Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There was a knock on the door. “Moon!” shouted Secretkeeper from her work room.

“On it!” Moonwatcher yelled back, rushing towards the door. She opened it and was greeted by a Skywing courier.

“Hello wee one. Is your mother home? I’m supposed to deliver this to your guardian.” The courier said.

“Mom! It’s here!” She yelled back into the house. Secretkeeper left her room moving down towards the door.

“Thank you.” She said taking the letter from the Skywing who nodded and went on his way. She took a claw to the envelope opening the wax to read the insides. Moon was practically jumping with excitement. 

“What does it say? What does it say?” She asked, trying to snatch the letter from her mother. The letter was from Jade Mountain Academy, which meant it was most likely a letter of recommendation. To attend the recently opened academy you had to be nominated by the Queen, but as The Nightwings only had a council at the moment and were still deciding on who the next Queen would be, getting to the Academy through them was exceedingly difficult. She didn’t know any members of the council because she was raised in the rainforest and her mother wasn’t exactly the most popular. But, each staff member can send a few letters of recommendation each, nominating someone for selection. Essentially guaranteeing a successful application to the academy. And unless Starflight had randomly decided to abandon her here… 

“To the parents or guardian of Moonwatcher of the Nightwings,” Secretkeeper started dramatically. “Your daughter has caught the attention of the staff at Jade Mountain. Therefore a similar letter has also been sent to the leaders of your tribe. You have been nominated for acceptance at the academy. From the desk of Fatespeaker the Wings of Night on behalf of Starflight of the Nightwings.” 

Moon hugged her mother, grasping her tight. It’d been two weeks since Starflight and Fatespeaker left the Night Kingdom. They left to help supervise the admissions process and send out letters of recommendation. She’d missed her brother and his lover but this news washed away any melancholy she was feeling. She’d known the letter was coming Starflight had essentially told her. He not so subtly hinted about it and it was the only thing Moon could think about for weeks. Of course the Academy’s school year started next year, but this was the first step. 

“Moon how about we go get something special for tonight. I can see if I can order a cake from Vengeance. Does that sound good?” Secretkeeper asked, looking down at her daughter who was firmly attached to her. Moon looked back up at her and nodded. Despite his terrifying demeanor and scarred face Vengeance was an excellent baker. Much like him, many Nightwings who hadn’t previously had the opportunity to explore talents now had the opportunity outside of the volcano. Moon practically leaped for joy as her and mother left their home and moved towards Vengeance’s bakery.

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Cricket had known the order was coming before it took over her classmates and teacher, so in advance she asked to be dismissed to the restroom and went to hide in the sports equipment closet. She could hear the thoughts from her classmates shift from their normal patterns. 

FIND THE HYBRID NOW!

She shuttered, feeling the echo of the command ring throughout the minds of the dragons around her as they became an extension of their Queen. Whenever events like these happened she would always dream about them the night before. She lived in fear of ever being caught, but it seemed that Clearsight would always tell her where to hide in advance. She shuddered as claws moved past her outside the closet. She held her breath until they all passed. She breathed out a sigh of relief. It seemed there was a child of a forbidden romance they were looking for, and that was not her. 

That poor dragon, Cricket thought. The whole Hive is looking for her.

Cricket waited in that closet for what felt like an eternity. Eventually once the search was over, so was school. Cricket left the closet and began to head to her home. Her “Sister” was waiting for her when she got back.

“Oh, thank Clearsight.” Katydid said, moving forwards to hug Cricket. “I was very worried when I heard that the district of your school was mobilized.

“It’s okay Katydid. They weren’t looking for me.” Cricket clarified, returning the embrace. “They were looking for a Hybrid and I hid in time.” Katydid of course wasn’t actually Cricket’s sister. She was her mother in every sense but legally. But despite that Cricket hadn’t let her know about her abilities or that she knew about their true relationship. 

“As long as you’re okay.” She said, holding her tighter then releasing her. “There’s dinner on the counter if you’re hungry.” 

“I’m okay.” Cricket said, moving towards the stairs and up towards her room. “I think I’ll turn into bed early.”

“Good night Cricket.”

“Good night Katydid.”

Cricket tucked herself into bed putting her glasses on the nightstand next to her bed. She closed her eyes allowing sleep to overtake her.

In her dream she was standing in a field overlooking a city of stone she did not recognize. Below her in the city lights glowed as dragons danced in the distance. Next to her was an ebony dragon she did not recognize. 

“I’m glad you’re here finally.” She said, gesturing towards the city. “You’re one of us and now you’re home.” The dragoness claimed.

“Thank you.” Cricket responded. “I’m so glad to finally be here.”

Where is here? Who is that? Is that Clearsight?

Ah there you are. A voice invaded Cricket's head, yet unlike Wasp’s intrusive control it was gentle. It’s nice to meet you Cricket.

Chapter Text

“What is wrong with you? Did you even try to ask nicely?” Qibli scolded, “I’m the idiot clawmate, although I usually go by Qibli. My intimidating acquaintance here is Winter. What’s your name?” Despite being called intimidating, Winter felt anything but intimidating in the moment.

Winter couldn’t believe himself. He was immediately disgracing his tribe. Standing before him was probably the most beautiful dragon he’d ever seen.

But she is a Nightwing. His mind objected. She shifted still holding Bandit in her talons. 

“Moon, my name is Moon.” She said as she stared at Winter like she was sizing up a meal. “You have a cute scavenger.” She lifted Bandit gently into vision. “I wasn’t going to eat him. There are more appetizing things I could try to take a bite of in this room. What’s his name?” 

“Bandit,” Winter answered, then he sneered. “We both know Nightwings love names that are lies. So what's yours? Moondestroyer? Mooneater? Mooncrusher?”

Qibli moved to say something in her defense but Moon beat him to it. “Moonwatcher actually. Maybe if you didn’t listen to stereotypes so much you could’ve started this conversation differently. Or perhaps you don’t care for such things, like how you clearly don’t know what scavengers eat. Look how starved this poor thing is. Maybe you’d know how to feed it if you weren’t too scared of the Nightwing librarian to go check out a scroll on them.”

“I’m quite done here. May I have my scavenger?” 

“What’s the magic word?”

Winter felt his face contort in anger and his scales turn blue. He gritted his teeth. “My scavenger, please. ”  She glanced at him with a look of sadistic glee that only a Nightwing could make.

“Here you go, safe and sound.” She said, placing Bandit in his claws. As soon as he had Bandit he turned and stomped out of the cafeteria, Qibli following quickly after him. 

“You okay?” He asked, catching up to Winter. “I know you came into that all aggressive, but that was rough. She ran circles around you. As soon as you started talking her demeanor shifted. I thought she was going to be shy, but she was anything but that.”

Winter growled at him, but what he was saying was true. Her whole body language changed as soon as Winter got close. 

“It was like she could read minds.” Qibli said foolishly. “Nightwings don’t have powers anymore.” Qibli glanced up as Winter passed their cave. “Hey, where are you headed?”

“Library,” Winter answered. “I don’t like her, but she made a point about me not knowing how to feed Bandit.”

“Ah look at that.” Qibli cooed. “You learned a friendship lesson already. Classes haven’t even started.”

“Shut up.” He said, embarrassed as he walked into the library. Sitting at the main desk was a smaller Nightwing with a blindfold on and scars covering his body. In front of him was a nameplate that said Starflight. Despite his blindness he was still sorting through papers without trouble. 

“Oh!” Qibli said surprised as he saw Starflight. He turned to Winter and whispered. “You know how I said Nightwings don’t have powers.”

“Yes.” He replied back.

“Well there is an exception. Do you know who Morrowseer is?”

Winter snorted, “Of course I do, he delivered the Dragonet Prophecy.”

“Well that’s his son, he also has powers and he is most likely listening to this conversation through our thoughts.”

“He’s right.” Starflight called from his desk. “Do you need any help on finding a scroll? The S section is just to your right.”

“The point is while you’re talking to him don’t just mind your words, also mind your thoughts.”

“How does one mind their—” 

“Just do it.” Qibli cut him off. “I’m trying to look after you man.” Winter grumbled something and grabbed a scroll called ‘A study of scavenger habits’ that he took up to the desk. 

“How do I check this out?” He asked the Nightwing.

“Here’s your stamp.” The librarian said, passing Winter a bag with a stamp press in it. “Whenever you check out a scroll I mark that you’ve taken it on the scroll with your name on it.” He pulled out a scroll from under the desk without checking. “You stamp it and once you return the scroll I’ll stamp it as well to show you've returned it.” Winter took the stamp and marked the scroll taking ‘A study of scavenger habits’ off the desk. 

He doesn’t seem dangerous. I should be careful anyway. I don’t want to be caught off guard by the one Nightwing with powers. 

“Truly I’m harmless.” Starflight called out, while Winter was leaving. He headed back to his room Qibli following close behind. Winter laid on his bed, opening the scroll and looking for the diet section. It said they ate fruits, vegetables, and cooked meats.

“Well that’s just great.” he snarled aloud.

“What’s wrong?” Qibli asked from his loft.

“It says scavengers eat cooked meat. I can’t cook meat.” Qibli looked at him expectantly, like he was waiting for him to get something. “Oh no,” Winter said, realizing what Qibli was implying. “Do I have to?” Qibli just nodded. “Qibli, would you please help me feed my scavenger by cooking its meat for me?”

“Why of course Winter.” Qibli said dramatically. “That’s twice today, must be a record for you?”

“Shut up and help me feed my scavenger.” Winter said, turning away embarrassed. Qibli cooked the rodents Winter had caught earlier for Bandit and while hesitant Bandit did eventually eat it. He eventually fell asleep, feeling too warm while he slept, but having mostly pleasant dreams. He was awoken by the noise of dragons moving through the halls, groaning as he got up. He and Qibli walked to their first class together. They arrived last because Qibli stopped to talk to some girl he knew in the hallway. 

Oh no, it’s her.  

Moonwatcher was having a conversation with her Rainwing friend from yesterday. Next to them was a red Skywing. Across from her were two Seawings having a conversation, one of which he recognized as Tsunami. She was very noisy in the halls yesterday and it was impossible to ignore her. She was talking to a male Seawing he didn’t know, but he was absolutely the most muscular dragon he’d ever seen. Next to him was a small Mudwing who was practically ogling the Seawing. He turned and noticed Qibli and Winter enter and looked like he short circuited.

“Ah,” Tsunami said, turning towards Qibli and Winter and clasping her claws together. “Everyone’s here. I’m sure everyone here knows who I am, but Sunny said I should still introduce myself. Then she said I probably wouldn’t do it. Hi I’m Tsunami the headmistress.”

Carnelian raised a claw and Tsunami nodded at her. “Are we stuck with this group?” She asked.

