Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

Injured

A/N: I have nothing to do for the next five hours but write fanfiction. *evil laughter*

Adobe and Firefly waited anxiously in the Stronghold. Adobe's eyes stayed glued to the doors as Firefly attempted to keep track of all the dragonets. Squelch's name had been on the wounded list. The way it worked, injured dragons were sent to the stronghold with one soldier to help them. The soldier that helped was given a two week leave before they had to report back to camp. Any dragon that was marked on the wounded list did not have to return to the war. Unless they wanted to, that is. But there were always the cases of the dragons that didn't come back to the stronghold at all. Those were the dragons that were too hurt to travel there. Those were the ones that died. It was this reason that kept Adobe's eyes stuck to the doors, as she hoped that Squelch would walk through them. And he would, with a very conflicted Sandwing beside him.

*~*~*~*~*

Apple waited until it was dark, knowing that Icewings didn't have much night vision. That was one of the few Nightwing things about her- she could see in the dark very well. Not as good as Shore and his sisters of course. They saw nighttime just as bright as daylight. Apple was forming a plan. She doubted it would work, but it was better than just waiting to die. She curled up on the ground and pretended to fall sleep. The Icewings barely noticed, rolling their eyes at such a stereotypical rainwing. She waiting patiently until they fell asleep, leaving one guard awake to watch her. But after a few hours the guard started to nod off. His eyes would close for a few seconds before he would jump awake again. Apple watched carefully for the proper moment, and when the Icewing shut his eyes again, she shifted into camouflage and quickly climbed up into a tree, holding her breath. The Icewing let out a yell when he noticed that she was gone, and the others jumped awake. 

"You lost her?!" one of them demanded. 

"I did not! She was right there!"

"Then where'd she go, moron?" 

"Quiet." the third Icewing demanded. His eyes raked over the trees and Apple bit her tongue, praying that her camouflage was perfect. "Do you two know nothing about Rainwings? She's probably hiding up in one of the trees right now."

"Then what do we do?" A smack sounded as the third Icewing slapped him.

"We find her, you idiot." Apple's blood ran cold. They would find her- she could feel it. But she couldn't let them. She could not be killed. She didn't know what else to do, and in her own defense, they were downright terrifying. One of the Icewings grabbed at her arm, jolting her out of camouflage.

"Foun-AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The dragon's words were cut off as Apple unconsciously sprayed his face with venom. She lept back as he fell to the ground, clawing at his face. Then it was quiet, the dragon's cries dying with him. Short yells from the other dragons sounded in the distance, but they were quickly cut off. Apple curled up in the tree, her scales a neon green with panic. What had she done? Footsteps approached the tree and stopped at the Icewing's body before staring up at the tree. She shut her eyes, fearing whoever had found her now. 

"Apple?" a confused, yet familiar, voice questioned. 

*~*~*~*

Squelch stepped gingerly into the Stronghold, with Coal beside him. Coal was the soldier that had been chosen to help him back here, although he could only stay for two weeks. Squelch, on the other hand, could stay for the rest of the war if he wanted. He walked with a stick, seeing as one of his legs was completely wrapped in bandages. Icewings were cold alright, in every sense of the word. Adobe came running up before they even had a chance to glance around. She threw her arms around him, carefully avoiding his leg. 

"Are you alright?" she demanded, as gentle as she could. Gentle was not typically a word that was used to describe how Adobe was. Squelch nodded through her iron tight hug. She quickly released him, a worried look on her face before she turned to Coal. "I believe there is a particular Nightwing that wants to see you." she commented, nodding across the room. Coal stared out at where she had nodded until his eyes landed on familiar scales. Firefly.... Before any of them could take a step, there was a collective screech from one corner of the room. Coal grinned, recognizing one scream that was louder than the others. Squelch's dragonets were quickly there, practically tackling their father to the ground. 

"DADDY!!!!!!" another dragonet yelled. Coal winced as Dawn barreled into him, still yelling. Dusk followed, just as excited, but much more calm. "You'rebackyou'rebackyou'rebackyou'reback!!!!" Dawn cried. "NEVER LEAVE AGAIN!" Coal laughed and scooped her up so that Dusk could hug him as well. Firefly had made her way over, smiling slightly. Coal's face grew a bit more serious as he stared at her.

"We have something to talk about, don't we?" he questioned. Firefly's heart dropped a bit as she remembered. 

"Yes, we do." she admitted.