Chapter 15: Shelter of Wings

 Chapter 15: Shelter of Wings

The last light of day was a pale glow against the ragged treeline where Ember Hollows slowly gave way to a stony wilderness. Ariel, Noah, and their four-legged companions trudged forward on aching feet and trembling wings. The sudden drop in temperature hit them the moment they emerged from the dense canopy—gone were the muted greens and browns of the forest, replaced by dull gray rock and patches of coarse sand. A cold wind knifed through the air, cutting straight to the bone.

They stood there, gazing into the distance at the towering silhouettes of the Drakeclaw Mountains. Ominous and foreboding, the peaks stood like jagged spires against the darkening sky. Yet, to the three wyverns—Neo, Silverwing, and their freshly freed sibling—these mountains were home, longed for with every beat of their hearts. They rumbled softly, scanning the horizon as if searching for the familiar clefts and ridges that marked their territory.

Ariel wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. “It’s so cold,” she whispered. Every breath left her lips in a thin white cloud. Noah nodded, pressing his hands under his armpits for warmth.

“We should keep going,” he said, though he sounded unsure. “We can’t stay out in the open.”

Exhaustion, however, had a firm grip on them. Their legs felt like lead, and the pace they’d maintained all day—fleeing the men who hunted them—finally took its toll. Even Zed seemed to droop, his fluffy mane trailing limply, ears flattened against his head in an effort to block the biting wind.

They found a lone, scraggly Emberoak at the very edge of the hollow, its twisted branches reaching vainly for the sky. The trunk was barely wide enough to offer any real shelter, but it was the only form of cover for miles. Ariel and Noah huddled against it, trying to shield themselves from the howling gusts. Zed curled close, pressing his velvety muzzle against Ariel’s thigh, seeking comfort.

“I can’t believe how quickly it got this cold,” Noah muttered, teeth chattering. “It’s like the forest itself just… ended.”

Ariel glanced toward the wyverns, who seemed unfazed by the abrupt climate shift. Their scales actually glimmered with a thin layer of condensation, as if the frigid air posed little threat to them. The third wyvern, still somewhat weak from captivity, let out a shaky breath. Its eyes reflected the faintest bit of pity for the shivering humans.

Then, in a gesture that made Ariel’s heart ache with gratitude, Neo, Silverwing, and their sibling spread their wings and encircled the trio in a protective huddle. Their leather-like membranes blocked much of the wind, forming a living shield that glowed softly in the dwindling twilight. Ariel and Noah found themselves in the middle of this unlikely circle—Zed snuggled at their feet—feeling a sudden warmth from the wyverns’ own body heat.

Ariel blinked back tears. It was such an odd tableau: two human kids, a young unicorn, and three mighty wyverns gathered in a makeshift shelter, drawn together by peril and necessity. She pressed her cheek against Neo’s flank, murmuring a quiet “thank you.” A gentle rumble in response was all she needed to feel safe, at least for a moment.

As the wind continued to howl, exhaustion finally caught up to them. Ariel leaned her head on Noah’s shoulder, eyes drifting shut. In the haze between wakefulness and sleep, she pictured her parents, bound and standing in front of Elder Fig. Were they safe? Regret tugged at her heart—should she have stayed and defended them instead of bolting off with the wyverns? If anything happened to them, she wasn’t sure how she’d ever forgive herself. But what about these creatures who had risked everything to protect them? She felt torn in two, clinging to the faint hope that she could still rescue both her family and her new friends.

A single tear slipped down her cheek as she slipped into uneasy slumber.

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High above the Emberoaks of Ember Hollows, Silvermist soared, her coat catching the moonlight in shifting silver patterns. The rolling forest beneath her was dotted with lights—some from homesteads, others from the torches of men roaming in the night. She banked left, scanning the horizon for any sign of help.

Behind her, miles away, the Luminaris ranch lay in peril. Celeste and the other unicorns had deemed it unworthy of bloodshed, choosing instead to lead the herd farther into the meadow. Without hesitation, Silvermist had taken it upon herself to find aid, flying tirelessly over hill and dale. An uneasy sense of urgency guided her—she felt Beka’s presence like a thread woven through her soul. No matter the distance, that bond remained strong.

Eventually, Silvermist spotted a cluster of carriages lining the road outside Emberfalls. The flicker of lanterns told her this was a moving caravan, likely carrying assembly members and the prisoners. Her keen eyes caught glimpses of Beka and Nick, even if she couldn’t see them clearly.

Silvermist took a chance on a small clearing just beyond the main road. Angling her wings, she dove toward it with a burst of speed, tucking her legs and mane tight to reduce wind drag. The canopy of Ember Hollows rushed up to meet her, and she spread her wings again in a sudden snap. The air howled around her, slowing her descent, but still she hit the ground harder than intended, skidding a yard or two before coming to a trembling stop.

Her plan to offer a peaceful arrival disintegrated the moment the crowd saw her. Assembly members and guards alike reacted with alarm, shouting, “Get that thing!” and “It’s one of the Luminaris monsters!” Spears and crossbow bolts whizzed by, narrowly missing their mark. Silvermist reared back, horn glowing with defensive magic. She pivoted, shielding herself and searching the crowd for Beka.

