Disclaimer: I have a number of OC's in this story but otherwise I own nothing else. The story (after the Prologue) may occassionally disagree wil the timings and events of the second arc - call it creative license - especially in the Epilogue of Book 10.
PROLOGUE
The heat seeped through the ground into the young Nightwing's talons unnervingly, but not uncomfortably. Five dragonets were facing a larger, although no better fed, Nightwing who was talking down at the frozen soldiers. "You have your orders!" He bellowed authoritatively. His ribs jutted out of his sides, his shoulder blades darting out of his back each time he shifted his wings' position. "Lightseer, stay behind. Everyone else, do I need to repeat myself?" Small flames emanated from his roaring maw causing the smaller dragons to scatter in various directions. The single soldier left standing alone looked back at his fleeing comrades, the volcano in the background, causing the thick grey clouds above to burn softly. Various other winged black figures flew around the stone fort, multiple heading back and forth from the entrances to the tunnels built a number of years ago by a powerful Nightwing Animus. The larger, evidently seasoned Nightwing stared down at the smaller skinnier dragonet, studying each of his scales, especially the multitude of silver scales along his forehead - not a usual Nightwing physiological feature. He showed a few signs of malnutrition, as did all the domestic Nightwings, those that were sent off to the continent often looked healthier but it was clear that this particular Nightwing wasn't so fussed on food. This feature too seemed only to increase the frown on the larger Nightwing's face.
"Due to your special ability…" Lightseer shifted uneasily under the older ones gaze, his wings rising, then falling, showing off the only area he'd really built up any proper muscle along his back evidently from the distance flying he'd had to endure over the last few months. The larger dragon stalked forwards, slowly and surely. "We have a special assignment, I've spoken to Morrowseer and we both think it would be good if you spent some time on the borders of the Mud Kingdom, scouting out the forest and paying special attention to... the Rainwings." He spat the last word as if finding it distasteful. "The… the Rainwings? But why Nighthunter?" He held his talons close to his mouth, regretful as soon as he had uttered the interrogative. Nighthunter growled, low and menacingly in response. "Since when have you started questioning orders, Lightseer?" The youngster curled his tail around his talons, refusing to make eye contact with his overseer. "Hm, I assume you understand what you're dealing with and DON'T…"
"Don't get caught, yeah I know!" Suddenly feeling a burst of confidence as this was the fourth assignment he had received of this nature leaving him to wonder what his overseers were looking for, but it wasn't his job to wonder. "Just get on with it, you'll receive new instructions in a month's time and then is when you'll be expected to make your report… this is important Dark Seer! You've been blessed with your vision for a reason, you can really help the Nightwing Kingdom with your power, are you ready to help your tribe to a better future?" He nodded without passion or conviction, leaving Nighthunter scowling irritably. "Go!" And with that the dragonet flapped his wings, feeling the hot, stuffy air stick to his scales, restricting his breathing, lifting off, he headed to the tunnels which were meagerly guarded. Putting on a burst of speed he glided through as much of the dark tunnel as he could before coming to the single corner which forced him to land. He decided now was the time to engage his ability, one he hadn't asked for, and as far as he knew nothing to do with Animus magic or an ability that Nightwings were known to exhibit. He closed his eyes and focussed before re-opening them revealing, from an outward perspective, two pale white eyes - if you looked closely you could just see the greenish hue of his irises bleeding through the new lense. He was in a new world now - dark purple energy was oozing from the once pitch-black walls surrounding him. He was well aware it was night time in the rainforest up ahead of him but he could already see greens and yellows glowing from the entrance of the tunnel.
He plodded the rest of the way, his stealth training kicking in as he exited the mouth of the tunnel into the glowing explosion of colour. Sweeping his head around he could see green trails of energy transfering from the various faint outlines of plants and mushrooms into the area around him, looking closer he could see faint lines outlining the internal structures of the foliage with little translucent pale green and blue bubbles and particles travelling up and down the various stems and trunks. With the library map memorised he made his way to the sleepy Rainwing camp, keeping an eye on the odd bright red nocturnal creatures that quickly turned green and scattered around him, assuming the darkness would envelope them and protect them from the large omnivore. He plodded on, it was too easy to grab a creature now but the young Nightwing ignored their presence, his job was clear and it didn't include indulging himself - many would as soon as they got away from the Nightwing's volcanic ruin of a kingdom - but not Lightseer, he had a job to do. Quite literally, through the trees red signatures began to come into focus high up in the upper canopy of the taller trees. Living beings always emitted an aura around their state of being which indicated, as Lightseer had worked out over time, their state of mind. Hello my new friends for the next month, I'm looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you although, I'm afraid we'll have to forgo my introduction. Staying below the sleeping Rainwings he observed them, knowing that in the morning he'd spend a little more time studying their habits and then maybe thinking of sleeping and finding somewhere to hide since such a black figure would stick out sorely in this bright and beautiful forest.
