Claws of time

Chapter 9- Black and White

The next day I went with Fathom, Indigo, and their two other guards out to the main court area of the palace. The SeaWings all splashed around in the fountain, while I stood nearby. "Remember when we talked to Darkstalker yesterday?" I asked Fathom. Fathom nodded, "Well I talked to him about his magic." Fathom looked up at me with a curious expression and excitement in his eyes, "What did you tell him?" "I told him that I think you're right on some part, but so is he. And that it's alright if he uses his magic, as long as it's not on frivolous things, like... jewelry that makes him more handsome." "So... did he listen to you?" I shook my head, "No, I don't think he really cares about what I had to say." Fathom sighed, "Well, I guess we'll just have to try again." Fathom looked up at me hopefully and I nodded in agreement. Shortly after discussing my conversation with Darkstalker, a sleek black NightWing with purple eyes bounded over with her wings spread wide, and called out, "Fathom, you're here!" Indigo leapt in front of Fathom so fast, like a bolt of lightning and raised her spear to the other dragon's throat, "Stop right there!" she cried, "Don't touch him!" The black dragon yelped and skidded to a stop, covering her face with her talons and started apologizing. Darkstalker came up next to the dragon, "Hey, unnecessary!" he roared at Indigo. "Who are you?" Indigo demanded. "I'm Clearsight." She spread her wings, trying to look non threatening. "She's with me." Darkstalker said, frowning. Clearsight looked directly at Fathom, "I-I see the future, and I've seen Fathom in my visions, but I forgot we haven't actually met yet, I'm sorry." Fathom looked at her bewildered, "Me? You've seen me in your visions?" "Lots of times," Clearsight reassured him, "We're going to be friends." Clearsight looked over at me as well, "And I've seen you too, Shiver." "Really?" I asked curiously, "Can you tell me what you've seen? Whenever you get a chance." Clearsight nodded, "Of course." She turned towards Indigo, "Oh! And you must be Indigo." Indigo didn't say anything, but she nodded , still standing defensively next to Fathom. "It's alright, Indigo," said Fathom, "Wharf, Lionfish, you may go hunt. We'll be fine." The two SeaWings shrugged and flew off. Clearsight started talking about how she had recently moved into the palace, and how she'll be a neighbor to Fathom and I. "Oh, by the way... Fathom gave me an Idea. Can I show you guys?" We all agreed that we wanted to see what Darkstalker had made. While he was fetching the item out of his pack, Fathom and Clearsight made jokes with each other about how to properly teach Darkstalker. "Anyway," Darkstalker said, pulling something out of his pack, "So I went home and started thinking and ended up not sleeping at all because I was too excited and here's what I came up with." He pulled out an odd contraption that looked like a telescope mounted to the side of an hourglass. "Watch this." He pointed the object at Clearsight, and the hourglass began to spin. It spun three times and after it was down there was a mountain of black sand, with flecks of white on the top. "Aww, look how good you are." Darkstalker said. Clearsight peered closer, "What in the world? What does it mean?" Darkstalker proudly held out the object, "This is a soul reader," he announced proudly, "Point it at anyone and it'll tell you the balance of good and evil inside them. The black sand stands for good, like the NightWings, and the white sand stands for bad, like the Ice-." Darkstalker paused for a moment, glancing at me nervously. I glared at him, "You want to finish that sentence?" Fathom and Clearsight shifted uncomfortably under the tension between Darkstalker and I. Darkstalker looked me directly in the eye, "Like the IceWings." I snarled at him, "what's wrong with IceWings?" Darkstalker huffed, "There's a lot..." He made a gesture with his wings, "The only good thing they did was accidentally bring animus magic to the NightWings." He smiled proudly. "Oh, really?" I said angrily, "Since we're so bad, I suppose that you want me gone, huh? No more help with your magic." Darkstalker glanced at me nervously, "Well... I suppose you're not that bad, you're probably the only good IceWing left. Look, I'm sorry if I offended you by saying the white sand stood for 'bad, like IceWings,' Okay? So, let's just stop fighting, and make up and we can all be friends!" Darkstalker smiled. I eyed him narrowly, "Fine, whatever." I grumbled.
Fathom was the first to clear his throat and speak up, "I can't believe you actually made it. Darkstalker, don't you realize, you can't keep using your magic, every time you do it just gets worse, you just can't-." He shuddered from head to tail. "It's alright." Darkstalker reassured Fathom. He turned to Clearsight and handed her the soul reader, and Clearsight lifted it to her eye, pointing it at Darkstalker. The sand inside began to spin, and spin. Clearsight laughed, "I think you confused it." "It takes a moment sometimes." Darkstalker said with a shrug. Eventually the sand landed leaving one quarter white sand, and three quarters black. I eyed the telescope suspiciously, "Is this actually accurate, or did he enchant it so it always appears like he has a good soul?" Darkstalker shot a hostile look at Indigo and I, "It's not a trick. I just want him to be happy, don't you?" Indigo looked him directly in the eyes, "I believe he can be happy without any magic." Clearsight stepped between the three of us, "It's a beautiful day for flying, why don't we show you around the Night kingdom, there's a beautiful beach not too far from here." I shook my head, "I don't think I'll join. I'm going to go on my own." I spread my wings and flew off in the other direction.