~Chapter 1~

  The two Nightwings hurried as quickly as they could to the high perch with an egg in talon. Fortunefinder and Nightstrike both had been waiting for this. Fortunefinder knew this night would come, the visions told her so, but they went blank soon after her dragonet’s birth which told her a truth she’d rather not think about right now.

  “Are you sure this is smart? Morrowseer is going to wonder where I am.” Nightstrike asked impatiently.

  “Yes it is, he has to be born under the three moons, he has to,” but even she was unsure if this was worth it. Born of night, born to fight. Born of power that is his ancestral right. Alone he’ll walk, alone he’ll stalk, born under the moons trice full, Eclipse will rise and chase shadows with all his might. That’s what her visions said, what her prophecy told her.

  “I don’t like this, this is how… how he was born.” Nightstrike hissed.

  “You're so superstitious it’s some legend from what? Thousands of years ago?” Fortunefinder retorted.

  “You didn’t grow up on the island or even live there so you wouldn’t understand, you're barely even a NightWing.”

  “That’s not nice, I may not have grown up there but that doesn’t make me any less a NightWing and if not being afraid of some ghost story makes me less of one than so be it. This is what the prophecy tells me and so it’s what I’m going to do, you’re free to leave if you don’t like it.” She took her egg and placed it on a makeshift nest she'd built days before. The black clouds covering the moons slowly began to part and the moonlight began to shine in the egg, turning it light silver.

  “Why did it change color?” Nightstrike tilted his head.

  “Because that’s what they do when born under moonlight, don’t you know that?”

  “No… I didn’t.”

  They both looked around once more before staring back at the egg.

  A flicker, a spark, a thought… appeared in the egg, something or someone was awakening. Thousands upon thousands of futures splayed out before him intricate webs and patterns, they twisted and contorted into things he’d not even be able to grasp at the moment, but one… or rather two things filled his mind.

  “Are you sure he’s going to hatch?” A voice rang through his mind, muffled.

  Father, something told him.

  “Of course I’m sure, I don't know how many times I have to tell you.” A softer, kinder, gentler voice rang through his mind.

  Mother, the something told him.

  He loved them already and wanted to be held in their arms, seeing all the…

  Don’t. It hissed. Now something else flooded his thoughts, all these futures and none where these two dragons were present, none where he got to be held by them, or loved by them. That made him really not want to leave his egg, but he had to, he had to. Or else he’d lose all his power and that would be far worse than no future with these two, yet two branching moments sat before him.

  Stay in the egg and wait, becoming nothing and only seeing the uncertainty of never being what he was destined to be. Or, leave your egg, cease the power before you and be the dragon you want to be, you won’t be alone forever but you have to follow the path and make the right choices.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  It wasn’t really a choice, some would say it was but he didn’t need to think much about it. He pushed against the shell; thoughts flooded his mind from both his parents, joy, fear, shock, and love. He wanted to hold onto that last one, but… can’t get attached. He pushed again and a loud crack filled the walls of his prison. Then another push and another crack.

  “He’s coming!” His mother barely held back a squeak.

  “I can’t believe this,” his father said softly.

  Then with one last push, he broke the shell and cold air quickly cut through him, but he was quickly wrapped in his mother’s claws and her warmth made it a bit more bearable.

  “What should we name him?” His father asked.

  “Eclipse, that’s what the prophecy said to name him, or at least that’s the name it gave him.”

  Eclipse… I quite like that name and many others do as well, the little dragons I even get to know. He sighed to himself.

  “That’s a suitable name, those silver teardrops around his eyes though, I’ve never seen those.” Nightstrike squinted.

  “Nor have I, but I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, he’s finally here, our little Eclipse.” His mother’s mind let up like a summer day… whatever that was.

  “Can I hold him?” His father’s mind was apprehensive and a bit colder, but still just as warm to his dragonet.

  Fortunefinder gently handed him over to Nightstrike who took him with exceeding care. Feeling the small, yet little life in his claws filled him with a pride and joy that he’d never felt before. This was his dragonet and maybe Fortunefinder was right… it was just a ghost story wasn’t it? Surely no dragon that bad could exist.

  Eclipse opened his eyes and they were a deep, piercing orange; the kind that burrowed into you and saw through every lie and feeling.

  “I think I see why it told you to call him Eclipse.” He joked.

  “Hm?” Fortunefinder stepped closer and Eclipse looked over to her. “Oh, that’s shocking but… even more beautiful than you’d think.” She chuckled and looked back at him with the sweetest smile.

  Eclipse though… knew this was the only look he he’d get of his parents before he’d never see them again. Once he felt he’d had enough of a look, he shut his eyes and waited.

  The distinct sound of wing beats filled the air. Five minds all looking for father, Eclipse deduced.

  “By the moons, they found us or they will.” His father hissed.

  “We have to hide him,” his mother quickly took him and placed him in a nearby bush. “Stay here and stay quiet, it will be ok my little Eclipse.” She turned back and kicked his shell off the cliff edge before it could be seen.

  Eclipse knew there was one future, one where he could keep them safe; he had the power but doing so… would throw everything off and it would make everything worse, so he chose to just do as we told and watch this unfold.

  “Nightstrike, you’re not the island, pretty far from it actually,” a voice grumbled.

  “Ye…yes Morrowseer, I know, I apologize.” He quickly began.

  “Who’s this,” Morrowseer’s gaze flicked to Fortunefinder.

  “This is… Fortunefinder,” Nightstrike quickly answered.

  “Hmmm, I’ve never known or heard of a dragon but that name. You don’t even look like you're from the island, meaning you are going to get to talk to Queen Battlewinner, she’ll know what to do with a dragon like you.” He chuckled softly.

  “Morrowseer, please leave her —”

  “No Nightstrike, don’t think you can ask your way out of this, this is your fourth time leaving your post and wandering off, Queen Battlewinner won’t want to hear that either. You risk jeopardizing everything we’ve spent years working on and you know how important this plan is.” Is what Morrowseer said, but his thoughts were anything but pleasant; especially compared to how kindly he’d just spoken.

  “Alright Morrowseer we’ll go, just please be generous to her, she had nothing to do with this and she knows nothing of our plan.”

  “We’ll let Battlewinner decide what is done with her, in the meantime… let’s go for a fly, I’m sure you’ll both enjoy it.” Morrowseer looked up. “My what a beautiful set of moons, thank you for giving me a reason to leave and see them. Those dragonets should be hatching too tonight, everything is going as planned. Morrowseer laughed to himself before they all took off in the night and left Eclipse all alone.

  When the thoughts left, and he knew it was safe; Eclipse stepped out of the bushes and looked up at the moons. They were sharing their power with him and he was ready. Thousands of timelines and choices opened and died with every interaction that just happened, Eclipse knew the right results, but making the right choices…. That was harder than it first seemed.