Horses pulling the carriages whinnied in panic. Silvermist recognized their tired eyes and sweat-flecked coats. She reached out with a quiet mental plea, urging them to stand their ground. Many of the horses responded by stamping their hooves and refusing to move. Their drivers yanked at the reins, cursing under their breath, but it was as if the animals had turned to stone.

A spear grazed Silvermist’s shoulder guard, clattering to the ground. She let out an indignant snort, her eyes sweeping the crowd for any friendly face. In that instant, Beka’s voice rose above the chaos.

“Silvermist!” she cried, leaning over the edge of a carriage. “The ranch is burning—are the others safe?”

Nick, cuffed and pushed toward the wagon door, turned sharply. “Burning? What do you mean—Beka, is Silvermist telling you this?”

“Stop them!” one of the guards bellowed, lunging for Beka and Nick. But Silvermist focused her magic, a sparkling beam that crackled in the air, and the guard slumped to his knees in a stunned daze. Another guard rushed in, only to meet the same fate.

From the largest carriage, Elder Fig’s men poured out, weapons at the ready. Fig himself emerged, brandishing a knife. Assembly members tumbled out behind him, some brandishing torches, others looking frightened and unsure.

“Stay where you are!” Fig roared, advancing on Nick, Beka, and the unicorn. Silvermist snorted and reared up, hooves striking the air in a powerful warning.

Nick’s eyes flitted to Beka. “Don’t provoke him—he’ll turn this on us.”

From behind a second carriage, Elder Marisol and a few other council members stepped forward, tension etched in their faces. “Elder Fig, what’s the meaning of this?” she demanded. “Why would we imprison a unicorn?”

Fig sneered. “Because they’re siding with the Luminaris clan, trying to overthrow our laws. This madness proves it!” He stabbed the air in Silvermist’s direction with his knife. “Chaining them might be the only way to keep Emberfalls safe.”

A hush fell. Some assembly members exchanged appalled glances—imprisoning unicorns went against every tenet of Emberwood’s harmony. Beka seized the silence. “Listen to me!” she shouted. “Silvermist saw men at our ranch setting fire to the buildings. The herd is safe, but the ranch is gone. And Fig’s men have been kidnapping wyverns from Drakeclaw Vale to frame us.”

Fig whirled on her. “That’s a lie!” But a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes as Marisol turned a sharp gaze on him.

“Is it?” Marisol asked coldly. “You claim ignorance about the ranch burning, but do you also deny capturing wyverns?”

“I don’t know anything about the ranch,” Fig said, color draining from his face. His bravado faltered under Silvermist’s unblinking stare. He stepped back, only to trip on a wagon wheel, crashing onto his backside. The sight of the once-imposing elder splayed in the dirt made more than one onlooker gasp.

Silvermist pawed the ground, nostrils flaring, ready to defend Beka and Nick if necessary. Beka placed a calming hand on the unicorn’s withers. “Easy, girl.”

“Release the Luminaris family,” Marisol commanded, her voice cutting through the confusion. “These charges clearly require a real investigation. I refuse to let them be carted off like criminals when the truth is so muddied.”

A pair of guards stepped forward uncertainly. “But… Elder Fig—” one began.

“Do it!” Marisol snapped, her eyes fierce. “It’s within my authority to override him until we sort this out.”

Grudgingly, the guards unlocked the cuffs binding Nick and Beka. They stood there, rubbing at their sore wrists. A flicker of relief crossed their faces, but worry lingered—Ariel and Noah were still out there, somewhere near Drakeclaw Vale with the wyverns.

“I won’t be carted around by thugs,” Marisol continued, turning on Fig. “You’ve misled us, and if these allegations hold any truth, there will be consequences.” She turned to the gathering. “Summon the Ember Guard. We’re heading to the ranch. Now.”

A low mutter of voices rose, uncertain but obedient to Marisol’s command. Fig glared from where he half-lay in the dirt, knife still in hand, though he no longer dared brandish it at Silvermist. The unicorn let out a sharp snort, pinning him with a steely gaze that radiated a silent warning.

Beka and Nick exchanged a glance—equal parts relief and apprehension. They were free, for the moment, but their children remained in grave danger. And the ranch, the place they’d called home for generations, was in ashes.

“It’s not over yet,” Nick murmured, sliding an arm around Beka. She closed her eyes briefly, leaning into him as Silvermist folded her wings.

“No,” Beka agreed. “But at least now we can speak our truth without being silenced.”

A group of assembly members gathered around, looking a little rattled by recent events but prepared to do their duty. Marisol began issuing orders, barking for horses to be readied and the Ember Guard to be summoned. Fig slunk to the back, face twisted with fury, but for now, he was outnumbered and cornered.

Silvermist lifted her head, scanning the horizon. Somewhere out there, her beloved family’s children were fleeing for their lives. She twitched her ears, as though hoping to hear Ariel’s voice carried on the wind. Hearing nothing, she nickered softly.

Beka caught the sound and placed a gentle hand on Silvermist’s neck. “They’ll be okay,” she whispered, more a wish than a certainty. “We’ll find them. We’ll find everyone.”

As wagons and guards scrambled into position, Nick and Beka stood tall, no longer in chains, but far from free of troubles. And in the wind that whipped across the open road, they caught the scent of change—potentially dangerous, certainly unpredictable, but change all the same.