Where are you?

Moonwatcher had been fairly shaken after the encounter with Darkstalker. The mad look in his eye, the way his thoughts had immediately turned dark and dangerous. It had been such strong emotions, all of them focused on finding that bracelet.

But why would he want anything to do with the moonstones in the first place? Especially if they had him trapped for so long, to begin with. Then there was her vision with Clearsight. Why had Moon looked so much like her? It didn't add up. She had too many questions and not enough answers.

A sigh escaped from her as she warily walked back through the mountain. She found herself getting lost at least twice, but the glowing lanterns always seemed to lead her in the right direction.

Eventually, she made it back to the resting cave. It was dark now, the only light available to her the small glowing orb up by the ceiling and the distant glow of green light coming from the hall. She curled up against a far wall, resting her head on to her paws. She found that she severely missed her bed back at Jade Mountain. Perhaps Darkstalker would be kind enough to let her find some bedding at least.

"Going to sleep so early?"

Moon hadn't even heard Darkstalker enter. She jumped a bit and looked up at him. The scene looked ominous; Darkstalker standing in the mouth of the entryway, green light flickering like tongues of fire behind him as his silver eyes moved over her form as if he wanted to consume her whole. She sucked in a breath when her eyes drifted down to see the moonstones.

Darkstalker had somehow had created a stone obsidian armband, all three moonstones gleaming an eerie milky white in the green light; the biggest sitting in the middle. Moon felt a small surge of fear. What had he enchanted them to do?

His gaze seemed to soften as he began to walk towards her. Moon quickly got to her feet, taking a few steps back. Darkstalker's expression changed once again, but this time to one of hurt.

"Why?" he asked not so much a question for her but himself. "Moon, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm not going to hurt you."

Moon didn't respond, refusing to look at him and instead opting to stare down at her talons. He came closer, bringing up a talon to gently run across the silver tear-dropped scales by her eyes. Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs; his talons cool to the touch. His scent filled the air around her. A smell that was a mixture of pine and earth, with something else she couldn't place.

"Moon, please look at me."

She didn't want to, she didn't. But he slipped a talon under her chin and something seemed to compel her to do as he said, to try and please him in whatever way she could.

His silvery blue eyes bored into hers. They weren't like Winters eyes, dark and blue like the oceans to the north; no, Darkstalker's looked as if they had captured the starlight itself. A cold, distant silver that shouldn't even exist for any dragon. She wanted to hate them but instead found herself wanting to get lost in them for eternity.

"I am sorry for scaring you earlier. Just please, these stones… They mean a lot to me. It's one of my last links to the past. Don't take that from me."

He pulled away just a bit with a smile. Lifting his arm, he brought the armband with the moonstones up for closer inspection. "I was foolish, now that I think about it. Having a scroll to channel my animus powers through. Even more so for thinking I could trust Fathom and…" He stopped, a look of betrayal crossing his features before masking it with another smile. "Anyway, what do you think? This time I have all of my magic in the moonstones."

Moonwatcher's eyes widened a bit. "Darkstalker, you shouldn't— "

Darkstalker cut her off with a snort, waving his hand in dismissal. "Look, if I am feeling super evil in the next couple of spells, I'll stop, alright? But seriously, watch this."

A manic grin spread across his face as he walked away from her. He looked around the room, spotting a small pile of stones in a corner. Darkstalker's face went serious. Ever so slowly, with the arm with the moonstones on it, he lifted his talons. At first, nothing happened, but then, Moon saw it. One by one, all the stones began to rise into the air.

The stones circled in the air, flying by the glowing orb and even over their heads before falling into a straight line in front of Darkstalker. Darkstalker grinned, curling his hand into a fist as the stone's all slowly crumbled into dust.

"Isn't it amazing? Moon, I don't even have to say anything. I just have to think about what I want to happen and I can make it so." He looked back down at his bracelet. "I should have done this the first time… But I suppose I was just trying to clear out the concerns of my friends. But I know better now." Darkstalker shrugged.

He's gotten so much stronger, Moonwatcher thought with a sense of dread. He's already placed his magic back into another object. One that she highly doubts she can't break or burn. The moonstones can't be his weakness now because he's probably already enchanted them.

Darkstalker cast Moon a dark look for a moment. "It's… Really amazing," Moon offered meekly.

"It is, isn't it?" Darkstalker sighed, going to lay down on his side of the cave. "I suggest you sleep, my dear Moon. Tomorrow you will hunt with me, and you falling asleep during a hunt won't be very productive for neither of us."

She hadn't eaten today, so no doubt tomorrow she would be starving. "Where will we be going?"

