Wings of Fire • Dragon of Loyalty [4]

Chapter Nineteen

Me: has college applications, essay, podcast research, book four to edit and book one to re-write

Also me: "mMm, book F I V E-"

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Rainwind could tell her mother wasn't pleased with Swansaong's decision with how her tail twitched but she knew from experience with Lightningtail that trying to tell the Queen what to do wasn't going to work. It seemed that Albatrosswing knew this as well as she merely sighed and stood up:

     "Fine, have it your way," she relented, exhaustion catching up with her. Her mother's wings and tail drooped. "Don't blame anyone but yourself when this explodes in your face."

     Swansong recoiled at the dismissal. "Alba..." she reached out for her sister but Albatrosswing turned away and walked toward the Sleeping Caves. With her departure silence returned to the cave, only disturbed by the rhythmic dripping of water somewhere in the distance. It provided a fine timer for the countdown of Rainwind's mind melting.

     She stood there, staring at the place her mother left, the full realization of what they had just seen finally sinking in. Okay... we've only got two days left. Is that enough time? She's not joking; she'll tell the whole tribe when Aunt Falconeye gets back. Then... whatever happens, will happen. There was one thing she realized, however:

     We have to go back to the bay now, or else we'll miss our chance. We need to see what happened to be sure that Swansong isn't covering anything else up. We have two days. That's enough time to fly there and back, provided we're not flying against the wind.

     It seemed her friends were thinking the same thing. Just as Rainwind was about to voice her thoughts she felt her friend's minds present themselves next to hers. She turned to the side slightly to keep an eye on Swansong, who was sitting and staring into the fire pensively. Rainwind opened her pouch and touched her shell just as Brisktail projected:

     "We planned to go to the bay before Swansong revealed her side of the story. We only have two days to make it back here so we better get moving."

     "Lightningtail, are you okay?" asked Quickclaws, who had placed his talon on her wing. "You look... shattered."

     Before Rainwind replied to Brisktail she turned to her cousin, taking in her appearance for the first time. Lightningtail stood close to Thunderclap, both of them staring at their mother by the fire. The flames lit the dazed expressions on their faces. Quickclaws was standing to Lightningtail's left, trying to coax a response from her. The connection opened by the enchanted shell provided a unique look at their minds: Lightningtail was indeed shattered, her rock cracked and pulsing with pain. Thunderclap's mind seemed to be moving too fast for even him to keep up with it: the thunderstorm was raging and his real-life body swayed and shook as if he was bracing himself. Rainwind approached them slowly to try to help, sensing Brisktail move with her.

     Lightningtail? Thunderclap? Can you hear me?

     Thunderclap turned to her slowly, his glassy gaze sharpening as it focused on her. He opened his pouch and touched his shell. "Brisktail's right. We have to go now. Lightningtail?"

     His sister shook her head. She was still staring at Swansong as she spoke: "We can't leave now. With that attack on Brisktail, she'll break completely when she discovers us missing."

     But we have to leave now if we stand a chance of making it back in time, Rainwind tried reasoning. Lightningtail turned to her and gave her a broken look that made her want to change her mind. Was she doing that on purpose?