Double Rainbow

Spritz-5

I get off the iceberg, feeling seasick and queasy. The seas were by no means kind. My stomach turns and I vomit into the water near the ports. However, thanks to some good sailing and my eventual use of my tail as a rudder (I don't think the swelling will ever go down again), I've finally made it ashore. Staggering around, I see a small, quaint little town with an odd mixture of igloos like the type I've seen in books and strange little roofed figures.

Wandering around, I see a green Canis wearing a parka and some earmuffs. She looks agitated, but she seems to be the only Canira or Canis in the village so I walk up to her.

"Excuse me, miss?" I ask.

"Never. Studying. In. Frostali. Again." she murmurs under her breath. She turns to me, and her expression becomes slightly softer. "Oh, a native. What did you want?"

"Actually, I'm not a native. I'm just looking for the aer-aro-"

"Airport?"

"That."

She points over to a huge white icicle-like structure in the distance. "I'm heading over there too."

I follow her, not knowing what to do, and finally we arrive at the building. It's got runways on either side, but the Canis drags me into the building.

A large, tough Canis stands at a counter. There's no one in line, or anywhere, strangely enough. I expected this place to be bustling with life.

"The lovely Miss Natrina, going home at last. I'd say no, if you would stay, perhaps." he jokes, a sly smile on his face.

"Of course not, I have subjects and a nice home back in Central Dreamland. There's this nice stretch of forest near the cities, and I plan to go there."

"Who's your friend, then?" he asks. "You know it takes a lot of work to fly in between here and Central Dreamland. We don't just give outsiders flights because we're nice."

"Well, I take it you wouldn't take a bribe?"

"What type of bribe are we talkin' bout?"

Natrina spills a few coins on the countertop. "Take them. I don't use them anymore."

The Canis at the counter looks up at him, as if he's contemplating his options.

"I also know Signaveris. He's a... friend of mine." I say, trying to be convincing.

"Why didn't you say so?" He laughs and gives me a pat on the back. "Go right ahead."

"Can I have my coins back, then?" Natrina asks.

"No." The Canis takes the coins and places them under the counter.

We walk on together, Natrina muttering about his nerve the whole time. "I'm sorry about that," I say finally.

"Oh, it's nothing." She continues walking.

I see the airplane before she does, walking off towards it. She runs out and drags me back as the enormous metal bird screeches as it ends up on the glowing road.

"Is it alive?" I ask, trying to touch its metal skin as I board it.

"No, it's an airplane!" she exclaims. "You really aren't from around here, are you?"

There are only a few others in the airplane, some are Canis, some are Canira, and a random bird-thing is beating its skinny legs against the back of an empty seat.

"Well. You need to explain to me why you're here and where you're from, in return for those seeds." Natrina speaks up finally.

I look out at the wings of the airplane, and then we lurch off the ground, soaring into the air. "Wow, this is amazing! We're above the clouds!" I bang on the windows, completely awestruck by the magesty of the cloud blanket below me.

Natrina rolls her eyes. "It's nice, I guess. Seriously, though. Who are you?"

"I'm Spritz, King of the Ocean Canira, mate of Snow Hare." I say, and detail to her my life.

When I finish, she looks really concerned. "Three scars. I'm so sorry. I'll make it up to you any way I can."

"What do you mean?"

"Your mate has been taken by the Obsidians. She's not coming back, ever. Only-"

"Woah, you're not making any sense." I say, whipping my tail against the cold metal side of the airplane, pretending she hasn't said those four words. She's not coming back? Of course she is. That's why I'm going to find her. Snow Hare will come back.

"The Obsidians. You've NEVER heard of them?!" Natrina sounds incredulous.

"No."

"Well, all you need to know is that they really really reaaaaally hate Dreamland. There's this whole backstory with a war and stuff, but we're going to land soon and I studied Ecosystems, not Mythology. They're really technologically advanced, to the point where anything we've ever made is dwarfed by their achievements. They can shapeshift, but that's all the magic they have, as far as we know. Besides that, from the only escapee of the Obsidian Factory we've learned they use Dreamlandians in their research. Not just Canii or Canira, but anything that moves upon our planet. They can genetically mutate, create new species, and splice DNA at will."

"But.... someone escaped."

"Yes. They think she was a Canira, but they're not sure. All they know is that a Canira-like being who beared some resemblance to a stuffed toy was found one night. They thought she was just some creepy enchanted toy, but she had these three circling scars that PPS, Queen of Dreamland, comfirmed to be completely real. So the Canira, 'Calypseleen', told everyone everything she knew about the factory. She seemed completely stable for a few weeks, and then... she went on some type of rampage. No one knows, but the whole city was blown apart the next day. They found a singed body in the middle of the wreckage."

I feel sick to my stomach. I don't want this to happen to Snow Hare. I don't want her to die in some insane factory, I don't want her dead and insane, I want her right here with me.

Right now. I begin to cry, but I press my face against the window and let my tears freeze against the glass.

"You have nowhere to go, do you?" she says finally.

"I don't want to go back without her."

"I know how it feels... to lose someone."

"Did someone you love die?"

"Not exactly." She sighs and turns away, trying to close the subject. I decide not to push it, as she's been nice enough not to push it with me.

"You can come home with me if you want." she murmurs.

I nod slowly. "That would be... nice."

She looks reflective and peaceful, as if inviting me into her home gives her some sort of closure.

The sun begins to set down below the clouds, and claws of red seem to cross the sky. Bloody claws, grasping the clouds. It's beautiful in a savage, terrible type of way. I blow a cold breath onto the window, and silver frost stains the glass. I draw a trident, the sacred symbol of our tribe, across it, and I feel pleased.

I want to go back to them, but I've proved I'm too weak. I can't save Snow Hare, I can't even help myself fix my own broken heart. Maybe someday, but not yet. I plan to find her. Gather information. Someday when I'm stronger I'll go home. It's not the end, it's just a quick vacation.

I will find Snow Hare somehow. They can put the stars and the moon between us, but I. Will. Find. Her.

Even if it means I will die, I want to hold her by my side one last time.