Nightfall

II

The evening sun began to set, as dragons began to leave their homes. Sorrow hung over them, for they were leaving the only home they had ever known, and heading into an unknown danger.

It took an hour for every dragon, with any necessary belongings, to arrive in the valley. A perpetual silence filled the air, and Midnight didn't want to break it. Unfortunately for him, it was his job.

The rest of the council stood behind him, Grove and Lagoon's eyes sharp and accusing. Their initial objection to the idea of moving had blossomed into them disagreeing with everything Midnight brought up, good idea or bad. It was becoming very irritating, and it made other dragons in the settlement believe that the council was becoming divided, and began to question their decisions more often.

It made everything quite difficult, to say the least.

"Dragons," Midnight started, his voice carrying over the crowd, "the time for change is a hard time. But change is also a good thing, something powerful and helpful to all of us, and the first step to a brighter future."

He glanced at Krakel, who had his talons full with the three young dragonets in front of him. Why he agreed to watch Eclipse, Hearth, and Nebuiz all at the same time, until Midnight, Eagle and Jade were free from their more urgent council duties, was beyond him. The orange-red dragon was scrambling to keep them under control, some panic visible on his face. The dragons around him helped by guiding the rambunctious dragonets back to him when they tried to get away.

"Does this brighter future involve us actually flying, or more long, boring, inspirational speeches?" Someone yelled from the crowd, and laughter rippled through all of them, except Midnight, who glared at Raze, the dragon who had yelled the statement.

"Not every dragon likes your insufferable comments, Raze," he snarled.

"Everyone likes it!" The young, infuriating red dragon objected. A mischievous look flashed across his face. "Oh yeah. Everyone except you."

Grove leaned over to Midnight, and whispered, "I did a count, like you asked. We're missing a dragon." For once, the green dragon's voice wasn't filled with contempt; it was only slightly annoyed and worried. "Crest."

None of the dragons within the crowd could hear them, and the few that were close up tried to lean in to catch a snippet of the conversation. Eagle frowned at them, hoping that Crest was just tired and forgot to come, as the older dragon sometimes did. Crest was the oldest member of the settlement, old enough to remember the war that was fought centuries ago. A lot of dragons came to him for stories and legends, tales to spark the creativity that most adults grew up to lack.

"Are you sure he isn't in his cave?" Midnight whispered back, his voice as hushed as the other dragon's, saying what was on Eagle's mind. "You know Crest."

"I do," Grove growled, "but I flew over there around noon, and he wasn't there. There were a few older dragonets looking for him, and said he hadn't been there all day."

Jade cut in, her tone furious. "And you didn't think to tell anyone?" She hissed, her voice not very silent. "What is wrong with you?"

"I thought he went for a fly," Grove argued. "But now I see that he probably didn't." Eagle and Lagoon glanced at each other, hoping the other three would stop arguing in front of the now- tense crowd. Several dragons were lashing their tails, and their wings were spreading and refolding, a sign of nervousness or anger. Eagle could only hope it was the former.

Midnight sighed, and turned to the crowd, quieting Grove and Jade with a flick of his tail in their direction. "Grove has only now told me that we have a missing dragon," he announced. Continuing, without letting whispers spread through the crowd too fast, Midnight said, "Crest, our resident elder, hasn't been seen today."