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Chapter 8: A curious encounter in the night's beginning

Are you sure the essences did not chose your being?

Wandering through a desert of sand and snow is a young dragoness, looking desperately determined in each of her steps as the icy wind blows. Bearing a great mantle and a crown of fur while her tail does its beast to hold an old lantern, Infinitegazer humbly progresses on her path before before it is time to take another break.

Once covered by the nearest fir tree, she sighs in both relief and frustration, her body settling down so close to the trunk to make sure no more snowflake will reach her. Looking down, the young nightwing can see the countless twigs mostly covered in sand, a testament of the wind's restless nature. But now is not the time to ponder about lesser matters, she thinks to herself while uncovering and gathering the mere pieces of wood.

But as she does so, the cold regains its hold over her palm despite its fierce claws, a feeling she can do little for in such a lonely place. Two painful minutes, that is what it takes to finally gather a good stack, one she does not hesitate to lit.

Are you sure you were not chosen like him?

Warmth begins to be felt by her folded and circling form, a feeling so common yet rendered priceless after almost an hour of marching through the desert that longs for the Blizzard to return. And staring into the fire, Infinitegazer is once again captivated by its green shades as well as the sparks that jump only to fade on the soil, an easy distraction to think of her home, of a peaceful place near the sea that brought her into existence like souls want to be…

Snapping out of her trance, the young dragoness decides to gaze beyond her protecting tree, straight into the merciless lands that spread to the horizon. The desert remains raw and clearly uncaring for any wanderer, but even if she can not yet look at the sky, the nightwing bearing her mantle tightly can feel this encouraging force. The Suns are with her, and it is guided by their combined light that she will accomplish her quest.

Standing up, Infinitegazer moves past the humble fire, and taking a deep breath, finally resumes her journey…

Your blessings come from the same One. Please, listen to your gifts' call and you'll know that to be true.

…

Her eyes slowing opening, the young dragoness feels quite awkward for a moment, her returning consciousness beginning to feel herself and the world around. Under a blanket that she senses is a bit too warm, the nightwing quickly learns that she is safe as none of her wounds remains exposed, but also feels a little lonely, and that is without mentioning her rather dry tongue.

Looking around, Clearsight's eyes first find the scroll she recently used, companied by a feather and a bottle of ink left at her side. Thinking about it, she knows that is not much, with was written by her being nothing more than a crude set of items to remember. But at least it is proof she can still do important things, her body hurting no more even when she moves a whole talon…

Rising her head then letting out a long yawn, the young dragoness recognizes her own room in its details, the walls of sandstone bearing no motif while she stands on a soft carpet to make herself more comfortable, the fabric soothing and protecting her wounded, scaly hide from the polished but robust stone.

Though what quickly draws her gaze are the bowls and buckets containing cream and water trouble or clean, while some humble crates seem to have herbs, pieces of cacti and even fruits, colourful ones she may have tasted before, when she was companied by an old, caring sandwing.

However, the tools that lay still on the nearest table are a widely different matter. With their diverse shapes, blunt or spiky tips yet all shining in under the light of others room and that of a lone, humble candle, Clearsight's curiosity is fully picked.

But first she shall wet her tongue, a talon being raised to reach her chosen recipient and bringing it to herself. Fortunately, that movement generated no pain despite the scars that still remains on her oiled scales, allowing the young nightwing to serenely satisfy her own need. And retrieving her snout from the water, she grows to be a little confident as her tail uncurls over the floor.

I could call for Silverhorn or another, but maybe I can check some things myself even in that state, just a moment...

Pushing her fabric slightly behind, the nightwing finally stands up though her wings remain folded, just in case some item or furniture were to be inappropriately placed, and steps to the table. Now putting her claws on a bladed tool among many, she feels a little wary at the thought of them being used on her, but quickly pushes that feeling away. And with her gaze now shifting to the crates, Clearsight leaves the table to walk in that new direction, her pace a calm and quiet one despite the blanket that hangs behind her, perfect to fit in a mostly inactive building.

"So are these to heal my body as well?" The young dragoness mutters to herself, seeking in her memories a fitting answer, however nothing is rarely that simple.

Captivated by long, spiralling leaves that she grabs yet not really, the wounded dragoness remains deep in thoughts for long minutes, her wings unfolding slightly. It is true that a few plants and their peculiar properties were taught in class when she was younger, just like her destined lover, but that alone would not be enough for her to really remember, no.

What truly marked her that day and the few that followed was how she could get glimpse of their effects with her gift, then would get visions of them being used months if not years later. However, shortly after she became the queen's most trusted seer, that preoccupation faded, so focused was she on predicting the tribe's many futures and more just as queen Vigilance demanded.

Why did I forgot about these? Even popular and respected physicians had similar ones just like the healers in our army. If only I and Vigilance…

- "Already awake?"

