Winter ate what he could as the platter was piled high with seal, fish, wolf, and other assorted meats. It was fresher than what he was used to and after several bites he pulled back, running his tongue along his muzzle to clean it. His body demanded that he eat more, to gorge as much as he could but he knew better. At best he'd throw up later and at worst he'd get sick as his body just wasn't used to eating so much so fast. So Winter took his time eating his fill and emptied half the platter before he was full, it was bliss really to feel full again, not to mention simply not sitting in the dark.

He had no way of bringing the rest with him, but he had eaten what he could. He took the moon orb and set it over his shoulder and turned to look down the way Tundra had left. As he walked deeper through the tunnel of ice he noticed that it had begun to widen and soon he found he was able to stretch his wings out above him. The walk was at a constant uphill slope even with the branching paths he stayed on the one that led up and out of this cramped hole. His legs felt tired but he didn't slow down, his breath was a little ragged with the lack of well everything he had. However Winter felt an undeniable amount of elation and even happiness, the sheer thought of seeing the sky pushed him on as he encountered a door at the end of the path.

He had no idea what time of day it was as he reached for the handle. He could almost feel the fresh air under his wings already, although something in his mind ticked at a thought. 'There could be dragons on the other side of this door, ready to drag me off to whatever fate I've actually been sentenced to.'

That was remarkably fine with him, he missed the cold open air of the Ice Kingdom, he missed the sun, the sky, the moons, and the stars. He was desperate enough to probably be happy to look at the desert sun and its damned scorching eye. So he pushed the door open, ready to face whatever fate lay on the other side of it. What he saw instead was an empty courtyard in the Ice Palace, there were no dragons or guards, no nobles and their attendants, it was silent.

Winter's eyes drifted up to see the sky, it was bathed in twilight and the three moons hung prominently in the sky. There above him was even the great Aurora itself, the green curtain of light dancing in the skies above him. He felt something inside shift, something small that he couldn't pin down and he smiled. The evening sky reminded him briefly of Moon, her dark scales and star patterned wings, her green eyes and silver teardrops, it didn't hurt as much as it used to. He thought briefly about trying to see his friends after he was past the Great Ice Cliff and wondered if they still went to Jade Mountain Academy, but he saw no point. If they had actually wanted him to stay then they would have had him stay behind after sending away the IceWings and Nightwings.

He took a deep breath and felt the fresh air fill his lungs, it's cold crisp taste far better than the claustrophobic, damp, and dull air in the dungeon. If anyone were to look down upon the IceWing that stepped through the door, they'd barely recognize him as the former prince. The dragon coiled slightly and leapt into the air, his wings unsteady and his balance off for a few moments before he stabilized and began to climb. Even his body felt different now, as he tried to readjust to his center of balance. The palace was dark as there was still a curfew and with the fading sun he needed to start heading south. So he wheeled around a few moments longer and began to fly steadily south when a form rose from below, to his surprise he immediately recognized the dragon as his brother Hailstorm.

Hailstorm waved and pointed towards a field of snow outside the palace. Winter felt himself hesitate briefly before drifting down to the ground. He landed softly, the powered snow puffing around him while Hailstorm landed several paces ahead of him with his back turned, his landing barely disturbing the snow. The air was remarkably still outside the palace, the fresh snow muffling all sound but even still he could hear the slight crunching of another dragon approaching. Winter turned his head and saw Lynx approaching him.

"Hello brother." Winter heard Hailstorm's voice, it was soft and somber. As Winter turned to meet his brother's eyes, he saw a brief flash of surprise in them.

"I look that bad I guess."

"I really didn't think I'd ever see you again. Snowfall was dead set on keeping you down there and I don't know what changed her mind."

"I thought it was out of the goodness of her heart. Mother saw me earlier and said it was by Queen Snowfall's mercy. She also proceeded to disown me in the same breath."

Lynx raised an eyebrow as she got closer, then she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm sorry Winter, I should let you know that Snowfall hasn't been the same since she was crowned. Although you look like you were half starved then dragged through a couple of snow banks before being left in a blizzard. Hailstorm told me what happened."

Winter winced slightly, "He told you what happened during the Diamond Trial, about how I-"

"He told me the truth, Winter."

