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Chapter 1: A calm rising of events

Settled in the crude walls of an outpost, the stones shielding the interior from most of the sun's light, is a dragoness facing a desk. Wearing black bands on her talons and holding an inked feather, she is not one to show how tiring today could be. And with a gaze scrutinizing the many scrolls of importance, the others can doubt little of her will to work, if they ever did.

But soon the routine comes to an end as a rather young sandwing shows himself, the wind almost coming into the room as he enters in haste.

- "Miss Drytongue, we have not spotted any skywings nor any other dragon during our flight but… What we have seen, you must see it as well and report it!"

With the other sandwings glancing at the newcomer like he has lost a part of his mind, the leading dragoness is one to subtly react. Her claws freezing over the scroll she was writing over, she only raises her snout slightly.

- "And what is that oddity to be worth such attention on our part Dryspine?" She says in firm yet serene tone, her black eyes still refusing to stare at him, but not by ill intent.

The sounds of his breathing getting a tad more obvious, the guest finally decides to take off his satchel. And now feeling a bit more relieved, he gathers his thoughts for a short moment before answering.

- "Cracks have appeared on Agate mountain, most likely due to the recent earthquake… But that alone would not explain the dim yet surreal glow tainting its lands and the clouds, nor the unsettling feelings it provides. Me and my team don't doubt of it anymore, magic is involved there."

Blinking like everyone else, Drytongue can only stares into the speaker's eyes as she speaks in return.

- "Are you sure it was not exhaustion playing with your mind? Agate mountain is still more than five hours of flight away after all... And what are your scouts doing now?"

- "That was not a mirage nor any kind of illusion. My dragons were mostly fine and Keenfang always kept himself in better shape as we didn't run short on food nor water supplies. And right now, they are exploring the collapsed area and taking notes from it."

Putting the feather back in the bottle, the leading dragoness finally stands up, her wings getting almost too large for her space. And taking a disciplined stance, it is without looking at another and after taking a satchel that she marches toward some crates.

- "I suppose you are letting me no choice. I will come with you Dryspine, and you will guide me to that most important place your team has spotted..."

Coming out of the rather simple building, the trusted sandwing waits for a minutes as his leader prepares herself. But when she leaves with a filled satchel and a determined face, he is quick to ascend in the sky. And once there, he can only do his best to join the rest of his team as the weather remains rather calm…

…

Flying close to the edge between the earth and the sea, with the wilder green of the Rainforest in sight if remaining far away, the pair of seawings finally starts their descent. And with Indigo leading the way as she always does for him, it is after a while that the two reach the beach, landing on a spot not so distinct from others, but close enough to the territory where rainwings live.

- "This is it Fathom, few will go that far to reach us. And even if they did, the time it would take them would be enough for us to prepare ourselves and act." She says with a voice of authority, almost like a tactician while the prince catches his breath.

Instantly turning back to face her green partner, the seawing dragoness waits not to grab his satchel. And in a firm manner becoming gentle, she takes it off from his warmer scales.

"You can settle and rest my love, our journey is over."

- "T-Thank you once again Indigo for watching over me, but I'm not yet exhausted enough to take a rest." He says as his body relaxes further but still stands with some pride.

Grinning at his response, the purple one simply turns away. Her eyes now staring at the beach and beyond, it is still not the time for her to wonder about the ocean as she simply walks over the sand. And reaching a palm tree, with her partner mostly watching as he catches up to her, her plan is all but complex.

- "So how about I get us some palm leaves? Surely they will make for a nice shelter if we are to pass the whole night here…" She says while climbing over the thick trunk of the tree, her claws firmly plunged in its flesh.

- "Yes, but I doubt this place is good enough for us to settle permanently… And slow down a bit, you're going to be hurt and fall if you continue like that, especially with that satchel still on you!"

Snorting at Fathom's words, the dragoness seems to do the exact opposite… Until the tree shaking and tilting at her fierce presence is cut from some of its leaves. Immediately, the purple seawing jumps with her reward, a move the makes her lover blink.

- "Indigo, your recklessness scares me…"

- "Yes, but it pays. When you are a royal guard, time may be what matters the most if you haven't realized yet, so taking some risks is often worth it." She says with quite some pride, an attitude that momentarily makes the prince lose faith in her...

…

Walking through the streets he thinks are the less crowded, fate seemingly becoming a tad merciful at the moment, Thoughtful and his partner heads for her house. But getting a better sight of the desired place, the pair now minutes away from it, their will fades. Dragons none of them know are roaming around while one guards the main entrance, a sight that makes them forget what happens just around...

- "Our bastion of memories, chained by the presence of foreign ones, eyes of the night crown. No, no… why do the moons have given us their lasting wrath?!"

Sighing at the situation utterly defeating their plan, Whiteout's companion never forgets to remind her of his presence. And using of a wing to cover her back, he makes sure she still stands as much as she can.

