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» Estrellyna current clan leader & head prophetess
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"Papa? Papa, where are you!?"
Fires blazed around her and the air became dominated with soot, making it hard to breathe. The young Skydancer stumbled around, looking for the familiar shape of her father.
'I need to find him and fast!' She thought to herself. Her mother was safely in the forest but the ash that got in her eyes will blind her if she didn't find him. She stumbled around the once vibrant town, approaching the square's founrain when she saw him.
"Papa?! Papa!"
The male Skydancer peered in her direction, perking up when he finally recognized her.
"Est! Oh thank the Arcanist I found you!"
Estrellyna let out a happy sound, burying her face into her father's chest once he reached.
"We must make haste! Mom is in the forest! A billow of ash got in her eyes and it may blind her if we don't find some shelter soon."
Her father nodded and pushed her forward, the younger Skydancer leading the way to where her mother laid. They were so close, almost reaching the forest when a panicked roar came from right behind her. Her father thrashed in the jaws of a beast- she couldn't tell what, the thing holding onto him firm.
"Father no!"
The beast bit down on her father's neck, a sickening snap heard amidst the blazing fire.
---
Estrellyna jolted awake, scaring Astralylii and almost causing her to drop the pitcher of water she held. The Skydancer gave her an apologetic look while catching her breath, taking large gulps of air as she inhaled and exhaled through her mouth.
"Are you alright?" The Wildclaw inquired. "Should I get your mother?"
Estrellyna shook her head vigorously. "No, I'm fine. Just some jittery nerves. Don't bother her. Is the clan ready yet? I was hoping to get some time for some fresh air before the ceremony started."
The Wildclaw raised an eye ridge at the obvious lie but said nothing toward it. "No, Zephyrane isn't back with his latest haul and the stew is in dire need of some Winterbelle. So until he comes back, the festivities are on hold. I would go now since you have a chance."
The Skydancer quickly got up from her bed, combing her messy fur with her claws and straightening her feathers. A giggle alerted her attention, her eyes drifting at her mother who was taking a bath with some help from Delphinium. The male Skydancer kept blowing bubbles that popped on her mother's nose which made her laugh. The scene made her heart swell and a small smile to etch on her face before disappearing when Astralylii poked her with her claw and causing her to jolt. The Wildclaw made a shooing motion, Est leaving the lair and sneaking out of the Underground without being detected. A cool breeze ruffled her feathers, the Skydancer letting out a tired but content sigh.
"It's rare to see you outside you know."
Est jumped up slightly and clutched at her heart, her eyes narrowing when she saw who it was. Ihimaera gave her a cheeky grin, setting down a bag of something on the ground in front of her.
"Are you excited to be appointed Head Prophetess today?"
Est looked at her companion with a deadpanned look, the Guardian mouthing 'okay then' to herself and busying herself with her bag.
"I wasn't excited two months ago when mom made the announcement of her retiring, what makes you think I would now?"
Ihimaera clicked her teeth. "Someone sounds like they had a nightmare again and still didn't tell her mother....Which you need to do, your snappy attitude isn't appreciated here."
"Ihima, we've been through this before. I do not want to burden my mother with my nightmares. She's been through enough already..."
"Estrellyna please, "she's been though enough already?" Are you kidding me? You are her only living child yet you downgrade your mother's love for you because you think your problems would burden her? I know you're about to be the next leader of the Underground and such but you're very stupid."
Est opened her maw to snap back at the Guardian but stopped. Ihimaera was right, her mother loved her too much to cast her problems aside. She sighed and approached the Guardian, leaning her tired body on her friend's much sturdier one.
"I hate it when you're right. I'm the smart one here and you're the dumb one who likes to dig through the deceased's graves. By the way....what's in the bag?"
"Spiral triplets that have been almost eaten away by the plague. Erebos often sends me on little trips around the forest to find victims. Ones that are dead since the plague seemingly dies with them. Something like that, progress is slow."
