Don't Fall in Love with the Night

Chapter 14

     Prism's jaw dropped. Knowing she'd be working along with these deceitful murderers... Tsunami's words came back to her. Not all of them are bad. 

     But these NightWings sure could be. The thought made her shut her mouth, and she put on a stone-faced expression. She would be alert and only talk to the NightWings when absolutely necessary.  

     "General Tsunami personally interviewed them and sent them over to help," explained Iguana. "This is Knowledge, Duskwatcher, Dawnseer, and Lethal." Each NightWing nodded their head as they were named. Prism studied them intently. They looked scared and nervous, though they lifted their chins and tried not to show it. What intrigued Prism the most were the different colors of Dawnseer and Duskwatcher's eyes. Dawnseer's eyes were a piercing yellow - not too unusual, but definitely different. But Duskwatcher's were a deep, soothing brown. I've never seen that color before, mused Prism. She caught these thoughts and mentally shook herself. Be alert!

     Since the NightWings weren't trusted with foraging out in the forest for supplies, Knowledge and Duskwatcher were assigned construction duties, Lethal was to help with transportation of material from the sorting to the workers, and Dawnseer was sent to help Poinsettia and Prism with the sorting. 

     The RainWings returned to their respective jobs reluctantly, the presence of the other tribe dampening the mood. Dawnseer curtly approached Poinsettia and Prism, asking how to do the job. Seeing Poinsettia's wide-eyed, mute expression - so different from her earlier chattiness - Prism took it upon herself to explain. "We sort the vegetation into certain piles, such as leaves here, vines there, et cetera. You'll get the hang of it once you start." Prism made her tone polite, yet cold.

     The trio worked in an awkward silence. Dawnseer quickly learned the easy task, and however much it irked her, Prism could tell they were working more effectively and quickly with her. Poinsettia, who had just been chatting Prism's ear off, was uncharacteristically silent. Should I start conversation? wondered Prism, wanting to keep aloof, yet inwardly burning with curiosity about the tribe.

     She decided not to wait until the silence became too awkward. "Your name is Dawnseer, right?" she tried, keeping her voice even.

     "That's right," Dawnseer replied. Her voice was clear, with a hint of pompousness. "And Duskwatcher is my brother." She nodded towards him.

     Prism noted that, although polite, Dawnseer assumed an air of condescension, which Prism didn't like at all. She tried to hold back a snicker as Dawnseer jumped, startled by a large bug that was still attached to one of the vines she was untangling. "Well, I'm Prism, and this is Poinsettia," she introduced, resuming the conversation. 

     "Nice to meet you." Dawnseer barely nodded in recognition.

     They worked on, the silence returning. Prism fought back the uncomfortable feeling of being inferior in Dawnseer's presence. After a couple more hours of work, in which the three only spoke when necessary for their sorting, a lunch break was called. 

     The foragers had brought in fruits of all sorts in their last few trips, and a pile of fruit sat in the middle of the clearing. Dawnseer coolly excused herself and joined the other NightWings. "Well, that was awkward," Prism muttered out of the side of her mouth to Poinsettia. She grabbed a grapefruit and a mango and decided to sit somewhat near the NightWings, just in case they acted up. 

     The tribe was still new to the food of the rainforest, and Lethal and Knowledge were trying to figure out how to eat a pineapple, poking the spiky fruit hesitantly. Dawnseer and Duskwatcher joined them, Dawnseer seeming to lead her brother, both bringing their own lunch. Prism tilted an ear in their direction, picking up their conversation.

     "I wonder if it's even edible," muttered Lethal, licking a talon where the spiky fruit had mercilessly stabbed him. 

     "RainWings might not be the brightest dragons in Pyrrhia, but they do know their fruits," mused Dawnseer, turning her cold gaze to the pineapple.

     "Well then, let's go ask one of them how to eat it," suggested Duskwatcher.

     "Are you kidding?" hissed Dawnseer. "We don't interact with them, unless it is absolutely necessary."

     "Oh please, Dawn," replied her brother, playfully pushing her in the shoulder and ignoring her hiss. "We need to start to get to know them somehow. Don't be shy! I'll show you how it's done."

     "I'm not shy-" Dawnseer snapped, but Duskwatcher had already carefully picked up the spiky fruit, turning his back to her. He glanced around the clearing for a RainWing to ask.

     Prism immediately refocused on her own fruit, peeling her grapefruit and hoping that the NightWings didn't notice her eavesdropping. However, to her dismay, she heard Duskwatcher's footsteps approach her. 

     Be calm and unemotional. Don't let him boss you around. Show him who's-

     "Excuse me?"

     Prism looked up startled at the NightWing's manners. Duskwatcher smiled at her in a friendly way, and Prism felt the beginnings of a smile form out of habit. She quickly stopped it, making a polite, inquiring face instead. "Yes?"

     "Do you think you could show me how to eat one of these things?" Unlike his sister, Duskwatcher met her eyes while he spoke to her. Wow. His eyes weren't even a hazel, but a true, smooth brown. He grinned, refocusing Prism's attention. "My friends and I couldn't get past its spiky exterior."

     She smiled back, against her better judgement, deciding to be friendly with him. Maybe he's one of the different ones... "Of course." He sat down beside her, and she showed him how to slice off the top, peel off the skin, and cut the fruit away from the core. "Pineapples are tricky, but they're worth it." She used the discarded skin of the fruit to hold the chopped fruit, keeping them away from the ground. He watched, actually interested in what she was doing, not just making her do the work for him. 

     "Wow, thanks!" He looked at her again, smiling. "I'm Duskwatcher, as you probably know."

     "I'm Prism." They shook talons.

     "Prism... like the shape?" he asked.

     "I was named after the glass that turns white light into colors. We have some in our village for our dragonets to play with, as it reminds us how the sunlight changes our scales into all sorts of colors."

     "Like how the tips of your wings are turning pink right now?"

     Prism froze. "Oh... yeah. Our scales can sometimes change color without us knowing." She quickly changed them back to a shimmering peach, trying not to panic. Did you really just have your scales turn pink while talking to a murderer?!

     "That's so incredible! I mean, we've seen RainWings do it, but it's still really-"

     "Duskwatcher!"

     Duskwatcher glanced back at his group at the sound of his sister's demanding voice, sighing. "Coming," he called back. He turned back to Prism. "Thank you for showing me how to slice the... pineapple, is it? I'm pretty sure I'll have to ask you about all the other fruits too, if we can't figure it out." He stood up, gathering the fruit.

     "I'd like that - I mean, I'd be glad to help." Prism dropped her gaze, angry at herself for letting her guard down.

     "Talk to you later, Prism!" He gave her a grin and returned to his tribemates.

     Duskwatcher is too precious. Vote if ya liked it, don't if ya didn't!