It was growing dark, the amber sun just disappearing over the peak of the mountains when Creem was approached by Meyrl, The captain of the guard and her closest friend. "Westra Creem" Meyrl greeted with a broad smile, which the rider returned.

"Westra Meyrl, how have you been?"

"Same as always, my friend" the captain replied to the rider as they embraced and upon stepping apart walked side by side deeper into the frozen architecture of the Frostlings capital, Esso. "There is a gathering at the moon glade tonight, compulsory, by command of the queen, did you know?"

"I only got back from the peaks yesterday... how long ago was it announced?" Creem responded looking over at Meryl with a confused expression,

"a few hours, maybe less" She replied meeting her look before they both looked to the front again to avoid running into the silver sheened rock that marked the centre of the city, "what do you think it's about? "

"I would have thought you'd have known, being captain of the guard and all" Creem shrugged, looking around the icy blue, stunning silver and eerie grey city.

"I'm not one of the queen's advisers, so I don't privy into her thoughts" Meyrl replied defensively, shooting her a playful glare. They finally reached the Knall the two shared and upon entering, Creem dropped her knapsack on its hook and collapsing on the sofa with a groan of relief. "Long watch?" Meyrl grinned, sitting across from her in another frost covered seat.

"You have no idea, Kirian didn't show up so I had to send one of the apprentices down too find him, meaning that I was two short for the first day and everyone had longer overnight shifts which made everyone grumpy and un co-operative. Then I had Kirian, the rot brain, challenge my authority, getting half of my riders behind him, causing even more trouble..." she trailed off with an annoyed grumble and leant back in her chair, closing her eyes.

"Why don't you go to the queen about it? Get him reassigned?" Meryl suggested watching her with a calm gaze,

"And give him more of a reason to question my authority? I don't think so" she replied opening her eyes to look at her. "We should get changed, not the best idea to show up to a moon glade in full armour and flying gear." She sighed standing, Meyrl standing also

"Good point" the captain agreed heading upstairs, Creem following behind.

The two emerged from their rooms a few minutes later, both Frostlings in more comfortable clothing, though both still carried their weapons. Creem had her bow slung over her back, arrows in a sheath at her hip, Meryl with her clear, dark blue sword on her back. It wasn't unusual for Frostlings to carry weapons around, even if there was a peace, the war would recommence eventually. "I wonder if the queen is choosing the Frostling representative?" Meryl queried as the two walked towards the meeting place." They are meant to be meeting in a week, are they not?"

Creem nodded in agreement, "they are, I wonder who it will be, no one's particularly stood out recently have they?" she asked, following Meryl to the Moonglade in the middle of the city, joining the crowd that was slowly heading in the same direction.

"Not that I've noticed "Meryl shrugged as they continued the journey in silence, listening to the general murmur of the other Frostlings around them. Creem watched as a young shaman apprentice showed off the latest piece of magic he had learned to a couple of friends, the outcome being a small blizzard to surround the small group, much to the awe of the audience, and satisfaction of the apprentice. The centre stone was suddenly looming in front of them and the population of Esso slowing climbed down the stairway that had opened up just in front of it. The grey stone walls glittered silver in the reflection of the frosty blue lights the master shamans had created to light the way down. They stood in alcoves focused on sustaining the light but looking at the descending Frostlings as they did so. The apprentice from earlier climbed into one of the alcoves next to his master, helping him to sustain the light. The stairwell opened up into a cavern of immense size, with crystal clear blue walls that domed up into the ceiling, a hole on the roof covered by a sheet of opaque ice was in the centre of the roof. The voices of the Frostlings echoed in the cavern. Creem and Meryl took their seats near the front of the cavern, just in front of the white dusted throne that the queen would address Esso from, the seats of her councillors sitting slightly farther back, and the smaller, grey, empty throne meant for the Queens heir just beside the queens. The Frostling nation hushed as the shamans and their apprentices entered the cavern, taking their seats. The cavern was completely silent as Queen Atheena entered, her mere presence daunting. Her councillors remained a respectful distance behind. All took their seats and as soon as Queen Atheena sat gracefully down on the throne, her stern face surveying the caverns inhabitants a beam of moonlight hit the opaque circle and shot dazzling light dancing off the walls of the cavern. Creem smiled, that moment never ceased to amaze her.

"Welcome, Frostlings of Esso, to this Moonglade gathering," Queen Atheena began, smiling ever so slightly at the Frostlings gathered. "May Voren bless this meeting "the traditional words were echoed by first the councillors, then the rest of the population. "This gathering has been called for one reason and one reason only, the appointment of my heir, who will also the Frostling representative." She continued and shocked murmurs echoed around the cavern.

"Her heir?!" Meryl whispered to Creem "but she has not had an heir for over 100 moon turns!" Creem hushed her friend as the Queen went to continue.

"This Frostling has shown admirable loyalty and an ability to hold onto the command of her unit, despite being challenged by her own. "the murmurs fell silent in anticipation of the announcement, Creem looking around at her fellow Frostlings as many others were Wondering who it could be. "Creem Strogeiht is my choice of representative, and the heir to the Frostling throne." Creem drew in a sharp breath, unable to believe what she was hearing. As Meryl, also looking surprised beyond belief, stood up and escorted her to the heir's throne she heard an exclaim of outrage from Kirian, but the words held no meaning to her, everything was dull, like she was underwater, or she had flown too high, a frosty but kind male voice cut through it all.

