Rogue...

Though I had a few guesses as to where we were going, and looking at the future paths was tempting, I tried to not worry about it.

Little did I know, I was thinking almost the exact same thing as Clearsight once did, when Darkstalker had first been about to show her his scroll.

Well, at least, not about where we were going. I'm more worried about what happened with that Skywing. He wasn't even scared when he realized Darkstalker had his magic again. He had to have known how easy it would be for him to die. 

So he had to have known something we didn't. That earring he had on didn't look familiar to me, though I'm not sure why it would.

I fly behind Darkstalker so lost in thought I almost don't realize when he turns sharply. 

I quickly follow suit a bit clumsily, then realize where we're going.

We swoop down into the familiar glowing cave I found a while back and sit down on the rocks.

"Oh the mystery cave. I didn't know you knew this place" I say intrigued. Though I could look at his memories a bit, I couldn't see every detail. 

"This was one of the first places I went with Clearsight, but, how do you know it?" He asks, genuinely curious.

"Oh, I found it on one of my first days here. I had come to the beach to clean my scales and spotted it by chance" moons that felt like a long time ago now.

"Really? How coincidental. Maybe it was fate we ended up here together"

He said it lightly and as a joke, but, I have the strangest feeling that's exactly it.

The cool moss glows around us, as magical as I remember. I still hear the soft dripping of water on the stones, and the cool small pools surround us, just as serene.

And in that light, I can see Darkstalker closer.

I knew of course that he was handsome, but it didn't really mean anything to me before. Now I can see clearly how elegant his face is shaped. It was more sharp than a regular nightwings, and his curved and pointed horns were unique and fit him nicely. 

And his eyes, well, they were the most different. 

The sclera of his eyes were pitch black, and his irises a white flecked with silver. His pupils where black as well and almost always were slitted, as though he was constantly staring into a bright light. 

And... Oh no he's smiling at me.

Darkstalker...

While Rogue had been watching me, I had also been watching her, though a bit less noticably.

She has such vibrant, yet at the same time dark purple scales, that matched surprisingly nicely with her silver ones. And unlike a seawing she had a more compact shaped face, but very fitting for her. 

Her spots were so bright pinkish, as well as her spikes that it almost hurt to look at them too long, though, they faded and brightened slightly every few moments, seemingly doing that without Rogue ever noticing. 

And her eyes, with silver scales like mine, and vibrant as her spots with such a calm and intelligent look to them. 

Her horns were quite simple, but we're unlike a nightwings silver and we're almost pure white.

It's odd. She reminds me a bit of Indigo, that troublesome seawing because of her colors, but other than that... She's a bit similar to Clearsight in a way.

I smile at her, and think about that a bit more seriously.

I watch her panic slightly when she realizes I'm looking right at her. How cute.

Rogue...

"What? There something on my face?" He asks playfully, smirking a bit.

"No, no your fine, you just, looked different in this light" I say quickly averting my eyes.

It was stupid of me to stare like that.

"Well that's good, cause I would hate looking ridiculous while I listen to what our future will be together"

He seems to quickly regret saying it like that.

"Wait, no, I mean what's going to happen to us- as freinds- uh, working together closely- no...." He trails off looking embarrassed.

"Heh, it's ok, I know what you meant, don't worry" seeing him this flustered helped me got over my own embarrassment of staring at him before.

He grins sheepishly still.

"Well, anyways, could you tell me about your visions now? This place always helps me think more clearly... "

"Hmmm... Well, I'll tell you about the tree first. It was huge, almost as large as the entire castle. It looked like an oak tree kind of, but it's bark was to dark. And of course, it didn't have leaves..."

He looked more and more confused as I went on, his face scrunched in concentration as though trying to picture it in his mind.

"... It had flowers instead. Hundreds of bright pink flowers in bloom. Some of the petals were falling under it. It was beautiful..."

It really was. The glimpse I got of it was absolutely magical. It gave me the same feeling this cave does, as though no Animus could ever replicate it. 

I try my best to share the picture to him with my mind by concentrating on it, and I watch his confused face turn to wonder in an instant.

"Woaaaaahhh...."

I smile warmly seeing his reaction. 

"So, that's definitely not anywhere on Pyrrhia. I'm sure some dragon would remember a tree that big. What else was it you saw again? A bone dragon?"

