by Natalie Erin
“Prophecies are true whether they are one-year-old or a thousand. You should know that,” Allie said.
Ionan stood, beckoning to Mirabelle. “My daughter, I am sorry I did not tell you before that I was your father,” he said. “But I was forbidden by my Accompany to do so, and as you will learn, it is impossible for a Changer to go against a direct command.”
“Everybody but Allie, of course,” Kennu said, rubbing his Changer’s head. “She always has to be the exception for everything.”
Mirabelle hesitated before rushing forward, drawing her father close with her wings. “I forgive you, Papa.”
Ionan pulled away from his daughter with a thick gruffness in his voice. “We must venture home. It is getting late. Let us be done with today’s troubles.”
Ionan led them out of the briar patch, back towards the safety of the Verinian. Midnightstar snuck away when nobody was watching and sat upon a hill, gazing skywards.
“No stars tonight.” Midnightstar’s eyes pierced the black in a saddened determination. “Just darkness.”
The Blue Sky Peaks were elegant majesties, but the mountains seemed marred and tainted when occupied by vile creatures such as these. A girl with caramel streaks through her black hair laughed to herself, the golden of her eyes slicing through whoever ventured near. Beside her, Aravon sat on a rock, the sides of his mouth coated with fresh blood.
“So, when are we planning to move in?” Carmilla asked, hand on her hip. They’d taken refuge here, after Vixen had chased Wyntier and Nineva for days. The Great One had lost the trail, but the four of them knew she wouldn’t give up the search. They had to act quickly.
Nineva checked her makeup in a small hand mirror, making the object vanish with a swipe of her hand. “We have to surround them first. Every fairy bordering the Verinian must die. Otherwise, Kia will be able to call for help. We can’t let anyone get in the way.”
“That’ll take forever,” Aravon whined, clutching his ankles.
“Quit being impatient,” Wyntier snapped. “It took ten years to formulate this plan, and you’re complaining about waiting a few more days? You led us to the prophetess, but it was due to the strength of her friends that she got away. We must be more careful next time.”
Yet Wyntier also seemed anxious. He stood at the edge of the mountain ravenously, looking down at the expansion of the land below.
“This wouldn’t be a problem if we were Bloodlusters,” Carmilla snarled. “Then we could do whatever we wanted, and nobody could stop us.”
“Are you suggesting something?” Nineva turned, raising an eyebrow.
Carmilla grinned. “Our enemies can survive after an Ortusan attack. But you run into a Bloodluster, they eat out your heart. That’s how they survive.”
“And what is so fantastic about these monstrous creatures?” Wyntier asked, hardly listening.
“They’re much stronger than Ortusans. People always think Ortusans are so great, but they’re nothing compared to Bloodlusters.” Carmilla glanced at Nineva. “It would be great if we could change Von. He already has the Strength...the effects of his powers would double if he were a Bloodluster. We could get the prophetess out of the way easily, and it wouldn’t matter that we lost her powers, because we’d have our own.”
“And how do you do this?” Wyntier was officially interested. A greedy glow filled his eyes as he turned his attention towards the Ortusan.
“Well, first you have to be a Ortusan. Then, by the light of the full moon, you have to eat a heart.”
“Is that all there is?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It can’t just be anybody. It has to be a highly magical creature, something very rare. It also has to be the right age. You can’t kill it when it’s a baby, and not when it’s an adult. It has to be in that in-between stage.” Carmilla sighed. “Lastly, you have to torture it, and eat out its heart while it’s still living. That’s the hardest part, and why Bloodlusters are so rare. Usually Ortusans succumb to their thirst before they can eat the heart. It’s very, very cruel. Only the very worst of Ortusans can do it. So I’m sure Von and I will have no problem.” Carmilla laughed.
“Really?” Wyntier grinned. “Well, what do you and Von say about eating a young griffin’s heart? Will that do to transform you into Bloodlusters?”
Carmilla grinned at Aravon. “I think a griffin’s heart will do just fine.”
