A/N: So, this is supposed to be a semi-short prequel. That doesn't mean I'm going to short change you guys with a short story, but that also means I'm not planning for Niaomi to go FULL full-length novel. It'll be more of a novella in my opinion (which is surely not the same as everyone - er, anyone's opinion). Still, hope you guys are enjoying it so far. Action's gonna really pick up after this. ;)
Picture of Angela up above.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luminous was mad.
What's taking them so long?
Emere and Toparien looked at her as she paced back and forth in ire, the older brother sighing and telling the other privately, I wish Silveran were here.
The green dragon grumbled his assent, resting his head on his forearms as Luminous began ranting once more. The twins had gone hunting, which only caused the remaining she-dragon to grow more antsy overall. Everyone knew how Silveran and Luminous felt about each other besides the two, and Emere could just imagine the luck the pink dragoness was having in trying to keep her brother calm as he worried over Luminous' safety.
Among him and his brother, she and the bondmates were safe from any outside threat, of course. But between him and his brother, she may not be safe from them.
Luminous, he cut in now, letting out a smoky sigh. Will you not stop worrying? Nia would be able to contact any one of us at any time through her seer abilities should some problem arise.
She doesn't know how to control her gifts!
And you seem not to know how to control your tongue, Toparien snapped back at her, annoyed beyond his limit. Your nattering is driving me crazy! If you must continue to do so, at least do so while leaving us in peace!
Luminous snarled at the bigger dragon, neither undaunted by his size nor the anger flaring in his orange eyes. You may not be concerned for your Rider, but I am for mine.
Do not speak as though that is the truth. You and I both know it is not.
Oh, really? Then why have you yet to -
Enough! Emere roared, scaring the birds from the surrounding trees and causing other two dragons to fall silent. Arguing is as pointless as worrying, yet we still do both. There is a more productive task for taking our minds away from the situation at hand.
You are right, brother, the topaz fire dragon relented, looking at Luminous with kinder eyes. I should not have snapped at you.
Nor I you, the she-dragon replied.
Emere exposed his teeth in a smile. Now that that has been settled, I propose that we play a game.
Can we join in? asked another voice as a white blur skidded out from the treeline and into view, settling into the shape of a large gangly mistwolf. His tail wagged in excitement. I love games!
You are as excitable as a pup, Dewdrop, Ruyi the darksnake said as she stayed hidden among the shade, her jade slitted eyes the only physical sign of her presence.
I'm not a pup! Dew retorted hotly as the other bondmates came into the clearing where the dragons hid, out of view from Teirm and its citizenry.
Bramble snorted, stomping one golden hoof in amusement as he said, Could've fooled me.
The mistwolf snarled as Emere held in a sigh. Yes, yes, you may all join in the game if you so wish.
I shall be sleeping, Sky told them, gliding past to a tree opposite the clearing and nestling into one of its many holes. Please do try to keep the noise to a minimum.
"Of course, Sky," Gedwëy agreed as the gem owl's mind closed off from the others. The fairy flitted to her dragon's head, and Luminous visibly relaxed as she asked, "So, what's the game?"
Riddles, the dragon told his now mostly captive audience. We can each take turns creating a riddle based on what we can see from this clearing.
I'll go first, Toparien interjected, ignoring the glare his brother sent his way. By night unseen, by day unheard, I wander behind and wander forwards. I can't exist without this world, as onto the earth do I unfurl. What am I?
I've got it, I've got it! shouted Dew, shaking his black ruff in delight. It's a log!
Everyone stared at him in disbelief until Rumble broke the silence by asked, How in Zeus's name could Toparien be describing a log?
Well, a log can't be seen at night, because you trip over it, and it can't be heard during the day, because it can't talk, and they're long enough to be both behind and in front of people; plus, they can't exist without this world, since they're made of trees and lay on the ground - the earth!
He smiled at the griffin with pride, sure that he was right, and Rumble merely shook his eagle's head. Ava was not one to be quite so tactful and so told him in a blunt voice, By the Gods, you are a slow one.
The mistwolf skittered back a few steps, deeply affronted by her words. That was cruel!