"Certainly not towards the valley. We'll fly east, try to find something a little way from home. Besides, I want to see more of what has changed throughout the years during my sleep."

Moon nodded, curling back up against a wall; her wings wrapping around herself tightly. How could she possibly sleep now? Too much was happening too fast. At this rate, by the end of the month, he might be too powerful. Even if she did find his weakness, how was she going to use it to destroy him? Moon wanted to nearly cry from how helpless she felt.

There wasn't any use moping. She had to try and play his game. Had to have him believe that she was on his side…

No, her mind screamed at her. That was a dangerous game. It was like playing with fire, and there was a very, very high chance of getting burned in this game. But now that Darkstalker could use his powers at will again, she didn't have a choice.

Let the games begin.

Moon didn't sleep that night. Throughout the night she kept having flashes of memories that didn't belong to her. She saw herself hugging two older dragons of whom she called mother and father, flying out into a hurricane with Darkstalker, and laughing with another female NightWing she didn't recognize but felt a sort of kinship to.

She felt herself drifting off into another dream when a warm snout gently nudged at her side.

"Moon."

She frowned, pulling her wing further up over her head to hide from whatever was trying to wake her from her dream. She didn't want to lose any more clues. Another nudge, harder this time.

"Moon, wake up. It's time to go."

It was too late. The images faded, and she was very much awake. She peeked her eyes open as she lowered her wing, blinking up to see Darkstalker looking down at her. He had a bit of a smirk on his face.

"Did you know you mumble in your sleep? It's kind of adorable."

Moonwatcher groaned as the heat returned to her face, pulling herself up onto her feet. "So I've been told," she replied with a yawn. She still felt tired, but the grumbling in her stomach convinced her she did need to get up. Besides, they were going hunting. She would get out of the mountain for the first time in days.

"Mmm. Well, let's get going. We have about an hour before sunrise." Darkstalker moved to the entrance, looking back at her before disappearing down the hall. Moon followed after him. A few minutes later, they reached the opening to the cliff they were last night.

Images from last night's encounter crept into her mind. The mad look in his eye, the change of voice. Perhaps only certain things triggered that reaction? She would have to look further into what caused it. Darkstalker looked back at her. Moon poked her head outside before walking up beside him.

The morning sky was a dark gray, slowly turning to a pale white-gold off in the distance. Stars were already fading off into nothingness.

Without so much as a word, Darkstalker let himself fall over the edge of the cliff. For a moment there was nothing but silence… Until a dark shadow flew back up; dark wings so large they seemed to block out the remaining glimmering light of the moon.

He looked down at her. "Are you coming?"

Moon noticed a thin line of white scales by his wings. Maybe they were from his fathers' side? She looked over the edge, then back at him. Why was she hesitating? She was supposed to be playing his game. Pretend to be on his side.

She gave a small smile, jumping out after him. He smiled at her, allowing his wing to brush lightly against hers as he began flying east. Moon followed close behind him; their wingbeats almost in perfect unison. Off in the far distance was Jade Mountain. Her mind briefly considered trying to make a break for it. To make a mad dash for freedom to the mountain.

But that would only end in tragedy, as she knew that Darkstalker would only use his powers to lure her back. Then he would probably never let her leave the mountain ever again. She sighed and focused on staying close behind Darkstalker.

After nearly an hour of flying later, Darkstalker began his descent down into the forest below. Moments later they landed in a thicket.

Alright, there's a large herd of white-tailed deer around here, Darkstalker's mind echoed. The last I saw; they were just a little bit north of here. Many females with their young. I put us south of the wind so they wouldn't catch our scent. You fly up ahead and lure them to my destination and I'll see if we can have a decent breakfast.

Are you sure about this? Moon replied, opening her wings.

Positive. Get going, before they decide to move once again!

Moonwatcher nodded, returning once again to the sky above. Just as Darkstalker instructed, she continued north, flying just a bit ways eat to make a circle around. She was only gliding on the winds for a good fifteen minutes before she spotted them. It wasn't a large herd; only about ten does and a buck with a few fawns.

With a growl, Moon tucked her wings in and dived. The deer hadn't even seen her coming. Their cries of panic filled the air as they all began to sprint for the trees; white tails flashing up into the air. But Moon had found her prey. A small buck no more than a year old. Moon was cutting and diving in different directions with the herd; back towards Darkstalker's eager talons.

Get ready! They're almost on top of you, Moon thought as she ducked to miss a branch.

She got no reply. But they were right by the ambush, where was-?

