Chapter 1

Only six months on, the feeling of wood, leaves and moss below ones body, the sweet scent of the rainforest aromas felt more like home than the volcanic lands ever did. A few leaves from the roofing structure had escaped their branches and balanced precariously along the two sleeping Night Wings' backs, letting small, piercing jets of golden sunlight into the room. The larger of the two shuddered awake from his dreams, his frown lifting as the aromatic air filled his lungs. Uncurling himself from his much smaller companion he took a deep breath; his chest puffing out revealing his ribs and the spinal column along his back. Many had recovered well from their starvation in the short time they had been in the rainforest with glorious food in abundance - but some still struggled to put the weight back on - Lightseer was one of those dragons. Looking to his side, he smiled at the lightly cooing dragonet still slumbering peacefully.

"Come on Starcatcher…" he turned and poked the young dragonet in the forelegs provoking a light groan.

"You'll be late to meet up with the other dragonets.." the cooing had stopped and it was visibly obvious the dragon was no longer slumbering, his eyes fluttering slightly.

"Mm… Good." With that he turned over trying to shield his eyes with his small wings from the shining rays of sunlight. It was always a struggle to get Starcatcher to socialise, admittedly there were very few young Nightwings to socialise with and even fewer socialised with the Rainwings. But I'm determined to do this right! This is the best chance for Starcatcher, for him to be happy, segregation is petty. He realised he was somewhat unpopular for his eager acceptance and integration with the forced duality of the Rain and Night Kingdoms, but there were far more benefits especially for the younglings and he couldn't understand the murmerrings, mutterings and overall distance the Nightwings endeavoured to impose upon themselves - refusing even any help in building their own accommodation.

"Right, up you get!" He maneuvered his talons underneath the feigning dragonet and lifted him up so that he was now eye level.

"I'm not asking you again." Lightseer growled, putting on a disapproving glower.

"Aw, but can't I come help you today!" He knew it was a mistake to let the dragonet help him plan and draw out a new dragon-made water supply to support the Nightwing camp last week, he hadn't slept well and wasn't in the mood for battling the little dragonet. Not that a two year old dragonet could help that much but he enjoyed learning more than he did playing, a dragon after his own heart Lightseer had to admit.

"No. Look, it's only for a few hours, you know I'll swing by around sun time…" The squirming dragonet blew hot air out of his flaring nostrils indignantly. "Good boy." The battle was won, and after placing the small dragonet down they made their way firstly to the stream to wash off and then into the Rainwing camp. The stream was a few minutes walk south of the camp. It was so calm as it flowed downstream, not agitated by sea currents, not ice-cold, just perfectly crystal clear. Looking west there were a number of other Nightwings up and drinking further upstream. A couple came close by, bathing alongside the two dragons, however, not inclined to interact. Grumpy Nightwings. Even though the water was only waist-high for the himself, Starcatcher found great joy in swimming around with ease, he himself was not fond of swimming. Once they entered the territory of the Rainwings Starcatcher clung to the larger Nightwing's side as if he'd been glued in place, looking around anxiously at the few guards stationed above in the treetops. The Rainwing's weren't particularly early risers but a few of the parents were up and about, tending to their young and going about mundane duties. Since the cataloguing of the Nightwings Queen Glory had begun a sort-of family search amongst the Rainwings, placing responsibility of the dragonets upon the genetic parents, or at least the family members of that child. I couldn't imagine being so unpaternal as to not care what happened to my egg, my dragonet, my own flesh and blood.

"But I don't like the other dragons, there's only two other nightwings and the Rainwings are… Weird." The Dragonet grumbled, kicking a small pile of fallen leaves and detritus into the air. "I know." Dark Seer placed his talon on his shoulder, hoping the action to be comforting.

"You know, when they're… When you're all a little more grown up, you know what? They'll all look up to you. You know why?" The little dragonet shook his head, looking up into the dark Green, caring eyes above him. "Because you are smart, you're calm, and you listen. It's true you've matured a bit quicker than the others… But you have to hang in there. Having friends is... important." He found himself faltering for a second on the last few words as he was conscious of the fact he was echoing a voice he'd heard not too many years before.

"But I've got you." He squeezed Lightseer's talons in his own small ones, only grasping a few digits but feeling happy enough to continue the hold. Lightseer stopped, turning around, he knelt down so he was on the dragonets level, holding both his shoulders, smiling calmly.

