by Natalie Erin
“Seems we’ve all made up,” Kaliska said quietly. “Sadly, there is no one here for me. Jade, you have your family to take care of you. I’ll be leaving now.”
Snapfoot watched the gray wolf leave, a horrified expression on his face. He glanced at Midnightstar, and she said, “Don’t let her go, brother. She needs you.”
Snapfoot didn’t wait any longer. “Kaliska!” The word burst out of his throat, and he rushed forward to catch up with her, panting.
“What do you want now? Can’t you just let me be?” Kaliska turned to gaze at him, face hardened by resentment and rage.
“Don’t leave,” Snapfoot pleaded. He sunk down, tail tucked between his legs. “Please. I beg you, don’t go away.”
“I thought that’s what you wanted. You told me so,” Kaliska said with disdain.
“I was wrong. I was so very wrong. Don’t walk away.”
“I’m sorry, Snapfoot. I’m not staying.”
She went to leave again, but Snapfoot jumped in front of her. “Listen,” he added. “Just hear me out.”
Her face was blank of any emotion. Snapfoot swallowed. “Stay, just for a little while. Maybe you’ll change your mind. Stay with me and we can help rebuild this place, rebuild the pack.”
“Like the pack wants me!” Kaliska laughed bitterly.
“They do. They need you, because I need you,” Snapfoot said.
“That’s not what...”
“Forget about what I said before. I was grieving at the time, but more than that, I was stupid. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”
“And what’ll we do after we rebuild the city?” Kaliska asked.
“Go back to the plains. Now that the Ortusans are gone, we can all go back home and start life over again. And I don’t know about you, but I have no bigger desire than to lead my pack with you by my side. I want your pups to be my pups. Even though I’m not their father, I swear to you from this day on, I will be. Those pups you have in your belly are going to be my own. I promise.”
“Even after everything you said?”
“I didn’t mean it, Kaliska. You know I didn’t. And even if you don’t think so, I’ll prove it to you, one day at a time.”
Kaliska’s eyes dropped. “Let it be, then, Snapfoot. I’m yours.”
“No,” Snapfoot said, and he raised her head with his nose, not breaking her gaze, not caring who was watching. “I am yours.”
Adelaide sighed blissfully, and Rabika hacked in repulsion as Snapfoot and Kaliska wandered off together.
“Please,” Rabika gagged. “All this mush is about to make me cough up my dinner.”
“Now now, don’t be like that. Maybe you’ll find someone special one day too!” Adelaide said in a bubbly, girlish tone.
“I hope not,” Rabika grumbled.
At that moment, the biggest wolf they had ever seen came out from the ruins. He was three times the size of Tatl, with huge, rippling muscles, and fangs that poked out of his mouth.
“Hey babe. Love your bow,” the wolf said, winking at Adelaide. When he stood next to her, he made her appear as if she was a pup.
Adelaide beamed up at him, wagging her tail. “You’re such a tease. You mentioned that last night.”
“Because you’re so pretty when you wear it. It makes you unique,” the wolf rumbled back at her.
“Uh, Adelaide…” Tatl said, “Who is that?”
“Huh?” Coming out of her dreamy stupor, Adelaide looked at her brother, and then at the giant wolf next to her. “Oh, this is Bark. I met him last night. He’s not from around here, but he decided to stay.”
“Stay for you, sugar,” Bark added, nudging her gently. Adelaide gave a happy squeal, and Bark added, “You’re so cute. I couldn’t possibly leave such an adorable little she-wolf like you all alone in the Lands, with nobody to protect her.”
“Did you hear that?” Adelaide said perkily. “He said I’m cute.”
“I heard it alright,” Rabika added with a groan. “Are you coming with us to find Mom or not?”
“No, you go. I’ll catch up!” Adelaide said in a peppy voice. Tatl and Rabika were left to stand there, mouths wide open, as they watched their little sister skip happily away with Bark at her side.