“That’s not how I’d put it, Carnelian. But yes.” Tsunami answered. “Anyway back to introductions, Carnelian it seems like you’re eager to speak, how about you start.”

“I’m Carnelian.”

“Anything else? Hobbies? Favorite color?”

“I’m loyal to Queen Ruby. I believe Queen Scarlet is dead. But if not I’d happily kill her. I should be with my battalion, but my Queen sent me here.” She said and then added. “And my favorite color is red.”

The Mudwing sat there dazed and confused until he realized it was his turn. “Oh I’m Umber, I’m Clay’s brother.” He introduced. “May I just ask.” He turned to the Seawing next to him. “Why are you muscles?” He then blushed, realizing his mistake too late. “I mean–”

Before the Seawing could answer, Tsunami cut him off. “I can answer that. You see Turtle here is my Brother, now I have thirty-one other brothers and he’s my favorite. But, he seems to have some self worth issues, so our father has commanded that whenever he says something negative about himself I make him exercise.” 

“Well I can’t really be your–”

“Shut up Turtle, drop down and give me thirty." Turtle seemed unfazed by the command as he began to do push ups and Umber began to malfunction more.

“Actually me and Turtle have met before.” Moonwatcher said. “It was a while ago so I don’t fault you if you’ve forgotten.”

“I remember you.” He said still doing push ups.

“We’ve also met before.” Carnelian clarified.

“I haven't forgotten you either.” He said, losing count of his push ups and starting again.

“I guess I’ll go.” Qibli offered. “My name is Qibli, I am one of Queen Thorn’s Outclaws. I am trying to learn as much as I can here and go back to the Sand Kingdom to help her.” 

“My name’s Winter and I’m Queen Glacier’s nephew.” He then turned to Tsunami. “If you're the headmistress, do I talk to you about changing rooms?”

“The answer is no.” Tsunami said, cheerfully.

“You’re stuck with me.” Qibli whispered in his ear.

“I’m Kinkajou! I can’t wait to learn to read! I want to know everything about all your tribes and I think this school is the best idea in the world!” She said, a little too excited for everyone else in the room. “And my favorite color’s yellow.”

“I forgot we were doing those.” Qibli said, “Mine’s green.”

“I guess I’m last.” Moonwatcher said. “My name’s Moonwatcher, I was raised in the rainforest away from my tribe before moving to the Night Kingdom with the rest of them. I already knew some of the staff before coming here because I am Starflight’s little sister.”

Winter felt all the theoretical color drain from his face. He didn’t need to look to know if Qibli felt similarly.

She does have powers, He grimaced. Because her father is Morrowseer.

“And my favorite color is also green.” She finished looking a little too pleased with herself while looking at Qibli and Winter.

Chapter Text

Qibli was panicking. Or perhaps panicking was an understatement.

How’d I not notice? I’m supposed to be better than this. He scolded himself. Watching the Nightwing beside him suddenly dive and impale a goat between her talons. 

“I didn’t know Nightwings knew how to hunt.” Carnelian said, surprised by Moon’s sudden display of agility. 

“Well I wasn’t raised with the rest of the Nightwings.” She clarified. She then turned to Qibli. “You haven’t caught anything yet, do you want this?”

“That’d be wonderful, I’m having a hard time catching things out here. It’s very different from the dessert.” He said, putting on false confidence. He knew she could see through him but breaking apart wasn’t going to help him.

“I’ll help teach you,” She offered. “I don’t want you to starve, you’re too gorgeous to die.” She flirted.

Qibli had never felt so dumbfounded in his life. Usually he was pretty confident in himself, but this beautiful dragon who could read his mind and knew he thought she was beautiful was flirting with him. She handed the goat to him before diving down and grabbing another. She glanced at her bloody talons before making eye contact with Qibli and licking the goat blood off of them.

She’s going to eat me alive.  

“I’m sorry I have to go!” He quickly bolted away from her when they landed back in the mess hall. He moved through the hallways, having dropped his goat somewhere in the Mess Hall. Eventually he arrived at Sunny’s office. He knocked on the door. “Sunny, are you in there? I know you’re the guidance counselor and I need guidance.” 

Sunny opened the door and Qibli entered. “What do you need help with?” Sunny asked, returning to her desk. 

“Sunny I’ve never been more stressed in my whole life and I was raised in the Scorpion Den.” He started. “I’ve never encountered a more impossible situation in my whole life.”

“Slow down and take a breath. What happened?”

“There’s this girl, she’s gorgeous, she knows I think she’s gorgeous, she flirted with me, and she looks at me like she’s going to bite me.”

“Ah I see.” Sunny said, organizing some papers on her desk. “You see I’d love to help you, but any romance between students is classified as a non-issue. Unless you feel sexually harassed, then I will do something about it. Do you feel sexually harassed?” She asked. Putting her papers down and looking at him. He considered it for a second before shaking his head no. “Great, well I wish you luck in your romantic efforts with this cannibal.” Sunny then began to push him out of the room.

“Wait wait wait–”

“Bye! Let me know how it goes.” She said as she shoved him into the hallway and slammed the door close behind him. Qibli took a deep breath as he walked back out into the hallway. He didn’t get much peace however because as soon as he found himself grounded a scream rang out from far away.

“She’s here to kill us all!” The voice yelled from near the entrance. Dragons began to run either in the other direction or towards the noise to investigate. Qibli quickly ran towards the commotion to investigate. He arrived at the entrance where he saw a bright orange Skywing standing. It looked like embers danced off her body as she stood there unamused by the screaming and shouts of fear. She looked bored and impatient, like she could attack at any moment. 

Okay. How does one deal with a powerful dragon that fire seems to radiate from. He began to plot how he could neutralize this situation. Until a giant dragon came hulking into view.

“Peril you came!” Clay yelled, bounding over to her and picking her up for a hug. She cackled and returned the hug. “Are you going to stick around?”

“I’m sorry but I can’t stay, Starflight has me working to find Scarlet.” She explained. “I was in the area, but I have to get back to the search. Sky says hi.” she then glanced around as if looking for someone. “Is Turtle nearby? I wanted to see him before I left.”

“He’s somewhere.” Clay answered. “I could probably find him if you want.”

“No thanks. It was nice seeing you but I have an ex-Queen to hunt.” She then pecked him on the cheek and turned away and flew off. Students began to disperse once she left, and Clay stood there rubbing his cheek longingly. 

Okay, my teacher is dating a murderous fire dragon that works for my other teacher and also knows a dragon from my winglet. Qibli's thoughts were interrupted by the striking of the gong which signified the start of class. He headed over to his next class. History with Webs, also known as the most boring thing to do in this school. Qibli arrived at class last and scooted up next to Turtle. 

“So,” he whispered in Turtle’s ear. “How do you know Peril?”

“Oh,” Turtle whispered back, leaning over to Qibli. “We both work in The Claws together, although I’m off duty during the school year.”

“What are The Claws.”

“The Claws of the Blind Prophet. We’re sort of similar to the Talons of Peace, just a little less public. We’re not really secret either.”

“What do you do?”

“I can only tell you if you join.”

“Can I join?”

“It’s more of a getting scouted situation. You can’t apply.” Turtle explained. “And I’m not in charge of recruitment.”

Qibli thought about it for a moment. “Is Starflight the Blind Prophet?”

“Yup, how’d you figure it out?”

“It’s just super on the snout.” Qibli expressed. “He’s blind and also a prophet.”

“Well the idea is that most people don’t know Starflight is a prophet. I don’t know how you knew and it’s not really a secret but, please keep that on the down low.” Turtle explained.

Oh I’ve immediately screwed that up. Qibli thought back to him telling Winter about Starflight's powers. 

“Oh, we met during the war. He came to the Scorpion Den to talk to Thorn. He knew my name and I asked how and he said he could read minds. I wasn’t fully convinced but with the way he acted I eventually realized it was true.”

“That sounds about right.” Turtle sighed, looking towards his work sheet and filling out the answers. Qibli did the same, he finished early and began to look around until class was finished. There were several posters hung up on the wall from maps to pieces of wartime propaganda. He looked around aimlessly until he noticed Moonwatcher gazing at Winter. As soon as he looked at her she turned and looked at him. She flashed her sharp teeth at him and he looked away quickly. 

“Have you known Moonwatcher for long?” Qibli asked Turtle while avoiding eye contact with Moonwatcher.

“For about two years.” He explained. “We are actually pretty close; it's just been a while since I’ve seen her last.” Then he sighed. “She used to be very timid. She changed a lot in the two years I’ve known her. Partially because her brother spoils her. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.” Qibli lied. Turtle looked at him without any ounce of belief. Turtle then looked past him at Moonwatcher who was still watching Qibli intensely whose mind was racing about her. 

“Good luck.” Turtle offered. “You’ll need it.”

She really is going to eat me alive.

Chapter Text

Spirit of Clearsight, if you’re listening: please take care of my sister. Please let her Metamorphosis be normal. 

Blue had been thinking that same line over and over all day. Praying to the Dragon of the Night Sky for his sister's safety. His prayers had been left on deaf ears and currently every Hivewing in Cicada Hive was possibly chasing him. Io had spun him a web to get across while she stayed behind and distracted the hoard of Zombie–Like Hivewings. He ran through the unfamiliar halls of the building he had escaped into. It was a school and by this time all the doors would be locked. He was a rat trapped in an inescapable maze. The heard the clamor of talons behind him as the Hivewings closed in.

“Blue, psst! Over here.” Blue whirled around. There was a small equipment closet built into the wall with a yellow claw reaching out beckoning him inside of it. Seeing no other alternative he ran towards the shed and the claw grabbed him and pulled him inside. Wings brushed against his sides as he was pulled right next to the mystery dragon.

They're an adult. He realized feeling their wings brush against his back. Someone who has already gone through metamorphosis.

“Who–”

“Shhhhh.” The feminine dragon said, her talons wrapping around his snout. He began to wonder about her. Did she work here? Was she some form of teacher or staff member?

“Don’t move.” She whispered into his ear, her apple scented breath reaching his nose. He wondered if she’d ever saved dragons like this before? Or how brave she was, saving him from an entire Hive's worth of dragons. 

She pulled at something at the wall, revealing a tunnel. “Stay close to me Blue. The tunnels are confusing.”

“How do you know my name?”

“Sush, we’ll talk once you’re safe.” She commanded, grabbing his front talons and dragging him into the tunnel. They walked in silence as she dragged him along. 

“Are you with the Chrysalis?” He asked.

She giggled a little. “That glorified book club?” She joked. “They wish.” She reached out in front of her and found a trapdoor. She glanced through two eye level holes checking for Hivewings. Before pushing open the trapdoor and passing through. Blue followed behind her looking out into the room. It was a library, the biggest one he’d ever been in. Books lined the walls and the room was only lit by a few lamps sprinkled throughout the room. He turned forward looking at his rescuer. She was yellow with black strips and a few spare silver scales sprinkled around her body with two of them right next to her eyes.