Xiuhcoatl twitched in his sleep. With an abrupt start, he flew awake suddenly, claws tearing at the ground as he spun to his feet in the middle of the blossoming grove. Strangely, his mother was awake...Sunset stared at the hatchling with eyes unblinking against the night.
They’d been following Mirabelle for quite some time in order to keep her safe, but never revealed themselves to her. Sunset said she wanted her daughter to learn how to handle things on her own, as a dragon, and so coddling her would only prolong the process. Xiuh didn’t think this was strange. To his mother, there was nothing more important than learning how to be a proper, intimidating dragon, one who could do things independently and without permission.
The notion that Ionan was Mirabelle’s father had been a shock to Xiuh, at first, but it didn’t take long for the dragon to become accustomed to it. He liked Ionan very much, and had gotten to know him very well during his many visits to the desert. He decided that it was better Ionan was Mirabelle’s father, instead of some strange dragon he didn’t know. When he asked his mother why she never told Mirabelle the truth, Sunset had merely closed her eyes and said, “It was not what her father wished.”
Now his mother was staring at him in a peculiar way. Xiuh slithered to her head for comfort, at which she replied, “You’ve been having the dreams for months, haven’t you?”
Xiuh jumped backward, gaping. “How did you know?
Sunset paused. She flicked her tongue out of her mouth to catch a passerby bird, crunching it within her jaws before continuing. “Your father would have the same dreams. Endless dreams of the stars and sailing upon them that would not cease.”
Xiuh brushed his tail against the ground. It was puzzling to him, disturbing, even, that he shared these dreams with his father. In them, he’d soared against the constellations, following the path of a black she-wolf, her back dotted with white stars. It had been the same dream for months now and it had not ceased, regardless of how many nights that passed.
“Your father was...a very unique dragon,” Sunset said. “He was also very old, hundreds upon hundreds of years. He had been the portal of the last skygazer that existed in the Lands. Now the task has passed onto you, through your blood.”
“Portal? Skygazer?” Xiuh said, shaking his head. “Mother, I don’t understand what these things mean.”
“You will. In time.” Sunset shifted her wings. “You feel a pull, do you not my child? Where does it beckon you to go?”
“A black wolf,” he responded honestly. “In my dreams, there is always a black wolf, with white spots like stars on her back. Ever since we have entered the forest, I can feel her nearby. I know it sounds crazy, Mother, but I do.”
“Dragons must not resist the urge to fly wherever their wings may take them,” Sunset said. “Go in search of your black wolf. She will need you, for skygazers always need their portal.”
“But, Mother...what about you?”
Sunset puffed a jet of flame. “It is high time you leave the nest, my dear, and go in the way of your destiny. I cannot stop you, for if I tried, fate would pull you away as easily as a stem is pulled away from the bloom of a flower. Not even dragons can resist what is to be, child.”
Xiuh ran to his mother, brushing his cheek against hers. “We will meet again. I promise,” he said. “Tell Mirabelle I am sorry I left.”
“She will understand. She has her Accompany now...we are all tied to our fates.”
“Yes...I...I believe you are right. Goodbye for now, Mother.”
Xiuh bolted into the wilderness in the direction of the plains, following a pull that tore a
t his heart, demanding that he do whatever it took to reach it. The pull intensified as he ran, centering his attention and focusing it on a single point. He knew not where he was going, why he had to go, nor what would happen when he got there, only knew that it was very important he did. Skygazer, portal, they were merely words that needed no meaning for now.
He had to find this black wolf. In the moment, it was the only thing that mattered.
Everyone in the pack was dreaming...it was best to leave quickly and get it over with. Midnightstar crept up quietly, her belly nearly scraping the floor as she made her way out of the cave. The stars had reappeared, and the rain had stopped. Nothing was to be heard except the hoot of an owl.
She sighed in relief, until she heard a familiar voice ask, “What are you doing?”
Midnightstar whirled around to see Snapfoot standing behind her, head tilted curiously.
She bared her teeth. “Don’t try to stop me, Snapfoot. I have to leave.”
