Young Writers Society

A cold dawn crept over the island, the new light bringing no warmth to Zoltar’s scales. He sat huddled on the pillar, his barbed tail hanging limp over the side. He hadn’t slept a wink the whole night. His whole body ached, screaming at him to sleep, but there was no rest to be had. His mind whirled like a hurricane, ideas and thoughts all mixing together to form a howling wind that did nothing to help the problem at paw.

Zoltar rubbed a talon over his horns, his head both aching from stress and the lack of sleep. The same questions kept buzzing through his brain, annoying and persistent, but never answered, ‘What was he going to do? How was he going to steal the gem? Should he tell Felistia what had happened?’

Huffing a long sigh, he shifted his weight on the column. He hadn’t moved in hours and he was sure his limbs had gone to sleep, seeing as he couldn’t feel his talons anymore.

He had to do something. He had three options. He could concede to Sidious’s plan. It would be the easiest of the bunch and would be relatively safe for him at least.

He shook his head, disgusted at the idea. He wouldn’t go along with the Ghost Talon. That much was certain. So that left only two options. Find a way to steal the gem on his own – a very dangerous task in which he had a high likely hood of dying – or tell Felistia everything.

He cringed at the idea. If he revealed everything to her, he risked losing her protection and friendship. He could end up on his own again… with that Ghost Talon. But at least she and Shiraku would be safe and wasn’t that what he wanted? Wasn’t that why he’d refused to go along with Sidious’s plan in the first place…to protect them?

He sighed, glancing over the beach. Golden light swept over the rolling waves, the spray thrown up by the water gleaming like fire in the new dawn.

He had to tell her. It was the only way. At least then she and Shiraku would be able to watch their backs. They should be safe then.

Sidious wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t try to take on the two of them once they knew about him. The only way he could hurt them was if they got separated and lured into a dangerous situation. He couldn’t do that if they knew what he was up to.

Still, it wasn’t going to be pretty. He could only imagine what Shiraku was going to say. It wouldn’t be nice. Probably something along the lines of that’s exactly what a Shadow Talon would do or I told you not to trust him.

Poor Felistia. She’d been so nice to him and now he was going to spit on all that by telling her that he’d been lying the whole time. She was going to be so disappointed.

He stared up longingly at the clear blue sky as though it might grant his wish and give him another way out of this situation, but of course nothing happened. Heaving a sigh, he got to his paws, flinching at the sharp prickle of pain shooting through them. Best to get this over with.

…

Felistia and Shiraku were sitting in the back of the cave, licking the last of what must have been a fish from their claws.

“Look who decided to show up,” Shiraku hissed mockingly, glancing over at Zoltar as he entered the cave, though she smiled jokingly a moment after, “You finally decided it’s too cold out there and want to now curl up here? Well you’re too late. We’re about to head off hunting.”

Zoltar ignored her probing comments, keeping his gaze fixed on the floor. He was afraid that if he looked at them, he’d lose his resolve and back out of what he was about to do.

“Hey,” Felistia remarked upon seeing him, “I was just about to bring you up breakfast. Why didn’t you coming in last…”

Something must have tipped her off that all was not well, because she stopped and asked, “You okay?”

Zoltar squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to say yes. He had to tell them. It was for the best.

“No,” he said finally, sinking down to sit with his tail curled over his talons. He rubbed his snout anxiously, stalling as he wondered how he should continue. There was no good way to start.

‘Just get it over with quickly.’

“I haven’t been total honest with you. I’m not who you…I’m not really an outcast,” his voice shook as he spoke, his wings having dropped to his sides, “I promise I’ll tell you everything, but you must trust me on this one thing. Your lives depend on it.”

Shiraku had looked up from cleaning her claws and was staring at him, her golden eyes piercing through him. Felistia had also fallen silent, having paused mid stride.

Zoltar tried his best to ignore their bewilderment. He had to get this out quick, before he broke down himself, “You are in great danger. You must stick together from now on. You can’t get separated. Something like yesterday can’t happen again.”

He looked at Felistia, a sharp pain stabbing though him as he saw the hurt on her snout, “That wasn’t an injured buck. It was a trap. You can’t let that happen again. You might not be so lucky next time. He won’t allow you to escape again.”

“Who!” Shiraku yelled, breaking her silence as she jumped to her paws, “What are you going on about? A trap? What is this?”

Her eyes locked on him, a deep growl rumbling from her throat, “What did you do Shadow Talon? What is going on?”

Zoltar flinched as the Sea Talon bared her fangs, “I’m so sorry I got you guys mixed up in this. I never meant to hurt you. This was never supposed to happen.”

Even Felistia was wary now, her back spikes raised in alarm.

“Start from the beginning,” Shiraku growled, edging closer, “Who are you and what have you done?”