𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 ☁️

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏

"It's okay, I'm here. I'll always be here."

Sunset's soothing voice lured him back into reality. He looked into her forest green eyes and smiled gratefully. She turned away cautiously and faced the battle next to him, that was how it was meant to be. They were meant to be together.

Atlas brushed his wingtip against Sunset's as he stepped forward and began eyeing off one of the SeaWings.

"You know, my life was actually better before you guys ruined it."

The SeaWing snarled at the comment and bared his claws preparing to lunge.

"Your life will be miserable until this prophecy ends Atlas, get used to it."

The first question that came to mind was 'how do you know my name?' but Atlas wouldn't have had enough time to ask it even if he wanted to. The SeaWing barreled past him and towards Sunset and before either of them even had time to process what was happening, the SeaWing sliced his claw into Sunset's side and she gasped in pain.

"Sunset! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Don't lose focus!"

Fury exploded inside Atlas and he cut through the air while the SeaWing was still distracted and pinned him to the ground.

"Nobody touches my friends."

"I-"

The SeaWing didn't have time to finish because all of a sudden the cave started shaking like crazy and stones tumbled down the sides. The cave was about to collapse.

If Atlas was smart, he would have fended off the SeaWings from attacking his friends in the chaos, but everyone knew intelligence wasn't his main trait.

"Sunset let's go!"

Sunset stared longingly at him from the ground and then at Cosmo, blinking rapidly.

"I can't leave her here..."

"Well you go! I can't risk losing you. I'll carry her out. Just make sure all our friends make it out safely. I got this."

Sunset stared at him in disbelief and quickly rushed to embrace him in her arms.

"Don't die. Please?"

Atlas entwined his tail with hers. "I won't. Promise."

Then she rushed away with tears in her eyes and began pushing everyone out the door. Atlas would spend all day looking at her if he could, but he had a job to do and a promise to keep.

Atlas rushed to Cosmo's side and promised Foxglove she would be okay, he nodded and ran out the door, snatching only one last look at the love of his life. Atlas dug his talons under Cosmo's wings and lifted her into his arms. He trudged along the cave, trying his hardest to dodge the falling rocks and stalactites, but in the end, luck wasn't on his side as the stone crashed into his head and he crumpled to the floor, trying to cover Cosmo - while barely conscious - from any harm.

When Atlas woke up, Sunset was peering over his face with her wide hopeful eyes staring at him. And the first thing Atlas noticed was her huge gasp and her tackling hug.

"You said you wouldn't die," Sunset whispered, "You lied."

Atls chuckled and pulled away.

"I mean, technically I didn't, I'm still alive... I think."

Atlas sat up and looked around him. Cosmo and Foxglove were sitting separate from the group, talking awkwardly, but the sight of Cosmo sitting up and breathing was enough for Atlas to choke.

"She's alive."

Sunset grinned and nodded, but her delight didn't last long. Atlas watched as she grimaced and grasped her side, attempting to take deep breaths and breath through the pain.

"What's wrong?" Atlas rushed to her aid and tried to make sure she didn't faint.

"Nothing," she said through a gasp. "Just my wounds, it's fine though."

"You sure?"

"Positive." Sunset tried to smile but it was weak.

"You don't look so good," Atlas said after examining her scratches, "You told me you were okay, I believed you."

Sunset opened her mouth and closed it again, obviously lost for words.

"Atlas, I was fine, you needed to concentrate, I didn't want you - " Then Sunset blacked out and fell into his arms.

"Bumblebee! Come quick, Sunset's just fainted!" Atlas looked desperately around for her but a flashback of her previous words struck him like lightning. "Oh." Foxglove rushed to their side with Cosmo leaning on him for support.

"Atlas... I'm sorry about Bumblebee, it's not your fault."

Atlas sighed and looked up, staring at the sky while wishing for answers. He just wished life was easy.

"Something wasn't right with that. I know Bumblebee... Well, at least I think I do." Foxglove looked at Atlas apologetically and he smiled back, hoping it was a good disguise.

"We'll find her on the quest. I'm sure of it." A cloud shadow covered Foxglove's facing making the conversation seem more spooky. "But we found some answers on the journey to the cave. But I should wait until Sunset wakes up to tell you together."

Atlas took a deep breath and hoped Sunset wouldn't be out long. "Okay. I don't know if I can trust anyone anymore but I'll try to trust your word."

Foxglove looked at Cosmo and she smiled and, surprisingly, wrapped Atlas in a hug and whispered in his ear, "Don't. Move."

"I - wait what?" Atlas used every bit of his self control to stay still, but out of his sight he could hear running and cries for help but his consciousness blurred everything together and he began to feel dizzy from the knockout earlier.

Cosmo must have obviously noticed his body feeling lighter and whispered, "Please don't faint. I need you to play along." Then she began to collapse and Atlas felt a moment of panic but soon remembered her words, play along, so he followed her lead and pretended to pass out, and even though his curiosity levels were so high, he stayed dead still, hoping that whatever dangers that had distubred them would pass by them.

And for once in his life he was lucky.

Silence crept over the valley and Atlas slowly lifted his snout and scanned the area. Nothing. No enemies and no friends. Atlas sat up and beckoned Cosmo to do the same.

"They're gone. Hopefully that's a good thing." Cosmo said as she began to stand up and winced from muscle pain. "Oh," Cosmo piped up, "there's a note here. That's dangerous..." Cosmo murmured as she began to read.

"What's it say?"

"'SeaWing Palace. Atlas Magic'"

A shiver began to crawl through Atlas's scales as he began to realise what they were talking about.

"Sunset must have told them. I was on a mission to the SeaWing palace before you guys got caught, they obviously didn't want me to go alone." Atlas started to feel relieved at this fact. If he was being genuinely honest, he had been frightened to go by himself. But now his friends would be with him and any dangers he would have faced, he would have faced them with his team.

Cosmo snorted. "They must have taken Sunset, we should try and catch up to them"

Atlas nodded and lifted into the sky, Cosmo at his tail.

"Let's finish this prophecy once and for all."