Chapter 37: Chapter 37

SILVER

“I wish to be the ~Lady~ of the Horde,” I tell Freezkol as she bathes with me in the lake. It has now been a couple of hours since I got up.

Storm set to work on the camp, while I am allowed to rest in case any more visions take hold of me at any time.

“Good luck with that, little Silver. It was just a dream; don’t let it consume you,” Freezkol answers kindly while dropping to her knees so the water comes up to her waist.

She looks so at peace in the water.

“And Drax actually handpicked a rose for Risen in my vision too,” I whisper.

Freezkol pauses and sighs with a smirk as she looks me over.

“Silver, the visions we have while on our blood can feel too real, to the point that some go crazy with the belief that it was somehow reality, just in another time and place—like an alternate reality.

“The truth is, it’s all a lie—it’s what we want to happen. Think about how ~too~ good the dream was—too good to be true.

“Storm was leaving you to wander the camp without restrictions, Drax was preparing to intercept Risen after avoiding her for centuries, and your dead twin appeared from thin air in a reunion that couldn’t be more perfect.

“I am sorry, Silver… It was simply what you wished. The real question is, Did you see anything negative?”

“No…” I wade a bit deeper while I think back to the vision. “Wait, yes.” I slowly turn to Freezkol, who patiently waits for my answer.

“I’ve never seen Rawk and Zoraul fight before, but in my vision, they were irritated by each other…

“They were fighting. Nothing too violent—but it was upsetting to see them not seeing eye to eye. They have always been close. Is it a premonition?”

“Twin Leading Breeds won’t always get along, Silver,” Freezkol murmurs. “I remember in history that… Actually, it does not matter. They are young; they will grow up as strongly bonded brothers.”

“Finish what you were about to say,” I interrupt, worried by the way she’s trying to avoid the topic of a memory she thought of but then quickly dismissed. Clearly, it is something serious.

“I don’t believe in worrying others needlessly with things that may happen, what-ifs, maybes, perhaps—it’s not reality, just needless speculation. I’d rather you not worry, ~Lady~ of the Lost Horde.”

Freezkol smiles and turns from me, trying to change the subject. “Shall we dry off, dress, and join the Horde for lunch?”

“Sure,” I answer, and we both start to wade out of the water together. I spot Risen waiting by the edge, sitting on a log with Drax, Kai, Julian, and Kix.

While Risen speaks to Kix, the three different shades of silver-headed males all converse about something—probably hunting, fucking, or gossip, no doubt.

“You must hold on tight,” Risen tells Kix, who nods and tries to look genuinely serious.

“I will not fall off, I swear to you,” Kix replies confidently back—distracting me from my immediate thoughts about questioning Freezkol further.

Clearly Kix wants to go flying, and I think that’s cute.

I mist my way to my clothes, and I dry off and quickly slip on my purple dress.

After I am ready, I approach the members of the Horde with Freezkol by my side.

“I am relieved to announce that we have a Lady of the Horde,” Freezkol interrupts them all. “It’s official. Silver is our Lady.”

“A Lady?” Drax asks, mockingly.

“You’re a Dragon, though, Silver,” Kai adds.

“The mate of our Lord,” Julian also speaks up.

“And therefore I am a Lady.” I grin, and I catch the feeling of other, more powerful eyes watching me.

When I glance up, Storm is leaning against a cabin just behind the reclining Dragons and Kix, smirking while he watches me casually.

“So my Student of Feeling wishes to be known as a Lady?” Storm grumbles, which captures everyone’s attention. “It’ll come at a price, pipsqueak.”

“Whatever price it is, I shall afford it,” I answer back, grinning.

“Then you will eat with me—come on.” Storm waits for me to leave my friends, and I am happy with his sweet request.

“I’m going flying with Risen, Silver; wish me luck!” Kix calls out to me while I wave at all of them and head off with Storm.

“Good luck. Be safe, or your mother and aunt won’t be happy,” I warn Kix as I slink to Storm’s side.

