Qibli x reader: Chasing Stars

Chapter 15

(Hello, Star. Wow, this pic is epic. Awesome! I'm really sorry for all the cliffhangers! LOL)

Winter's words had an instant effects on the other dragonets. 

'He's right.' Kinkajou realized. 'How, what-'

Turtle's mind was as blank as ever, but he shifted nervously and gave me a curious frown.

Qibli's was worst of all. 'How did she know? She couldn't have done this, could she? She's a dragon with secrets, and Thorn said not to trust the NightWings, but why would she? I know... I've barely figured her out, but I don't see... I can't see any violence in her. And yet... how did she know? But if she set the fire, why would she try to stop us from going in? Surely she wouldn't- she couldn't have, I can't even believe I'm thinking this-'

"You didn't - sorry, but- you didn't have anything to do with-" He started, and I flinched.

"No!" I cried. "Of course not!" I brushed away the tears that were falling steadily as I tried to keep my voice steady. Trying not to think about Carnelian, or how everything was now falling apart. "I would never hurt anyone! Qibli... can you look into my eyes and see any reason for killing those dragons? I wouldn't, I couldn't-"

"I know." Qibli said, but not convincingly. 'She was better at hunting than anyone expected. There is strength behind those scales. In the right circumstances, wouldn't any dragon be capable of hurting another? Even her? But why?'

"If you didn't do it, then do you know who did?" Turtle asked. He hadn't spoken since the blast; he hadn't moved from his spot by the wall until he came chasing after us. He looked shaken, but not destroyed. I wished I knew what he was thinking. Did he suspect me, too?

"Or maybe you saw something?" Kinkajou suggested hopefully. "Something that warned you?"

I so badly wanted this to be true. Could I lie to my friends? 'At least two of them want to believe this, so start from that lie, and build from there.' Darkstalker suggested. "I don't want to lie to you guys." I muttered. Qibli stared at me, and Kinkajou flinched. 'Did she think about lying to us?'

"There's only one explanation." Winter hissed, and Moon widened her eyes. 'No, I thought I could trust you!' She thought. "You have future-telling powers, too." He snarled. "Winter!" Moon cried.

"M-Moon?" I stuttered. "Did you- did you tell Winter..." I trailed off, and she nodded defiantly. "Yes, although I thought I could trust him." She snapped.

"Moon! The first week isn't over and you hand over all of our secrets to the first glittery IceWing you see?" I asked. "But she didn't tell me that her runty little sister had powers too." Winter growled. 'Star, I didn't tell him about the mind-reading, I just-' Moon explained, but I blocked her out.

I realized that Qibli, Kinkajou, and Turtle were shell-shocked. "You- you can see the future?" Kinkajou asked. Qibli started to run through all the different scenarios I had given away details. 'But she must have had a reason for lying. Didn't she trust us enough to tell us? Was she just too scared?'

I felt like there were claws clamped around my throat. All I could do was try not to black out as I tried to talk.

Winter glared at me for a long while. "I'm telling everyone. Not just about your powers, but about how you two murdered Carnelian and Bigtail. You either set the fire, or you knew about it and didn't tell us. You have until midnight tomorrow to run away, before your secrets are out." He gave Moon a pitying look. "However... Moon. You've been helping a lot more than this carrion-eating creature. I think I'll hold onto your secrets... for now." He said, stamping out. Moon followed, not looking at me.

I began to cry again. Qibli moved towards me, but flinched away at the last second. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think you would believe me if I told you." I whispered. I felt almost faint, with Moon's shocking revelation, the explosion, and all of the grief, I was barely able to stay on my feet.

"I would have." Kinkajou said, wounded. "I didn't want to lose what few friends I have." 'More like had.'  I thought sadly.

"Is that it? Or is there something else we should know?" Turtle asked, inhaling sharply. "Can you read our minds?"

Every dragon stared at me, and I looked away. 'This is the last moment they like me. This is how I lose everyone.' I realized something. If Qibli, Kinkajou, Turtle, Winter, and now Moon all left me... I would be truly alone. Moon didn't care about who's life she was destroying when she told my secrets- our  secrets. Now I didn't even have my big sister. This final reminder broke me. I began full-on sobbing.

'Won't she just lie to us? I don't even think I can trust her. How can I know if she's lying?' Qibli thought, getting closer, close enough to warm me with his scales.

Kinkajou, the dragon who wanted to be my best friend, even after I lied to her. 'I believe in Star, I know she'll tell me the truth.'

How could I be the deceitful NightWing Winter saw when I could be who Kinkajou wanted me to be. I stemmed the flow of tears and made sure to look each of them in the eyes. 

"Yes. I can read your minds." I confessed. I turned to each of them. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I can't help it, it just happens. It's always happening. I can't turn it off... Please don't tell anyone."

'Is she hearing my thoughts right now?' Qibli thought, and, seeing it on my face, he gave me a sad look. 'What else has she heard?' The pace of his thoughts almost sped up, 'All my plans to get other dragons to like me? My nightmares about my family? My thoughts about her? Has she been laughing about me this whole time?'

"No!" I cried. "I really like you!"

Qibli grabbed his head, as though he was trying to keep his thoughts inside, and then he began glaring at the wall. 'What if I accidentally thought about one of Thorn's secrets, or one of the hidden dens of the Outclaws?' Secrets I didn't understand spilled through his head. 'What if she hears the terrible things I think about some of the other dragons? Why would anyone like me if they knew what I thought about them?'

"Talons and tails, Star. Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, giving me an upset look. "I didn't want to lie, I just didn't want to lose you. I didn't want you to hate me." I whispered, and Qibli looked startled. "Hate you? I wouldn't have hated you... why did you think I would?" He asked, and Kinkajou nodded. "I would have stayed your friend." She asserted.

I thought about all the times Secretkeeper and Moon had told me everyone would hate me for my powers, and I hunched my shoulders at the thought of Moon telling Winter, who would now tell everyone. "It's just the way I was raised. Secrets here, lies there, don't tell anyone or you'll die alone." I pleaded. "Please don't hate me, I just didn't want you to... I don't want to be alone." 

Turtle put a hesitant wing over my shoulder. "I... I forgive you. I understand it's hard to keep secrets." He announced. Qibli gave a start. 'He's the last dragon I'd expect to- no, stop, she's listening.' He thought. Kinkajou gave me a determined look. 

"Star, I know you would have told us. I forgive you too, for saving Tamarin. I know you're good." She said firmly. Qibli gave an snort that was somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

"I'm not sure if I forgive you yet, Star." 'But maybe she was forced to lie. She seemed upset and almost scared when she found out about Moon. I don't know... But I shouldn't write her off as evil just yet.' 

He sighed, closed his eyes, and then smiled at me. 

...

...

...

"Star... I forgive you."