Moonwatcher reared back as Darkstalker jumped from one of the trees above; landing with a large crunch over the buck. The poor thing flailed for in his talons for a moment, fear flashing in the whites of its eyes. Darkstalker hissed as he brought his open maw down, snapping the buck's throat. Moon landed onto the ground silently as she carefully walked toward Darkstalker, who was still hunched over the buck.

"You startled me," Moon offered with a small laugh, "but great job. You really— "

Darkstalker's head snapped up and he clamped his jaw shut; making Moon jump back with a startled yelp.

There it was again. The madness had returned to his eyes once again. His breath was coming out in slow, heavy pants as he stared at her, taking a step forward.

Every fiber within Moonwatcher's being was screaming at her to fly far, far away from here. She wasn't with Darkstalker right now, but with someone entirely different. She could run right now, but that would defeat her entire purpose of trying to find out exactly what made him tick.

Swallowing, Moon held her ground and stared into Darkstalker's eyes with determination. "Darkstalker, stop." She stated firmly. He kept inching towards her, a half-crazed smile on his face.

"Darkstalker, it's over. Come back. Stop."

But he truly was gone from her. She waited for the worst to happen as he leaned over her. Instead, he dipped his head down beside her ear. "Enjoy your meal," he whispered, before continuing past her.

She was frozen. She tried to move, but it was almost as if she had become a statue. After what seemed an eternity, she finally regained control of her limbs. Moon whirled around; looking around for any signs of Darkstalker. But it was almost as if he had never even existed.

"Darkstalker!"

Birds chirped happily off in the distance.

"Darkstalker, where are you?!"

Still no reply. Wherever he had gone, he wasn't coming back for a while. Despite her worries, her stomach grumbled at her angrily. If he wasn't going to show himself, she might as well eat. Warily, she turned back to the buck and began her meal.

Nearly an hour later, with a full belly and higher spirits, she began her search for Darkstalker once more. She took to the sky, flying over the same paths as before the hunt began. Occasionally she called out to him with her thoughts, hoping he would answer her; all to no avail.

She found him at high noon. Moon had been flying along a river when she spotted him. Darkstalker was sitting down by the water, looking into the running waves before him.

"There you are!" Moon let out a breath of relief as she landed. "I was worried about you." She spoke truthfully. He gave no response. She frowned as she came to sit beside him, looking over at him with a worried expression. "Are you okay?"

"Do you think I'm a monster?"

The question surprised her. Moon blinked, tilting her head. "What?"

He inhaled sharply, closing his eyes as he leaned his head back towards the sky. He stayed like that for a moment before looking down at her again with a stern expression.

"Be honest with me. Do you think I am a monster?"

The mad look was completely gone from his eyes. He was her Darkstalker again. Hers. Her heart did a small flutter at the ridiculous notion as she tried to focus on the question at hand.

"No," she began carefully. Nervousness bubbled up inside her, but she needed to express her concerns. This might make him trust her a little more. "But Darkstalker, listen to me. You change in some situations… I'm not sure you realize it, but it's like you become an entirely different person." Being bold, she reached her talons out and placed them over his. "I know that's not who you are. It's your magic. It's twisting your mind. Maybe Fathom and Clearsight were right, maybe you should stop—"

"What do you know about Fathom or Clearsight?" Darkstalker yelled, jumping to his feet and growling down at Moonwatcher. "What do you know about my soul or magic? What do you know about anything?"

For the first time in days, Moon's anger arose. "I know that it's affecting you mentally, and I know that Clearsight cared about you! Stop letting your ego grow for a second and just listen to me. Deny it all you want, your magic IS affecting your soul." Moonwatcher's expression softened just a bit. "Please, Darkstalker… You've made some mistakes, but I know there is good in you. But you can't keep using your magic unless you want to lose yourself completely."

Darkstalker snarled moving away from her to pace up and down along the riverbank. He did this for several minutes, refusing to look at Moon. Finally, he spoke.

"It's time we return home. It will be dark in a few hours, and it appears that it will rain later. Let's go."

He didn't bother to wait for her, Darkstalker opened his wings and leaped into the air; beelining straight for the mountain. Moon's spirits seemed to wither a bit at how cold he seemed now. Was there any hope at redeeming him? Or was he always doomed from the start, just as Clearsight had predicted?

Maybe Clearsight had been onto something when she had given Darkstalker the bracelet…

With a heavy heart, Moonwatcher followed after Darkstalker.

Sure enough, dark clouds rolled over the horizon off in the distance with thunder grumbling its displeasure.

