UNDER SIEGE |COMPLETED|

⚔️Chapter Eighteen⚔️

Chpt. 18.)
Three Wooden Spoons and Two Crowns

Nightshade landed undetected on the forest floor, safe for a griffin sitting high in a tree watching them. Kyah was passed out on the dragon's back, but Outcast was wide awake, analyzing the animal.

He growled lowly in warning, alerting Nightshade to the possible threat. The griffin growled back out of pure dominance; it flew quietly down to Nightshade's eye level.

Outcast relaxed, Omknee was astride the griffin. Onyx.

"I am glad to see you three have made it without any trouble." He took another look at Kyah and smirked, "clearly."

Outcast roughly nudged Kyah, rolling the prince to his other side. Kyah sat up with a start, his hand quickly finding the dagger in his belt. He held it beside his side defensively, only to lower it when he saw Omknee's smug face.

"You seemed comfortable. Enjoy your vacation?" The prince scratched his head, putting away his dagger in embarrassment. He awkwardly waved to Omknee, trying his best to act as alert as possible.

"Omknee, hey, how've you been?" They began to follow Onyx through the forest, back to the others Kyah presumed. "Busy but good. November arrived yesterday, she is already in the city with your brother."

Kyah smiled brightly, "excellent. Everything's been okay here?" Omknee nodded, "we have spotters spread throughout our base, no one will get close to us without one of our spotters seeing it. We have been safe, Kyah, but I cannot guarantee the same traveling into the city."

Once they reached the base, Kyah couldn't help but feel shocked. There were at least thirty Feather-Born here. They had small lanterns they sat around to permit some light, their griffins standing or sitting protectively by them- but most were at ease.

"I thought only twenty flyers were coming."

Omknee shrugged, "my sister and I brought reinforcements. We plan to win this battle, so it is worth the risk. Here, the dragon will be safe and undetected. I am afraid we are running short on time. We must go now."

Kyah nodded, he slid off of the dragon's wing. Nightshade looked at the boy, worry evident in his beautiful eyes. The last time he had been with the Feather-Born, they had refused to help him. And now, he was helping them all.

Kyah gently touched his palm to Nightshade's damaged nose, smiling encouragingly at the dragon. "I'll be back by sunrise. I promise. You can't come with me or you'll be spotted and this entire operation will have been for nothing. Trust them, they won't let anything happen to you. Okay?"

Nightshade gingerly pressed his nose affectionately into the boy's hand, "I do not trust them, but I do trust you. Travel swift, young Kylander, stay out of harm's way."

Kyah nodded firmly, "I will."

He mounted Outcast, taking to the skies with Omknee who was joined by Metalkonoa.

"Metalkonoa, it's nice to see you." She smiled at him, her dark skin made it hard for him to see her in the blackness. "You too, Kyah, we were beginning to doubt your arrival."

The three flew to the edges of Moon Dew Town, where they would have to leave their griffins and opt for horses instead. Outcast seemed furious at the revelation, leaving Kyah was something he would rather die than do.

"I'll be back by sunrise. I promise. I'm not going to leave you, you're one of my best friends, Outcast."

The griffin growled, but the playful nudge he gave Kyah was everything the prince needed to know that- despite being heavily against it- Outcast understood why he needed to leave.