[COMPLETE] R E V E R S E #NaNoWriMo2k17

Chapter 18

Warning: Chapters start to go a little weird from this point on(motivation issues. also generally just deadpanning)

THUD.

He snapped awake as moonlight ​hit his eyes. A grinding in the aftermath told him that Harper was moving the boulder. Apparently, he'd fallen asleep whilst sitting down. Stella was already up, moving out towards the entrance.

He stood up slowly, his muscles yelling at being jammed in an awkward position for so long. He emerged from the cave and took a breath of fresh air. The sun had only just set, but the land was bare. Already, the temperature was dropping.

But what caught his attention were the stars. They were amazing, a million tiny gems suspended in the night sky. He'd seen stars in the Icefields before, but never on a scale like this. Here, he felt like he was standing in the middle of the cosmos.

"Quite pretty, yes?" She looked upwards and sighed. "Wish others can see this too."

It struck him how alone she was. He thought about all those dragons affected by the war. Harper, Janak, Tas...

Why does this war exist?​

He'd never hated Talona more than that point. For ruining so many dragon's lives, killing so many innocents. He vowed that he WILL kill her, and bring the tyrant down to her knees.

"Hey!" Stella shouted suddenly, and he jumped. She held out the dagger, which was now fully repaired. "It works!"

He was glad, but he hesitated when he remembered Harper. He looked back over his shoulder uncertainly. She was standing off to one side, studying them quizzically.

"You're leaving." Her voice was flat.

He swallowed. "Yes."

"A shame. I hoped you'd stay longer." She waved her hand as if dismissing them. "Go. Return home."

He blinked. "You're just... going to let us off like that?"

"Home is home. I already knew you wouldn't stay with me for long." She stared up at the stars, as if she were reading them. "An event will occur in the future, one so large no one nor act can prevent it. It will bring the sun down to the earth, hell to Sornieth. The lands will burn. The trees will wither." She shuddered. "Blood. Blood everywhere. Where is the sun?"

He didn't know how to respond to that. What really disturbed him was the fact that her description matched the scene he saw in his dream long ago. If it was true...

"Ajax." Stella's voice cracked a little, as if she were trying to remain brave. "We have to go."

He glanced at Harper again. There was a pause, before her mouth twisted into a wry smile. "Go on. If you can, please visit me from time to time. i want to know what the outside world is like."

"We will," he promised, although his mouth felt dry. She nodded, standing back. The moonlight refected off her dry, cracked scales dully, so much that she looked like a part of the rocky terrain itself.

Stella lifted the blade, seemingly trying to find something. She waited, before pulling down. The air unravelled like cloth, revealing the same dark void he'd seen the day before. She immediately dropped her dagger, stamping on it as she used both of her arms to hold the rift open as it began to pull.

"Home," Harper said again. Her voice took on a more confused tone, as if this were a new concept. "Hmm."

He stepped forwards, taking one last look at the stars, the landscape, and the crumbling pillar in the distance. Some instinct told him that this wasn't the last time he'd set his eyes on this place.