ToLaD: Chapter 15: Movie-time, Something-Time
The majority of the team from the Modern Quester stood inside the lobby of the Ancestral Cinema, chatting and clearly having a good time while waiting for Barry to come along, along with someone else. One of the hyena twins was looking at the architecture, analysing every small detail
Braedon was laughing at a joke when he saw Scales pass through, the Riviera family in front of the teen croc. He tried to get over to his friend, but there was something in Scales' eyes that told him to stay back. It was then he also received a text on his phone. He checked it, seeing it was from Scales, and looked up, surprised. The croc only solemnly nodded and soon left the black fox's sight. Braedon read the text, shocked at it.
Mother said that I need to stay away from you.
He locked the phone, placing it into his pocket and rejoining the good-hearted conversation, although a little disheartened at the moment. About three minutes later, Barry came in, a female kangaroo hopping alongside him, a boy joey of about four years of age clinging onto her back. The two hyena girls almost squealed at the cuteness overload, but one cold sideways look from the snow leopard made them keep their excitement in check, although they were still a touch away from enthusiastic squealing.
And that's also why they nicknamed the snow leopard 'Snow.' While she does smile, it is a rare occurrence and something that deserves to be smiled at.
One of the hyena twins stepped up, really giddy since she couldn't keep her feet still.
"He's so cute!" She exclaimed.
However, the joey only dug his head into his mother's back, whimpering slightly.
"Our little joey's a bit shy, Beatrice." Barry told the hyena, rubbing a paw through his son's head fur.
"Awww, poor little tyke." Beatice cried. She softly padded over to the other side and softly rubbed the joey's back.
The joey slowly turned his face away from his mother's back and towards the social hyena. When she looked back, the joey became braver by the minute. He slowly pushed himself away from his mother's back and his eyes slowly rolled over the other five there. The rest smiled softly at the joey's newfound bravery. The joey's small eyes stopped on Braedon, reaching out a small paw towards him. The joey closed and opened his paw three times, prompting Braedon to wave back. In turn, the joey smiled, his eyes beaming.
Barry handed the ferret six tickets, one for each of the team. The kangaroo family hopped away, most likely going to see a young-friendly movie. The ferret looked down and handed each of them a ticket. They all walked over to the ticket booth and the receptionist scanned their tickets, also telling them to go to the snack area for their pre-ordered snacks. All confused, they obeyed what they were told and found out about how each of them got a bucket of popcorn each. Now sufficiently snacked up, they went to the appropriate theatre and sat down in their seats. For Braedon, he got the seat right next to the aisle.
Their theatre was mostly empty, since the movie they were about to watch has been out for a few weeks and is at the end of its theatre life and almost in its home system life. The theatre lights dimmed, all of the teens knowing that it meant that the previews were about to show.
They followed the instructions to turn off their phones and were amazed by the trailers of the upcoming movies. Only when the lights dimmed further did all of the buzz of conversation stop for the movie to begin. The first thing that they saw on the projected screen was a disclaimer.
The movie you are about to see is the director's rendition of the Prophecy of Light and Dark.
All of the team widened their eyes. They all thought that it was just another movie, but what a director thought of a prophecy that they don't know is actually happening right now.
The movie started off as the legends stated. An owl shaman, in a trance, was scratching the prophecy into a slab of stone. When a good portion of the prophecy was scratched in, they all heard a series of battle cries. The shaman, frightened by the turn of events, placed the unfinished prophecy away so it couldn't be found.
Years flashed by on the projected screen, until the stone slab was found once more by archeologists. Many more years passed until sometime way into the future, past their time, in fact.
Braedon shifted in his seat and lounged out.
'It's gonna be a long movie.' He thought.
____________________________________________________________________________________
As soon as the credits began to roll, Braedon stood and stormed out, earning him looks of confusion from the rest of the team.
When he made it out of the theatre, he placed his back against the wall and slid down it so he sat onto the carpet. He crossed his arms and placed his head on his crossed forearms. Tears tried to leak from his eyes, but he would not let them.
'Am I destined to become that way?' Braedon thought as his head rested.
The door to the theatre opened, revealing the one hyena who would care.
"Beatrice? I'd thought you'd be with the others." Braedon mumbled.
The social hyena sat down next to him, uninvited to do so. But, then again, Beatrice's company was enjoyed by many.
"I'd much rather be concerned about the one who is usually happy rather than a group that is currently enjoyed. So, what's up, buttercup?" She went on.
Braedon lifted his head from his forearms.
"Can you keep a secret?" Braedon asked.
He saw the hyena nod carelessly. He shuffled, looking up and down the hall to see if anyone was walking by. There wasn't, so he sat back.
He removed his paw from his knee and concentrated. Beatrice looked confused, unknowing about what Braedon was trying to do. Braedon got a funny feeling in his arm and paw, and Beatrice's gasp was enough to make him look. He saw his arm covered in shadow, which coiled around to suck in any light that went its way.
He lost his concentration, so the shadows disappeared, but Beatrice's shock didn't.
"Do you think you'll be able to keep that a secret? That I am a warrior the prophecy pretty much predicted?" Braedon asked once more.
"I should be able to keep it. And Braedon, screw what the movie showed. You have a right to be whatever side you want to be on. Some people may not like either choice, but it will be your choice. No one else's." Beatrice consoled.
They sat there for a minute until the rest of the team walked out. While Bridget, Beatrice's twin sister, asked about what happened, Beatrice answered that it was just a friend consoling a friend, which was a half-truth. They walked out, every single one of them meeting their parents one way or another.
Braedon sat down into his family car, Teagan in the driver's seat. She noticed her eldest son's downcast appearance, and decided to press.
"What movie did you guys watch, honey?" She asked.
"Prophecy." Braedon answered.
The young vulpine looked at his mother, seeing her features crease in anger.
"Let me guess. Followed the story tropes that have been mixed in with the legend?" She asked.
Braedon nodded, his face still solemn. Teagan slammed a paw on the steering wheel rim, cursing ever so softly.
"Well, I hope that the weekend will help clear your mind a bit. Your father's parents are coming around, and you know that Grandpa Lirim always wants to see how far you and your father have come." Teagan stated, patting Braedon's thigh with her paw.
Braedon smiled at that. He's always liked Grandpa Lirim and Grandma Alanna. Especially, Grandma Alanna's cooking.
They drove home in silence, Braedon looking deeply at the text he received from Scales earlier in the night and wondering whether or not Beatrice could keep his 'gift' a secret.