Flight Rising: The Arcane Court of Justice

Chapter Six: OH DEER....Really, Doe

~Day of the third hearing~

In contrast to the day of the first hearing, the sky above the court was gray-white and stormy with dark clouds, as if the Windsinger had accidentally painted the sky gray instead of blue. Lightning crackled through the water vapors in the air, and though it hadn't start raining yet, one could sense it coming.

Meanwhile, the court was literally in chaos.

"IT'S BEEN MURDERED!" Aster shrieked from across the room, plowing through several other jurors as she chased after a butterfly, which had somehow got into the court. Olive was trying to call order, but her gavel had been stolen and she couldn't make herself heard over the uproar. Kushiel, who had stolen Olive's gavel, was now studding it with subtle sprinkles of glitter and decorative crystals. Millie was stuttering in a corner, looking awkwardly about as she surveyed the complete discord. Viridian was trying to transmute Fei, who was hovering behind Olive, while Serena yelled at him for being impolite. Cythera watched this all with a careful eye as she meditated, seemingly undisturbed, in a quiet corner. Iskal and Amyntor were talking with each other, and CirrusShade was flying about in the tight space, screaming at everyone to shut up. ShinKaiHi was walking in and out of the court as if she couldn't decide whether to call the police (the nonexistent police, yes) on the hubbub or to simply go home.

"AHHHH" Kedia yelled as she barreled through the crowd, smacked into Aster, apologized, and got up again only to stumble into a pew. "OW!" Then she looked behind to see the swarm of green dolphin-like creatures charging after her. "NO, LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screeched as she hurtled through the room, stalked by half a dozen Cloud Chasers.

"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" Euros ordered, his voice lost in the uproar. "Ke --- AHHH!" He shrieked as Kedia plowed into him, followed by several squeaking dolphins.

In the center of the room, a body laid stretched out on the glassy ground, its dark eyes wide and blank. Its white mane was matted and its tail was trailed dejectedly across the floor. The lavender-blue feathers that made up its wings were limp and ruffled, and its cloven hooves were curled up against its obsidian chest.

"Why is there a dead silver springbok in the courtroom?" Olive yelled at nobody in particular.

"Call the forensics!" Serena yelled, playing tug-of-war with Kushiel. "Hey, let go! This isn't yours!"

"IT'S A NEW FASHION TREND!" Kushiel shouted back.

"BUTTERFLY!" Aster cried as she chased after a Cloud Chaser, who was chasing after Kedia, who was trying to untangle herself from Euros. "COME OVER HERE!"

Kedia untangled herself just in time to be assaulted by several chattering dolphins and one Aster. They crashed into Euros and skidded across the room, using the poor attorney as a skateboard.

Fei squeaked.

Suddenly, the courtroom door slammed open. The lights flickered off dramatically, and a strong gale whisked into the room, chilling every dragon to the bone. ShinKaiHi, who'd been near the door, narrowed her eyes into the wind and tried to see through the furious wave of air.

A spotlight from nowhere shone brightly in the dark room, its brilliance chasing away the temporary darkness. The shadow of a slender was outlined sharply on the ground, its glimmering body pale green and creamy. It blinked twice, and shook its wings in a confused manner.

Squeak? The Cloud Chaser asked.

"Not on that dolphin, you fool! On me!"

The spotlight swung to the open doorway and the silhouette of a slender Skydancer appeared. His eyes were startling turquoise, and brown tigerian patterns striped his thistle-colored skin. His feathered obsidian wings were tucked against his back, the color complimenting the shade of night sky blue his underbelly was. A navy plaid cabbie sat atop his head, and a scarf striped with black, white, and brown was wrapped around his next. Long ribbons of navy were wound around his lean body.