Even after an elongated time of monotonous walking, Phoenix couldn't get what she'd just experienced from her head. She let her thoughts spill out, hoping to get Embers opinions on them. For once, however, her sister seemed to be just as confused as her- though that was probably quite impressive, considering she wasn't there.

The corridors around her were a dim orange, what little of the light that bled through he skylights stained red. It was a little bit surprising, to see that she'd been away for that long. It'd felt like minutes had passed when she was there. That too, was a thought she shared with her sister.

Though before she was able to speak, she caught her eyes on the dusty SandWing in her Winglet, staring out into the dusk sky and tapping her talons lightly against the rocky ledge she lazily lay upon. Phoenix guessed, more from how tired the SandWing looked, that she'd been waiting here for a while.

Where was Eventide, come to think of it. He tended to be with his new SandWing friend, so it was strange that it wasn't here. If Ember had left her here to go find herself, she wouldn't of left her alone.

She quickly shrugged off the quick thought, however, as her sister quickly skirted up beside her, sending a friendly grin to Torrid; who proceed to jolt up like she'd been lost in a dream, much to her amusement.

"Sorry I took so long!" Ember apologised. "Phoenix had… vanished- which is quite important to something I want to explain, because my sister just figured something out."

"Figured something out?" Her turned to Phoenix with wide eyes. "Did you figure out what the red gemstone does- oh, we should go find Eventide first! He'll definitely want to know," Torrid said.

Phoenix would of argued, wanting to share the information while it was still fresh in her mind- but she was curious as too where the NightWing had gotten. Despite all the winding tunnels, there weren't too many places she could imagine him actually being.

"Where'd he go off to?" Ember asked.

Torrid shrugged her shoulders. "He was pulled away by Russet- which is the MudWing in our Winglet. He didn't introduce himself the other day, but Eventide got his name. He seemed quite shy… it was a bit strange to see him, looking nervous and a little panicked. That was like a little while ago now…"

"Might be worth checking the art classrooms. I think I've seen him there a few times," Ember suggested. Phoenix hadn't really seen much of her Winglet, if she was honest. She'd never had a conversation with the highly suspicious SeaWing and only one with the IceWing. Until about twenty seconds ago, she'd never heard the MudWing's name either.

Not that she had any intention of really maintaining a friendship with any of them. She was struggling enough with the NightWing and SandWing!

The trio headed off to search the school, Torrid asking a few of the dragonets in the art class if they'd seen him. Apparently not, so they searched until the sky was black and the halls were lit fully by fire light. In the end, they couldn't find it anywhere- and it was actually starting to panic Torrid a little.

Phoenix didn't anything had happened to him, though Phoenix's mind went back to the… vision(?) she had. There was definitely someone suspicious roaming this school, so perhaps Torrid was right to worry.

Eventually, it was too dark to continue searching and the hallways began to empty as everyone started too sleep. Phoenix could of kept searching all night, since she'd essentially slept all day- but her sister and her dusty SandWing friend looked exhausted.

Phoenix suggested the two of them should get some sleep; who knows, maybe Eventide had returned too his room since they'd last checked. He easily could of gone somewhere outside the school- or perhaps he was lost in the tunnels somewhere. Not that she'd be any better at navigating them.

"Sleep… does sound like a good idea," Torrid agreed, rubbing her tired eyes. It was like she'd worn herself out with worry. "Maybe he had to head off somewhere- we can check with one of the teachers in the morning."

With that, and a wish good night, Torrid quickly drifted off too sleep, her sister looking at her curiously as she turned too leave, but quickly closed her own eyes without a question.

She wondered if Peril was still awake, she'd be amazing help in navigating the tunnels- because, skies above, was there map useless past the main academy walls. She could imagine a dragon with eternally burning scales having a lot of energy. Wouldn't surprise her if she never slept.

Though, she didn't get her hopes up. Her dodgy firescales never gave her the energy to stay awake- if fact, they did quite the opposite. The last time she'd used them, on the fateful night, she'd spent as much time as she could with her head buried in her pillow. Though, she had to admit, that was probably all the crying causing that.

