Descant sat down alone in the Great Hall. She looked over towards her Housemates, and then frowned. She had never made it to Potions class, and besides, what would have happened if she went? She would still be sitting alone.
She turned to face her food. Her plate was piled high with delicacies, but she wasn't hungry. She pawed at a bunch of purple-blue grapes, picking each tiny fruit off its stem before placing them back on her plate. She tucked her claws in so she wouldn't accidentally slice through the skin as she did so. They rolled into the cheese, tinkling in tiny outrage as if upset at being ignored.
"Don't I know it," she muttered to her plate.
Great. Now I'm talking to my food. She snorted. No wonder nobody sat beside her.
She had hoped that the new Ridgeback - the one from the roof of the Astronomy Tower, Ithunn - would be here. She had hoped that they might be - dare she think it -
friends. But Ithunn wasn't here.
A commotion at the doors of the Great Hall caught her attention. Descant looked up, startled to see the Ridgeback standing there with her wings stretched out to encompass the entire doorway. The Manticore stood on the dragoness' shoulder, clutching the electric ball in his paws.
A few other dragons muttered under their breath, and a Pearlcatcher coughed delicately into her clenched fist.
A tiny Fae professor flew over." Excuse me, missie," the Fae said in a piping voice. But he could say nothing further before Ithunn flourished a paw, pointing one sharpened claw across the room - directly at Descant.
"You! Friend!"
Descant stared, not knowing how to react. Slowly, she dropped the grape she was holding and flared her wings. "Me?"
"Yes! I need you! Come quick!" There was a wicked glint in the Ridgeback's eye. The entire Great Hall was staring curiously, wondering what could possibly be happening. Descant stood, shoving her seat back. Her wings lifted her so she could fly over the long dinner tables and benches filled with students, without knocking into anyone.
"What's going on?" Descant heard the Headmaster question from the professor's table, but when she glanced over, he didn't look as if he expected a response. Instead, the Headmaster had laughter slipping from his maw, eager to see one of his students - quiet, distant, but with promise - with a new friend and adventure awaiting. Descant flushed, and returned her attention to Ithunn.
"Never you mind the details - we can't discuss that in front of all
them," Ithunn whispered conspiratorially. "I have a mystery to solve and I need another Ridgeback to help. Do you know any who are free for the rest of the night?"
Descant thought to the missed Potions class. For a moment, she hesitated. But look at the last time she had left her homework aside!
She allowed a small grin to break free.
"I think I might have one dragoness in mind."
