Luckily Winter awoke from his nap about 30 minutes until school let out. If he flyed fast enough, he might be able to grab his pack from school and go home when everyone else did, so he ate a watermelon slice from last night, and flew to school. Winter walked down the crowded halls and peeked into his classroom. Luckily it was empty, and he spotted his backpack still hung up, untouched. He grabbed it and headed out the door. He had decided to avoid the front door and go through the one in the lunchroom. But as he made his turn into the lunchroom, he saw Hailstorm and Snowfall on a ledge looking at dragons in the crowd.
They're looking for me, Winter realized. Maybe he could sneak past them… Or he could go out the front door, but the office teachers would probably see him and bring more trouble than his siblings. I could wait until they give up… But he doubted that. His best bet was sneaking past them.
Winter hurried along the edge of the wall and out the door, trying to not act noticeable. He flew homewards as soon as he left the doorway. Just as he thought he had gotten away, he heard Hailstorm's voice calling behind him, "Winter? Wait up dude!"
So much for being sneaky… Winter thought as he turned around.
Hailstorm caught up with him, and Winter tried his best to act casual.
"Where were you?" Hailstorm cried.
"I was... In the bathroom- er- I mean I got hurt badly at recess so I, uh, went home. I was just coming back for my backpack." Winter stuttered.
Hailstorm paused suspiciously, "That doesn't fit… you follow rules and you would have gone to the office if you were hurt, besides- I can't smell blood on you!"
Winter saw Snowfall coming into earshot behind him, so he nudged Hailstorm's shoulder. This was their "i'll tell you later " or, "not now" code in case there was a secret, or they didn't want Snowfall to know something. Hailstorm sighed, but didn't ask anymore questions.
They all landed in the hunting practice field. It was times like these Winter was so grateful his little sister was in a separate class as him.
"Found him," Hailstorm said.
"But you said he wasn't in class ever since lunch recess!" Snowfall said.
"I was exaggerating, he was just in the bathroom for a while," Hailstorm replied.
Hailstorm was very cunning, especially when it came to tricking Snowfall. Winter felt relieved. He also thought about what he would tell Hailstorm on the way home.
Could I trust him enough to tell him the truth? Winter thought to himself. Would he keep that secret? Or is it too big? Hailstorm has always been a good brother… but if he told the rest of the family I would be doomed. I can't lie very well.. So I might not even have a choice.. I could tell him some of the truth and leave out other parts… I don't know…
They went home and told their parents they were going flying when they were really just going to the fort to talk. They were silent almost the whole way there until Winter spotted a pig drinking from a stream. He swooped down and gave it a quick death, and carried it the rest of the way to the fort. Winter and Hailstorm stepped into the fort and got comfy, setting the pig between them on the cave floor.
"So. Where were you?" Hailstorm asked.
"Okay… First, can you oath that you will never tell anyone? Ever?"
"Wow.. okay," Hailstorm said, raising his right talon, "I swear to you that I will never ever repeat what you are going to say, I will not tell a single soul unless you allow me to."
"Okay.. good. So.. You know Moonwatcher, right?" Winter said slowly.
"Yeah. What, do you like her or something?" Hailstorm asked, putting a piece of pig in his mouth.
"No, no. Were just good friends. I know I shouldn't be friends with a Nightwing, but it kind of just happened. Anyways, at recess today, she told me something that I can hardly believe." he said.
"Is it the thing that made you run from school?" Hailstorm asked.
"Yeah… you know how all the nightwings lied about reading minds and having visions of the future?"
"No way… She can read minds! Can't she?" Hailstorm cried.
"Yeah - and she was dead serious… I have no idea what to do at school tomorrow… so, any ideas?"
"That means they can all do it!" Hailstorm went on,"Winter, we have to tell mom and-"
"No," Winter cut in, "I'm pretty sure she's the only nightwing who can do it, she also said that if your wearing skyfire, she can't read your mind, and she gave me this bracelet," he said, showing him the wire bracelet with bits of embedded skyfire in it. Winter left out all the things he yelled at her.
"Do you trust that?" Hailstorm asked. "What if it has a spell on it or something!"
"No, I don't trust her… but I might as well wear it just in case, right?"
"Yeah, good point, but Winter it could have a spell!"
Winter looked at the skyfire bracelet and said, "If they put a spell on it they would make it so I wouldn't want to take it off, right?"
"Yeah, I guess.. Take it off," Hailstorm erged.
Winter slid the bracelet off his arm and set it on the cool floor.
There was a pause.
"I don't feel different at all," he said.
He picked it up and put it back on his arm.
"So now you know why I was gone, but do you at least have any advice on what I should do?" Winter asked hopefully.
"Honestly? My advice would probably make things worse- you know more about the situation than I do." he said
Winter sighed, "I was afraid you'd say that. You have a point though… I'll think about it."
"Dude if this is a joke-"
"It's not, Hailstorm," Winter said, looking out the cave entrance, where dawn was breaking, "we should get going."
"Alright, let's go," Hailstorm agreed.