King of The Dragons (Wings of Fire X Monster Hunter)

Part 2: Chapter 15, 16, & 17

(3rd Pov Moonwatcher)

Winter's words had an instant effect on the other three dragonets.
'He's right,' Kinkajou realized. 'How - what -'
Turtle's mind was as opaque as ever, but he shifted on his talons and gave Moon a curious frown.
Worst of all was Qibli. 'How did she know? She couldn't have done thins - could she? She's a dragon with secrets, and Thorn said not to trust the NightWings - but why would she? I know I haven't figured her out yet, btu I didn't see violence in her. And yet, how did she know? But if she set the fire, why would she try to stop us from going in? But surely she wouldn't - she couldn't have - I can't even believe I'm thinking this -'
"You didn't - sorry, but - you didn't have anything to do with -" he started.
"No!" Moon cried. "Of course not!" She brushed away tears, trying to keep her voice steady. Trying not to think about how injured Tamarin and Carnelian were. Or how everything was now falling apart. "I would never hurt anyone."
"I know," Qibli said, but not convincingly. 'She was better at hunting than anyone expected. There is strength beneath those scales. In the right circumstances, wouldn't any dragon be capable of hurting another? Even her? But why?'

"If you didn't do it, then do you know who did?" Turtle asked. He hadn't spoken since the blast; he hadn't moved from his spot by the wall until he came chasing after them. He looked shaken, but not destroyed. Moon wished she knew what he was thinking. Did he suspect her, too?
"Or maybe you saw something?" Kinkajou suggested hopefully. "Something that warned you?"
'That might work,' Darkstalker said. 'At least two of them want to believe that; start with that lie and build from there.'
'I don't want to tell them any lies,' Moon pointed out. 'Even ones they want to believe.'
She pressed her front claws together, feeling a wrenching fear all through her chest. Her mother was echoing through her head: 'Never never tell anyone about your curse. Never let anyone find out. It will be the end of everything.' And she had made sure no one found out. Not even Ivy knew about her powers. Well, as far as Moon knew, that is.

"There's only one explanation," Winter hissed through his teeth, looking down his snout at her. "You did this. You set the fire. I don't know why yet, but I will find out."
The other explanation was there, hovering at the edge of his mind, but he couldn't bring himself to believe it yet. he'd been so sure - so sure - that the NightWings had been lying about their powers all along.
"I swear I didn't" Moon said. She spread her wings helplessly. "Please believe me."
"Can't you tell how you knew?" Kinkajou pleaded.
Moon couldn't speak. She felt as if there were claws clamed around her throat, as though her worst fear was trying to choke her so she couldn't reveal her secrets.

Winter stared at her for a long minute, and then he lashed his tail, spike clattering against the stubby pillars dotting the floor. "I will give you one chance, NightWing. You have until midnight tomorrow to tell me the truth - or I'm going to tell everyone what you did." He took a step toward her and she flinched back. "I knew NightWings couldn't be trusted, but I was starting to think that maybe you were different. Clearly I was wrong." He stalked out of the cave.

Moon buried her face in her talons, shaking. Kinkajou reached for her hesitantly. The doubt in Kinkajou's mind - of all dragons - made Moon want to disappear completely.
'I don't understand,' Qibli was thinking, and that was clearly and unfamiliar and uncomfortable experience for him. His brain kept circle all the possibilities . . . including the truth, but he kept shying away from it. Moon knew it wouldn't be long before he came to it, though.
But he wasn't the first one there.
"Three moons," Turtle said. Glowing lines lit up along his wings and neck, making him shimmer eerily in the dark cave. He took a deep breath, staring at her with wide eyes. "It was a vision, wasn't it? You can see the future."
Kinkajou gasped. "No way," she whispered.
'Admit nothing,' Darkstalker advised.
'Stay secret, stay hidden, stay safe,' her mother's mantra echoed in her head.
There didn't seem to be any chance of that now.
Moon looked down at her talons and nodded.