That night, Myrkr slipped out of her room. She knew what Chiv said, but she had to do this, or at least see. She was dressed in dark clothing, and the red topaz Sanguine had made was around her neck. As she passed pools of moonlight, it glittered, casting faint red light along the halls. She wore no shoes and moved quietly, her bipedal cheetah feet hitting the cool stone silently. She made her way to the off-limits area, a stairway that led to where the instructors slept. Their names weren't on the doors, so Myrkr had to be careful when listening for voices. She heard Resivora at one point and skipped her door, and continued looking for Seaglare and Silver Wings. Myrkr doubted they were there, but she didn't want to bet on it.

She figured Silver Wings would sound like Dark Wings, and if he was here, surely so was Seaglare. And I'd bet Seaglare would sound like Rainlight, too.

There were doors on either side of the hallway she was in, so she planned on going up one and down the other, listening.

She heard the rumble of a male dragon's voice and listened. It went quiet, and a softer voice was talking. Myrkr couldn't make out the words, so she assumed there was a barrier between the door and the dragon. Just to make sure, she crouched down and looked through a keyhole. Bits and pieces of words were easy to make out, but others weren't, so what she heard was useless.

What Myrkr could see was a huge bed, obviously for a dragon, though that was off to the right and looked unoccupied. To the left wasn't in her field of view, but on the wall was a window. In the center was a marble wall of some sort, decorative on the top edges and higher in the middle like something was framed there. On the side flicked a blue dragon tail, and Myrkr knew this was Waterfall's room. She couldn't enter without her scent being found, so she left, as that was the last door. As it was, this was a huge risk, since her scent probably won't be gone in the morning. Then again, dragons are higher and will probably pass over the scent with their own.

This was foolish, she thought. Of course Silver Wings wouldn't rest here. They are in the castle.

Only wasting an hour in the end, she slipped back into her room and into her bed, careful not to wake Luna or Shimmer. Maple was still gone, a fact that set Myrkr on edge about her trustworthiness. Felines are far more secretive than you may know, Chivriel had said. Was that a hint?

     She didn't know. But she knew she had to get rest, for whatever the next day would have in store for her.

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

     Waterfall carefully poured the crushed crystals and moondust into the small basin of water from two separate pouches. It was hollow marble, for more ease when transporting it. The basin had a small waterway that led up to a frame, almost like a mirror, but without the silver and glass. Waterfall glanced at the moon, and noticing he was in the way, stepped aside. "Show me Petoskey of Ishcyle Isle."

The liquid started to ripple and churn, and slowly it made it's way up into the frame. It turned silver with the ingredients and moon light before it went suddenly black. Then a pale blue color started in the center, and filled out as a blurry picture. It cleared to show a plain, beautiful dragoness head, adorned by nothing but two small egg-shaped sapphires, one above each of her eyes. Her eyes were also a pale blue.

"Waterfall," her soft voice said. "Any word?"

Waterfall shook his head. "I'm afraid not, my dear. They still haven't found her."

"We'll see her again," Petoskey said. "She's a water dragon. She will find her way to Ishcyle, one day."

"Or here, as a student," Waterfall said, his voice not as hopeful. "Lazul is the only water dragon here. The rest are Ziixi supporters, or their families are."

"How is the war looking?"

Waterfall sighed, looking away from Petoskey. He returned his gaze to her as he said, "Silver Wings and Seaglare want their revenge, and want to drag the whole of the Isles into this family feud. Every Mythic I train seems to be a soldier for him to fight with."

Petoskey made a hissing noise of disgust. "The Isles were never meant to be a war zone. And our daughter is on the opposite side to the both of us."

Waterfall got more serious, a look of alarm on his face. "What? Did Yird join the Ziix? I thought she wanted us to remain neutral!"