Snapping out of her thoughtful stance, Clearsight immediately turns to see another nightwing entering, one she struggles to recognize under such lighting, his large shadow being both fading and exaggerated.

- "I… Yes, I do feel far better despite my wounds, so your healing is working." She says, her voice naturally getting a bit nervous in tone.

"That's about the only good news I have concerning my life now…" She adds as her tail ceases to twitch.

- "Is this how you view your life now?" Replies the nightwing as he approaches the young dragoness, his gaze one of pity that ceases only the time to lit greater candles, his wings suddenly casting shadows on the simple ceiling.

That's not truly what I meant but… Wait, who are you to even be there, possibly working with these sandwings? Thinks Clearsight as she frees the plant she held to take a step back, yet that move does naught to change the older one's gaze. So partially shifting to her resting stance, the dragoness finally answers his question in the same personal tone, regret tainting her voice.

- "All my life I tried to guide our tribe to a brighter future, and while I stopped the… threat Darkstalker posed, I lost my foresight and learnt my people are still at war, guided by queen Vigilance, the one that I discovered made a big mistake." She finally admits, her gaze lacking hope as she faces her new guest who seems to focus in a slightly bizarre way.

- "I see… You are Clearsight, the royal seer that wants the best for her tribe, so it is understandable that you have little to hope after all that you have seen, and especially in your state." He says in a noticeably slower but honest voice, his gaze there but not really.

"But you should take the chance we are giving you." Adds the older nightwing with more energy as he reaches her side, only casting quick glances at the items around before settling as well, his wings being kept folded. And to top it all, his tail goes as far as circling her.

- "I can hope, but what are you planing for me? To simply heal me? To send me back in the night queendom, after I lost faith in the queen and spoke against her?" She asks in surprise then despair, her mind pulled out of the past… Before a simple, almost jarring question comes to her mind.

"Wait, what even is your name?"

- "Pardon me for not introducing myself, I am Horizonwatcher, and for now you are to stay here the time our superiors decide of what to do." Answers the dragon of jet black scales, his voice almost that of a scholar. And to his response, the younger one remains dumbfounded while he himself picks up a colourful fruit from its dedicated crate.

"But you know, you should not to worry too much for now, your mind and body are recovering after all… And you know the saying, a wounded one can not fly while one broken in spirit can not advance." Adds Horizonwatcher as he holds a pitahaya in his paw, eyes focused on it while his wings extends over her, a behaviour that quickly triggers a reaction.

- "Really, that's your philosophy? And what about your tribe? Aren't you worried of its concerning situation, the war going on?"

Hearing Clearsight's questioning in a tone so shifted it might be funny, the older male lets his talon drop as his gaze becomes serious and crossing with her own. For seconds there is only silence and a weighting atmosphere that might have pushed the young one to speak if not for his direct, considerate voice.

- "Listen, Clearsight of the nightwings, I know how you feel now, all the doubts you have in your mind, but for tonight you are in no capacity of doing anything with a shred of intensity. So calm yourself and enjoy your time instead of focusing on feelings that if followed will make your life worse."

Startled, that is how the dragoness first is as she hears his very words, before Horizonwatcher decides to turn his back, laying down the fruit and unfolding his talons to go away, his wings rubbing her covering blanket in doing so.

- "Wait, where are you going?"

- "Seeking what I need." He simply simply replies while grabbing a jar containing a great candle, one he just lit before coming back, unbothered.

- "I'm sure you got at least a new question, so you may as well ask it now."

- "Are you… a mind reader?" She asks in shame, now staring at his face to spot some silver scales under his eyes, the light of a far closer source helping her greatly.

- "I am. And before you ask, yes, the queen did took an interest in me, even from afar."

"Though we should not be led astray, my past matters little while yours may be a different case…" The older one adds while picking up the same pitahaya as before, all under her curious, disappointed eyes.

So this one really isn't motivated to speak of serious matters… Three moons, if only I still had my foresight, I could evade such wasting of time… Thinks Clearsight as she contemplates how powerless and stuck she is now, her tail even rubbing the carpet in annoyance. And looking at her tribe mate, the young dragoness feels almost bored, annoyed by his attitude as he cuts the fruit and presents it to her.

- "No thank you, I'm not hungry for now…" She says in response, expecting Horizonwatcher to be disappointed only for him to push the plate anyway.

"What?"

- "I'm placing this one here, just so you get a meal when you'll need one." Says the older nightwing, his tail twitching never far from her.

- "Horizonwatcher, do you really think a single fruit will satisfy me?"

- "No, but that's a good start. And in case you've missed, there is a whole crate full of them waiting for you." He answers with a kind of pride, his more pronounced grin making the dragoness growl internally.

- "You know what? Fine, I'll eat your fruit if that's what you want."