Black

The signature color of a descendant of Clearsight. This dragon was–

“A Hivewing.” She finished for him, turning back around to look at him. When she saw him the expression on her face shifted from mild annoyance to something very different within seconds. She whipped back around and began to whisper to herself. “You didn’t say how beautiful he’d be. What do you mean that’s a ‘me problem’!? You are no help.” Like he was only hearing one side of a conversation. She whipped back around to address him. “We need to get the cuff off of you or else the poison will activate.”

“There’s poison in the cuff?” Blue was distraught. The cuff was just an item for identification. There was no way there was a secret poison in it.

“Oh there absolutely is.” She explained. “They use it to capture runaway Silkwings. It’s not fatal, but you’re more useful awake than knocked out.” She walked over to one of the lamps and unscrewed the top. She produced a pair of tweezers from a bag and pulled out a thin piece of glowing silk from the light. She walked over and quickly pushed the thread against his bracelet burning right through it. It fell on the ground with a clank.

“How do you know about me?” He asked, pulling his arm away from the bright silk. “You never explained.”

She paused, as if determining how she should answer. “Earlier you were praying to Clearsight,” She dropped the mysterious silk into a cup of water. “I heard you like I hear and see many things. I came to help. You and your sister.”

“Are you Clearsight?” He asked, his eyes filled with awe. This dragon was very possibly a goddess. Sure she looked different than any depiction of Clearsight, but maybe she’s changed forms to blend in.

“No.” Blue was immediately disappointed. As disappointed as you’d get when you realize the person on your side isn’t an immortal goddess. “But I did inherit some of her powers.” Blue’s face was as hopeful as fast as he was disappointed. “I know where they’re taking you sister. I also know you want to go get your friend Swordtail before you set out to rescue her. I think he’d be a hindrance but, you won’t let us continue without him so…”

“You have no choice but to go get him?”

“Exactly.” She sighed deeply. “I never thought beauty was essential, but here I am staring at a masterpiece of the gods and bending at your whims.”

“You’re very honest.” Blue said, fiddling with his wrist. He felt weird without the bracelet. “I suppose you know what people are going to do before they do it, so nothing’s worth lying about.”

She snorted. “I’m not that powerful. It’s hard not to be very honest when you can hear everyone’s thoughts all the time and their honest opinions.”

“You can read minds!” He said, shocked. That meant that every–

“Yes I’ve heard all the things you’ve thought about me. I see you like my breath. I have some kind of reverse version of the Hivewing stink cloud. Isn’t that interesting. My teachers and principal hate it. They don’t know how I know their secrets, but I do. They also don’t like how honest or curious I am. They don’t like my brain. On another note you also have an interesting brain. You’re so incredibly empathetic, you’ve thought about the potentially rough homelife of my school staff members. You don’t have to worry about them, they suck.”

She wasn’t incorrect. He had been partially sympathizing with the school staff. Imagining their possible struggles. “If it’s any solace, I also like your brain.”

With that she paused and turned her head away from him. Then her head snapped back up. “Time to go back in the tunnel. Hivewings are coming.” She said, pushing him back through and closing the hatch behind them.

Chapter Text

Perhaps what I’m doing is beneath me. Moon thought, taking a bite out of the chicken she’d caught in the prey room. She was sitting in a group with Kinkajou and a few other Rainwings. Moon could’ve sat with the Nightwings, they idolized her brother and she was pretty well off socially among them, but Rainwing's minds were always either full of sweet nonsense or lazy nothings and were quite pleasant to listen to. She stared across the room towards the group of Icewings. Perhaps giving this Icewing Prince "traitorous” thoughts is a waste of my time and abilities.

Winter turned and glanced across the room. They made eye contact and he quickly turned away, hiding his blush. 

Nah.

She turned again, looking towards the Sandwings. Qibli was engrossed in conversation with the other dragons. He was interesting as well. He’s so good at reading other people, yet hates when people realize that. Therefore he is incredibly afraid of what I think about him because I actually know all of his thoughts. 

Essentially he squirms around me just as much as Winter does.

“Watcha thinking about?” Kinkajou asked, turning towards Moon. 

“I was thinking about what boy I would torture today.” Moon responded. “Who do you think would be more fun to play with?”

“Well Turtle doesn’t seem phased by you.” She started. “And I think Umber is too into Turtle to be anything but Gay. You might just have to go for the classics. Unless you’re thinking about other Winglets?”

“You’re right.” Moon spoke and stood up. “Well, I’ll just have to go for the classics.” She glanced over at the Seawings and smirked. “Or how about I try something new?”

Kinkajou stood up as well. “That’s interesting. What do you mean by that? Like Pike?”

“There are Dragons in this school that are attracted to women that aren’t men.” Moon Revealed.

Kinkajou gasped. “There’s a lesbian among the Seawings? Who is it?”

Moon lifted a claw to her lips and shushed Kinkajou. “Watch and learn.” Moon walked towards the ensemble of amphibious dragons. “Turtle!” She greeted, coming up from behind him. “How are you?”

Turtle turned around from his conversation. “Hello Moon.” He sighed. Moon had never really gotten a read on him considering she couldn’t read his mind. But he was nice enough. “What brings you over here?”

“Well this school is all about making connections and understanding each other, and I’ve been hanging out with the same group of people this whole time, so I decided it was time to branch out.”

“Oh, okay.” Turtle answered. “Read any good scrolls recently.”

Moon stuck her tongue out in disgust. “I’ve read more scrolls than anyone should in seven lifetimes.”

The pale blue Seawing sitting nearby barked out a laugh.

Bait set.

“Me too!” The Princess cackled in agreement. “My mother used to have me proofread all of her scrolls. I’m so bored of fiction.”

“I assume you’re Princess Anemone.” Moon said, bowing her head. “My name is Moonwatcher.”

“Hello Moonwatcher.” Anemone greeted, clearly enjoying the deference she was being given. “Care to explain your scroll related trauma?”

“My brother is the Nightwing that runs the library here.” She explained. She had to be cautious with her approach. Anemone was a Princess, one of the only in her Kingdom, so she was highly valued and being incorrect with manners could be very dangerous. She couldn’t just imply she was going to bite her. Plus Anemone was a bit more picky when it came to flirting. “As you can imagine as someone with immediate access and not a lot of friends when I was younger I read a lot.” Moon lied through her teeth. She had read a lot through the last two years, but she was by no means bored of it. “I actually talk to other dragons now and I’m not going back.” That much was true at least.

“A kindred spirit!” Anemone exclaimed. “Turtle you’ve been demoted. I’ve found my new favorite dragon at school.” She said, shooing Turtle away. Turtle shrugged and walked off to go talk to the Mudwings. She beckoned Moon to sit next to her.

“I feel bad for deposing him.” Moon chuckled as she accepted Anemone’s invite and sat down.

“It’s okay.” Anemone clarified. “I only really hang out with him because he’s mom’s favorite son, AKA the only one I’m allowed to hang out with.” She then paused. “I do like hanging out with him, but I do need to find other friends.”

“Why is he allowed to hang out with you when your other thirty-one brothers aren’t?”

“He organized the effort that saved my father’s life.” She answered before adding. “Also he’s an author, so my mother thinks he’s less rowdy than the others. She also wants him to inherit her publishing company. How’d you know I had thirty-two brothers?” 

Ah, I slipped up.

“Princess Tsunami mentioned it a couple days ago.” She wasn’t exactly lying. Tsunami did yell about it a couple days ago. It’s just not how she knows. “You really weren’t allowed to hang out with any of your other brothers?”

“Nope.”

“Ah.”

“What about your brother?” Anemone asked, clearly eager for information. “No one knows much about him and he’s flaky about questions. What’s his deal? How’d he end up here? Does he actually have powers? Is that just a rumor? Is he really dating the Wings of Night?”

“Please, Princess, slow down.” Moon was possibly being overwhelmed in conversation for the first time in years. Anemone’s mind was moving even faster than her mouth, imagining all the gossip she could squeeze out of Moon. “My brother knew the Dragonets of Destiny because he was our father’s apprentice.” Moon said, reciting the lie she and her brother had come up with. “Our father was Morrowseer, the dragon who delivered the Dragonet Prophecy, so Starflight had a lot of interactions with the Dragonets. Our father wasn’t a good man and tried to manipulate the prophecy to a selfish goal. Starflight’s views didn’t align with his and well…” Moon paused. “Let’s just say he didn’t lose his eyes in an accident. He did have powers, when he still had eyes. I fear the same could happen to me someday. After all, unlike him I can still see the future.”

Anemone was thoroughly satisfied with the information she had gained from Moon. She was also a little put off by the dramatic display.

Which is the goal. Moon took a moment to consider herself. I came over here to flirt, what am I doing.

“Well Princess,” Moon switched the tone in her voice. “I’m sure you also have some interesting secrets past your beautiful eyes.”

Hook, line, and sinker.

Chapter Text

Turtle was in an interesting situation at the moment.

“It looks like Moonwatcher is flirting with my sister.” Turtle sighed, turning towards Umber.

“Oh really?” Umber said in surprise. “She’s bisexual?”

“She might be, or she’s going after my sister because she’s an easy target.” He explained. “Moonwatcher is… interesting. I don’t know if she loves or even likes anyone besides her close family.” He offered part of the fish he was eating to Umber who took it and started roasting it with fire. “Social interactions have to be difficult when you can read a dragon's every thought.”

Umber turned towards Turtle in confusion. “How would that make it difficult? That would probably make it easier.”

“Well imagine this, you're talking to a dragon that speaks pretty, but is actually terribly racist.” He started. “You have no idea how terrible this dragon is. Moonwatcher can hear every thought someone is having while also talking to them. It makes genuine connection hard. That’s why she hangs out with Rainwings. They're very honest people.”

“I suppose that sort of sucks.” Umber then lifted his head in surprise. “Oh Moon looks flustered.” Turtle turned his attention back to the pair and certainly enough Moon was blushing and looking overwhelmed.

“I might have to go bail her out. That’s a first.” Turtle chuckled. Moon was good at what she did, so Anemone must’ve done or said something Moon was not expecting or could not foresee. He walked up towards the two girls plotting about what he’d say to save Moon, until the gong rang. “Moon!” He called at the Nightwing. “Come walk with me and Umber to class!” He commanded. Moon quickly said something to Anemone before hurrying over to Turtle. 

“Thanks.” She quickly said, walking up besides Turtle.

“You want to talk about it?” He asked, beckoning Umber over.