“Leave? Why?” His tail fell as he crawled towards his sister, ears back. “Why are you ditching us? I thought we were all in this together! The prophecy said…”
“That’s exactly why I have to leave, Snap,” she said. “Didn’t you listen? The prophecy said I’m the one who is supposed to bring an end to the war between the unicorns and the wolves. I thought about it, and I realized there’s only one thing to do. I have to go and find the Assembly of the Lands. I believe they’re somewhere in the Ice Born Mountains. They have even more power than the queen. They can stop this. They’re the only ones who can.”
Snapfoot shook his head. “But why does it have to be you? Why can’t anyone else do it? We need you here!”
“No you don’t,” she said quietly. “Snapfoot, I’m different. I don’t belong here. This is my destiny, I know it. I have to do it because...”
“Because why?”
She sharply raised her head in a sudden bout of determination. “Because I know that I’ll regret it if I don’t!”
She bolted, and caught by surprise, Snapfoot didn’t give chase. She ran as fast as she could so that if the others woke up they couldn’t catch her, but no one came to follow. She felt a twinge of hurt. Part of her wished that her brothers and sisters would drag her back home, but a deeper part of her preferred it this way…leaving without a painful goodbye.
Unexpectedly, Midnightstar found that Adelaide was running beside her. Tatl and Rabika were there as well, following Midnightstar as if there was nothing wrong with her scampering away in the middle of the night.
“We saw you as we were on midnight patrol. Where are you going?” Adelaide asked.
Midnightstar didn’t look at her. “I’m going away to find the Assembly so I can put a stop to this war.”
“We’re coming with you,” Tatl growled immediately, his large paws thudding the ground at her side.
“No. This is something I must do alone.”
Rabika spun in front of her, halting the wolf’s path. “We’re best friends.” Rabika said, the scars along her face glittering under the moonlight. “Like it or not, we’re tagging along.”
“What about the pack?”
“The pack has enough trouble feeding everyone as it is,” Adelaide said. “It’s better if they have three less mouths to feed.”
Midnightstar looked at them, so glad to have three good friends. She had wanted to go alone, but now she was utterly relieved that she didn’t have to. “Alright. If you’re that determined about it, you can come along.”
The four wolves ran until they were clear out of the plains, and nearly into another fairy’s territory.
When the sun was halfway over the hilltops, Midnightstar noticed a small white dragon waiting in their path, raising his wings to block the rising sun.
“Hello,” the dragon said. “I know that I’m a stranger to you, but I’ve dreamt of our quest for a long time. I’ve been searching for you all night, and now I’ve finally found you. Wherever you’re going, I’m coming as well, to help.”
The three other wolves growled at the strange dragon, but Midnightstar peered at him closely, narrowing her eyes. The rays of the sun shone around his white form as clouds drifted in a magical shape against the border of the sky.
“Are you the clouddrifter?” she asked, stepping forward.
His nostrils flared. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you’ve been searching for someone too, I think I might be him. No matter what you’re doing, I’ll follow. I am Xiuhcoatl.”
“There was a prophecy of a creature called the clouddrifter, who would aid me on my quest to end the fighting between the unicorns and the wolves,” Midnightstar said. “If you believe that you might be him, you may come with us. I am Midnightstar.”
The other wolves stared at her in disbelief as the dragon bowed his head to her, but Midnightstar paid them no attention. “Come on. If we’re going to end this war, we might as well get a head start.”
The five of them raced off into the sunrise, adventures of all kinds set before their destination.
“Midnightstar’s gone. I let her go.”
Snapfoot was gathered with his siblings in a circle, looking down at his large feet. When Midnightstar, Adelaide, Rabika and Tatl were nowhere to be found the next morning, Lilja had called a search. Late in the afternoon, Snapfoot finally came clean about where Midnightstar was to his parents, and was now breaking the news to the rest of his family. It didn’t get any easier on the second try.
“What?” Caini asked, scared. “Where did they go? Are they coming back?”
“She said she was going to find the Assembly of the Lands, wherever they are, to stop the war,” Snapfoot said glumly.
