Wings of Fire - The LostWing Chronicles, Book 1 - The Awoken

~Part Two~ Chapter 9

The sky opened before them in an endless array of late twilight, dotted with the twinkling lights of early-rising stars and shaded softly with the gleam of two near-full moons. Below the traveling dragons, the ocean burbled smoothly amidst the rising fog as the crashing of the waves harmonized with the chirps of nocturnal insects. Starlight gleamed in the last light of the sun, a phoenix born among the clouds. Everything was peaceful, without sight of a single pursuing SeaWing soldier or any approaching storms. So far, the journey was going entirely as planned.

Anadrom spiraled happily in the air, thinking of the enchantments she had cast with the permission of the royal SeaWings and her parents. She had given each of them a bracelet just like the Informaband, which only they could remove and which could not be damaged in any conceivable way. All of them bore invisibility-switches identical to hers, as well as gemstones showing the status of their friends and family (Anadrom had added gems for Turtle and Tsunami to her own Informaband right before they left), and the shifting coral markings that wound around the bracelet. Furthermore and most importantly, for as long as they wore these new Informabands, her parents and new friends would be entirely immune to all forms of harm, including any and all animus magic. She had wanted to leave it at that, but her parents had convinced her to add a small clause that would allow her to perform harmless spells on them with their permission, such as teleportation and camouflage if need be. Finally, she had cast spells to destroy some of her more dangerous gifts to the SeaWing nobles, including the spy-mirror and the sleeping-darts.

Now Ocotillo was safe entirely and forever from the IceWings and SeaWings hunting him. The thought of it made her do a complete flip in the air, and even though they were both currently invisible, she beamed in elation at her father. A lone seabird called out in song below, as cheerful in sound as Anadrom's heart felt, if just in that very moment. She was still feeling considerable guilt over Estuary's death by her statue, and every positive emotion that worked its way into her being was eventually countered by a wave of disappointment in herself for being unable to prevent the tragedy that had occurred. It felt like fighting an upstream battle, with her momentary advances towards happiness being driven back by the dark current. The last few minutes had been particularly turbulent, as her hope and anticipation surrounding the academy fought a valiant effort against an especially strong bout of dread and guilt.

"We'll keep heading this way for an hour or so, then turn around to the south," Turtle called out softly from in front of her. This sent another bolt of anticipation and something close to happiness through her. We're really heading to the Jade Mountain Academy! I'm going to meet the rest of the Dragonets of Destiny, and all the heroes of the Jade Mountain Prophecy. If anyone can keep me safe and tell Pyrrhia my real story, it'll be them! She had always wished that she could enroll in the renown academy, but she had been held back by Estuary. Growing up, the blackmailer had forced her to stay in the little village, on threat of giving away everything if her best worker left. But now she can't hurt Ocotillo anymore, and I'm free to go to all the beautiful places in Pyrrhia.

Very little could have dampened this excitement, but unfortunately, Eelgrass's next words fell right into the category that definitely did. "I do believe we're being followed," he announced slowly, and Anadrom heard him stop and hover in the air. "Look - right on that island there, hiding in the shadows of the trees. And there - below in the ravine." While Anadrom couldn't follow the directions of his invisible talons, she turned to scan the ocean below her, and noticed a quick movement in a mostly hidden gully.

"I'll head down for a closer look," Tsunami ventured, but Turtle immediately shot her down.

"We're entirely invisible right now," he remarked, gazing at the distant forms of blurry movement. "They can't be following us, unless they have some sort of magic, which they very well might. And in that case, you could be flying right into danger, Tsunami."