Ah, that. That was less comforting.

"Yes, it was a black dragon, with bones seemingly showing, and sticking out of his back. And his horns... Bent down. He looked... Starved... "

The dragon had been huge, but very, very skinny. He looked crazed, his eyes bloodshot, and long Rainwing like fangs had been protruding from his mouth. It was like he was a monster, a wild animal more than a dragon.

The image I picture is also seen by Darkstalker, and his face distorts to one of disgust.

"I do not want to ever meet that guy. Probably never seen the sun in his life"

I laugh a tiny bit hearing him say that. It really does look like that.

"Well, it seems like we have to eventually. The last thing I remember is flying over the ocean, surrounded by water as far as the eye can see..."

An idea of what we're supposed to do starts to form in my mind. 

"I see that look, you know to don't you?..."

He says, his face serious, and his voice quiet.

I nod at him, with determination in my eyes.

"We have to fly across the ocean"

...

"... Exactly. Took you idiot's long enough"

We whip our heads towards the foreign voice, and sitting on a rock a bit more towards the entrance, is that Skywing, smirking at us.

Darkstalker reacts instantly, his eyes aflame, and he raises his wings and spikes, ready to pounce on the intruder.

"Oh my, how scary!... " He mocks, pretending to look scared for a moment.

"... But I'm not here to fight this time. I'm here to give you a message, from someone higher up" he points a talon into the sky, his odd purple eyes glinting mischievously. 

"... Higher up?..." I question, my eyes flicking to Darkstalker's, then back to the slightly glowing Skywing.

"I'm not allowed to tell you more, or she will get mad. But tonight, when the sun rises from the water, be on the beach outside this cave. If you miss it, then you'll never make it to your destination" he smirks once more, bows slightly, then touches his earring from before.... And he's gone again.

"That was... Interesting... " I start skeptically.

"Huh, your telling me!" He says angrily, still watching where the Skywing sat with disdain. 

I think over the skywings strange words for a bit. Higher up... Wait for the sunrise... Was there some other power at work? Or was this an elaborate trap of some sort? Could it be the last thing we need to get to that strange place with the tree?

My visions were not helping. For some reason, trying to look at the paths where we wait by the water is to bright, as though fire is blurring out the picture.

"I think we should wait like he said"

Darkstalker looks at me in surprise, still angry as well.

"You mean trust the camel licker that almost killed you earlier, and me as well? I'm not sure that's a very good plan Rogue" he says a bit sarcastically.

I give him an annoyed and angry look back.

"Well, if you have a better idea about how to cross the ocean, I'd love to hear it" I put just as much sarcasm, maybe even more into my words as I lash my tail a bit, splashing one of the puddles loudly.

He scowls a bit, and paces around the cave through the puddles, reminding me of an angry cat.

I let him think about it a bit while watching him a bit amused. I know it's a serious situation, but he looks kinda funny when he's this angry.

"ROOOAAARRRGHHH..... FINE. We'll go to the stupid spot and wait. Why not? Who cares if we get killed anyways!" 

A few bats on the roof of the cave flutter a bit after his outburst, but settle down quickly. He reluctantly sits back down, his tail still lashing, but he no longer looks like ripping anyone apart.

"Thank you Dark" I say, actually grateful for his support.

He tilts his head at me.

"Did You just call me 'Dark'? Giving me nicknames now huh?" He jokes a bit, his mood lifting instantly.

"Well, yeah, I guess. It's easier than saying Darkstalker all the time, man, what a mouthful" I joke back.

He nods in approval.

"Alright. Dark it is I guess. I kind of like it. Feels less ominous am I right?" He smirks at me playfully, his sliver eyes sparkling a bit.

"Heh, yeah. Now come on, the beach is waiting" 

He follows me out of the cave without complaint, and we sit at the edge of the beach together in patient silence.

My talons grip the shifting sand anxiously though, as we await whatever it is that will happen.

Ta da!

Darkstalker himself! 

I wanted to draw him with the glow moss after doing that one description, so I did this. It's the main reason this chapter took forever.

And of course, the little bats were actually drawn by my sister (she's good at animals). But everything else is my own art.

See you all next time! 

Oh, and merry Christmas! Since I won't be on actually on Christmas I'm saying it now to those who celebrate!

-Logatos