Phoenix shook the memories of killing that dragon from her head. She needed to focus in front of her, because the chances of her walking into Peril twice were pretty slim.

As she wandered further forward, it became rapidly apparently that she didn't actually know where Peril slept. She'd had a quick peak the mostly empty Jade Winglet rooms, finding them devoid of Peril- or anywhere Peril would sleep. It made sense she didn't sleep with the others- she probably had her own room.

Unfortunately, she had no idea where that was.

Eventually, her mind just went 'screw it, what's the worst that can happen?' and she just delved into the caves without a guide. Phoenix felt like she could find her way out, she'd done it a few time now, obviously. But she did actually miss speaking to Peril. There was something comforting in talking to the slightly nuts firescale.

As it caves got darker, Phoenix didn't even bother looking round for spectators before she grabbed an oil lantern from the wall, blowing her fire across it. The tiny flicker suddenly roared into a blaze, and she hung it from the claw of her wing.

She didn't walk far, however, before smothering the flame with her wing; the sound of quiet chattering echoing quietly down the hallways. She didn't have SandWing hearing, but the dragon was talking in a raised but hushed voice, clearly growing impatient with whoever he was talking.

Phoenix reminded herself, reluctantly, that she was part RainWing where she liked it or not, and that right now changing her scales might have been a good idea.

She let them fade into what she thought roughly looked like the shale grey ground and walls around them, before slinking as quietly as she could forward. She froze as she got to the opening she was familiar with, though no moonlight lit the ground below tonight. She guessed it was cloudy.

Hugging the wall, Phoenix peered down to the water.

There was a small fire lit a small distance away, silhouetting a dragon against the water, taller then her. It was hard to make out who it was, but she was acting totally suspicious! Especially considering THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE HERE! Wait, who was he talking to?

"Yes, I'm certain it the same dragonet!" The dragon hissed in a familiar voice, which didn't bode well. "I know she might not much the description, but she shares the same name and another dragon from her Winglet shares her sisters name."

The dragon paused for a moment… almost like he was listening to an invisible voice. Phoenix didn't even dare let her thoughts interrupt her eaves dropping, she didn't want to miss a thing. "Yes, RainWing scales. Blue and purples, not amber- but you said yourself, she's a hybrid," he huffed an annoyed grunt. "Look, I know what I'm bloody well doing- I don't care if you say she can't change scales. If she's been messing the artificers stone, she could be doing anything."

They were talking about her!- and this was definitely the dragon who'd stolen from her. She… needed to figure out who this dragon was, then maybe she could tell the teachers. And Peril. Peril would probably stop him be hurting anyone.

Phoenix started creeping forwards, ears wide open.

"No- I wasn't able to recover it. The cache you'd wanted me to hide it in was raided. My cover is fine!" He growled that last part. "You'll be please to hear, then," he said, answering the invisible voice. "That I was able to obtain the location of stone from a NightWing here," Phoenix's hearted jumped in fear. She- she needed to find out what this dragon did to him!

The silhouette nodded. "Yes, Phoenix has it- no I have no idea how they got it! Perhaps you should hire better better smugglers then those brigands then?" He grumbled to himself. "If I'm going to get this rock, I'm going to have to hand this contract in dead. It's a good thing I kept one of those darts on me. That dragons dragonet, Welkin, proved somewhat useful at least. Its much more comfortable knowing that her firescales won't be a problem. Be a shame to end up like ol' Sable. The contract will be done."

The dragon suddenly threw something behind him, not far away from the fire. It was a mirror, of sorts, though it's glass was twisted an all too familiar red.

Phoenix looked down to the red gemstone in one of her pouches. This dragon… was going to kill her for it? In fact- he'd called her a contract! SHE HAD A CONTRACT ON HER? That was almost enough to send her fainting.

She could of guessed some dragons may have wanted her dead, but enough to actually put money on her head? That was rather unsettling. And for killing someone in Jade Mountain, Phoenix guessed it couldn't have been a small amount of gold or silver. It was self defense! Even if she had sort of provoked it… and then burnt him alive in nothing but panic.

