Hail started backing up to the exit, but bumped into Shrek instead.

“S-Sorry,” Hail said, hurriedly getting back on his feet.

Kiwi appeared very puzzled about the prophecy. “Um, Hail,” He said, raising his eyebrows, “What was that about?”

Beetle stomped over to them, and snatched Hail’s throat. “What. Happened. To. Venus.” She growled, turning her head to Kiwi. “Tell me now or this… unimpressive hybrid dies.”

Shrek and Kiwi had looks of horror now, eyes wide. I’m going to die. Three moons, I’m going to die, Hail thought. He thought about his armband once more. I could avoid that, though. I could kill Beetle and stop her right now. But that’s bad, I shouldn’t do that. Why do I have these thoughts, what is wrong with me?

Shrek looked at Beetle tensely, “Please let him go, Beetle. Venus got fired from Jade Mountain Academy, and will be punished by Queen Redwood.”

“LIES,” Beetle exclaimed, shaking Hail. She glared at him, looking him dead in the eyes.

Specter rubbed his temples, “Beetle, we can’t be sure it’s about Venus. I didn’t see any faces in my vision, although I’m almost certain it’s about her, it’s not worth killing over.”

Beetle sighed, “did you not hear the part where it said, ‘the tribes at war, far worse than before’? Queen Toucan is going to start a war if she kills Venus. You and I both know that she’s Queen Redwood’s most trusted advisor. If she’s dead, we’re in deep waters.”

Shrek replied quickly, “I assure you Venus is still alive, please let go of Hail.”

“Then let’s decipher this prophecy.” She let go of Hail, and he scrabbled to get back up. “What in the world does the repetition of the smashed candlelight mean?”

Hail shrugged, although he had an idea of what it meant. Could it be possible that the prophecy required him? As far as Hail knew, he was the only living animus in centuries. The prophecy said ‘Without a spell,’ which was just wonderful because surely it meant a new spell, and not an old one.

This shrug, though, yielded a glare from Beetle, “You know something, whether it’s about Venus or not,” she growled, “I can tell.”

Hail shook his head, “I’m not sure what that prophecy is about.”

“Then why did you shrug in a way that said ‘I know something other dragons don’t!’ ”

Hail twitched, “Maybe I do know something other dragons don’t, but that isn’t your business, is it?”

Everyone in the prey center was watching this argument now. They oooooo’d at Hail’s snide remark, making him slightly jittery. I don’t like having this many eyes on me at once. He thought, Not only am I not used to it, but it’s attention that I never wanted. Probably the kind of attention nobody would want.

Kiwi’s face was a mixture of confusion and skepticism. “Hail. Maybe you should tell us this stuff. It might not be our business, but that prophecy didn’t sound like the world the Dragonets of Destiny were imagining for the future.”

“Kiwi, can I talk to you for a minute?" Hail wasn’t sure if he should be doing this .

Kiwi stepped away from Hail, “You’re freaking me out, Hail. What is it that you know?” He insisted once more.

Just as Hail was about to respond, Shrek interrupted, “Guys, let’s all just calm down.” His voice was quivering, “If there’s a threat, the leaders and I can figure it out.”
Specter took a look in Shrek’s direction, “I don’t think that’s how this works. The one other time I had a prophecy it required my involvement. I’m not sure if that’s how prophecies are supposed to work, but that’s how mine have worked thus far.”

“Besides,” Beetle added, “what would you guys do anyways? Cast a magic peace spell? We know that’s not possible now that animus magic mysteriously disappeared years ago.”

That hit too close to home for Hail. What if they found out? I know I keep thinking that, but every Queen in all of the two continents will want me then. Everyone will want my power, and I’ll be famous. That’s not exactly the future I had laid out for myself. Being used to do other dragons’ bidding. There’s always the IceWings who might accept me. They’re famous for using animus magic properly.

Then it hit, that’s what the prophecy must be about. The war between tribes isn’t just a war between the LeafWings and RainWings, it’s a war between all of the tribes.

Hail swallowed hard before speaking, “Specter,” he began, “do you think that this ‘war’ that your prophecy is talking about is between all of the tribes? It sounded like it was meant for all of them. It did say, ‘The tribes,’ which sounds to me like more than just the LeafWings and RainWings.”

The silence that followed was all too discomforting. As everyone thought for a moment, Hail took a few steps back towards the door. Just in case he needed an escape route from too much interrogation.

Finally, Specter took his talon off of his chin, “I mean, it’s possible. However, I saw a LeafWing dead on a stone floor. That’s why I’ve assumed it’s Venus, because what LeafWing is spending time in caves instead of in the trees? ”

Blobfish and Honeylocust walked into the prey center, and they watched as everyone craned their heads to see the entering dragons.

Blobfish was the first one to speak, “What is going on in here? It’s not normally quiet in the prey center.”

Next to her, Honeylocust looked at Shrek, “I thought you had things covered,” she said. Her words were sharp, and her gaze was like a stinger. Shrek gave her only a shy smile; one that, to Hail, didn’t seem very convincing.

Honeylocust aggressively dragged Shrek out of the prey center after telling Blobfish to “Handle the situation.”

“So, who wants to go on a field trip?” Blobfish asked the students. Nobody spoke up, but Hail walked towards her to exit the cave.

He risked a glance back before fully leaving, and saw Kiwi’s hurt face, Specter’s curious tilt, and Beetle’s furious growl. He lowered his head and walked out into the hallway, down to his bedroom. He let himself drop to the ground and curl up to sleep.

It wasn’t even evening and he was already tired. Despite his best efforts, his body refused to fall asleep. It went on like this for so long he thought it must’ve been night time by now.

That’s when he heard the knock from his door.

“Come in,” He mumbled, expecting it to be Kiwi coming to sleep for the day. Instead, Specter walked in with worry on his face.

Hail got up immediately, noticing that Beetle wasn’t around him for once. “Did something happen? Why are you here?” when Specter opened his mouth to answer he asked one more question, “Is it night out yet?”

“No to the last one, it’s about lunch time.” He poked his head out of the door, checking to see if anybody was following him or listening in. He shut the door after, probably meaning that nobody was there to listen.

“I think the prophecy–” Hail groaned at the word, rolling his eyes. The corner of Specter’s mouth twitched, but he continued anyway. “I think the prophecy needs us.” When Hail raised an eyebrow, he rushed to elaborate. “Not just you and me. What I mean is, I think you, me, Kiwi, and Beetle are all required in this prophecy.”

“Well, sucks to suck, doesn’t it?”

“Look, Hail, I don’t like you either, but I’m serious about this.”

“How did you find my room?”

“Kiwi told me.”

Hail flinched at the name. Kiwi, his best friend, (his only friend, really) might not even trust him anymore because he knew something the others didn’t.

It wasn’t a part of known history, but Hail had an animus-touched scroll that would tell him answers to any question he asked.

“What makes you think all of us are part of the prophecy?” Hail rebutted

“Well,” Specter began, “after you left I had another vision. It wasn’t a prophecy, but it was a vision nonetheless. It showed us all together, facing something. I’m not sure what we were facing, because I only saw from the front, but we had looks of terror on our faces.”

Hail narrowed his eyes, “And you know that links to the prophecy how?”

“Hail. I know about it.”

Oh no. There’s no possible way that—

“I know that you have animus magic.”