It was truthful, the werecat replied as she stretched out on the rocky outcropping in the center of the clearing.
Dew hoped that she got sunburn. Well, do you know the answer?
No. Ava pinned him down with a cold blue stare as she continued, But I know when to keep my mouth shut if I don't.
The unicorn beside him snickered, and he gazed at his best friend in betrayal. Bramble tossed back his mane and just said, What? It was funny, Dew.
No it wasn't! Dew shot back in disgust, flopping down onto his fore paws and glaring at the blades of grass before him. It was just plain cruel.
Stop pouting, Flair called to him from her perch next to Ion above Ava, talons carving a deep scratch into the stone. It does no one any good.
Have you all already forgotten about my riddle? asked Nathan's dragon in mild outrage.
Dew heard the quite hiss of a darksnake's laughter as Ruyi answered, I've already devised the answer: a shadow.
"Of course!" Gedwëy murmured, nearly tumbling off Luminous's head as the she-dragon laid down. "It's no surprise you got the answer, Ruyi."
Don't see how it makes anymore sense than a log, he grumbled quietly, expecting the others to just ignore him as usual.
The mistwolf was pleasantly surprised when the firegem dragon glanced down at him and snicked one emerald eye shut before suggesting, How about you devise the next riddle, Dew?
His tail began to wag once again, though more slowly and hesitant than before. Really?
Go on, Ava encouraged in a drowsy tone that suggested enjoyment of her sunbath. You can't be any worse at making riddles than you are at solving them.
Of course, her encouragement always came with a biting insult, but Dew brushed it aside and hopped to his feet, eagerly searching the clearing for something to use to make a riddle out of. He spotted a log and snorted, quickly deciding against it. But something sparkly flashed as he turned his head which caught his eye, and he stared hard before deciding to choose it.
A spark of darkness catches the eye! But what am I, and where do I lie?
Emere mused over the words. "A spark of darkness"... he repeated to himself, looking towards the direction Dew had been facing when he'd the riddle, that "catches the eye"..."spark", meaning sparkle. So something dark that sparkles - perhaps a gem of some sort? But "where does [it] lie?"
The dragon examined the crannies in the tree where the gem owl slept and the nooks of the log the mistwolf had been eyeing, yet found nothing but shadows and foliage. Heat rose in his throat at his irritation, and Emere wished was old enough to loose it in a torrent of flame. I see nothing that could fit your riddle, Dew.
Too hard for you to solve? Dew teased, yellow irises gleaming in triumph.
You were no doubt speaking of a gem, his brother cut in, once again stealing his glory. Sometimes he really hated Toparien. But where is it?
What would a gem be doing in a clearing? Ion wondered as he preened his stormy feathers. We are too far from the mountains for there to be any quantifiable gem deposits.
It's right over there! Dew relented. By that log next to Sky's tree.
I didn't see anything, the brothers voiced at the same time, making the larger of the two laugh. Emere just gave him a toothy grin, for most times (and, indeed, all), he really loved Toparien.
Angered by their disbelief, the mistwolf shot towards the log with his incredible speed, nosing his way along the bark as he tried to find some trace of the black gem that he knew had winked back at him. It was over here somewhere...
Forget it, Dew, Bramble told him kindly. Let's just try and figure out another riddle. I believe you about the gem, but maybe it fell down into the log or something.
It's not in here!
The unicorn sighed at his friend's determination. Well, it doesn't matter now. Your riddle was unsolvable, which makes it the best.
As long as he wasn't lying, that is.
Bramble winced as Dew's head shot up at the werecat's words, covered in leaves. He quickly ran back to defend himself, while behind him, the unicorn blinked his violet eyes at the spark of darkness that flared a few feet from the log. But when he looked again, it was gone, and Bramble was sure it was just his mind playing tricks on him.
He turned back to the conversation - or rather argument - at hand, sneaking peeks at the sky to see if the pegasi - or rather Cloud - were returning from guard duty. If there was any danger approaching, they would be the first to see it.
But neither Bramble nor the others thought of what would happen if the danger was already there.