~Chapter Eleven~
Canary tossed and turned in her bed. Sparrow said that she could use his sleeping cave for the night, so he’d slept in his office. If there was a program for young wolflings to be involved in, the queen must have known. But with the BloodClaws?! How? But mostly, why? They would have killed her in an instant, if she got close enough. Maybe she has a colleague or one of her brothers or sisters. Working for them, though? I still can’t put the pieces together. Trying to put her mind at ease she, closed her eyes to sleep.
A wave crashed on the sand in front of her paws. Her wings, tucked around her body, softly. A rabbit sprinted on the meadows far, behind her. A much bigger, and about four years older, Sparrow sat beside her. He had a long battle scar on his right wing. “So what should we name them?” Sparrow asked. Canary leaned closer, pressing her forehead to his shoulder. “They’re not going to be here until, next month. We still have time.” Sparrow spread his wing over her back. “I know, but I’m excited. We’ve worked so hard to get here. I can’t wait, for them to be born. And to be given such a stunning mother.” Canary nudged him, playfully. “As stunning as a swan?” she said. “As stunning as Canary, my love.” he responded. Canary began standing up, wobbly. Sparrow at her side to help her up. Her round belly almost grazing the soft sand. “Can we go for a fly? Just a quick one.” Sparrow looked worried. “But the healer said you shouldn’t be flying.” The blue wolf laughed at her husband. “That healer doesn’t know the wolf that holds the most powerful jewel in WindPaw history! He doesn’t know how much I love to fly, especially with my sapphire necklace.” The shining blue jewel glimmered in the cool sun, setting over the horizon. “True,” Sparrow agreed. “Fine let’s go.” he finally gave in. The two soared to the mountains, near them. Canary dropping a bit, sometimes. “I feel so happy!” she said, paws outstretched. They touched down in front of a black-rocked cave. A beautiful owl sat near the entrance, in a big nest with a rainbow colored egg. “Hello Spectrum, is Birthright out catching prey?” The owl, hooted in a happy chirp. Canary nodded, before entering her home cave. A portrait of, Canary and her family hung on the wall inside. A soft carpet lay out on the open floor. A yellow flower, growing out of the side wall. Canary looked around the living room, and she knew. That this was the place she was truly meant to be. But. . .it doesn’t feel that way. So, why am I feeling it?
Rough paws, shook Canary out of her strange dream. In a sleepy daze she looked up and, saw Sparrow hanging over her. “Wake up birdbrains.” Sparrow teased her. “The queen’s going to end her meeting soon, let’s get to her throne room before anyone else does.” Canary nodded her head, and stood up, a bit too fast. She almost fell over when, Sparrow catches her. “Careful, Canary.” She ruffled her healthy wing, then started to the door. Sparrow and her, walked down a carpeted walkway. The hallway had long stained glass windows, letting in the morning sunrise. A painting of a majestic pink and turquoise blue wolf, was at the side of a statue. Queen Sky, Canary noticed. I guess she is pretty, but that won’t stop me from destroying her if I must. Two guards stopped them as they reached the throne room entrance. “Sparrow, sir! Is this the wolf who wanted to see Queen Sky? She doesn’t seem very promising.” The hulking, hazel brown wolf glowered down at Canary. “That’s none of your business Puffin. Now. Move aside.” The wolves reluctantly, moved out of the way for Sparrow, while pushing the door open. Canary stayed close to Sparrow, ducking her head a little. In front of them stood, a throne. Shimmering of emeralds, amethyst, and jaspers. Curving a wing shape at the top of it, leaving the symbol glimmering. The queen had her wings out spread, yawning a couple times. Which gave the hint that she got up early to see Canary. “Hello, there!” said Queen Sky. “It is so pleasant to finally meet you!” That’s strange, Egret always said the queen was mean, and rude. Only caring about her beauty and if she were winning the war. But she seems so happy, and smiley. Sky, flapped down and landed in front of them. Looking around anxiously, she gave a puzzled glance at Sparrow. “Where are the other four? You know? ‘The wolf with the quietest tone, will kill the queen and take the throne’. We’ve all learned the poem in school, I’m sure of it!” Sparrow flexed his paws. “Canary, here, was the only one we could find. Surrounded by these dragons, apparently. One of my patrolling teams, saved her and managed to escape those monsters.” Canary didn’t like how Sparrow was talking about her newfound companions. But she wasn’t going to make a scene in front of the queen. “No matter. You found our prophetic wolfling. Speaking of which I’d like to take a little walk around, the palace, while I check on things.” Sparrow immediately understood, sweeping out of the room in a hurry. Queen Sky beckoned for Canary to follow her. They strolled down beautiful hallways lined with other paintings of past kings and queens, of the WindPaws. “Your