It was a dark, quiet night in Pyrrhia, with no light to be seen but from the three moons, none of which were full. The Skywings slumbered in their palace, the Seawings slept in their secret underwater home, and Mudwings and Sandwings alike slept peacefully.
Not every tribe was content, though - the Nightwings stirred restlessly in sleep, trying to block out the sound of the pouring rain.
There was the sound of a torch being lit by a dragon's flame and the pale walls of a cave appeared, bleak and gloomy. The rain could be heard, soft and steady, outside.
Three Nightwing dragons were gathered in the center of the cave, all barely outlined by the light of the torch. The first, an older male, hesitated before he spoke. "Queen Mooncatcher is dead." he sighed. The dragon to his left flinched at this, so he continued. "Dreamweaver... I am sorry. Your mother had many years left in her."
"I suppose it was of the same cause as the others?" Dreamweaver asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"Yes." the third dragon hissed. "Attacked for so called 'trespassing'. She's the third in as many days." He flicked his tail in irritation. "Stormcaller, have you any idea what this means?"
The first dragon nodded, and the light was so dim the others could barely tell he had moved. Eventually Stormcaller spoke. "We cannot survive here. Prey is scarce, and heading to scavenge in other territories isn't working." the elderly Nightwing let out a long breath, and the torch flame flickered slightly. "Swiftshadow -"
"I know what you're going to say, Stormcaller, and I agree with you." the third dragon frowned. "There is no place for us among the other tribes anymore. The Nightwings must leave."
"But - but where would we go?" Dreamweaver asked. "There is no place for us among the tribes, perhaps, but there is nowhere else for us to live."
"We'll find a place!" Swiftshadow nodded. "Perhaps some dragon will have a vision... of a place far off, safe and secure, where we can live in peace." A hint of wistful longing came into the Nightwing's words.
Stormcaller huffed in worry. "You know as well as I do that the visions are not entirely... reliable. Besides, we can't send off our dragons to explore for a new place! It's too dangerous..."
"Stormcaller." Dreamweaver ordered. She seemed to have regained her composure now. "We have to find a new home. I'll ask for volunteers to go looking tomorrow."
"Well - I -" Stormcaller stuttered.
"Enough. I'm the queen of the Nightwings now. My decision stays." she said. The three Nightwings fell silent, listening to the rain pour outside. Eventually Swiftshadow spoke.
"If that's all you've got to say, then I'm heading to catch a few hours of sleep before sunrise." he shrugged, skittering out of the cave before Stormcaller or Dreamweaver could stop him.
"That's that, then." Stormcaller sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow, your majesty." he started to walk out after Swiftshadow, but the queen stopped him.
"No - just Dreamweaver. I'm not used to being called your majesty yet." she objected. The elderly Nightwing looked back to see the former princess staring at him worriedly, her eyes bright with anxiety.
Turning his frown into a smile, he nodded. "Ok. See you tomorrow, Dreamweaver."
He exited, leaving the new queen of the Nightwings alone with the softly glowing light of the torch. She paused for a moment, then snuffed the flame with a flick of her claws.
Once again everything was quiet, and the only sound was the rain. The three moons shone above, barely noticeable through the light sprinkling of clouds.
For a single moment, the clouds parted and a single star could be seen, but the moment was soon lost as the clouds closed up again.
It might have been a sign - if any Nightwing had been around to see it.