that just happened?" Winter questioned at the Nightwing, Qibli recalled from that previous situation in the prey center that he had whimpered the name Oracle.

"I… know stuff, yes… B-Before anyone here may accuse me of something crazy like that, l-let it be known that I was trying to stop it…!" He muttered in response, clearly trying to evade Winter's eyes, makes sense, Qibli liked it when the Icewing glared at him with these eyes after he makes a witty response, but the same won't apply to everyone.

"You wanted to stop it… so you know who did it? And how did you find out?" Winter kept on questioning, and the Nightwing took in a deep breath, his gaze moving and looking at everyone for a second, Qibli took note that when he looked at Turtle, and then afterwards at Umber, his gaze had lingered for an extra second on each.

"Stop looking at everyone and just answer the question! They could be planning another attack, they could kill us! So don't stall." Winter lowered his head closer to him and gave Oracle a harsh look.

"Winter, calm down. Being a mean interrogator is an effective tactic, but depending on the dragon it works much better to ask nicely." Qibli finally spoke, giving a grin to the hurt dragonet.

"There is no time if he'll just keep looking scared and whimpering." The nephew of Queen Glacier snarled at him.

"Not true! There is always time to act nice!" Kinkajou argued, shaking her head, and Qibli could tell Winter was gritting his teeth.

"Oracle," now was Turtle the one that spoke up, looking at the black dragon. "Are you feeling okay to talk and answer? I wouldn't want you to fall unconscious again if you're too wounded."

After some seconds, the Nightwing on the ground nodded his head "I'm… not fine, everything aches a lot but, I can talk, thank you…"

Turtle gave a short nod, looking relieved

They are most likely friends, Turtle's eyes showed significant relief, and the corners of Oracle's mouth had turned, probably was about to smile at him, Qibli thought.

Oracle was clearing his throat now, and after some extra seconds of doubt, probably to word this the best he can, he began to speak.

"I-I know who did this, but it's not a pretty truth… and I will ONLY say who it was… if you all promise to not just go straight for them and attack, but that you'll try to talk and understand first…" He muttered, and his gaze stayed on Winter, looking at him thoroughly.

He's scared of Winter doing something regrettable, I assume he personally knew who did it, maybe they were a friend and he's trying to ensure they won't die at least, even though they left him to burn, I don't think "friendly" discussions should escalate like that, Qibli theorized right way.

Winter just stared down "Whoever it was, they could have killed this entire group if we went to history normally and someone didn't suddenly start running," he said looking back at Moon, who looked awkward.

"Winter, seriously, let her be, can't you go one Nightwing at a time please?" Qibli just felt the need to help Moon, she's so shy but also so pretty, and she looked mysterious too, Qibli loves mysteries because that means he gets to solve them.

The prince clearly just ignored him "So why should we just let them get a chance to run away?"

"Does context and such don't matter anymore? S-Say that I said it was your sister…" the Nightwing flinched from the cold glare he gained with that comment. "A-And it isn't but, think as if it was… you wouldn't try to at least hear her out? Is it only fine to talk if it's someone you personally know?" He retorted, and Qibli had to give him some props for getting out a response like that during these circumstances, he was able to easily tell since a while he's even more shy, nervous and awkward than Moon is, so that's a feat by itself already.

After some seconds, Queen Glacier's nephew could be heard grumbling "I hate that it does make some sense… fine, I'll try to… hear their side."

"Well if my clawmate agrees, then surely I have to agree too, no?" Qibli added, and to his satisfaction that made him receive a look from the icy prince.

"Well, I didn't want to get into any issues or fights either way." Turtle agreed.

"Yes! We can talk them down and then become friends and they won't want to place more bombs!" Kinkajou nodded.

Moon simply gave a nod.

"I think we all agree there, it just makes sense to try talking first, so can you tell us who it is?" Umber asked nicely at Oracle, who gave the Mudwing a very pained look.

Hm, first he had looked at Umber for longer, and now he gave him that look, is it someone that Umber knows? This situation might get even more tense rather soon if so.

Qibli noticed some flinching behind him, and looking back he saw Moon with a startled expression, and he was sure he saw her eyes flashing towards him for a second.

And that reaction… Did she reach the same conclusion as I did based on these cues? Quite good, she's good at reading people then, he thought nicely of her.

"..." Oracle took a deep breath, then yelped when Winter leaned his head down and in front of him.

"S… S-S… Sora."

Qibli heard a surprised gasp that must have come from Moon, but his gaze quickly went to someone else, to Umber.

He was frozen in place, eyes wide open and his expression showed absolute horror at that response.

"Sora…?" He said slowly, his tone not even able to convey the many emotions he must be feeling.

Qibli winced, that's his sister from what he heard, the Sandwing's got experience with problematic siblings, but even they didn't do stuff like bombing the Scorpion's Den! Well, probably because neither Thorn or… grandfather would let them live after pulling such a stunt.

"How… why…? You need to tell me, what happened exactly?" Umber asked in such a desperate and saddened tone, filled with worry, his feet shifting, clearly being split between just running straight to his sister and talk, and knowing what she's been actually doing.

