Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

Picking Up The Pieces

Ember was on a patrol. It was only his second one, the first being when they found Apple. Seeing as he had done well, Cinder decided to send him back out to search the area that hybrids had been disappearing in. Hybrids like Crimson and Hope. It was an easy job, but one that still hurt slightly, stinging at him with the thought of Hope. At least Canopy had the kindness to keep him away from the clearing where they had been separated. He glanced around at the trees and the surrounding area with a frown. How could so many dragons just disappear out of thin air? There wasn't even anything unusual ab-

Ember's thoughts were cut off as the ground gave out from under him and he fell down a rocky hole with a thud. He yelled as he fell, getting bruised up by the jagged rocks that lined the way down. He collapsed at the bottom with an oof and slowly let his eyes adjust to the sudden darkness. Well, this was something unusual.

~*~*~*~*

Rainkeeper sighed. He'd been back for days, and yet he seemed no closer to getting Pear and Apple to talk to him. He had tried to get some advice from his dad, moons knows he's been in trouble enough times to have something to offer.

"What did she do?" Deathbringer had asked.

"She slapped me, yelled, and told me to get out." he relayed.

"She slapped you?"

"Yes." Deathbringer looked pleased.

"Then you're golden."

"What?" Deathbringer had paused, thinking.

"I'll put it like this. If a girl loves you, she won't tell you. She'll call you an idiot. If she tells you that you're an idiot, you are a lucky man."

"So basically her slapping me means she loves me?"

"Yes." Rainkeeper stared at his dad for a moment.

"I think I'm beginning to understand why Mother finds you annoying." 

~*~*~*~*

Joy was planning. 

It probably wasn't a good plan, but she was willing to try it, and Glory supported it and had given her approval. But there was a part of Joy that was hesitate to try it. After all, if she was caught, she'd be killed, and Kelp as well. What would that do to Shore and the girls? The part of her that was all for the plan had a reply. What will it do to them if Kelp dies and they know I could've done something? It was an ongoing war. 

"Do it." Ander declared randomly. 

"What?" Joy asked. 

"The current conundrum that is taking place in your mind. Go through with it. The stars say it ends positively, and they have yet to fail me." Joy frowned at her daughter.

"Sometimes I really can't figure you out, Ander." 

"It is both a blessing, and a curse. As is most of my existence." she paused, tilting her head towards the sky. "I must go now. It's time for Tree-Bud's therapy session." 

"What?"

"Apple insisted that I find a way to calm her sloth. It's really quite improbable, but she is like my sister, so I couldn't object to trying." Ander seemed to glide away as she left, leaving Joy even more confused. Meander was like a wise wizard from a scroll- always giving out vague words that made no sense, until after everything had happened. 

~*~*~*~*

"Who the hell are you?" a voice demanded. Ember whipped around and found a dark red dragonet glaring back at him. He frowned at the sight. She looked exactly like a description Cinder had once told him. But surely......

"I'm Ember." he replied. The dragonet's jaw dropped. 

"The Ember?" she questioned. He raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, sure?" 

"Huh."

"What?"

"I thought you'd be bigger." she admitted. 

"Who are you?" Ember asked in extreme confusion.

"I'm Crimson." Now it was Ember's turn to look surprised.

"Crimson?"

"Yes."

"The Crimson?" 

"Yea. And I'm currently talking with The Ember." 

They paused, studying each other. 

She really has no idea.....Ember thought.

He has no clue.....Crimson determined.

"I have someone who wants to see you."