Thunder woke up in Burn's stronghold. It had been a few days since he had fought Dusk. It wasn't that hard to win either. Dusk was weak. He could have killed him right there and then and it wouldn't make a difference. He was strong. Thunder could easily kill any dragon in his way. That's what he always thought anyway. Burn had always told him to be patient and to be smart. Thunder had learned over the years that he could NOT kill everyone he faced. That was going to be the case with the dragonets. At least that was what Thunder almost hoped for. He was tired of this. He was tired of this damn war! He was tired of acting like someone he wasn't.

He didn't want to be a hero. He didn't want to be a villain either. He wanted to be his own thing. He wanted freedom. He wanted to be free from his mother. He loved her. But he knew she didn't love him truly as a son. He knew that Burn was only using him. And she didn't try to hide it either. She was using him and she had told him that many times. He was a weapon for her to use. And he was tired of it. He wanted to seek out Dusk. Not to kill him, not to be friends with him. No, he wanted to seek out Dusk to help him kill his mother. He wanted this all to end. He wanted to just do his own thing for once in his life.

He was done following orders. He was going to tell Burn that he was ready to hunt down the dragonets. He wasn't going to tell her the part where he betrayed her of course. Only the most stupid of dragons would have done that.

He walked out of his room and found his way through the stronghold. He found Burn in the military room. It was the room where she planned attacks and thought of strategies to crush her enemies. And Burn was the best of all in the kingdom of sand to plan an attack. Which was one of the reasons she was so dangerous. And by the looks of it, Burn was there planning another attack. On which tribe he didn't know. She didn't plan alone. She never did. She had her generals and her captains with her.

''Mother?'' Said Thunder.

''What is it, Dear?'' Said Burn in her normal, angry sounding voice.

''I am starting my journey to hunt down the dragonets. And i am starting now.'' Said Thunder.

Burn smirked. ''Well, what are you doing still standing there? I want them all dead. Especially the Rainwing. Understood?''

''Yes. Mother.'' Said Thunder.

''Good, now go!'' said Burn pointing one of her talons on the giant door out of the stronghold.

Burn had now been fooled. This was going to be her downfall.

Sunny woke up cold. She opened her eyes and saw no one sleeping beside her like she had the last three days. She looked around. Glory, Clay, Starflight, and Fatespeaker was still sleeping. Tsunami, however, was also gone. Maybe she and Dusk decided to get some breakfast. It would not surprise her at all if that was the case. She got up with a bright smile like she almost always did and jumped into the air and flew towards the Rainwing village.

The sun was shining and there were almost no clouds in sight. Sunny wanted this to be a good day. And it might end up as one too. But, she was afraid. Her friends were going to attack the Nightwing island this evening. She could not even begin to think of all the scenarios where they fail to bring back the missing Rainwings. She could think of hundreds of scenarios where her friends got trapped on the island and the volcano erupted. She could not think about that.

Where could Dusk and Tsunami be? So far she had not seen them in the Rainwing village. She was going to check on the spot she and Dusk watched the sunset. She flew between the trees with ease and got to the clearing in no time. She looked around. Not a single soul. Sunny looked up in the trees. She spotted a few black scales. She looked for the tail. The tail was her clue if it was a normal Nightwing or her best friend. She spotted a barb on a tail. A black tail. It was Dusk. He was sitting in the tree with his tail curled around himself.

''So there you are.'' Said Sunny as she landed on the branch.

''Yes i woke up early and decided to watch the sunrise. Tsunami woke up a minute after me and went to get the Rainwings ready for the attack. She was going to go through the plan with them.'' Said Dusk.

Sunny made her way to Dusk and nuzzled him. ''So, what are we going to do today?'' Asked Sunny with her bright smile.

''I don't know. What do you want to do?'' Asked Dusk.

Sunny had to think. What did she want to do today? She wanted to be there for her friends. But they would not let her. She wanted to relax. To be able to not worry about what the outcome of the attack on the Nightwing island.

''I want to relax.'' Said Sunny.

''Is something wrong Sunny?'' Asked Dusk concerned.

''Yes, i can't think of anything other than the attack. I am worried. I don't know what to do with myself.'' Said Sunny.

''They will survive. Trust me Sunny. I have seen it. I have seen the moments where we end the war. We were all there, together with dragons from all the tribes.'' Said Dusk. ''There is nothing to worry about.''

Sunny sighed. She was relieved of course that everything was going to be fine. But also scared where they were going to end up in the future. She looked at Dusk who was looking at the ocean. How could he be so calm? Was it that he knew what was going to happen or maybe he wasn't the type to worry too much. Why did he always look towards the ocean? What was so special about it?

''Why do you always look towards the ocean? What's so special about it?'' Asked Sunny.

''Memories. The ocean is special to me because I've spent a lot of time there. I always loved to swim in the ocean and play with the few friends i had there. We used to find a high place to jump from and do tricks from and land in the water. It was a lot of fun. I and my brother used to do that a lot.'' Answered Dusk with a smile on his face. ''I think i got an idea of what we could do.'' He leaped into the air.

''Where are we going?'' Asked Sunny.

''Just come.''

Dusk flew through the Rainforest for a good while. He led Sunny to a beach. He had checked out this area a few days before. It was a beautiful place south of the Rainforest. The sun was shining and the sand was warm.

