Don't Fall in Love with the Night

Chapter 24

    "PrismPrismPrismPrism!!"

     The RainWing was jolted out of her sleep by Mirage's screech as her friend shook her shoulders. "Mirage? What even?!"

     Mirage's eyes were stretched wide and her scales were eye-stabbingly neon green with fear. "There's a humoungous NightWing and he's really scary and unbelievable huge and of course I had to come tell you because AAAAAAAA!"

     "Wait... a huge NightWing?" Prism sat up and rubbed her eyes. "How big? Are you sure it wasn't a nightmare?" This wasn't the first time Mirage had confused her dreams with reality, though Prism hadn't seen her friend look this scared before. 

     Mirage huffed. "I'm completely sure! Just as sure as I was that the stick bug we saw just last week was trying to attack me. And he's like...  like if you took the biggest NightWing you've seen, except times..." Mirage tried to count on her fingers as Prism had taught her, then held up three talons. "Times five!"

     Prism was unsure, but decided to take the news seriously. "And where did you see this gigantic NightWing?"

     Mirage sat down to explain. "Well, I heard lots of commotion coming from the NightWing camp and thought that I'd better run over there in case those traitors were making trouble. I didn't get all that close, because that huge DarkWing dude was so humongous!" Mirage started to pace again. "He had this loud voice and he and Queen Glory were talking and I didn't hear much except that his name was Dudestalker or something like that I just ran to come and tell you because this is scary and what is happening?!"

     By the time Mirage had finished her speech she was back to shaking Prism's shoulders with fear. Prism pried her friend's talons off of her and firmly squeezed them. "It'll be okay - I can go check it out. Do you want to come with me or would you rather stay here?"

     "You're going towards the big scary NightWing?!" Mirage's eyes were huge. 

     "We aren't going to learn anything by standing still. 'Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster' - do you remember that quote from the scroll we were reading earlier?" Prism pushed vines out of her way as she left her living space.

     Mirage snorted. "You mean that one dragon with the weird name - Sun Zoo or something?" Regardless of her sass and obvious fear, Mirage followed Prism as they took flight.

     "Right - if this NightWing is going to be a threat, we have to learn more about him." Even though Prism sounded like she was taking her friend seriously, inwardly she wasn't that sure. Still, I'm not going to ignore it until I'm certain that there isn't a... humongous NightWing attacking us.

     However, such thoughts were quickly gone when, as they were getting closer to the NightWing village, Prism heard for herself the discussion going on between Queen Glory and the NightWing dubbed Dudestalker by Mirage.

     Queen Glory was speaking, her scales a beautiful dapple of green, gold, and black. "... fierce, determined, and full of surprising ideas. They don't need any help to become a great tribe - they already are one."

     By the reaction of the crowd of NightWings below their queen, it was obvious that she had been referring to them. Prism landed on a nearby tree to listen, having already camouflaged herself. Mirage landed next to her and clung to her arm as Prism wrapped a comforting wing around her.

     "I'm sure they are, but I know what they could be. I can see the shining future ahead, if everyone follows me," Dudestalker declared majestically.

     "Dudestalker is one pompous screecher monkey," Prism muttered to Mirage.

     "There's no way I'm following that creep," Mirage angrily whispered back.

     By this time, Glory's bodyguard had jumped in. "Follows you where?"

     "Back to our old kingdom, of course." By now, Dudestalker had a sinister smile that sent chills down Prism's spine. "Queen Glory, I'm here to challenge you for the throne of the NightWing tribe."