The agony was becoming absolutely unbearable and not to mention the air was suffocating. Eclipse was struggling to even keep his wings steady as he landed down on the beach at the edge of the island.
“What kind of place is this, it’s awful.” He started to cough uncontrollably.
“Get used to it, this will be your new home for a while.” Morrowseer chuckled as he walked around the edge of the beach to a small forest.
“As if this would ever be my home.” Eclipse shot back.
Morrowseer stopped moving and shot a glance back at him. “It seems the mainland has messed with your head dragonet, you will never go back there after your little runaway attempt. You and Fierceteeth along with that idiot can all get real comfortable over that common interest.”
Morrowseer turned around behind the trunk of the tree and picked up some carrion with his claws; he took large, greedy bites from it and the sight disgusted Eclipse beyond words. How bad does it have to get for you to resort to that? He turned away and then he felt the sickening chuckle that came from Morrowseer’s mind; it rippled and pulled up Eclipse’s spine.
“What's wrong, can’t stomach it? You know—” Morrowseer’s eyes seemed to start to scrutinize Eclipse and that filled Eclipse with a very uneasy feeling. He couldn’t exactly pick up what Morrowseer was thinking but what he could deduce is it was not good. “When were you born?” Was what escaped in a condescending hiss.
“When were you?” Eclipse tried to shoot back, but Morrowseer slammed him with his tail and Eclipse slammed into the ground snout first. Eclipse quickly grabbed his snout and cupped it in his claws.
Morrowseer took that moment to get right in his face and his black eyes burrowed into Eclipse as he gave him the most terrifying grin. “Listen, you are awfully mouthy and it’s quite annoying. You may be an animus but that doesn't scare me one bit, you’re still just a little dragonet and you are beholden to the rules of the tribe. So shut your snout and show some respect.” He went back to finishing up his food and then turned to ask again. “When were you born?”
“Six years ago.”
“And what is your name, I don’t think I ever caught it?”
“Eclipse.”
“Hm… never heard of a dragonet by that name. Who are you parents?”
“I don’t know who they are.”
Morrowseer glowered at him and his mind was finally loud enough for him to hear over everything. You annoying little lizard oh if I could I’d rip your tongue out right now.
“Do it.”
“What?” Morrowseer’s brow furrowed.
“You want to rip out my tongue? Do it, you talk big but you do nothing.”
“How did you…?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I can hear you.”
Morrowseer’s mind flared, “that’s not possible, no… no… it’s not.” He just like— but then Morrowseer stopped and scowled. “We're going to see Battlewinner. Right. Now.”
Eclipse wanted to protest, wanted to fight him, but he knew if he messed up that SandWing would disappear forever, he was far more important than Eclipse liked but he couldn’t change anything. He took off after Morrowseer and once they escaped the forest he saw it entirely. The lava, the NightWings, the horrible state of this island. His heart ached and his mind flared. So many thoughts cascaded his head.
I hate it here. I can barely handle this clawing pain. When will it be my week? Why do we have to suffer while the others get to live somewhere so great? Tears began to form in his eyes from how horrible it all was and he just wanted to shut them out. However his usual hope of focusing on something positive at least; was nowhere in sight so he just had to bear the pain and fly to where the Queen was. Maybe that would make them quieter, better. But even to him that hope felt shallow.
They arrived at the fortress in the center of the main volcano, the heat wasn’t unbearable but it certainly wasn’t pleasant. They walked inside and he noticed how almost every dragon around him looked sickly and thin. They had the unmistakable and horrid smell of sulfur that emanated from the island and his heart ached. He knew none of these dragons but some part of him hurt to see the tribe he was a part of, the tribe his parents were a part of, hurting and in this horrid state. Has it always been this way? The question scared him to think, and if his parents were brought here—if they were forced to live here—he closed his eyes and shut that thought down immediately and the spiraling web it seemed to go into.
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He stalked down the hall till they stood before a giant door and Morrowseer turned.
“Listen, it would be in your best interest to… not talk while the Queen is. As I said she dislikes mouthy dragonets and her punishments are anything but kind.”
“Yes… Morrowseer.” Eclipse said softly.
Morrowseer chuckled, “no comeback? No retort?” He smirked before he opened the door and they both stepped inside.
