The dragoness spiraled as she glided down, her pale yellow-gold scales shimmering in the half light of whichever Isle Myrkr ended up on. When the dragoness landed, she turned her pale gold eyes to the Cí'mehia. "Welcome, Myrkr Mkhoal, to the Immortal Land, my home. No doubt you wonder how you got here, yes?"

Myrkr nodded. "I am,'' she replied, slowly. "Will you tell me?"

     The golden dragoness shook her head. "It is not I who shall tell you. Fate forbids me to reveal it. One you know far better and trust far more will be the one to answer you. I suggest you stay here, since your mentor in question is having a hard time finding you when you walk about aimlessly." Ysamaldrí lifted off and flew out of Myrkr's sight.

     "Well, this is just lovely, isn't it?" Myrkr sat down, sighed, and left herself fall back. She watched the foreign sky as she waited for whoever her mentor was to arrive.

When the Mythic arrived, it was who Myrkr had expected. She heard the faint wingbeats and let the sound get closer before she turned around to see Azure Star. "Myrkr," she greeted. "I scent Ysamaldrí. Was she here?"

     "She was." Myrkr stood up. "She was the one to tell me to stay and wait for you."

     "Good," Azure Star said. "I was having—"

     "—trouble finding me?" Myrkr finished. "Ysamaldrí told me that, too. Now, what's this about? Where am I, and why?"

The winged cat took a breath. She let it out. This repeated for a few, silent minutes. Myrkr didn't break the silence, she saw the look in Azure Star's eyes. It mean she was figuring out what to say, how, and in what order. Finally, Azure Star returned her attention to Myrkr. "I have quite a bit to tell you," she said quietly and at last.

"Start with where we are and why, please," Myrkr prompted. "Those are my main concerns."

"We are in the Immortal Land, the home of the ancient Eltrí, and this is where your Gemstone training will begin."

"Okay, now why am I a Gemstone of Ysamaldrí? She said this was the other half of the blessing."

Azure Star started pacing. "We don't have much time, I sense. Do you want your answers or training right now?"

"Answers."

Azure Star sighed. "So be it. First, I will start with your history, the two years you don't remember, before Ysamaldrí, Dark Wings, and I saved your life.
"Ysamaldrí was the one to call me to her, and she was also the being to find and save you. Dark Wings followed me to her, in the outskirts of the Mion Jungle, and my secret—along with yours, now—became known to him."

"Wait," Myrkr said. "What's your secret?"

This earned the Cí'mehia Gemstone a rueful smile from Azure Star. "I am the ancient Eltrí Crystal of Ysamaldrí, Myrkr Mkhoal. Storm's Wing knew before, and now only you and Dark Wings know."

"Who was the Emerald before me?"

Azure Star shook her head. "Another time. Don't look it up." The last sentence was a growl, and Myrkr had never heard the Eltrí sound or look so serious. "May I continue? Other than discussing something else that pertains to the previous Emerald, that was it.
"You were raised by Rose Scale Crím's sister, who, at the time, was visiting. She and her husband are in Geol, with the Jewel Dragon Clan. She stayed until I knew you would have memories of her, at which she left the Revak Feykro and we moved you to the rooms under the Immortal Oak's roots.
"The rest was your training. However, we never revealed to you your physical race, since I knew Tahl'drí would want to have you under her command."

With a growl, Myrkr commented, "As she very well does. Kept me from contacting you twice."

With a nod, Azure Star continued. "You are also of noble Cí'mehia blood, since you have both human and cheetah forms. This makes you stronger, and also better at controlling and using your Emerald abilities." The Eltrí paused, thinking. "Time is running short, and I sense you need rest, Myrkr. Next we meet, we will begin training."

"And I will ask who the prior Emerald was."

"But not now. Sleep well, and train hard."

With that, Myrkr's world went dark as she fell into a deep sleep.

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

Sanguine noticed Myrkr sigh when there was ten minutes left of the break. "We'd better wake her soon," Luna said quietly. "I know you don't want to, Sanguine, but it would be better for her if she has a few moments to wake up before class starts."

"Or," he suggested, glancing at Shimmer, "she can be woken up with cold. I know it works on normal elemental Mythics."

Shimmer snorted. "That's a pretty shitty way to wake up. I like it." The ice Drómdí smiled mischieviously, and glanced in turn at Myrkr.

Cedric rolled his eyes. "Either way, it's better to be earlier than later for Waterfall's class."

"What class do you have, Cedric?" Sanguine asked. "I can't remember seeing you in the combat room."

"Ah, you forget I'm a second year student, Sanguine." Cedric smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We're looking at advanced enchantments and/or spells. Today is magic day." He didn't sound super enthusiastic about it.

"Sounds like something Myrkr would enjoy. She did that a ton when we were at—" Sanguine caught himself before saying the Revak Feykro, "—home."

Maple noticed, but she didn't obviously show it. "Where are you two from, anyway?"

