Wings of Fire: Melting Ice #2

Chapter 18

Aurora opened her eyes, her scales feeling warm. Sunlight pierced into the cave, dappling her scales. She lifted her head, her whole body feeling sore from being pushed up against the back of the small cave. Her jaws opened wide in a loud yawn, and she turned her head. Where's Hyacinth?

Aurora stumbled towards the edge, her eyelids heavy. He must have gone somewhere. She leaped off the edge, her wings spreading. She stretched in mid-air, the soreness leaving her body. He probably went off to get food. She dove down towards the forest below, which wasn't too far down. 

The breeze blew gently, softly brushing the leaves on the trees and creating a calming sound. Aurora landed on the grass, her talons digging into the lush green below. These trees were pines, but there was also birch. The scent of sap and pine and strong here. 

Aurora sat down, taking in the calmness of the forest. It's pretty nice. I may as well calm myself by sitting here to prepare myself for the journey ahead. She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of all the plants. Birds chirped in the trees, and bugs buzzed through the forest. After sitting in the sunlight for what seemed like forever, Aurora opened her eyes. She turned her head and looked up at the large mountain. Smaller mountains were around it. Past that is the Kingdom of Sand. And then after crossing the desert, we'll be home. 

Bored, Aurora began walking through the forest, her tail dragging along the grass. She kept her head up, and eventually she heard the gurgle of a river. She walked faster and found the trickling river, which was thin. She dipped her head, her jaws opening to taste the cold water. 

Aurora spread her wings, lifting into the sky once more. Her eyes followed the small river, and it seemed to snake along the base of the smaller mountains before going in between the smaller mountains that were further down. The other side of the river stretched towards the ocean. Maybe I can find a fish!

Aurora stalked along the sandy, pebbly bank of the river, making sure her shadow didn't stretch across the sparkling water. She could see fish swimming in the blue depths, unaware of their hunter. She lurched forward, her claws striking into the water. Three moons! Water droplets sprayed onto the other side of the bank.

"Aurora?" A voice whispered. "You're so bad at that!" It was a tiny voice, like a dragonet was speaking.

Aurora turned around to see a dragonet two tail-lengths away from her. He had snow-white scales, and his wings were yellow inside. His horns curved like a RainWing's, but his head was like an IceWing's. There were sky-blue dots around his snout and eyes, and some of his IceWing scales were a shimmering purple. Down his tail, the IceWing scales turned to yellow, purple, and sky-blue. 

"W-who?" Aurora stammered, shifting her talons.

"You know me," the dragonet spoke calmly. He lifted his head, revealing black scales as well as dark blue scales under his jaw. "Something bad is going to happen, and I must stop it now. Listen to my message, and listen good, Aurora."

"C-charming, my brother.." Aurora breathed, her eyes widening. Her eyes stung with tears at the sight of him. He looks... peaceful.

"This is for Iceberg. I want you to tell her that I forgive Hyacinth. Those are only a few words, but that is all I can say," Charming spoke. He was slightly transparent. 

"I... I will tell Iceberg. But Charming, how can you appear now? Why... why did you have to die, brother?" Aurora choked, her throat tightening. "I never even knew you! And then you appear to me to tell me that something bad will happen?"

Charming was beginning to fade away. "I needed to die, and I realize that. Snowcatcher showed me his visions. I am glad that I'm dead. I don't want to become a monster," he whined. 

"No, don't say that! How can you be happy that you're dead?" Aurora cried, digging her talons into the hardened dirt.

Charming was almost gone, his scales only a faint shimmer against the grass and dirt. "I saw my older self kill you, Aurora! And I made your family watch! I would've been a terrible murderer!" He cried out, before finally fading away completely.

Aurora ran to the place her brother had been. She collapsed on the ground, her talons ripping out chunks of dirt with grass. She sobbed uncontrollably, her pretty scales shifting to a depressing tone of blue-gray. Suddenly, scales pressed against her back.

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay Aurora," Hyacinth soothed, wrapping his wings around her. "Charming is gone.. he's always been gone. You can't bring him back, Aurora."

Aurora continued to cry into her father's wings. Why... it would've been great to grow up with him! But.. he was going to kill me? Why?!