I had soon arrived at Cloud Mountain. It was dusk, deep, dark, wintery dusk. Frost clung to my fur as i made my way to the warm citadel. The waterfall had frozen over the top of the gate, but I ducked in. i was surprised to find no guards.
“Who goes on this terrible frosty night?” Pacer asked. I noticed him huddled in a corner.
“uhhh…” I wondered, silently to myself. Go with a nickname? No.
“Fleck. Fleck Cove. Or Joveson….” I felt tears in my eyes, fighting against an urge to run, run from the only home I knew.
“Fleck!” Pacer seemed overjoyed, leaping up and wrapping me in an embrace. “What happened to your ear? Joveson? Are you crying?” He started to hurl questions at me, but I gently placed my hand on his shoulder. Pacer, astonished to see me back, sensed something was wrong.
“Come on.” Pacer pulled me down the corridors. It was dark, too dark. Only the occasional torch lit the wet halls.
“What happened here?” I asked. Pacer led me into a side passage and dragged me out onto the green. We lay on our backs, looking up through the frosty night to the bright stars, twinkling like diamonds.
“we got word of an attack. I just got back from Halfwind.”
“Halfwind? They’re coming, right?”
“Yeah.” We stared in silence for along time. Stars. So many stars. Bright and shining.
“Fleck?” Pacer stood, I followed him. “Fleck, Lord Rake is so worried.”
“Yeah. See ya Pacer.” I sprinted, again entering Cloud Mountain., I saluted some wary guards. They nodded.
Lord Rake was staring at a list of names. “it can’t be real… not the whole party! The Prince?”
“Lord Rake?” I asked. It suddenly felt weird, to be standing in front of a citadel lord.
“LKad!” Lord Rake stood, his chair scraping the floor, running over to embrace me. “I was so worried when I got word from a scout who heard Morbin talking.”
“well I’m here…” I muttered.
“I know.” Lord Rake looked at me a while, then slowly asked: “Are you fit to lead the Army?”
“YES!” I yelled. I loved Cloud Mountain’s ragtag army.
“Good, Good.” Lord Rake lead me to the Savory den, where every guard stood around a fire.
“Bucks, does, Our Captain has returned.”
Feedback welcome and wanted!
-Fleck Cove.