“No. Wait, yes. Your sister is crazy.” Moon face was a confused mess and she had not stopped blushing. “I went into that interaction expecting a serene lake, because that’s how her mind felt at first. But as she talked I realised I wasn’t talking to someone with a serene lake for a brain I was talking to someone with rushing rapids. I started flirting with her and her mind immediately sped up to a point I could no longer figure her out and now I’m here trying to figure out how to flirt with someone I can’t read, because she flirted back and I was unprepared. There are only three other people in the world whose minds I can’t read and one of them is you, and I don’t flirt with people like that.”

“Well, are you going to stop flirting with Anemone then?” Turtle asked as Umber arrived next to them.

“No, I’m in too deep. I’ll just have to persevere or get advice on how to actually hold a conversation.” She then looked at Turtle with a strange look in her eyes.

“You won’t be getting advice from me. I’m not exactly strong socially, and if you hurt my sister in any way I will fight you. But if you're looking for advice with social interactions…” He paused, glancing over at the Sandwings. “You’d probably be better off talking to Qibli.”

“I suppose that is true.” She agreed. “I know I stress him out and it’s cute when he’s flustered, but I might just have to level with him.”

“Are you giving up on Qibli?” Umber asked. 

“Yeah.” She answered. “He’s cute and smart, but I’m not exactly that interested in him. Also for some reason he thinks I’m going to eat him and I think he should talk to a therapist about that.”

“If you’re going to stop harassing Qibli you should probably stop with Winter as well.” Turtle advised, beginning to walk to their next class. “You’re not breeding any positivity by messing with them.”

“I suppose it was fun to mess with them at first. Qibli was very confident in his abilities to read people and needed to be knocked down a peg. But now he’s already been humbled and I don’t need to bury him in the dirt. Winter was racist, but was also attracted to me. So that was pretty fun to play with. But he’ll find other ways to have his forbidden romance.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to others like a game.” Turtle requested.

“It’s hard not to. A lot of dragons suck and I should be allowed to mess with them.” She then turned towards Umber. “Don’t worry you’re nice, Umber.”

“I wasn’t worried that you thought I wasn’t nice!” He claimed.

“Yes you were, I can read your mind.” Umber sighed in concedement. “I’m sorry that was rude.” She turned back to Turtle. “See this, I’m struggling with Umber right now because he’s gay and I can’t flirt with him.”

Umber face contorted in embarrassment. “I’m not gay!” 

“Yes you are, I can read your mind.” She then stopped again and turned to Turtle. “I need help.”

“I know.”

“I should talk to Qibli.”

“I know.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Nope, do it today.”

“Why”

“You’ll keep putting it off otherwise.”

“You’re right. I’ll do it after class.”

“Okay.”

The three dragons continued to walk in awkward silence making their way towards History Class. Suddenly Moonwatcher collapsed against the wall.

“Moon!” Umber called. 

“What’s happening? What are you seeing?” Turtle asked helping Moon stand back up.

“Don’t go into class. Stay out of that room!” She called out pointing towards the History Cave. Turtle got moving, blocking the door to the cave. 

“She’s a prophet.” He announced to the hallway. “Her father is Morrowseer, if she says don’t go into the cave, DON’T GO IN.” Whispers broke out in the hallway.

Moon called out. “There are still two dragons in there!” Turtle burst out into a sprint. The history cave was long and the dragons inside probably didn’t hear Moon’s warning. “Who’s in here?” he yelled out. 

“I’m here.” Bigtail said, popping up from behind a desk. “What’s up?”

“Somethings about to happen and you need to get out of the cave.” 

“Do you know what?”

“No, but Moonwatcher is having a vision in the hallway.” With her name invoked, Bigtail immediately booked it out of the room. 

“What’s going to happen?” Tamarin asked, walking out towards Turtle.

“No clue, but I rather no one be in here when we find out.” He grabbed onto Tamarin’s arm and began to run with her out of the cave.

BOOM

Turtle wrapped his wings around Tamarin and hit the ground.

Chapter Text

Cricket had over the course of several days guided the duo of Silkwings all the way to Wasp Hive per her instructions.

“I say we storm the Hive right now,” Swordtail rattled. “I fly in, start knocking over guards, and force them to tell me where she is.”

“Well Swordtail.” Cricket replied, turning back towards the blue-orange Silkwing. “That’s a spectacular plan. Except that’ll get you killed, the Hive on high alert and Blue captured. We’re going to sneak into there.” She said, pointing towards the greenhouses. “No guards go into the one all the way, because only the Queen is allowed in. It’s a good place to hide out while we concoct the next step of our plan.” Swordtail grumbled something under his breath about Hivewings yet acquiesced and followed Cricket. She walked up to the door and confidently cut the wire connecting to the door. “Swordtail you’ll need to fix that or else the guards will notice.” She pushed the door open and cringed at the humid heat within the Greenhouse. Soon after she noticed the strange green vine that seemed to be the only thing grown in the building. 

Don’t consume any of this plant. Don’t inhale it, don’t let its thorns scratch you. 

“Be careful of the thorns.” she warned before wandering deeper into the Greenhouse. The various plants inside varied more than she thought, but most of it was the green vine. “Why do you think Queen Wasp keeps everyone out of here?” She asked, turning back towards Blue, only to notice he was missing.

I thought he was right behind me.

Duck!

Following the sudden command Cricket dropped to the floor as vines lurched above her head, moving unnaturally. 

There are three Leafwings in here with you. They are spread out, but the one controlling the vines is closest to you. Forward to the left. Move quickly.

Cricket burst forward, moving swiftly throughout the Greenhouse dodging lurching vines and other various plants. It was hard to see her but her thoughts gave away her position. Following the feeling of surprise Cricket burst through some vines and tackled a Leafwing out of her hiding spot and pinning her to the ground.

“Where did you put my…” Cricket paused trying to find the right words. “Silkwings?”

The other two have noticed that something’s off, the one you have pinned name is Sundew. The other two are Hemlock and Belladonna and are her parents. Act quickly, they’re about to close in.

“Hemlock and Belladonna.” Cricket called out, putting one of her talons on Sundew’s neck. “I have your daughter trapped under me right now. My claws are on her neck, and while statistically unlikely that I have venom in my talons, that’s not something you’re willing to risk, is it?”

“How in Clearsight’s name do you know who we are?” Sundew asked, while struggling underneath Cricket.

“I’d rather like to know what you’re doing in Queen Wasp’s Greenhouse?” Cricket said, shifting a little more weight onto the bigger Leafwing. There was no way she was going to get out from under Cricket. Starflight had her train physically ever since they met. Sure, Cricket was a nerd, but now she was also a muscular beast.

She can’t know about the Book of Clearsight.

“You’re going to attempt to steal the Book of Clearsight?” Cricket said aloud in surprise. “You know that’s a fool's errand right.”

Behind you

Cricket whipped around and struck Belladonna square in the snout, sending in the dragoness stumbling back.

“Who are you? One of Wasp’s elite guards?” Belladonna questioned, whipping blood away from her nostrils. 

“Nope!” Cricket said, popping the P. “I don’t think she has one of those. Where are the Silkwings?”

“You release my daughter first then we’ll talk.” Belladonna offered.

“Uh” Sundew was almost certainly going to attack as soon as Cricket turned her back.

Threaten to tell her parents she has a girlfriend if she doesn’t agree to not attack. 

Cricket considered that for a second before she leaned down and whispered in Sundew’s ear. “If you attack me when I turn my back I may die, but I swear I will tell your parents about your secret lesbian relationship before I fully pass away.” Sundew suddenly turned pale and her talons moved to the satchel she kept. Cricket got off Sundew and went up beside Belladonna, who seemed furious that Sundew hadn’t attacked. “Please show me to my associates or I will embarrass you further in front of your daughter who looks up to you.”

Belladonna showed her to where Swordtail and Blue were bound up by vines and gagged. “Now before I tell you why stealing the Book of Clearsight is a terrible idea, free these two.”

“And what makes you think we’ll do that?” Belladonna lashed her tail angrily.

“Because as we’ve established I know who you two are and that there is a third of you hiding. Now it seems that you two together can’t beat me, but all three of you have a decent chance. The reason you all haven’t attacked me yet is because you’re too interested in what I have to say about the Book of Clearsight. Free them, then I’ll talk.”

Belladonna considered for a second, before signaling to Sundew who pressed her hands to the vines and they receded from Swordtail and Blue. “Speak Hivewing.”

“Very well, where do I begin?”

Chapter Text

“Fuck!” Tsunami yelled, slamming her talons against the wall of the infirmary. “Why didn’t he have his invulnerability bracer?” Turtle had used his body to shield Tamarin against the explosion. He was asleep on a cot in the infirmary, covered in bandages and knocked out using Rainwing darts.

“I’m not sure.” Starflight answered, his voice filled with guilt. “I mean why would he? He was going to school. Why would anyone need protection at a school?”

“Starflight… who did this?” Tsunami asked, turning towards the moonborn dragon. 

“I… I… don’t know.” He admitted truthfully. “My future vision hasn’t been the same since… you know what. But, my mind reading’s been the same. No one has thought anything incriminating so far, and alternatively there are certain minds I can’t read.” He said, pulling a stone out of Turtle’s bracelet and feeling the suffocating silence suddenly engulf him. “These black rocks block MInd Reading and prevent me from using my Future Vision. It’s possible our suspect is carrying one. Or using some other object to hide from me, magic or otherwise.”

“Do you have a suspect?” Tsunami asked, sitting down on the cot next to Turtle.

“Several theories actually.” Starflight sat down on the other cot across from Tsunami. “The first one who comes to mind is…”

“Scarlet.” Tsunami finished for him. “But you would see that coming.”

“I’m not sure that I would.” He corrected. “I’ve been trying to search for her with my visions, but I can’t even get a glimpse of her in any possible future. I’m sure she’s successfully made contact with her Animus.”

“She has an Animus?” Tsunami yelped in surprise.

“Not exactly. The person she has working for her has an Animus-Touched object that mimics the power of Animus Magic. The only reason we aren’t very dead yet is because he doesn’t know how to use it properly. But, she shouldn’t have time to set up an attack on the school, she’s getting hunted down by both the Talons and my Claws. If she planted the bomb herself she would’ve been caught, especially in Skywing territory.”

“Which means?” 

“Scarlet couldn’t have planted the bomb herself.” He reasoned. “Which leads to my second theory. Scarlet is using a student to attack us.”

“What student would align with Scarlet?”

“I’m not sure. The explosive used was a Dragonflame Cactus.” He explained. “It grows in the Claws of the Clouds Mountains. Which would lead me to suspect that maybe one of the Skywing students could still be loyal to Scarlet but…”

“Who would be loyal to Scarlet that Queen Ruby hand picked to go to a school about making peace?”

“Exactly, so if a student has been enlisted by Scarlet it’s probably not a Skywing. But…”

“What?”

