New Beginnings
- X -
SUMMER
(TW for implied animal death)
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‘
What did you do?’ Spiritsong growled down at the little Fae. Their claws flexed into the ground and their wings unfurled to block more of the passageway. The faintest trace of fear was in their eyes before they managed to suppress it, instead letting the chill deepen and leave frost along the walls and floor.
Luckystone almost took a step back, but managed to hold his ground. “I-I’m not entirely sure! I pulled at the residual magic in the ice spikes, but I didn’t think they’d react like… well, that.” He grimaced and continued, trying to explain better, “Your magic didn’t leave traces there, so I thought it would be safe to redirect what was left…” His fins drooped as he grew silent. Hopefully that explanation would be okay.
Spiritsong didn’t answer right away. Their tail lashed behind them in frustration and hit the wall with a loud CRACK, causing him to scramble backwards as a few pieces of rock broke away.
‘
Foolish hatchling–’ their growl deepened as they brought their face down closer to Luckystone’s height, ‘
You cannot repurpose defensive magic for healing, that would have torn their bodies apart the second you tried to touch them! Especially not with magic that old.’
“...Old magic?” That was news to him, “What made it old magic? Didn’t you make the barricade?”
Spiritsong snorted cold air in his face and avoided answering part of his question, ‘
I did, but I had a little help… a long time ago.’ Hidden emotions danced in their eyes as Spiritsong inspected him carefully, ‘
And it was old enough that it should have killed you with your clumsy spellwork…’
Luckystone tensed at their response, not knowing quite how to respond. But the massive dragon pulled their head back to normal height and pulled their wings close to their body, so maybe things would be okay. Spiritsong still looked rather angry – and he was starting to get a little angry at himself, too. If he’d succeeded taking the magic and used it on his mate or the elk… The Fae shivered. He didn’t want to even think of how wrong everything could have ended up.
‘
Ah, I see you now realize what a fool’s notion your tampering was, despite your intentions to do good.’
And then suddenly, their anger shifted into something else. Something that made Luckystone feel as if their gaze was tearing him apart, piece by piece, like a puzzle that didn’t quite make sense. He wasn’t sure if he liked that look any more than he did their anger, but whatever it was Spiritsong covered it up before he could figure it out, ‘
My patience is reaching its limit, Small One. It is time for you and yours to leave my home,’ Spiritsong glanced over their shoulder, ‘
Your mate awakens.’
Luckystone shot forward past Spiritsong – not bothering to question the much larger dragon’s changing moods – down the tunnel and into the room at the end. Lightfoot had pulled herself to her feet and was looking around the cave in confusion by the time he spotted her. The Fae let out a cry out happiness and landed between her fanned horns, “I’m so glad you’re alright, Lightfoot! You really had me worried!”
“It’s good to see you too, Luckystone… Ugh, my ribs hurt. What happened? I remember hunting and hearing a strange sound and–” Lightfoot cut herself short when she saw the injured elk beside her. It wasn’t breathing. Her muscles tensed as she looked around, “Where are we? This isn’t our lair.”
‘
It is mine.’ Spiritsong said as they came into view around the corner of the tunnel and into the room. Their eyes met and Spiritsong sneered slightly when the Mirror shuddered in response, ‘
I have allowed you to live, despite your trespass. Your mate is quite devoted.’
Lightfoot let out the meanest and loudest growl that she could before her chest seized with pain.
Luckystone jumped down to the ground between the two dragons and stared up at Spiritsong, “Please forgive our ignorance regarding your claim on the elk. We did not know, but that does not excuse what has been done. If you wish to punish anyone for the… death… of Morningfrost, please let it be me. I am sorry I wasn’t able to help her.” He cringed at the mention of the elk’s death. The Fae had noticed its condition when his mate had tensed.
Spiritsong glanced between the three – their elk, the Mirror, and the Fae – letting out a brief growl before nodding, ‘
True leaders take responsibility for the actions of their clan. I will hold you to your promise, Small One. Invoking the Icewarden… It would not be wise to break such a vow.’ They approached the pit and towered over them. ‘
Leave before I reconsider my agreement.’
“O-of course!” Luckystone managed to get out. Gods, if they weren’t terrifying when up close. The Fae still wanted to figure out what kind of dragon they were, though that would definitely not be something he wanted to ask about today. Thankfully Lightfoot was already standing up behind him and moving toward the exit. Luckystone quickly followed after her, though he paused just before entering the tunnel to look back at Spiritsong.
“...If the promise is kept… would you consider joining my clan? I know how it is to be an outsider among your own flight.” Luckystone wasn’t expecting an answer and he didn’t receive one, but the strange dragon hadn’t said no outright. Maybe they could mend the hurt with time. Lots and lots of time.
He did his best to ignore the sound of tearing flesh behind him after turning around, scurrying up the tunnel to catch up with Lightfoot. She wore a similar expression. Apparently, Spiritsong was still willing to eat those they called friends.
Lightfoot paused when she saw the icy sphere blocking their way out of the cave and turned to her mate, head tilted with her unspoken question.
“Ah…” Luckystone sat down next to her and stared at the blockade. He had forgotten about that. In his haste to get inside it appeared that he did not dismantle the spell entirely. “What was it they said..? Defensive magic…” he muttered to himself.
“Wait, you did this?” Lightfoot asked in surprise.
“...Not on purpose,” he replied sheepishly, “Let’s see now…” The Fae turned back to his musings. He remembered Spiritsong said it was defensive magic and could only be used for that. So maybe he could change it back? Luckystone grounded himself in his ice element and reached out with his magic toward the sphere. One sharp movement of opening his arms wide caused the sphere to break in half, each side retreating to flank the cave entrance like it had before. Well, sort of.
Luckystone had managed to create the barricades again, but he had made thick walls of ice that were smooth enough to see most of the way through them. “...Huh.”
Lightfoot whistled in appreciation, “That’s a handy trick. When did you learn to do that?”
“This morning – though I’m not sure if I really understand it. Spiritsong made giant spikes. I can tell you more on the way, it you wish. We need to head back and make sure Swiftrunner is okay.” Luckystone looked over her injuries, “Can you still glide?”
She nodded and the pair carefully picked their way through the crater and the rocks left behind. Lightfoot paused at the edge of the cliff to flex her wings to be on the safe side. The Mirror twinged at the lingering pain, but it wasn’t bad enough to keep her on the ground.
The pair launched into the sky and into a controlled descent to the valley below. Lightfoot winced as she landed a little roughly and folded her wings back to her sides. “I know you invited that… dragon… to join, but… There’s something wrong with them. Really,
really wrong,” she said as she glanced over to him as started the long walk home, “We Mirrors have excellent heat vision and I couldn’t sense them at all. Are they really a dragon or are they a monster pretending to be one?”
Luckystone had wondered about that as well, “...You have a point… Whatever they are, it’s probably best to follow their rules for the moment.”
“You’re not serious?”
“I am. We got pushed into this territory for a reason, Lightfoot. It’s only because of Swiftrunner that the two closest ones have agreed on a tentative truce, so long as we stay in the forest,” he smiled grimly, “We’re stuck here for the moment. Let’s make the best of it that we can.”
Lightfoot nodded, even though she didn’t fully agree. She didn’t have the strength to argue right now anyway. “Let’s just find Swiftrunner and go home.”
The pair walked in silence the rest of the way back.
Neither noticed that Spiritsong was watching them leave from high up on the cliff. They followed the two as closely as they could with their eyes and only turned away when the two were hidden by the trees.
