Essence and Swellow pounded the stone at the base of the mountain simultaneously. They were early, so the place was more or less empty, except for the few dragons that cluttered the entrance to the school.
"The good news is," Essence gasped, "I still have wings. Bad news..."
From beside her, Swellow stuck out her tongue, but she still breathed hard through her nose.
"I feel nothing but pain."
At this, her friend sputtered into a laugh. "I told you you would regret trying to fly faster than a Skywing." She swatted Essence playfully with a wing, to which she responded with a wince.
The two took a breather, craning their necks to even see the tips of Jade Mountain. There were more dragons in the sky, coming in waves of various glittering colours. Various... normal colours. Heat prickled down Essence's back.
Sure, she looked enough like a full Nightwing, with dark scales and eyes, if you ignore the bright nebula pattern on her wings replacing the usual stars and the likewise colourful frill running down her spine. She pulled in her aching wings to hug her body.
And was hit by a vision.
Essence helping Swellow forge a sword.
Essence and Swellow and four unfamiliar dragons searching an unknown cave.
Swellow and Queen Mantis, her sword glaring white against the sun amidst the motion.
"Fear the dragons in between."
The rock rushed back beneath her claws and Essence released a gasp, one noticeably louder than the others. Her heart felt like some sort of animal, battering the ribcage that was its enclosure. The glimmering colours were on the ground now as dragons saturated the cliffs, some handing her side glances as she shook out her still-painful wings.
"Essence! You good?" Swellow half-caught the hybrid as her knees buckled and she sank a little closer to the ground.
"Fine," she responded quickly. "Sorry. I'm just a bit sore."
The purple dragon's brows furrowed. "Looked like a vision to me." Their eyes met. "An intense one."
"It was nothing important."
"Sure, judging from the fact you nearly collapsed."
"Look." Essence found her balance and stood, a little woozy. "It's fine. I have visions daily and I'm just sore."
She didn't want others to know of these types of visions. Partly because she didn't want anyone else to be caught up in them, and partly because she had no idea what they truly meant herself. What if it was just nothing?
"Whatever you say, Essence." But Swellow took a step closer as if shielding her from onlookers.
She's still suspicious.
Wings beat the air behind them. "I'm impressed you outflew us."
The two turned to see Qibli and Moonwatcher land behind them. It was like the mere sight of them melted away some of Essence's worries — wistfully, she found herself wishing she hadn't flown so quickly.
"Welcome to the Jade Mountain," Moonwatcher said with a rueful smile. In her head, Essence glimpsed an impossibly huge Nightwing, breaking through the ground, giving out gifts. But as quickly as the memories came, they were gone — her mother had gotten quite good at hiding her thoughts.
Qibli wrapped a wing around his beloved. Sometimes, it seemed he could read dragons better than Essence, the mindreader ever could. "Let's go in, shall we?"
YOU ARE READING
Fear the Whispers - WoF
Acción►This is a series! ◄ Essence was like her mother, from her mindreading and seer abilities to her home in the quiet of the rainforest. She was not like her father, the witty and outgoing Sandwing with a zigzag scar. Not even her foresight could prep...
