Wings of Evolution (WoF AU)

Chapter 29

Deepest blue

Eventually, as the talk continued, they settled on a date, roughly four months out. They would use that time for the icewings to finish preparing their army, and for the greentop to grow. Tsunami was hopeful for its progress since she'd instructed Foam to start growing it at every base he could, especially the island one since it might appreciate its natural habitat.

It was a pain though, as Tsunami had previously remarked, it was almost as if the plant would only grow when and where you didn't want it and refuse to grow when you provided perfect places for its progression.

It might be a better idea to just ignore the plant as if they didn't want it there... no fertilizer... no water... Tsunami let that thought tapper out as it lead nowhere, but she supposed they could try an extra batch like that and see what happened.

After the meeting was over, Aurora sent them on their way with two icewing generals that weren't needed for her preparations but would be helpful for getting the resistance to consider the icewing perspective.

Tsunami was happy to finally be heading home, though she wasn't sure what to do if Soulseer caught wind of the icewings, at the moment they were operating as if she already knew since everyone agreed it was only a matter of time, but Tsunami didn't want to destroy their element of surprise just in case.

She also doubted she could get the icewings to cover themselves in mud and hope that everyone assumed they were just weird mudwings. Only mudwings enjoyed that type of thing, and Tsunami tried not to ask dragons to do things that she wouldn't do.

They flew south, only a few days behind the other group, and who knew, they might catch up before they even arrived.

Tsunami certainly didn't expect to be several weeks late.

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Of earth and dragon blood

Clay was happy for the first time since he'd had to leave, they were going home, they'd spread out the greentop production, and it was most likely that by the time he got there, they would have enough to free all his siblings and they wouldn't have to fight anymore because they would be heroes and they could eat and eat and eat until they couldn't anymore.

It was all very idealistic, Clay knew that. This entire thing hung on the precarious balance that any of his siblings were still alive, and the longer he flew, the more he doubted that would be possible. He'd only been gone for a few weeks, but bloody battles could come out of nowhere.

He continued to try and be happy, for their sakes, he tried to remember how annoyed Umber would be if he found out that Clay went on the big adventure and was sad the entire time. He tried to remember how sad it would make Sora to find that he hadn't been paying attention enough to tell the story right.

If I could trade places with any of them if it meant saving their lives, I would. If anyone else was here instead of me, being free.

In the end, Clay almost succeeded, he was able to laugh when one of the icewings asked why the snow was so brown, and he was able to hunt enough for everyone just like back home without getting sad, decidedly only remembering the happy moments around a meal.

But at night he still dreamed of the worst.

On the second day of travel, they must have gone just a bit too south. Clay could see Jade mountain in the distance, a clear sign that they were too close to the enemy. Tsunami had been distracted, so he wasn't surprised since no one else knew how far south was best.

When she spotted Jade mountain, Tsunami made everyone land and take a break as she tried to figure out the best way to get back into the resistance territory.