The trek back to the rainforest was a quiet one, the silence troubled only by breaths of dragons and the clicks of talons.
After the victorious capture of Icicle, the guards were in high spirits, especially the Nightwings. Amongst them, on a stretcher, the broken form of Icicle lay. Deathbringer and Glory were in the front leading the group, whereas the Jade Winglet, along with Nico and Piper brought up the rear.
Glory was pondering punishments. What would be just and adequate for Icicle? What can she be used for? Deathbringer occasionally looked backward, at the unconscious body of Icicle, his mind plagued by the legitimate assassination attempt on Glory. The Jade Winglet was also lost in their own thoughts, varying from sun time to Nico's words.
Just like everyone else, Nico and Piper were thinking.
Scarlet is the one behind all of this drama. Reports from the Skywing Queen, Ruby, that Scarlet was executed. By a rookie soldier. Pulverized by lightning. That's not normal weather. Called down lightning?
The darkness finally ceased, as the warm sunlight found its way into everyone's vision as the tunnel fell away, and everyone found themselves back at the rainforest, at the base of a large tree near a waterfall.
Glory and Deathbringer lifted off, flying back towards the royal pavilion, followed by the guards hoisting Icicle's body. The rest dispersed wordlessly and began routine patrols. This left Nico and Piper with the Jade Winglet.
"So, great job guys, we beat the baddy," Qibli noted to try to cut the awkward silence.
"Did you guys see the bones that Nico summoned to save me? That was so SO cool!" Kinkajou squeaked.
"Good job guys," Moonwatcher added quietly.
Winter sat on his haunches, clearly thinking.
Don't even think about it, Winter. I can hear through what I have summoned.
"Hello, Phyrria to Winter? Hello?" Qibli said, waving his talons in front of Winter's face.
Winter shook his head to clear his thoughts, then batted Qibli's talons away.
"Yeah? What?" he demanded.
"What are you thinking about, cold dragon?" Qibli asked.
"Nothing," Winter hissed.
"How did Glory, Deathbringer and the others find us?" Moon asked.
"I left a trail for them to follow. I'm so sorry guys," Kinkajou replied.
"No, no. Don't be sorry. It most likely saved your underside from getting ripped out," Piper reassured with a small smile.
"Hey, give me a little credit," Nico whined in response.
While the Jade Winglet was occupied talking about recent events, and about whether or not to return to Jade Mountain, or stay in the Rainforest for a little longer, Nico and Piper were talking about the fate of Scarlet.
"I'm guessing you thought about this on our way back, you aren't stupid. Queen Glory said that Scarlet was pulverized by a rookie soldier who, according to witnesses, called down lightning," Piper said to him.
"You're right, I'm not stupid. And yes, that has been on my mind. Rookie means new, so just like us. You and I both know that there is only one person who can call down lightning," Nico replied.
"Jason!" they both yelled simultaneously, excited at the prospect of finding a fellow demigod.
"Who or what is this Jay's son you're talking about?" Winter asked them.
"Jason is a friend of ours," Nico said without thinking.
"Aren't you guys new here? What are you guys talking about?" Qibli asked.
"I think they ate the wrong thing," Kinkajou added.
"We should probably leave, Nico," Piper said. "We've overstayed our welcome."
"You should probably tell us what you are," Moon said. "Before you leave to find your friend."
Nico and Piper both whirled around and looked at Moon, their faces shocked.
"What are you talking about? How did you know?" they both asked.
"She's a mindreader," Qibli said.
"Well, we knew that already, but didn't you say you can't read my mind, saying it's all 'cold and dark in there'?" Nico asked.
"I can read Piper's mind," Moon admitted, looking down at the ground, then fidgeting her talons.
Piper was about to open her mouth and command them to forget this conversation ever happened and leave, but Moon interrupted.
"Please don't use your charmspeak on us. We just want to know. That is all," Moon said.
Winter was now glaring at them. Nico had always been upfront with his powers, but Piper never displayed any power. Now, Moon was telling everyone that Piper did have powers. Winter was fully attentive and eager to listen now, narrowing his eyes at Piper.
"Well? Say something!"
"If Moon is a mindreader, I'll tell her everything in my mind, then she can explain everything to you guys. However, right now, Nico and I are eager to go and find Jason," Piper replied.
The Jade Winglet discussed amongst themselves for a few moments, then Moon nodded the affirmative.
Piper ran through the basic gist of how they ended up in Phyrria, but about their background as demigods in her mind, she made sure to be as detailed as possible.
"Thanks for your cooperation and help with finding Icicle," Moon said, before beginning to wrestle with all the new information in her head.
"Just one question before we leave, do you guys happen to know where this Skywing Queen and her entourage are?" Nico asked. Piper nodded, slapping herself mentally for forgetting to ask them.
"They're at Jade Mountain, the tallest mountain right now, retrieving the body of Carnelian if I remember correctly," Moon said after a few moments of pensive thought. "I suggest you hurry."
"Good luck explaining it all, Moon, but you're a smart dragon. Nico and I must now take our leave. Thank you for helping us find our friends," Piper said to Moon.
Turning around, Nico and Piper lifted off, worming their way through the canopy, and after bursting out into the sunlight, began to speed towards Jade Mountain, albeit unsteadily at first.
Down at the forest floor, Qibli, Winter, and Kinkajou looked at Moon expectantly, like baby birds to their mother, expecting her to feed them, only with information, not worms.
"How do I begin? Piper and Nico's background is really, really complicated. I would go so far as to say it would challenge your concepts of reality," Moon said.
"I'm thirsty for knowledge," Qibli said. "It can't be that bad, right?"
"Alright. For starters, y'all know the scavenger that Winter had for a pet, right?" Moon asked.
"Yeah, Bandit. What about it?" Winter said.
"Nico and Piper come from a world dominated by them. Before you go and feel sad for them, for they were scavengers too, but they were more at the same time. They were descendants of powerful entities, which explains their powers. Nico himself descends from Death, Piper from Love," Moon said. "The Jason that they talked about descends from the Sky."
Everyone's jaw dropped.
"Explain more, damn it. I want to know every little bit about them," Winter demanded.
Moon explained away, and soon, the day faded to night. Dumbfounded, they decide to push the new information to the back of their minds and go check on Icicle in the infirmary.
Glory confirmed that Scarlet was dead, which was good news for everyone. Well, almost.
"How am I going to find Hailstorm now?"