It was impossible to think of what he would do at school that night in his bed. It seemed to Winter that every time he thought of what he would do or say, his brain would think of a million ways it could make things worse. He felt so many things at once, he didn't even know if he would ignore her or just talk!
Lots of it just depended on what Moonwatcher said back- which was unpredictable. He was angry at Moon, but he also remembered her crying when he looked back, and then felt bad for all the things he had said. Then he was frustrated, on how she never told him. And then he understood how much pressure she must have felt. Then he was just lost, lying there in his bed, trying to mash up all his feelings and bury it in ice. But the ice just kept melting away into water, then watering and sprouting more problems.
He tried to calm down his thoughts by taking deep breaths. Until an old quote he had heard at school when he was little popped into his head. "Treat others how you want to be treated." The golden rule, Winter remembered.
He thought about that, and he thought about how he would feel if he were in Moon's perspective. Maybe he would just listen to what she had to say. After that, Winter couldn't sleep, so he continued to read The Honest Truth more until he got tired, and sleep finally accepted him.
Winter rubbed his eyes. For a moment he didn't remember a thing about Moon and school, but then it came rushing back to him, washing a wave of overwhelmingness over him. Winter sighed as he rolled out of bed and got ready for school. He took a shower, brushed his teeth, and as he was packing in his lunch and due homework, he saw Snowfall staring at him.
"Need something?" Winter asked.
"No - I just… nevermind," she said rather quietly, turning out the door.
That was weird. She needs to tell me something, Winter thought to himself.
He flew off to school with his siblings. On the way, Winter noticed Snowfall kept glancing at him anxiously, and he wondered if she knew anything about Moonwatcher and her powers.
When Winter landed in the field, he dropped his bag on accident and kneeled to pick it up while Hailstorm kept walking. Snowfall hesitated, then turned away, glancing over her shoulder.
Once Winter had gathered his things, his siblings were in the building, and he saw a dark figure running towards him. With a jolt he recognized the silver scale by her eye. It was Moonwatcher!
Winter got more and more nervous each step she took towards him until they were face to face.
They both just stared at one other for a second.
"I'm sorry," They both said at the same time.
"Winter... I don't know what to say. I'm really sorry about lying to you, but it was so hard to keep a secret so big! That skyfire- do you still have it?" Moonwatcher asked.
"Uh, yeah- yeah it's in my bag," Winter reached into his bag and fished out the bracelet.
"Oh, good. You know how if someone wears skyfire I can't read their minds? Well, I found out yesterday that if I have it, it blocks me from everyone's minds! So it's not a problem anymore… you don't have to keep that if you don't want it.. I wouldn't mind if you threw it away…" she trailed off.
"No," Winter said, "I like it, and-"
"I knew it!" Said a voice from above him.
His belly flipped over with dread as he recognized Snowfall gliding down towards him and Moon.
"Did you tell her?" Moonwatcher whispered to him.
Winter shook his head as Snowfall's talons hit the ground.
"You can read minds!" She roared at her.
Moon opened her mouth to speak, but Winter spoke first.
"Snowfall, let us explain!" he cried.
She narrowed her eyes, "I already know enough! I'm going to tell our parents, then everyone in the whole school!"
Snowfall whipped around to face Moon, her razor-sharp tail spikes almost reaching Winter's snout.
"And YOU! You think your so clever, hiding this secret from everyone! I bet you think your so cool because of you STUPID teardrop scale! Let's just see how smug you are with all your secrets once they're out in the open!"
Snowfall turned to fly away, but Winter was faster. He jumped and firmly pinned her down with her underbelly to the ground. Snowfall hissed and spat in fury as she tried to claw at her brother.
He noticed that she had a bag around her neck, it looked full of something.
"Calm down, Snowfall!" Moon exclaimed.
"You think you can just order me around, Nightwing!?" Snowfall challenged, whipping her head around to look her in the eye. To his surprise, Moon took a step forward and replied calmly, "No. You can go tell anyone you want as long as you listen to what I have to say."
That's not very smart, Winter thought.
Snowfall whipped up her tail and slashed Winter's hind leg. He yelped, but held on.
After a few more attempts to escape Winter, she sighed.
"Fine!" Snowfall huffed, "But get off me first, you fat lump!"
Winter shot a glare at her and sat beside Moonwatcher.
...
"Okay- let me get this straight, you have been keeping this HUGE secret from everyone besides your mom for your entire life," Snowfall said, "And the first time you go to school, you tell Winter? An icewing? All Nightwings sworn enemy?"
"Well… yeah, basically," Moon replied, "But you don't have to worry about other nightwings, I am the only one with the mind-reading mark, my scale." She flicked her tail at the silver by her eye.
Snowfall turned to Winter, "Does Hailstorm know this?"
He nodded. I hope he he hasn't broken his promise, Winter thought. He knew that even if Hailstorm kept it, Snowfall was very likely to tell the parents anyways.
"Well, can I go tell the mom now?" Snowfall asked with a hint of excitement in her voice.
Winter's heart fell. He knew she would do this, but for some reason he still felt disappointed.
Winter stood up, "Snowfall, before you do this just think. I mean, if you tell mom and dad, what would change?"
"Well, they would be very proud of me for telling them!" she replied, "and I would like to see you punished," she added.
"And then what?" He challenged, "If you told them, me and Hailstorm would hate you!"
There was a pause.
"Do you think you or your opinion has worth to me? Did you really think that I care about you?" Snowfall said, "Why should I? All you have done is disclude me, tease me, and hurt me. Nothing else."
Winter was stricken. Is that true? Have I not realized it?
Snowfall whipped around and flew off, leaving him and Moon alone.
After a few moments, Moon interrupted his thoughts, "Winter… i'm so sorry, but… she's not flying home."
He looked up, and realized she was right, home was north, and she was heading south-east.
Winter tried to put his feelings aside and turned to Moon. "Should we follow her?" he asked.
"It looks like she's going to go a long way; she had that bag…"
Winter made up his mind. "I'll go fetch Hailstorm, if we're going a distance we should have him on our side,"
Moon nodded in agreement. Soon all three were gliding low to the trees, in stealthy pursuit.