The Silver Scales

The Silver Scales Chapter 20

Exploration

Treefrog hummed a random tune as he wandered the tunnel systems of Jade Mountain Academy. Having an adventurous spirit often left Trefrog feeling bored if he stayed in one place for too long. He wanted to explore the continent and see everything. Treefrog's claws clicked and clacked as he walked. he didn't have the best eyesight in the dimmer tunnels and caves, but he could still see where he was going, for the time being at least. The space of free time offered him the opportunity to pursue his favorite hobby, and he took full advantage of it. Using his wings to keep himself from running into a wall as he walked, hoping to find a hidden cave that no one has found yet. Not to try and brag about it, he wasn't interested in that sort of thing, but new areas, to Treefrog, were just as exciting as treasure would be to a dragon's hoard.

Treefrog slowed his pace suddenly, his ears pricking up as he heard something, or rather, someone, talking. Stepping closer, he poked his head around the corner, spotting a familiar dragoness. It was Antarctica, and she seemed to be speaking to herself as she paced. Moving back and forth in the small opening, she was in. Treefrog tilted his head slowly, trying to hear what Antarctica was saying, in case he could help her somehow.

"Train and fight, train and fight. That's all anyone ever does. Why? The war is over; there is no need for us to train all day long." She grumbled to herself, a scroll in her talon from her father, a high-ranking general in the kingdom. "Just because he grew up fighting from dawn to dusk doesn't mean that's what I want. But since when do any icewings care what their dragonets want?" She spat, a few puffs of frostbreath emitting from her mouth with each word. "I swear the Queens are to blame... Snowfall, Glacier, and even go so far back to Diamond. As far as I can tell, there has never been any Icewing queen who understood that training like we were always on high alert was a bad idea..."

Treefrog slowly tilted his head as he listened, a little surprised by how upset she was. He wasn't sure what growing up in the Ice Kingdom was like, but compared to how lax things were in the Rainforest Kingdom, he doubted she was exaggerating. Why would she when she thought she was alone? Decided to enter the cave, he cleared his throat politely, causing her head to snap over and look at him. "What do you want?" She growled, a little harsher than she meant to. It wasn't Treefrog that was irritating her. "Well, uh, I was just exploring when I heard your hissing and growling, figured maybe you'd like someone to talk to?"

Antarctica huffed angrily. "Yeah, like talking will do anything to solve my problems." She hissed. "No, it won't, but venting about your issues might let your anger wane." Treefrog countered. Antarctica seemed to consider it for a long moment before rolling her eyes. "No. I don't even know you that well, you think I'm going to tell you everything?" Antarctica hissed.

"Ok, fine, don't tell me anything. But how about you stop acting like a soldier for two minutes, and trust a rainwing for a moment?" Treefrog said, walking over to a large crack in the wall of the cavern, leaving Antarctica with a shocked look at his sudden ferocity. "You coming?" He asked, halfway through the crack in the wall. Antarctica paused for a long moment, but decided to follow the smaller rainwing. "A tight fit...." She muttered, her larger frame needing a few extra pulls to get fully through. "Where are you taking me?" She muttered, not sure what he was doing or where they were. "You know, if you don't want to be a soldier all the time, maybe you should learn to relax. Look at me, I'm a simple rainwing, what am I going to do to you?" Treefrog said, not even looking back as he led her deeper through the tunnel.

Antarctica huffed slightly, but continued to follow him, frowning slightly as she suddenly saw Treefrog begin to.... Glow? Rainwings couldn't light their scales up.... That was the seawings....