The room was bathed in heat as the lake of lava and the center occasionally bubbled and hissed. A gathering of NightWings was inside in the middle of what appeared to be the trial of another NightWing. A dragon atop the room stood next to a wall with holes on the side. Morrowseer bumped Eclipse’s wing and smirked as the dragon in the center began to backpedal on whatever he was saying.
“Your majesty please, it was an accident, I meant nothing by it.”
The dragon next to the wall placed her head to it and after a moment faced the NightWing. “Her majesty does not accept your apology, Brilliance, you have tested her patience.” With a wave of the dragon's claw a NightWing rammed into Brilliance and knocked him into the lake of lava. Eclipse’s mind filled with that similar screaming pain and anguish that came with Fjord but it died far quicker as the dragon swiftly sank below the lava.
Morrowseer chuckled once more before waltzing up to the center and blowing, he gestured for Eclipse to come and he did, bowing much the same way Morrowseer did.
“Your Majesty,”
The dragon looked down at him. “Morrowseer.”
Eclipse looked at the dragon and thought she was quite small for a queen and her tone certainly didn’t present a queenliness to it. She seemed so timid but after seeing she did to Brilliance he’d rather not get on the bad side.
“I come with a dragon who I think could be most important to our plan.”
“Oh and how might that be?”
Morrowseer turned to Eclipse. “Well this dragonet here, is an animus and apparently a mindreader as well.”
“An animus? How come this is the first we’re hearing of this?” The dragon barked.
“Well he sent for me on the mainland, he must’ve escaped before we could properly test him.” He scowled.
“Well you know her majesty isn’t one for words and saying he’s an animus is quite the claim, she’d need proof of such things.”
Morrowseer looked at Eclipse and gestured for him to do something but Eclipse just bowed and hung his head low. “With all due respect your majesty I can’t. I fear using my power more than I already have will come at too high a cost.” When he raised his head he nearly jumped as he swore he could see an eye peering through the holes in the wall at him. “What in the three moons!” He cried as he steadied himself.
“Unfortunately her majesty does not accept such excuses, she requires proof or you will be punished for wasting her time.”
Eclipse picked up a nearby stone and thought of something small, something that maybe the timeline wouldn’t care about, that maybe would keep that SandWing still within reach. “Enchant this rock to levitate to her majesty and then return back to me and become a normal rock.”
The rock flew up and past the dragon on the ledge and his eyes widened as it went into the holes in the wall and then after a long moment returned to his claw and became normal. “Wait you’re not the…”
“No, she’s the princess, Princess Greatness.” Morrowseer finished at him with a smirk.
Greatness placed her head to the door and then looked down at Eclipse. “Her majesty finds this display… acceptable. Morrowseer is to take you to the dragonet dormitory and then bring you here tomorrow where we will discuss where you can be of use.” She turned to Morrowseer, “her majesty of course wishes to see you after you complete this and she will reward you appropriately.”
Morrowseer turned and Eclipse followed him as they left the fortress and then flew to the dormitory in silence. Once inside he led him to a room filled with other dragonets who looked even worse than he could’ve imagined. They looked so weathered and tested by the island and all their gazes focused on him and thoughts came in once more.
Who’s this? He looks awfully healthy. He smells like the mainland. He felt instantly smaller, small like he was nothing, like he’d never be anything.
“Do I have to stay here?” He whimpered.
“Yes, you do, like I said you are still beholden to the rules like anyone so get comfortable.”
“Please, you don't understand, I can hear everything they think there has to be something else.” His voice became frantic and panicked.
Morrowseer whispered in his ear, “you have to follow the rules. You’re an animus, figure it out, but you won’t get any help from me, I’ll see you in the morning.” He turned and left.
Eclipse was alone and now could feel every eye on him, every way they seized him up and destroyed him bit by bit in their minds. He crawled his way to a bunk that seemed empty and slipped his way inside. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep but something spoke to him directly, not really a person but a prophecy.
Where knowledge lives, where lies die, answers be found up high. Alone you walk, alone he stalked, shadows breath and light dies. Who you are is in sight, be strong, be fast or you’ll become nothing but ash.
He hated how cryptic it was, how much and how little it truly said but he couldn’t focus on that now; he just tired to focus out the other thoughts as much as he could and somehow fell asleep.