All Winter could do was nod, "I didn't want this to happen, I just couldn't sit and watch. I was there at the mountain."

He suddenly felt wings wrap around his body and gasped softly as he felt Hailstorm hug him. His brother's snout was against his neck as he whispered just loud enough for Winter to hear. "I'm proud of you, after everything that's happened, that our tribe and family has done to you, you still chose to fight with us. Look what happened anyways, you were down there for-"

Winter shuddered and hugged his brother, "Please I don't actually want to know, I'd rather forget that place as soon as possible."

Winter felt another dragon wrapping her wings around him, Lynx. "You'll be okay, you're too stubborn."

Hailstorm spoke from the other side. "I will see you again, I'll make it up to you after everything that happened. I'll miss you."

Winter squeezed his brother and Lynx, Hailstorm's talons digging into his scales uncomfortably but it felt good in a way while Lynx gently nuzzled him before speaking up. "Didn't expect Hailstorm to hug you of his own free will. You'll do alright in the end and I'll see you again one day too."

He shivered in their grasp and squeezed them tight. "Promise?"

"Promise." The other two dragons said.

"Lynx, stay out of trouble and if it's that bad that you can't stay either, you already know Jade Mountain. There are some very good dragons there. You too, Hailstorm."

"I-I'll keep that in mind Winter."

With goodbyes said the three dragonets split apart and the two males took a moment to recompose themselves. Their goodbyes were short and soon Winter had leaped back into the night sky. He turned his head back as one of the dragons turned back towards the palace and the other stayed and watched.

Winter flew as long as his weakened body would let him, the silent snowy landscape rolling along under him. When his wings got tired he would land, hunt, and then walk until he had caught his breath and jumped back into the air. He repeated this off and on for the next several hours as he got closer and closer to the Ice Cliff. He barely let himself rest, wearing down his body further but eventually it was too much. Tracking down a cave in a hillside he found it had recently been abandoned. Old bones littered the ground, but none of them were very fresh and he could smell vague hints of bear. The IceWing dragged snow into the cave and set about padding out a bunch of bedding for him to sleep, the still fresh snow being remarkably soft under his talons. Before he knew it he was curling up to sleep and out faster than he could even close his eyes.

He didn't sleep long as soon he was awoken by the light of the rising sun. He had traveled far enough to make it out of the heavily mountainous lands around the Ice Palace and into hilly tundras and Taiga that made up the more southern lands of the kingdom. His body was sore and still tired from all the sudden use but he managed to settle into a comfortable position and watched the sun rise. He didn't know how long he was really down there, he honestly didn't want to know. Seeing the sun again however, it filled him with a certain warmth. For something so normal, something that he had seen almost every day of his life, that he had never given much thought about. Now it just felt different. He closed his eyes, he missed the sky down in that hole they had stuffed him into, he'd even taken that awful heat from the desert just to see the sun again while in there.

He watched its pale golden light fill the sky, claws of light reaching out and pushing away the shadows. It even turned the snow a light golden hue, and he would have stayed there for longer but he felt his muscles starting to protest. Standing back up, Winter began to perform stretches and small exercises, things he'd learned when smaller to help workout soreness from his body. He was soon back in the air and a quick catch of a few snow hares later he was full, resuming his quiet trip out of the cold north lands that were his home.

The countryside was almost idyllic, quiet, peaceful, and not a soul in sight for the most part. Those he saw never turned towards him and simply minded their own businesses. He tried to sear the sights of his home into his mind as best he could before it passed by, flying over small villages that occasionally dotted the landscape. He wouldn't be coming back any time soon, probably not in his life. He contemplated where he could go, what he would do with his life. He still wanted to set up a place to do his research on scavengers but it would be difficult as he had nothing to his name. Did he still have his name? His- Tundra's words flashed in his mind and he clenched his teeth. He could feel the anger, hot and burning in his gut. It was one thing to be disowned but his name was his name! It was his name and he'd keep it for better or worse.

Well, there was somewhere he had been before: Possibility. Maybe he could find a new beginning there. The heat in him dissipated as he thought about it. Possibility was closer than other options and with the large town came some advantages. He doubted many dragons would wonder what a random IceWing dragonet was doing by himself. He shifted his heading to where he thought the town would be, remembering it was built along Great-Five-Tail River.