𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙

Chapter 23

     Eclipse and Sapphire woke the next morning, sun streaming warmly in through the gold-tinted window. They laid there for a few moments, both of them not wanting to move from the soft down bed and each others' comfortable warmth.

     They eventually got up and met the others outside of the apartment.

     "So, we still gonna leave?" Rodin asked.

     "It's really nice here... what if we just stayed with Pacree Sky?" Brooke mused as she turned into her Drolgon form.

     "I would rather not live on the same continent as my family," Rowan muttered, glaring at her talons.

     "That's fair." Ruby touched her wing comfortingly to Rowan's. "Plus, we all already have homes on Pyræla. And I don't think we should split up, after all that we've done together."

     "Alright, then." Starspeaker looked around at the group. "Shall we leave today?"

     Everyone nodded.

     "I have to go say goodbye to everyone, though," Eclipse said.

     "I'll go, too," Sapphire put in.

     "'Kay." Hailee nodded. "We'll be waitin' fer ya in the entrance room."

     Eclipse and Sapphire trotted down the hallway and into the palace to the throne room. HavenFlight, SkyChaser, Solar, and Ragged were chatting there. They turned as Eclipse and Sapphire entered the room.

     "We just wanted to let you know that we're leaving to go back to Pyræla," Eclipse informed them.

     "Alright," Solar said as she beckoned them over to her and began to head to the meal room with Ragged, SkyChaser, and HavenFlight a couple steps behind her. "Most of the Pacree is eating breakfast, so you should say goodbye to them there."

     Once they arrived in the room, HavenFlight called for everyone's attention.

     "Eclipse and Sapphire have chosen to go back to Pyræla today," he announced.

     Everyone understood, and began to say their farewells.

     RoseWish, Peregrine, Meadowlark, and DarkFlight all gave Eclipse and Sapphire hugs.

     "Good luck on your journey, young ones," Breezy and SunnyHeart murmured to Eclipse and Sapphire as they nuzzled them affectionately.

     "It makes me so happy to see that you two are finally together." SkyChaser smiled with Solar at his side.

     "Yeah, same for you two!" Eclipse snorted, and Sapphire giggled.

     Solar and SkyChaser simply twined tails.

     "I can see how much you've grown in spirit," SpringShine murmured to Eclipse. "Every time I look at you and remember the small Drolgonet who was determined to throw her life away to prove herself to her Pacree, I see how much more confident you are in yourself. I'm proud of you, Eclipse. Please remember that."

     Eclipse beamed at SpringShine, and pressed her cheek to the healer-Drolgon's. SpringShine had been like a mentor to her, watching over her when she was younger. "That means much more than you know. Thank you."

     Ragged and HavenFlight stepped up to Eclipse.

     "I'm so glad to see the path you've chosen is a bright one," HavenFlight said with a kind smile. "I always had a feeling you would choose it, even when HailClaw didn't."

     "Yes," Ragged added. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you. You are truly a Drolgon to look up to and to teach the Drolgonets about as a hero."

     Eclipse dipped her head as a thank-you.