"So hm… right after my winglet was done with music, I came over here to the history cave and…" Oracle began to tell the events, how he was the one that had turned off all the lights to get some advantages, how he told Sora to stop, although Qibli noted that if he knew the motive, the Nightwing had skipped it and just said he knew she was doing that. Then he detailed their short brawl and how he promptly got knocked down.

"L-last I heard before fully losing consciousness, she was walking to a side of the cave, probably to place the bomb…" He finished.

There was silence for some moments…

And then suddenly, Winter had brought his claws around one of the Nightwing's shoulders, making him gasp.

"Hey! Stop that!" Kinkajou complained.

"Interesting story, but there seem to be several missing details, don't you think? Like how did you even know to just run to the cave at the right time? You probably know why she did that too…" He snarled, Oracle's eyes were wide.

"Does that hm, really matter right now? Shouldn't we focus on Sora?" Surprisingly, Turtle decided to intervene.

"Not until we can actually know that this Nightwing is telling the full truth, for all we know he could be trying to give us a false lead, why should we actually just believe the first name he accuses? He's been hiding important details, who's to say he isn't hiding more?" Winter snapped.

The other dragons looked at each other, Qibli could tell Umber didn't know what to think, he obviously didn't want to believe his own family could cause that, but now that Winter had thrown some doubt into the matter, he might want to cling onto that.

"So spit out the truth already, tell us in full detail what you know about this." Winter demands with his harshest voice and face yet, Qibli wanted to pity the Nightwing, but he knew that he can't be fooled by looks, he could be planning something given how he's covering up details.

"... Hm… w-would you even erm… believe the How I know?" The bruised dragonet questioned, tilting his head.

"That depends on how outstanding your response is," was the Icewing's reply.

"..." The Nightwing was looking around desperately, and once more Qibli was able to see his eyes meeting Turtle's for just a second, the Seawing looking nervous, but one could only tell by seeing his eyes.

Is he into this whole thing too, or is he guessing what it is?" Qibli pondered quickly.

And at the back of the group, Moon was just staring forward, her expression thoughtful as she appears to be thinking of something in depth.

"... Well, you better believe because this… this right now is… the truth…!" Oracle announced, breathing heavily he slowly stood up a bit.

"I… saw it in… in the future… I know many things that can happen in this timeline…" He finally announced, and there was a silent shock within the crowd for a moment, Qibli could see Moon's eyes widening, and then…

"You're lying," Winter snapped instantaneously. "Everyone knows your tribe is actually powerless."

Seeing it in the future? Can he actually do that? How much has he seen? Is it detailed or just like glimpses? Can he look forward at any point or does it need concentration and time? Qibli's thoughts were rushing at super speed.

"WOW! You can see the future? Do you know what I am going to eat tomorrow?" Kinkajou asked, impressed, stepping closer in absolute curiosity.

"N-Noooot that specific, but I do know a lot of big details and a couple events…" He whispered.

"Prove it," Winter leered down. "Show us, tell us a prophecy, describe what's going to happen."

"I…" Oracle looked massively uncomfortable, shifting awkwardly on his talons and it looked like he would start panicking if pressured too much longer.

Why can't he say? Is he looking at the future right now? Does revealing these events now somehow make things worse? I wish Time was a less confusing topic. Qibli wonders upon seeing that.

Yet at the same time, Winter stopped, standing upright again and his mind seemed to be working out some details. Qibli heard a step being taken, and he saw Moon stepping backwards slightly.

"Maybe it is not that insane… someone else has been evading questions too," he turned quickly to Moonwatcher. "You ran all the way to the history classroom, you knew as well what was going on, and also knew someone was in the cave, did you see the future too?"

"No way…!" Kinkajou spoke up first in a shocked whisper, many of her scales turning green now.

Turtle's eyes had widened, looking back and forth between Moon and Oracle, as if he couldn't decide who to focus on.

"Two Nightwings that can see the future? How can that be?" Umber asked, clearly feeling very out of the loop, looking around at the group in confusion, trying to understand what even is happening here.

Moon can see the future too!? What has she seen? Are any other catastrophes going to strike? It's such a lucky miracle she was here, otherwise without her warnings, others could've ended up hurt, or killed…

"Nightwing." Winter talked to Moon in his usual tone. "No point in trying to lie your way out of this so tell us, did you see the explosion in some sort of vision?"

After several moments of silence, Moon looked down at her talons and nodded at him.

"Hm… so we got confirmation of a seer, so I suppose this other one could be telling the truth on how he knew this much…" Winter admitted now.

"S-So… Do you believe my story? About who did it?" Oracle asked, shaken and nervous.

Winter's cold gaze meets the Nightwing's.

"I'll need to verify it, so we are going to… talk to that transgressor," he turned toward Umber. "Any ideas of where she might be?"

Umber lowered his head, clearly a lot of thoughts were racing across his head, but after just very few seconds, he nodded, then began to walk.