“Well sister, looks like we’re the only ones going home solo,” he said, tongue dangling out of his mouth as he laughed.
“Fine with me. I don’t need a mate. After you, Wolf King.” Rabika playfully smacked Tatl upside the head with her paw and the two of them trotted off, to find Lottie somewhere among the ruins.
“Everybody, meet me back here in about an hour!” Midnightstar announced to the group, before anyone else left. “We’ll discuss where to go from here.”
As the rest of the wolves disbanded, Midnightstar turned to the one creature that was still by her side…the white dragon that was her portal.
“Does that go for me too?” he asked, but by the look in his eyes, she could tell that he didn’t want to leave.
She began walking towards the palace. “No, Xiuh. You stay with me. There are some things we have to discuss.”
She didn’t start talking, not for a very long while. Instead, she led him up the many steps of the palace, to the high chambers of what was once Aravon’s room, going to the balcony and peering over the city below. She had the feeling of being alone...happily alone...even though Xiuh was right next to her. It was a peace she hadn’t felt before. Midnightstar understood that, in some way, she’d always be a lone wolf. The only one she’d never be able to leave, and never want to leave, was her dragon.
“Some of the Ortusans got away,” Xiuh said, breaking the quiet as he hung his neck over the side of the railing. “We tried to give chase, but they escaped.”
“It’s okay,” Midnightstar said quietly. “They can’t cause much damage now that Aravon and Carmilla are gone. I’ll organize a search party to go looking for them as soon as I can.”
“May I be a part of this team? It would give me much pleasure to see them ripped apart,” Xiuh growled.
“No, Xiuh. I need you elsewhere.”
“Ask it.”
It took her awhile for her to say the words. “It’s going to be hard, but if you love me, you’ll do it.”
“You know I love you. Whatever you ask, I’ll do for you.”
“Even if it means that you have to go away?”
There was silence. “What are you saying?”
Midnightstar wrenched her gaze away from the city to look at Xiuh. “I need to know what’s going on in Nesting’s Haven. The Lands are safe, for now, but the ultimate fate of us all depends on how the war goes with our brothers and sisters in the south. If they lose, everything that’s been done here won’t last.”
“So you need me to go to Nesting’s Haven,” Xiuh said.
“I would go myself, but I’m needed here, as their skygazer. I have to lead them now.”
“You need me to be your eyes?”
“You’re my portal. I can see what’s going on in Nesting’s Haven through you. What’s more, I can use you to speak to our allies. You’re the missing link, Xiuh. You could determine the entire end of this war by being the communicator between both sides.”
“What if I can’t find them? What if I fail?” he said, and the hatchling that was still in him emerged in his voice, quivering slightly.
“I wouldn’t be sending you if I didn’t think you could do it,” Midnightstar said. “Xiuh I…I want to protect you, but I know that keeping you safe isn’t going to help you, or anyone else. You’ll go mad doing nothing here.”
“Who do you need me to look for?” Xiuh said bluntly.
“Your mother. Your sister. Anybody who is against Wyntier. And for the Creator’s sake, please, find Kennu, and find Allie. They’re the most important to the resistance, I’m sure of it.”
“Kennu and Allie?”
“You’ve seen them. In my visions.”
“The green haired fairy and the griffin?”
“
Yes. Once you locate them, the real hard work begins. You may think that all of this is over now, but I assure you, it’s not even begun.”
“No, Midnightstar,” Xiuh said. “I know that this war is far from over.”
“I’ll be here when you come back,” Midnightstar promised, pressing up against him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“How do you know that I’ll be coming back?” Xiuh asked.
“A skygazer is nothing without her portal,” Midnightstar responded simply. When he still said nothing, she added, “You’re a talented dragon, Xiuh. You’re an amazing fighter, and a fierce friend. I couldn’t have asked for a better portal. And I’ll miss you, when you’re gone.”
“I’ll miss you more.”