     Petoskey looked mournful and shook her head. "Honey, maybe we should let the Sacred Forest keep our daughter." Her eyes glistened, and Waterfall knew it wasn't the liquid surface. "Their psychic is an Eltrí, you know?" She sniffed as a small bead of water broke free from her eyes. "She... she saw a future where the chosen, including our daughter, survive and stop this war. We should keep our ears out, but leave them to it. Or, if we can't, try to get Ishcyle Isle to switch sides, or help the Revak Feykro. I don't like that any more than you, but..."

     "I can't say I agree to that, not here. Not now. I will do anything to make sure our daughter and son make it through this war, and you know that. But I don't need Silver Wings finding her before us and using her as a hostage for my service as instructor or as a weapon. Goodnight, my sweet. I'm keeping my eyes and ears out, looking for her."

"Goodnight, Waterfall." From her side of the water, she reached toward it. Before she could touch it and break the connection, Waterfall did so as well, their talons touching the water where the other put theirs. The water pooled down into the basin, the moondust and crystals gone, leaving it normal water.

Waterfall left his talon in the center of the frame. "This is what must be done, my sweet. My daughter, Ysamaldrí, keep her safe. Let her be successful, and let them be kind to her."

He took his talon off the cool marble and turned toward the window, gazing at the sliver of moon that let him see his wife, and a tear fell from the water dragon's eye. With the calm night breeze, he thought he heard the words, Within my power.

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

Myrkr woke up from Shimmer shaking her gently. "Myr, we have to go. Come on, wake up."

"I'm up," Myrkr murmured. "Get your hands off me." She weakly pushed Shimmer's hands away, and the Drómdí gave no resistance.

"Luna and Maple already left."

"Alright, give me a minute." Myrkr slowly pushed herself up, her eyes and mind not quite focused and free of sleep yet.

"How about I wake you up, then: you left last night in black clothes, and went sneaking around the halls."

That did the trick. Myrkr froze, looking at Shimmer with half-wide eyes. She stayed silent. She tried to play it cool. "And?" The Cí'mehia slipped down from the bunk and grabbed clothes from her bag. Shimmer turned around as she changed.

"And, I have a feeling something's not right here. Come on, I heard today was some kind of conditioning class."

Myrkr, now dressed in a tan tee and matching shorts, let Shimmer know she could turn around. "We'll talk about this later."

"Agreed," Shimmer said, being surprisingly agreeable. "Let's go."

"Do you have the feeling one of the Order is going to be the teacher here, Shimmer?"

"Actually, I was about to ask you the same question. Chiv?"

"Chiv."

     "Time to see if we're right."

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

     "Alright!" Chivriel barked, uncharacteristically in Myrkr's opinion. "Those who are quick, lift weights for a start on this half of the room. This means all who are lithe and better running than in strength. Those who are strong, like Drómdí and lycans, go to that half of the room and start running. Runners will have two minute breaks for every five minutes of speed walking, and we'll go from there."

     "Seems we were right, Myr," Shimmer murmured. "Well, I'd better go and run." As she was walking away, she gave Myrkr a little wave.

     "That would make sense, but I never would have pegged you for being more strong than fast." Myrkr watched as Sanguine walked by, toward the other Drómdí and buff Mythics. Terrthin walked over toward her, and she then noticed Porael, Coin, and Quivel by the running and/or flying area.

     "I get that a lot, actually. Drómdí tend to be more strong than fast," Shimmer replied. "Talk to you later." Shimmer caught up with Sanguine and, even more surprising than Shimmer, Luna.

     "Guess that's what I get for making mainly dragon or Drómdí friends," Myrkr said to herself.

     "Hello, Myrkr," Terrthin said from beside her, making her jump.

     "Terrthin!" Myrkr exclaimed, regaining her composure. "You almost scared me out of my skin."

     "I thought you saw me?"

     "I did, but I didn't expect you to come from the side."

     "Touché. Care to be workout partners?"

     "I work out with Sanguine, so just because I'm over here doesn't mean I'm a stranger to lifting."

