The Blood Moon Killer

Chapter 28: Information

Moon stirred for a while in her hospital room. Qibli was next to her, staring at the Dream Visitor in his talon with a sad face. They sat in silence. Usually, Moon would stretch her wings or gently fold them at her sides.... Not that she could anymore.

She remembered going to Pantala with her family once and seeing the Silkwing dragonets without wings. But their wings grow when they're undergoing Metamorphosis. She remembered seeing some of the cocoons they spun for themselves. Luna and Swordtail had shown them their son's cocoon spinning. Moon was standing and watching patiently. Whiteout was on her neck, holding on like a koala and staring in complete awe. Winter was there too, he was talking notes and asked some questions about being able to breathe in the cocoon. Luna and Swordtail described their own experiences and they began to recount stories of what they remembered. 

Quickly shaking away the though, Moon wrapper her tail around her front claws and looked at her back. She looked at the bandaged nubs, which was supposed to be the base of her wings. She hated feeling helpless. She wished she could have fought back better so this wouldn't have happened. 

A loud and terrifying screech echoed through the room, snapping both dragons from their thoughts. A large falcon came through an open window and into their chamber. It landed on a small dresser and screeched once more, unfolding it's wings. The falcon was dark brown with piercing yellow eyes and bright yellow talons. The underbelly was a lighter brown and it's been had a small scar on it. 

The bird flapped it's wings and jumped over to the foot of the bed that Moon was on. "It's a messenger falcon." Qibli stated, gently walking over and opening the pouch on it's back. The clasp flipped open and the Sandwing pulled out a long, rolled up piece of paper. "Is there any seal on the pouch?" Moon asked as she leaned closer. Turning his gaze to look at the falcon, he noticed there was a blue and green seal that looked like seaweed at both sides of a conch shell.

"It's the Royal Seawing Note." He said. "Must be from Turtle." "Read it aloud please." Moon asked, shifting position so she was more comfortable and able to see what her friend ad written.

"To my beloved friends, whom I consider close family,

I wish I had some good news to bring... I don't, unfortunately. After you guys left, I went back to the Nightwing Archives and did some digging, and Kelp took me to the temple the kids discovered. We read through most of the scrolls and, to summarize, is a cannibalistic cult bent on gaining power through consuming other tribes. They gain abilities based on who they eat and how strong the victim was. Astraea was one of those out of control ones whose appetite was never full. Even her fellow members feared her. 

She'd often resort to eating other Blood Moon worshipers because she considered their blood 'pure'. I did find some documents on her that depicted how she was captured and why... But more on that later. 

That's not the worst part of this discovery. She became convinced that some sort of sacrifice would bring back their founder; Scarletnight. Apparently, he was the first Nightwing to be born under the Blood Moon. His appearance was as follows; tail of a Sandwing, wings of a Skywing, breath and immunity to the cold like an Icewing, gills like a Seawing, Flamesilk like a Silkwing, poison teeth like a Hivewing, camouflage like a Rainwing, strength of a Mudwing. (Keep in mind he gained those traits by the constant consuming of other dragons. He was sealed away by Souleater, who was an Animus dragon at the time of Scarletnight.) 

Back to Astraea, the reason why she need Whiteout is because Moon is a direct descendant of the dragon that sealed away Scarletnight (Souleater and his mate). Even though Moon would be enough for the sacrifice, after some digging on Astraea's part, she realized that the 'Savior' loved to eat dragonets, so sacrificing Whiteout would increase the chances of the ritual working. 

And no, thankfully the ritual doesn't require the sacrifice to be killed, but she must bleed significantly under the light of the Blood Moon on the grave of Scarletnight. Astraea thinks that the seal meant to keep him in will be undone by a descendant. One thing that I discovered however, was that Souleater had a fail-safe for this. He put his soul of him and his lover into two rings, that way if Scarletnight were to be resurrected, there would be a way to seal him for good.

The rings are located at the Skywing palace. I've sent Peril, Jet and Aardvark ahead to retrieve it and bring it to you. Qibli had kept me updated on your position. The reason why Aardvark wanted to go along is unknown to me, but I suspect something more is at play. They should be arriving soon.

Keep safe, and stay alive.

Your friend, 

Turtle."

Qibli finished reading and slowly looked at Moon who had been crying silently. "Tell Turtle I appreciate the warning, and I'm grateful for his and everyone else's help." Qibli understood and grabbed a piece of paper from a scroll and an ink and quill, before beginning to write some thanks.

He cannot begin to comprehend what Moon is going through right now. Losing her wings, being separated from her family, finding out her child will need to go through so much pain and suffering, Astraea closing on her.... It must be terrible. 

When Qibli finished the letter and sent the hawk on it's way, he went to Moon and hugged her tightly. "Please. Let it all out, Moon. I know you're suffering immensely right now and it's alright. I'm your friend, so you can be weak around me. Please. Let it out."

That was it. Moon couldn't remember how long it was since she last cried. She couldn't remember when it was when she did cry like this, although she knew she did. Right now, she wished she could be with all her friends, they would be at the beach and laughing and playing and eating all the fish and cow they could ever want. They would all be safe... And happy.... And alive. Maybe. Just maybe if she closed her eyes hard enough, wished long enough...

It would come true.