Wings Of Fire: Closing Eyes (Prequel To The Last Day Series)

Splinter - 11

Trigger Warning: Mild Drug Reference, Vomit, Blood

    "Just destroy it, okay?" Epiphyte was saying. Splinter nodded. "Do whatever you need. We have to get the living plants off this city; we don't know what else they're capable of."

    "Okay," Splinter said, glancing at his terrarium. The breath of evil was wound around a branch in there, and its tiny white flowers were beginning to bloom. "I'll get rid of it."

    "We'll come to get you the day after tomorrow!" Bloom said cheerily. Splinter had a faint idea that she wasn't too sure what was going on right now. "And then off to mystery island!"

    Epiphyte rolled his eyes and smiled at Splinter. He felt his heart light up with joy as Epiphyte brushed his wing- his real wing against his. They stayed like that for a moment, smiling, smiling, smiling.

    They only stopped once Splinter glanced over Epiphyte. Pink scales caught his eye, but Bloom was standing across the room, grinning at them.

   Aw, Epiphyte,

   He curved his neck towards him. "I mistook you for Bloom with how pink you are," he whispered. Almost instantly, the pink received a wave of Epiphyte's typical forest green scales and a silly expression on his face.

    Epiphyte looked at both of them. "We don't speak of that."

   "Or what?" Bloom giggled. 

   The other RainWing smiled at her as he slowly pulled away from Splinter, leaving his wings empty. "Or I tell Crevasse,"

    "What?" Splinter asked, sitting upright and looking at Bloom, who was a brighter pink than before. "Tell Crevasse what?"

   "NOTHING," Bloom shouted, smacking Epiphyte with her wing. He laughed.

   "Are we going to see you tomorrow at school?" Epiphyte turned back to Splinter.

   "Yeah, I'll try," Splinter said, swallowing. "Yesterday and today were just... rough,"

   "It's going to be okay, Splinter." Epiphyte said. "The day after tomorrow is the start to saving them."

    Splinter smiled.

    "Okay," Bloom said, clearly still flustered. "OKAY,"

   "See you tomorrow," Epiphyte said.

   "Bye!" Bloom said, heading out the door. Epiphyte turned and looked at Splinter with a special look.

   I love you.

   Splinter's heart skipped a beat, and he tried making the same face back, but Epiphyte just chuckled and followed Bloom out the door.

   He stood there for a moment, and the ivy vine his tail was brushing against burst with flowers. Splinter smiled and ran a talon over his spines, and went to stand by the open door that led to the back porch. The air smelled and tasted so clean and full of plants. The patio was dappled with greens and yellows that shifted and tumbled as the golden rays of the sun filtered through the millions of leaves overhead. Splinter looked around, and his eyes caught the pair of wooden patio chairs.

    The flower box.

    The box of wooden rings and earrings and bracelets.

    The vase of dried-up flowers that Splinter swore not to water until his parents came home.

    He thought it would only be a week or two. When Sandbox and Birch told Splinter that they were going to Pantala, he was so excited. His parents had been working for the Project since before Splinter hatched, and this was his parent's first trip to the other continent.