It was true that Treefrog was beginning to glow, just not of his own accord. "Where are we?" Antartica asked again as her scales began to glow and even shift colors, though her tone was more confused than upset. "I found this cavern a few days ago; most students don't even know that it exists because they can't fit through the crack," Treerog said as the tunnel opened up into a large, vibrant cave, the walls covered in glowing lichen, a large lake was in the center, fille with bright blue glowing algae, and glowworms adorned the ceiling. No outside light could reach this cave, so the light from the bioluminescence had a rather striking effect on their scales. Turning Antarctica's white and blue scales to vibrant pinks, deep purples, and even gold. "Woah..." Antarctica breathed, and the sight was incredible. Even the rare lights that would appear in the Ice kingdom's sky didn't offer this kind of reaction from her.

"This..... This looks incredible." She said, pausing as she looked at Treefrog. "And you!" Antartica had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Treefrog had begun to constantly shift his scales to every color he could shift them into, making his body a constant changing of the bright hues that the bioluminescent light reflected off his scales. It was almost hypnotic seeing that ever-shifting state of color. "What, something on my face?" He asked teasingly, knowing good and well what she was referring to.

Antarctica couldn't stop her laughter from breaking through; her worries about her father, the tribe, everything melted away. "Oftentimes, Antarctica," Treefrog said, hoisting himself onto a rock to lie down on, splashing his tail into the water to send a school of glowing, bright white fish into a panic, patterns of light flickering around the cave. "A good laugh is all it takes to get you to relax, to just slow down and think," Treefrog said, looking over at her, her blue eyes now swirling pools of purple.

Antartica glanced over at him, before sighing and looking at the school of fish. "My father is a general; he prides himself on his fighting prowess. He doesn't care that I don't want to be a soldier, he doesn't care that I am interested in music. All he cares about is making me a perfect fighter to take his place one day." She muttered, suddenly jabbing a claw through a fish, biting its head off in one bite.

Treefrog pushed away the wave of nausea that came from seeing Antarctica eat the fish's head. "I can't offer any advice on how to deal with your father's pushing nature." He said. "I never knew my father, or my mother, for that matter. Or if I do know them, I was never raised by them. And while I have only recently started to learn about your tribe, and it works, I do know about passions. I love to explore, I would love to go out and travel, live from place to place to see new things that no one ever has before." Treefrog said. "So believe me when I say this: If your father hates your passion, and will do nothing but try to stop you from pursuing it? Then your father should be the last one you ever listen to in how you decide your life. Because ultimate? Your life is YOURS to decide. If music isn't accepted in the ice kingdom? Then leave, find another place to live, and practice your music till you are a grand master. Prophecies and visions may be given by Moonwatcher, but it is just showing one possibility. Your decisions change your future every second of every day." Treefrog said, giving her a gentle smile.

Antartica stared at the lake for a long moment as she took in his words. Somehow, he made a great deal of sense for never having to deal with an overbearing father. "I suppose you are right... It's not easy to turn your back on tradition, though, familial or tribal." She said, taking another bite of her fish. "Oh, I'm sorry, did you want one?" She asked, ready to skewer another one for Treeforg, who wrinkled his nose instantly. "Not unless you can turn a fish into a lovely mango," Treefrog said. "Right," Antarctica huffed with amusement, having forgotten he wasn't accustomed to eating fruit.

"But look, I can only offer what advice I can, though I'm not the best with such advice. But this cave is isolated, quiet, if you ever need to vent your frustrations, feel free," Treefrog offered, slowly sliding off the rock he was lying on. Antartica gave a slow nod. "I'll be sure to take that offer up if I feel I need-HEY!" Antarctica yelled out in alarm as she was suddenly shoved into the water, resurfacing with a sputtering cough, only to find Treefrog's head popping up beside her with a laugh. "Not a soldier, you'd be able to catch me sneaking up on you from a mile away!' He laughed again.

Antartica let out a playful grol before suddenly dunking Treefrog's head underwater, effortlessly holding him there before pulling him up. "Strong enough to push you around if I need to!' She laughed, shielding herself with a wing as Treefrog splashed her with his tail, their laughter filling the cave as they left their worries behind as they just had fun, something Antartica hadn't had for quite some time.