~Chapter Twelve~
Smelter zoomed to Jinx, who was now quickly scampering away. She transformed into a purple dragon, winging fast from the chaos. Fennec opened his jaw letting rays of light shine out. While the other wolflings were busy, Nightgazer made her way over to Canary. “Canary!” she said delighted. “How are you doing that? WindPaws can’t use magic! They can’t right?” Focusing on her necklace Canary, slowly made her force field vanish. Nightgazer rushed over to her, eyeing Sparrow. “Who’s that?” She grabbed one of Sparrow’s arms and heaved it over her shoulder, helping Nightgazer pull him up. “A new team member, possibly. Now let’s get him back to my campsite.” They helped Sparrow, until they reached the fire they had made in the woods. Now just a few burning embers. The MoonPaw shifted to a pearl studded GemPaw, pressing a paw to Sparrow’s injury. Instantaneously, his scar was sewed together, with his flesh, leaving only a small scratch. He smiled at Nightgazer, in gratitude, who gave another eyeing look. Next she healed Canary’s wing. Canary spread it again, finally. Then did a victorious backflip in the air, howling at the dazzling moon. “Thanks, Night!” Minutes pasted before Fennec, Citron, and Smelter came, dragging a tied up Jinx behind them. Strong leaves wrapped around her muzzle, tail and paws. They threw her down roughly, to the muddy floor. “Hey! Careful, with Jinx. She could be very important to us.” She gently untied the leaves, letting the indigo wolf free. “Thank you, Canary. I felt like I was the bad guy in this situation. All tied up like a criminal.” Fennec shot her one of his death stares. “So what is she so useful for? We already have Nightgazer, and she’s amazing with her shapeshifting. Not so much the magic but still.” Smelter said. Jinx straightened her back. “Yes possibly true, but I know how to stop the war.” she chimed. Citron gazed at Canary, “really?” he asked. She nodded intently. “What type of information does she have, exactly.” Smelter said. “She knows how we’re going to stop the war.” The wolflings stared at her, confused. “You mean, she’s going to tell us who to choose?” Jinx, Sparrow, and Canary shook their heads, in union. “No we’re going to stop the spell that a wolf casted on the alphas of Talon Mark.” Nightgazer, sunk lower, “spell?” Canary shifted, and looked at her paws. “Yes. On the last meeting that the Alphas had. Some wolf casted a spell, for the alphas to begin war with each other. But it only truly worked when they agreed to it in the meeting. So we need to cancel out the spell, before more innocent wolves die.” “How?” Fennec finally questioned. “None of us are blood to the queen. If Nightgazer was she wouldn’t be here, queens would never give up their pups.” “I know,” Canary said. “But if we find all these gemstones we can use the power to stop the spell.” A smile spread across her face. “And we already have one of the six, my sapphire necklace. So it won’t take that long.” Jinx rubbed her paws together, nervously. “Actually we don’t have that much, time.” Canary flexed her wings. “What do you mean?” Citron said. “The Lunar Eclipse is coming soon.” Jinx explained. “Um, we already knew that.” Smelter noted. “But what does that have to do with us finding the jewels? We’ll be done probably only two or more days after the eclipse.” The MoonPaw, shivered at what Smelter said. “I know, the queen told me that. But I also know that after the Lunar Eclipse happens, the spell won’t be able to be reversed. We’ll have no chance in stopping it. And the war will continue forever, and ever. No hope will ever be brought on this world again.” She curled her tail around her paws, staring down at them. “Then let’s go!” Nightgazer exclaimed. “If we only have about . . .four weeks to the eclipse, we better start soon. Preferably tomorrow?” The wolflings nodded in thought, agreeing silently to the MoonPaw. “You’re right, Nightgazer.” Citron agreed. “Of course you are.” She shrugged at his response. Sparrow spread his wings, “well then.” he said. “I’d better return to the kingdom, before my guards come looking for me.” Canary caught his tail, “wait, Sparrow. We need your help with this.” Sparrow smiled down at her. “Really, why?” “It’ll be an advantage with another WindPaw on our side. Especially one with fighting skills like yours. We’ll also need you Jinx.” The blue wolf looked up from her claws. “I guess, I could. I know where all the jewels are, and have great spells I could cast. Just in case of course.” Canary nodded her head. “Tomorrow we leave, but for now I believe we all need a good night’s rest.” The wolves all, lay down in a soft furry pile, spiralling in different colors. Canary shut her eye lids, slipping into her dreams.
