𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 ☁️

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

Rain splashed angrily down on Atlas's scales as tears dripped from his eyes, joining the party of water that was currently pouring helplessly on the ground.

Atlas's blood was pumping quickly, his wings screaming at him in agony. But he couldn't give up. He couldn't leave his friends to suffer danger while he ignored them and continued on his own quest.

It had been nearly two hours of straight flying since he had left Tyloa, and he barely knew where he was going. Atlas took some deep breaths and focused his mind on his previous vision, attempting to remember every detail that he could.

The SeaWing kingdom was far behind them, the sun was high in the east, shining brightly in their faces. And the dragons had turned to the left, which must be the North, Atlas pondered. While he knew he was probably very wrong, he thought he might as well give it a go... it was all he had to work on.

Based on his pathetic thought process, he guessed the rogue SeaWings lived in the Sky kingdom...

That's north, his mind said matter of factly.

So's the IceWing kingdom, Another side of his brain argued.

Shut up Atlas's brain snarled back. No-one but IceWings can live there dummy.

And then his mind was quiet. Atlas hovered in mid air for a few moments, allowing the cold, rainy wind to wash over him as his breaths slowed and he became calm. Everything was peaceful.

Well... Nearly.

Atlas yelped in shock, exasperating pain swelled over in his mind, taking control of all his thoughts.

Not... again...

But those were the last words he could form in his mind before another vision came marching on in, disrupting anything that may have been going on before.

But this vision was the most confusing and shocking thing Atlas could ever think of.

Atlas was suddenly teleported into a small, dim cave, he looked down and saw his talons, but his figure was fading like a hallucination. The cave was nearly empty, and about the size of a Jade Mountain classroom. Atlas couldn't help but feel scared himself, yet he wasn't really there. But it felt like it. Screams of anger were heard from a distance, the dark shadows cast a feeling of depression, Atlas knew this was the cave of the rogue SeaWings.

Sunset was the only one in the cave, sitting on the dusty rock ground, and she was... crying. Not crying from pain or sadness or loneliness or rejection. But from stress and from... love.

Atlas felt a feeling of emotion fill him, but it kept coming and coming until he was overflowing.

"I just can't take it anymore, I have to decide." Sunset mumbled through sobs, all Atlas wanted to do was sit down and comfort her, but he knew it would be no use.

"But... whoever I pick, the other will be heartbroken."

Atlas had a strong temptation to look away, to stop listening. He had a feeling he wouldn't want to know what she would say next, but he couldn't look away, he couldn't close his ears. He was wrapped.

"Atlas is just so funny and playful, we've had such great moments together. And I know he loves me, but our group is just so frustrating." Sunset buried her snout further in her talons and sighed, but Atlas winced.

"I love Atlas, but I also love Droplet. Cosmo has feelings for Atlas... Well, I think... But Atlas... He's just so confusing. Sometimes he's like a broken book, pages spread out on the floor, just waiting for you to examine. But sometimes, he's closed. Sealed shut with a lock and will never let you in and why do I feel like this cave is messing with my brain?!" Sunset yelled quietly and began pacing.

"I just wish I could love them both, but that's just impossible! Droplet is caring and sweet, but so is Atlas! Uuughh!" Sunset raised her talons in the air dramatically and wiped the tear streaks from her snout.

"I just wish Atlas had come with us, and I wish we weren't all separated in these stupid caves!" And with that, Sunset kicked the cave wall and slouched back to her original spot, her head falling in heartache.

Atlas was wrenched back into reality, and, thankfully, still hovering mid-air. Atlas's snout dropped far as he relived the vision in his brain, time and time again.

She still loves me?

That was the only thought that would cycle in Atlas's mind. But then one more thought joined the spiral.

Do I still love her?

Atlas's brain stopped as if it had hit an error. His heart beat strongly, making his whole body shiver.

Do I?

Atlas pondered on that for many moments after the thought popped in his brain. Cosmo had been on his heart for some time, but had he ever really stopped loving his Miss. Midnight? Atlas had a heartwarming flashback to that moment as tears swelled in his eyes uncontrollably.

"Okay then Mr. Rainbow." She hid another laugh and this time he whacked her with his colorful wings.

"Hey! That's not nice! – ok, I guess it's true, but if you get to call me that, I get to call you Miss. Midnight, deal?" Sunset thought about it for a bit, then laughed, "Ok, deal. Mr. Rainbow." He chuckled. "Deal, Miss. Stunning Midnight."

Atlas had to save her now. He had never stopped loving Sunset, and he couldn't live if any of his friends suffered any longer in captivity. He sped through the air and examined the ground below.

Okay, I'm looking for a random ominous cave that's probably not easy to find but I'm sure I can handle it.

Atlas chuckled at his own joke but that feeling didn't settle for long. Jade Mountain towered ahead of him and he had a lightning thought.

Maybe I already know where to find them.