Majesty,” Canary said. The queen looked over her shoulder, “yes?” the queen answered. She didn’t know how to address this question, if she said wrong, the queen would be badly offended. “I’ve noticed that . . .the kingdom doesn’t exactly have a new royal family, or king for that matter.” The queen kept her stride, in a steady rhythm. “Oh yes. Well I haven’t found the right mate yet. I mean I have but . . .why don’t I just show you what I mean?” The two wolves halted at a room entrance, closed off by a floral curtain. Queen Sky pushed through it, Canary behind her. On a high risen bed, a black and red wolf lay motionless, just his chest rising and falling in sleep, and his shaking wings. He had a the same bandage on his head, that Canary had on her wing. Sky waltzed over to sit beside the bed of the unconscious wolf. “This is Squall, my mate for life. Well soon he’ll be at least.” Canary glanced from his trembling wings, to his head injury. “What happened to him?” Canary said softly. Queen Sky looked as if she was holding back tears. “The first week of the war, Squall was on a mission to find an old artifact from the crypts, under the palace. One that was said to be for protecting oneself from danger. It was a some type of pretty gem, a very old one though. Apparently it was made from the darkest magic in the world. Such a thing could help me in the war. I could wear it. Or give it to one of my flight troops, for when they go on the battlefield. At least that’s what I thought, it could be useful for. So, when he was down there it caved in, and he was stuck for six hours. When we finally retrieved him, the healers said he had went in a state of a coma. He’s been like this for thirteen years. It happened like a curse, the one wolf that ever said ‘I love you’ to me and I felt the same, is in a trance, and for so long. It’s unbearable, Canary, you have no idea.” The WindPaw queen, gazed at Squall longingly. And Canary knew that look too well, the same look she gave Sparrow sometimes, without even noticing. How could she not, he was the best wolf anyone could ask for. His siblings were nothing like him. Sparrow was brave, and smart, and extremely charming with Canary. “Did you know about the BloodClaws program, Queen Sky?” The queen turned to Canary, “the what?” She sat up higher. “I would never go into any business with those . . .mongrels!” she shouted. Making the healers in the room turn to stare at her. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty it was just a question.” Canary quickly apologized. Now it made sense, but she still didn’t know how it was done. So if it wasn’t the queen it had to be someone who looked like her. Or shifted into her. And there was only one Clan that could do that, the Moon Clan. She excused herself from the queen, who was too entwined with one of Squall’s paws to acknowledge her anymore. Canary sprinted to the entrance of the palace, where Sparrow was handsomely standing against a wall. “We have to go, now.” Sparrow stood up straight, “What?” Canary took her paw in his and strode down the staircase. “I know this might seem crazy but, I think I know how to end the war.” Now standing at the foot of the stairs, she held the sapphire in her paws, thinking hardly. Raven. A pair of elegant mauve, wings grew out of Canary’s back. Her other ones tucking deep into her fur, hiding gently. Sparrow just made an impressed face at Canary. “Really, how? I’d love to know.” She flapped her new wings, they fluttered perfectly like a butterflies when it crawls out of its cocoon. “I can’t tell you. Not here. Not now.” Sparrow nodded, understandingly. The wolves quickly strode over the walkways. If we fly now, it’ll look too suspicious. For now we can walk normally, until it seems like we’re just thought of flying. Then we can get out of here. I don’t even know if I can trust anyone here anymore. They kept walking, until they were out of site from the palace. Spreading their wings, they took of, soaring out of the WindPaw’s kingdom. Keeping steady wingbeats, for long hours, before the sunset came, and they slowly glided down to the grassland below. As Canary landed, her raven wings slinked into her back, and her blue wings forming again. The broken wing still felt like, a parrot was repeatedly pecking at it. She tried to forget the pain, instead searching for some prey to hunt. Sparrow managed to strike down a small deer, so that could tie her over for a bit. By the time they, found a warm place under the trees, night had taken up the wide sky overhead. Canary snuggled close to the blazing fire, they had made from stray branches and dry leaves earlier. Sparrow roasted bits of the deer over the open flames, turning them on a long, strong stick. He flipped the meat for a couple minutes, then handed a smoked piece to Canary. She scarfed down her dinner, it being the only meal she had in while. After eating her tasty food, Canary curled into a ball, shivering slightly. Sparrow, must have noticed, because suddenly he opened his big black wing, covering her and blocking the cold from reaching her. With the warmth of the fire and Sparrow, she drifted into a calm peaceful slumber.
