The Blood Moon Killer

Chapter 20: Sacrifice

They flew over a small Sandwing village, about 1/4 of their way back to the Kingdom of Ice. Moon soon noticed that Whiteout was falling behind and she was panting. She turned to Winter "maybe we should stop and rest for a bit." She suggested to him, while nodding back to bring his attention to their daughter. Winter took a shaky breath as he looked forward, then at Whiteout and slowed down to have her on his back. "You're right. There's a village bellow us. Maybe we can eat and Whiteout can take a nap."

As soon as the young hybrid landed on her father's back, she collapsed form exhaustion and began to doze off. When they touched down, Winter took notice of Moon's hesitancy to walk into the village. "You alright my dear?" He asked, looking back to her. She simply nodded and followed him into the village.

Winter stopped at a small stand "hello, how may I help you?" The Sandwing at the stand asked "well, is there a place to eat?" "Travelers?" They asked while tilting their head. "Y-You could say that." Winter uttered, looking around to try and spot anyone following them.

"Certainly! There's a small inn at the end of this path. Just tell the keeper that Meerkat sent you and she'll be happy to help." Moon smiled "thank you Meerkat." As Meerkat waved with their tail, the family walked too the inn.

Moon knocked on the door and a short Sandwing opened almost instantly. "Hello! My name is Fennec. Welcome to my inn, please, come inside." She answered, opening the door wider "my name's Winter, this is my wife Moon and our daughter Whiteout." He answered, leading his family inside. "Meerkat told us that-" "Oh Meerkat! Right, I do owe her a favor, well, your stay is on the house. Rest up as long as you need. We have a small kitchen where you can make whatever you'd like, if you burn yourself we have a small clinic right down the road, near the Oasis."

Moon looked around, then out the window and she noticed a small patch of grass in the distance. Here. She thought. It happens here. Moon sighed internally and thanked Fennec as the keeper handed them a key to a room down the hall. Winter walked down first and gently inspected the room, before placing Whiteout on the bed to sleep.

Moon followed shortly after "Winter," she started, but he interrupted "your vision was about this village. Wasn't it?" Moon could do nothing but nod. She wasn't going to lie to him right now. It wouldn't help anything. "That's why you were hesitant to come into the village." Winter said as he sat on the bed at the other end of the room and motioned Moon to come over. Obeying, she walked to him and sat next to him with her head on his shoulder "Astraea might already be here. In my vision, I was hurt, not badly, just, there was a bit of blood. So, I think Astraea is going to attack me."

Winter shook his head, "then we leave." Moon shook her head "no. I'll stay here and keep her busy, then you're free to go take Whiteout." Winter grabbed her claws in his "no. No Moon. Not again. I-I won't be able to protect you." The Nightwing smiled and kissed his cheek "you'll be alright. I'll be fine. Okay?" "When?" He asked bluntly, holding her tightly. "Tonight."

"Moon," Winter started, his eyes filled with concern. "Don't do this. I don't want to go on knowing that I could have done something to help you." His eyes watered and tears gently streamed down his snout "it was in our v-vows right? To p-protect each other." Moon nodded and reached her claw up to rest on his cheek "I'm scared... Don't make me more scared than I already am. I'll meet you in the Icewing Kingdom in a few days. Just protect our baby girl okay? For me?"

With a heavy sigh. He didn't like the fact that he had to leave her to save himself and Whiteout. They knew their dragonet's needs and well-being always came first, but he couldn't bear risk one to save the other.

"You can't have your walrus and eat it too!" His mother's voice rang in his head in her classic scolding manor. That's all she ever did to him. Scold. Scold for what happened to Hailstorm. Scold for going to Jade Mountain. Scold for believing Darkstalker. Scold for falling for Moon. Scold for everything.

Why not just have two walruses? He thought to himself as he looked up at Moon. It was evident to her that he was trying to find every possible reason to avoid this. "Alright. Just promise me you'll be safe. Promise me that you see us together happy when this is all over. Please." Moon opened her mouth to reply, but quickly shut it as her ears flipped back. "Just go Winter, she'll be coming soon."

Winter looked out the window as he grabbed her shoulders and pulled his mate in for a lengthy kiss. "Go on, my love." "Be safe, my dear."

Turning around swiftly, Winter grabbed his sleeping child and looked at Moon one last time before running down the hall. Moon heard the door to the inn open and shut followed by the sound of wing beats quickly receding. 

Moon found herself alone in the dark room. The sun had set and she couldn't define her own black scales to the dark shades of the bedroom. Moon's night vision did help to see a bit, maybe she could try fighting away Astraea? No. Impossible. She knew she would be hurt. She just hoped that Winter and Whiteout would be far enough away form the horrors that was about to ensue.

Moon walked over to the window and looked up at the stary sky. There were only two out of the three moons in the sky. Taking a deep shaky breath, Moon closed her eyes and tilted her snout upwards. This could be the last time she ever felt at peace. Knowing her friends and family were safe and at a good distance. She prayed to whatever god existed that this would all blow over quickly and could be reduced to a bed time story about how mommy and daddy helped defeat a bad guy and save the world. How mommy and daddy worked together with their friends to help everyone. How mommy and daddy were able to keep everybody safe.

A single tear was shed.

"I've been waiting for you." Moon said plainly as she turned around, only to find Astraea in the doorway, looking at Moon as if she was some kind of snack - she mostly likely was in this case. "Hello, Astraea."