     "Good, neither am I. I guess that's from our upbringing, wouldn't you say?"

     "Uh, I suppose it is." Myrkr still didn't like knowing that any Mythic — even one from the Forest as well — knew about where she was from. It unsettled her. Then she noticed Maple benching, and the feeling only deepened.

     "Then let's get to it. We can spot each other."

     "Once a bench gets open, anyway," Myrkr said dryly. "Come on, we should get weights so we can start."

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

     Luna and Shimmer were talking away, speed walking on the treadmills on one side of Sanguine. On the other, the gold dragon Myrkr befriended wouldn't shut up.

     "I mean, it looks like she likes you. Would you —"

     This was enough. "Mind if you dated her? Yes, I would, Porael. She is my adopted sister, and frankly, I can tell she has more important things on her mind than dating. Please, just let me run."

     "You know you don't have to go so fast."

     "And you don't have to go so slow," Sanguine retorted.

     In his Hybrid form, Sanguine was running on the treadmill with an easy pace. Porael was speed walking, as were Luna and Shimmer, who were also in human form. Porael was just a dragon, so he was on the larger ones, which, to Sanguine's annoyance, started its row right exactly next to him.

     Chivriel walked by, giving encouragement to some of the Mythics who weren't fond of running. Then he saw Sanguine, and said, "Good job, keep up the good work," with little emotion, more like what he seemed the day before. However, he didn't say Sanguine's name, so it was like he was pretending not to know him.

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

That night, Myrkr prepared to sneak back up to the teachers quarters. Her hand was on the doorknob of the shared room when she heard Shimmer behind her.

"Wait. This is for you, Myrkr." She held out a long black cloth. "It's a body-tight stealth suit. I got it at lunch, with some help from Chiv. I figured you could, you know, use it. It covers your scent, and can cover your mouth and nose from toxins as gas or vapor. According to Chivriel, anyway. Apparently this one was made for Delrahj, but it should fit you just fine? I don't know why that would be."

     "Thank you." Myrkr reached for the suit, and saw there was even a hole for her tail. There was even a hood-like part that would cover her hair, that would connect to the mask over the mouth and nose. "This will be useful."

     "Hold up," Shimmer said, pulling the suit back. "We have yet to talk about what you're doing, remember?"

     Myrkr sighed. "I'm snooping around the teacher's quarters. Happy?"

     "But why? You'll get in trouble if you get caught. Maybe even expelled, or killed. I hear Silver Wings isn't too kind."

     "Why are you here, Shimmer? To join the Ziix side of the coming war?"

     "...No. I'm here to learn how to fight different styles so I know how to defend against them for the coming war. But before I go on, can I have a deal?"

     "What kind of deal?" Myrkr asked suspiciously.

     "I tell you who I am and where I'm from, and you tell me who you are and where you're from."

     "I'm sorry. I can't do that, Shimmer."

     "You don't need this suit then, do you? I can go and return it to Chiv tomorrow and —"

     "This is a delicate situation I'm in, Shimmer. I can't go around flaunting it."

     "Do you not trust me?"

     "I do, but I can't trust anyone with this."

     "I'll help. I could even get the others to help."

     "But they have mind readers, and if you know it —"

     "Please. Everyone knows there are psychics here. Everyone knows how to keep secrets from them, one way or another. Plus, I'm not burning my moonlight. You're burning yours."

     "I don't need the suit. I'll do this without it." Myrkr turned to leave again.

Shimmer grabbed her shoulder. Myrkr tried brushing her arm off, but as earlier, underestimated her strength. "Myrkr. What is at stake if you tell me who you really are?"

Looking over her shoulder, hand on the doorknob, Myrkr answered emotionlessly, "An entire Isle of Mythics." Shimmer's grip on the Cí'mehia's arm slackened, probably in shock, from the answer, and Myrkr ripped her arm away. "Now let me continue, if you will." She turned the doorknob and opened the door. "I don't want to be mad at any of you, and I do trust you, as much as I know I shouldn't. Once this is over, you have to trust me, okay? Just leave me alone, please, for your own safety." Finally, she left.

