Always - Moonbli

2. Dancers and Spells

Qibli

Qibli was at a standstill.

He couldn't do anything where he was. It was SO ANNOYING. He was stuck between two informers who definitely weren't under Darkstalker's spell and who didn't inform him for a very long time. One, Turtle. He had flown to the Night Kingdom with Darkstalker, and hadn't sent a message at all after that. Two, Kinkajou. The little RainWing was supposed to be sneaking around the Night Kingdom, but Qibli had no idea if she was okay or not, what to speak of getting any useful information from her.

The SandWing sighed, pacing the sleeping cave he shared with Winter. I want to do something, he thought frustratedly. I can't just sit in school learning history from Webs. Qibli turned to go out the opening of the cave and nearly collided with Winter coming in.

The IceWing prince backed up and narrowed his eyes at Qibli. 'Why in the name of the Great Ice Dragon are you so restless? Can't you just sit down like normal dragons for once?' asked Winter grouchily. He slunk to his corner of the cave and slid the scroll in his claws into the scroll rack beside his bed. 'And it's nice to meet you, too,' said Qibli. He crossed over to Winter's scroll rack and picked up the scroll Winter had just dropped into it.

'The Legends of Darkstalker,' he read. 'Winter, what -?' 'I'm just keeping tabs on the latest news in Pyrrhia,' said Winter haughtily, snatching back his scroll and shoving it out of sight into his rack. 'Which you should be doing, SandWing.' 'I would rather find out by myself, but maybe if you read this scroll you'll understand what kind of dragon Darkstalker really is, and then you can wear my earring,' said Qibli hopefully.

'You, sir, are without doubt the most strangest and weirdest dragon I have ever met. Including the MudWing wearing a pineapple hat who danced the boogie in Queen Glacier's court,' said Winter decidedly. Qibli doubled over and choked with startled laughter. 'That actually happened?' 'Yes and no, that's not important.' 

Qibli sat back and observed his clawmate when he got his giggles under control. Winter's handsome snout was twisted into a slightly annoyed, slightly haughty expression, but he looked dazed and a little confused. Since Darkstalker was released, Winter had been wearing that permanently dreamlike look and he sounded like someone had wrapped his head in walrus blubber. Qibli was worried about him, though in normal circumstances it would be funny if Winter worshipped the land another dragon walked on. What if they could never break the spell on him? What if Darkstalker enchanted that spell to never wear off?

Qibli was jerked to reality at the sharp look Winter tossed his way when he realized Qibli was creepily staring at him. Qibli knew that worry was probably scribbled all over his snout but he was too lazy to try and hide it because Winter most probably saw it. 'Stop staring at me like that!' Winter snapped, glaring. 'What?' he said innocently, holding out his claws. 'I never did anything!' 'Stop staring at me like I'm mad! I told you I'm not under a spell!' Qibli grinned at him. 'Maybe if you wear my earring you'll know if you're under a spell or not,' he suggested slyly. Winter gave a frustrated sigh and closed his mouth with a cold sniff, apparently deciding not to argue any further before Qibli got really crazy.

 'If you're done bantering, then you and me can have words.' 'That sounds ominous,' remarked Winter, settling on the shelf of rock that served as his bed. He carefully picked up the ice-blue lantern on the floor and placed it on his scroll rack before gazing at Qibli expectantly. Qibli turned around to check if anyone was outside. The cave was much bigger after Winter shifted his empty scavenger cage to the art room for exhibition, but Qibli still felt cramped. Probably because he wasn't used to living under a mountain or something. 'Oh, I wish this cave had doors,' Qibli complained, glaring at the entrance. 'Anyways, here goes.'

 Winter waited silently with an unreadable expression on his face. The IceWing was usually really hard to read, and now, when he was focusing on hiding his emotions, it was virtually impossible. Qibli sighed. He knew his plan was childish, rushed and not at all thought through, but at least he had one that did not involve listening to Webs drone on about the Scorching, which basically seemed to be Winter's whole life plan for the next few months.

'We're running away.'

His words did not have as much of an impact on Winter than he expected it would. 'I knew you were going to say that someday,' he sighed, shifting so that his spikes clattered softly. 'Use your big head, silly. Isn't anyone going to protest if we left the school just like that, especially with all the NightWings and half of the Jade and the Silver Winglets gone? They'll be on our tail like sharks after prey. We'll wait for an opportunity to show itself that'll give us a good excuse to leave. And then we either sneak off or ask them to host a send-off party for us and leave in everyone's presence.' 

Qibli knew he was right. But he never liked waiting, and this entire Darkstalker business didn't improve his opinion of waiting at all. Winter was way more patient and collected than him. He could just sit for hours on end in his IceWing duty posture, waiting, without getting the least bit annoyed. Which was, for Winter, a world record. It told a lot about his character, that kind of patience. 'And how is this 'opportunity' of yours going to happen anytime soon?' he demanded. 'Trust me, it will,' said Winter grimly. 'Especially with Darkstalker loose and all.'

Winter sounded so much like his own self that Qibli was momentarily startled. If the spell was broken, then that would be amazing! He'd finally have someone who could help him in his quest to end Darkstalker! Even if that someone was a very grouchy, bad-tempered IceWing prince who was supposedly dead and exiled from his tribe. Oh, well. Qibli was jerked from his happy thoughts when Winter added, 'But I don't think Darkstalker will cause any problems. Maybe one of his enemies. I believe in Darkstalker now.'

With that happy note, he turned his back to Qibli and curled up. Unexpected, thought Qibli, grinning inwardly, just as the bell for bedtime rang. It echoed around the school's many caves and corridors, creating a very disturbing noise that sounded like a dozen mad elephants playing tubas.

Qibli decided that he should sleep. As much as he hated it, he knew Winter was right and that he couldn't do anything where he was right now. After reasoning for sometime, he crossed over to Winter's scroll rack as softly as he could and gently took out The Legends Of Darkstalker. If we wanted to defeat him, he had to find out what happened in the first place and how dangerous Darkstalker could be.

Qibli slowly unrolled the scroll. It was light and feathery in his claws and it felt like it was going to tear any moment. He breathed in the smell of musty old scrolls and lavender. For some strange reason, it smelled like Moon. Qibli wondered when he was going to see her again. Hopefully he would, and not die before that. Cut it out, he told himself firmly. You can do this. Prove to your family and the world that you're not worthless. An instinct told him that the only thing that would keep him going was Moon, and the same went for Winter too.  

Tomorrow, he promised himself, before falling asleep. Tomorrow will be the day.

The day to do what, he had absolutely no idea.