The Darkest Day

Prologue

Two days ago

It was a beautiful sunny day, a perfect day to fly. Well, at least, it had been during the morning. The rest of the day had been spoiled by the rain who kept pouring down. Silt began to regret not staying an other day at Possibility. On the other hand, if she had stayed a little longer, she might have been late.

Silt sighted the Diamond Spray Delta.

"Not far away," she thought. "Let's do a break."

She dived downward, looking for a place to land. She landed next to the river. Silt laid on the floor for a moment, then checked if the bag attached to her paw was still here. It was. Fortunately! Otherwise, why would she have left the Mud kingdom?

"Probably to hear from him – Stop thinking about him!" a second voice in her head stopped her, "You know very well he doesn't want to see you! - Nonsense! It's just... he's very busy right now..."

Silt didn't like getting lost in this kind of thinking. She knew full well what he was doing, and especially, for who. But it didn't stop her from fearing the worst.

The young dragon was getting ready to take off when she heard wings flapping. She turned to its source and saw a Skywing approaching her. She landed in front of Silt.

"Hel... Hello," she said to the Mud dragon.

"Hello," Silt answered.

A long silence ensued. The Skywing was wavering to speak, like if she was seeking her words.

"I'm sorry," Silt disrupted, "but they're waiting for me. I have to take off."

"I understand, but..."

"..."

"Well, it's a bit embarrassing, but I suck at geography! I remember no map, not even my town's one! And because of that, I just get lost every time I go somewhere. I've been charged to deliver a message to Queen Moorhen, but I'm never gonna make it because I don't even know where her palace is!"

"A message? From Queen Ruby?"

"Queen what?" The Skywing wondered.

Silt stepped back. This dragon was shady. Not knowing the name of your own queen?! Impossible. She must hide something. Was she planning to do an attack?

Yet, this dragon didn't look like a killer at all. She seemed really terrified that she had got lost. A true killer wouldn't panic so easily, would he?

"Well, what's your name?" Silt asked.

"Pulse," she answered, "I'm Pulse."

"Pulse, How could I lead you to my queen if you don't even know the identity of yours?"

"What? That's not true! I know I struggle with maps, but I remember perfectly names. There had never been a Ruby on the Skywings' throne. The current queen's Tornado."

Now, both of them were looking each other with a wary look. Pulse took a step back. Silt examined her to see if she was holding a bag that could contain a weapon or a scroll. If the rumors were to be believed, an animus would have bewitched some scroll pieces to turn into other dragons. Witnesses would have sighted him at Queen Ruby's palace. It sounded ridiculous, but, what if those scrolls really exist?

In any case, Silt wouldn't have the answer right now because the Sky dragon wasn't wearing anything, no bag, no weapon.

Finally, it was Pulse who broke the silence.

"It doesn't matter that you don't know the queens' names or whatever else. I have a critically important message to deliver to Queen Moorhen. The future of the world is at stake, so will you take me to her?"