The Dragon and the Fox

Kira woke, gasping. Her heart was pounding like thunder, and her eyes flickered back and forth, trying to register something that wasn’t there.

What did I see? Kira thought, thoroughly puzzled. She reached a paw to her forehead.

It must have been a nightmare, but she could have sworn it was real. Everything about it…except she couldn’t remember.

I remember feeling cramped. In pain. Sorrowful, and…curious?

Where has these emotions come from?

Thinking about it was enough to send Kira’s heart racing even faster. These emotions are not my emotions. These feelings are not my feelings.

Then whose are they?

There was something else. The thing that had made her curious. A voice?

Kira shut her eyes tight, straining her memory. A distant sound echoed in her brain…the clink of shackles, perhaps.

But I don’t have chains on me.

She was perplexed. The fox sat down and pondered what she was feeling, but the more she thought about it, the faster they began to fade. A part of her panicked, wanting to hold onto the emotions for dear life. But why?

The sun reached her eyes from through the tree cover. It had risen already, which meant that Kira had to be going. She could think about the nightmare, or whatever it was, later.

But right now, she had a mission.

Kira had decided to go back to the Wolf Lands, where she had lost Deya.

She wasn’t very keen on going back to the scene of the crime, but she had to start somewhere. Maybe there was a clue there as to where Deya went.

You must find your companion, Cyfrin’s words whispered in her mind.

Too bad, Kira thought back fiercely. I’ll do it on my own. Not that anyone would want me anyways.

She flew continuously north, fueled by rage and sorrow, the feelings constricting in her chest, crushing and making her feel like she might burst at any moment. Her muscles could burn. Her lungs could gasp for air. It wouldn’t change the fact that she had to get to her destination as fast as possible. Physical pain didn’t matter.

The weather began to get colder. It was already freezing at Kira’s altitude, but she could tell that the temperature was decreasing. Her thick fur kept out most of the icy air.

Finally, after at least two days of flying straight, Kira stopped at the Nexus at about midday. She was surprised at how far she had flown—maybe Deya’s powers gave her increased flying speed as well as some other things.

Deya…

Kira thought as she slurped from the cold river, watching the salmon swim to and fro under the surface. If Deya wasn’t in the Wolf Lands, where else would she go? Lelluys, the Free Lands? Maybe Equellay, the Equestrian Lands?

The fox gritted her teeth. She would scour the whole continent if she had to.

She glanced back at her reflection and gave a start. Her eyes were glowing. Not glowing with emotion, but actually glowing. Prisms of light were gathering in her eyes, crackling and spitting.

What is happening to me? Kira thought. She brought a paw to her face in horror as her white eyes grew brighter. They flickered from white to red, and Kira shrieked, remembering the Black Dragon’s blood red eyes.

As suddenly as the light had started, it faded back to a warm rainbow. Kira stared at the fox looking back at her.

It was clearly Deya’s power that had made her eyes glow. The intensity of the brightness could also be related to her anger. Maybe that was why they had flickered to red?

But Deya had been angry before, and her eyes never glowed. Did she just have greater control over her emotions, or was the power just deformed on Kira?

Kira shook her head. She couldn’t be concerned about this right now.

She extended her wings and took to the air.

Kira decided that she hated storms.

The worst things always happened in them. Flying was practically impossible in them. They were cold and wet and made Kira’s fur feel all heavy when the rain or snow reached her. Not to mention the wind, which threw her every which way and made her have to keep adjusting her course, only to switch in a new direction so she had tuck, dive, and roll her way to freedom.

Kira decided to fly up. She soared into the sky, or at least where she thought the sky might be. It was hard to tell which way was up or down, as the wind and rain went in all directions. She silently cursed Tempest, who no doubt has sent this storm.

Finally, Kira broke through the clouds, and was greeted by the moon. It was a bright sky lantern that lit everything its light touched. The stars twinkled all around, joining the moon in its journey to the horizon. Up here, where the air was thin and the wind was still and everything was silent, everything seemed like a dream. Kira found her heart rate slowing, and her breathing calmed. Even her anger and rage at the Black Dragon softened.

It was as if there was a voice whispering in her ear. You are safe here. Nothing can harm you so long as I am watching over you. Stay here, be safe in my glowing arms. Sleep, and I will take care of you.

Briefly, Kira thought of Queen Eclipse. Was she down there, watching her? Did she know what Kira was going through? Was she gently moving the moon across the sky, talking soothingly to her, telling her that there was always hope?

“I’m sorry,” Kira breathed to the moon. “I lost her.”

Did the moon forgive her? Could Queen Eclipse hear her?

As if in answer, a tiny streak of light traveled across the starlit dome, blinking in and out of sight. To anyone else watching, it was an anomaly in the sky. But to Kira, it was a sign.

“I’ll be back,” Kira told the moon.

Then she tucked her bright wings in and dove backwards determinedly through the clouds.

She weaved through the wind and lightning and rain as if they were a part of her, whisking her and guiding her to where she wanted to go.

The wind was no longer her enemy; rather, it whistled with joy as she joined it in the dangerous dance through the clouds, twirling and spinning over and over again. Kira laughed wildly, spreading and tucking her wings periodically, never fighting the storm, only flying with it. It was like they were two old friends joined together again, giggling breathlessly together and twisting with one another.

The clouds gathered around her and then scattered, as if it was teasing her, enticing her to chase them to the end of eternity.

The lightning was her guide and playmate, pointing her in the right way and trying to tag her as she flew. The thunderclaps were the storm’s laughter, echoing in the clouds with the sounds of its mirth.

And, for once in her life, Kira felt like she was part of something. Like she had a purpose.