Loud barking made, Canary jump out of her sleep. Looking around cautiously, she stood up quickly. Sparrow wasn’t beside her anymore. Where had he gone? Had he left her, so far out nowhere. No! Never, Sparrow’s too sweet to do anything like that. She spread her wings, then a surge of pain reminded her of her broken bones. Cursing at the air Canary ran to the sound of battle, sprinting through the deep moonlit forest. Her paws beating on the floor, Canary came to a bright clearing, the moon shining in her eyes. In a field not too far away, two wolves violently attacked each other. Sparrow hovered high in the sky, shooting wind bursts to the wolf below him. His opponent a huge GrassPaw, spitting darts. No a SunPaw, striking him with a blinding sunbeam, now a FlamePaw engulfing themselves on fire. A MoonPaw! she recognized the fight pattern the wolf used. She shifted into a pink diamond scaled dragon, opening her wings that threw shards of jewels at Sparrow, one swiftly cutting his shoulder blade. He fell to the ground, blood gushing out of his shoulder, spraying the grass around him. The MoonPaw stopped, diving down to see Sparrow better. “Stay away from him!” Canary called from far behind them, moving over to the injured wolf. “No, no, no! That wasn’t supposed to happen. Are you okay? Should I go get help? I think I could heal it if I change into a GemPaw. Let me please just try.” As the wolf shifted into a glimmering gem wolf, Canary came to the grey wolf’s side. Examining his wound, she saw a white shard was imbedded in his skin, ripping through the fur, leaving a large gash. She reached for it, then stopped seeing how much pain Sparrow was in. “I’ll try healing you now!” The MoonPaw, was now a shimmering aquamarine, a pattern of teardrops rippling along her tail and face. She tried to touch Sparrow’s gash. Canary growled at her to stay away. “Please just let me help, your friend.” she said, taking a cautious step back. “You’ve done enough, now go! Before I tare your ears off!” Canary snapped at her. Turning around trying to find, something to stop the rapid bleeding. She felt a paw on the curve of her back. “Please, let me at least try.” Feeling a surge of anger, she shoved her away. “No! Let me protect him!” The sapphire necklace gave a gleam, then a pearl-white force field, like a protective dome, swarmed around her. Canary glanced at her family heirloom. Weird. But what could she do, it was a Magician that put magic in it. So it would stay enchanted until one of his heirs undid the spell. The, now deep indigo, wolf came running back to Canary’s annoyance. “Are you alright? Please say yes.” Canary ignored her, untying the clothe on her wing. She ripped it in half, then wrapped it around Sparrow’s bleeding wound. The blood soaked through the fabric, but seized after. She sat down retying the other half to wing, creating a sling for herself. The strange wolf, started banging on the glass dome. “Fine if you won’t let me help, then let me explain myself.” Canary glared at her, but didn’t stop the wolf’s explanation. Heaving a breath, she began. “My name is Jinx, one of Queen Moonlight’s soldier. Not a loyal soldier but, still. My queen sent me to search for a gemstone, the Obsidian of Darkness and Magic. I’ve been searching for it for over, what? Three months now. I’m not very good at keeping track. A few days ago I was ing a mountain, and saw this dragon flying towards it, holding something. So to better investigate it, I shifted into a crow and flew up. I stayed hidden but could hear whispers of their conversation. They were talking about an obsidian. But then I thought ‘wait! I’m looking for an obsidian. So maybe they know where it is’. I wanted to follow them into the dark thing, but then it closed up. Leaving a huge boulder in the way. Instead of just wandering back to my kingdom, I circled the mountain for two more days. Until these other dragons came and talked about some wolf, for like two hours. Which I think that wolf was you, Canary, right? Sorry if you don’t want me to say your name, I just ed it. Anyway, the next day a group of younger dragons left to help find some others wolf, with you. Then a pack of wolves attacked them. They knocked you out and, brought you to the kingdom. I disgusted my self as a rat, and followed you guys around for a while. I lost you today, when I was distracted by some pups who cornered me. After that I came here, looking for you two again. When I say your friend out for a walk, my instincts kicked in immediately. I tried to pin him down to get some answers, but boy is he strong as an ox. We got into a fight, you came and stopped it. Your Wings of Shielding Winds sapphire, blocked me off and that’s about it.” Sparrow tilted his head to one side. “The wings of what?” Jinx twitched her ears, “you know the most powerful sapphire in history?” she said. “Well in your WindPaws history at least. Made by one of the leaders of the Magicians really long ago? He made six gemstones actually. A sapphire, an obsidian, a diamond, a citrine, an emerald, and a ruby. One for each Clan. All ted together can unleash great power. It can cancel out any spell! So cool right?” Jinx nodded in thought, to herself. Canary made a confused face at Sparrow. “Don’t look at me. I’ve never heard of those before.” Canary just smirked at him. She held her sapphire close to her chest. So much power, and my family doesn’t even know about it. Just then a burst of life came from the tree tops, as if the sun was trying to outshine the moon. Hissing came from the darkness of the forest, as four wolves emerged from the shadows. What sounded like a SunPaw, rattled his tail menacingly. Two wolves growled and barked loudly. Then a wolf, blew a plume of fire into the air around them, illuminating their faces. Canary could see them clearly, now with the burning light. She shrieked in surprise, finally seeing who the wolves were. It was her friends. And they had come to save her.
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