Slinking through the halls to go back to the teacher quarters, she heard footsteps. Damn, my scent wasn't covered or old enough to be ignored after all.

When she heard the footsteps receding, she noticed it was just Chivriel, and he knocked on Waterfall's door. The door opened and he was allowed in. However, before he entered, he looked directly at Myrkr. Of course, she moved back when he looked, but she knew he saw her.

She waited a second before peeking back down the hall, and upon seeing Chivriel not there, she snuck up to the door. It wasn't fully closed. Myrkr looked through the keyhole, and noticed a chest not too far from the door. Waterfall's tail vanished behind the marble wall, and Chivriel's voice was over there, too. She made the decision, knowing full well what could happen.

Myrkr eased the door open, closed it how it was, and slipped over behind the chest. It was easily bigger than her, and she was hidden.

Now that she was listening, she heard a conversation between Waterfall, Chivriel, and a female dragon.

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

Three easy knocks was all Chivriel needed for Waterfall to know it was him. The door opened easily, and he was about to enter before he caught a new scent. He looked over toward the stairs, and noticed the blonde cheetah hair of a Cí'mehia vanish. Chivriel thought this might happen, felines, whether sentient or not, always had curiosity. So he entered the room, didn't close the door fully, and quickly warned Waterfall of his shadow. Not by name, though; he wasn't sure if Waterfall was trustworthy. Ishcyle Isle did join the Ziix Isle's side within the last few days. However, he knew of Tide, and that Waterfall is her father. Maybe the water dragon could be persuaded to the other side.

"I know you are with the Order," Waterfall started, walking over to the marble. "I have a few things I'd like to talk to you about."

"So be it." Chivriel followed, listening. There, the movement. It was too quiet for Waterfall to hear. Chivriel knew Myrkr was listening. They both were on the other side of the marble, now, and Chivriel noticed that it was activated. The watery image of a pale blue dragoness stared at him through the water's surface.

"Your people stole our daughter," she accused, though without much anger. "I would at least like to know if she is alright."

"She is perfectly fine, Petoskey," Chivriel replied calmly. "Rainlight is watching her, the forest dragonet, and her own."

Petoskey looked startled. "She was with egg? She never told me. We used to be close friends, but now look at us. This war is tearing the Isles apart. I wonder why Ysamaldrí hasn't decided to just destroy us." Composing herself, she regained the natural dragon regality. "What was she named?"

"She was named Tide for the never-ceasing tide of the Isles."

"We might have named her Sapphire."

"This was not what I called you here, Chivriel," Waterfall interrupted. "How many Isles do you have the Order stationed at?"

"Many," the Wí'chú said evasively. "Are you looking to defect?"

Waterfall's eyes seemed to darken as he answered evasively, "I resent agreeing to train future soldiers."

"If that's the case... Myrkr, will you come out?"

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

     There was silence, and she wondered how she'd get out of this one. She could get out the door and run for the library, trick Waterfall like she did Cedric —

     "You aren't in trouble, Mkhoal," Waterfall's voice rumbled.

     Myrkr gritted her teeth, and with a hesitation, stood. "Chivriel, Waterfall," she greeted emotionlessly.

     "Please come here," Chivriel said, and she slowly and warily complied. "I think you should start looking for students in this academy to possibly defect."

     Wryly, Myrkr replied, "Seems like I'm one step ahead of you. I have a friend I have to figure a few things out with."

     "Care to name?" Chivriel asked calmly.

     "Do you really think I would?" Myrkr retorted. Knowing the situation, she was no longer a student and they were no longer teachers. They were equals.

     "Never mind," Waterfall said. "This has gone late enough. Petosky will try to figure out why Yird chose a side. Myrkr will recruit defects, and you, Chivriel, will communicate between us and the Order." He looked at each Mythic as he mentioned them.

