Water splashed over a NightWing's claws as he stepped into a puddle. The NightWing took a glance down at his paw, and shook it, the spray of water droplets hitting two stray cats, curiously looking up at the dragon's silvery-black scales, tones of orange flashing off them. He tilted his head to look down at his feline companions with a solemn smile.
"I'm sorry," he apologized to the cats, "I'm sorry you got wet."
The two cats seemed to accept his apology, and turned away. One of them, a brown tabby with bright blue eyes, scrambled ahead, as if it was keeping watch for any enemies. The second stayed behind, walking side-by-side with the NightWing, the average size for a dragon, but a terrifying monstrosity to something as small as the cat. Yet, the cat didn't seem to mind the large size of its companion, in fact, it seemed to enjoy the company. It brushed against the NightWing's leg as he continued to walk onwards through the alleyway.
A third cat decided to join the scene, curious to whatever had convinced its brethren to join the dragon. This one poked its head out from a crack in the wall, then quickly lept out to see what the commotion in the cat world was. It pranced around the NightWing, nimbly dancing between his legs and tail. The NightWing walked onwards, careful not to step on the newcomer.
"Hello, my friend," he said to the third cat, "what brings you here today?"
He received no answer but a meow, but the NightWing just nodded in agreement. "Do not worry, my furry friend, I do not bite." He chuckled slightly, revealing his sharpened teeth. "I have food and water, if you would like to join me."
Evidently, the cat listened, and followed the NightWing down the alleyway, joining the blue-grey cat in the walk. The NightWing continued in this fashion until he reached his destination, and by the time he arrived, four more felines were walking with him. Seven in total.
Tiny droplets of water fell from the dark sky overhead, dripping from the roof of the blue-shingled roof of the building the NightWing was in front of. They fell through the air until splattering in his scales, then slowly rolled off him, leaving behind a shining trail that made his scales look almost metallic. As the cats knew, it had been raining for the past week, in a rare burst of downpour. The SandWings in the western half of the city (which many claimed was an entirely different city altogether) did not like this rain one bit, and many of the cats saw them constantly bickering and complaining about the horrible weather. The SkyWings minded much less.
The NightWing visitor knocked on the door three times, causing more droplets to rush off the roof onto his head and neck. He didn't seem to mind, but one of his cats sung with each rap against the door he made.
"Quiet, you," he playfully ordered, and the cat complied. The door swung open, revealing a SkyWing with crimson scales and a scowl on her face.
"I thought I told you dragonets to scra — " she hissed, before looking up at the NightWing in front of her, her scowl changing to a frown. Not much of an improvement, but at least it was something.
"Hello, Avalanche," the NightWing greeted her with a calm smile. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"It has," Avalanche snorted with an air of haughtiness, as if she was attempting to impress her guest with her voice alone. "Get inside before you freeze the entire house. I just got a fire going, and don't want to let out the heat."
The NightWing nodded, and took a step through the doorway. His cats followed him, trotting into the doorway and making themselves settled, as if they owned the place. Avalanche frowned.
"I take it your pets are going to stay here too?" she asked with a growl.
The NightWing gently smiled. "Of course. Would you leave these poor creatures to stay out in the rain?"
"My house will be reeking of their piss in a day," Avalanche hissed. "And it will be another year before the place smells normal again."
The NightWing didn't reply, and Avalanche shut the door after the last cat entered, already knowing what his answer would be. The NightWing looked around the small home to see the fireplace burning bright.
"Are you enjoying the weather?" the NightWing asked Avalanche. "It seems like a cold rain would be a nice break from the usual heat."
Avalanche rolled her eyes, not caring to make small talk. "Why are you here, Trustbreaker," Avalanche hissed. "Is it safe to assume it's not because you wanted to talk about the weather or find some new pets?"
She glared at one of the cats, kneading at what looked like her sleeping quarters. The cat looked back innocently and gave her a meow in response. Trustbreaker smiled.
"He likes you," he interpreted for Avalanche. "He's glad he's found someplace warm. He's also hungry, and would be very grateful for some food."
Avalanche snorted. "You expect me to feed him?" she asked in skepticism.
"He's your guest," Trustbreaker explained, "and isn't that why you joined Fracture? To make sure no one starves?"