"Atheena has chosen well, very well indeed. ''

Creem sat in her new room, having already moved out of the Knall she shared with Meryl. The past few days had been a blur, and only a few images and names stuck with her, Kirian having to be escorted out of the cavern because of the ruckus he caused, the Queen introducing her to the councillors, and Meryl showing her to her new quarters. She hadn't been called upon but had been warned by one of her guards, Mika she thought his name was, to be packed and ready to leave today, the Frostling nation was one of the furthest away so she would need a few days to get to the meeting spot, even by flying. She was startled slightly by a knock at the door

"Creem?" Meryl's voice called softly, it had taken a day or two to get her to stop calling her princess, "it's time to leave" Creem let out a soft breath, tugging slightly at the thin white braid she now had to wear to signify her rank before standing and shouldering her backpack.

"coming" she called back, going over to the door and opening it to reveal the captain of the royal guard, who was smiling at her with slightly worried eyes, Creem smiled slightly back, ignoring her own nerves and stepping out the door she started down the corridor to the Avery, the storage place and launch pad for the snowflakes. Arriving she said nothing to Meryl as she grabbed and grew her snowflake, checking the ropes and ties before turning back to Meryl,

"Goodbyes are too final" Meryl muttered "see you later?" she said slightly louder

"yeah," Creem breathed out in reply, meeting her eyes "see you later" she smiled slightly, climbing onto her snowflake she wrapped her hands around the ties soared off.

Rem let out a whoop of joy as Echo soared out of the water before diving back in again, yes, he was currently the youngest Guild bound scholar and yes, he was the Aqualings representative of the prophecy but that didn't mean in the slightest he couldn't have fun. He clung tightly to the grey dolphins back as she dove deep into the blue of the Syrell sea in preparation for another jump, the young Aqualing scholar wasn't due back to the guild for another hour or so and he was going to make the most of it. Blinking the second lid into place over his eyes he laughed as Echo jumped again, soaring from the great sea of the ground to what felt like the great sea of the sky. Landing neatly again in the sea, the dolphin let out a series of soft clicks, "I know I wish we could do this more often too" Rem replied in a soft voice "but we have to leave next week and we won't have much time then." Echo replied with a series of gentle, comforting clicks, trying to ease her rider's worries, "let's go see mother and father before we go back to the guild" Rem suggested. Dolphin and rider disappeared quickly into the blue.

Approaching the stone house under the water Rem dismounted Echo and leaving his companion to feed from a small school of fish nearby, swam the rest of the way to the door. Themis and Melaina where loyals, but well respected ones at that, Melalina had once been the queen's handmaiden before she retired and Themis had been head of the guard. As Rem went to knock the door opened to reveal Melalina "Rem! What a pleasant surprise!" his mother said with a broad smile, "come in, come in" she held the door open for him.

"Hello Mother" Rem replied with a broad smile entering the coral reef like home, the water of the ocean disappearing as he stepped through the silver force field that allowed a Aqualing's home to stay free of water.

"Themis is busy making something in the workshop dear" she replied closing the door behind him and brushing her hands on her coat "something for you I believe" Rem looked curious, his father had taken to forging things since he retired "I need something to do with my hands" he had said one day when Rem asked. Rem sat at one of the tables and his mother offered him a seaweed cake, which Rem politely declined. "How have you been?" she asked sitting across the table from him "you leave next week for the journey, correct?" Rem nodded

"I meet the other representatives by the great lake, I'll take the Centrefold to get there" Melalina looked wary, the Centrefold, while being the quickest way there, was a dangerous place for unexperienced riders, but Rem had been riding with Echo since he was very little

"Isn't that dangerous?" Melalina asked, ever the protective mother.

"I'll be fine; Echo will protect me" he replied with a small smile. He turned in his seat as he heard a door open and Themis entered the space, he had a Blacksmiths apron on and his pale blue face was flushed with red.

"Rem! I was just about to call into the guild to find you..." he started coming over to his son, who was smiling broadly

" where you? Good thing I decided to come visit, save you the trip" Rem said standing and embracing his Father which was returned in kind.

Themis pulled away with a smile of his own, leaving a hand on Rems shoulder "indeed... come, I've just finished something for you" he added gesturing towards his workshop before turning and heading back inside with Rem following close behind. Themis' workshop was a dull amber from the light of the now cooling forge and fairly messy, with scraps of metal and blacksmiths tools littered across the workbench. It was almost swelteringly hot inside and when Rem voiced the fact his father only laughed "if it wasn't I would be worried, now, over here..." he hummed stepping over to a smaller workbench close to the forge, on which lay a beautifully forged sword, around 36 inches in length, with a curved, wyvern claw like blade. The single-handed hilt was wrapped in a dark amber leather and had a handguard shaped like the body of one of the water dragons of legend. Rem let out an amazed breath, at the sight of it,

"wow" he murmured stepping forward to pick up the blade, it was almost feather light and with a few experimental swipes he discovered it was perfectly balanced. he turned back to his father, who was still smiling

"prophecies are usually dangerous, so I thought you should have a way to defend yourself" Themis said picking up a hand-crafted leather sheath that was clearly Melalina's work and handing it too him.

"I... I don't know what to say... thank you father" Rem murmured carefully sheathing the sword.

"just promise me you will come back" Themis replied with a slight sigh as the two turned and headed back out into the kitchen, where Melalina was waiting at the table for them.

"I promise" Rem said, hopefully reassuringly and glancing up at the clock on the wall gave a small sigh "I'm sorry to leave so soon but I must get back to the guild before dusk... I don't think I'll have a chance to see you again before I leave..."

His mother stood with a sad smile and came over to him, giving him a tight hug "please stay safe Rem" she murmured squeezing him again before letting him go.

" I swear it, I'll come back too you both" he said giving his father's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he approached before tying the dragon sword too his waist and heading for the door " I love you both" he added smiling at them one last time before stepping out of the door and climbing onto Echo, who answered his summons almost immediately, disappearing into the blue of the sea.