The Starless Code #1: Dawn By Jakei Hunter

The world was foggy but it was also bright. The sky was deep blue with bright stars. Suddenly, in the middle of the forest clearing, ghosts appeared. Their silhouettes were transparent, and they shone in the moonlight. The ghosts lined up. The girl with black hair walked around and said, "The meeting can begin!" "You don't have to tell us that, Frost." Greyleaf replied grimly. Frost didn't react to Greyleaf's reply, just waited for all the ghosts to appear. “Don't be so dry, Greyleaf!” Ivycloud said walking up to Greyleaf. Then she added: “You are not the only one who is not thrilled with the meeting.” Frost looked at them both, although she was still silent, she had no intention of getting involved in this conversation. She froze seeing Gottfried and Desirée. Frost let two important ancient spirits pass and entered the crowd. "Greetings, ghosts, I am grateful for your presence at this important meeting." Gottfried said. An important meeting? Why is it important? Frost asked herself uncertainly. "What will this meeting be about today?" Frost dared to ask, casting a curious glance. "I had a vision yesterday." Gottfried replied seriously with a menacing expression on his face. Is it because of this, is this such an important meeting? “I was walking through the dark, there was no end in sight. When I noticed a hole in front of me, I dared to jump into it. " Gottfried was telling his vision. Frost couldn't understand Gottfried's vision, she thought it had nothing to do with the future. "Then I saw strange creatures attacking Clan territories." Gottfried said. Strange creatures? Attacking? Frost thought, although she felt dizzy with this thinking. "This is terrible, we need to find out what's going on!" The brown-haired girl spoke up. Gottfried was silent for a moment, staring at the sky, and after a few moments he looked back at the ghosts with the same expression on his face. "I already know what it means." The former leader of all the Clans muttered. Frost felt a little uneasy, could that mean something bad? “Then what, Gottfried? Tell us." Frost said. "This vision represents the annihilation of all Clans." Gottfried replied without thinking. Frost paused uncertainly, not knowing what to say. She saw how Gottfried had a scowl and the way he spoke. "Annihilation? What are you talking about?" Breezeleap growled. Gottfried cast an angry glance at Breezeleap as he stepped out of the crowd. What is he doing ?! Frost asked herself. "That the Clans are in danger." Gottfried calmly replied. "Another danger? So soon?" Sheera asked hesitantly. Frost felt as if she was going to go mad, she looked at Gottfried's wife, Desirée, who was just standing next to Gottfried with a sad face. “I doubt this vision will come true." Breezeleap said. There was a deathly silence, but Gottfried broke it. "How can you know that? You never had any visions. " Frost looked at Breezeleap who was trying to be composed. Please don't let a quarrel arise! Frost cried out imploringly. Frost felt scared and embarrassed. She knew how many years Gottfried ruled, but he became more severe when his sons, Isami, Stray and The Mask joined this world. "Maybe I didn't, but I know what I'm saying." Breezeleap said. "How dare you, it sounds like you want to stand against me." Gottfried snorted sharply. Desirée whispered something to Gottfried, holding his hand. Would she want this quarrel to be postponed? "I would never dare to oppose you, I only say what is truth." Breezeleap muttered. Gottfried already seemed to ignore Breezeleap and continued to speak. "A year has passed after the death of the leader of all Clans." He began, "therefore, through my vision, we must have a guardian from the living world." Frost didn't speak, just listened to Gottfried with a calm expression on her face. "Shadowbright has a great power, he is our guardian." Sheera said. Frost noticed Gottfried sighed heavily. Then he looked at Sheera and said, “One guard is not enough. We need one more. " Two guardians in the living world? Frost wasn't sure if she agreed with Gottfried. However, she didn't want to admit it and start an argument with the leader. So she remained silent. "Then who will it be?" Ivycloud asked. Gottfried was silent this time, Frost guessed he didn't know who to choose. "Maybe Moonstrike?" Reedflight suggested. "She's a great choice, sure she and Shadowbright would be fine." Gottfried shook his head, not looking at the ghosts. “Moonstrike is the leader and she has to take care of her Clan, she has enough on her mind. She cannot leave her position because of the powers which she would have. " Gottfried said in a low voice. Reedflight was about to say something but stopped himself. Frost felt sad when she remembered the day Roxanne died tragically. If Roxanne were here, she would surely become a strong guardian. Frost thought sadly. However, she woke from her thoughts when Breezeleap spoke. "Moonstrike would be a good choice if she were a warrior, but she is not a warrior anymore." Frost didn't really know who Moonstrike was, but Frost heard that she is the leader of Storm Clan, and the sister of the mighty warrior, Shadowbright. "We need someone experienced like Shadowbright." Gottfried said. Frost wasn't sure if she should interfere. According to her, Asher would be a good guardian, but he is not a member of the Clans, he only visits them when he can. But maybe he would have joined the Clan if he knew he had to be a guardian. Frost thought, convincing herself. "Let's choose a young human with good thoughts." Gottfried said. However, no one suggested who would be the right choice. "A young human will make things worse!" Breezeleap growled, "Let's choose a human who has the mind and is an experienced warrior." Frost shivered as Gottfried glared at Breezeleap angrily. "You are not the one who choose, Breezeleap!" Gottfried yelled. And the same again. Frost thought boringly. Due to the fact that his sons are in the Star World, Gottfried seemed to be more nervous and emotionless. "But I have the right to express my opinion!" Breezeleap growled sharply, giving Gottfried an irritated glare, Gottfried straightened up to make him taller than the other ghosts. "No, you have no right, your right is to stand and be silent." The leader muttered. Breezeleap growled furiously. "Just because you are the leader doesn't mean you alone have the right to choose!" Frost dreamed of closing her ears and hearing nothing, Breezeleap was always capricious and grumpy but this time he showed his true self. “I have been the leader of this world for many years! You don't know what it's like to be a leader! " Gottfried said threateningly. Frost looked at Desirée who herself was afraid of what would happen next, but she felt helpless in this situation. "I would definitely be a better leader than you." Breezeleap said grimly. The ghosts whispered among themselves out of fear and curiosity. Frost saw Breezeleap shake nervously. "Shut up!" Gottfried screamed in fury. Breezeleap, however, disobeyed the leader as Gottfried returned back to his wife. Breezeleap growled: “I am not surprised why your sons are not allowed to attend meetings. They are monsters! " Frost trembled with fear as Gottfried stopped abruptly before turning back to Breezeleap. Breezeleap still looked threatening, as if he felt the courage to oppose him. Gottfried walked over to Breezeleap, still having an emotionless expression on his face. Frost saw Desirée disappear from sight, or was it because of what Breezeleap said? Gottfried growled darkly: "Don't ever mention my family again." After that, Gottfried just as disappeared from sight. Breezeleap looked like he regretted what he said. There was a silence after Gottfried's disappearance. Frost sighed and left the crowd looking sternly at Breezeleap. "So, what now?" Ivycloud asked hesitantly. Frost took a deep breath and exhaled, she didn't know what to say because she herself was worried about the argument. "We have to watch over the Clans more, then nothing bad will happen, some of us may leave star world to watch over all the Clans." Frost said, though she wasn't sure of it. She looked at all the ghosts seriously and said, "the meeting is over." All the ghosts went their way, only Frost stayed in the forest clearing, worrying about Gottfried's vision. Could what he said be true? Or is it true that it will only happen in a few months or years? Frost narrowed her eyes at the starry sky. A second guard must be found, Frost thought. Only that can save the future of all the Clans.