- Whisperpeak Academy for Wayward Dragons - Ch.15 P.1 - Dying Tears -

Instructions

Chapter 15: Out of the Shadows --------------------------------------------------------- I kept pace with Alex and the group as we marched deeper into the Resistance. I felt much better with Oliver's affection and a bath. I would never tell him, but the bath provided better company when he went into his care frenzies. The water here was surreal. It carried the scent of Earth and the clarity of a pure spring, and there was always bits of soil that exfoliated your skin for you. Usually, random pieces of dirt in bath water would be a bad sign, but for someone like me that had months of torture, soreness, and gore to wash off, it felt like heaven. I let my eyes wander to the village entrance that twisted away from the main canal. The houses were built from scraps but shimmered in the glowing aqua light of the rippling waterfalls. Gray slate roofs and sturdy plaster walls secured the residents of the Resistance right into their homes. They seemed to connect into one giant townhouse, probably a safety precaution to keep everyone connected. Bright blue code messages jumped out of doorways and joined the rush of a small stream- sort of like the huge canal, but made more local in order to transport simple messages between neighbors. Alex was explaining the safety features of the base- for example, the docile code-spouting lotuses that scattered the canal could self-destruct if someone not recognized as Shortie or the team tried to hijack it. And the blue-green moss growing along the wall could release poison gas at Shortie's hand if intruders are recognized. Even the innocent mushrooms at the ceiling had a secret compartment where nets could fall and capture an intruder. "Dang mate, you have zero tolerance…" Oliver murmured to Shortie, pulling me a little closer by the waist as if afraid some rock would shoot a laser at me any second. "What else do you expect? We can't have Ius Principum searching for hotel rooms every two bells…" Alex laughed. We moved until we reached a point where the sidewalk thinned away and the river turned violent. "Now, we have arrived at the entrance of the Resistance." Alex bravely sauntered into the whipping mouth of the canal, not seeming to mind the lashing waves. "Come a little further… The team has a little surprise for you." I could barely hear him over the spray, but entered anyway. Oliver lunged after me, though I was already jumping. Shortie directed a path of code to walk her across, and we charged into the dark, fiercely-flooding stone tunnel. "Princess, slow down!" Oliver panted, basically clinging to the smooth, slick concrete that came after the stone. "This is exciting!" I giggled as a wave swelled beneath me, sending me an extra foot forward. I turned around when Oliver didn't respond. His hoodie was fully unzipped and swimming with the water as we weaved through it, and his shirt was plastered rather handsomely against his figure. Shortie chuckled from far ahead and called back, "What are you two doing down there?" "We're fine. Just need a break." I answered. Oliver had his teeth clenched as he wobbled over to me. Something told me he was getting flashbacks. I gave him my hand and smiled at the memory. I remembered his shaking gaze and clumsy limbs and tentative gaze. It had barely changed in such fierce waters. "I'll hold you. You'll be fine." Being the hopeless romantic he was, a blush filled his tense cheeks as I led him to where Alex, John, and Shortie had gone, a small eroded bit of tunnel where we would have a foothold.(+)