The Obelisk

-Chapter 87-

Crimson stared out at the hissing waves, sprays of white water leaping out at the rocks and crawling away. She liked looking at water, no matter how angry it made her feel sometimes. The scent of both lingering rain and ocean spray amalgamated, a strange but comforting mix of scents.

“Mind if join you?”

Crimson turned her head to see the sleek Shadowmane, Moonbeam, coming to stand next to her.

“Uh—” Crimson said as Moonbeam sat down with a pleased sigh. She glanced at Crimson, then at the rocky beach beyond. “Such a nice view, isn’t it?”

“I guess so,” Crimson said, staring at her. The Shadowmane shuffled around to get herself comfortable, batted a small stick out of her way, and twined her tail over her front talons.

Moonbeam didn’t say anything for a long minute as she gazed at the happy camp of Shadowmanes scattered acrossed the shore.

“Its strange,” Crimson decided to say, catching Moonbeams attention. “All these smiling faces, laughing and playing as if there’s nothing wrong going on outside of this forest.”

“We came here to escape to escape the chaos, not confront it,” Moonbeam said. “The Shadowmanes made that mistake in Asgard.”

“You won’t succeed.” Crimson said. “It will find you all eventually. It always does.”

Moonbeam was quiet for a moment, watching Crimsons expression. “I understand.”

“No, you don’t,” Crimson interrupted her. “Everyone says that. Like they’ve felt what I’ve felt. Like they’ve experienced it when they haven’t. Like they know what I feel, when they d o n’ t.”

“But I do,” Moonbeam hissed sternly.

Crimson stopped, risking to look up at her.

“I really, really do.” She said. “I’ve lost more than you know. I’ve made mistakes that led to things I wish I could change, but I can’t. I’ve been so, so stupid, and that stupidity killed my only brother.”

Crimson could see the guilt and sadness in Moonbeams dark blue eyes. “I—” she stammered, at a loss for words. “I’m sorry.” She whispered.

“Do me a favor, Crimson,” Moonbeam said, “if I may call you that. Stop trying to hide the grief. It won’t fix anything; It’ll only make it harder. Believe me. I know.”

Crimson stared into the glistening Shadowmanes deep blue eyes. For the first time, she found comfort there.

“Moonbeam, I—”

There was suddenly a cry of fear, and Crimson, Moonbeam, and everyone on the beach froze, whipping their heads around to the shore.

A Shadowmane was crying her kits name. Eyes were looking all around, but Crimson was sweeping her gaze over the waves where the sound had come from. She spotted the glimmer of the kit struggling in the strong tow of water.

“He’s in the water!” One of the Shadowmanes yelled.

Crimson was already jumping passed Moonbeam, who had stood up in sharp-eyed panic. She pelted acrossed the rocks, feeling the salty air whip passed her, and dove straight into the ocean.

Water surrounded her. She lashed her powerful tail, which sent her gliding through the water. Quick to spot the kit, she thrust her head to the surface, the churning blue water all around.

The kit saw her, too, and called out for help. She swam quickly towards him and reached, but a sudden, thundering wave crashed down and slammed into them. The force pulled her under like thousands of grasping talons. She was shoved to the bottom, several tail-lengths under the water. Her head crashed into the bone-hard rocks, knocking out her breath in a flurry of bubbles. She felt her eyes close for a moment, but quickly regained herself. The kit was sinking down, too, his eyes wide and his mouth closed tightly, an attempt to hold his breath. Crimson propelled herself forwards and grabbed onto him with her talons. The water flew passed as she pumped her tail hard and broke to the surface. The shore was close, and the two struggled in the water down to the beach, finally reaching it as a concluding wave shoved them out.

Crimson collapsed onto the rocks, the little Shadowmane panting in her arms. She felt his heart beating by her chest, just as fast as hers.

“Shhh, you’re alright. It’s Ok,” she whispered to him, over the sound of the crashing waves and the Shadowmanes running towards them. She pulled her head in close and placed it onto the smooth pebbles, holding the Shadowmane tight. “Everything’s going to be Ok.”