The sun glinted over the trees, reflecting off of Fennec’s golden fur. He was wrestling with a goat who had wandered into their campsite. It could make an exceptional breakfast for the wolves. After they killed, and ate their goat, they packed their things, which wasn’t much. Sparrow had flown back to his cave, and grabbed a red satchel with a paw print in black ink on the front. It was filled with, some more recent maps, books on the jewels (that he had to sneak from the ‘forbidden’ part of the library), and kingdom whereabouts. He also snagged a com from his sister, Finch. She really didn’t use it anyway. Seeing this Canary thought of her satchel. The one the Star Dragon, Apus, had given to her. Then her mind landed on her owl pet, wondering if she’d ever see the two again. “Guys,” Citron cut through her thoughts. “I think there’s a bird, coming towards us. I think it’s holding . . .a bag? It looks kind of angry. Should I shoot a dart at? We can save it for lunch, or maybe dinner.” Canary ran to Citron, “no! Don’t hurt it.” Squinting her eyes, she could see the bird’s, pink gleaming eyes, and vibrant multicolored wings. “Spectrum!” she shouted to the owl, who hooted happily back. With an outspread arm Canary let Spectrum heavily land on her. Dropping the satchel of two books to the ground. Picking it up she put in over her shoulder, then patted the owl, affectionately. “Such a smart owl, you are.” she chirped. “Canary there is a very stunning but big owl on you. You see the bird, too right guys? I’m not going crazy?” joked Fennec. They just smirked at the SunPaw. “Where did you have time to find a pet owl?” Nightgazer said. Should I tell them? It might be too much for them right now. But I should just do it now. Better than just letting them find out themselves. That, would be much, much worse. She explained for about ten minutes on what had happened when they were gone. All of them looking awestruck after. “You met dragons! And their kings and queens? That’s better than what we did.” Citron exclaimed. “And you met your parents? Lucky, they sound awesome, so do your siblings.” Nightgazer gushed with happiness. “But you lost the winglets.” Fennec broke the, sunny warm feelings in the air. “The most royal dragons in ‘Ember Wings’ which is a pretty big deal.” Smelter bumped him playfully. “Come on Fennec, how were we supposed to know our cave was past the Talon Mark border. And it wasn’t her fault for losing them. Besides those dragons sound awesome. Especially that Drought, a Dune Dragon. What a cool tribe name.” He looked at the clouds, as if he were imagining what the mystery dragon looked like. “We should go,” Sparrow interjected. “Before my patrol team, starts a search party.” He gazed at the sky, that was mostly peaceful, except for the squawking birds. “Right, come on guys. I’ll stay above and watch for threats.” Jinx swept her tail on the dirt. “We should visit the Jungle of Twisted Talons first. If we follow the forest, we’ll be there in like two days. Not so far away, really.” Citron’s ears perked up. “Are you sure, the jungle?” Fennec whacked the green wolf’s paw with his rattle. “Of course, buddy.” The GrassPaw smiled, staring at his emerald tail. So, it was decided they, set off to the jungle. Canary flew up near the treetops. Glancing at Spectrum, who was right beside her. I’ve met my family, she thought. Mother, Father, Robin, Glider, and Junco. Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon. The war will end and I’ll be home again. We’ll be together, forever. She looked down at Sparrow who was laughing with Fennec and Smelter. He caught her gaze, and winked back at her. She whipped her head forward again, smiling to herself. And maybe, by then I’ll find my true purpose, other than saving the world. She flew up past the leafy green treetops. Spreading her wings high, letting the light shine around her blue and white fur. The sapphire stone, glinted in the light. The one that would change her life, and the world forever.
~Epilogue~
Moonlight paced back and forth in frustration.
Where was Jinx? Why was she taking so long? She had given her exact instructions, to that stubborn soldier. It wasn’t that hard to find a gemstone. And what did she just see? Who was that?
Her room door creaked open, her husband walking in.
“Darling what’s the matter? You’ve been looking tense, since dinner. Your favourite dinner. Raven claw soup.” said King Soultaker.
He moved to the queen hugging her, tenderly.
“My beautiful moonbeam, tell me what’s troubling you.” Moonlight pressed her paws to the temples of her forehead.
