The World Turning

Chapter 20: The Sword of Doom

~Winter POV~

Winter looked on at the distant shape of Darkstalker as he flew off into the northern reaches of the SkyWing territory. Winter thought it was strange, but despite all of the horrible things Darkstalker had done in the past, Winter felt as if he was finally beginning to understand him.

He's lonely. Just like I was before I met everyone in the Jade Winglet...

He still sobbed a little as he recalled Darkstalker yelling at him and calling him useless. He basically said what Winter had already believed out loud. But he didn't completely agree anymore. Maybe it was Qibli's warm embrace, or maybe it was the sound of the two RainWing dragonets giggling as they hugged Moon, Kinkajou, and now Turtle. But Winter didn't feel useless anymore.

Lunae. If you can still hear me, I just want you to know that you're not useless either! You're still my friend even if you say you're not!

The IceWing looked up at Qibli, who then raised a claw and gently wiped away some lingering tears.

"T-thanks Qibli." Winter muttered.

Qibli returned his thanks with a warm looking smile. "No problem Win!" He said before giving him a soft kiss on his snout. "I'm glad to see you've matured so much since those times you used to call me a cactus licker."

Winter couldn't help but laugh a little. "Yeah, well I guess I did call you that a few times, huh?"

"Um... Guys! Darkstalker is kind of getting away." Turtle said as he nervously pressed two of his claws together. "Are we going to do something about his little time travel speech?"

Qibli looked at him sympathetically. "Turt's right! The thought of Darkstalker turning back time or whatever is giving me goosebumps. We should head out now, but..." Qibli looked down at Peacemaker and Niji who were both sitting sheepishly underneath Moons Wings. "What do we about the kids?"

Peacemaker managed to get some words out while everyone else looked at each other awkwardly. "Moon! Where's mommy? I'm hungy, and I wanna go home with mommy!"

Just hearing those words out loud felt like a stab to Winter's chest, which is something Winter had literally felt before. How do we tell a child that his mother is dead? I... Can't even imagine... Winter couldn't help but think of his own father who had died in front of his very eyes. He winced and felt like he was going to start crying again at any second now.

Moon looked down at the little dragon sorrowfully. "I... I'm so sorry Peacemaker, but... But..." Moon failed to get her words out before bursting into tears. Kinkajou quickly wrapped a wing over her shoulder to comfort her.

"You... Don't have to tell him right now, Moon. We... This is something an adult should say... I think." The small RainWing said while her scales flourished pale blues and faint violet colors.

"Besides." Qibli said while trying to make his voice sound respectful. "If we're going to follow that crazy NightWing then one of us will have to go back home with the small ones. We can't just take 'em with us, can we?"

Winter saw that Niji was whimpering and on the verge of tears while Peacemaker just sat next to him protectively and with a brave, yet puzzled look.

Kinkajou also looked down at little Niji before patting him on the head comfortingly. "I guess I might as well be useful for something, right?"

"Kinkajou?" Turtle glanced at her as his anxiety became replaced with care. "What do you mean by that? Of course you're useful! I mean you're the one who beat Darkstalker the first time, remember?"