Fictober 2020 day 24 prompt: Are you kidding me?

Takes place in Dragonwatch book 3. Warren & Vanessa learn about what's been going on at Wyrmroost. Spoilers for book 3, but not book 4.

When the familiar, shimmery white dragon appeared on the grounds near the tree house, Warren knew that something must be up. Savani had been very alarmed by the presence of a dragon in such close proximity to their last remaining stronghold, but Warren and Vanessa had been quick to reassure her that this particular dragon was kind of a special one.

"Raxtus," Warren hailed as he jogged away from the tree house. Vanessa followed close behind him. "What brings you here?"

The small-ish dragon appeared to be distraught. His face wasn't particularly emotive, but he kept flexing his talons and his body otherwise seemed very stiff. "I don't have good news," he prefaced. He moved his talons even more, creating trenches in the sand. "Seth and Kendra-"

Warren perked up immediately. "Seth and Kendra? What about them?"

"They're at Wyrmroot - well, they were at Wyrmroost - Kendra died-"

"Kendra what!?" Warren's face had completely drained of all color. Vanessa placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"No - wait - no, she didn't die, my dad just wants her dead - he probably wants me dead, too - I mean, he declared war on them after all - Seth disappeared-"

"What?!"

"Raxtus, it might help if you start from the beginning," Vanessa interrupted.

"Right. Right. Okay. So, like a week ago or something, Kendra and Seth came to Wyrmroost and became the caretakers there."

Warren clawed at his face. This was maddening. What on earth was going on?

Vanessa shared a sideways glance with him, her eyes wide.

Their shared concern for their favorite kids only proceeded to increase as Raxtus gave a somewhat half-sensical, incredibly rushed summary of events.

Children as caretakers of Wyrmroost. Celebrant wants Kendra dead. Bracken has been captured. Seth is missing and lost his identity.

He felt like rocks had been dropped into his stomach. None of this was adding up. "She needs me," he said. "How can we get to Wyrmroost?"

Vanessa placed her hand on his shoulder again. "Warren," she began, "this preserve needs us, too."

"Are you kidding me?! I'm not about to let Kendra try to survive on her own at a dragon preserve," he insisted. "You can stay here if you want - I'm going to go and get her."

She squeezed his shoulder. "You're not going alone," she insisted. "Let's go get her and bring her back here. Maybe she can help us solve the problem here."

"Out of the frying pan, into the fire?" Warren asked. "I'd rather take her back to Fablehaven."

Vanessa scoffed. "With the rate these preserves have been falling, she's not going to be any safer at Fablehaven, at least not for long. Besides… we don't have a way to get her there."

Warren pursed his lips. "Okay," he stated. "Fine. We'll bring her here. Let's go."

"Um…" Raxtus raked his claws into the sand some more. "I came here through the fairy shrine, but I don't think you two can go there..."

"I may have a solution," came Savani's rich voice as she interrupted. Warren realized with a jolt that she had heard the entire exchange. "I am in possession of a pair of canoes which act as a shared space. When one person lays in the first, they can arise from the second. Might you be able to carry one of those through the shrine?"

Raxtus nodded his head. "Yes, that should work! You could come out on the other side!"

Warren grabbed Vanessa's hand and felt a tight squeeze in return. He listened as Savani told them where they could find the canoes, as she called for Grady to assist with preparations for their departure, and he reassured her that they would return to help manage the crisis they were currently handling otherwise.

Kendra, at Wyrmroost of all places. Seth missing. He couldn't get his mind off of them. Please let them be safe.