"You know when we play pretend? Where you're clay, or the prince of the Sea Wings, in those stories and I'm usually the bad guy…?" The little dragonet sniggered at the eye rolling of his larger guardian, nodding simultaneously. "Well this is going to have to be a bit like that, you don't act like a Nightwing when you're Flounder the Sea Prince, do you?" The little one shook his head. "Exactly, so currently you're around a lot of Rainwings and you've seen what they're like, sometimes you've got to act like you're interested in what they're interested in and you'll find that soon they may even want to study rocks and swim and do all the things you like doing too." The little dragonet shifted uneasily under the older ones gaze, stepping back as his guardian stood back up, tripling his own height.

"You really think so?" His dark hazel eyes beamed up at him. The dragonet received a warm smile and a wink and a "I know so" in response and looked at the Rainwing who had appeared alongside them, dropping off one of the multiple young Rainwings that acknowledged the importance of their dragonets socialising with other tribes.

"Hi Starcatcher." The Rainwing grinned excitedly, only about a year older than his own adopted dragonet. He nervously returned the greeting and walked with the more outgoing dragonet, looking back at the smiling and waving guardian. Lightseer turned to the parent who'd stopped and stared after them. She turned to face Lightseer, her palette of a skin morphed from a few specks of grey amongst green and blue to a steadier darker blue with outlines of gold and yellow around her individual scales in such an intricate and delicate pattern that it was hard not to lean in closer. She cocked her head inquisitively, almost studiously looking slowly up and down the Nightwing in front of her causing the Nightwing's skin to crawl uncomfortably. She was only maybe a few years older than the Nightwing but Lightseer was still larger in height and breadth. He turned about to launch himself into the air when she finally spoke up.

"You're quite young to have a dragonet aren't you?" She broke the silence inquisitively. Still with her head cocked, yellow flicking through her scales and her tail unconsciously swaying from side to side.

"Huh? Oh, he's… He's not mine." The Nightwing stuttered, turning back to where the dragonets had been, they'd already headed off however, higher up into the canopy where the makeshift "play-area" existed, which consisted of elastic vine bound together over large leaves which acted as trampolines for the more energetic dragonets - those that preferred physical activity to the more boring activities (or should we say more Nightwing activities) like reading and studying. "I wouldn't mind if he was, I just kinda look after him, well try to anyway, he doesn't really have anyone else, poor guy…" He found himself muttering and shook himself, refocusing on the Rainwing in front of him. Her scales turned green and rippled with yellow intrigue with grey flecks appeared along her wings which seemed to shuffle with discomfort.

"Do you think he and my Pacay will be friends?" She continued, it was unusual to get a good amount of conversation out of either Rainwings or Nightwings – one was suspicious and the other grumpy and every so often they even swapped roles, in Lightseer's experience anyway. "Maybe, I mean I hope so, he seems to be struggling to do so… I'm not really a guru in friend-making myself." He felt his wings get heavier, feeling the weight of responsibility colliding with his inexperience pressing in on him. He wished he was older, how could he give the young dragonet the advice he needed, bring him up even, he'd had his parents, who then palmed him off to the elders once they learnt of his ability which he didn't blame them for. But it meant he had a stable education and bringing up from those at least twice, if not three times his current age.

"You're the Nightwing that keeps visiting Queen Glory aren't you? Light-something… Light-thing, Lightmoaner, Light-thinger…" Startled out of the spiral of his thoughts the Nightwing stuttered "Uh, yes and no and… no and no." The Rainwing grinned in response to the Nightwing's disgruntled response. "Lightseer, Just Lightseer..." He gave a mocking bow after collecting his thoughts.

"Ah yes! That's it!" A rainbow of colour flooded through her scales, along her back, then slowly faded back to her deep ocean blue, almost like she was showing off.

Ever since the Rainwing cataloguing crew didn't know exactly what to do about his adopted brother way back in the first week of being led into the rainforest he'd had the great honour to meet Queen Glory face to face. She recognised his desire to promote unity in the way of education and that led to a great number more meetings and consultations. Deathbringer was obviously her right-wing Nightwing but the tribe viewed him with suspicion and treachery due to his help in undermining the Nightwings original plan to take over the Rainforest, not so much with Lightseer. Obviously there was the Jade Mountain Academy but they had both agreed there needed to be at least a basic education available for all the younger ones - in turn this would hopefully unite the Nightwings and the more studious Rainwings a bit more and could only help tribal relations - so the theory went.

"I suppose I better get ready." The treetop classes had to be held in the Rainwing section as there simply wasn't anywhere that had been built closer to the Nightwing tribe to accommodate the youngsters (not that many Nightwings attended, not yet anyway).

