The Blood Moon Killer

Chapter 27: Watchful Eyes

Whiteout gently rolled out of bed and onto the floor, landing on the ice with a 'thump'. It was normal for her to do this. That was her way of coaxing herself to get up and out of bed. Usually, she'd be up and at it before her parents like the energetic dragonette she is. But with the recent.... Events..... Whiteout hasn't had much energy or feel like doing anything as of late.

Before she could get up, she noticed the guards rushing to her as if her blue blood was spilling out of her. "Young Highness!" "Princess Whiteout!" They both yelled and picked up to examine her for any injuries. "I-I'm alright..." She stuttered, as the guards placed her on the bed and unfoleded her wings. "Are you certain Your Grace?" 

She sighed once more "please just call me 'Whiteout', no need for a royal title or anything..." The Icewings guards seemed confused for a moment. Clearly seeing they needed some clarification, Whiteout decided to explain further "I never thought that I needed a royal title or anything. I'm fine with being a Princess and all, but I don't want to sit on a throne all day and govern. I want to get outside, be with the dragons and solve problems with them. So, just call me 'Whiteout', no royal title."

The guards remained silent. "What are your names?" She asked, gently ruffling her wings. "I am  Colonel Alabaster. This is my lieutenant; Aqualon." "What lovely names, they suit you both very well." Gently hoping down from the bed, Whiteout turned around and began to fix her bed. "Whiteout, what are you doing?" Alabaster asked, gently examining her talons "oh! Uh.. Making my bed? I-Is it a bad thing?" She asked in a tiny voice, gently pressing her wings to her side "no... It's just we've never had a guest who'd make their own bed. The housekeepers usually tend to it." Whiteout retracted her claws "am I not doing it correctly?"

Aqualon shook her head "it's done perfectly. You just surprised us." Whiteout's tail wagged as she gently lept into the air to better fix the bed "I am full of surprises. Did you know that I can spit fire and ice?! Dad is teaching me how to do this thing called Cryobreath, but it comes out as like a blue fire. Still cold though. Just looks like fire instead of an ice beam." Both guards looked at each other in confusion. 

When Whiteout was about to explain once more, her stomach grumbled. "Are you hungry Your- Whiteout?" Aqualon corrected, slightly wrinkling her snout at the change of name. "Yes... Actually, let's all go get something to eat. I've been meaning to try out some of the Icewing's cultural dishes..."

"Very well, let us go." Gently ushering her out of the room, Alabaster took the lead as Aqualon stayed behind Whiteout. Once they exited the room, Whiteout looked at the guards at the door. They were the same two that stayed behind. "Morning, Princess. I trust you had a pleasant rest?" "Good morning Young Highness. Did you sleep well?"

Whiteout gave them a worried glance as one positioned themself at her side and the other walked behind her. "Please don't tell me you both stayed up all night." The one next to her shook their head "we must not tell lies, Your Highness. However, it is our duty to protect you and keep you out of danger. It means we must be awake and alert at all times in the unfortunate case of some dragon trying to hurt you."

Eat me, in this case... She thought sadly as they led her to a magnificent dining hall. The table was massively long, rectangle shape with a white cloth over it. It had enough room for 26 dragons. One on each end and 12 on each side. 

At one head was Snowfall and she was already getting settled in. Out of another exit, came Winter with a smaller dragon about half his size. She had big dark blue eyes and what seemed like a feathery pattern of grey along her wings which complimented her pure white scales. Winter seemed to enjoy her presence and even smiled genuinely.

Whiteout couldn't care less who this was. She just saw her father and ran over to him, ignoring the warnings and pleas of her guards. She pounced on him and wrapped her wings around her father. "Daddy!" She cried out in pure joy. Winter smiled warmly and welcomed her embrace "did you sleep well?" He asked, tightening his grip on her and walking towards his seat. "I did. But I was really sad when they said we couldn't see each other. I felt lonely."

Gently putting his daughter on the icy floor, Winter sighed and gently stroked the top of Whiteout's head "I know, love." Looking back at the guards, Whiteout noticed that they seemed very confused, but she smiled once she went to her seat next to her father and called them each by name. "Please, join me." She said, gesturing to the four seats to her left. Looking puzzled, then to their Queen, Snowfall nodded in approval and the guards sat next to Whiteout in those four seats.

They muttered their confusion to each other but Whiteout paid no mind, instead, as the maids and butlers were passing out the food, Whiteout turned to her father "how is mommy?"

At that question, Winter froze. "How's the food?" He fired back, avoiding eye contact with her. Whiteout did know something was up, and the way he was blocking his mind told her everything she needed to know; something bad happened. "Dad?" She asked in a small voice, looking up at him with a concerned look. Winter shook his head "you should try the food-" 

"Dad!" She screamed, everyone at the table stopping what they were doing to look at her. "Did something happen to mom!? FOR FUCK'S SAKE AT LEAST TELL ME IF SHE'S ALIVE!"

She heard a snort form Snowfall and a few murmurs around the table. Clearing her voice, Snowfall gave a semi-stern look to her cousin "watch your language, and don't speak to your father that way." "S-Sorry..." Snowfall gave Winter a concerned look to which he stood up from the table and gently took Whiteout with him. 

As they were leaving the room, Whiteout's guards began to follow them but Winter raised his hand and they stopped. "Listen, Whiteout." He began, whispering. "This.... This is really hard for me to tell you. And... I''ve never thought that something like this needed to be said. But..." Whiteout began to fear the worst.

She remembered when she flew for the first time and Moon was there to catch her. She remembered when she got sick and Winter prepared his soup for her as Moon sang her songs. She remembered when Moon told her the story about a great villain from the other side of the world. She remembered her mother's loving embrace and her warm smile. She remembered when Moon told her about the Academy that she would be able to attend in a year or two. She remembered Moon and Winter cuddling with her in bed when she got a nightmare. How she would always smother Whiteout in kisses and always tell her that she loves her to the moons and back.

"Whiteout." Her father said, snapping her out of her trance. "Qibli came to me in my dream last night... Qibli told me that Astraea got to Moon before he could.... She.... Can't fly anymore. Astraea cut off Moon's wings."

Whiteout's face dropped and for a moment, it was if she could hear her mother's pained cries in her mind. Ripping her skull out form the inside and pulling it out through every available hole in her head.

"You.... You're lying! YOU'RE A LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!" She cried, gripping her head with her talons. She scraped so hard that some of her blue blood came out. "Whiteout-" "NO! NOTHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN TO MOM! SHE'S TOO STRONG! UNCLE QIBLI GOT THERE IN TIME! YOU'RE LYING TO ME! DON'T LIE!"

Turning tail, Whiteout ran out of the room, ignoring the cries and pleas from everyone. She found a nearby open window and leapt out, flying away from the castle at top speed.

Right then, she let out a pained cry. So loud it echoed throughout the kingdom and she even shot some of her Frostbreath into the air. She flew so far and so fast she didn't know where she was until her wings started to give. She crash-landed on a pike of snow and began to sob.

"Oh my~! Looks like you've done all my work for me." Snapping her head up, Whiteout saw the devilish grin plastered on the Nightwing's snout. "I'm assuming you found out what I did too your mother? It's a shame I couldn't devour her. That Sandwing showed up before I could. No matter. I've been watching you... And now I know....."

She inched closer, spreading her wings to limit Whiteoute's escape.

"You're exactly who I need."