"I joined because Queen Scarlet killed my brother," Avalanche hissed. "I joined because hundreds of dragons die in battle each day, fighting in this idiotic war. Not to feed some stray cats. Now, are you going to scold me, or will you tell me why you're here?"
Trustbreaker sighed, his face falling. "Nautilus is dead. Scarlet's forces burnt down the village and killed everyone he had recruited." A couple of the cats looked up at Trustbreaker, as if they were mourning the fallen SeaWing.
"What?" Avalanche hissed in anger. She clenched her teeth. Yet another dragon dead by the claws of her tyrannical queen. "Did Fracture predict this?"
Trustbreaker shook his head. One of the cats walked over to the NightWing and nestled beneath his wing. Trustbreaker curled the cat closer.
A rumble of anger started to come up from Avalanche's throat, but it produced no flame. "What's the use of having a so-called prophet if he can't predict anything!" she exclaimed.
Trustbreaker moved a claw down the cat, gently stroking its fur. The cat purred in delight, rubbing up against the NightWing. He didn't respond. A rumble of thunder sounded from afar, and the pitter-patter of rain got stronger until it reached a loud buzz. Hisses of the other cats filled the air.
"Keep them quiet," Avalanche growled, raising her voice over the downpour. "We don't want anyone poking their snouts in here."
Trustbreaker nodded, and the whining of the cats quieted down. He continued to stroke the one rubbing up against him, the brown tabby. It stared at Avalanche with a gaze of intelligence.
"So, what do we do now?" Avalanche asked Trustbreaker, narrowing her eyes. She paced back and forth a little. With Nautilus dead, along with all the dragons he recruited to their cause, it meant that Fracture, Trustbreaker, Clarity, and herself were the only four remaining: alone, with no allies. "Our recruiting operation has gone to hell, and the war has only gotten worse."
"Fracture says he has a plan," Trustbreaker answer, with a hint of concern in his voice. "He wants you to take Nautilus' place as recruiter and organizer for now."
Avalanche snorted. "Me? Has he finally lost it?"
"There are plenty of dragons here that would interested in an end to the war, SandWings and SkyWings alike," Trustbreaker suggested, "we'll be here for a few more months; plenty of time to find some potential allies."
"Unlikely," Avalanche replied. The rain continued pattering down on the roof, creating a ruckus of sound. "Everyone here just wants to mind their own business and ignore the war. They pretend like it's not happening, and that Pyrrhia is at peace. There's no war here, at least that's what they all claim."
"Who knows how long that will last?" Trustbreaker asked. "The peace here is already fragile, and I've heard that other settlements on the Five-Tail River have been attacked recently. This would be a good place for the IceWing army to enter the Sky Kingdom from."
"I know that." Avalanche snorted. "It's the rest of the twin cities which don't know. What do you mean, 'we'll be here for a few more months?'"
Trustbreaker sighed. "Fracture has managed to set up a meeting with a top NightWing advisor to Queen Battlewinner, but the advisor refuses to hold direct negotiations with IceWings, so both Clarity and Fracture himself are out of the picture. Fracture thinks he might be able to work out semi-official support from the Night Kingdom. Originally, Nautilus was going to attend, but that's clearly no longer an option."
Avalanche looked at Trustbreaker with a glare. "And why can't you go?"
Trustbreaker glanced away. "Too many questions would be raised as to how a NightWing ended up with us, and if the wrong dragon saw me, there could be some serious issues. It's far safer for everyone just to keep me here."
Avalanche grimaced. "So I'll be doing this by myself. Did you know the NightWing I'm meeting with?"
The NightWing nodded, stroking his tabby. "Yes, but not well. He was an ambitious dragon, with his only loyalties to the Night Kingdom and himself. I suspect this one is similar. Stay wary."
Avalanche laughed heartily. "I'm trusting a NightWing named Trustbreaker already. Wariness is clearly not my strong suit."
Trustbreaker frowned. "I've told you before, my name has little to do with my personality, it's a remi—"
"I know, I know," the crimson SkyWing snorted. "I was making a joke. Don't worry, I'll be extremely wary of this NightWing."
The NightWing breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Good. I should also warn you that Fracture expects us to have visitors before the meeting takes place."
Avalanche grimaced. "More? Is it that sister-in-law of his again? I told her to stay away."
Trustbreaker nodded, and his cat stared up into Avalanche's eyes once more as another burst of thunder shook the room. "It is, but this time, she'll be bringing company."