Est made a gagging noise. "Seriously Ihimaera?! Can't you just leave the dead alone? Also if your research infects any other dragon, you and Erebos will pay for it. Goodness, no wonder Xantolo hates you."
"Oh please, like I care about what he thinks. Damn loony bin who can't talk to his spirits in his own lair instead of in public like a madman. Besides, Erebos lives too far out of the main tunnels to infect anyone. It'll be fine. Anyway, she's expecting me and you need to talk to your mother pronto so I'll see you at the celebration. Talk to your mom please, I mean it."
The Guardian did not wait for her to protest, leaving Estrellyna by herself with her thoughts running a mile a minute. The Skydancer let out another sigh and entered in the tunnels through the entryway, the other members of the society to busy to notice her. Once entering the lair her and her mother lived in, she cleared her throat to alert the attention of Astralylii and Delphinium, who were both applying her mother's ceremonial paint.
"If I could have a moment with my mother...that would be appreciated. Sorry to interrupt your work."
Both helpers just nodded and smiled, quickly washing off the paint that was on their claws before exiting the room.
"Estrellyna? Are you alright? Astra was telling me you had some jittery nerves."
The younger Skydancer inaudibly facepalmed, mentally cursing the big mouthed Wildclaw. She approached her mother and kissed her snout, knowing that the paint on it was already dry.
"No mother I don't have jittery nerves. I'm just....disappointed in myself..."
"Tell me what ails you child."
Est sighed for a third time that morning and sat next to her mother, not too close so she didn't ruin the paint already on her skin.
"Mom....I keep having nightmares about father....I keep seeing him die in my sleep. Or lack thereof.."
Her mother hummed. "And how long have you been having these nightmares my dear."
"Ever since you announced your retirement. So, about two months now. I'm disappointed in myself not telling you sooner but....I didn't....want to burden you."
Celestia let out an indignant noise, the look of offense on her face made Est feel worse.
"I am your mother, your problems are not a burden. It is my job to help you, like any good mother should. And besides, your father was a fool."
"Mother?!" The younger Skydancer looked at her mother in shock at what came from her maw.
"What? He was! His ego was so inflated he thought that he knew more than his wife, one who was taught night and day in the temple and was gifted to see in the future. How would you like to study long and hard only for your beloved to doubt you? He and your siblings would've been alive and well if he'd just listened to me. But he didn't and we all paid the price for it. Estrellyna, when you're ready and find a mate you make sure they don't underestimate you. If they do you let them know who you are. Actually anyone in that matter. Being a Prophetess is a gift that should never be downgraded for anyone's bigheadedness."
The younger Skydancer nodded, then hummed in agreement when she remembered her mother couldn't see.
"Now, we need to get you ready. Call back Astralylii and Delphinium so they can finish my paint and do yours. Then I'll see if I can find something to get rid of those nasty nightmares."
---
The festival went by smoothly, the clan ate and drank merrily and Estrellyna appointed as the new clan leader and head of the Clergy. After the Skydancer bathed to take off her paint and relax her aching body, a throat cleared signalling her that someone was at the entrance of her room.
"Oh hi Delphinium, how may I help you?"
The male Skydancer smiled and handed her a vial of blue liquid with a note attached, giving her a nod before leaving her sight. She immediately recognized her mother's fancy scroll on the sheet of paper
'One should be enough but if you need another one in case they're persistent, ask Faeriena. -Love, Mom'
The potion worked but after a few days something else plagued her dreams. Their realm was torn apart but in the midst of it was a blue Guardian. The runes on the Guardian's skin began to glow and the torn land began to heal, as if nothing happened in the first place.
'Only she who has been birthed on the falling of the skies will rid the world of the poison it has wrought upon itself. Fear will be her enemy. Love her strength. Her power matched only by the endless stars in the cosmos. The sparkling energy of the night will guide her journey towards her heart. The steel blade drenched in blood will be her hope and win her sight. May the prayers of the Mages fly with her, or the world as we know it will melt away to nothingness.'
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