𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 ☁️

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆

"We're nearly there." Atlas comforted, clutching his side after the battle with Puffin. Atlas had trusted her, but she must have known he had been listening in that dream he had. She'd given him so little information and gave his friends so much pain. But his story would have to remain a secret, Atlas didn't know for how long, but one day, hopefully, the truth would be revealed. The only details Puffin had given him was that an old NightWing had read the future, knowing this prophecy would happen. The NightWing gave the order that the next Animus of the next tribe would have to give powers to a certain hybrid.

And that hybrid just happened to be me.

"We have to get her to the CloudWing healers." Cosmo pointed out. Sunset was heavy in his arms, scars and wounds covered half of her body, she had fainted from excruciating pain. Tears continued to roll down his snout, non stop since they had left the palace. Atlas wished this mission was easy. Prophecy or not, he just wanted a good life. Atlas closed his eyes, attempting to focus on flying and block out the wingbeats of his friends. At least he wasn't going through this alone, he'd never get through it if he was.

"Keep coming little dragon. A surprise awaits for you soon enough. A little gift from me to you and your friends."

There was that voice again.

It had been whispering to Atlas ever since they had left the SeaWing kingdom. Atlas hoped what it had been saying were lies, but Atlas couldn't help but think otherwise.

"Don't you think it'll be fun to show you around the last place you'll be yourself."

Atlas stopped.

"Atlas?" Foxglove asked from behind. "Are you-"

"I'm fine." Atlas snapped back, more harshly than he had meant to. "Sorry, just... nevermind."

Cosmo looked at him quizzically before looking away at the horizon. "Tell us."

Atlas felt his stomach drop inches. How could he tell them? And what had the voice meant by, 'the last place you'll be yourself'?

Atlas took in a sharp breath before telling them about the mysterious voice. They were good listeners, but at the same time, the more Atlas spoke, the more nauseous he felt.
When Atlas stopped talking there was an awkward silence. He half expected them to get mad at him for staying quiet, but Atlas wouldn't have blamed them.

"Wow, tha-... that's a lot."

Cosmo looked towards him cautiously as though he might turn into some monster, but that was the worst he got.

"You're not mad?" Atlas questioned, keeping his head low and staring at Sunset before blinking away.

"Why would we be? It's not your fault, and who knows, it might give us clues."

Atlas felt his heart beating against his scales as he sighed. "Yeah... maybe."

"I think not"

That time the voice rumbled outside of his head and everyone gasped in fright.

"Okay then, maybe not." Atlas said in a small voice, looking around for any sign of who was speaking. But no one was there. It was like the voice was speaking through thin air.

"Guards, bring them here." They heard him say quietly, obviously not speaking to them.

"How-?"

Atlas had no time to finish. He instantly felt the wind change before he heard a crunch of bones. His own bones. Barely conscious, Atlas wailed in pain before he was engulfed in a black void.