“Here’s my third and final theory, whoever set the bomb is unassociated with Scarlet and has a different agenda. If Scarlet wanted revenge this doesn’t seem like her method. Why not set a bomb in the library, or in Sunny’s office. Placing it in the History Cave is too specific to be an attack meant for one of us. The attack wasn’t meant for us. The War ended a year ago, and tensions are still high and vendetta still has… This was a student attacking another student.”

“How would a student block your Mind reading?”

“I know Onyx has a piece of the Black Gem. Some Icewing’s train to block Mind Readers. Some people can do it naturally as well. Like Clay’s sister Sora, she’s so naturally calm her mind is like a bog to move through. Anemone has a similar ability, but in the other direction, her mind is so sporadic it’s hard to read sometimes.”

“You don’t think…”

“No, I doubt Anemone is involved.”

Tsunami stood up from the cot and hovered next to her little brother for a while. She sighed and turned back towards Starflight. “We’re going to have to explain this to The Queens. I suspect that we won’t have a problem with Glory, but most of the Queen’s will be demanding justice. Especially Coral. Turtle’s her favorite son. She might even pull Anemone from the school.”

Starflight stood up as well. He turned towards the entrance. “I know you’re there, you can come in.” Umber stepped into the room. His calm mind rumbling in turmoil and fear. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just…” He started, beginning to stumble over his words.

“It’s okay Umber, we shouldn’t be having this conversation here anyways. You can stay with Turtle, we’ll leave.” Starflight gave him a reassuring smile as he and Tsunami passed him and left the room. Starflight and Tsunami didn’t speak again until they had reached Tsunami’s office.

“How much of that did he hear?” Tsunami asked, taking a seat at her desk. 

“Only the part about it being another student.” Starflight said frowning. “He’s going to do something reckless, I’m sure.”

“Who? Umber?” Tsunami said, confused. “He seems too well mannered.”

“Well you haven’t read his mind.” Starflight reasoned, taking a seat across from Tsunami. “He’s smitten. He’s also an ex-soldier.”

“He has a crush on Turtle?!” Tsunami yelped in surprise. “That… explains a lot actually.”

“It was painfully obvious. I didn't need Mind Reading to figure it out.” Starflight snorted. “The issue lies within what Umber was thinking about. The kind of risky things you think when someone you love gets hurt.”

“I know that feeling all too well.” Tsunami confided. “I wonder why?” She said sarcastically.

“Three Moons,” Starflight replied back with the same energy, chuckling. “You try to sacrifice your life one time, and no one ever gets over it.”

“Yeah, would no one get over it? It doesn’t make sense.” She retorted. She then paused and took a moment to consider. “Do you think this was a bad idea?”

Starflight stopped his laughter. “What do you mean?”

“Jade Mountain… are we qualified?” She said, uncertainty filling her voice.

“Tsunami no one is more qualified than us.” Starflight stood up from his chair and moved across to the other side of the desk. 

Tsunami took a deep breath. “Thanks Starflight. Things are not going great.”

“It’s okay, we’ve got this. I’m just glad Fatespeaker isn’t here in the middle of this chaos.”

“Speaking of being smitten.”

“I am indeed incredibly smitten.”

Chapter Text

The students had gathered for the assembly in the great hall. All shuffling in and slowly filling the place, as the Dragonets began to address the issue at hand. Sunny was speaking about how the school would stay open, but people were welcome to leave. Winter was paying attention, until someone put a claw on his shoulder. 

“Winter.” Moonwatcher whispered into his ear. “I need your help. Follow me.” As she disappeared into the crowd dragging him by his arm towards the exit. Soon they exited the Great Hall together where Qibli, Kinkajou, Carnelian, and Umber were gathered.

“What’s this?” Winter asked, stumbling away from Moon and standing near Qibli. 

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Carnelian snarled, smoke rising from her snout as she turned towards Moon.

“I’ve been assigned to investigate the incident in the history cave.” She explained, holding out a scroll with a purple wax seal. “Under the authority of The Nightwing Queen, I am to assemble a team to catch the perpetrator of the explosion.”

“And you chose us?” Qibli asked, looking around. “Why? Because we’re your winglet?”

“Sort of.” She put the scroll back in her bag. “Each staff member has a corresponding winglet. We are Starflight’s winglet, so I think you are likely the most capable out of the students here. Also I know you.”

“I’m in.” Kinkajou cheered. “I’m sure Ms. Friendly Face over here is in as well.” she said, nudging Carnelian.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I blindly trusted a Nightwing, and it didn’t end terribly for me.” Carnelian said. “I’ll join.”

“I would’ve looked into this with or without royal approval, so it’d be redundant to not join.” Qibli joked.

“There is no way I’m letting anyone get away with what happened to Turtle.” Umber said, his tone far from his usual cheery one. Moon cringed when he spoke, looking almost guilty. 

“I’m not sure.” Winter said. “I mean how can you confirm the innocence of anyone here. Unless…” 

“You already know who did it.” Qibli finished for him.

“I don’t “know” who did it.” Moon explained, bringing her talons up for air quotes. “Because my only suspect has fled.”

“Makes sense.” Qibli confirmed. “Why stay at the scene of the crime when there are two Mind-Readers about.”

“It could just be a scared student.” Carnelian reasoned.

“Well the vexing part is she didn’t tell anyone that she left.” Moon said. “Not even her sibs knew.”

“You think Sepia did it?” Umber said, surprised. Moon’s face contorted with guilt. “She doesn’t seem like the type.”

“Umber…” Moon said, her voice filled with pity.

“What?”

“Sora’s the suspect.” Kinkajou realized, her scales shifting to green. 

The color drained from Umber’s face. “I need to think…” he said as he turned to leave.

“We’ll reconvene at sunset. If you want to join, meet me there.” She said to the group as they left, before turning to Winter. “Can I talk to you privately?”

“What?” Winter snapped, turning back around to face her.

“I wanted to apologize.” 

“For what?”

“Playing with your feelings.” She explained, fidgeting with a black rock in her talons. “When you came and confronted me about taking Bandit, I panicked and I used your thoughts against you, it’s a bad habit. I embarrassed you and I wasn’t acting like myself. I realize now what I did was wrong, and I wanted to give you this.” She held out the black rock in offering. “Starflight calls it Skyfire, it blocks my mindreading.”

“Why are you doing this?” Winter asked.

“Because I wronged you.”

Winter took the Skyfire from Moon, who visibly exhaled a sigh of relief when he did. “Don’t think this means I forgive you.” He snarled. “But… thank you.” He said as he finally left. He returned to his dorm, finding Qibli reading a scroll.

“Hey Winter!” He greeted. “What’d you and Moon talk about?”

“She apologized to me for what happened on the first day.” He answered. “She said she used my thoughts against me, and that it was a bad habit.”

“That’s good I guess.” Qibli said, putting down his scroll. “Do you think that means she was using my thoughts against me to make me think she was going to eat me?”

“I think you probably made that up,” Winter sneered. “but if she apologizes about that then I suppose she really did.”

“Is it weird that I feel disappointed?” Qibli asked.

“Did you want her to eat you?”

“Do I not look appetizing enough?”

“Please!” Winter scoffed. “You look plenty appetizing.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, I think you’re handsome.”

Qibli laughed. “Do you have a crush on me or something?” Winter paused. “Winter?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a crush on me?” Qibli asked. “It’s okay if you do.”

“I don’t think so.” Winter snapped. “If I had a crush on you. Which I don’t. It wouldn’t be okay, because we are both boys.”

“Winter…”

“No don’t–”

“There’s too many gay people in this school for you to be homophobic.”

“What does gay mean?”

“Gay is when a dragon is only attracted to dragons of the same gender.”

“And that’s normal?”

“It’s not incredibly common, but I know several gay people.” Qibli explained. “Including Umber and Carnelian. Personally I am Bisexual, which means I am attracted to both genders.”

“What makes someone gay?”

“People are usually just born that way.” He continued. “So do they just not have gay people in the Ice Kingdom?”

“So I’m a mutant?”

“No, you’re normal. You’re just made a little differently.”

“So I’m gay,” Winter clarified. “You're bisexual, and you want me to bite you?”

“That depends.” Qibli said with a toothy grin. “Are you open to the idea?”

Chapter Text

Umber had spent the last four hours looking for Sora. Classes had been canceled since the incident in the history caves no one wanted to go to class. He had been hoping that Sora had never left, or that she came back, but he couldn’t find her anywhere. Regrettably Moon was right, Sora was not anywhere on the premises.

Wide Swamps… Umber thought in disbelief. Sora, why’d you have to leave? He knew his sister was innocent, she wasn’t capable of violence like this, she’d never even killed anyone in the war. Umber wasn’t too keen on joining in on a hunt for his sister. Surely another suspect was responsible. He’d returned to his dorm, finding it strangely empty before realizing that Turtle was still injured. His absence felt in abundance, especially when Umber laid down in his bed. On his first day he had trouble sleeping without his sibs and Turtle had recommended that they pull their bedding out of the alcoves and sleep backs against each other on the floor. He had been embarrassed when he woke up cuddled entirely against Turtle. They did the same thing the next night too. But last night Umber was alone. He lifted himself off his bed and exited his room. He walked through the halls without thinking before he realized he was in front of the infirmary. Umber sighed deeply before entering. He was surprised to find Qibli going through the drawers.

“Qibli,” Umber said, startling the sand dragon. “What are you doing?”

“Umber!” He greeted awkwardly, holding his claw on his neck. “What are you doing here?”

“I was going to visit Turtle,” he explained. “You still haven’t answered my question and by the looks of it you’re looting the place.”

“I’m not,” He clarified, still holding his claw to his neck as he continued to go through the cabinets with his other. “I’m looking for bandages.” Umber noticed something crimson leaking through his claws on his neck.

“Three Moons! Are you bleeding?” Umber exclaimed, rushing up next to Qibli and grabbing the bandages from one of the drawers.

“How’d you know where those were?” He questioned lowering his talons to reveal a bite mark on his neck.

“I help change out Turtle’s old bandages when I’m here. Clay asked me to and I have some experience as a medic. Even since Crane died, the responsibility of patching up my siblings fell to me.” He said. “Have you cleaned this yet?” Qibli nodded as Umber beckoned him to lay on one of the medical cots. “Who’d you piss off?”

“What do you mean?” Qibli asked, as Umber began to wrap the bandages around his neck.

“Clearly someone tried to gouge your throat out. So who was it?” He questioned. Qibli avoided Umber’s eyes as he began to blush. “Ah,” Umber vocalized in realization. “Was it a sex thing? Don’t tell me actually I don’t need to know that.”

