Timeline: a Wings of Fire fanfiction (COMPLETED)

22.

Clearsight

This is bad.

I mean. It was bad before--with the whole queen Vigilance situation. But this is really bad. And Darkstalker doesn't even know it yet.

I feel like screaming.

I did not need Allknowing to show up at a party and confront Darkstalker today.

The thing is, she's always been dangerous. Ten years ago, a three-year-old dragonet just starting school--I knew she was dangerous. I didn't understand the full extent of it, and I definitely didn't see this specific future on the horizon, but I knew I had to be careful around her.

And haven't I tried? I plot every single political move I make so it has the least chance possible of offending her. To keep myself safe. To keep my family safe. Even though it drives me crazy.

And this still happened. No matter what I tried.

Why do I want to cry?

No. There is no time to cry. I grab a scroll out from my pile of them and squeeze my eyes shut, so tight it actually physically hurts.

Allknowing was telling the truth. From what I can work out, she does work for a newspaper--and a fairly large one. She is planning on writing this article, and there's a pretty high chance she'll be able to get it published.

There's not a very high chance dragons will take it seriously--but that's almost just as bad.

When she realizes no one beleives her--it only makes her angrier.

She's not finished with us.

She's not going to be finished with us... for a long time.

I feel like throwing up.

***

Darkstalker gets back from the party about an hour later.

As soon as I start to hear the door creak open, I rush to the door and throw my wings around him. He buries his face in my shoulder.

"Did she try and talk to you again?"

"Nothing."

I have never been so grateful in my entire life to hear that a party was boring.

"Okay. Can we sit down? I need you to tell me everything."

And he does.

***

"You couldn't read her mind? Darkstalker, do you realize how worrying that is? You've literally never met a dragon whose mind you can't read before--mine not being included, obviously."

He thinks for a moment. "There are certain dragons whose minds are harder to read than others. Usually, I can get through blocking, but there are a couple times it's been impossble. It hasn't happened in a while, though."

I pause, trying to process that. "I'm scared."

"I know. I am too." He looks away, like he doesn't really want to admit it. But also like he knows it's true.

I reach out, and squeeze his talon. "Let's go get some sleep. Both of us. We're going to need it. We'll figure out an action plan or something tomorrow."

"You know I won't sleep."

"I know. It's okay."

I look down at the ground, waiting for the empty, howling silence to soften.