Creatures Of Palera

chapter 4

Me and Crystal were flying back home from the market island, our wings beginning to feel weary from the flight, the sun was inching its way lower in the sky by the time we touched down on the Arctic isles, the chill of the iceberg beneath me comforting me the same way a warm blanket might another dragon.

"So what shall we do now?" Crystal asked, her slightly high pitched voice breaking me free of my calm, my wings tensed by my side as I cast a narrow-eyed glance sideways at her.

"How about you leave me alone. I don't need you following me around and annoying me, all the frost-blasted time!" I snap, keeping my voice low as to not be overheard, I lowered it further still to growl the next bit at her. "Why don't you just tell my parents I would rather bake to death in the sun than marry the likes of you..."

Hurt flashed in her eyes and she opened her mouth to protest but I cut her off. "Tell them that if they want any luck on making me marry anyone that they better assign someone more quieter... like a librarian..."
I couldn't help a slight flush, that was a bit too on the nose wasn't it...

Crystal tipped her head to the side, casting me a thoughtful look, I didn't even know she was capable of looking like that. "A librarian huh...?" Her mouth cracked through then into a smirk. "Like Quartz?" Her long curly mane fell over one eye.

I turned away so she wouldn't see the flush that went over my face. "I was just meaning in general! Librarians literal job is to keep quiet."

Crystal's face was still held in a teasing smirk when I glanced back, I barred my teeth at her, an growl itching to escape my throat.

"I mean I wouldn't blame you, Quartz is pretty great..." she spoke then, her gaze going distant. "Very studious, focused."

"Yeah, she's the exact opposite of you." I spoke, sweeping away from her majestically.

"I don't want to be enemies with you Permafrost." Crystal mumbled as she trailed along, her expression more subdued, almost sad. "You seem nice to be around when you're with your friends."

I ignored her, stalked towards the palace, it was carved from one of the hugest chunks of iceberg, towering high above every other building, the second largest was the library only a short walk and even shorter glide from my room's window.

I felt my wings snap into place as I crossed under the large entrance, i unconsciously reached a talon up to smooth back the fluff on my head, holding my head high, Crystal had shifted to a more regal walk as well instead of her normal skip-canter that she moved with.  

The Winterhorn library was said to be the largest library in the kingdoms of Palera, holding vast collections of knowledge dating back far, some scrolls and carved stone slabs I even believed might be from before the iceberg landed at the archipelago.

Some of the history contained in the library were about the other tribes, like I knew of one from Queen Lily herself, or so it was labeled, telling some about her mysterious reign with her mate queen Glory ruling alongside her, she was rumored to have one day disappeared with her mate, leaving the Rosewing tribe leaderless, her younger brother Oak ended up having to take charge in her unexpected absence.

"Greetings Crystal dear." A sharp voice spoke, it was slightly softer directed at Crystal of course, I glanced over as calmly as I could maintain, my mother stood a little ways ahead in the corridor her gaze snapped to look over at me son as I slowly approached. "Hello Permafrost."

I did have to give myself credit, I had managed not to flinch at the coldness of her tone nowadays, so that was a improvement. "Greetings mother." I spoke with a dip of my head, a show of respect.

"You seem to be in a frosty mood." Blizzard remarked, staring down her nose at me.

I shifted ever so slightly on my feet, casting a side glance over at Crystal who met my gaze warily for a moment then drifted back to staring at my mother.