“Thanks Umber.” Qibli said awkwardly, standing up from the medical cot and moving towards the door. “Please don’t tell anyone about this.” He pleaded as he left the infirmary. Umber sighed as he put the rest of the bandages away and then moved beside the heavily bandaged form of Turtle. Turtle’s chest was rising slowly up and down in a miniscule remainder of the Seawing’s life. Umber’s shadow loomed over Turtle's face as the Seawing opened his eyes.

“Hey Umber.” Turtle said, only one of his eyes actually visible through all the bandages. 

“You’re awake!” Umber yelped in surprise. “Should I go get Clay?”

“No, stay.” Turtle began to get up before flinching in pain and laying back down. “My entire body hurts and I’m probably about to go back to sleep in a few moments anyway. What is Moon asking you to do?”

“How do you know about that?” Umber questioned.

“I know Moon very well.” He explained. “She’s trying to find who did this, isn’t she?” He said, gesturing towards himself. Umber nodded meekly. “Who is she getting to go with her?”

“The rest of the winglet.” He answered, thinking back to the day’s earlier events. “She told us to meet her at Sundown if we were going to join.”

“Are you going to join?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Why not?”

“Moon says my sister did it.” Umber explained. “I don’t believe Sora could ever be capable of anything as terrible as this. They’re going to chase after her. I don’t want to assist anyone in hurting my innocent sister.”

“If it makes you feel better, that’s not Moon’s style.” Turtle comforted, placing his claw on top of one of Umber’s. “She’s trained to gather knowledge, not harm. If anything you could prevent a violent alternative by being there.”

Umber sighed deeply. “I hate that what you said makes sense. I guess it would be best to join.”

“Will you be prepared?”

“For what?”

“Prepared to fight, prepared to get hurt,” Turtle said grimly. “Prepared to find out Sora might be guilty.”

“I…”

“Umber you fought in the War of Sandwing Succession, have you ever taken a life?”

“No, I’m my sibs navigator and nurse.”

“If you’re lucky it’ll stay that way, but when working to make change danger is lurking everywhere.” Turtle warned, his voice sharp. “If Scarlet is involved the possibility of violence is high, and if Moon thinks so your sister is most likely guilty. I’m not asking if you have ability. You can make up for not having ability. Can you mentally grasp what you’re getting into?” Umber was silent. Turtle paused and his tone changed. “I’m telling you this because I like you Umber, I like you a lot. If you are already prepared for this, which I think you are, you’ll face no challenge besides physical ones. I’ve done work like this unprepared, it changes you. It changed some of me for the better. I used to be an absolute coward, and I had to change. But I lost something else along the way, and I don’t know what it was. It haunts me. I don’t want you to be haunted by anything.”

“I’ve fought in War Turtle.” Umber said, melancholy filling his voice. “I’m already haunted.”

“Then I hope you don’t lose anything else.” Turtle said, reaching his claw up towards Umber and wiping away a tear he didn’t know was forming. “As impossible as it sounds. I’m sure it’s going to happen.” His eye widened suddenly as if an idea had come to him. “I need you to bring something from our room.”

Chapter Text

“So Queen Wasp has been using a mind control plant to keep her tribe compliant?” Sundew questioned, moving forwards through the expanse of jungle in front of her. “But it doesn’t work on you?”

“It would work on me.” Cricket corrected, carefully following behind Sundew. “But I have not ingested the plant, nor been injected with it. The plant is also sentient and can control dragons on its own, Wasp is a means to an end for it. It’s also slightly more complicated than that, and I’ll have time to explain it later.”

“I still don’t trust you.” Sundew replied honestly. 

“Would you like a prophecy?” The Hivewing offered, her silver scales gleaming in the moon's light.

“Like the Book of Clearsight?” Sundew asked. “I thought you said the book was useless.”

“It’s useless now, but it used to be effective.” She explained, stopping for a moment looking at the moons. “It contains around two hundred years worth of prophecies that saved her descendants from several disasters after her death, but it doesn’t come anywhere close to current events or even the Tree Wars. But prophecies are real. It also contains a map to the Distant Kingdoms.”

“Fine then. Give me a prophecy.” Sundew conceded, turning around fully to address the Hivewing.

“You’ll have to give me a moment. It’s been a while since I channeled Oracle’s spirit properly.” She said, closing her eyes in focus.

“Who?”

“It’s a Nightwing myth.” She lectured. “They were the tribe Clearsight was from. They had names for the moons.” She looked up towards the sky through the canopy. “Imperial is the largest, besides Imperial is Oracle and Perception. Besides the matter of names, they grant Nightwing their power’s, or at least they used to. As far as I’ve been informed I am one of four living dragons blessed by them.”

“How do you know this?” Sundew inquired. “Was it revealed to you in a vision or prophecy?”

“No, I’m not powerful enough to see specific details on my own.” She said, turning her head to hide her blush. “I have help from someone in the Distant Kingdoms. He’s powerful enough that his telepathy reaches me from far away, his visions are much stronger than mine, but this prophecy would be of my own connection to the moon not his. I’ve been blocking this one for a while so it’s going to be strong.” She took a deep breath. “Also, my eyes are going to turn white, but I’m not being possessed by Wasp, so don’t worry.” Her breathing stopped as her eyes snapped back open her pupil and iris gone.

Oh children of Leaf, Silk, and Hive

The Distant Kingdoms hath answered you call

So make haste towards your ancestor’s land

Or else all else in the realm shall fall

A beast has risen from their slumber

A beast has ripped through their cage

A beast has lost their love

Separated by time and age

Your freedom for naught if they are allowed to roam

Take your arms, your gifts, your right 

Turn you power before he claims your will

To save all children of Night

Cricket finished and closed her eyes. Before suddenly keeling over and coughing up blood.

“Woah!” Sundew called out rushing to her side. “Are you okay?”

“Aw.” Cricket cooed sarcastically. “You do care.” Sundew just stared at her. “But I’m fine. Magic is like a muscle and I haven’t given a prophecy in a while.” She took her canteen and had a long drink. “I’m okay.”

“Are you going to explain what that was about?”

“We are dealing with the lesser of the two major world issues at the moment, and we need to deal with ours quickly because they need help, and they need it soon.”

“Is that what the giant jug is for?” Sundew asked, pointing towards the giant jar that she had avoided questioning. Cricket had been dragging it around without struggle even though it was bigger than her and Sundew was scared to ask.

“Ah yes!” Cricket cheered, as if remembering it was there. “This is alcohol. I distilled it myself by stealing ingredients from my classes over the years.”

“Why do you need that?” Sundew sighed.

“It’s far too dangerous to enter the Heart of Evil ourselves, plus the cave system it’s in is incredibly tiny so…” She slapped the jug then pulled out a much smaller jar from her bag. “I’m going to flood it with this, then light it all on fire with the strand of Flamesilk in this jar. We’ll inhale the smoke from the Breath of Evil, but it’ll be too late for the hosts then and the plant will have no power over dragons anymore.”

“I’m so lost.”

“So was I initially, but then I asked enough questions until I was satisfied.” She explained, standing up and picking the jug back up. “It’s nice having someone not get mad when you ask questions.”

“Ready to continue?” Sundew asked, rising from her spot as well. 

“Yes, we aren’t far now.” Cricket explained, holding her hand out for Sundew to take the lead. She whispered to the foliage asking for it to part around them as they moved through the edges of the Poison Jungle. Eventually they came upon a cave entrance. “The entrance is in here.” She said, moving into the cave and lifting the lid off the jar with the Flamesilk, illuminating their way. They moved through the cave, the silk revealing paintings on walls. “There’s a colony of humans down here, they worship The Heart of Evil, but they’ll evacuate if they notice us coming.” 

“What are humans?”

“They’re a sentient species similar to monkeys. Really we’re doing them a favor by killing their god.” Cricket suddenly held out a claw in front of Sundew before she tilted the glowing jar a little, revealing a massive hole covered in vines. “Help me tilt this over safely.” She said, slapping a claw on the massive jug. Together they tilted it onto its side without much trouble. Cricket opened a part on the side of it. A sharp smell filled the air as the liquid poured into the hole. Cricket took a pair of tweezers from her bag and removed the strand of Flamesilk from its jar. She handed the tweezers to Sundew. “When you drop it in we’re going to move farther away from each other and remove all sharp objects and potential weapons. The Othermind will infect us temporarily, it’ll probably be in too much pain to do anything, but in case it does take us over let’s not make revenge killing us easier.” Sundew nodded, before dropping the tweezers into the abyss. She jumped to the other side of the hole, flinging her bags to the side just as the blazing silk reached the bottom. Fire erupted in a great burst as green smoke rose from the deep pit. Sundew coughed as it entered her airway. The world seemed to shift around her as fire suddenly surrounded her, as if she was in the pit.

“What have you done!” Screamed a dragonet, their form hidden by the blaze that engulfed them, their silhouette barely visible behind the flames. Sundew almost recoiled from the fire before realizing that it was centered on the dragonet and wasn’t advancing.

“I’m sorry it ended this way!” Cricket yelled as she appeared beside Sundew alongside a black dragon. “Truly I don’t wish for you to suffer, and by the end of this you’ll be free, Lizard.” Cricket said, advancing deeper into the flames. “In another world it wasn’t us that’d kill you here. She would’ve spent time with you and shared her memories, she’d have given you a name. But we simply don’t have time for that.”

“It hurts.” Lizard cried. Cricket lifted her arms as she got closer to Lizard, pushing through the fire to reach the child. She bent down to embrace the dragonet similarly being engulfed in flame. 

“Think about it this way. You're in pain, but so is he.” She lifted a claw pointing at something beyond Sundew’s vision. “Once this is over you’ll be reunited with your family, somewhere beyond the moons, and he won’t be able to trap you any longer.”

“This is a mental space created by The Breath of Evil.” The black dragon explained to Sundew, his turned head revealing a blindfold covering his face. “You can pull them from the flame with your Leafspeak and make Lizard’s final moments painless.”

Release the child. She commanded of the plant within her. 

Why? 

They don’t need to be in pain.

Someone must bear the flame's burden. Who if not our host?

Sundew thought, before raising a claw and pointing past Cricket and Lizard. Him, I don’t know his name nor if he’s already in pain but why torch a seedling when a mighty tree could take it. Sundew did not hear a response, only a scream from deeper within the fire as it receded leaving Cricket unscathed in its aftermath holding the charred form of a dragonet. The black dragon moved forward and placed a claw on Cricket’s shoulder. 

“Thank you.” He said, turning towards Sundew, before turning back towards Cricket. “Don’t worry, Lizard has found freedom.”

He's from the same tribe as Clearsight. Sundew realized as the world shifted once more and they were back outside the abyss.

“I don’t know what you did at the end there, but I can hear Cottonmouth’s psychic screams of anguish even now.” Cricket said, taking her glasses off to wipe away tears. “Good job, the plant’s dead and Lizard has passed on, but Cottonmouth’s still burning and that fire isn’t calming anytime soon.”

