Not a moment of thinking later, curiosity overtook her. She placed Giggy and the bracelet she was wearing on a shelf above her and told her to follow behind quietly. Apricot then camouflaged and followed the hybrid. She leaped over beams and crawled over boxes after her. She carefully stepped over tails and tucked in her wings, trying not to nudge anyone and reveal herself.
When she finally turned into the alley, the hybrid was just sitting there, looking at the wall. Is she waiting for something to happen?
For several minutes, they just sat there. The hybrid seemed to not even be blinking. Since Apricot was invisible, she decided to get closer. Apricot looked at her body language and saw that something was wrong. The hybrid's face was twisted in pain. She was trying to move her talons but they wouldn't budge. She gritted her teeth and turned. No, she didn't turn, she seemed to float. Or at least move unwillingly.
A dragon came around the corner she was facing, an IceWing and a big one. He was as tall as the walls surrounding them and had to duck under ropes and boards that were draped across rooftops. Apricot would've had to fly up to be able to reach those. He had oddly gray wings and black eyes but didn't look at all like a hybrid. There were many gold rings around his claws and horns and several black pouches around his neck and shoulders; what they held, Apricot didn't want to know. He regarded the hybrid in front of him and scowled like he'd expected someone else.
"I was not expecting you, Neptune. It is not polite to sneak up on your Officials." he hissed, his tone colder than anything Apricot had ever heard. Clearly, he didn't like the hybrid, whose name was Neptune. "You had better have good news."
Neptune didn't move or speak, she still seemed stuck and in pain. Is the other dragon doing this to her? Is he an animus? Panic rose in Apriot's chest.
"Ah, apologies. I forgot you cannot do anything in this state." The giant IceWing flicked his tail and Neptune relaxed and took several deep breaths.
"I hate it when he does that." she growled.
The older dragon grinned. "Yes, I know, that is why he does it. Now, tell me your news or get out of my sight."
Neptune hesitated. Whatever she had to say most likely wasn't good. Sketchy alleyway talks never were. "RainWings have been spotted around the Kingdom of the Sea. The NightWings have complete control over the Rainforest. No word yet on what actually happened there three and a half years ago or what the NightWings want with the place."
Apricot's blood pressure rose tremendously. The IceWing looked genuinely pleased and surprised. "Very good, Neptune. I. . . will be sure to tell The Sister about this." He walked over to her and cupped her chin to look up at him. "I always hoped you would come through when we needed you most."
Neptune jerked away and looked at the ground, scowling.
A purplish SeaWing jumped down from the roof behind the IceWing. He had a silver loop necklace with many different teeth, chains, keys, and other rings strung on it. His ears and wings also looked like they had been bitten and scratched around the edges, like he'd just gotten done with a fight.
"Everest? There's-" the SeaWing started to say but before he could finish the IceWing whipped his tail across his face with a sharp whack.
"What did I tell you about using my name in the presence of Lower Classes?" the IceWing called Everest hissed.
"To not do it." The SeaWing bowed his head respectfully, ignoring the blood dripping from his face.
"Right. What was the news you had?" Everest asked, smoothing out his tone.
"There is another dragon here, Official. A NightWing. He looks angry. He already maimed one of the guards." the SeaWing said, twitching his tail every time he spoke.
Everest hissed loudly. The SeaWing flinched. "Bring him here. I will talk to him myself."