Midnightstar blinked. “Do you know the way to Nesting’s Haven?”
“Actually, yes. Living in the desert, close to the sea, gives you knowledge on this sort of thing.”
“I’m afraid, sending you alone.”
“With my speed, I won’t be alone long. Surely you wolves knew that we only traveled so slow because you couldn’t keep up with me?”
“Oh, of course,” Midnightstar scoffed.
She snuggled even closer to her dragon. “Keep yourself safe, Xiuh. If anything happened to you, my fault or not, I’d become a shadow.”
“You were a shadow, for a very long time,” he reminded her, drawing her closer to him.
“And it was a horrible feeling. I felt very alone in this world, until you came along. I may not have a mate or a pack, but I have you. As a skygazer, I’m different from the rest of the world. Only you can understand that.”
“Being your portal has made me different from the rest of the world,” Xiuh said. “But I find it more than worth it. It doesn’t matter if all the Lands find me confusing, as long as I’m not confusing to you.”
“The only thing that’s confusing about you is how you can be so devoted to me,” Midnightstar chuckled, and tears sparked in her eyes. She ripped herself away from him, shaking her head. “You have to go now. Before I stop you.”
Midnightstar felt her heart leave with Xiuh. He stretched out his wings, jumping upwards to perch on the balcony. “Keep the rest of my friends safe. I’ve made so many, ever since I met you.”
Xiuh leapt off the balcony, soaring into the sky before she could say another word.
At that moment, Midnightstar felt like breaking. She hastily pulled herself together, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her paw. She was a skygazer, and she would act like it. She would be strong and brave, for the Lands needed her.
She gazed one last time at at the white dragon sailing through the sky. He was hurtling at full speed towards danger, all for her sake.
“Don’t worry, Xiuh,” she whispered. “I’ll be your eyes.”
END OF PART V
Afterward
The Accompany stumbled into the entrance of the cave, angrily kicking aside the bones that had been cast in huge piles as he got up from his fall, shaking his head.
“About time I found this place again,” he mumbled. “I thought for sure I’d never...”
“Who dares to enter Nagli’s cave?”
The Accompany cringed as he witnessed the monster that he hadn’t seen in over a decade come creeping out from behind a pile of bones, walking crookedly on its back legs, its half-formed face tilted and confused.
“It’s Moorock. Surely you remember me,” he offered, forcing himself to come closer to the creature.
Nagli looked at him blankly. “Moo-rock? Why are you here, Moo-rock? Why does that sound familiar…”
“Moor-rock,” he said, pronouncing his name so she would understand. “My name is Moorock.”
“Okay, Moorock. Why are you here?” Nagli sat down, gazing up at him in curiosity.
“Why am I…” Moorock shook his head. “You know why. The crown. I’m here for the crown.”
“Crown?” Nagli shook her head, unable to understand.
Moorock’s eyes widened in panic. Then his face changed, molding from kindly and gentle into a dark, evil sneer. Moorock lunged forward, stretching his hands out in an attempt to wrap them around Nagli’s neck. “THE CROWN! YOU UGLY CREATURE, TELL ME WHERE...”
“Nobody shouts at Nagli!” Nagli scrambled upward, using her reptilian tail to smack Moorock across the face as hard as she could. The Accompany stumbled backwards, slamming into the wall and falling to the stone floor. He got up, clumsily regaining his balance as if under a spell. Nagli watched with interest, peering at Moorock as he shakily made his way to his feet again.
“I’m sorry,” Moorock said, hands and voice quivering. “It’s something I can’t control. Forgive me.”
“What was that?” Nagli didn’t seem offended, or scared…she sounded quite curious.
“I…Wyntier changed me,” Moorock stated, sinking onto a rock and covering his face with his hands. “He used some sort of serum to make me into a monster. He told me if I work for him, he could fix it, and change me back. I’ve tried coming here, to the elves, but it doesn’t help. He always finds me.”
