A/N - Hey y'all, I'm making this little special because A.) I'm bored, B.) I've got writer's block, and C.) I just wanted to.
This chapter corresponds with WhisperTheCerulean's Chapter 8 of Universes 101.
The following WOF fanfics are mentioned in the book:
Blue as the Ocean by AutumnDaLeafWing
The Assassin In series by Jasmin_Twilightmoon
The Anarchy and Chaos books by snapRlol
Possibility by Sunniedew
All credits of the following universes and the original book (by WhisperTheCerulean) goes to the rightful creators. Thank you!
Unknown Universe
Skua shuddered, the Scorpion Den was as deserted as the ruins of the Ancient Palace. She wanted to be back home- in her own universe. She wanted to feel the rush of the sea currents. She wanted to feel the ecstasy she got when she sang. She shook her head sorrowfully, she most of all wanted to be next to him. Moons, she hadn't realized how much she had missed his goofy smirk, his warm yellow scales.
Skua shook her head, causing her spikes to clink together; she had to stay in the present.
For starters, according to Jasmin, a dragon named Chaos had left a note saying the Scorpion Den existed in this mixed up, jumble of a universe. Secondly, in previous notes from Chaos revealed that Carnelian wasn't dead. Although that unnerved Skua just as much as a section of each Queens' (besides Glory of course) palace was dedicated to: "... The Lord Darkstalker and His Forever Queen."
If his "Forever Queen" meant Clearsight or Moonwatcher, she couldn't tell. But she- just as Jasmin had- was surprised about it not labeling Darkstalker as King Darkstalker.
Skua walked past an empty stall, although being half-blind wouldn't help very much in their search for supplies, Skua tried anyways. A lone, scraggly lizard limped out of the stall, across Skua's front talons, and into another hiding spot. "This place kind of gives me the creeps," She admitted, her voice small and unnerved. "Even the arena was never this..." Skua struggled to come up with a word other than, pit-of-misery-and-despair-like, "... eerie." She finally settled on.
Skua traced her claws against her chest. The scars there ached from the effort of hauling things out of the way day and night to get enough supplies for the three of them, "Stay close to me, then," Jasmin replied, her voice sounded slightly startled from Skua's mentioning of the SkyWing arena. "Just not too close."
Skua turned from the other hybrid. She lightly tapped on the things that the stall contained, her claws beat against something. It was made of cowhide. "Hm?" She murmured, she peered at it with her good eye. Her face fell, she looked around the edges for the tell-tale marker. It wasn't there.
She let out a sigh of relief, her tensed wings shifting downwards. She turned slowly, peering at Lapis, who had just reappeared with a supply of food and water.
Skua looked around, her neck spikes clanking on eachother in a twinkling melody. She'd dubbed this universe, as Moon-who-was-more-confusing-than-Moon had explained it as, Uni 4. She, as it made sense like this, was from Uni 1. Lapis being from Uni 2 and Jasmin from Uni 3. Even Skua herself could hardly wrap her head around the fact that Lapis, her own half-sister, could appear in another universe. Much less one that was still in the War of SandWing Succession.
Skua stepped closer to Jasmin, "Find anything?" The SandWing-RainWing asked.
She forcibly hung her head. "Just a dusty drum." She choked on the last word but forced her voice to stay unwavering. She rapped lightly on the ground, her claws needing something to do. She needed something to do other than recall her own world. Her friends, her family, Qibli.
"SandWings do love music," Jasmin replied, it was an almost passive response.
Skua peered at Jasmin, the purple-yellow dragon's expression was hard to read and calculating but Skua could almost pluck the thoughts from her companion's mind. Jasmin must've thought Skua was fragile, and this fact was slightly proven by Skua's quiet, usually uncharted, breakdowns. Jasmin had made it clear not to spoil time to Skua as she was probably hoping not to disturb the timeline of Skua's broken past, present, and probable future. A future she might have if she didn't die trying to get home.
Although Jasmin was a bit cold and Lapis was slightly happier than she was in Skua's world, Skua was tolerating them better than she had expected.
"We'd better get going, before Barracuda shows up. The vines are always listening."
Skua shifted on her talons, her anxiety spiking. "Vines? Where?"
Before Alternate Moon and Alternate Qibli had left Skua was running from some odd vines, they were so weirdly dragon she got scared and fled. When she had run into Alternate Moon she had toppled to the floor. What made her more scared inside was that Qibli, well Alternate Qibli (now to her knowledge), seemed not to recognize her as the dragon he protected back in Uni 1.
Jasmin sighed, "There aren't any vines nearby, don't worry. I made sure of that."
Skua nodded and went to go back to her search but was halted by a large dragon flying in from above.
"Who's that?" Skua asked Jasmin and Lapis nervously.
"I don't know," the two of them answered in unison.
The dragon laughed, "My name is Obsidian."
"Obsidian?" Lapis questioned. "Nice to meet you, I guess. How different is your world? And what time are you from?" Of course Lapis would be the one to complete the niceties. But honestly, Skua could care less about any of the questions her half-sister asked the newcomer. She only wanted to go back to Uni 1 safe and sound. She only wanted to get back to Kinkajou's bright colors and frilly excitement. To Winter's sheer coldness that could be penetrated by the right about of annoying. To Moon's quiet understanding. To Turtle's invisible longing. To Qibli's warm, golden embrace.
"Well, I found a library, so at least you have scrolls here." Skua had spent enough time with Qibli to notice the sarcasm laced in Obsidian's voice. "And second, I'm from 7560 AS."
Skua gawked at the dragon her face contorted with confusion. Finally Jasmin spoke, "7560 AS? Like, after the Scorching, or does that stand for something else?"
Obsidian nodded, "After Scorching," he confirmed. "Why is that a problem?"
Jasmin shook her head, "Not really, I guess. You just live a really long time from us. Are things like, really futuristic?"
His nose scrunched up, "Hmmmm... let's see. Disagreements about pure tribes," Skua ticked her wings back to make herself look smaller at the word pure, "so no- not really any different than for the past couple thousand years."
"There's one different thing, Snowfall usually destroys the circle wall."
Skua looked up to see someone approaching from above. Barracuda, she thought fiercely. "Barracuda! What are you doing here? Why are you doing this?" Jasmin demanded.
"Because you," Barracuda tried patting Jasmin's snout but he failed miserably. "Because you, Jasmin, were pushed into the Jade Winglet while some version of me had to watch from the sidelines." He inspected his claws meticulously before looking back up at Jasmin, "Let me guess. You were involved in the Library Incident. Don't lie, I already know Skua was." Skua flinched as she felt Barracuda inspect her with as much disdain as one would with a rotting whale.
"So this is just some... cry for vengeance against destiny?" Jasmin grilled.
"Yes it is."
Skua snorted at Barracuda, "I'd say it's a pretty useless whisper of a cry."
"I am not WEAK and I am not USELESS!!!" Barracuda roared. Skua yelped as Barracuda opened his jaws, fire, RainWing venom, and IceWing frostbreath all blasted the ground. Skua didn't know anything like that was possible. Jasmin shrieked as venom sizzled on her tail. Skua hissed at Barracuda before she noticed his wrists glowing in a fiery way, he dug his talons into the sands of the floor, he whispered something inaudible to no one Skua could see.
"Jasmin, come on!" Lapis bellowed, pulling Jasmin's tail. Skua flew to Lapis's side, helping her move Jasmin. Skua could not focus on it all, her head was spinning wildly.
Obsidian ran to their aide, picking up Jasmin and flying her out of the Scorpion Den as vines shot out of the ground and tried to ensnare Skua in their leafy clutches.
{1366 words}