“I hope you don’t mind my joining; I am also hungry for food,” Freezkol says as she catches up to us. “Storm—you’ve never looked more at ease.”

“The camp is being built more solidly into the foundations of the earth after the army attacked. It has ironically given us the chance to settle more permanently.

“I have ordered scouts to keep the area safe while we rebuild. I have also been organizing a more protective layout of the camp. This is our home now, and we will all be settled soon enough.

“That means now all we must do is look out for one another. Protect one another. Stay safe—sleep, eat…and please our other halves.” Storm slyly glances at me, and I blush.

“I am looking forward to our future,” I answer back innocently.

“You two are good for one another.” Freezkol slips past us to head more quickly to the food being served by Jeekah and Fray.

Storm and I wait in line, and I glance at his hand, wanting to take it—I don’t get the chance, but I’m sure he feels my aura.

“Little Silver,” Fray welcomes me with a warm smile as Freezkol moves off quickly with her soup. “Have some soup while it’s still hot.”

“Thank you, Fray.” I smile because the aroma smells divine.

She passes me a bowl while Storm grabs two for himself, drinking the scorching-hot liquid quickly in two huge gulps per bowl. He’s done in front of them within mere seconds.

Storm then quickly hands the bowls back to Jeekah, who grabs them with wide eyes.

“Wow,” I murmur as I take a small sip of my own hot, steaming soup as I stand back and watch Storm gaze at me.

“Sit,” Storm commands quietly, waiting for me to abide by his rules. I nod, turn, and sit on a log a few feet away, while Freezkol sits a little away from us.

“You will speak what is on your mind, pipsqueak… You look worried.”

“I am, admittedly… I am worried about Rawk and Zoraul.”

I glance at Storm as he decides to sit right into my side, his hand sliding up my back to play with my hair, tugging on a fistful of it so that I have to lean back and look up into his eyes.

“Do not worry… They are under my protection—no one will ever hurt them, and I will teach them how to fight well.

“They already have quicker reflexes than most, and tempers too—like their father.” Storm smiles at this. “Why would you worry about them?”

“Freezkol has refrained from telling me a ‘maybe’ thought she had that would explain why I saw our babies as rivals in my blood vision,” I explain.

“~Freezkol~,” Storm calls out to her, and she straightens her back, stands up, and walks over to join us.

“Yes?” she asks innocently.

“Tell us what you fear,” Storm asks quietly, “about our babes. What is your concern?”

“Just a silly thought that has no real significance.” Freezkol tries to play it cool, and Storm just raises an impatient yet slow eyebrow.

“Spit it out,” he encourages her, and she bites her lip and eventually sits opposite us.

“I do not wish to worry you,” Freezkol whispers. “Silver dreamed of Rawk and Zoraul being irritated by each other.

“It can be a sign of the future, and it may be…or it may not,” she murmurs, looking uncomfortable as Storm’s eyes start to rage with passion.

“Tell me,” he snarls a bit uncontrollably. “Don’t keep it to yourself.”

“Relax.” I grab Storm’s knee, and I watch him shuffle on the log, trying to keep calm for me—which I appreciate.

Storm making an effort is actually very attractive.

“I ~felt~ that strong thought,” Storm growls at me—clearly catching onto my mischievous feelings.

“Do not dwell on it,” I whisper back. “I want to know what Freezkol is thinking.”

“Likewise,” Storm answers before focusing on our Sprite Medium again. “Well?”

“Twin Leading Breeds always get along famously, with a few hiccups every now and then,” she begins.

“Which is natural, of course. In nine out of ten cases in our history, the Twin Leading Breeds will forgive one another, grow, and become stronger together.

“Occasional, there is a rare occurrence that plays out with Twin Leading Breeds, sons born of two female Twin Leading Breeds.

“In this case, Jinx and Storm’s babes, Rawk and Zoraul, fit into this rare category.”

As Freezkol takes the longer way to explain her worrying thoughts, Storm starts to tap his foot impatiently, so she takes the hint and rambles off the rest quickly.