“I just saw a vision.” Soultaker smiled, “oh a good one, I hope. One that shows what our soon to be born pups will look like. Or what Dreamrunner will accomplish in the future.”
She shook her head, sadly.
“No, then what?” Soultaker said. She glanced at her husband, for a moment.
“There was a dragon. A huge dragon, at least as tall as this room.” She pointed to the high risen ceiling, above them.
“He came storming in here carrying Dreamrunner in his talon. Shaking him so much, we pleaded to put h-.”
A loud smash came from the outside hallway. Screams erupting through the air. A black dragon burst through the doorway, glancing at the king and queen. His scales were littered with chains that clanked together. Grey horns were twisted on his head, and scratches shown from his underbelly made Moonlight flinch. “Mommy!” screeched the young wolf, he held in his big talon. “Help!”
Soultaker, and Moonlight stared in horror at the looming dragon. “Put him down you monster! Now! I demand you to!”
The dragon smiled kindly placing the wolf down gently. Dreamrunner, ran to his mother’s open arms. He whimpered in her embrace. “Hush now, sweetheart.” The dragon chuckled to himself, amused.
“I knew you had future powers. I could sense it from my cave, down below.”
Soultaker took a step forward, protecting his wife, and child. “Who are you? What do you want?”
Frowning the dragon tilted his head to one side. “I’m surprised you don’t know of me, Soultaker. Your father sure did.”
How does he know about, his father? Dragons don’t even acknowledge, us when we by sometimes. When they’re flying mostly.
“What I want is, for you to understand me. I’ve been trapped in a cave for over, twenty years. I am now currently, ninety-five. I know what you’re thinking. So young looking, yet so old? You can thank my daughter for that, many years ago. After she claimed the throne, she locked me in there with no food, or water. Hoping that I’d die from starvation, or dehydration. My daughter, Nova, was never the smartest of her hatching, anyhow.”
Moonlight clutched the trembling, Dreamrunner closer, “where is this going?” The dragon blinked, rapidly.
“Ah, yes. I need your help Queen Moonlight, to stop my daughter and her awful husband’s, reign as Star Dragon rulers. She never, punishes her subjects, properly. When I was the king, I’d never be so soft. One time a dragon tried to poison me, my own brother! He suffered by being sentenced to death. But lucky for him I was at my hatching day celebration when he escaped through a secret entrance. I should have just ripped off his wings right then and there!”
His voice boomed, being carried throughout the room, making Dreamrunner shiver even more.
“Nevertheless. He now has a family, with Fornax, an old friend of mine. They had an egg a few years ago, named her Apus. Which is some name for a princess. But she doesn’t know she’s royal blood. Her father never told her. Typical for my dimwitted brother. Sorry, I’m getting off track again. Queen Moonlight, thirteen years ago when you casted a spell on your fellow Alphas, you broke the bond that kept me in that dreaded cave. It took a while for the spell to completely wear off, although it did. And I thank you for that. But now, I owe you my life for it. So, to help you win this war I will give you guidance, in how to defeat your opponents. Such as, finding my old assassin and sending him to the wolflings of promise, to slaughter them quickly and get it over with.”
The queen stared at the dragon. “I-I never did such a thing!” she protested.
“Oh, right.” Slayer said. “That was me! I took over your body for a minute or two to cast it. The cave my daughter stuck me in was imperious to magic and or spells. Forgive me for that, if you will.”
Moonlight squinted her eyes at the looming dragon. “How do you know all of this? You were stuck under a mountain for twenty years.”
The dragon’s eyes grew bigger, in realization.
“Yes, well as I stayed hidden for a while. I better developed my power to listen to other minds. I listened to the kings and queens of the tribes, and Clans, I have more knowledge of this world than any other explorer, ever born.”
Soultaker, shuffled up more, getting closer to the dragon.
“If it means winning the war . . .then yes let’s work together.” Moonlight said, brushing her paw over Dreamrunner’s back.
“Wait.” Soultaker paused, holding up a paw. “You still haven’t answered my question dragon. Who are you?”
The dragon, stood tall, opening his wings to reveal a star and moon pattern on them. “I am a friend, a companion, and soon a dragon that will truly save the world. But in short , Your Majesty, I am King Slayer. The rightful ruler of the Star Dragon tribe.”
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