"Oh. Really?" The female paused, visibly slightly concerned she had mentioned something uncomfortable, or maybe she was actually enjoying the conversation with him.

"I've got a class to teach." He said proudly, hiding his concern and anxiety under a smile. "Sorry I didn't catch your name?" He continued, hoping to integrate himself, little by little, into the Rainwing's tribe, wishing one day he and his little brother could move into the treetops, it seemed a much happier environment than the murmuring ground houses of the Nightwings.

"Well, my name's Summer, you should join us for Sun Time some time...sun time some time…" She went off on a bit of a repetitive tangent before shaking her head again. " In fact, why not come round with…?" She paused, displaying yet another puzzled look.

"Starcatcher…" he finished, again.

"Yes, come round after suntime, maybe, he and my Pacay can play together?" The Nightwing tried to hide a dubious look, covering it with a grateful smile. He already feels too old to play with Rainwings his own age, or even a year older. Then again, maybe it'll be good for him? Ugh, I wish I knew what the right decisions were for him.

"That sounds, that sounds good. But wait, where shall we find you?" Another flutter of almost fluorescent pink and purple appeared and disappeared before she lifted herself off with surprising grace, spinning back around.

"The platforms silly!" And she darted upwards soon lost from sight due the multitude of branches. Well she was nice. And obviously not completely against her Rainwing son socialising with the son of a Nightwing. Maybe there was hope yet for peaceful relations between the… Think about yourself for once. She's being nice to you. Not as a tribal representative, but maybe, maybe as a friend?

The heat of the rainforest was making itself known indicating it was soon to be time for class, mimicking the bending of the legs of the Rainwing he launched upwards, his wings carrying him through. It was still a trial to fly through the many branches and vines without having to put the brakes on every hundred yards but slowly a map builds up in your mind of your surrounds and Lightseer felt himself naturally tending towards the quicker and ultimately easier routes through the canopy, it helped he'd had a month or two's head start on mapping out the area not that either the Rainwings or Nightwings knew that of course, well apart from his overseer of course and Morrowseer - wherever he might have disappeared off to. Still beats the volcano. He landed gracefully on the wooden planked platform which joined two large Redwoods together giving a great view of the bright blue sky which almost begged to be flown in. He missed the open skies, flying for miles and miles, that freedom. Even though it hurt him to leave Starcatcher for such lengths of time that his missions required he knew he could count on the older ones of the tribe to take care of him, for the most part.

He was alone, although being a Nightwing in the Rainwing Village, he knew you likely were never truly alone. Blinking quickly, flicking between his visions he looked around at his oddly quiet surroundings to see three young Rainwings staring at him to his left, all stacked one on top of another hugging one of the Redwood's branches. He knew better than to react immediately to what he saw with his enhanced vision and continued panning around without flicking to it again - he was still loyal to his overseer and he promised never to reveal his ability to anyone and he'd never had a good enough reason to break that promise. He turned away from the older dragonets (although still a good couple of years younger than himself) and suddenly shot his gaze towards their location. "Glad you're here so punctually, an unusual pleasure." No stirring occured. "Yes I can see you, get down." Slowly the bark's rustic brown pattern shimmered into a rainbow of three disappointed dragonets.

"But how?" The youngest called out in despair, following the largest of the group down onto the wooden planks below barely a tail length away. "Ah, Nightwing secret." Winking, Lightseer tapped his snout mockingly. "Are we expecting anyone else, or is it just you three regulars this morning?" He said turning away from them and picking up a couple scrolls from the small bookcase, mentally locking away any nerves that were endeavouring to surface. He certainly wasn't the most confident Nightwing, nor the most studious, in fact there were a hundred others that he recommended to Queen Glory before himself but after casually trying to suggest the idea to the twelth candidate and receiving the same scaving response Not even if my own soul depended on it! He gave in to her repeated suggestion that he should lead the effort, even if his own talons did jitter from time to time.

"I'm here, sir!" A lean Nightwing landed with a slightly less-than-graceful bump on the rattling planks below causing his classmates to chuckle with great streaks of amusement rippling through their scales. He was only about six years old but had a keen interest in learning and parents who were only too happy to have him continue his studies now that no library of knowledge existed in the burning casket of a fort we once lived in.

"Brightstar, nice to see you. Are you ready to look at rocks like you've never looked at them before!" The larger Nightwing turned to him with a witty smile across his face, the Rainwings frowned at the dragonets enthusiastic nodding.

"No, I don't think anyone else is coming, what are we doing today? Something fun I hope!" The middle aged Rainwing interjected. It became evident within the first day of studying that the Rainwings and Nightwings required two different syllabuses for… various reasons.

