Shadow Falling

Sea And Stars

The flight was very smooth and calm, as Passion was taking great care of the scavengers. There was a fine tremble running through Shade's wings. He had been flying a lot lately, much more than he was used to.

"Can we... can we walk? Just for a bit?" Shade asked.

"Mhm! Hold on, little ones!" Passion called as she tilted her wings down.

It was a very gentle descent, nothing like Passion's usual plummeting through the canopy. But once they were on the forest floor, Vine was yelling excitedly and begging to fly again. Hickory looked just a bit sick to his stomach, a little green in the face.

Hickory had got off Passion as soon as he could and stumbled into a patch of grass to throw up. Passion had taken Vine in her talons and was gently tossing her into the air, where the child squealed with delight.

"Passion?"

"Hmm?"

"You need to stop using your magic." Shade blurted out. "Ever since you found out you're an animus you've been using it! I've counted..." he paused. "Nine spells! That's too much!"

"Well, I don't feel any different. And isn't it my own soul? Besides, it'll take ages before I have to worry about it. How old were those other animus dragons you were telling me about?"

"Well, I don't know," Shade said as Passion started to walk, Vine sitting on her back. He followed after her. "But it's probably quicker than you think!"

"What's an animus?" Hickory asked, following after the two dragons, his face a little pale.

"A dragon with magic!" Passion said excitedly. "They're very rare, and they can do almost anything! Can't they, Shade?"

"Well, I suppose..."

Vine got really excited, starting ask all sorts of questions. Hickory started to lag behind and Shade offered him a ride while Passion was talking to Vine. He reluctantly took it, and they walked in silence. It didn't even take very long for them to get back to where Passion's family lived. They must have been pretty close when they landed. Shade had no idea. He was awful with directions.

Paradise, Hoarfrost, Destiny, and Whale were there, but Jewel was nowhere to be found. Passion bounded up to her family, taking Vine from her back and showing her to her family. Destiny immediately reached out to hold her.

"Where's Jewel?" Passion asked, dissolving into the background.

"She went off somewhere, dear, you know how she is." Paradise said, scanning the trees for her daughter.

"Oh!" Passion said, appearing in the opposite direction Shade had thought she had gone. "I'm going to look for her then. Can you watch the scavengers, please?"

"They'll be safe with us, Passion Fruit." Hoarfrost said calmly.

"Just be aware, there might be a couple Sandwings looking for them, but I think I scared them off! Come on, Shade!" Passion scampered up a tree, looking down at him.

Shade carefully set Hickory down, then followed after Passion. She mostly stayed close to the treetops, darting in and out of cover looking for Jewel. She was circling above the treetops for a time while Shade rested on a high branch. The view was actually quite nice, and the wind was gentle enough that he didn't feel like he was going to be thrown from the highest reaches of the rainforest.

"Shade! I found her!" Passion called, swooping very close to Shade, then spiraling up into the air.

She plummeted into the trees, Shade following close behind. Passion landed in a thick patch of ferns; her frill bright yellow with happiness. Then she bounded into it, getting hidden from view. Shade carefully picked his way through the foliage, peering through the plants.

Passion was wrestling with her sister, and not far away were two Seawings, watching in part interest and part wariness. At least, the greener of the two looked interested. The darker one looked utterly terrified. No one seemed to notice he was there.

Passion and Jewel were talking so fast that Shade couldn't really tell what they were saying. At some point he thought he heard Jewel say something about moonlight and a hurricane...? His friend pounced onto the dark Seawing, who screamed in terror.

Again, they were talking so fast that Shade couldn't understand. The Seawings backed away slightly, then after a few moments, each offered Passion a piece of jewelry they were wearing. The green Seawing gave Passion a gold, pearl, and blue threaded bracelet, and the dark blue one offered a pearl necklace.

Shade knew exactly what was happening, and he would not stand for it! On a whim, he leapt in front of Passion, careful to not touch anyone.

"No! No, no, no, no! Don't you know what using animus magic can do!?" he cried, practically trembling in fear.

The Seawings looked shocked at seeing him. It must have looked like he had appeared out of nowhere. Shade looked up at Passion, crouched down against the ground.

"Too many spells! Please!" he begged.

Passion paused, then nodded slowly.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I'll wait. Sorry, Hurricane, Moonlight. Another time."

The dark Seawing looked relieved, the other mildly impatient. Passion turned to her sister.

"Is that okay?"

"It's fine!"

Passion looked up at the sky, which was starting to darken with the coming night.

"Want to go home?" Passion asked him.

Shade nodded, falling to the ground in relief. When he was ready, Passion led him back to the Nightwing village.