Wings of Fire 1: The Hidden Secret

~Chapter 8~

Moonwatcher spent the rest of the day with Shadow. She wasn't entirely sure of the animus theory yet, but it was very likely.

"I...I have to go soon," Moonflower announced, looking up at the setting sun. "My mother would be worried about me. And DEATHBRINGER, he would be frantic if I don't leave in about five minutes."

"Please!" Shadow pleaded. "Come meet my older brother! He's about your age, seven. Please? Come meet him!"

"Alright fine," Moonflower gave in. "And I'm six, not seven."

"I meant that he's seven," Shadow said as she lead Moonflower along the streets. "And six is about seven, so I was right and you cannot correct me."

Moonflower smiled. "Whatever."

For some reason, she actually felt exited about meeting Shadow's family. And Shadow seemed extremely over-the-top exited about Moonflower meeting her brother.

Shadow stopped in front of one of the stone houses. The door was wooden, with an iron doorknob. There was two window on either side of the door, and Moonflower was the blue curtains in the left window twitch, and then the sound of footsteps.

The door swung open just as Shadow raised her talon to knock. A black NightWing was standing there, looking kind and happy and relieved, but also suspicious. He stood straight and tall and proud, and his dark green eyes were locked onto Shadow, then Moonflower, then back to Shadow. He dropped his talon to the floor, then stepped outside the house and wrapped his wings around Shadow. In the sunset, he looked slightly orange and pinkish.

"Shadow, I'm so glad your alright!" the NightWing cried. "I was so worried!"

"Hey, I was just in the village," Shadow protested, but she didn't move away from him. "It's not like I'd go anywhere else, Darkmagic."

"Who's this?" Darkmagic took a step back and folded his wings in close. He looked Moonflower up and down, and a chill went down Moonflower's back. Darkmagic's narrowed eyes softened a bit, and the corners of his mouth twitched up.

"This is Moonflower," Shadow said. "My friend."

"What is she?" Darkmagic tilted his head to the side. He looked like he wanted to wrap his wings around Moonflower and invite her inside of dinner and then become her best friend, but he wasn't sure if he really should.

"I'm a hybrid," Moonflower said, trying to look like she didn't care. She spread her wings and looked up at the sky, hoping she didn't look upset. "Glory and Deathbringer's daughter, actually, so you better be nice to me, or they'll have your head off before you can even react."

To her surprise, Darkmagic actually laughed, though Moonflower hadn't meant for it to be a joke. She smiled at him, pleased that he'd laughed at something she'd said.

"Do...do you want to come inside?" Darkmagic spread his wing at the door. "I mean, you don't have to, obviously...but if you'd like too, you'd be very welcome."

"Thanks, but..." Moonflower trailed off. She wanted to agree to Darkmagic's invitation, to spend the whole night with him and Shadow, but she knew that she couldn't. Not with parents like Glory and Deathbringer.

"I can't," she said finally. "My parents will kill all of you if I'm not back anytime soon."

"Oh," Darkmagic's face fell. "Oh, okay then."

He turned away, and Shadow took a step inside.

"Bye," Shadow called over her shoulder as she walked inside her house.

"I can come back here sometime tomorrow," Moonflower suggested. "Or we can meet in the rainforest. If you want?"

"Alright," Darkmagic's fallen face looked hopeful now. "I can meet you outside the village...tomorrow, in the morning?"