“Turquoise! Turquoise, wake up!”
Turquoise grunted and rolled over. “No.”
“Come on!” Alex’s voice turned into a more pestering tone.
Suddenly, a wet material was slapped onto Turquoise’s cheek. “YARGH!”
She sat up and opened her eyes to discover a large, black nose. The nose quivered, and a pink tongue licked Turquoise’s nose.
“Alastor!” Turquoise forgot about her surprise and picked up the fox, cuddling him to her chest. Over the last few weeks, he’d gotten fuzzier and more healthy-looking.
“Turquoise!” Alex yanked her blanket from on top of her. “Have you forgotten what day it is?”
For a moment, Turquoise paused. “Um...”
Then she remembered. “Our birthday!”
Alex grinned. “That’s right. We’re fourteen now!”
Turquoise returned his grin with enthusiasm. Then, her smile dimmed slightly.
“We’ve been gone for over a month,” Turquoise realized. Tears filled her eyes, and she couldn't tell whether they were happy or sad. “What is Mom thinking about us right now?”
Turquoise sat down on the floor of the cave they were resting in.
Alex sat down next to her. “Hey, it’s okay. I miss her, too. And Dad.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
There was a groan from behind a stalagmite. “Did I hear that it was somebody’s birthday today?” It was Andy’s slurred voice.
“BIRTHDAY?!” Lotus fell off of the stalactite she was sleeping on with a thump. Her wings splayed out beneath her, but she popped back up like nothing had happened, looking around wildly. “Who? Where? Party?”
“Huh?” Aether materialized next to her and she jumped a foot in the air.
“AAACK!” Lotus shut her eyes and whacked Aether with her wings. “ATTACK! WE’RE BEING ATTACKED!!!”
“Hold up!” Erinite was on her toes. “I heard something about a birthday!”
“Me too!” Shadowstar agreed.
“CAN SOMEBODY GET THIS STINKY FERN HEAD OFF OF ME?” Aether shouted, trying to keep Lotus at bay.
“ATTACK??” Pathtalon leapt into the scene, tail waving in the air. “WHERE?”
“THERE--IS—NO—ATTACK!” Aether yelled, but there was too much shouting in the air for anyone to hear her.
“WHAT IS GOING ON??!!” Razortail had woken up now.
“CAN SOMEONE HELP ME?!” Aether begged.
“DON’T WORRY GUYS!” Lotus kept her eyes closed and kept whacking. “I GOT EM ALL!”
“OI!” CloudWing swooped down from the top of the cave, where his resting place was. “WHAT IS ALL THIS RACKET??!!”
“WE’RE BEING ATTACKED!!” Lotus howled at the top of her voice.
“NO, WE’RE CELEBRATING SOMEONE’S BIRTHDAY!!!” Erinite shouted.
“HELP MEEEE!!!” Aether moaned.
“WHY ARE WE ALL YELLING??” Razortail yelled.
“I DON’T KNOW!!” Lotus shouted back.
“HEEELLLPP MEE!!” Aether begged again, this time even louder than before.
Turquoise and Alex were too busy laughing. Alastor was trying to get the dragon’s attention by barking loudly, but Lotus thought it was a distress call and increased her attack on poor Aether. Erinite thought he was singing “Happy Birthday”, Razortail was shouting and trying to pull Lotus and Aether apart, Pathtalon was shooting spines everywhere, yelling “It’s alright, Alastor”, Shadowstar was trying to help Aether, and CloudWing tried to shout above them all and restore order, which was miserably failing.
And that was how Sapphire, Pyrite, and Jade found them all when they returned from their scavenging trip.