Power of Destiny: Poison and Dagger

Chapter Eighteen

"I'm back. Did I interrupt something?" Majestic's voice snapped Blossom from looking at the moons.

"No. I was just....lost in thought. Wh-How did you talk to me in my mind? Earlier today, you said you didn't know my name, when you grabbed my attention by saying 'Blossom.'"

Majestic tilted her head. "I-I don't know. I guess I just forgot your name."

Blossom narrowed her eyes.

What are you hiding, Majestic?

"Hey, we're back!" Hare's muffled voice snapped Blossom from sinking into her thoughts fully.

"Did you bring food?" Blossom asked.

"Yup!" Seastorm nodded, her mouth full of food, "We got meat, and I found some fruit for you, Blossom. I found it in a tree by the Sky-Mud border."

Blossom asked, "What tree? What did it look like?"

"They looked like mangos, so I'd say a mango tree, maybe."

Blossom nodded.

The fruit did look like mango. It had speckles of yellow and black; that was suspicious. Blossom took a bite of it.

"This tastes weird." It tasted a bit like mango, but it was also sour, too.

"Maybe it's a new fruit." Majestic suggested.

Seastorm nodded.

"Let's call it the sea fruit!" Hare suggested, "After Seastorm."

They all nodded.

"Sure." Blossom said, her mouth full of "sea fruit". Majestic dumped the sticks onto the soil.

"Why'd you do that?" Hare asked, muffled, since she was eating some meat. Blossom looked away from her face, not wanting to see the dead animals. Majestic then produced a strand of glowing silk.

"This is blaze silk." Majestic showed. When Hare tried to touch it, Majestic snapped, "No touching. Only flamesilks can touch it without getting burned. Are you a flamesilk?!"

Hare's talons shrank away from it.

"No. Sorry." the lavender IceWing mumbled, looking at her talons.

Majestic dropped the silk onto the pile of sticks. It lit up, making hungry flames lapping at the air.

"Now let's hope no one sees it."

Seastorm said. Blossom, Majestic, and Hare both tilted their heads.

"What?" Seastorm looked at them.

"Of course everyone's going to see it! It's a flipping fire!" Blossom exploded.

"Okay, okay!" Seastorm recoiled.

Blossom snarled, baring her teeth and turning away from the others, "Why don't we go to sleep. I can and will take the first watch."

"Wake me up when you want me to do the second watch. I'll wake up Majestic, and then she'll wake up Hare. Is that okay, Blossom?" Seastorm inquired, her eyes drooping. There was grumbling, but Blossom heard the soft thud of the dragons lying down, starting to snore. Blossom looked at the moons. Blossom thought she saw a familiar shadow pass over the moons. Blossom narrowed her eyes.

I must have hallucinated the shadow. But it looked so real! What if I should've chosen the fourth watch?

Blossom rolled her eyes, scanning the area for familiar and unfamiliar suspicious dragons or dragon shadows. None but the shadows the moons were creating, and some animal shadows. Chitters and hoots, laced with faint snores filled the air faintly. A blur passed a rock. It looked like the shadow that passed the moon.

Maybe I really should go to sleep.

Blossom already felt the darkness of sleep edging her vision.

No! I'm supposed to stay awake! I said I would do the first watch, and I will.

Blossom looked at the sleeping dragons behind her.

Maybe I'll do the second watch. And possibly the third and fourth. Maybe all.

Blossom looked back at the terrain, and she scanned the area. She thought she saw the shadow again.

Maybe I really should go to sleep. After all, we seem protected. Who would kidnap an IceWing, a SeaWing, a RainWing, and a SilkWing? But Hare's wearing jewelry. Maybe a passing dragon would think she's a rich IceWing, and kidnap her, even though she is. But then, she might wake up and blab that she's the 'IceWing princess!' and that her 'mother will rescue me!'. If any of them get kidnapped, it would serve them right.

Blossom looked around again. No suspicious shadows lurking so far.

Everyone's asleep. Now it's just me and my thoughts.

Scree!

Blossom looked up, and spotted an owl.

Correction, it's just me, my thoughts, and all the nocturnal animals. I wonder if there's any scavenger dens nearby. Maybe I'll get to see some humans. They're pretty cool.

Blossom looked around for any scavenger dens.

"Anyone there?" The pearl RainWing hybrid asked, her voice echoing.

That was stupid! Of course everyone's asleep! It's probably midnight, for all I know!

"N-no Mother. Don't punish h-her. I-it was m-my f-fault." Hare's voice sounded.

Nightmare, maybe?

A shift in the shadows caught Blossom's eye.

"You never should have underestimated me." Emerald talons shot out from the shadows as the darkness consumed Blossom.

Those talons....I know those talons.... was the last thing Blossom thought before the light was gone from her eyes.