Unity

Chapter 1

Emerald dug her claws into the crumbling earth above the overhang. Encourager- no, Faithkeeper- worked silently beside her. Her face and eyes were focused, but Emerald could hear the pain and grief she was feeling in her thoughts.

She shifted her gaze for half a second to study Faithkeeper. It still threw her off to see her blue-and-purple tinged scales and slender body. She was so used to seeing a muscled Nightwing with unusual silvery-blue scales under her wings. The Nightwing that went by Encourager.

"How could she hide from us?" She couldn't help thinking, feeling betrayed. "I thought we were friends."

"Like we're any better."

Emerald scowled, lashing her tail in Sunset's direction.

She scraped again at the ledge, causing rocks and dirt to shift with a groan around her.

"At least we don't have to feel guilty about hiding our ability now!" She argued back. "I mean, come on! Dragonfruit is an animus! And neither of them thought to mention this?"

She felt Sunset hesitate and saw Dragonfruit from her thoughts for a moment. The rainbow dragon was clutching the egg gently in her talons, watching her sister claw fiercely at the mountain with great sadness.

"Maybe they did it for the same reason we hid our mind-reading," Sunset responded after a moment. "Because they didn't know who to trust in a world that is at war. Maybe they were protecting themselves. . . And each other."

Emerald didn't know how to respond, so she didn't. Instead, she dug her claws into the dirt one more time and tugged. There was a satisfying groan was the overhang dipped on her side.

"I think that should do it." She called to Faithkeeper.

Faithkeeper nodded, saying nothing, but deep pain flashed through her mind.

"I'm so sorry, Peri. I should've been here." She thought for the hundredth time.

Emerald landed beside Sunset, and they watched Faithkeeper fumble with something above them for a moment. She tried not to flinch when Faithkeeper suddenly had the form of Encourager again. Only she was still blue-and-purple.

Faithkeeper slammed her muscled shoulder into the mountain ledge, then again. She grabbed a load-bearing rock and ripped it from its place. With a rumble, the ledge collapsed. . . Burying the body of Peregrine under it.

Once the dust cleared, Faithkeeper landed in front of the new mound, panting. She pressed her snout to it, and whispered words almost too soft for Emerald to hear.

"I love you, Peregrine. I'm sorry. You were a great friend and would've been a wonderful mother. I will take care of your gem for you."

Images started to flood in from the grieving dragon. Memories.

A young Faithkeeper inside what was clearly a nursery, looking aloof. A young Peregrine approached her.

"Hi, Faithkeeper." Faithkeeper blinked, surprised that this dragonet knew her name. "I'm Peregrine. Princess Peregrine."

Peregrine flapped her wings in what was supposed to be a sophisticated way, but only managed to hit another nearby dragonet in the snout.

"I don't really care for the royal title though. Just call me Peregrine."

Faithkeeper flicked her tail, indifferent.

"Nice to meet you."

Peregrine grinned and sat down close to Faithkeeper, who shifted away slightly, looking confused.