Moonbeam: A Timeline series companion

chapter 13 - deleted scenes

I like this scene but this chapter is WAY too long lol, and there's another one that's pretty similar to it at the end.

"You okay?" Darkstalker rests a talon on my back.

I laugh a little. "Uh... take a wild guess, dear."

We're quiet for a long time.

"I know what you're thinking," Darkstalker says after a moment, interlacing his talon with mine.

"Oh?" I raise my eyebrows.

"You're thinking you're a bad dragon. Or that this is your fault. Or that it's your job to fix everyone and take responsibility for their actions..."

I laugh. "You're, uh, you're not wrong about that."

"It's not your fault, Clearsight. This is not something you did wrong, this is just the legacy Queen Vigilance left behind, and--and just because it's hard doesn't mean we're going to give up. Even though I know it feels impossible. We're gonna make it better."

"I'm really tired," I say quietly. "I just--sometimes, honestly, I don't even want to get out of bed because it all just feels so insurmountable, and hopeless, and--"

"I know. Me too, honey."

***

This scene was really funny (or I thought it was anyway) but also kind of extraneous and unnecessary.

"I know it's off-topic," Ocelot says before we can really start talking. "And three years late, but. I got you a card. Since you had more dragonets!" She hands us a card with a smiling yellow sun and various colourful birds on it. It reads: Congratulations on your little one. I smile despite myself, opening it.

I know this is late, but congratulations on your three little bundles of joy! You two seem like such wonderful parents, and we wish you all the best.

Love, Ocelot and Anaconda

"Thank you." Darkstalker laughs a little. "Um. I..guess?"

"You need to let me know next time you have dragonets! Or... is there gonna be a next time? I read somewhere you said you wanted a big family."

"Oh. Uh..." I laugh nervously, glancing at my husband. "I mean, originally we were thinking six, but I don't know, obviously there's a lot going on right now, and we haven't really talked about it."

A flurry of little faces flash through my mind. I force myself to push them aside for now—and focus on what's really happening.

"I mean, yeah," Darkstalker stammers. "Obviously, uh, we didn't quite picture starting a family like this, and things are really crazy, and I mean... I don't think I'd want to have another dragonet until the continent is at peace again, and even then I'd still worry, given what happened with Shadowhunter where the war started back up again—"

Anaconda sighs, burying her face in her talons. "This is nauseating."

Ocelot sighs. "All right. Annie just doesn't know how to make small talk, don't mind her."