Here's the first chapter. I hope it's to your liking! And if I messed something up, please let me know ^^

Rune walked into the library slowly, a grin on her face. It was a game she and her father liked to play - when she entered the library, she'd try not to make a sound, and he'd have to guess who it was like always.

Except he usually won, because she tried to keep quiet and could never completely conceal her presence - and this time was no different.

"Rune," Starflight sang. "I won again, didn't I?"

"Yeah," she agreed, approaching him.

"Do you need a scroll or something?"

"No, I just wanted to be here for a bit." She sat down and leaned her head against her father's shoulder. "Where's Mother?"

"She left right before you got here. Sunny needed help with something, so she went with her." Rune liked Sunny very much - she was kind and sweet and just a great dragon to be around. "Tell me, how's your new winglet?" I made sure to put the right dragons in with her. I thought it would be a good idea to put Gale in the same winglet, and Clay thought sharing a cave with Firefly would be good for her. Was that right? Or should I have put her with that MudWing?

"It's all fine," she assured him, responding to everything she had heard. "Firefly is really great, actually. She's hilarious. I mean, Delta's wonderful and everything, but I don't really know her, so that would be really awkward."

Is she disappointed in me? Is there something she's not telling me?

"No," Rune answered, hugging him. Why did he always feel like that, like he wasn't doing enough? "Everything is great, Father. Don't worry."

"That's good to hear." Starflight turned his head toward her. "I wish I could see you, you know? I still don't really know what you look like." He exhaled. "If I had a single wish, that would probably be it."

"Turtle said he was working on something, didn't he?" Rune brightened a little. "Then you'll be able to see!"

"Seeing again would be nice, but I don't want to cause problems for Turtle," he explained. "Because it's animus magic. And I'm still not too sure if I'd want to have an animus spell on me, no matter who casts it."

"I guess so."

"Hey," Clay poked his head through the entrance. "My class really wants to hear about the War of SandWing Succession and I figured you'd love to talk them to sleep so they don't ask any more questions." He noticed Rune and smiled at her.

"Ha ha. Very funny," Starflight retorted, standing up. "I'll see you later, Rune."

"See you, Father." She kissed his cheek quickly and darted out the library, waving to Clay as she went.

Rune had practically grown up at the academy - she knew all the routes to wherever she needed to be, and she basically had a map of the place memorized. It was like home to her - hearing the dragons who lived in the mountain and being with them. Of course, it meant her own brain would be a bit overwhelmed by everyone else, but Moon had taught her how to quiet some of them down. As she made her way through the hallway, she heard a lot of varying thouhts, some of which nearly made her giggle.

I smell food. Is it time to eat yet? I'm actually pretty hungry. Hm.

Where's Turtle? I could swear I saw him with Tsunami like, TWO SECONDS AGO but the darned dragon has to disappear right when I've almost found him.

My new winglet is so awkward. Like we're just weird. No one ever talks. And something about that NightWing with the silver scales is a bit off, too. Firefly said she was Starflight's daughter, I think. And I have to share a sleeping cave with the skittish IceWing. She's okay, but I wish Quail and I could share a cave instead.

Huh? Had her winglet already noticed something off about her? She had been extra careful not to give herself away - the only ones who knew about her were her parents, their friends, and Moonwatcher. Was she really that obvious?

And who was even thinking something like that? Who shared a cave with a skittish IceWing? The only IceWing Rune knew who was even close to skittish was Floe, so...

Oh, Delta. She did seem like a very sarcastic kind of dragon. But who was Quail?

Rune, focus. Her job wasn't to pry around others' personal lives. Shaking her head, she continued on to her sleeping cave. Upon entering, she spotted Firefly, her scales shifting colors at an alarming rate. "Um... are you okay?"

"Rune!" She looked up and grinned. "I'm fine. I'm trying to imitate that SandWing I saw earlier. It's kind of hard because their scales are yellow, but not, but golden at the same time and-"

"Which SandWing?"

"Oh, the one in our winglet, I forgot his name," Firefly responded, succeeding in turning a sort of golden color from her neck down. "You know. The one who doesn't talk much but looks like he knows what's going on in your head. And Floe thinks he's rather good-looking, but personally I don't share that opinion."