Jade growled. “This doesn’t make sense. How could they just abandon us?”
“She thought it was part of the prophecy,” Snapfoot said.
“Forget the prophecy!” Shadowin shouted. “She needs to come home!”
“We don’t know which way they went, and they wouldn’t come back. They’re too far away by now for anyone to catch up.” Snapfoot blinked his eyes in weariness. He looked as if he had run for hours trying...perhaps he had.
“We may never see her again,” Jade whimpered. “You heard the prophecy. We could all be dead by the time she gets back.”
“If she gets back,” Caini whispered. A tear dropped into her white fur. Her brothers and sister moved in to comfort her, howling lone calls of sorrow.
Ionan sighed deeply and smoke flickered out of his nose as he walked through the Verinian on foot, looking for Wyntier. Even now, Keota was refusing to let Mirabelle stay with them, and demanded she live with Vixen and Casiff instead. It was the appropriate thing to do, as Lyrica was Mirabelle’s Accompany, but Ionan couldn’t help but feel cheated. Luciana and Rex had once again stampeded back into their lives, and Keota had welcomed both of them with open arms, but the daughter of his own Changer was unwelcome.
It is only a matter of time before Luciana causes more chaos, Ionan thought bitterly. She always does.
He struggled to comprehend how things could become worse. He’d been with Lilja and Cornia searching for Midnightstar and her friends all day, but it was clear they were nowhere near the plains or the forest. Kennu and Allie had taken the disappearance of their friend very hard. They were sure Wyntier would find her, and kill her before she reached the Assembly. Ionan could not say that was a lie, so was forced to comfort them in silence.
He looked around for somewhere to take off and found himself in the very clearing where he had fallen fifteen years ago. Old memories of wolf pups and telling stories to forest animals made him smile...it seemed like only yesterday when he first set foot in the Verinian, but nearly two decades had passed. How quickly time flew.
But he couldn’t linger here. There was work to be done. He thought back to when Malaki Shaman had poisoned the forest. Such a simple time…things were easier, and his friends were braver. He would have never considered a journey for a cure a slight thing y
ears ago, but compared with Wyntier, the memory of Malaki appeared a harmless kitten.
He thought he saw a flash of scales somewhere nearby. He moved the branches out of the way with his tail and looked down. An orange she-dragon was crying, tears rolling down her face and into the river. He knew if Mirabelle had come that Sunset wasn’t far away. Even so, it was strange seeing her here, and not bathing in the heat of the desert she loved.
“Sunset. What on earth is the matter?” he asked, sitting at her side.
“It is nothing, Ionan. Just motherly blues.” She took her tail and wiped the rest of her tears away. She stood to leave, but Ionan blocked her way.
“Come now. Do tell. We are good friends now, are we not?”
She looked away. “Yes, we are very good friends. Very well. I will tell you. I am simply sad because I have an empty nest. My son has joined his fate with the wolf, and my daughter now has her Accompany.”
“Xiuhcoatl left with Midnightstar too?” Ionan asked in shock. “Why?”
“He has been having dreams. Ionan, I believe that Xiuh is a portal. I told him to go, to seek his skygazer out.” Sunset sniffed, and a large ball of fire fell to the forest floor from her nostril, alighting a bush.
“His skygazer? I am not aware of this,” Ionan said.
“Someone from Nesting’s Haven would not know of the skygazers, only a creature of the Lands, who is old enough to remember their presence on our homeland,” Sunset said solemnly. “Regardless, both of my children are gone. They are dragons now.”
“I understand. My Allie is nearly grown up now as well. Every time I turn around she grows more and more into a lady,” Ionan said. “But you must understand that your life is not over.”
“My brother would be ashamed of me, such a strong dragon acting this way.” She laughed.
“Bloodbath would certainly not be ashamed…he would be proud of you for raising them, as am I.” Ionan rose his head high.
“I do declare…” She shook her wings, and they rippled as a wave in the ocean. “I feel as stretched as a piece of skin the hatchlings use for play. I wish I could feel young again.”