Wings of Honor: Bad Moon Rising

Chapter 14: Saving Grace

Grace! Grace! You're unchamoflaged! Are you okay?
I staggered, I felt Marvin pushing me back up.
Moon, it's not real, you're all right.
Moon got back up as well, leaning on the rough, stone wall.
What do you mean it's not real? she asked. Her heartbeat was too fast, squeezing her chest so much she could hardly breathe.
I mean, it could have been, but it won't be. he said. Whatever that was, it's in the history cave. Stay away from there and —
The vision returned, more agonizing this time.

Now Moon was standing outside the history cave. Fire was pouring out into the corridors. The screaming, burning figures and faces of dragons I knew. Kinkajou stumbled and fell in front of Moon. Her deaf cries as I watched her wings turn black and charred as the fire ate them away. Carnelian howled in agony from inside. Tamarin and Umbar lay half in, half out, as smoke rolled in and choked everything.

I took a gasp.
Grace!
Moon! Moon! Darkstalker pulled her out again. Close your eyes. I can take your mind to a safe place where you won't see any of this.
"No!" Moon shouted. "Don't do that!" She pushed herself up and started running toward the history cave. I got up as well, but Marvin held me back for a second. He didn't think, but he blinked twice. I nodded at him. He swallowed, nodding back, swinging onto my back.
What are you doing? Darkstalker asked.
I have to stop it. Moon responded. I caught up to her.
There isn't time. Can't you tell? The explosion is only a few minutes away.
Then I have to warn them. Someone might be in there already.
There was. I counted at least two dragons in there. A half-second pause, then: Is that wise? Don't you want to keep your power a secret?
"Not if it means my friends will all die!" Moon cried.
Another vision slammed into us.

Another burning dragon. I couldn't tell their face, but it's physique reminded me of Pike, or Bigtail. Umber lay in a charred heap near the entrance, Sora sobbing next to him. Qibli flared his wings, screaming for help. Fire engulfed him, eating at his wings.

"What is wrong with you?" A voice asked ahead of me. Is she all right? his brain worried, more sympathetically.
"Winter." Moon shook her head, trying to clear it. The IceWing was really there, standing in front of her, really not on fire, really not dead. His scales were smooth, pale blue, unburnt. His eyes were blue as arctic ice.
"Some kind of NightWing seizure?" He asked, looking down his snout at her. His tail flicked and he took a step back, toward the history cave. She could see the archway only a few paces ahead of them, quiet and flame-free. I bounded up and caught him, my mind filled with white and ice.
"You can't go in there!" Moon grabbed his forearm at the same time.
We're touching — she's — who's she? — I'm — her scales against mine — I can't want this — his mind whirled.
"What are you doing?" He barked, but didn't pull away.
"Please don't go in there." she managed. The vision was storming back.
"Something terrible is going to —" I was cut off.

Qibli burning. Tamarin burning. Winter safe. Kinkajou burning. Marvin trapped.

Winter was holding Moon up, I struggled to get up on shaky arms. His wings supported her while he tried to lift her up.
"What? Something terrible?" He asked, his voice rising, looking at me. He shook her. "How do you know?"
"Stop." She whimpered.
"Hey, leave her alone," Qibli's voice interjected. Woah. Who's the other Nightwing?
"Stop!" Moon cried, pulling away from Winter and throwing herself in front of Qibli and Turtle. "Don't go in! No one can go in!"
I stepped forward, blocking them as well.
"Whoa, calm down." Turtle said gently. "You're having some kind of panic attack."
"No. We're not. You have to listen."
"Please listen." Moon looked over to me. She was out of breath. We groaned simultaneously as the visions bombarded us faster, and with more minds.

Tamarin dead. Kinkajou sobbing. Carnelian burning.

She's losing her mind.
"Please, please, don't let anyone go in there."
"Deep breaths Moon, we'll be alright. Guys, Qibli." I felt Marvin running his hands down my side.
"I'm listening." He said. Not even noticing Marvin yet. Crouching to look into our eyes. "We're here, don't worry." Must be something serious. Look at her eyes, she's terrified. Did Winter do this to her? No, he doesn't know what's going on either. What can I do for her? Find the threat, neutralize it. What's this scavenger doing here?
Suddenly, Moon went and grabbed Turtle's talons, trying to wrap his muffled mind around hers. "Kinkajou. I have to stop Kinkajou." The image of the little Rainwing burning, charred black, kept coming back to me. Over and over and over and over. Plunging a knife into my heart every single time.
"She's right behind us," Qibli said. He put one wing around her. "Moon, what is happening?"
"Yes," Winter said. "What do you know?"
Moon could feel the footsteps of other dragons through the floor, I could too. Dragons were coming for class. How could she stop them? How could we stop all of them? I ran in front of them, spreading my wings.
"Everyone stop! There's a—"
I collapsed under another vision.