Missing

Epilogue

A week later

Kestrel sat on the bench overlooking the forest and Dragon Stables with one of her Wings of Fire books she brought from home. Einaris didn't dare enter her old home, but Kestrel came to say goodbye to her parents and bring her favourite dragon toys, books, some food to last a week, two backpacks and her blanket.

Their parents had sorted out their old school so they could both attend School Moondoor. Einaris was sharing a room with Kestrel, but the two rarely spoke much.

The day before, Kestrel had been promoted to co-leader of The Wing and Einaris was officially coronated as Gold Elite alongside Kestrel, Mia, Cora, Seraphina, Atti, Sara and Melanie. It was an ancient tradition which involved the Souls introducing their humans to the trees of the Song Forest under the light of the full moon.

Kestrel inspected the mark on her arm, it was no longer painful, and it was hardly visible, but the outline was fully defined now. It resembled a Song Dragon. They were featured in her Dragon book as the mythical creatures believed by many fabled religions to be the founders of the fabled magic.

Einaris sat down next to her silently and her short hair swayed slightly. "How did you get that?" she asked softly, or as soft as she could.

"Made a promise to someone. Doesn't matter." she dismissed the question.

"Look, Kay. I know I won't be able to remember everything, many memories are missing to me, but I am still your friend. Even if it doesn't feel that way."

Kestrel nodded and turned back to her book.

"Can I?" Einaris said.

Kestrel held the book's cover up, so she could see the title, before placing back on her lap and reading. Einaris shuffled closer to Kestrel and began to read over her shoulder.

Kestrel glanced at her sister's face for a moment before continuing reading.

*****

Einaris sent the message to her parents and adjusted her belt loaded with walkie-talkies and various other equipment. She looked beside her to Kestrel tying up her braided blonde hair into a ponytail. So much had changed since that night she left her house with Pax.

Einaris looked her sister up and down. Her freckled face shone in the light of the rising sun and her eyes were set hard like dark ice.

Kestrel glanced at her wrist where the mark still coiled on her skin.

Moondoor was their home now and a treehouse cabin had been prepared for them at the outskirts of the camp, nearer to the Deep-sea Woods. The sound of bush crickets and songbirds spread far across the land and trailed up onto the looming, snow-capped peaks that lay along the western ridge. Even from where they stood, the sharp smell of wet pine needles and grass filled their heads.

Moon and Pax exchanged quick glances and shifted their feet, stirring the soft dirt gently.

The twins were decked in the Gold Wing clothing, fingerless gloves, tight belts and soft, grey hoods. Their boots were laced up and gold feathers were threaded through the fabric.

*****

The tablet in Cora's hand seemed heavy in the early hours of the morning, and she resisted the urge to crack yet another exhausted yawn. She didn't sleep very well most nights, and last night was no exception. It didn't help that the leader of the Elites had her wake at this godforsaken hour and deliver the message by hand instead of doing it herself. The message was particularly interesting itself: An Elite meeting about Elite business. Nothing concerning her, which, if Cora had been more awake, would have served as odd.