Always - Moonbli

14. Diplomats and Wine

Qibli 

The first thing Qibli saw when he woke was Moon's talons, clasped in his own. 

He felt himself blushing as he looked up at Moon. She was lying on her side, her breathing even and her flanks rising and falling steadily. Her ebony scales smoothly shifted every time she stirred, and her tail flicked, brushing Qibli's side. 

It took a massive effort to tear his gaze away. Very carefully, he gently disentangled her talons from his own, trying not to rouse her. Just as he pulled away, she sighed in her sleep and he stiffened. 

But the moment passed and Moon curled up more tightly, burying her snout into her scales. Qibli gingerly stretched and lifted his head to peer out of the single window in the room. It was still dark outside, but the moon was slowly dipping down into the horizon. 

Nearby, a bank of clouds hovered, barely concealing a few weak golden rays. It's the break of dawn, thought Qibli. He continued gazing into the distance until a dark shape flitted into his peripheral vision. 

Still hazy, Qibli frowned. He peered more closely out of the window, sitting up. He'd thought it was a large bird of prey, but as it grew closer, he realized it was a dragon. A NightWing. 

And not any NightWing - Fierceteeth. 

She hovered a distance away, her sharp, shifty gaze sweeping the area, and then she whirled around and disappeared behind a mountain. Qibli laid back, still frowning. 

 What was Fierceteeth doing here? And why? Why would she leave Darkstalker? Did he send her? If he did, why? I'll figure this out later, hummed Qibli's mind drowsily. He gave in and closed his eyes, still puzzling over the young NightWing's appearance. 

***

'Rise and shine!' Qibli jerked awake. His senses were sharper and refreshed, but half-awake - somewhere in his head he knew something was wrong. Then it struck him. 'Nightfrost, Winter, hide!' 

He leaped to his talons and raced towards the IceWings. Nightfrost was quick. She dived for the cupboard before Qibli could open his mouth. He seized Winter's shoulder and shook him roughly. 'Get up! Get up!' Winter jolted awake. 

Thank the moons for IceWing reflexive training, thought Qibli, when Winter sized up the situation in an instant. Qibli shoved him under the bed, left with no other choice, and swiped clumsily at the rugs on the wooden frame. 

They were flung to the sides and hung over the gap between the bed and the floor, effectively concealing Winter yet giving any onlooker the impression that a half-awake dragon had hastily leaped off the bed in shock. 

Winter tucked in his tail and tried to huddle into the shadows, but he let out a grunt of pain as his head bumped the wood. Qibli jabbed him as he wrestled the IceWing's shoulder under the bed, and not a moment too soon - they heard a whispered password, and the doors swung open. 

Eagle stood there, grinning. 

A nervous-looking SandWing stood with him, dark eyes uncertainly scanning the dishevelled dragonets. 'I'm sorry for bursting in like this,' apologised Eagle unconvincingly. 'But Nightmare wants to see you and I really mustn't keep her waiting.' 

His tone turned harsh as he spoke to the cowering SandWing beside him. 'Dust, clean the room and get something to eat. If that isn't done by the time we get back, then you'll receive a good flogging.'

 A stab of panic went through Qibli. 

'Wait!' he cried, as Dust hurried forward. If the twitchy SandWing found the IceWing prince and princess, they were all dead. Eagle frowned at him. 'What?' 'Dust doesn't need to clean our room,' said Qibli, in what he hoped was a light tone.