Nagli squinted. “So…you are one person, who is fighting against Wyntier, yet you are another, who is working for Wyntier…and still yet you are another person, who is trying to run away from all of it by living with the elves and acting like none of this is happening.”
“I don’t know what’s going on!” he shouted. “All I know is that I left the crown here, with you, many years ago, and that if I don’t return it to Wyntier, he’ll kill me!”
“Surely it isn’t all that dire.”
“You don’t understand!” Moorock cried. “He’ll kill Miriam! He’ll take away everything! There’s nothing I can do to stop him, and I was foolish to think so in the first place! Now please, give me the crown!”
“So, you are the person I’ve been looking for. Fantastic!” Nagli started bouncing on her hind legs with joy. “I was wondering who left that old crown here many years ago. Now I have found the answer.”
“Well?” Moorock asked, annoyance splattered across his face. “Where is it?”
Nagli’s face went blank. “Where’s what?”
“The crown!”
The creature’s confused expression melted into complete understanding. “Oh, yes. Now I remember. I gave it away a very long time ago.”
Moorock’s face crumbled. “No. No, you didn’t. You’re lying.”
“I am not. I gave it to the fairy Kia and her friends,” Nagli said cheerfully.
“You WHAT?” Moorock burst, eyes popping out of his skull. “Why did you do that, Nagli? There is literally no one worse you could’ve given it to!”
“Well, I think it’s ridiculous you asked me to watch over it all this time without any instruction whatsoever. Not even so much as a letter or a visit,” Nagli said sourly.
“This can’t be happening,” Moorock said, getting up from the rock and beginning to pace around the cave of bones. “Wyntier has to have that crown.”
“At least I didn’t give away the secret of the boom-boom,” Nagli added, poking her head around him.
“That’s something to hope for,” he grumbled. Moorock sighed, shaking his head. “We don’t know where the necklaces are, and the one item I asked you to guard, you gave up. What next?”
“Quit babbling. Say what you mean or nothing at all,” Nagli said, irritated.
Moorock glanced at Nagli, motioning with his hand. “You’re coming with me. You can explain to Wyntier what happened. I’m not going back empty-handed.”
“Just leave the cave?” Nagli asked, aghast.
“Nobody needs you here anymore. We’ll go to Nesting’s Haven together. You can explain yourself there. Maybe Wyntier will have some use for you.”
“I’m not going anywhere with someone who isn’t my friend,” Nagli said stubbornly, whirling her tail. “That would be just plain stupid.”
“We’re friends then,” Moorock said, a touch of irritation in his voice. “Now co
me. Quickly.”
“Very well!” Nagli fell down to all fours and followed Moorock merrily out of the cave. “My first time out in years, and to Nesting’s Haven, too! I do say, Moorock, this is one vacation that I won’t soon forget!”
Good and evil will wage war as Kennu, Allie, and their friends make one final stand in the epic series finale, Angel’s Rebellion, #6 of the Creatures of the Lands Series.
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Acknowledgments
Midnightstar isn’t like any other Creatures of the Lands book, but I think that’s why I like it so much. At it’s core, it’s a commentary on mental illness, a philosophy on why life seems so meaningless and cruel. It’s about the negative voices we hear in our heads, the mistakes that we seemingly can’t stop repeating, and the friends who don’t seem to understand.
It’s about the choices we all must make which, eventually, will influence the world around us, either for the darkness or the light.
Sometimes we pick good. Sometimes, evil wins.
Midnightstar was written at a time when I wasn’t quite sure what was right or wrong. Oftentimes, I felt like Midightstar did…alone…confused…left without an answer.
The message eventually came through to me years after the book was completed. It doesn’t matter if something does or does not have meaning. It means something to me. And that makes all the difference.
I hoped you enjoyed Midnightstar, and will stay along for the ride as we venture into the shocking, suspenseful series finale in Angel’s Rebellion.
