Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with "Storm Hawks". Characters, places, and other aspects of the story (except for original characters, animals, locations, and some other aspects) that are referenced to do not belong to me.

A/N: After much consideration, I have decided that this will be the last story arch for "The Swooping Sparrows: Uncharted" as the story has not gained the amount of traction that I initially hoped for it. Stories told in this tale will still be valid as part of the Swooping Sparrows' history. Additionally, Warbler's story arch is most likely going to get tied into Crow's story arch to condense this story and finish it promptly. As always, constructive feedback is appreciated.

Early morning, makeshift training camp near Doctrina…

As Crow returned to the camp, he smiled at the sight of seeing the place buzzing with activity. Scents of boiling soups and scalding coffees along with the clanging of makeshift armour and weapons filled the air.

Crow entered the hut where he and Finch were residing to find the sharpshooter brushing his teeth.

"I don't know what magic you pulled, but Peregrine and Cormorant are friendlier to each other than ever before!" Finch exclaimed after he rinsed at the portable sink.

"I have my ways." Crow said with a slight grin as he rummaged through the contents of his rucksack.

"I'm heading out to gather everyone." Finch added as he grabbed his bow and slung his rucksack over his shoulder.

"I'll be there soon." Crow replied as he took out a pack of cereal.

"You're going to eat that stuff dry?" Finch asked looking at the merb in disbelief.

"We don't exactly have milk here do we?" Crow said jokingly as Finch chuckled before walking out the door.

After having a short meal of dry cereal, Crow strolled out to meet up with Finch and the trainees. Something in the air told him that his conversation this morning would prove to be beneficial for Peregrine, Cormorant, and the other trainees alike.

"Where'd everyone go?" Crow questioned as he arrived at the empty meeting area.

"I sent them on a warm up run. Are we doing capture the flag again today?" Finch inquired as he tried to track the trainees popping in and out of view behind some trees.

"You betcha." Crow stated as he spotted a line of trainees beyond a rolling hill.

Late afternoon…

With the recruits wrapping up their rotations of sparring practice, marksmanship class, and strategy sessions, the trainees gathered at the meeting spot again. Crow scanned the crowd of sweaty and energized trainees awaiting their next set of orders.

"The time has come for us to run the capture the flag activity once more." Finch began.

"Peregrine and Cormorant will be your respective leaders once again." Crow continued.

"Split into two equally numbered groups, and let's begin!" Finch finished as trainees began organizing themselves between the two leaders.

"Remember, when you hear this horn, the activity is over!" Crow reminded over the commotion.

Peregrine's POV…

"Here we are again. We can do this." Peregrine encouraged herself internally.

Peregrine and her team were once again situated in some thicket and brush, as recommended by Finch during one of the strategy sessions.

"You two, scout to our left flank. You two take our right. Report back to me once you spot that flag." Peregrine ordered to which the two pairs of scouts fanned out to search for the objective.

"The rest of you, follow me." Peregrine whispered to which the remaining contingent nodded and followed.

Peregrine's forces scoured the area like shadows gliding against the trees. The sense of determination to attain victory today was immense throughout the group.

Cormorant's POV…

The young fighter could feel his pulse elevating and his blood rushing once more.

"I want two teams of four to split from our group and pincer maneuver around our left and right flanks. I also want two of you to take point ahead of the main group. The rest of you hold here for the moment." Cormorant finished as all his troops set out to carry out their orders.

Cormorant's force was hidden in a similar thicket located within the mission area.

"Cormorant, look, red!" a fighter excitedly whispered to which Cormorant and his troops gazed.

"Alright, keep it tight, let's roll." Cormorant whispered as his group advanced toward the glint of red.

Remembering what Crow had critiqued him on, Cormorant advanced with his troops decisively and prepared to launch a coordinated assault.

Peregrine's POV…

"I see it!" exclaimed one of Peregrine's troops.

"Shhh! Keep your voice down!" whispered another trainee hectically.

"Ok let's move up. Listen for footsteps." Peregrine instructed as her forces converged on the red flag.

Twigs snapped and branches crackled as Peregrine's forces advanced toward the flag. Peregrine suddenly motioned for a halt.

"Jackpot." Peregrine thought as she heard footsteps shortly ahead of her force.

Peregrine tactfully motioned for her left and right flanks to hold as the sounds of footsteps got closer.

With the sounds of crunching leaves growing ever more evident, Peregrine began signalling for her troops to prepare an ambush.

Cormorant's POV…

"Charge!" a voice yelled from behind the foliage.

Without warning, an onslaught of Peregrine's forces jumped out from the bushes and engaged in a full-frontal ambush on Cormorant's forces.

"Hold your ground!" Cormorant commanded.

Stun bolts arched and danced as the clang of staffs and shields chorused in unison with cries of battle.

With his adrenaline peaking, Cormorant jumped into the fray to assist his troops.

"You two! Grab that flag! Go!" Cormorant ordered two nearby teammates who were free of the fray for the moment.

Cormorant watched for a moment as his two comrades bolted for the flag while he continued to engage the enemy.

Peregrine's POV…

Knowing that the assault was in full swing, Peregrine gathered what troops she had left and made a bee line for the flag.

"I got it!" one of her troops exclaimed as he tore it out of the ground and waved it victoriously.

Just then, the two troops Cormorant had dispatched showed up.

"Run! We'll hold them off!" Peregrine ordered as she and two of her troops formed a defensive formation allowing for the flag bearer to make a dash for their base.

The two soldiers Cormorant had sent charged towards Peregrine but stopped dead in their tracks a short distance away from the three enemies.

"What are you waiting for?" Peregrine taunted as the two troops held their defensive stances.

"Look behind you." Peregrine heard as she turned around to see Cormorant and several other troops forming a line and blocking the flag bearer's route of escape.

"Today we taste victory!" Peregrine declared as she and her remaining contingent of troops bolted toward Cormorant's defensive line.

With small cracks in the line, the flag bearer, miraculously, managed to slip through and make a mad dash toward the base.

Just then, the horn sounded. The activity was over.

Peregrine, bruised and exhausted, knew she had won this round.

The trainees began to disperse and gather gear that was dropped during the battle.

"Nice final charge." Cormorant complimented as he ran into Peregrine on their way back to the meeting area for debrief.

"Your flanking maneuver was pretty brilliant as well." Peregrine returned to which both leaders shared a small grin.

Late evening, makeshift camp near Doctrina…

The trainees gathered around the bonfire with warm bowls of soup as Cormorant and Peregrine seated themselves at the front of the group.

"First of all, congratulations to the winning team!" Finch exclaimed to which Peregrine's soldiers gave an uproar of hoots and cheers.

"But both teams won this day's activity. Thanks to your teamwork and your leaders' improved leadership and strategy, I can safely say that both teams have achieved the true goal of this activity." Crow announced as the whole crowd gave a round of collective cheers.

"Alright, alright! Settle down everybody! Time to address today's achievements." Finch continued.

"Peregrine, your stealth, strategy, and situational awareness, all helped to lead your team to victory!" Finch explained as Peregrine's team gave their cheers of approval.

"Cormorant, your formations, strategy, and positioning also showed much improvement and made your fighting force a formidable one!" Crow announced to which Cormorant's team cheered.

"All trainees fought with fervour today! Get some rest tonight, and we'll see all of you in the morning!" Finch announced as he ended the debrief with a collective cheer from the entire group of trainees.

"I didn't think they'd be this far along by day two!" Finch whispered to Crow excitedly as they observed the interactions between the various trainees.

"That's why we're here." Crow whispered back as he watched on.