“Now I want answers.” Sundew demanded. “Who’s the dragon with the blindfold? Why’d he help us?”

“Of course.” Cricket replied, gently pushing the giant jug fully into the pit. “His name is Starflight, and he helped us because he needs us to save him and the Distant Kingdoms.”

Chapter Text

Moonwatcher had arrived first, naturally arriving early. Kinkajou had arrived second, with Carnelian not far behind as the third to arrive. Qibli arrived fourth, his neck bandaged. Winter arrived fifth, blushing in embarrassment whenever he looked at Qibli. Umber arrived last, wearing a new golden bracer. 

Moon had explained the possible locations that Sora could’ve fled to. There was too much space and too little time. They split them into groups.

Umber and Moon were heading towards Possibility together to search out The Enclave’s assistance in searching for Sora.

Winter and Qibli were heading towards The Scorpion Den to see if any of Qibli’s old ‘contacts’ had found or met Sora.

Kinkajou and Carnelian were heading towards the Rainforest then the Mud Kingdom to see if Sora was heading home.

“You don't trust me do you?” Umber asked, breaking the silence that had defined their whole trip. “That's why you wouldn’t let me go with anyone else.”

Moonwatcher stopped and turned around to address Umber. “I trust you not to hurt me or any of the rest of us.” She explained. “But your loyalty is questionable and I can keep you honest with my abilities in a way the others can’t. I can’t guarantee you won’t let Sora go if we find her, or that you won’t try to throw off the search of anyone you go with. At least I can determine your honesty with Mind Reading.”

“While I don’t think my sister is responsible, clearly she knows something that caused her to run. I’m also looking for her, I won’t compromise the search.” He defended himself. “Besides, I want revenge for Turtle. I’m not just going to let the culprit go even if we have to hunt my sister down first.”

Moon merely stared at him for a second. Then she burst out laughing. “That’s a riot!” She cackled. “You’re too perverted to betray us, I heard that thought about Turtle.” 

Umber's face flushed immediately. “That’s a violation!” He yelled at her, but she wouldn’t stop maniacally laughing.

Starflight reached out in front of himself, found the wall of the library and guided himself to his desk. He took his seat and began to sort out the scrolls returned by students as he hummed a version of the Dragonets of Destiny hymn. He began to feel around his tools looking for his stamps. He found his stamps to his right where they usually were, but something was wrong. His desk wasn’t exactly how he left it.

The inkpot is in the right spot, as well as the stamps, admin scrolls, and my keys. What’s missing? He looked through his mental inventory, everything was accounted for except… The Royal Seal. Fierceteeth had given him one of the two seals, and along with it the official power of the Nightwing monarch, at least on paper. He felt across the desk more, eventually finding the small iron stamp. He felt around it finding wax that wasn’t cleaned off of it. Someone used it. Rushed job, and they didn’t clean it.

Quite a peculiar mystery Starflight. Darkstalker quipped from the void. I wonder who would have the gall to steal a royal seal? A silence passed between them as Starflight’s train of thought continued uninterrupted. Three Moons are you still not listening to me?

Moon? Starflight called psychically. Where are you? He received no response and that dead-end that lied in his future grew even closer.

“You used to live here?” Winter asked as they walked through the alleys of the Scorpion Den.

“Yup.” Qibli responded, he thought back to his younger days in the den when the streets were more crime riddled. “It used to be a lot worse around here before Queen Thorn cleaned it up.”

“The Sandwing Queen cleaned up the Scorpion Den?” Winter asked, surprised.

“Well she wasn’t always the Queen.” Qibli explained. “She ran the Den before she took the throne, that’s what the Outclaws are. Before we were her personal royal department we helped her manage the Scorpion Den. Speaking of which.” Qibli said, before stopping and knocking on the door of the house they had just arrived at. “Could you wait here for a second? This is an ex-Outclaw I know, so he should be updated on the Scorpion Den’s information ring.” Soon enough a particularly scared Sandwing opened the door. “Hey Addax!” Qibli greeted before stepping inside. Winter waited outside for a while merely listening to the conversations of the passing Sandwings.

“What do you want for dinner?” One of them asked another.

“That Icewing sticks out like a smug diamond.” Said a street vender to a customer.

“Do you really believe what that Mudwing said about those explosions?” One cloaked figure asked another.

Oh?

Starflight began to pour his senses into the future, trying to find what had changed, and what had incited the sudden changes. But no matter the places he looked they all lead to the same emptiness.

Oh no Starflight. Darkstalker teased with mock pity. Did a variable fall too far from your grasp? You’re just like Clearsight in that manner. All the knowledge in the world, just lacking the necessary power to act on it.

Starflight pulled out a blank scroll and began to inscribe information. If futures were disappearing from his senses then he needed to record what information he did have before he could gain information anymore.

Except that’s the strange part. Darkstalker continued. You have so many dragons with incredible power that could prevent things like this from happening. Turtle would enchant anything you asked of him. So why don’t you just take full control?

There was something Starflight couldn’t find. The variable that he couldn’t know about. The thing that evaded him was becoming closer and closer to the present and blocking the rest of his power.

Is it morality? The ancient dragon questioned. No… we both know you’re no saint. So what is it that prevents you from complete domination?

There was something right in front of him that he couldn’t see.

I get it now. He realized. Just like me love is preventing you from absolute peace. Well that won’t last much longer.

Something right in front of him that he couldn’t see… There was literally something right in front of him that he couldn’t see. His head suddenly shot up. I’m not the only dragon in the library right now. He realized just before brutally sharp talons wrapped around his throat and he was slammed into the ground.

Carnelian was used to the heat, or least she thought she was. The amount of Sun rituals she had been a part of made her think she was resistant to hot things, but the humid nightmare that was the Rainforest was a humbling experience for her.

“Are you doing okay Carny?” Kinkajou asked, her vibrant scales showing her indifference to the heat with the defiance of their happy colors.

“This place is a nightmare. This has to be the worst option anyone in our group has picked. ” She groaned, dragging a claw across her face. “Why’d we come here? We haven’t even made any progress.”

“On the contrary I think we have.” Kinkajou corrected. “Because I smell smoke.”

Carnelian’s noise twitched as she smelled the air, she also picked up the scent of smoke. “That’s important, why?”

“Because Rainwings don’t have or start fires and the only Nightwing in the Rainforest anymore is Deathbringer and he isn’t allowed to use his fire.” She explained. “So that must mean there is a dragon in the Rainforest who isn’t from here and must’ve arrived recently because they haven’t been scolded about fire usage in a forest.”

“I’m pleasantly surprised by how much sense that made.” Carnelian replied, a new found energy entering her walk.

“See the Rainforest wasn’t the worst option.” Kinkajou said with pride.

“Yeah I guess yo– The Rainforest isn’t so bad.”

Starflight swiped at the dragon pinning him down by the neck. His claws missed his attacker while their claws stayed attached to his neck.

They're bigger than me. He deduced. That eliminates half the student body. 

He grabbed their claws and attempted to pry them off his to no avail. But they were ice cold.

Icewing.

He began to go through his possible suspects.

Ermine lacks motive. Alba is smaller than me. Changbai doesn’t have the braves. That leaves Winter and Icicle which means…

“Hailstorm…” Starflight choked out despite his asphyxiation.

“What!?” Icicle cried as he invoked her brother's name, lifting her claws from his neck as she recoiled away. Starflight took the opportunity to roll away from her pin, taking cover on the opposite side of the desk from her.

“Scarlet has promised you your brother back as long as you kill me and the Dragonets of Destiny, correct?” He questioned, only to be met with silence from the other dragon in both speech and thought. “But she doesn’t have him anymore. She’s lying.” That provoked a response from Icicles mind, her previously calm surface thoughts suddenly erupted in turmoil.

“Lying, conniving, Nightwing” she snarled, before lunging at him again.

Sky reeled back, having been thrown away by the giant Nightwing he had bitten. Peril continued to slash at him, her fiery scales proving to be less effective than last time as the fire merely rolled off the ebony dragon’s scales.

“Are you okay?” Hailstorm asked him as the Icewing suddenly rushed to his side.

“I’m okay.” Sky confirmed before getting back up and blocking a stray blast of fire from hitting Hailstorm from Peril and Cirrus’s conflict. “I know you’re still disoriented, and that Nightwing was an Icewing and your friend a couple minutes ago, but he’s trying to kill all three of us so you need to get your bearings and help us.” He flew back towards the Nightwing and wrapped himself around the bigger dragon’s neck, racking his claws across his throat barely breaking the surface of his scales, but still causing Cirrus to reach back and grab Sky before flinging him into Peril sending them both crashing into a nearby tree which quickly was set on fire by Peril’s scales.

“Come one Pyrite.” Cirrus pleaded, turning towards the Icewing. “How about we both go to Queen Scarlet and she’ll clear up this confusion.” Hailstorm(?) Pyrite(?) Looked at the dragon who was once the Icewing she knew. The one who was his warden, and her friend. The one who lied about his identity and showed her shallow emotion. The choice was obvious. He walked up to Cirrus and the Nightwing(?)’s demeanor became open and less guarded. Taking the opportunity Hailstorm blasted him with fi– no frostbreath. The Nightwing(?) reared back in pain holding his claws against his frozen face. Peril soon shot herself back into him. Melting the ice off his face into boiling water. 

“You’re immune to fire, not burns! Get scalded!” She yelled as he screamed in pain before passing out. Sky walked up next to him and opened up the metal case.

“Peril… the scroll’s not here.”

Starflight dodged out of the way as Icicle’s raging thoughts gave away her position and movements. She crashed into where he was and Starflight pounced onto her, knocking her into the ground. Quickly before she had time to react he grabbed her by the head and slammed her face into the stone floor three times to guarantee she was knocked out. He sighed a deep sigh of relief as he got off of Icicle. 

I was rooting for you there. I’m glad you’re not dead. Darkstalker congratulated genuinely. Despite your plans to kill me I do like you Starflight. You remind me of both Clearsight and I. It’s like watching the son I never had.

Starflight began to stumble his way towards the infirmary. Nothing had changed about his future visions yet. If Icicle’s attack wasn’t causing the void, what is? He questioned racking his brain for answers and still not coming up with any plausible theories.

Despite how clever I think you are. I think I figured it out before you did. He commented. You’re not listening to me anyway so there is no harm I suppose. 

What are you hiding from me Starflight?

What are you hiding from yourself?

Who are the Children of Night?

Where is Fatespeaker? Where is your love?