When they reached the mountain, Darkstalker landed on the ledge and moved inside without a word. Moon, on the other hand, stayed to look at the oncoming storm. Most rain clouds were a cloudy gray, yet these were dark and she would occasionally see faint flashes of lightning. Even though she knew her friends were okay, was Jade Mountain able to withstand this storm? Jade Mountain had taken a heavy blow with Darkstalker's awakening, and she was concerned about all the others.

Were Winter and Qibli alright? What about Turtle or Peril?

Even more so, Kinkajou…

She missed the vibrant RainWing more than ever. The way she wore her personality on her scales—literally. Her personality seemed to always calm Moon down. Without her around, it seemed like the world was just a little more... boring.

She will wake soon, Darkstalker's voice spoke. She will be in a lot of pain and have a hard time flying, but she will live.

Oh, thank the moons. Moonwatcher had been so caught up in everything the past few days, she hadn't had time to think too much about the RainWing. But she did hope to see her again soon... If at all... then he didn't really need company, did he?

Moon walked after Darkstalker with her head held high, trying not to pay attention to the larger NightWing. If he wanted to care more about his powers than his sanity, then he didn't really need company, did he?

Before she turned down the path towards her sleeping cave, Darkstalker stopped her with a wing. He craned his head down to look at her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"May I help you?" Moon asked evenly.

Darkstalker stared at Moon for a long time before shaking his head. He let out a slight groan, closing his eyes for a brief moment before looking into her eyes once more. "Must I really say it?" He huffed.

Moon frowned, looking over at one of the blue torches up ahead. "Say what?" she replied innocently. Darkstalker's tail lashed angrily but his expression didn't change.

"You want me to apologize for earlier," he replied slowly, narrowing his eyes. "My magic is contained, my soul is safe."

"Is it?" Moon questioned as she leaned in instead of pulling away. Being bold, she brushed her wing against his side. "You don't have to apologize to me," she began, "but at least try to think of what it could do to you if you did... Please? For me?"

His scales were cool against her's. Not quite like Winter's which felt like walking into freshly fallen snow, but like a cool breeze in fall.

Straightening himself up to full height, he continued to stare down at her. She tried keeping her mind blank in order to block him out; imagining an invisible shield over her head. The arches over his eye pulled together in a slight frown, but besides that he was unreadable to her. She couldn't even hear what he was thinking.

After a long moment of silence, he seemed to visibly relax. He gave her a devilishly handsome smile, leaning down to brush his snout lightly against her cheek.

"As you wish, my Moon," he whispered before pulling away. He strode several feet down the hall, leaving Moon frozen in her tracks before he turned to glance behind him one more time.

"Don't wait up for me. I have some things to do. Goodnight."

And just like that, he was gone and Moon was alone once again.

Thunder boomed in the distance. The ground shook, and water was leaking through the ceiling. She was cold, her wings shivering around her frame. She didn't know how late it was, only that the storm outside had gotten worse. There were a few storms that would occasionally pass over the rainforest, but nothing ever this severe.

Cold, why must it be so cold, her thoughts whispered. At this moment she would have given anything to be back in her bed again. Piled with blankets and nice warm lanterns for light... The soft snoring of her clawmates in the background...

Moon curled her talons in towards herself, trying very hard to focus on going back to sleep. But she was shaking so hard from the cold she doubted she would. The mountain gently shook, grumbling and groaning it's protest. Part of her wished Qibli was here... To press up beside her, wrap his wings around her and keep her safe from the elements.

A few moments later, a large figure curled against her side. She almost recoiled from the touch from how cold it was.

"W-Winter?" Moon whimpered softly, moving to lift her head.

"Shhh, sleep," a deep voice cooed in her ear. "Sleep, and dream of home."

Arms pulled her close to a broad chest, as cold wings began to envelop her. She almost pulled away but stopped when she felt the coolness begin to disappear; replaced by soothing warmth that Moon wanted to melt into. Gentle talons ran down the spines of her neck, stopping to trace one lazy talon lightly between where her shoulders and wings met. Moon wanted to speak, but her voice was lost in a moan of pleasure.

"Goodnight, Moonwatcher."

Hello my angels! I am SO sorry this took a little longer than normal! A full-time job is simply not fun. This would have been out sooner, but I really don't want to force myself to write. I want to give you guys quality. So I really hope this comes up to some of your standards. Reviews are always welcome!

Also, if any of you are artists and are open for commissions, please feel free to contact me either here as I am looking to commission a cover for my fic. Have a wonderful holiday guys! Next chapter should be in about 2 to 3 weeks. Hang in there!

- Max