Grief Flipped in Surprise (Mid with Blackstorm)

[FuryDance]

The day passed in the relative quiet of the forest. Quiet, yes, but nothing close to restful.

After they had had their moment’s peace, Quickrage had stomped out the small brush fire nearby and taken Ravenwing back to the cave to sleep for the day in safety. However, the male clan leader, try as he might, could not fall asleep. Concerns popped up from thin air. Worries materialized in his mind’s eye. Questions arose torturing him with their lack of answers. He laid watching the world pass by outside their cave unable to bring his mind to peace.

Perhaps passed midday, he gave up. Carefully, Quickrage navigated around the members of his clan to reach the mouth of the cave. Once he reached the rock sill at the mouth of their shelter, he looked back. No dragon stirred.

Satisfied, he moved into the trees. He stopped short of the sentries. Even between them and the cave he had some privacy to ponder while still being able to watch over his kin. He sat down bring his tail around his body. The tip of it twitched in frustration.

The birds sang. The fog held under the canopy’s protection. Dragons slept nearby. The world moved on as it always had. And yet this day and the coming night would be different. Much different. What was Hawkeye doing? Was he even truly alive? Where had Rain gone anyway? She really should have been back last night.

He took a deep breath. Calm yourself, Quickrage mused. Come dusk, my team will wake strong and ready, and we will find our answers.

[Midnight[x]Traitor]

A young male nightfury rolled over in his sleep. He dreamed of flying fish, but whenever he tried to catch one, they flew out of his reach. It was frustrating, really. It took a lot of effort to keep flying in some of his dreams. It felt as if the forces that kept them on the ground were stronger, and his wings grew sluggish. When he couldn't fly any longer, he fell to the sea below. The second he hit the water, Blackstorm woke up in a panic. Often there were eels in those waters! Blackstorm, still groggy, looked out from where he slept. He had chosen to sleep near his mother and... father?

Blackstorm stood up and stretched, moaning as his bones crack with satisfaction when he arched his back. He still felt stiff, but perhaps it was from a unsatisfying sleep. The nightfury stepped out into the fading light. The sun was just about t0 sink below the horizon. He watched with emerald-yellow eyes, thinking back to the news they had received yesterday. His brother was alive? And was living amongst the humans? The thought seemed preposterous. His brother would never do such a thing. It would disgrace them! Yet... the thought still nagged at him. He growled, shaking the thought away, then went to look for his father.

Blackstorm found his father past the sentries. He could tell Quickrage was troubled by the news. At first he hesitated to approach his father, but figure his father probably already knew he was there. Although nightfuries were stealthy and light on their paws, it was also hard to sneak up on one. He walked over and sat a dragon's-length away. He sat there in silence, unsure of what to say. Clearing his throat, he finally said, So, what are we going to do?

[FuryDance]

For hours, Quickrage had watched the forest. In a way, he was watching with the sentries to protect his clan. However, his mind was more distracted than he ever would have allowed a posted guard to be. He watched the forest, yes, but more as a distant background to the thoughts that clouded his mind. The worries, concerns, probable plans, and, of course, their possible outcomes. Quickrage promised himself that he would make certain that each of this reconnaissance team would return home. Each and every one of them. If they found Rain and she was alone only lost, they would bring her home too.

However, what if they found her, found her with Hawkeye, and found them both with a human? He snarled at that singular thought - Hawkeye with a human. This is what the scout had said but this is what was hardest to believe. That his son was alive was hard enough, but with a human too seemed impossible.

He let out a quick burst of air from his lungs. Smoke puffed from his flared nostrils. At the same time, Quickrage shook the thought briefly from his mind. There were plans to be decided upon and dragons to be chosen.

Quickrage was just about settled upon a plan of attack in full when he sensed movement behind him. The faint pattern of steps told him it was a night fury. The scent told him it was his son. As the boy sat a dragon's-length away, his father lowered a wing and glanced over his shoulder. He gave Blackstorm a quick nod of acknowledgement. Then he turned back to the forest and his wing resettled in its most comfortable and relaxed position.

Silence resonated from the younger dragon. Quickrage knew there had to be something on his mind, not only the news that came last night, but why else would he leave their resting place so early in the night? They wouldn't be leaving for at least another hour to avoid clashing against the colors of dusk.

There was a flick in the leaves giving Quickrage an answer. His tail was still tapping against the ground signalling annoyance and frustration. It was such a natural thing, he hadn't realized he was still doing it.

He raised his ear nub to listen behind him when Blackstorm cleared his throat. His son now had his attention even if he was still facing away from him. So, what are we going to do?

"I will take a team of three. The scout will lead us to where he saw them and then we will search from there. This is only for information to confirm what he saw. After that, we will figure our next steps."

