The Silver Scales

The Silver Scales CH24 Pt. 2

Who does the Heart want more?

"Spirit, could you stay for a moment?" Winter asked, collecting the last few scrolls from his students as the gong rang.

"Sure," Spirit said, glancing at Alligator and Avalanche as they left. It had been almost three days since they had both confessed, and still, Spirit couldn't figure out where her heart was towards either of them.

Once her classmates had left, Winter began to organize papers on his desk. "Made a choice yet?" Winter asked without looking up.

Spirit sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Did everyone know about this except me?" she asked with more than a little annoyance in her voice.

"No," Winter said. "I'm sure Queen Ruby doesn't know anything about this," Winter said with a chuckle, only to pause when he glanced up at Spirit's distraught face.

"Hey, how long have you known me?" Winter asked, walking over to Spirit

"Practically since I hatched," Spirit murmured.

"That's because your parents have been friends since we attended this academy." Winter began. "And what you may not know is that Qibli and I both loved your mother."

Spirit looked up, surprised. "You did? But you seem so happy with Lynx?" Spirit asked, earning a chuckle from Winter.

"I am happy with Lynx, but that doesn't mean I forgot how I used to feel about Moon." Winter tilts his head slightly. "That's what you're worried about, isn't it? Losing one friend if you chose the other?"

Spirit dropped her gaze, nodding. "Yes... and no..... I don't even know if I feel that way towards either of them... I never thought about them in that way before... It's like... I don't know... We have been friends for so long, and then they both just drop this on me out of nowhere. I don't know what to do, and I'm scared I'll lose them both if I don't choose one of them. They are some of my best friends, and I just don't know what to do!" Spirit buried her face in her talons, rubbing her eyes worriedly.

Winter listened to Spirit's rambling in silence, allowing her to finally voice the worries and fears she had bottled up inside her. After waiting another moment to make sure she was done, Winter asked. "Feel better?"

She took a breath. "A little," Spirit murmured, looking up at Winter. "How did you manage it? You are still friends with my parents; you don't resent my mother for not choosing you."

Winter chuckled. "Because they are my friends, the first real friends I ever had, it took me a long while to learn, Spirit. To let myself be who I really am rather than who my family wanted me to be. Now that I am, I feel free for the first time. That included how I felt towards Moon, yes, I did love her, and when she chose Qibli, I admit, I was jealous. But over time, I learned to accept it, and I fell in love with Lynx, someone I had always been close to; those jealous feelings dissipated. That is how we are still close friends, and if they are real friends, they will do the same." Winter said gently.

"But what if they hate me? What if they can't put any jealousy aside?? What if I lose one of my closest friends because I chose one over the other? What if-" Spirit began, only for Winter to grab her snout, silencing her.

"Spirit," Winter said with a knowing smile, "you are far too much like your mother in the way you overthink things. What you need to do is focus on how you feel, not how you think. I promise you, you will continue to spiral if you overthink." Winter let her snout go. "Now, close your eyes, and focus on how you feel about Avalanche and Alligator.

Spirit sighed, but closed her eyes, trying to focus on her two friends, thinking about each of them in turn.

Alligator was kind, caring, and a lot smarter than most would give him credit for. He was protective, and Spirit enjoyed spending time with him. Whenever they had even just hung out together, he often initiated conversations on topics she hadn't thought he was into. But that could have been his way of getting to get to know her. But that was good, wasn't it? He wanted to know her, not just attracted to her by how she looked or her mind-reading and prophecy powers. But he was also self-conscious, worried about what others would think about him because of the scars he had on his chest and through his left eye.

Avalanche, she was tough, fierce, protective, but also more stubborn; she didn't seem to have any open-mindedness. And yet, through her ice exterior, Spirit had seen moments of kindness, caring, and even a creative side that seemed to be suppressed. Spirit was sure that Avalnche's true self was the kinder personality rather than the strict dragon she portrayed herself as.

Spirit could feel deep within her that she cared for both of them... but which did she care for more? Did she even care for one more than the other? And if she did, did that mean she loved them as they did her?

"Stop overthinking." Winter's voice cut through her ears, causing her to look up, opening her eyes. "How-"

"You have the same tell as Moon, your claws intertwined with each other, then untwine and repeat," Winter explained, Spirit looking down at her talons realizng her claws were twining and untwining.

Spirit sighed, closing her eyes again, relaxing completely, and just letting her heart wander. Alligator.... Avalanche. They were such good friends...and she liked them both... Avalanche.... Alligator....

Spirit finally opened her eyes after what felt like hours. "I.... I think I know..." She said softly.

Winter nodded. "Just be sure you are certain before you talk to either of them." He said gently.

Spirit nodded and left the cave. They had a moment of free time, so Spirit wanted to get it over with.

Spirit went to the cave she shared with Mindreader and Avalanche. "Mindreader, can you give us a minute?" Spirit asked.

"Sure, I need to return a scroll to the library anyway," Mindreader said, hoping things in the winglet would go back to normal after Spirit talks to them both.

"You've made a choice?" Avalanche asked, sitting up on her bed.

"Yes.... I..." Spirit took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same way for you as I do for Alligator... I hope we can still be friends?" Spirit said softly, half-braced for Avalanche to get upset.

Avalanche slowly looked away, her mouth frowning slightly. "I... Was it some-"

"No," Spirit said, instantly grabbing Avalanche's talon, interrupting her. "Don't you think like that. You didn't do anything wrong; it wasn't anything like that." Spirit said gently. "You are an amazing dragon, Avalanche. And I'm positive that somewhere out there is the dragon for you, I.... I'm just not that dragon."

Avalanche nodded slowly, her stoic mask cracking for a change. "I appreciate that... and thank you... for telling me in person, and in private... I.. It's hard for me to open up, just... promise me something?"

"Anything," Spirit said gently.

"You have any visions of me and a beautiful dragoness together, let me know, ok?" Avalanche grinned with a wink.

"I can do that," Spirit giggled, relieved that Avalanche wasn't bitter. "But on a more serious note? I do truly believe that you'll find the right dragon for you."

Avalanche nodded. "I'm sure you are right, now get going, I think you have a Mudwing to talk to as well."

Spirit nodded, grateful Avalanche wasn't going to be spiteful, brushing wings with her before leaving their cave to find Alligator.

Alligator had been out hunting, his eye on a rather large boar he had spotted, when he heard someone flying his way. "Alligator," Spirit said as she swooped down to land beside him.

The boar was forgotten as Alligator felt himself tense; was he about to be rejected?

"I want you, I already toold avalanche, so, if you'll still have me?" Spirit said shyly, her heart racing a mile a minute.

Alligator let out a quiet breath, smiling at Spirit. "Of course I'll have you." He purred, leaning his head down to nuzzle her head affectionately.

Spirit leaned up, nuzzling against his neck. "So... uh... what now?" Spirit asked shyly, never having had a partner before.

Alligator chuckled, finding her shyness even more adorable than her normal behavior. "Want to hunt that boar with me?" He asked, nodding down at the boar below them.

"Sure!" Spirit said, standing beside him, twining their tails together as they began to formulate a plan together.