The Silver Scales

The Silver Scales CH 23

Two Dragons, One Crush... Mixed Feelings for all?

(A/N Finally, the story critiques for my college are done! Sorry it took so long, hope that you enjoy the chapter!)

Alligator stretched, feeling some knots in his spine loosen before relaxing his body again. Remembering Starflight's words from last night, Alligator just sat in the small pool of mud and reeds for a long moment, his claw slowly tracing a spiral pattern in the mud pool. If I had died instead of Viper, she would never know how I felt. Starflight's words echoed in Alligator's mind. But you will never know if you don't tell her.

Prince Abyss, still residing at the school under his new role/punishment as ambassador, got up from the hurriedly-made pool for him to sleep in while he stays at the Academy. "Morning." He said that his tribe's unique ability to see through echolocation allowed him to see the mudwing just sitting there, staring at the ground. "What happened to you?"

The sudden speech made Alligator jump, looking over at Abyss. "I forgot you were here." Alligator muttered, finding the white-eyes stare of Abyss creepy, even if Abyss could see him, just through other means, that didn't make it any less unsettling. "I'm fine, just thinking about something I need to do, something I've been putting off.

"You mean telling Spirit how you feel?" Abyss said bluntly, shuffling through his pouch to look for the new schedule he was in while staying at the Academy. He didn't have to look over to know Alligator's head snapped to stare at Abyss. "What are you-" Alligator began.

"Don't insult me," Abyss interrupted, unrolling his scroll and using some stitched writing to feel for what cave he needed to go to, one of the rainwings' ideas back in the rainforest. "I may be physically unable to see things right in front of my eyes, but even I can tell you have some feelings for her. What they are, I can't say for certain, but it is obvious to anyone who spends any amount of time with you, or Princess Avalanche, that you deeply care for Spirit." Abyss rolled up his scroll. "You want my advice?"

Alligator looked back down at the mud pool he was sitting in. He wasn't surprised about Avalanche feeling the same way for Spirit that he did after seeing Avalanche's near volcano-sized eruption of fury when Abyss had taken Spirit to his kingdom. "Not especially."

"Well, you are going to get it anyway. Talk to her, tell Spirit how you feel, but also tell her you have suspicions someone else in the winglet has feelings for her, too. Don't give up Avalanche's name, as that revelation is for Avalanche to reveal to Spirit when she is ready. But after you tell all of this to Spirit, don't pressure her. If you pressure her for a reply, then you might lose her completely, even as a friend. Give her space and time, trust me, she has no idea how you and Avalanche feel about her, she will be taken aback." Abyss began to walk out, only to pause halfway through the cave's doorway.

"You sound like you have experience in this subject." Alligator said, turning his head slightly towards him. Abyss chuckled softly, though there was a sad tone to it. "Let's just say I found myself in Spirit's position once..." Abyss sighed heavily. "And I ended up losing two good friends in the process," Abyss said before walking down the hall, leaving Alligator alone to ponder his thoughts for a moment before taking a deep breath, cleaning the mud from his scales, and heading for Sunny's office. He needed to ask something only family could answer, or someone Spirit considered family.

Knocking on Sunny's door, the small hybrid opened it with a curious expression. "Oh, hello, Alligator, can I help you with something?" Sunny asked with a friendly smile. "Hey Sunny, I was.... Well.... It.... It's rather complicated...." Alligator said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." Sunny stepped aside, letting Alligator in, who proceeded to sit in front of Sunny's desk. "What seems to be troubling you?" Sunny asked, rolling up a scroll before Alligator could get a glimpse at the disciplinary recommendation for a rather aggressive student. "Well.... I recently...." Alligator sighed. "I think I've fallen for Spirit..." Alligator muttered, his cheeks turning a shade of rosy red. Sunny raised an eyebrow. "You think you have or you have?" Sunny asked, clasping her claws together on her desk.

"I..... I have.... I just don't know what to do. How can you just tell someone something like that?" Alligator asked, rolling his shoulders slightly. "Well, you can always do what Starflight did, wait until the last second before you and your friends are about to infiltrate an active volcano, save the trapped rainwings, and rescue the nightwings from their impending doom," Sunny said with a giggle. "Very funny," Alligator chuckled, grateful for the joke. "But it's not something you can just blurt out....I mean, Spirit, she's amazing, always cheerful, she's creative, adventurous, and has the most unique way of looking at things. I can't even look at a problem without wondering how her take would change my own perception." Alligator drags a claw slowly across the stone floor."I want to tell her how I feel, but I don't want to make things awkward if she doesn't feel the same and our friendship is ruined."

Alligator paused, then added. "But if I wait too long, Avalanche might confess first, and I won't have a chance to tell Spirit at all."

Sunny nodded slightly, her tail thumping against the ground. "Well, Alligator, I don't know what you want me to say that everyone else wouldn't say. All you can do is tell her and see if she feels the same." Sunny said simply, only to then tilt her head. "Why did you come to me about this, if you don't mind me asking?" Sunny asked, thought had a mysterious glint in her eyes.

Alligator felt his cheeks flush again. "Well, you and she are close, from some of the rumors I've heard. Qibli is like your adopted brother. I'm not sure what the real story is, but.... I guess I was hopin...."

"You were hoping maybe she indicated to me if she had a crush of her own on someone," Sunny said with a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Alligator nodded, feeling ashamed that he was trying to do an end run around Spirit's back about something so personal. "Well, Alligator," Sunny said, sorting through her papers. "I'm not going to say one war or the other if she did hint at having a crush on someone, and even if she did or didn't, I wouldn't tell you or anyone else." Sunny chuckled as she unrolled a scroll. "Anything else I can help you with?"

"No, I suppose not." Alligator said, getting up to leave, trying not to be lost in his train of thought. "It's funny though," Sunny began. "Avalanche was in here just an hour before you arrived. Had many of the same questions." Sunny said with a mischievous smile, looking up from her papers. "I told her the same thing I told you. Have a nice day, Alligator." Sunny said with a smile.

Alligator tried not to let it show as he left, but he was worried. If Spirit didn't feel the same, he could accept that, but he wanted, at the very least, to have the opportunity to tell Spirit how he felt without the possibility of ruining anything that might form between Spirit and Avalnche should something happen.

"You can come out now," Sunny said after Alligator left. Avalanche opened the door to a small storage closet in Sunny's office, where she kept records of all the issues and requests made by students and teachers alike. She didn't say anything, quietly beginning to leave. "Just tell her, Avalanche, I promise you, even if Spirit doesn't feel the same, you can still be friends with her; she's not going to let something like that break up a friendship.

Avalanche paused midstep, glancing at Sunny silently before leaving the smaller dragon's office.

Maybe Sunny is right, I should just tell her... Both Alligator and Avalanche thought as they traversed through the halls to get to their first class of the day