The CloudWings

25 - The Thought-Message Reaches the Wrong Ears

Crystal's POV

Crystal was in her room, sorting through her various necklaces and brooding. Usually this calmed her, but now she felt as though a blizzard had taken control of her, transforming her into a monster of icy rage. She clenched her talons and blew a small angry breath of frost onto the floor. They had escaped, escaped from right under her claws! How could she have overlooked the fact that Drizzle would probably get firescales when she became a SkyWing? How?! How could she?! And how Glade's scales were ice- and probably fire- proof? 

Don't worry. She tried to comfort herself. You can't predict the future. You couldn't see the powers they would get eventually. You couldn't know ahead of time.

Not like Storm or Lightbringer or whatever stupid name she calls herself can, her runaway thoughts inevitably had to add, but not without a large dose of bitterness.

The pale-blue diamond necklace slipped from her talons and fell to the floor with a sharp crash. You need to find a way to get rid of them, before they can do anything else. Or better, capture them and send them to Stratus. She would be rewarded for that, both by Stratus and by the capturing of her sisters.

Her sisters. Do you really want to harm your own sisters? a tiny voice in the background whispered. 

"Shut up!" Crystal shouted out loud.

A knock sounded on her door. "Are you all right, Your Majesty?" 

Ugh. The last thing she needed was a disturbance by her subjects, dull, slow-witted, plain, ordinary, boring dragons. They weren't involved in this—this plan, and they weren't going to be anytime soon.

"Yes, I am all right." Crystal paused to pick up the necklace. "Thank you," she muttered, not meaning it.

How could she find Storm and the others? They could have gone anywhere by now, and covered much land. She turned the necklace over and over in her talons, the icy coldness of it comforting her. The diamonds clicked softly against her serrated claws, reflecting the jewels on her wings. I am Crystal, Queen of the IceWings. I will find them, and whatever happens then will be decided later. Crystal stood and slipped the necklace back in its drawer.

Just then, a faint voice pricked her ears. Crystal listened intently. It seemed to be coming from far away and yet was clear as if someone close by was speaking, but when Crystal put her ear to the door, she could tell that none of her subjects were speaking. She listened, and the voice was unmistakably Storm's.

Cyclone. Cyclone, can you hear me? This is Lightbringer. If you can hear me, think "yes."

"Aha," Crystal muttered to herself. "Victory." If she could find out where the voice-thought was coming from, she could find where Lightbringer and the others were hiding, or being kept. Just to make sure, she also thought "yes" as clearly as she could, but didn't know if Lightbringer had heard her or not.

Apparently Cyclone, from the bottom of  the sea, had thought "yes," because Lightbringer continued. Or maybe she was just stupid enough to think that Crystal's voice was Cyclone's.

No. You are not hearing things. You are perfectly fine. This message is very real, and yes, it is being sent by me. Have you got it? 

Got what? Crystal wondered. She didn't know, but clearly it was important and secret, or else Storm wouldn't be speaking through thought-broadcasting. Crystal figured it was probably her last resort. Evidently everyone could hear one's thoughts when one broadcasts. Ha, if you want to hide secrets from me, you're going to have to learn how to send messages to only the dragons you want to send to, Lightbringer. She pricked her ears, straining for every last word, a dragon dying of thirst straining to capture every water droplet available.

Apparently Cyclone didn't respond, because Lightbringer added, I am asking you a question. Have you got it or not? Tell me now! Please! We are all so nervous. She sounded frantic and on the verge of panicking. Now Crystal knew for sure—whatever it was was important, and "top secret." Lightbringer and the others were desperate, that was for sure.

Crystal felt the familiar gleam return to her eyes. If they were desperate, they were either weak or had been captured by someone else and were waiting to face Stratus's wrath. It would be even easier to track them down now.

Cyclone, unfortunately, did have the whatever-it-was top-secret item, because Lightbringer suddenly sounded relieved and less worried. Good. We were all worrying. Well then, goodbye for now, and good luck.

"Yes, good luck, Lightbringer," Crystal whispered, sinking her claws into the fluffy snow on her windowsill, imagining it to be Lightbringer's throat. "For luck cannot save you when I find you." Her frosty, bitter laugh echoed around her room and seemed to swirl the snow settling on the floor. "I will find you soon, scum of dragons who claim to be my sisters."