Sunny looked around, she had never thought that there were beaches just a little south of the Rainforest. When had Dusk found this place? It was beautiful. There were small islands out there and long beaches. There were palm trees all over the place. She could hear the sea birds and she could see dolphins jumping from the water and high into the air. The sand was so warm and relaxing to lie on. She looked towards Dusk who was sneaking up on a seagull. The poor seagull got a surprise when it discovered the huge dragon right behind it. Dusk failed to catch the scared seagull and ended up in the sand.

Sunny could not help but laugh.

''Well you said you wanted to relax didn't you?'' Asked Dusk.

''I did.''

Sunny found herself a spot to lay on. The warm sand felt nice against her scales. She closed her eyes to relax. And she had fallen asleep before she knew it.

Dusk shook his head. ''You fell asleep didn't you?'' He asked Sunny. She didn't answer. She had fallen asleep. He lay down next to her and dropped a wing over her. He was going to keep her safe. That's what his instincts told him at least.

Thunder was soaring over the claws of the clouds mountains. He had gotten a long way from the stronghold already. He had stopped by Possibility. But he wasn't very welcome there. He didn't know where to start looking for Dusk so he enchanted a small rock to show him exactly where he was. Dusk was in the Rainforest? Why! Of all the possible places why that stupid place? Why!? Well, he would have to change course. He was now going south. He absolutely hated the Rainforest. He hated his own tribe. They were useless, Literally. And the Rainforest was just the worst to be in. Too wet and full of bugs to his liking.

If he was fast enough he would be there by Dusk.

'Dusk, i am coming for you.' He thought before speeding up and flying as fast as possible towards the Rainforest.

Sunny and Dusk had been sleeping on the beach for hours and day were turning to night.

Sunny stretched like a cat when she got up. This place was relaxing no doubt about that. She was about to get Dusk up when she heard wing beats. But no dragon. A Rainwing here? The Rainwings never left the Rainforest so she was suspicious. Sunny got into a fighting stance.

She heard laughter. ''You think you can face me little Sandwing? No! You have no chance against me. Lucky for you, i am not here to harm neither Dusk or you for that matter.'' She saw a Rainwing materialize right in front of her.

Sunny recognized the Rainwing. It was Thunder. The son of Burn.

''You!'' Sunny looked behind her. Dusk had woken up as well. He didn't look very happy to see Thunder. ''Why are you here? Are you finally ready to come back and finish me off after our last fight?'' Asked Dusk. ''Answer me!''

''No. I am done following orders. I am done with my mother.'' Said Thunder.

''But why seek us out?'' Asked Sunny still suspicious.

''I have to admit that it wasn't my best plan. But you are the only ones i think can help me.'' Said Thunder.

''And why should we help you? After what you did to me? After what you put her through?'' Asked Dusk. ''You are an animus. Get rid of your mother yourself.''

Sunny fully agreed with Dusk. Thunder did not deserve any form for help. Sunny actually hated him. She would like to rip out his heart and crush it. But that was not her. It was her hate. Her real self would never think something like that.

Thunder stood there in shock. ''How did you know that? who told you i was an animus?''

''I can see the future. I have seen futures where we were friends and you told me. But we will never be friends and i will never help you.'' Said Dusk harshly.

''I don't have friends. They are a useless thing. A weakness. And it looks like it was a waste to come here.'' Said Thunder looking like he didn't care at all.

Sunny shook her head. ''Maybe in time, you will learn that friends are a strength, not a weakness.''

Dusk let flames come out of his nostrils. ''Get out of here. You are not welcome in the Rainforest.'' Said Dusk.

''Hmmph. May our paths cross again then.'' Said Thunder.

''I hope i never see you again.'' Said Dusk.

Dusk had a lot to think about at the moment. Thunder knew he would not get any help here, so why even try to begin with? He would probably not get an answer to that any time soon. Not that he cared that much anyway. He knew he was going to see Thunder in the future at some point. He had not seen it but he just knew.

''Are you okay?'' asked Sunny.

''Let's just get back to the village. I think they are going to start the attack pretty soon.'' Said Dusk not even looking at Sunny.

She had never seen him that angry before. Well, she had not really seen him angry at all. Dusk was always calm and collected and usually didn't get angry at all. Maybe his fight with Thunder was traumatic for him? She would have to ask him. But not now. He needed time.

Sunny and Dusk got back to the village just to find it almost empty. Their friends had already started the attack.

Dusk went to the treehouse to get some sleep. Sunny stayed in the village and tried to find Kinkajou. She was sure that Kinkajou knew how long since her friends started the attack. Sunny went to the healer's hut to check. Kinkajou lay on one of the beds sleeping. She found Shimmer watching over the little dragonet.

''Shimmer?'' Asked Sunny quietly.

''The one and only.'' Said the Rainwing healer. ''what can i help you with Sunny?''

''I was wondering if you knew how long it is since Glory and the others started the attack.'' Said Sunny.

''Hmm, if i would guess i would probably say an hour ago or something close to that. Was there something else?'' Asked Shimmer.

''Yes, how are Kinkajou doing?''

Shimmer looked at Kinkajou with a smile. ''She is recovering. She is a strong one.''

Sunny smiled as well. ''She is.''

So here is the next chapter. And i am happy because of one reason. This story has reached 30K words. This is the first time i have written a story this long. I am quite proud of myself too. I think i know what direction i want to take Thunder in. I think he is an interesting character to write. Can't wait to start on the next chapter.

Anyways see you all in the next one. Bye bye.