The morning sun shone through the windowless frame in the great hall. The Storm Hawks stood in silence around the room atop the astronomy tower. The cracked ring and stabbed journal with the fang still lodged in sat on a table in the centre. Aerrow, who was looking out at the morning sun had hold of the locket. All three artifices had been given to them by Mcgonagall, but only two were worth while.
"The lockets a fake?" Piper asked, stunned. Aerrow nodded and turned to face them. He'd discovered it that morning when he'd received it. It had been hung on Dumbledore's belt when he'd fallen and it had cracked open from the impact reviling a very small folded piece of paper. Handing the locket to Piper he watched her open it and take the paper out. "To the dark master, I know I will be long dead before you read this but I want you to know it was I that discovered your secret, I have stolen the real horcruex and intent to destroy it as soon as I can, I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more" She said, reading out the scribbled message. "R.A" She also read out the two single letters at the bottom of the sheet before looking to each of the others who all shook their heads and shrugged.
"Whoever they are, they have the real horcruex" Ace said as he lent against the wall.
"Meaning it's still out there along with the others" Finn added, from when he was sat on the steps. Piper looked to him for a lingered moment and then to the others who all had the same expression on their faces, understand its meaning she nodded as she walked up and stood besides Aerrow, who'd turned back to look at the view again.
"Were all ok, with it you know" She said in a quieter tone. "You and Starling" She added as he looked at her. He slightly nodded his head, but he knew it couldn't carry on in the same way. "If these horcruexs are going to be found it'll have to be alone, I've got to finish them and finish her" He told her. "I'll let you know where I am when I can" He added to everyone. Piper looked out over the view.
"I've always admired you courage Aerrow but, sometimes you can be really thick" She told him.
"You don't think you can find all those horcruexs by yourself do you?" Ace asked. Aerrow turned to face them all as Piper face him again.
"You need us Aerrow as much as we need you" She told him. Looking from her to the others who were all nodding he nodded too.
"Just us though, we can't risk anyone else or telling them anything new" He told them, knowing they would all have to leave people they cared about behind. A long bird song rang out filled the air. Looking to the sky the Storm Hawks saw Fawkes swooping in the air as it graced the castle with one last uplifting melody before it gracefully flew away.