The Silver Scales

The Silver Scales CH 24 Pt. 1

Will the Wraith Choose the Mud or the Ice?

(A/N for the first time in this story at least there will be a chapter split into multiple parts! This one will be split because I have a lot planned for it but also a few things to do to prepare for the holdiays and well holidays are always hectic as every year. So I wanted to at least get part one out for you guys to enjoy!)

Spirit stretched, her back popping a few times as she got up from the seat she was on. "Moons above," Spirit groaned. "You'd think these chairs would be more comfortable. Winter must've used his frostbreath on these cushions to keep us on ice during class!" Spirit joked, giggling as she ducked away from Winter's wing as Winter attempted to swat her head. "Get out of here, you!' Winter laughed, shaking his head. "You're getting as bad as your father with those puns!"

Spirit giggled, putting her scrolls and inkpot into her pouch.

"Abyss, do you need anything?" Spirit asked, looking over at the Abyssalwing prince; his stoic face was hard to read. After a moment to clear his throat, Abyss shook his head.

"No, i'm.... alright, going to.... Music cave," Abyss said, his voice not as cracked nor as hoarse since he had been on Pyrrhia for a few months, though it still seemed to cause him discomfort if he spoke for too long.

"Alright then," Spirit said with a smile. "Glad to see you are starting to enjoy life above the water." She said sincerely, brushing wings with the Prince.

"Not quite.... But it's... Not as bad as we thought." He rasped, giving a smile of his own.

"Though... the constant sunlight... isn't quite pleasant." He chuckled, getting up to head out of the cave with the rest of his classmates.

Spirit walked down the halls, her mind working to see what she would do before the next class.

"Hey, Spirit?" Alligator said, suddenly walking beside Spirit.

"Oh, hey Alligator, what's up?" Spirit asked with a smile.

"I... Can we talk somewhere privately?" He asked, a nervous tone to his voice.

"Sure, come on," Spirit said with a smile, leading Alligator down into the mountain, towards a lake that Abyss swims in to cool off on the warmer days.

"So, what's up?" Spirit asked, letting her tail dip in the water.

"I... well... I have something to tell you, I just... Don't know how..." Alligator mumbled, scratching his neck awkwardly as he tried to stop himself from chickening out of this entirely. He still wasn't sure about.... Well, anything. He still thought of himself as scarred and broken from the aftershocks of the war.

Spirit tilted her head. "Well, you could just say it, bluntness isn't always a bad thing," Spirit said, a trickle of worry in her voice.

Alligator took a breath, then finally he spoke. "I... I've never thought I'd be able to find a dragon that I can really connect to like you. Everyone thinks I'm broken and scarred, including myself. I was never in the war, but dissenting groups from the tribes who wanted it to continue left me with my scars... And yet you never seemed to see the scars. You saw me for who I was, not what the scars might have signified about me... And I.... I've fallen for you..."

Spirit's eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly. "A-Alligator I-" Spirit began.

"You don't have to say anything now." Alligator said softly. "I just wanted to tell you.. I'm not going to pressure for a response.... I want you to have time to think about it." Alligator said awkwardly.

Spirit paused, she wasn't even sure how to react. "I... I think I'd like to think about it. I mean, you're an amazing dragon, Alligator, you're smart and caring. But... I-I just don't know if I feel that way for you or not..."

Alligator nodded, ignoring the twist in his chest that she didn't reciprocate immediately. "I understand, take the time you need to figure it all out... I know I just sprang this up on you..."

Spirit nodded. "Thanks, I promise I'll try to answer soon.... I just need to figure it all out within me." Spirit promised, brushing wings with him gently before he left the cave, allowing Spirit to think.

Not long after, Avalanche entered the underground cavern, finding Spirit staring at the water, silent, lost in thought. "Spirit?" Avalanche asked, sitting beside Spirit, but got no reply. After a long moment, Avalanche poked Spirit's side with a claw.

Spirit jumped, nearly falling into the lake. "O-Oh! Avalanche, sorry, I guess I was lost in thought." Spirit apologized.

"Alligator beat me to it," Avalanche muttered under her breath.

"What?" Spirit asked, not having understood Avalanche's muttering.

Avalanche didn't speak, instead slowly taking off the pouch that held her skyfire. Spirit, I'm not very good with words, so I'll just let you listen... I... I like you more than just a friend. It's not easy for me to admit this; I'm not used to letting myself be open. But I like you, far more than I ever thought I would." Avalanche admitted, avoiding eye contact with Spirit. Not wanting to pressure her, Avalanche decided to slip the pouch back on, gently brush wings with Spirit, and leave to let her think through the double confession that had just smacked into Spirit's life.

Spirit lay down on the edge of the lake, staring into the water. Two of her best friends.... And they both confessed on the same day, barely 10 minutes apart at that.... Spirit rubbed her eyes. How could she even begin to decipher what she felt for them? She never looked at either of them that way... or.... Had she? Spirit was trying to rush through her time with them; she had always seen them as friends.

Have I been that naive that I haven't noticed their feelings and my own?? Or was I willfully ignoring it? Did I not want to hurt our friendships? Why is this so complicated?!

"Hello... anyone home??" A rapping of Abyss's claw against her head finally shook Spirit from her entrenching thoughts. "OW! HEY! STOP THAT!" Spirit snapped, grabbing Abyss's arm. "At least use the blunt end, you maniac!" She snapped.

Abyss smirked slightly. "Ah, your two friends confessed, did they?' HE asked, using his thoughts rather than his mouth, earning a surprised look from Spirit. "You knew?!"

"Of course I know, it was obvious. But you seem.... Worried?" He lay down beside Spirit, his milky white eyes watching her. Despite them being blind. "You want someone to listen? I can be a good listener."

Spirit sighed. "I just... I don't know.... I don't know if I feel the same for either of them... I always considered us as friends, nothing else.... But.... maybe I was just blind because I didn't want to lose the friendships I just..." Spirit sighed. "Do I try to figure out what I feel? Do I tell them just no, so we don't lose a good friendship? What if I lose one because I chose the other? What if I lose them both??"

Abyss nodded slowly before suddenly shoving Spirit into the Lake, causing her ot choke as she surfaced. "What was THAT for?!" Spirit snapped, getting out of the lake, shaking herself in a vain attempt to dry herself.

"You are thinking of this like it was a problem assigned in class. I know you are creative, but this isn't something you'll be able to solve with your brain. This one you'll have to focus on your heart." Abyss said gently.

"Didn't mean you had to push me into the lake." She muttered, earning a chuckle from Abyss, his ear flicking. "Well, worry about it later, right now it's time for class. Science with a new teacher, if I'm not mistaken." Abyss got up, trotting off up the cavern hall towards the school. Spirit sighed heavily, rubbed her eyes one more time, then headed to class herself, the worry and uncertainty of what she felt to her friends still gnawing at her gut.

When she arrived at the class, she sat away from Alligator and Avalanche, not wanting the conflicts within herself to make the entire class feel awkward for any of them, unable to ignore the glances they had both sent her way when she entered the cave. Though Spirit couldn't keep her focus on class, her brain was still swarming with worries and wonderings of what she felt towards Alligaotr and Avalanche...