"Indeed Tenrec, in fact it's a practical exercise and could help me greatly in my experiments!" The word practical was enough to make them light up pink and yellow with excitement, anything that didn't include reading, watching and writing. "If you head down to the river I'll join you in a second, Brightstar I've got this scroll for you on soil types, now it may not seem the most interesting read but, you'll be surprised as to how useful learning this can be and I'll go through some practical elements when I've returned from the river." The three Rainwings had charged off already at the word river, excitedly tagging one another on their glide down through the canopy, effortlessly dodging vines and tree trunks.

"OK." The smaller Nightwing screwed up his snout but obediently received the scroll and lay beside one of the outer sun-lit edges of the platform, laying it out carefully and studying it intently. Lightseer couldn't help but smile, if he could help even just one of the dragons in their educational needs then he had succeeded in his eyes. But he didn't like segregating the two tribes so he tried to do it as little as possible but sometimes, it just seemed impossible - By the Moons how did they manage to get dragonets from all the tribes to learn and listen in a single classroom on a single subject and just teach at the academy? I wish I knew.

Down by the river he got the Rainwings each to grab a cocoanut and dig a small hole in the earth, line it with reeds and foliage and fill it with river water. The water seemed clear and inviting, even in the half-heartedly dug holes about two talons in diameter. "Right, I want you each to pick a single plant that grows actually on the river, it can be flowery, leafy, anything you like - however you can only pick one each, you can't pick the same plant as one of your fellow Rainwing's and its roots have to be in the river. Then I want you to place it carefully in your dug-out water hole and we'll check on it in a few days time and see who's water is the clearest. OK... ? What is it Okapi?" He sighed, seeing the youngest raising her wing wearing a most puzzled expression.

"...Why?" Her wing drooped down shyly and yellow began surfacing on her face and wings. I shouldn't have sighed, stupid Lightseer.

"Good question, remember asking questions is what this is all about. Because we want to find out which of these plants have filtering properties, now it would be better if the water was running… but that's beside the point. Oh! And the most important reason!" The Nightwing smirked leaning in closer to the three attentive Rainwings who mimicked his actions, leaning forward inquisitively. "Because I told you to! Now get going!" He bellowed before raising his talons and wings, shooing them away, scattering them as they glided down the winding river. Hopefully they won't forget halfway down, distracted by a monarch butterfly or something Lightseer thought to himself as he lifted himself into the air, but as he did he hovered for a second, feeling all of a sudden like he was being watched. Old Birches surrounded him, their silver striping patterns seemingly looking back at him as he turned in the air, before quickly darting back up to the canopy, across towards the platform he had left Brightstar. He shook it off as paranoia, something all the Nightwings suffered with, an occupational hazard living with Rainwings.

"How are we getting on then?" The larger Nightwing landed gracefully on the wooden platform, causing a small gust of wind to whip away some of the discarded golden leaves off the platform. He couldn't help but stifle a chuckled at the young Nightwings position, lying entirely on his belly with his rear legs stretched out behind him, his head thoroughly buried in the scroll that had been given him. His head broke away from his read and he met his mentors eyes with a half-hearted smile. Dragonets were much easier to deal with than dragons, unassuming, innocent and uncomplicated.

"Yeah, fine, it's... interesting." He said rather unconvincingly. For the rest of the morning, until lunchtime, or as the Rainwing's called it, Sun time, Lightseer explained the importance of understanding the difference in Clay, sandy and even volcanic soils, their individual properties, how porous they were, which were better and which were worse for farming and various other applications. Once the sun was directly overhead he ushered the dragonet off the platform and just stood staring at his surroundings, taking in the colours, their variations, the noises and their tuneful nature. It was a paradise and one he wanted to live in forever. His trance was broken by wingbeats overhead, a number of them were of multiple colours but one was distinctly a golden colour along with a long square package heading directly towards Queen Glory's abode. Lightseer instinctively (and rather nosily he afterward thought to himself) engaged his lightvision, directing his gaze at the square object they were carrying but was troubled at what he saw. Through the square object lay an outline of a dragon but there were large black spots around the head and chest, where usually there would be a bright red lifeforce buzzing through the entirety of the dragons interior image there was only an orange wisp, barely moving, barely pulsing. Maybe it was dying or nearly dead, what was more troubling was it didn't look that old, only a dragonet by the visible length. Poor thing, I wonder what happened to you… He let his strong wings take him directly and carefully upwards, above the treeline and watched as the group descended before he turned away towards the play area his little adopted brother was likely barely tolerating.