Joshua Wise snapped awake, heart pounding like a drum solo gone wrong.
Bedsheets twisted around him like nightmare ropes.
London hummed outside—car horns cutting dawn drizzle, distant voices threading the city's beat.
His room grounded him: desk cluttered pencils and crushed cans, notebook bleeding ash-void lyrics, blazer draped like forgotten promise.
Silvergrove's twilight forest—silver leaves shimmering, Sylvara's laughter chiming bells, Artemis's voice thundering—felt like fever dream. Vivid. Fraying edges.
He scrubbed eyes, golden-yellow irises catching gray light. "Just a dream..."
But palms throbbed. Restless warmth pulsing beneath skin—not fire, but spark. Alien. Alive. Whispering truths he wasn't ready for.
Sharp chirp sliced quiet—vibrant melody, fragment of song he knew but never heard.
Gaze darted bedside table.
Robin-sized creature perched there, ember-red feathers glowing faint, casting soft light across shadows.
Molten-gold eyes locked on him. Wings twitched with own heartbeat energy.
The creature tilted head, chirped again, sound weaving dream whispers: Fire calls, but the void answers.
Breath hitched. Presence tethered Silvergrove reality.
"What... are you?" Voice trembled, veins dancing in sync with gaze—like it knew him better.
Shadow stirred by window. Joshua froze, pulse spiking.
Young man stood there—silver-white hair glinting moonlight frost, turquoise-blue eyes scanning rain-slick streets.
Black coat tattered hems dissolving blue wisps, like starlight unraveling.
Shadow with eerie white eyes flickered faint, merging into form.
"You're awake," young man said low, reverent—as if speaking to unseen power.
"Silvergrove was no dream, Joshua Wise."
Joshua scrambled upright, oxfords thudding floor as legs swung out bed. Creature chirped sharp, wings flaring ember-light burst.
"You—why in my room?" Voice cracked, Yumi's frightened face—"Josh, you're scaring me"—and Artemis's blade-sharp commands flashing mind.
Warmth in palms flared hotter, air thick, Silvergrove's ethereal hum clinging bones.
Creature hopped closer, talons clicking desk, golden eyes urging heed truth.
Young man turned, gaze piercing yet submissive, bound greater will.
"My lady Artemis sent me to guard you," he said, stepping forward, shadow rippling tide.
"Regret Shade gone, but mark lingers, clawing soul. Not safe here, not with that—" Gesture to creature, feathers blazing brighter, casting dancing shadows pulsing life.
Joshua's jaw tightened, disbelief warring Regret Shade tendrils coiling memory.
"The rifts drawn to fire waking within you."
Creature chirped sharply, wings flaring burst of ember-light.
Joshua's breath hitched. "You're talking nonsense. What is that thing?" Jabbed finger at creature, molten eyes unyielding, glinting defiance mirroring own.
Young man gaze flickered, trace pain under calm, voice soft obedient.
"Part of you. Soul's fire fragment, bound to sun's eternal cycle. Deny it, and worse than Shades come—creatures beyond Mortal Veil, ravenous for spark."
Step closer. Too close. Shadow's white eyes glinting faint, silent challenge nerves.
Chest constricted, creature chirp rising urgent, feathers flaring embers.
"Back off!" Joshua snapped, fists clenching, hands heat surging wildfire.
"Not your lady's pawn!"
Fear and frustration fueled lunge—clumsy punch at young man's chest.
Young man sidestepped fluid as moonlight, air around fist shimmering as raw energy erupted.
Creature flared, robin size swelling brief, wings unfurling embers sparking, scorching desk edge with delicate feather marks.
Room quaked faint, books tumbling, air thick heat not entirely his.
Joshua stumbled, shock rooting him, hands searing pain, skin reddening blisters, creature chirping frantic on shoulder.
Young man's eyes widened, shadow surging, white eyes flaring stars.
"Power wakes too soon," whisper taut, step back.
"Fight here, and lady's veil shatters. Mortals cannot see."
Silver light flickered—he vanished, shadow dissolving smoke, words echoing behind.
Creature nuzzled cheek, warmth fragile comfort against hand agony.
Joshua clutched palms, burns throbbing, breath ragged. "What the hell..."
Stumbled to bathroom, cold tiles shocking oxfords.
Hands shaking, pain lancing, glint caught eye—silver vial glowing faint blue, moonlight-trapped glass, resting by sink.
Wasn't there before.
Creature darted past, wings brushing vial, faint hum in mind not his own, urging act.
Before reaching, shout from hall cut sharp.
"Josh? You alright?" Mum's voice, worry edged, knock firm.
