Bluescold runs to the Groves. We go to Pridestone, who comes with us to help search for Morningdew. We struggle through the dense trees, and get very tired from the walk. By the time we've searched through them all, it's midday.
"How are we going to find my mother? We must find her."
"We don't. But we must have hope. You can still get your mother back." I trust Pridestone's words because he knows what he's talking about from experience.
"She's missing, not dead. We will find her, Bluescold." My words make her happier. She brightens and searches with newfound gusto.
We look through the Gorge, making quick work of the open space. Morningdew is not there.
"Let's continue towards the deeper forest," I say. The place where Stormbreaker erased your mind. I don't say these words, she's worried about enough already.
We make it to the tip of where we are going to search when we run into Redburn. He looks, for the first time since I met him, desperate and afraid. The look fills me with more fear than fighting giant snakes and spiders. The look makes me feel like I'd lose a battle with a tiny fish. When he speaks, his voice wavers up and down.
"It is time to stop searching. We're not going to find anything else now. Come back to the Clearing."
"But how will we find mom?" Redburn thinks about his answer carefully.
"We don't know. We need a new plan, because this isn't going to find her. She would have returned if she was in the nearby area."
"So you're giving up?" The question has a sharp accusation. I've never seen Bluescold so upset.
"No. We won't give up until we've found her, one way or another." Bluescold doesn't look satisfied.
"So why are we stopping?" Redburn looks sad. He didn't want to upset Bluescold more.
"All the pegasi need hope. This includes me. The way we're doing this only diminishes hope." Redburn sheds a tear. The water droplet runs down his face, falling from his chin. Pridestone, Bluescold, and I watch, shocked. Redburn never cries.
"Remain strong, my daughter. We will find her. Flame, Pridestone. You must also remain strong. Panic will only worsen what is already very bad for everyone." He and Bluescold both breath deeply, trying to calm the struggling minds.
With that he leaves, preparing for the speech he is going to make. I don't envy him. For the first time I realize how hard it has been for him. My appearance has caused anger that he has shielded. He managed to avoid the intense anger and still keep me safe. How can I lay the truth on either his or Bluescold's minds? I will protect them as best I can, but it might not be enough. I will tell them in a little bit. For now, I'll bear the secret alone. Pridestone might not be able to handle the truth either. I have to tell someone, though. After the meeting with Redburn, I will go to Sunstar. It might be hard to convince him of the truth.
Pridestone decides to ask a question. It generates a hopeful feeling.
"What do you think Redburn will do?" The question gets our minds away from sadness and to how we're going to solve the problem.
"Redburn will most likely make a search party." Her words do not waver. She does not show the desperation that hurts more than any wound. No claw or tooth could inflict the pain she feels. Pridestone knows how much it hurts. I haven't had an experience like this, so I don't know how to help. We all know that there is little hope for Morningdew's survival. Maybe not knowing is even worse than knowing. At least they would know whether to celebrate her life or grieve for her death.
We enter the clearing, and see many nervous pegasi. I am nervous, partially because we have no idea if we'll find her. I am also nervous about what hand Stormbreaker had in this. It seems too coincidental for just an accident of some sort. First, he killed Slytail and had monsters attack everyone. Then he started the fire. After that he tried to kill me. He infiltrated someone's memories and changed them. Now he most likely caused this. He is a very big problem. I know that him and Morningdew disappearing are connected.
Redburn interrupts my thoughts.
"We will send a search party for Morningdew tomorrow evening. They will travel the area from the ocean to the East, the ocean to the South, the desert in the North, and the mountains to the West. It will take them multiple days, so do not be worried if they do not return immediately. Who would like to lead this search?" Two pegasi volunteer. Blizardwing and Stormbreaker. "We will have a vote on who will lead the search. Only those in the search will get to vote. Who would like to be in the search?" Bluescold, Pridestone, and I all volunteer. The only other kid who does volunteer is Firefly. We watch as Redburn calls out the names of the pegasi who will go on the search. All five adults are chosen. The only ones I know are Sunstar and Everburn. A teacher I recognize is chosen, but I don't know her name. Firefly is also picked. My two friends and I are skipped. I know better than to call out this. I can save it for later.
The chosen group gathers together. They vote on the leader of their group. We wait for a few minutes before Redburn tells us the results.
"Stormbreaker had the most votes. It was two to four in his favor. Congratulate the new search leader." I hear applause around me, but I ignore it. Stormbreaker can't lead the search, he is the cause of Morningdew's disappearance. At the least he will make sure they don't find her. I don't know what he will do at worst.
"Thank you for choosing me to lead the search. I will do my best to find Morningdew. She will not be lost like Slytail." That's a lie. The first thing he'll do is go in the opposite direction of Morningdew. Or he'll go directly there, which is much worse. Why is he bringing Slytail into his thank-you speech? She has nothing to do with the disappearance of Morningdew. Another sign that Stormbreaker is guilty.
I head towards Redburn's den, where Bluescold and Pridestone are already sitting. Redburn is talking to them. They walk away, clearly annoyed.
"Why didn't you let us into the search?" Redburn looks me directly in the eye.
"I can't lose any more citizens who are this close to me. You and your friends are very important to me. It would cause me even greater pain if you were killed. I have a suspicion that this quest will be dangerous, especially with all the monsters around."
"We can protect ourselves." He smiles at my brave words.
"I'm sure you can. I am worried about you in particular. You have enemies within our herd and without. More than any other dragon alive I'm sure. And if you were killed while you were in my protection, it would be very hard for my people. The dragons would be angered. I want peace with them, and getting you killed would start a war I can't win. I know you think you have to go on this journey, but save for a fight you can win. This would be more difficult for you than what you've already done. You're not powerful enough. The others don't have enemies within the group. They are also not swarmed by monsters all the time."
"Okay. I will not go on this search." Even as part of me wants to listen to the words coming from my mouth, I know that this promise will not hold true.
YOU ARE READING
Flying For Freedom
خيال (فانتازيا)Flame is a young dragon who must find his place in the world, as both a person and a prince. With an overprotective father, the weight of his responsibility is overwhelming. On a trip to his uncle, he is attacked by monsters and forced to live with...