Not waiting for him to reply, Clearsight immediately takes hold of the plate, and from it picks an entire piece with her mouth. A move she regrets quite a bit as she is forced to also eat the some of the fruit's exterior, her face showing some kind of unpleasant reaction that Horizonwatcher sees clearly...

"Are you here to mock m-"

Putting two claws on her snout, the older one silently interrupts the dragoness' words, her eyes growing furious for a split second.

- "I'm here to watch over you and make sure you are at ease, but if you persist in walking on a futile path…"

- "Then what?" Clearsight replies to his more serious warning, pushing away the other's wing as she defiantly stares into his eyes, her claws clenching at the floor the longer she stares into his not too serious gaze from below.

- "How about you try to attack me now?"

To his cold, questioning voice, the young nightwing stays silent for a moment, facing her tribe mate with a hesitant yet firm stance. Before her talon rises then halt, her gaze softening as her wings drop.

What was I about to do? Am I losing my mind? She thinks shyly, her eyes now glancing at the floor while Horizonwatcher continues to watch her, his snout still not saying a word...

- "I… I'm sorry" The dragoness finally says, making the other blink before his gaze softens as well, a wing almost extending to reach her.

- "You don't have to say that young Clearsight, you did not even go fully with your intent to do harm, and dare I say you did far less than I expected."

- "So… what do you want, honestly?" She asks in an uncertain tone, thankful yet cautious as she evades the older one's eyes only to find the lighting of his form a bit unsettling, the candle staying on the nearest table.

- "What I want… is a good question, but what did you guessed?"

- "I don't know. I just woke up, started to investigate my own room and that's when you came to me. You're here to take care of me Horizonwatcher, right?"

- "I do, though I'm not one to know how to heal all your scars, beside using animus magic…" Really? I hope this isn't some twisted joke coming from fate...

"Still, are you sure you're not feeling some pain right now?" He asks, his eyes looking at her body's parts where the covering fabric ends, her skin still so unlike the one of a healthy nightwing.

- "…"

"No, but you should know that since you're a mind reader."

"Only an experimented and focused one can do that. But even then, it doesn't cost much to ask a question, just in case you've missed something. Even the best can make mistakes after all..." Says the older black dragon, his slightly wider eyes still watching over her form.

"May I… take off your blanket for a moment?"

What? Is my battered body somehow doing better to the point it becomes strange? I mean, it has been what, two nights since I woke up? And yet, Clearsight does not deny his demand, her tribe mate being more than careful as he uncovers most of her wounded, scaly skin...

- "So what did you find?" Finally says the young dragoness, almost envying his moon gifted power as he continues to have that scrutinizing gaze, the candle bringing a welcomed light as he gently holds it around.

- "Once again, are you sure you do not feel any pain Clearsight? Please focus on yourself and then tell me answer."

A bit suspicious, the ex seer nonetheless accepts her caretaker's request, albeit with more thoughts than one would need to succeed.

I can do that, but what is really the point? To see how bad my wounds are? I think they have gotten far more of an idea by recovering me and treating them… Thinks the young dragoness as she breathes more slowly, letting her eyes and wings and tail gently fall, not caring for what she sees.

But if it is that, then what is the reason? To see if magic somehow "contaminated" me? If that happened, then why couldn't I-

"You are not focusing enough." Whispers Horizonwatcher, making his tribe mate blink then gaze at him, her eyes slightly annoyed.

"But that's not really a bad thing, we can retry that later…" He adds, taming her more heated feelings as the dragoness takes on fully awake stance.

- "So what will you do then? A whole night is a lot and…"

"Be with you."

- "Excuse me?"

"I may not literally stay with you all the night, but you'll see me at your side quite often." Says the older nightwing as he turns to glance at what lies beyond the room, the whole place still keeping a rather quiet atmosphere.

- "I… guess I won't say no to some company. But aren't there other dragons awake in the night, like Silverhorn?"

- "She is indeed awake at that time, while nearly all others want to sleep now. And before you ask, those who do not are working."

"Though I can try to make a fellow one come to you. I can do it now if you want." Says Horizonwatcher, standing up before a wing reaches for his back.

- "Please, stay with me for now, I'm not... prepared to encounter another one, or even see Silverhorn again." Says Clearsight in a fitting tone, her gaze a pleading one as she feels tired in a way, so tired.

- "I can, but why is that? Are you feeling weak or exhausted?" The older nightwing asks in response, turning back to face the dragoness and folding his talons again.

- "Exhausted? Yes, I'm still feeling exhausted from being lost and confused and remembering what I went through… And you, why are you interested in me, as I doubt it is all because I'm the greatest seer of my time?" She admits, finally making his caretaker chuckle and finding it something to smile a little at.

- "Me? You would be surprised at how many felt pity for you as they took care of your body, though I arrived later. So if I were to give you an answer, I would say it is because us dragons do look nicer when we sleep in peace, and because you remind me of my sister, just a bit."