[Midnight[x]Traitor]

Blackstorm was silent, even after his father was done talking. He still couldn't , no - refused- to believe that his brother was living amongst the humans. There had to be some explanation for it. His brother was most likely captured. He knew Rain, and he knew she would never stay there on purpose. They must have captured her, too. He bared his exposed teeth at the thought. Rain was, after all, who he had chosen to be his mate when he was alpha. Sure, there was Juniper, who he knew liked him, but was too passive. He knew she would make a great mother and mate, but she wasn't fit to help him lead. Although, Violetfeather was also a good choice...

The nightfury mentally pushed the thoughts aside - now was not the time to think about that. If there was any chance Hawkeye was still alive, he wanted to bring him home. Blackstorm watched a flock of birds fly over them. The sun was still setting, and he knew the quiet of night would soon settle over the land. The noises of day were too distracting and loud, and his black scales were more easily spotted, especially when it snowed.

I want to come on the scout. He finally said with a stubborn tone. I need to see that its actually him with my own eyes. You of all dragons should understand that, he looked over at his father. Blackstorm's eyes held determination, and he silently sent a message saying he wouldn't take no for an answer. After Hawkeye disappeared, Blackstorm found himself trying to prove his worth to Quickrage more and more. Would that change if they brought Hawkeye home?

[FuryDance]

Blackstorm was working up to something. He could hear it. Just like when he was as a hatchling, always thinking through his response. Perhaps he was too hard on the boy… No. He was grooming his son; Ravenwing and he were grooming him to be a leader. It was only natural to be hard on the boy. This son was starting to prove his worth. Quickrage worried and feared what the coming days would prove, especially with wingless rats involved.

Silently, Quickrage let out a slow exhale recognizing his son’s tone as he spoke his desire. It was the same tone his mate, Blackstorm’s mother, used when she was making a point against him. Between Ravenwing and Quickrage, Blackstorm would be a master of the stubborn and determined vocal tone. But Quickrage was already a master and he would have none of this.

“No.” His voice came across hard and unmovable. He would not have his son on such a search… so near to the humans even. “I already have the dragons in mind.”

Quickrage settled into a powerful sitting stance. His tail swung loosely around his body, his wings opening with the breeze and closing again against his sides. Then he decided he should treat his boy like the leader he should become. He stood and turned to face Blackstorm to take the objection that would surely come.

[Midnight[x]Traitor]

Blackstorm was a bit taken aback by the response, and literally had to bite his tongue to keep from immediately lashing back. He wanted to beg to his father to let him go, but that would be the childish thing to do. He wasn't a hatchling anymore, and needed to prove to his father that he could think like a leader. The nightury took a second to gather his thoughts and finally responded - slowly at first, as though he was walking on eggshells. But then his voice grew more confident.

I understand why you would be... concerned about me being around the humans. He paused. But I'm not helpless. You need me to be there. Hawkeye is family, and if those humans have him brainwashed or something, I can talk some sense into him. He meant that in a "you need me to be the calm one" sort of way. Quickrage wouldn't stand for disobedience, and Blackstorm knew neither one of them wanted to bring mother. I know my brother. You aren't going to lose anymore family. I won't allow it. He finally met his father's eye and held them. Both of them were stubborn-headed, but he hoped that his father would see the logic in bringing him along.

[FuryDance]

He was struggling. In front of him, his boy was struggling and he could see it in his eyes. Of course, Blackstorm would wish to protest. Quickrage waited as his son worked out his counter-argument against the denial. Frankly, he could have smiled had the situation not been so heavy. In pausing to forgo the initial childish reaction he surely would have exhibited, Blackstorm showed Quickrage that he was capable of reacting and thinking like the leader he was groomed for. Perhaps, after this mess was cleaned up, he could sleep a bit better knowing a successor was fledging well.

Quietly, Quickrage listened to his son’s argument, his expression calm and his ears open. Blackstorm was indeed making a few good points; he even thought to offer the boy a slight nod, which he did, at the mention of family. The large dragon at the end of Blackstorm’s presented case shifted. His tail swung around to settle on the other side of his position and his red-tipped wings resettled against his back. Mostly he paused to see if the younger dragon would continue on in trying to convince him. However, when it seemed he would not break their eye-to-eye gaze, Quickrage answered.

“All you have said is true,” he confirmed.

“However,” he continued onto his point before his son could become excited, “it does not apply to this night. I will not be risking you or others around the humans,” he spat the word, “directly. This night is not to be a rescue, only a reconnaissance. You will stay with Ravenwing to protect the clan while I am gone.”

Perhaps the ‘debate’ would end there. He knew that was unlikely.