(A/N: The start of the third and final, part! It is upon us! Expect the story to get mildly disappointing as we get closer to the end.)

Calcite didn't come back until nightfall. Mallow was a bit glad; the IceWing reminded her of Blaze, self-centered and over-dramatic, with her constant pauses between sentences and flourishes as if she was putting on a show. As if the trio cared.

Mallow just wanted the IceWing to die or go away.

Maybe it was personal. Maybe it was just because IceWings were horrible and annoying and their scales were always cold and she liked rain and sun not coldness.

She looked down at her talons. Maybe it was personal, just not directly at Calcite but every IceWing. Tribal bias, Mallow thought, that's what happens in war.

Caldera moved a bit closer. She had fallen asleep underneath Mallow's wing—the SkyWing looked so small. Mallow was larger than average, from being bigwings of her troop and just by being large (she couldn't quite explain it, but she was about as big as the middle dragon of a nine-year-old troop of MudWings). Caldera was extremely small compared to her. It made the big-sister part of Mallow worry for the wingless SkyWing.

Jackal was laying on the other side of her. Mallow had a wing over him but his own wings prevented it from tenting over him like it did with Caldera. She couldn't directly look at him; she was still trying to take it all in. How much times had he lied, saying he was fine, and was blind, and couldn't see anything? Mallow felt a bit hurt that he never brought it up; just as much as she felt guilty for not noticing it earlier.

As Calcite entered the cave, Mallow wondered if she was imagining the newfound chill that settled over her or if her hybrid genes were just messing with her.

"Are you three done and rested now?" The IceWing asked. "Because if so, we can get going."

"It's nighttime," Mallow replied. Jackal came out from under her wing to stare at Calcite; Caldera didn't move, still asleep. "There's nothing for us to hunt. Every animal is asleep. How about we wait until morning?"

Calcite waved her talons dismissively. "Everyone's asleep by now, so we'll be able to get farther without being questioned."

Mallow just stared at her. The IceWing stepped closer, and Mallow unconsciously flinched a little. Calcite almost looked pleased.

"Fine. Let me wake Caldera up." Mallow said, lifting her wing. She almost didn't want to—Caldera looked relatively peaceful, as if she was having a pleasant dream—but she gently nudged the small, wingless SkyWing dragonet. She slowly stirred, sitting up and gently touching her bracelet to make sure it was still there. "It's time to go."

Caldera nodded sleepily, and even as Jackal sat up and positioned his tail in a threatening position, the SkyWing just huddled close to Mallow.

Mallow looked down at the SkyWing. "Are you alright?" She asked quietly.

"Yeah," Caldera replied. She paused to yawn. "I'm fine. Just tired. I tend to sleep a lot."

Mallow nodded in acknowledgment and looked up at Calcite. She was examining her talons, looking bored. Mallow couldn't tell if she was sincere or not.

"We're all ready now," Mallow said.

"Then get up and let's go." Calcite replied, looking up from her talons. She flicked her tail. "Do you want to lead? Or do you want to keep an eye on me?"

"The latter," Mallow said. She looked back at Jackal and Caldera. "Stay close to me, okay?"

Both younger dragonets nodded. Mallow stood up and started following Calcite outside, staying a safe distance away from her tail and her scales. Jackal followed beside and behind her, occasionally walking a bit closer or brushing his wing with hers to make sure she knew he was there; Caldera walked a bit closer. Everyone had their wings—if they had them—tucked and tails close to them.

Calcite led with a sort of noise-reducing shuffle; while the other three didn't bother trying to be quiet, everything was about her was silent. But Mallow had to admit that it wasn't a threatening quietness, but closer to like when someone was just lost in thought or trying to figure out what to say next. It didn't entirely make Mallow feel better; she has friends she needs to protect, especially from the sibs that she lacked to do the same with.