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Orange sunlight had started to fade into the opening of their window, dimming the whole room. Moon expected the day to go sooner, but not when she’s helping Sunny pile all the remaining scrolls.
“Phew, well that’s about it,” Sunny called, laying down on one of the cushions, panting. “I really am glad for your help, Moon.
“Don’t mention it,” Moon replies, holding a stack of scrolls. She puts it in one of the baskets that are labeled ‘Miscellaneous’ on one side of the corner, hoping she could organize them later. “You must have been busy for a while, I can tell,” she winks.
“Oh no. That’s everyday,” she giggles. “The students seem to be quite active now that they have blended in.”
She arched closer, “Safe to say, even one of us happened to perk along.”
She covers her snout with her talons as she looked over Moon’s shoulder, over the library counter, where Starflight is happily snoozing. She snorts, but Moon guessed that she must be looking for Fatespeaker.
“Must be outside,” she claimed. Sunny frowns.
When she finally regained her strength, she walked over to her desk, where she took a stack of scrolls from the side and laid them out one by one. “Guess it’ll be our secret then,” she smirks. Moon thought for a while.
“Say,” Moon began, and Sunny perked her ears. “Could you let me, um, go outside for a while?” She asks.
Sunny tilts at her with curiosity, “Oh, the date? Well how could I not return the favor?”
Moon froze.
“Well, you see, there is something waiting for me…” She added, fidgeting her talons. She quickly looks through the window beside them, where gray clouds had started to disperse. “Uuf, I mean-”
Sunny pats her with her wing, “You can do the rest of the work, tomorrow. If you want.” She says, “Just, don’t tell them I’ve been keeping watch, okay?” She beamed.
Moon blurted, “But- How did you know-”
“Let’s just say I must have been busy for a while,” she winks.
When she finally lets go of her, she pulls out a light globe from under her desk and blew a plume of fire. “Take it. If I can work during sunny days, then maybe you can go and watch the moons.”
Moon paused to look at her.
Since when did Sunny resort to puns?
…
She took a while to prepare before she got off from Jade Mountain Academy. When she was all set, she nodded to Sunny before taking off into the star-splattered sky, carrying the fire globe she gave to her. She flew overhead the peaks to scan on everything around her, eager to check on the whole school, again.
Jade Mountain was as beautiful as ever, even in blatant darkness. When the forestry grows and the mountains rid of scars of the battlefield-no debacles or whatsoever-it almost seemed like it never happened all those seasons ago. Moon would never admit that.
She hovered across the scenery, studying the environment. It was quiet. Very quiet. And for a moment she suddenly felt dread, but it all faded when she realized there was nothing to be afraid of. She could sense nothing wrong.
She spotted a glint of light on one of the mountains. There it is, she hoped. She dove her way down through the clouds until she was from a safe distance.
On the highest cliff, was a bonfire, with plentiful smoke billowing from it, and two dragons calmly sat around it, exchanging glances.
When she softly landed, they instantly perked their ears up, staring in her direction.
“Moon!” They both cried, dark amber and shiny silver scales hurrying after her. Countless words and thoughts had seized her by the time they made it, and she stumbled onto them so as to trip them over. Wings overlapped and tails twined as they thudded right behind the bonfire, and they effortlessly scooted onto the side so they won’t get blistered.
When they finally untangled, they looked at each other, embarrassed.
“You’re, uh, finally here!” Exclaimed Winter.
“Hey, you guys, “Moon chimed, waving both of them with a smile. “I didn’t expect you to come so early.”
“Well,” chided Qibli, then glances at Winter, “We did have a journey.”
Moon sighs, “I know, and it’s so nice to finally meet you two, again.”
They smiled at each other, and it gave Moon a cathartic feeling she had long ago.
“Ooh, now that you’re here, you can join us for the supper!” Qibli added. “Early supper. If you’re free, of course…”
Moon nodded, “That would be great.”
As Qibli shows her the way, Winter follows them along to the edge of the cliff. The view from here was imminent. With the stars seemingly scatter out and about up the wooded hills, and mountains just jutting out like silver claws reaching out for them. It was a perfect place for the Three Moons to hang.
It was a perfect place for the three of them.
As Qibli weaved out a runner in front of them, he meets her eyes, “So how about you tell us about your experience…”
The last rays of sunlight have dwindled to a thin slope, sinking unto the sandy hills of what is now the Sand Kingdom. Stars have twinkled viciously now that it’s almost dark, but the only thing that could glint even the mountains themselves are the moonlights.
Moon ate her last slice of meat-rough and tender. Qibli had told her that it’s one of the delicacies of the Sand Kingdom, somewhere in the regions that border the Sky Kingdom. She snuggled along with Winter, who seemed to enjoy the cooked food she gave to him while counteracting to whatever antics Qibli had hit them. Moon had no complaints about the food, at all.
“You know what,” Qibli said, leaping on the rocks below them, “this isn’t actually bad, you know? I really like this place. We should visit here more often.” He turned to the skies and then back at Winter, who snorted as hard as he could.
“Yeah,” Winter calmly said as he swallowed the last piece. “With a little of help from you, too. Don’t you think?” He smirks, and Qibli softened for a moment.
He turned to her, “What do you think, Moon?”
Moon shrugs, “I do hope so,” she answered. “It’s so much closer to JMA than I’ve thought.”
Rubbing her temple, the moonlights reflected the three of them in silence. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander freely. Shapes and colors swirled in her head, crackling like fireworks. It numbed her at first, but it slowly molded into familiar patterns overtime.
When she opened her eyes, she saw both of them giving her a peculiar look. “Are you alright?” Winter asked, concerned.
“You’ve been having visions, haven’t you?” Qibli added.
Moon turned away, “I’m not sure.”
Upset, Qibli took something from his pouch and handed it over to Moon, which turned out to be his skyfire. Then they both wrapped their wings around her. “We’re here, Moon,” Winter muttered.
Moon chuckles, “Thanks, but I’m really alright,” she says as she nuzzles Winter on the neck and places the skyfire on the pouch. “I just want to let loose for a while, you know?”
She unwraps herself from both of them, “In fact, I’ve been meaning to tell you something,” she adds just as she started hopping around the crags. “That is, if I know how to explain it.”
They exchanged glances. “Show us,” Qibli replied.
Moon placed her paw in her head, following her thoughts. Blunt scenes rapidly appeared in a series of images, meekly showing what they look like. They were quite perplexing to look at, as how she imagined them, but it gave a definite answer to what happens now.
Winter raised a brow, “I had a good feeling you planned all of this.”
“Trust me,” she said, grinning at him. “It will be good.”
…
On top of Jade Mountain, just between the twin peaks, the three dragons stood, patiently waiting for something. They huddled together for warmth (and cool at the same time) as they watched the Three Moons wane and wax out of the night sky.
When they were ready, they placed their skyfires aside, and Moon closed her eyes and thought about the images. Vibrant patterns burst into her mind, formulating into scenes that weren’t as perplexing as before. They became more broad and visible, and it became understandable to Moon about what was going on.
Moon carefully holds a mistletoe with her, feeling much more enlightened.
“Well, what did you see, Moon?” Qibli asked, huddling closer to her.
From what only lasted like seconds, she had so many things to tell. But it would take all of her energy and time before she could even explain it properly.
Beside her, Winter was expectant. Following the months so soon, she knew his namesake would come, and they would have to separate again. But hopefully not today.
Silver and blue light polished the mountains and forestry. The Three Moons were now on sight, and a star was glimmering before her.
She wanted to try a different approach.
“Come closer,” she said, prodding the two. She looked at them with anticipation. “This is gonna be a long night.”