- "I can only imagine the sorrow you must feel… But staying here will bring us nothing good. Follow me, I know of a familiar place untouched by the queen's servant, one where you will have a bit of time and space for yourself."

- "Be careful still, the shadow of ice is blowing over the city while the leading horns of silver go unrestrained..."

Coursing back through the city of night, Thoughtful is one to care little about anything else than his dragoness, the situation being too dire. But even if he can ignore most of the ones populating the ways and their bothersome aspects, a nightwing decides his behaviour shall be challenged.

- "Halt there citizens! Why are you almost running like that, don't you realize you could do worse than bump into someone?" Says the armoured nightwing, her spear held with no hostility yet blocking the path.

Blinking, the young nightwing takes a step back before answering, a tinge of doubt colouring his voice.

- "We are returning home. Excuse our way of doing it, but we better arrive as soon as we can."

Hearing the answer, the armoured dragoness slowly rotates her weapon. Her opposing stance falling to the point Whiteout and her partner could pass, if not for a paw being risen.

"That gaze… What have you seen that made you that way young dragoness?"

- "She has seen..."

- "My brother… The lands were torn apart in the cold, and he fell into the growing hole further and further… Can you get the colours Nighttalon, even if your spirit could bend at the sight of them?"

Doubtful of what she heard, the guard casts a glance at the speaker's companion. But seeing how he shows no sign of denying her words, Nighttalon responds with something else after a thoughtful moment.

- "Since I know too little of your story, admitting no judgement is the wiser way. But before you go, you should be warned of the queen's desperation. You may not be close to the crown, but even someone like me could be used to further a plan unworthy of our tribe. And one reminding others of the icewing tribe has yet to be welcomed here."

- "Well… I thank you for that. But why…"

- "I give you a shade of yellow as well, but now we have go to the shelter. Pyrrhia won't wait for us when the skies roar and give shards of ice."

Surprised by the hybrid's sudden drive to leave, Thoughtful nonetheless follows her. With the armoured dragoness now thinking in solitude, the dragoness of night and snow leads the way with determination…

...

It has been for almost three hours the two sandwings have been flying, the landscape getting progressively more mountainous. But while the sky is clear and the wind fresh, bringing a tiny bit of the sea into the flyers' snout, that does not mean fatigue can not strike them. And that is a detail Drytongue never let to be.

Giving the right gaze to her leading acolyte, it is without words that the pair begins a slow descent as they remain far from destination. Of course, Dryspine is not too happy about that decision, but the other quickly gives an explanation far more fitting than silence.

- "Dryspine, I admire your tenacity, but taking a break at the right time is also needed for success. And before you protest, I must remind you that time is not lacking for our side."

- "…"

"You are right, I will follow you instead for that part."

With a faint grin on her snout, the dragoness and her companion continue on their new way, until more than a few minutes later, they dance over the grassy ground before landing. Now standing on a more comfortable soil and its vegetation, each sandwing settles down. With the dragoness letting herself be relieved, her companion remains standing, casting a kind of questioning glance.

- "You can take off your satchel, we are staying here for a while." She says as she takes off her own, her wide and relaxed movements done without restrain.

- "You are right miss Drytongue… But I am certain we won't sleep there."

- "No, but we can close our eyes for a time if we need to. Your members can work fine without you, right?"

A bit surprised by the question, Dryspine nonetheless answers, even if there is some doubt in his voice.

- "They can do fine, but the faster we join them, the better."

- "Speed is important but not the only criteria. And take this while I'm at it…" The dragoness replies before offering her gourd to the other.

Hesitating for a second, the younger sandwing politely takes the item and starts drinking from it, but not too much…

- "So what are you expecting miss? So we don't have to manage your surprised self."

- "A good think to ask for someone who does not know me enough."

Halting his every movements for a second, Dryspine thinks deeply under the watch of his superior. Before replying in his most serious yet respectful voice.

- "So you have some experience with magic? Or maybe you are knowledgeable about it?"

Giving back the gourd, the sandwing takes the time to resettle properly before continuing in the same tone.

- "I know this may be beyond my rank to ask, but for the good of everyone I demand you answer honestly. What is your relationship with animus magic in general?"

Putting back her item in the satchel, it is after that act Drytongue stares once again into the other's eyes.

- "Roughly the same as all high ranking dragons of our organization. The knowledge about the magical artefacts in our possession as well as those our intel could gather about all tribes."

- "I see… And if I may, what is your opinion on magic and its wielders? Are you afraid of how Darkstalker is becoming a greater threat to his enemies?"

- "When you or at least your colleagues deal with varying degrees of closeness to such a concerning thing as magic, as well as others... You better learn to keep yourself calm and with enough of a mind to think efficiently. Or at least call upon the ones fit for the task when you can."

Standing up, it after turning her gaze to face the horizon that the leading sandwing resumes her response.

- "One day I should tell you of my curious experiences… But right now, know that I won't step back nor be indecisive. If what you told me of is as impressive as you think, then I shall gladly report it in details to Dryseed himself..."