Healed

Chapter 29

Starfish took a deep breath in, then slowly released. An aggressive headache was bouncing between his temples as he led Avalanche to Zephyr's office...or rather he was going to Zephyr's office and Avalanche insisted on coming. He was no longer in a hurry to get to Possibility as the SkyWing had repeatedly pointed out that Flame was no longer there.

"I don't see how this will help us find Flame," she snapped. She was practically walking on Starfish's heels. "Who is this Zephyr person anyway?"

"She's the matron of the Healing Center. I need to speak with her and tell her –"

"This is a waste of time!"

Starfish gritted his teeth. "Well if you would just let me finish –"

"You're his therapist; you're the one that supposed to be figuring out the deepest parts of his mind. Shouldn't you have some idea where he went?"

Well YOU'RE his mother, but obviously you know nothing about him, the SeaWing silently retorted. "Sorry, runaway plans never came up in any of our sessions," he answered dryly.

For a moment they were both silent. The quiet, respectful scratching of their talons echoing down the hallway was like music to Starfish's sore head.

This all ended when he heard Avalanche huff behind him. "Wait a second...were you sassing me?"

Knowing she couldn't see his face, he smirked. "Of course not."

Zephyr's office was one floor above Starfish's, but with a fuming SkyWing on his tail it might as well have been on the other side of the Sky Kingdom. The smoke-induced throbbing of his head had double by the time they left the stairwell and entered the upper corridor.

Thus far his impressions of Avalanche were...mixed. He could already see many of Flame's mannerisms reflected in the female, or at least the ones relating to being angry. But for all her yelling and threatening, Starfish knew it was because she cared about Flame. That was another characteristic she shared with her son: a rough exterior guarding a sensitive core. Over the brief time he had known Flame he had rarely seen it show, but he knew it was there.. It was that sensitivity that made Flame so volatile, but it was also what made him so gentle towards those he cared for.

Starfish sighed, coming out of his analytical stupor. Avalanche may care for Flame, but that doesn't automatically mean she was the parent he needed. Perhaps, while she's here, I can speak to her about it. Help her to understand how much she has hurt Flame and how strained their relationship truly is. He internally grimaced. Great idea, Starfish. Let's tell the dragon that already hates you how terrible of a parent she is. I'm SURE you won't get set on fire.

Finally they reached Zephyr's door. Starfish raised his closed fist to knock but the door slid open to reveal Jet. The young dragoness immediately smiled before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

"Starfish! What are you –" the striped SkyWing was cut off, her grin fading fast as Avalanche revealed herself from behind Starfish. Jet gave a taut smile. "Hi again, Avalanche. Glad to see you were able to find Starfish," she said, sounding not at all glad.

Avalanche scoffed in her throat. "I could barely read the directions you gave me but I managed."

Starfish darted his gaze back and forth between the two females. "You two have met before?"

"Just this morning," Jet replied. She leaned in towards the SeaWing who mimicked the motion. "Sorry I didn't warn you she was coming...she kinda threatened to set my desk on fire if I didn't tell her where your office was."