Claws of time

Chapter 21- Darkstalker's spectacle

I pushed my way through the crowd of fixated NightWings, searching their faces to see if any of them was Lostthought. "What a beautiful night! A perfect night to punish a traitor!" He swept one wing toward Arctic. "First, let's consider the evidence. Arctic, tell our listeners. Tell them what you were about to do, before I stopped you." "I was going home," Arctic roared, his voice set free again. "I'm not a traitor!" "Tell the truth," Darkstalker said. "Tell them exactly what you were planning." Arctic lashed his tail. "I was taking my daughter to Queen Diamond," he growled. "I was going to offer her talons in marriage to whomever Diamond chose, so she could hatch some heirs for the throne who might have animus blood. I was going to live in an ice palace again, sleeping at night like a normal dragon. I was going to find out if Foeslayer is still alive. I was going to offer the IceWings a detailed map of the Night Kingdom and a way to get inside to destroy you all, in exchange for her life." I paused for a moment, was that true? If that was all true, it was a good thing that Darkstalker stopped him, mass genocide on either side is bad though, so Darkstalker's not throughly excused. Darkstalker shook his head regretfully. "You see," he said to the crowd. "He admits it all. He would have wiped out our entire tribe without a shred of remorse. He is the worst dragon who has ever lived, and he deserves to die. Don't you agree?" He raised his chin, listening to the crowd's reaction. I turned my attention towards the stage, Arctic was a lot more evil than what he led on, he deserves punishment, but not death. I had heard and seen worse things happen in the past, such as the death of queen Lavender, and the SeaWing massacre. They deserved to die, but Arctic was merely planning something, in exchange for his love, Foeslayer. "Kneel," Darkstalker said to his father. And Arctic knelt. "Admit that I am the greatest animus of all time," Darkstalker hissed. "You are the greatest animus of all time," Arctic choked out. Darkstalker spread his wings toward the audience. "Tell them there is no more powerful dragon than me." "There is no more powerful dragon than you." "Now say you wish you had been a better father." Arctic let out an incredulous, startled laugh. "I do wish I'd been a better father," he said. "If I were, I would have strangled you the moment you hatched." I blinked in surprise at this statement, how could Arctic hate Darkstalker as a dragonet? Darkstalker had no plans or evil intentions then, he was just a dragonet. "Cut out your tongue," Darkstalker said coldly.
Arctic's eyes became round holes of horror as he reached up to his mouth, pulled out his long blue forked tongue, and sliced it off with his own claws. Blue blood poured from the sliced off tongue, spilling out all over the stage. The crowd shrieked with terror at the sight, as Arctic stood blankly on the stage next to Darkstalker, holding his own tongue as the blood poured out of his mouth. I couldn't watch, I wanted to look away but the sight was so terrifying, that I was transfixed on it, and so were the other dragons. "Now." Darkstalker leaned toward Arctic, his claws gouging into the wood of the stage. "Take your talons, rip open your stomach, and show us all what you're really like on the inside. Pour out your life on this stage." Arctic reached towards his stomach, with an attempt to fight the curse Darkstaker put on him. Arctic's talons reached his stomach and started clawing away, starting with small cuts which then turned into deep gouges, until he finally dug his own talons deep enough inside. He grabbed ahold of his organs and ripped them out, the blue IceWing blood splashing everywhere underneath him. Arctic yanked the organs free and dropped them to the ground with a sickening splat. The dragons standing around me pushed and shoved me out of their way as they fled the horrific sight, some dragons were crying, others were flying away. A small portion was chanting on Darkstalker. My stomach roiled at the sight of Arctic's horribly mangled body, and guts lying on the stage, while Darkstalker stood proudly. Tears ran down my snout, and fear surged through my body, my wings were shaking and I felt lightheaded. I knew that something bad was going to happen, but I would've never pictured for the scene to be this gruesome. It didn't feel real, this all felt like one bad nightmare, how could a dragon be so deranged and cold. I felt someone grab my shoulders and drag me away from the stage, but I still couldn't look away. The stage grew father and father until it finally left my sight. My breath was heavy, and I was still shaking. "Shiver, it's alright, you're alright. Hey, can you look at me?" I shook my head and closed my eyes, trying to clear the image from my mind. I finally turned around and saw Lostthought, her face filled with worry and fear. "Shiver, are you alright?" She asked, speaking softer than usual. "I- I- Uhm... yeah, I'm fine." Lostthought wrapped her wings around me, hugging me tightly. "I'm sorry you just saw that. I was searching for you in the crowd but I was blocked off by a big group of NightWings." I hugged her back, "It's alright, it's not your fault." Lostthought let go of me, and I started taking in deep breaths, still trying to calm down. "We have to do something Lostthought. Clearsight has a plan, but I'm not sure how well it will work." "What's her plan?" "She's planning to use Darkstalker's scroll against himself, and enchant something to stop him." Lostthought hummed, "You probably should go meet up with them then, so you can help. If her plan fails, you're their only hope." I let out a heavy sigh, "Okay I'll do it, but I won't like it." Lostthought nudged me with her wing, "You got this Shiver." "Aren't you coming with me?" Lostthought shook her head, "No, I should get out of the NightKingdom, it's about to become really unsafe for everyone around." I hung my head sadly, "Well, I guess this is goodbye?" She nodded, "Yeah, it was nice meeting you Shiver." She turned and walked off in the opposite direction.