“There is a worrying history of some Twin Leadings Breeds turning on one another in their adult life. This isn’t due to love fading in the brotherly bond, but the opposite.

“In some rare cases—and I stress this is rare—the love is so strong between two twins that even a minor hiccup or even a minor mistake can be seen as the greatest betrayal…

“And in the place of love, hate can easily replace the once strong bond between two brothers. If they expect perfection from one another, and if one does not deliver, it could destroy their bond.

“A reunion, though common between average Twin Leading Breeds, will not happen in a rare case, such as that of Rawk and Zoraul. Again, this is all speculation.”

“It’s all nonsense,” Storm murmurs. “I have heard those stories; it is mere dramatizing of historical events.”

“Or it is the truth,” I add, contradicting his denial of Freezkol’s words.

“Silver—”

“Even if it is not true, you must not choose a favorite or pit one against the other as they grow older. Love them equally,” I say firmly, hoping Storm understands.

“They both look up to you. You’re their father and their hero—you must teach them to respect each other… Master of Feeling, you should do this well.”

“The Lady of the Lost Horde has too much to say,” Storm mocks me, slowly smirking, as he is only half serious. “Calm down, pipsqueak. Everything will be okay. Look! Here they come now.”

Storm points over Freezkol’s shoulders, and I lean to my right to see Rawk and Zoraul.

They are prancing through the camp, side by side, their scales brushing and their heads inches from one another as they trot—so close, it’s comical.

They both grin as they lean down together, speed up, sprint apart, and then take off in complete unison.

The silver twins fly toward one another, one over and one under—their synchronization is beyond accurate.

They then fly off together, looking for another adventure, no doubt.

“They are planning something,” Storm growls. “I know that look.”

“Oh, what could they possibly be planning?” I ask, smiling as I watch them rise a bit higher.

As our eyes follow their progress, we see Risen to our left, flying low and slow with Kix on her back, crying out in joy.

“This…is…awesome!” he calls out. “Look at me, Mother!”

Fray and Jeekah both look up, screaming at him at the same time.

“Kix! You’re crazy!” they yell at him, looking at each other in exasperation.

Rawk and Zoraul turn until they are just above Risen… And then they dive toward Kix, still grinning.

I already know they plan on playing with him—he is like a game to them, prey—I can see it coming from their bloodred auras.

“Storm!” I cry out in fear for Kix, but he is already on it.

Within seconds, he mists to his Dragon, flying to intercept his babes.

I watch with my hand on my heart, my soup in my other hand, as Storm’s massive and legendary Dragon form blocks Rawk and Zoraul’s deadly swoop.

Storm has lifted a wing and snarls at them to back off—and it frightens them enough that they bump into one another as they abruptly try to fly off backward.

As Zoraul’s head hits Rawk’s stomach, Rawk snaps out in anger and Zoraul snaps back, almost biting off the end of his tail.

They fall in a frenzy, while Storm slowly lands through the trees in the near distance with a humongous thump.

We hear an almighty roar that makes the birds fly from the treetops…as both babes come sprinting out of the forest, away from Storm.

They run with their ears back, heading straight for me.

I sit still as Rawk and Zoraul slink behind me and place their heads on the log next to my legs.

They both look up at me with guilty grins.

~“Proud, Mother?”~ they both ask, and I try to smile…but I can’t…and they seem worried.

Instead, I just pat them and look at Freezkol, who sips her soup and shrugs.

“Do not worry, Silver,” she tries to reassure me. “They are young.”

But I ~am~ worried.

I am worried Freezkol’s warning will come true.

If Rawk and Zoraul ever turn on one another, it will be devastating.

I just pray the Sky Gods take pity on them and give them strength to stay together. If they separate—well, I pity their future mate. Whoever and wherever she is—if the twins separate, she’ll have to deal with them both trying to claim her.

Which will simply give them another reason to fight.

With just this thought—I know my babes have an interesting life ahead of them, in all aspects.

Hopefully, Storm and I can teach them well enough… Well enough to be strong—~together~.

^~The End~^