Knob rattled, door swung—she stepped in, brown hair tied back, eyes wide concern.
Creature chirped sharp frantic, darted to toilet, talons nudging vial into bowl with soft plink.
Wings flapped, flushed toilet—water swirling vial away.
Joshua's heart raced, spun to toilet, fumbled belt mimicking sound, flush roar masking panic.
Mum's face bloomed crimson, hand to mouth. "Oh, Josh—sorry!" Stammered disgust-embarrass tangle, backed out, slammed door.
"I'll... leave you to it," muttered, footsteps retreating hall.
Joshua exhaled tremble, creature hopping back to sink, tilting head smug chirp.
Vial sat there again, gleaming untouched, mocking discard attempt.
Heart skipped—creature's golden eyes claiming vial, presence undeniable.
Tied to him. Inescapable.
Hesitated, uncorked, cool liquid splashed burns—soothing instant.
Redness faded, hands smooth, protective calm washing over, knowing fleeting—shield mere hours.
Creature nuzzled wrist, feathers warm, silent companionship vow.
Pocketed vial, weight heavy reminder, shuffled back room, creature perching shoulder, chirps melody he couldn't shake.
Phone buzzed—voicemail from Mum glowing screen.
Voice tight with frayed worry. "Josh, we need to talk. Doctor called about blood test last week—silver traces, nothing to explain. And... Leo and Yumi stopped by. Worried for you. Said you've been off, distant. Skipped school today—I was at work, didn't even know. Please, come downstairs when ready."
Creature chirped soft, warmth quiet anchor against stomach knot.
Yumi's fear, Leo's concern, Mum's worry—fractures they saw, weight heavier than pocket vial.
Joshua hesitated, creature's golden eyes urging forward.
Trudged downstairs, creature fluttering behind, soft chirps trailing shadows.
Mum in kitchen, stirring chamomile mug, steam curling dim light.
Face etched worry, eyes searching as he entered. "Josh," set mug down clink, voice soft but firm, thread stretched taut.
"What's going on? Doctor's report—silver in blood? Not normal. And Leo, Yumi—they're scared for you. Said you've been... off. Like not yourself. Skipped school today. I was at work, didn't know you were gone."
Words trembled, hands gripping counter, pleading answers he didn't have.
"I'm fine, Mum," Joshua said, lie bitter on tongue, voice hollow.
Creature perched counter unnoticed, feathers dim but watchful.
"Just... tired. Exams, you know. Been a lot."
Words frail, crumbling under gaze, but she nodded reluctant, fingers tightening mug handle.
"We'll talk more tomorrow," voice heavy unspoken fears. "Just... don't shut me out, okay? I'm here, Josh."
He nodded, guilt twisting blade in chest, retreated upstairs, creature fluttering after, warmth quiet balm against heart storm.
Back in room, Joshua faced creature, ember-red feathers glowing faint lamplight, casting soft shadows like Silvergrove whispers.
Sank onto bed, staring creature perched desk. "What are you, really?" Whisper barely breath, leaning closer.
Creature tilted head, golden eyes glinting mischief, secrets not ready share.
Reached out hesitant, fingers grazing feathers—warm soft like summer breeze.
Creature chirped, nipped finger playful—not hard enough hurt, but enough jerk back.
"Hey!" Muttered, reluctant smile tugging lips.
Creature hopped notebook, talons snagging page, tearing soft rip, smudging lyrics hours crafted.
"No, stop!" Joshua lunged, but creature flitted guitar, perching strings.
Plucked one with beak—note sour, string snapping discordant twang.
"Are you serious?" Groaned, grabbing for it, creature darting head, tugging hair strand teasing chirp, wings brushing cheek.
Swatted half-laughing, half-exasperated, spark in veins humming faint—alive, not painful, responding creature playfulness.
"You're a little terror, you know that?" Joshua said, slumping back bed, creature settling beside, chirps softening lullaby hum.
Reached out again testing, creature nuzzled hand, warmth spreading through him, grounding.
Vial in pocket felt heavier, day's weight—young man's warnings, burns, Mum's worried eyes—pressing storm cloud.
Creature's golden eyes held his, steady defiant, silent promise he wasn't alone.
Exhausted, Joshua lay back, creature curling beside, feathers dimming soft glow, warm against arm.
City's hum faded, drowned by creature's gentle chirps, weaving thoughts like melody from another world.
Vial weight, spark in veins, rifts lurking beyond sight—they lingered, truths he couldn't escape.
As eyes drifted shut, creature's warmth anchored him, presence quiet vow, carrying into dreams where fire and shadow danced, waiting to claim him.