"Oh, him." Ah, yes. Floe apparently thought he was quite handsome and reminded them of that often. And his mind... it was strange. He could tell certain things about dragons just by observing them, which was a much better way to get to know others than reading their thoughts. "He's friends with Gale, isn't he? I haven't gotten to chance to speak to either of them much."

"Yeah, they're close. Although Gale is a pretty frightening name, don't you agree? I would never name my dragonet that."

"We're much too young to be thinking about dragonets," Rune chided. She really was fond of Firefly, but she could get off track sometimes, and when that happened it was often Rune's job to keep her grounded. "We just started school."

"Hmm." Firefly had altered her appearance so that she looked just like Rune. She had even gotten the silver scales around her eyes and along her spine right, but the shape didn't match just right. It was something unique to Rune alone. "Well, it has to happen one day or the other, so might as well start early."

"Firefly," Rune replied, but she was smiling. Her friend shot an equally radiant grin back at her.

"Come on, Rune. School isn't just for schoolwork and studies, is it? We can have a little fun along the way." She turned to her, now perfectly resembling a regal IceWing. "How do I look?"

Tsunami surveyed the group of students, frowning slightly. "Is this everyone in the Emerald and Silver winglets?"

"Yes," Anemone and Delta answered simultaneously. They scowled at each other.

"Really." Tsunami snorted. "Because right now we're missing two SandWings, a SeaWing, and an IceWing."

"I'm right here," Changbai reminded.

"I'm talking about the other IceWing."

"I'm here, too." Floe stepped forward from her spot behind a friendly-looking SkyWing. Rune couldn't hear anything coherent from her - it was just anxiety and shyness everywhere in her mind.

"Oh." Tsunami blinked. "You're the IceWing? I mean, um-"

"It's fine," Floe answered quietly. "I'm half SeaWing."

"Really?" Firefly asked loudly. "That's cool! I'm half NightWing, see?" She opened her wings, and Rune nearly gasped at the tiny silver scales that dotted the underside of her wings, bright stars against a dark purple sky.

"Where are the other three?" Tsunami questioned. "We're going hunting around this mountain and everyone has to be here. On time, may I add." Rune and Firefly looked at each other, and Rune was surprised by the first thing that ran through Firefly's head. Oh wow, her scales are so pretty.

They are? She wanted to ask. Instead, she said, "Have you seen Ostrich around?"

"Sorry we're late!" A young SandWing yelled before Firefly could reply, running into the room with a similar looking dragon behind her. "We were in the library and, uh, kind of lost track of time." Rune could sympathize with them. She loved being in the library and often lost track of time as well.

"Alright." Tsunami looked disgruntled. "But please be on time in the future. And does anyone know where Gale's gone? Aster?" Rune followed her gaze and realized that Aster was the name of the Sandwing in their winglet, the one Floe seemed to have taken a liking to - and she would not disagree. He had a very friendly, easygoing expression, but he seemed very clever and perceptive.

"Not since this morning," he answered, shaking his head.

"Well." Tsunami sighed, then turned to the group. "I suppose we're leaving without him, then. Come on!" With a giant leap, she soared out of the cave, spreading her large, beautiful wings out. They nearly glistened in the afternoon sunlight, blue and green and practically all the colors in between.

"I don't hunt," Firefly said indignantly. Boto nodded in agreement. "I'll just stay here and eat this wonderful, amazing fruit. Rune?"

She laughed. "Enjoy your fruit. I'd like to fly."

And she did. Along with several other dragons, she lifted off into the air easily. She had always loved flying, loved soaring through the skies with her parents on either side of her. She loved looking down and describing everything she saw to her father as best as she could, seeing the small smile that seemed to light up his entire face.

Rune felt a wing bump into hers and she turned around, surprised by the SandWing that hovered beside her. Almost immediately, his thoughts spilled into her head like bubbling water, all at once.

Oh, her scales are really pretty. She looks like a friendly sort of dragon. Hmm. But perhaps she's a bit shy, because her wings are drooping slightly. Man, am I making her uncomfortable? Maybe I should just leave? But she's in my winglet, so we're going to have to speak to each other at some point...