Chapter Text

There were more guards in the Temple of Clearsight than when they scouted it out earlier. One had appeared from the shadows of the cathedral tackling Luna to the ground and raising a tail stinger to strike. She dodged to the right as the stinger struck into the floor beside her, getting lodged in the woodstuff. She spooled a little Flamesilk into her palm before reaching up quickly and grasping the guards face. A smell of searing flesh filled the air as the guard's pure white eyes went wide with pain and their pupil and iris reappeared as she screamed. Luna rolled out from under her and ran after her group further into the temple. A veritable group of Silkwings and Leafwings had been assembled quickly to raid The Temple of Clearsight. She walked in and most of the guards had been tied up in either silk or vines as the Chrysalis had restrained all their foes.

“The book isn’t here…” Belladonna grumbled, tracing a claw along one of the incapacitated Hivewings and drawing blood. “We shouldn’t have recruited the extra Silkwings, that’s how Wasp noticed our organizing and moved the book ahead of time. How many Hivewings will we have to kill before she gives it to us.” She speculated. The bloodshot white eyes of the Hivewing below her merely stared in a cold calculating manner, not giving up any information.

“We’re not going to kill any Hivewings!” Blue scolded, leaving a knot on his glowing, but harmless Flamesilk that encased another Hivewing. “Besides, Wasp wouldn’t give up any information based on threats unless we went to her directly.”

“We don’t need the book anyways.” Luna reminded Belladonna, walking between them. “We have our own Clearsight-sent prophet. Today was a message.” She leaned down towards the tied up possessed Hivewing. “What do you think, Wasp? All it took was eleven dragons to break into your most closely guarded place. Seven Silkwings, Two Flamesilks, and Two Leafwings. Surely you’re going to send more dragons after us whether they’re actual guards or not, just any member of the Hive you can get your claws on. So why aren’t we fleeing?”

“I must admit it is quite perplexing.” Wasp replied through every dragon in the room. The cacophony of her voice booming. “You wandered into a trap with no real method of escape, as soon as you leave the Temple every subject in my Hive will each get a piece of you. So what’s your angle Flamesilk?”

“Nothing.” Luna replied. “I’m being completely honest with you. We broke in here to make a statement and we’ll walk out, and you won’t be able to stop us.” She began to drag the guard towards the entrance. She opened the door and was greeted by an almost purely black Hivewing with pure white eyes. “Would you mind taking this?” She said casually to the possessed Hivewing, passing her the wrapped up guard. Past the first Hivewing there were an uncountable amount of others all white eyed and blank faced. The other members of the Chrysalis brought the other tied up guards outside as well. Leaving only one still inside The Temple.

“Why get rid of hostages?” Wasp asked. “You could’ve negotiated for them.”

“Because we already have a much more valuable hostage.” Swordtail explained, appearing beside Luna, and placing a smooch on her cheek. “Hey Hemlock?” He shouted across the room. “How many different kinds of trees went into creating this temple?”

“I counted sixty.” He huffed looking around. “Sixty-One actually.”

“Wow!” Swordtail whistled, placing an arm around Luna. “Sixty-One different kinds of wood went into this beautiful building. I wonder who possibly designed it and ordered its construction?” 

“What I’m wondering is why we aren’t being swarmed by your subjects right now?” Luna mocked. “It’d be easy to break down those beautifully designed doors and come and rip us apart with thousands of claws.”

Wasp watched for a moment. “What a ridiculous—” 

“Drop the Flamesilk Blue!” Swordtail cut her off.

“Wait!” Wasp called out alarmed. Her head whipped around to look at Blue, who was confused by the order and had no Flamesilk in his claws. “You called my bluff. That doesn’t change anything, you’ll starve in here before any kind of back up arrives.”

“Mistaken once again.” Swordtail teased. “Were you paying attention? Like Luna said, we’ll be walking out of here. We’re not waiting for back up.”

“We’re approaching Midday.” Belladonna informed. “Is your ‘message’ complete yet?”

“Just about.” Luna said, before nodding to Blue. He sighed and moved deeper into the Temple. “I’m afraid our conversation has come to a close, your majesty.” She claimed with a mock bow. “I hope your schools teach correlation not causation.” Before she dragged the Hivewing out and threw her to the crowd. Luna watched through the Skylight as the sun reached its Zenith. It was only a moment after that the screaming began. Yells of pain were muffled from inside the Temple.

“Will they be okay?” Blue asked, emerging from where he was.

Luna shrugged. “It’s probably going to traumatize… all of them, but they’ll live, and they’ll be better off because of it.” She put two claws in her mouth and whistled. “We have fifteen minutes to find the Librarian, she’s wearing a veil. If you can’t find her, just get out of the Hive and meet up in the Greenhouse.” She pushed the door open behind her to reveal a field of passed out Hivewings.

“This is terrifying.” Blue said, clutching onto Luna for support. “I feel sick.”

“At least they’re free now.” In that moment a blaze was set alight in both a deep cavern severing the Heart of Evil from its body, as well as the fire that soon encased the Temple of Clearsight, its ornate carvings soon disappearing in flame. A tool of oppression and a symbol of oppression both disappearing in the same moment.

Chapter Text

“We cannot funnel resources into a search for this Mudwing. With the bombings happening, we can’t spare any time for a separate search.” Councilman Peak explained. Moonwatcher had gotten a meeting with him to request his Enclave’s assistance, but Three Moons dealing with this Skywing is a nightmare.

“The issue the Nightwing Kingdom is looking into is related to a bombing as well.” She argued. “Both our problems could very well be connected and this Mudwing is our only lead.” The bigger nightmare was his mind. 

Complete loyalty to Vulture and his Talons of Power

Too cautious to take action on anything

Compelled to wear this bracelet with life or death urgency

Doesn’t remember anything the night he received the bracelet

Councilman Peak’s mind was looping the same four same thoughts. Vulture seemingly had brainwashed this dragon. Or enchanted him. She realized, her eyes drifting towards his bracelet. If it was an enchantment it would most likely be on his bracelet. If Vulture had found an Animus, then they were in a whole lot of danger. She ran through her list of Animus dragon’s. Turtle was recovering at Jade Mountain, but he wouldn’t work for Vulture anyways. Anemone should also be at Jade Mountain and probably also wouldn’t work for Vulture. Jerboa was trapped in an ice block, and Jerboa the Third isn’t willing to use her magic. Stonemover wouldn’t either. Which left two possibilities, either there was an Animus that neither her or Starflight weren’t aware of, or Vulture had somehow gotten his claws on Darkstalker’s scroll. 

“I don’t care if you’re an ambassador of the Nightwing Queen or not, I will not take this attitude from a dragonet.” He slammed his claw against the desk, and pointed with the other towards the door. “Good day.” He growled, smoke leaking from his mouth. Moonwatcher turned and left, leaving the office of The Enclave. She walked through the bustling city of Possibility, making her way towards the camp she had set up with Umber. The Mudwing looked distressed as she arrived, giving Moon a thankful look when she arrived. 

We have a visitor. Umber’s mind communicated. His eyes flickering towards someone just out of Moon’s line of sight. I’m not in danger, she's just talking my ear off.  Moon could feel herself blush preemptively as she finally got through all the shrubbery surrounding their camp and her eyes finally laid upon Anemone. The Princess looked a little disheveled, but it hadn’t affected her beauty at all. 

“Moonwatcher!” The Princess called excitedly. “You're here! How was your meeting?” 

“Anemone!” Moon called back. “What are you doing here?” 

“I overheard your meeting with your Winglet.” She explained. “Then the next day Tsunami was angry that your winglet had left, so I came to find you.”

“If you’re here to bring us back, I’m afraid you won’t be able to.” Umber said, standing between Anemone and Moonwatcher.

“Of course not!” Anemone huffed, shoving Umber out of the way as she hugged Moonwatcher. “Jade Mountain Academy is fun, but this is exciting. I’ve been so bored my whole life. Please let me join. I can be helpful, I promise.” 

Umber’s thoughts were pointed at Moon. There’s no way you’re going to let her join, right?

Anemone didn’t know Moon could read minds, but her thoughts were pointed at her anyway. Please let me join. You’re so hot. Please, please, please, please, please, please- 

“You can join!” Moon blurted out, she then blushed profusely. Umber gave her a look of realization and began snickering. “As long as you use your magic responsibly.” Both Anemone and Umber’s faces twisted in confusion. 

“How’d you know about that?” Anemone asked, her head tilted. “I mean it’s common knowledge in the Sea Kingdom, but other Seawings weren’t supposed to tell outsiders? Did Turtle tell you?”

“Oh, I’m a mind reader!” She fumbled. “When we first met I was reading your mind to flirt with you and it came up.” Three moons, what is wrong with me? Moon watched Anemone process the information, holding her breath in anticipation of the Princess’s outburst. 

“You wanted to flirt with me?” Anemone asked delightedly, eyes shining at Moonwatcher. She quickly regained her composure. “I mean of course you would, I’m wonderful. But also you’re really pretty. We’re both really hot, do you want to go out with me?”

“Right now?!” Umber was snickering at Moon, she didn’t need mind reading to know he was enjoying every second of her incompetent social skills.

“Obviously not right now, but like later.” Moon facepalmed.

Of course she meant later. “I’d love to.” 

“It’s a date.” Anemone said with a toothy grin. Umber fake coughed, grabbing the attention of the two women. 

“Sorry to interrupt… whatever’s happening here. But the mission does take priority.” He said, waving a talon. “Moon, how’d your meeting with the leader of the Enclave go?”

Moon’s demeanor shifted from blushing to stoic. “Poorly.” She replied, shaking her head. “Councilman Peak has been enchanted to not take action and to be loyal to a crime lord named Vulture. He’s the one responsible for the recent bombings across the Sand Kingdom and neighboring territories. They were also possibly the ones who orchestrated the attack on Jade Mountain, but I’m not certain.”

“That’s no good.” Umber sighed. “What’s the plan?”

“Well the plan is to get the bracelet enchanting him off.” Moon huffed. “I don’t want to just storm in there, but you have your invulnerability bracers, so we definitely could. But a stealthier approach is wiser. Any thoughts.”

“I could just magick it off.” Anemone offered, twirling her talon in the air. “Easy peasy.” 

“That’s certainly an option, but we have to be incredibly careful with your spell.” Moon said, tapping the dirt thoughtfully, before grabbing a stick and writing. Recalling her lessons with Starflight. Reusable and permanent. “Do either of you have any jewelry that’s sturdy and relatively mundane on you?” She asked as she scrawled the draft into the ground. 

Anemone grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.” She reached into her pouch and reached her arm much deeper in than the size of the bag. “It’s bigger on the inside.” She explained, before holding out a talonful of assorted jewels and gold trinkets. “I have more.” She puffed out her chest in pride. Moon sorted through the pile, before fishing out a necklace with a silver chain and rosy pink gems carved into square shapes.

“Would you do the honors?” Moon said, pointing towards her writing. 

I enchant this necklace that whenever an animus object is in the line of sight of the wearer, if they choose they can negate the spell on it.