Sanguine had to force himself to keep a straight face, not giving away his fear. "Why do you ask? I don't know where any of you are from. Well, besides Luna. Night dragons stay on Mogh Sil with the Cult, right?" he asked, turning to her.

Luna seemed to understand what he had done. She didn't glare at him or show any sign of anger, but instead went with it. "Right," she replied. "Though, I'm not really a night dragon. I'm a song dragon." She trailed off as she spoke each word, quieter and quieter. "Hey, guys? We should wake Myr. Time's almost up."

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

     Myrkr woke up to Sanguine shoving her shoulder gently. "Myr, we have to go back to class. Here," he handed her the emerald mist bag. If any other Mythic had handed it to her, she would have been suspicious, but it was Sanguine. Plus, she just learned she grew up under his aunt's care for a few years. If she couldn't trust him, there was no Mythic she could ever trust.

     She took the bag and threw it over her shoulder, one hand on the strap. "Thanks."

     Myrkr followed the group back to the combat room. Cedric branched off, heading for his class, she suspected. She didn't care or ask why—she had to make up her failure to Waterfall. Azure Star didn't give Myrkr all the rest she had needed, but it felt like quite a bit more than what she had gotten the previous night.

     She entered the training room, and for the first time really took in her surroundings and the equipment. There were punching bags, a few fighting areas, and also a wall of lockers. Probably for any gear we get or buy. Leather clothing would be good for this, but I'm no leather crafter. The Cí'mehia took the spot in the back that she had stood in earlier, glancing at the stone walls. The floor was padded in some areas, but not all. Myrkr's shoes, along with every other Mythic's, had been replaced with short leather boots.

     With the sound of scales sliding over stone, Waterfall entered the room. Now, with clearer eyes and head, Myrkr noticed that he had a nasty scar across his snout that led almost up to his left eye, as if the scar-giver hadn't succeeded in clawing out the water dragon's eye. He glared at Myrkr as he walked past her, toward the front of the room. He immediately called the room to attention, before class had started and a few other students entered, and started calling out actions. Once again, Waterfall paced near Myrkr longer than any other Mythic.

     In the middle of a kick, Myrkr felt a tug on her tail, scales wrapped around fur. She kept her balance and turned as much as her caught tail allowed, and faced Waterfall. When he didn't explain himself, Myrkr felt her ears go flat, and a soft growl rise in her throat. Waterfall didn't move. With an instantaneous rush of anger, Myrkr made her move. She slashed at Waterfall's tail with her claws, feeling pain jolt up her arm from where her claws hit his hard scales. What in the Isles do I do? He has no reason to do this to me!

Suddenly, a snarl came from Waterfall's maw, white fangs showing as is lip curled back. Raising a claw, Waterfall reared up to slash at Myrkr.

Thinking quick, before he landed the blow, Myrkr changed to her human form, a form she hardly ever frequented. Once her tail vanished from Waterfall's tail's grip, she changed to a cheetah, leaping to the right as he landed. His tail whipped toward her slender form, and his head did likewise. She felt his breath on her tail, and heard the snap of his fangs as they tried to recapture it. Myrkr had leaped onto his back and, as Waterfall tried to hit her with his wings, she threw herself over his neck, scratching herself on several of his scales. She imagined blood was going to clot small parts of her fur. The second she landed, she whipped around to face Waterfall and demand to know his reason for grabbing her tail, but who she saw off to the side startled her. It was a dragoness, and a crystal one at that.

The dragoness' scales were a shiny turquoise crystal, as if they were polished. A formal, but relatively simple, circlet of ebony with silver streaks was on her head. She watched Myrkr with interest, and then her gaze shifted to Sanguine behind her. An amused, dangerous smile danced on the dragoness' lips.

Myrkr's blood ran cold. She knew of this dragoness.

She didn't have time to worry, for in that heartbeat of identification, Waterfall had slammed his tail into her side, knocking the breath out of her, as well as throwing her halfway across the room. Sanguine ran to her, while Shimmer, Luna, and Maple didn't. They must fear Waterfall. Thank Ysamaldrí for Sanguine's friends-before-fear mind.

When Sanguine reached her, Myrkr heard a question that she assumed was something like, "You alright?" and responded simply, her mind still rolling from the attack and the crystal dragoness. Sanguine helped Myrkr up, roared at Waterfall for the fight, being roared at himself, and stayed by Myrkr's side as a dragon the rest of the class, not letting Waterfall near her or messing up on purpose when the water dragon came by. The gestures earned the ruby dragon a tear on his wing, but he growled through the worse of the pain.

That night, Myrkr went to the library. Sanguine was already there, waiting for her in his human form, his wings out. Myrkr had told Sanguine to meet her. He was browsing something on the computers, and looked up when she came in. Answering the question in Sanguine's ruby eyes, Myrkr said the sentence she hoped never to say: "Seaglare is here, Sang. In the academy. Watching us."

☠ ✎ ⋄ ✎ ☠
What do you guys think Seaglare's importance is? And why do you think she worried the Sacred Forest duo?