Wings of Fire: Overcast

Chapter Six

Eclipse enchanted the moonstone bracelet on Darkstalker's arm to slide itself off, and the great animus dragon awoke after sleeping for six years. Darkstalker burst himself out of beneath Agate Mountain, and he smiled at Eclipse.

"You remind me a little of Clearsight," he said warmly.

Eclipse didn't return his smile. "That would be rather strange, since we're completely unrelated."

"Character traits, they're not unheard of," Darkstalker responded brightly. "Now that you've freed me, I'll go have my re- oh, right, I promised you."

"I'll know," Eclipse whispered. She silently enchanted her moonstone bracelet to glow bright green if Darkstalker broke his promise to her.

Darkstalker grinned. "Wow, you're dangerous, aren't you? And what's your errand, by the way?"

"Rescuing Princess Seashell of the SeaWings, second daughter of Queen Pearl of the SeaWings, from her possible imprisonment to the SkyWings," Eclipse answered in monotone, robotically.

Darkstalker blinked. "You talk like some sort of announcer, Eclipse. You really should chill a little. Simmer down, if Seashell hasn't been killed by Queen Carmine yet, the Queen obviously has a reason for it. It... It is still Queen Carmine, right?"

"Yes," Eclipse answered. "All the rulers are the same. Including Queen Diamond. Her daughter, Snowfox, has challenged Diamond and died, though."

"My gosh," Darkstalker whispered. "She really managed to kill Snowfox!"

"Yeah," Eclipse said wryly. She didn't understand why Darkstalker was acting all thrilled. The death of another dragon was not something to be celebrated, but rather something to be mourned. Eclipse let a quiet moment passed in mourning to Snowfox of the IceWings.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Darkstalker spread his wings wide.

Eclipse narrowed her eyes. "We can't go looking like this," she hissed, gesturing to Darkstalker's completely black wings and her own black wings with silvery-white scales on the underside. "We need to look like SkyWings. Hurry up and use your magic to disguise yourself." She wore her least favorite earring and enchanted it to make her look like a SkyWing. Being the perfectionist she was, she came out looking more beautiful than any SkyWing could ever look.

Her ruby red scales were sleek and shiny, the objects of absolute perfection, and her eyes were a deep purple, an unnatural color for SkyWings, but still passable for a regular one. Her scales were flawless, not a single scar, and her wings spread, perfectly equal in size.

"You are going to attract a lot of attention," Darkstalker muttered, his eyes wide.

"No one cares," she snapped back, and he grinned.

"Finally, a non-professional answer. Thank you for that, Eclipse. You're going to have to disguise me, by the way, until you find my scroll."

Eclipse rolled her eyes. "Enchant Darkstalker's scroll to appear in front of me."

It did.

Darkstalker's eyes boggled out of his head, and he grabbed his scroll immediately and began scribbling on it. Soon, he became a majestic-looking SkyWing. Not as perfect as Eclipse, but still terrifyingly handsome.

"We need SkyWing names. Suggest something red," Eclipse said, since they were both red.

"Blood," Darkstalker said.

Eclipse stared at him. "Be a little less morbid, won't you?"

He only grinned in response. 

"I'm going to be Sienna," Eclipse said.

"What's that?"

"A shade of reddish-brown. Three moons, don't you know your colors? I know what you can be - Sunshine."

"I look feminine to you?" Darkstalker waved his majestic red wings.

"Crimson."

Darkstalker considered it for a moment before nodding.

"Or you can call yourself Bloody."

He winced. "I'll pass."

Eclipse rolled her eyes. "Then let's go."