     "And you?" Myrkr asked.

     "I will try to find a way to get an Order member close to Silver Wings. Or myself. That is the only true way to end the War of the Isles."

     Chivriel turned a stern eye on Myrkr. "Go, now, and sleep. Tell who you trust, but none other without good reason."

     Grateful for the dismissal, Myrkr quickly and silently made her way back to the dorm. She shook Shimmer lightly when she got there, urging her to wake up. When the Drómdí was barely awake, Myrkr dragged her out of bed and toward the nearest common room.

     "Myrkr, give me a minute, will you?" she hissed. "You drag me out of my bed in the dead of night —"

     "You wanted info? You can have it," Myrkr interrupted.

     Shimmer's face showed she was stunned. She didn't comment on it. "Do you want me to spill first, or...?"

     "No, Shimmer. It would be best if I did. You aren't with the Ziix?"

     "Once you hear my story, you will think you were idiotic for asking that."

     "Alright," Myrkr said, unable to stall for more time. She wouldn't spill all the beans, Sanguine would be secret, and if she were caught, well, he can finish the mission. "You see, I am not from the Isle of my people, Mion Jungle Isle, the Cí'mehia's home. I am from Revak Feykro Isle. I am not here to learn, I learned all I need from them..."

     Myrkr went on to say about how she was sent out as a spy, and why she was really sneaking around the teacher's rooms. She didn't mention Waterfall or Chivriel.

     Shimmer kept a pokerface up the entire tale. "I see," she said. "We are here for similar reasons, then, Myr. Weylide Isle, Winter Isle, my home, sent me on a similar mission, but much more discreet." Shimmer stared into the flickering fire, memories in her eyes. "My family is the descendants of Weylide's creators, my great-times-five grandmother, Dyud, and grandfather, Quex. So we are royalty. However, only the eldest rules, and his or her siblings are the royal guards, the Buulík. I am one such guard, and the second to go through here.
     "My older brother, Stormfront, is Weylide's rightful heir, and it is my honor to protect him when the time comes. The other four of us are his guards. We are ironically the only ones we know who won't try to kill each other, for we have honor. Anyone, not just royalty, who kills any of their immediate family are banished at least, and killed on the spot at most.
"Like one of my sisters before me, I was sent to learn how they fight so I could teach others and have us defend against them."

Myrkr, like Shimmer, was silent when the other gave her tale. "So you are aligned with...?"

"We are neutral, but my father doesn't believe that will last long. We will remain independent unless we come across unforeseen circumstances."

"Shimmer... My assignment pales in my eyes to yours."

"Nonsense!" the Drómdí said. "You are aligned with Dark Wings, and your mission critical. If I were eldest, I would request to join the Order to see Silver Wings dead or dethroned." She stood with a yawn. "It is time to go to sleep, Myr. If we have any more need to speak of this, we should do it at night again. Good night."

"Good night, Shimmer," Myrkr said, following.

Then the Cí'mehia realized she made the mission more complicated. She only hoped Shimmer was good with secrets.

Myrkr sighed. She learned quite a bit, today. In other Mythics, even one she hated, had a treasure that had her digging deeper.

✦ ✧ ✎ ✽ ➳
Well, this is a long one for me! Just over a thousand-five-hundred more than usual. These might start getting longer. Who knows.

Should Myrkr have trusted Shimmer? What about Chivriel trusting Waterfall and Petoskey?

— — —
This is the last of my cache chapters, and I realized I did all these chapters within a week. So I might be reevaluating how I want this to go from here on out. There might be a time skip, or there might be just the mundane problems like Cade and her lycanthropes. Maybe I'll do a few chapters from Chivriel's POV. But for now, this book will be on a fee month hiatus. I lost my creativity for writing in the late fall/early winter, and it comes back mid/late winter/early spring and lasts a bit into the summer. Sorry.

     Thanks for reading so far!