"Hello," he greeted kindly. "We're in the same winglet, right? Firefly told me, in case you were wondering. She's very..."

"I agree," she said, laughing. "We're clawmates, so I've gotten used to it."

"My clawmates are a bit strange," Aster replied. "Tanager is awfully agreeable for a SkyWing, and Gale acts like he doesn't know how to interact with other dragons. I mean, based on what Qibli told me, SkyWings are generally not agreeable, so I was thrown off guard." He was right, she'd spoken to Tanager several times in between classes and he'd been incredibly friendly to her, not that she knew what SkyWings were generally like. Peril herself was fairly nice to her, too.

"Qibli?" Rune smiled. "You know Qibli?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I was in the orphanage before we became friends, and before I came to school we worked for Queen Thorn together. How do you know him?"

"Does he talk about a dragon named Moonwatcher a lot?"

"Yeah."

"We're basically sisters," Rune explained. "Well, not literally, but she's like an older sister to me and she never shuts up about Qibli. And I've met him a bunch of times before."

"He's great!" Aster spun around in the air, nearly knocking her off balance. "Qibli basically raised me. And he practically runs the orphanage, too. I'm so glad Queen Thorn rules the kingdom now."

"Hmm." Rune had spotted a mountain goat lazily chewing grass near the valley and nudged him with her wing. "Come on, let's go."

Rune was making her way through the busy halls again, and she was focusing on that trick Moon had taught her about: taking each voice in her head and putting it away, clearing her mind. Beside her, Firefly was busy talking about the fruit she'd had earlier.

All of a sudden, the hall in front of her disappeared, and she found herself back in the library. In the center of the large room, a dragon was frozen beneath a thin layer of ice.

Frostbreath.

The dragon was a NightWing, she realized, and all around him was a raging fire. The library was alight, the scrolls burning, and the entire mountain would soon catch on fire. Thousands of dragons screaming in agony chorused in her ears, the despaired voices creating a cacophony in her mind-

"Rune!" The library disappeared, and Firefly was shaking her with an extremely concerned look in her eyes. "Rune! What happened?! Are you okay?"

"Firefly, we have to go the library," she gasped, getting to her feet.

"Wait, what? Why?"

"Now," she said, spreading her wings and darting between the passing dragons, Firefly quick on her heels. Her mind was racing, she had to get to the library, because if there was one NightWing who spent nearly the entire day there, it was her father.

Not looking where she was going, she barreled into a tall MudWing. "Sorry," she said quickly, and made to leave, but the dragon's wing held her back.

"Whoa," Clay said, noticing her worry. "What's going on? Is everything alright?"

"No," she said. "I have to go, excuse me."

"Um..." Clay watched them both fly away, incredibly bewildered.

Rune dashed into the library, anticipating the worst - but she sighed in relief when she saw that all was well. There were several dragonets in the corner reading a scroll together, and Starflight was saying something to Fatespeaker quietly.

"What's wrong here?" Firefly asked. "What's going on?"

Rune motioned for her to stay where she was, and she approached her parents. "Are you both okay?" she asked, hugging them. "Nothing weird has happened recently?"

"No," Fatespeaker answered, exchanging a glance with Starflight. "Are you all right, dear?"

"Have you been having visions again?" he asked.

"Yes," Rune admitted. "It was horrible. The entire school was burning, and a NightWing was hit with frostbreath in here." She shook her head. "Awful."

"Don't you worry about me," Starflight said affectionately. "Clay's always popping in to make sure everything's alright, and your mother sure can pack a punch. Besides, Tsunami can take out ten dragons at once, so there's that."

"It's probably nothing," Rune whispered, mostly to reassure herself. "Everything's fine."

"I see you've brought a friend," Fatespeaker said brightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Firefly, isn't it?"

"That's me," the RainWing said proudly, ruffling her wings as a deep purple shimmered across her scales. She stepped a bit closer to Rune, who was still recuperating from the shock of her vision, and put her wing around her. Rune was grateful for the comfort. "I'm the best friend on duty."

Rune laughed. Perhaps school wasn't going to be too bad after all.