That sent a shudder down her own scales. She couldn't imagine how Peril could do it for all those years. It wasn't something she ever wanted to do again. Even the dragons that'd attacked her less then a week ago! She shot the fire at her feet and only a few seconds. They got away with only some burns!

Also, did this dragon say something about a dart that stops her firescales- that's what Welkin had hit her with, why she felt so cold! That must of also been what that'd found earlier! What weird book did Ember read to find these things?

Not exactly reassuring right now, though.

She needed to see this dragons face. She needed to be sure if she was going to point out a name. She couldn't even tell his tribe in this light!

If she were smarter, she probably could of thought of another method, or of just ran away. But, instead, she took steady steps closer. All the way up until she missed a drop, and went rolling a wingspan on the floor.

In a heartbeat, the dragon swung around, sweeping his tail across the fire turning it to a cloud of embers, quickly flooding the room in darkness. Immediately, Phoenix felt her scales heat up, ready at any moment to burst.

Her heart was going the continent and back: her mind silent. She slowly backed herself into a corner, watching the shadows with fear. The quick thought that'd she'd messed up one final time passed through her mind, though she barely had time to think.

She suddenly burst into a sprint, running for a light that led into further caves- she didn't think it was the way she'd come, but she didn't stop to check. Under her heavy talon steps, she heard nothing. As she approached the silhouetting flame, she caught sharp whistle with her ears.

A yelp of pain escaped her and she stumbled forward to the ground, She quickly fumbled with her limbs, her eyes locking onto a dart lodged into one of her back legs. She pulled out the thin needle and threw it away, then jumped back onto all fours.

Only to find her leg collapsing beneath her, the scales around it turning cold and fireless. It was a feeling she'd felt before, back in Observance… the 'morphine'- or whatever it was now.

Phoenix pulled her self up, standing as best she could. With the hardiest looking face she could pull, she stared back into the darkness with a hiss.

Though, it only met her with silence as her strength drained.

She was entirely panicked, and she felt like her firescales' should have been bursting out in a fury- but they refused to listen to their calling. Instead, she was helpless as she fell back to the floor.

"Help!-" Phoenix cried out into the halls- but she was cut short as green and blue swept in from the shade, slamming her head into the ground and firmly shutting her up. Through his grip, Phoenix could see exactly who it was. Maelstrom.

Knowing she was right brought very little consolation.

"I'm having a very hard time deciding if you've annoyed me, or if I'm relieved that you're here," he chuckled maliciously behind his tongue, press a claw to her neck. "Because here you are, eavesdropping on private conversations and stealing my property- but then you deliver yourself to me like moth to a flame!"

Phoenix tried to shout for help once more, but nothing but a struggling hiss escaped her maw. In the corner of her eyes, she could see her scales paling.

"How lucky I must be, here you are in my talons- and what's this?" he yanked hard on the bag around her neck, strangling her until the string snapped. She heard his talons rummage through it, but a red crystal feel before her eyes. "Do you even know what this is? Or did you just spot that it was shiny and worth something? With how rough and dirty your scales are… I'd say the latter was more likely."

Phoenix lay motionlessly on the stone. Whatever they'd done to the dart, it was definitely still a tranquilliser. Eyes eyes felt so heavy… she could barely even concentrate on the SeaWing. Almost all feeling had vanished for her scales.

"Well," he shrugged, digging his claw beneath her scales with a sharp sting. "I shan't waste any more of your time!"

Phoenix closed her eyes, unable to do anything but wait. And wait… and wait… the only thing that kept her from falling asleep was the copious amounts of adrenaline that lingered in her veins. The moment- the claw stabbing into her scales, never came.

She opened her eyes. The claws had vanished. She tried to roll over, and did. He'd vanished entirely. Phoenix was almost certain that she was about to be murdered- he said'd that he had a contract for her head.

No less awake, her ears suddenly caught a close, deep rumble. She turned her head towards it, her vision blurry and it stared at a light.

Not a light, her mind slowly put together her vision. A dragon, glowing copper in the darkness. Phoenix could hear their voice, though couldn't make out her words. She wanted to scream and tell them there was someone here!- but her body refused, instead slipping into unconsciousness.

Thanks for the new Follows and Favourites