The Ghost Crown - FlashWing Chronicles

13 - Moonsong

I swore. I had promised.

And I had failed.

"Mother, you don't understand!" I pleaded for the thousandth time that day on behalf of Shanti and Crow. "They're not ou...my enemies!"

"Yes, they are." Queen Iridescent walked faster, but I kept pace with her. "You don't even know them though!" I said, stepping in front of her so that she was forced to stop.

"But I've learned from history, and I know that whenever strangers are invited to our island, they bring destruction and death. We cannot trust any of them. They are not your friends, Mo. Don't fall for their tricks."

"I'm not though! I've spent so much time with them, and-"

"It's only been a few days, Moonsong!"

"No it hasn't! It's been-"

"How long do you think you were gone?"

"But..."

"How long?"

I flinched.

"You spent too much time on that other island. We are FlashWings, Moonsong. We are loyal to our kind. Not them, not ever. It will only bring you, and us, more pain. Do not visit them."

"Mother, I..."

"End of discussion."

"Wait-"

"End. Of. Discussion."

I watched as she skirted around me and stormed off, other dragons skittering out of her way nervously.

"Well, that went well." Skybright sidled up to me. "If you keep this up, you might lose your status as Mother's pet."

"And if you keep that up, you're going to find yourself on the execution pillar." I snapped.

"I'd be careful what you say," My sister flashed a predatory smile at me, as if she knew something I didn't. "After all, I have nothing to lose."

She winked and sautered off, disappearing around a corner. "Sometimes I wonder how in the sun I'm related to her." I growled.

"Me too." Tigermoth laughed softly as she appeared where Skybright had disappeared. "Moonsong, maybe keeping them...confined is the best option."

"How, Tigermoth?" I said, rubbing my eyes. I hadn't slept at all last night, pacing my once spacious room that now seemed like a cell. My scales were faded even more today, and I could tell Tigermoth noticed by the slight slanting of her gaze. "Tigermoth...did..."

"The FlashWing scientists have not had any breakthroughs. Neither have our healers." Her eyes focused by the corner of my right eye, closer to my actual face than before but still farther than normal. "I'm sorry."

I blew out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. "Right, right. I didn't really expect them too." I said, holding out my wing and flashing the star and diamond patterns on them. Even the light that I could produce seemed...frailer. Weaker. A shadow of the power I had once wielded.

"Don't worry. Though this is a new experience for them, I'm sure they'll find something soon." Tigermoth said. "In the meantime, what do y-"

"I'm going to see Shanti." I told her, heading towards the cells. "The SeaWing?" Tigermoth called after me. "Yes, Tigermoth." I turned the corner, walking fast so no one would question where I was going.

"I owe her an apology."