Clearsight

Let's see, what's happened in the last couple of weeks?

Journalists. Meetings. Conferences. School board meetings. Shadowhunter cries almost constantly.

We're going to have to take her. We can't just disappear for almost a month on end without our daughter.

It's probably irrational, but the idea of being away from her for that long makes my heart start to pound. My claws tighten, wings wrap around my shoulders, tail start to tap like a metronome against the ground.

I can't handle leaving my daughter behind. Even if that's irrational, I'm going to lose my mind.

So last night, we talked about it. And Darkstalker agreed. Maybe it's more dangerous for her, but Shadowhunter is coming with us.

And then...  The note. I'm still staring at it.

Lying on our doorstep, scribbled on a ridiculously large and fancy piece of parchment. (This is probably going to sound really weird, but we actually get these all of the time. Fan mail. It ranges from touching and kind to worshipful to downright creepy.)

I unrolled it cautiously, still half asleep.

Which brings me to here. Staring, still kind of in shock, at the four words it says.

I WILL DESTROY YOU

The handwriting is jagged and angry. It takes me a moment to realize who it belongs to.

My heart thuds in my chest, way too loud. My wings itch--to fly away, to slam the door, to freeze solid--I don't know. Something. No one ever said anxiety was rational.

I feel like someone has shoved a brick down my throat. 

It's only a note. It doesn't have to mean anything. Allknowing is just making empty threats. I crumple it in my talons.

It's a comforting thought, I guess.

Not that I believe it.

***

Lady Clearsight manipulates queen into pacifist action
By Allknowing of the NightWings

The queen's topmost advisor isn't only suspicious, arrogant, and completely undeserving of her position--she's putting our kingdom at risk.

An anonymous informant from the palace tells us that without the forcible intervention of Lady Clearsight, the queen would be declaring war. But instead, Lady Clearsight has manipulated our court into sending a delegation of NightWing diplomats—including herself, and her husband—to the Mud, Sand, and Rain Kingdoms—a plan that does absolutely nothing to ensure the safety of goods being shipped out of our kingdom, or that of the dragons within our borders.

Lady Clearsight and her husband have a history of undermining our queen's decisions. You all may remember when, just dragonets, the couple stopped the war between the IceWings and NightWing caused by Darkstalker's own parents and their forbidden love affair--not through diplomacy or force, but through making it physically impossible for the two tribes to fight with each other. According to my source, Queen Vigilance originally opposed the decision--information that was previously unbeknownst to the public.

It was Clearsight who made her change her mind. Running the kingdom silently, just out of sight.

She's not just foolish--it is my belief that Clearsight in power is putting the whole Night Kingdom at risk. And you would do yourself good to remember it.

***

"We have to do something, " Darkstalker growls, grating his talons against the stone floor of my office at the Night Palace. "That--that filthy, disgusting, worm just made a threat against the life of my wife and daughter--We could arrest her. If we could prove the note came from her--"

His voice is a roaring, hateful thundercloud. It scares me more than I'd like anyone else to know.

"I don't know what we should do, honey. And I looked it up already. She hasn't done anything illegal. Not yet. She may be an idiot, but she's careful."

"I don't care! We need to do something. We can't just let that toad-licking, dung-faced--"

I rub my temples, leaning against the wall. "Darkstalker. Calm down. We need to think clearly. Maybe you should get some coffee, or go outside for a quick walk... Or something?"

He slams his talons down on the table. It takes me a second to notice the tears welling up in his eyes. "I WILL NOT LET ANYONE ELSE HURT--" He pauses, burying his face in his talons for a second. He takes a deep breath. "The dragons I love."

"I know this is hard." I reach out, placing my talon on his.

"I'm done putting up with this, Clearsight--"

"Sweetheart..." I warn.

Darkstalker gives me a withering look. "Your faith in me is just heartwarming."

I sigh. "I'm sorry, okay?! I'm sorry I'm looking out for you and Shadowhunter! I'm sorry I want to keep you safe! I'm sorry I think before acting, unlike YOU!"

Darkstalker growls in frustration, looking away.

My head feels like it's turning to mush. I need to sleep so bad there aren't even words.

"I love you?" I try, hating how it comes out. Like a question.

He sighs, swinging his messenger bag over his shoulder.

"I'll--I'll see you later, honey..." I reach out my talon hesitantly.

He huffs grumpily. "See you."

Darkstalker slams the door behind him with a harsh bang.

Leaving me alone.

***

My office looks like a tornado hit it.

Half of our stuff needs to be packed up for the trip--all of Shadowhunter's toys, Darkstalker's papers, picture scrolls, blankets... I didn't even realize how much stuff we had until it was piled in a heap in our living room. (Shadowhunter thinks it's the best thing since premade bread, she keeps trying to climb it and jump off the top, which is very cute and also very dangerous, so she's not allowed to do that anymore.)

I keep checking the door in the middle of the night, even though it's always locked. Sometimes, when no one is up, I move blankets out into the main hallway and fall asleep in front of it, so there's no chance that if Allknowing did decide to hurt us, she'd get through to Shadowhunter (without having got through me, anyway).

I can't get the note out of my head. No matter what I try.

I WILL DESTROY YOU

***

Listener sips anxiously at her coffee.

I pull Shadowhunter into my wing. She makes a vaguely defensive gurgle.

"I can't believe everything is changing so fast, " Listener murmurs.

Fathom worries up his brow, "Do you need any more help for leaving tomorrow?" He fiddles with his talons.

"Not really." I shrug, ignoring the churning of my stomach. 

Listener reaches out for my talon. "We'll miss you."

"Me too. Promise you'll dreamvisit?" Fathom adds, forcing a smile.

Listener gives him a quizzical glance. I shrug, which I hope she interprets correctly as I'm tired; I'll explain later.

Darkstalker scoops up Shadowhunter in his arms and sits down beside me, starting to bounce her softly up and down. She squeals a little, attempting to claw at his nose, which at this point I'm pretty sure is just how she expresses affection.

"Of course I'll dreamvisit you guys." I roll my eyes. "You're my best friends."

I pause, studying them in the flickering firelight. "I love you all so much."

Darkstalker taps his snout quickly to mine.

I spread my wings around my friends, my husband, my daughter--all the dragons I love most in the world, gathered in one place. And I hold on. Moons, do I hold on.

As tight as I can. 

***

I'm super excited to write the next chapter, I'm sorry if this kinda felt like a filler, but I felt like I needed to really get into all the emotions going through my dragon babies' heads out onto paper. So yeah, hopefully, this wasn't boring even though it was a transition, and sorry for the late posting—I had a really rough week, and I'm trying to focus on taking care of myself, but I also promise I'm doing my best to stay on top of this story. ❤️

Shoutout to everyone who caught the reference to Legends: Darkstalker, pg 293 XD

-dragonwritesthings