Chapter 4

A fortnight later and things were very quiet in the Nightwing village, not due to a lack of Nightwings for they had returned, most of them anyway, it was a time of unspoken mourning. A trip of manipulation, of violence, of distrust which all ended in a course of an afternoon. Nervously the Nightwings had to return back to their former Queen, their hoped-to-be-King being no more, no straight answer to exactly what had happened to him, but he was gone, supposedly gone for good. Even Lightseer and Starcatcher seemed obliged to engage in this mourning. They'd done it yet again, not only was their tribe responsible for the suffering of the entire Icewing Kingdom but they had turned their backs on the only Queen who had shown them mercy. Even though she was willing to show them extreme generosity once again, and even in light of the fact that Darkstalker had used his Animus powers to manipulate those around him, the crushing morality and humility of the situation weighed on the tribe like a yoke of stone.

"Lightseer." A male voice coaxed him out of his spiralling, over-analyzing mind. "Queen Glory would like your presence, as soon as it is convenient." And just as quickly as the Rainwing had materialised, he had disappeared. He sighed deeply, looking back at Starcatcher who was looking over an old scroll Lightseer had for himself, old Nightwing legends that included information about the old Nightwing village of which he had overheard had been the location of which the Nightwing tribe had been taken. But it provided no real useful details, references to spiked Mountains and marble buildings, but that was mostly it. Suddenly the small dragonet jumped up from his scroll and strolled over to his older brother.

"Can I go play with Pacay?" Over the last few days they had grown closer and Lightseer had only encouraged their interactions, it meant he got to speak with Summer as well and even if she wasn't a great talker, she was a good listener and maybe she could provide a maternal influence Starcatcher obviously lacked in his life.

"That sounds like a great idea." It also meant he could have audience with the Queen sooner rather than later, he hoped greatly that she wasn't going to ask him to restart his schooling, not after this. The two Nightwings ascended from the eerily quiet village, the morning sun only just beginning to shine through to the Rainforest floor in fractured bright shapes. Summer was all too grateful to receive Starcatcher and instantly Pacay and Starcatcher were off, playing, flying around the various vines and branches of the surround trees.

"How are you doing?" Her feminine voice felt like it momentarily broke through the wall he was trying to set up to hide his sorrow.

"I'm, I'm ok, Starcatcher's doing fine as you can see." He waved one wing in his direction as his little brother gleefully used his talons to slide down the trunk of a large birch tree. "Her majesty's called so I'm a bit… about that." He gave her an overly worried look and she smirked in response.

"I'm sure it's fine, She's probably going to knight you new King of the Nightwings." She winked mischievously but was met with a disapproving frown.

"I'll be back in a bit." She smiled back at him, pink blotches appearing and disappearing throughout her scales to fare him well. What could she want? Maybe she's finally decided it's enough and is going to send us back through the ash laden tunnels? Maybe she wants me to tell the tribe that. There's no way I could do that, as much as we would deserve it. Or maybe she wants us to re-establish our colony over at the old Nightwing Kingdom. His mind continued to spin as he descended onto the wooden path outside the Queen's quarters, guarded by her loyal Nightwing, likely the only one who safely knew he wasn't going anywhere.

"Any idea what this is about?" Lightseer looked down at him hopefully, and inspiringly he smiled back and shrugged his shoulders. Lightseer just rolled his eyes in response and headed inside, instinctively closing his eyes as the vines draped over his face and horns as he ducked under them and entered the open-topped hut.

"Queen Glory." He bowed his head respectfully. She looked up at him and smiled in a disconcertingly friendly way.

"Ah, Lightseer, glad you could come so soon. I hope you're not moping like the rest of the Nightwings just because their grand plan didn't work out…" His eyes widened at her nonchalant response, did she really see the situation with such little magnitude? "But ah well, guess you are meant to be programmed to be dramatic Nightwings after all."

"That we are!" A small voice from outside called making Glory's eyes roll instinctively.

"I see you're actually out and about anyway, I've been talking to Sunny through the dreamvistor recently and she's reminded me there are some spaces now to fill at Jade Academy as far as Nightwings are concerned and I wondered if you'd like to be one of them? I think this could benefit us in a multitude of..."

"Me? But I haven't even put a request in?"

"If you'd let me finish… Thank you." Her eye twitched slightly which instinctively made the Nightwing in front of her close his jaw. "I think this could be good from the point of view of properly re-establishing your school here again, maybe help you learn a bit not from an information point of view but a teaching skills point of view, you see my point?" He thought for a second before nodding. "Plus someone a little… older and wiser… seems like the better option at this point especially to keep an eye on Kinkajou who is determined to go back and tamarin who I worry about…" Her smile faded and her eyes sunk to the floor for a second before she recomposed herself. "So do you accept?" His thoughts were only with his brother at this point, how could he leave him again, it killed him when he had to go on missions (luckily it was only twice before the exodus).

"I… I'd have to think about it. You know I've got Starcatcher to think about and everything…" She frowned, but not at Lightseer, she looked around him at Deathbringer who was evidently peering in to find out what was happening.

"Of course…" She quickly replied, " Well, please let me know soon so I know whether to tell Sunny to expect you or not tonight." She grumbled slightly but replaced her stern look with a smile. Lightseer hesitated a bit, he always had wanted to go, but he didn't expect to be going so soon, he at least thought Starcatcher would be old enough to go with him if he was ever invited. He took his leave and headed back to his little brother and his temporary guardian. Hm, temporary guardian. Deep in thought he landed without much thought as to where he placed himself.

"Are you ok?" A familiar female voice uttered.

"Yeah, I think so. I, Queen Glory just asked if I would go to the Academy…" He trailed off, looking towards his younger brother who was far too engaged in a form of tag to noticed he was back. The Rainwing lit up with all sorts of colours.

"Amazing, you're so lucky!" She smiled from ear to ear. Her eyes then followed Lightseer's to his brother and she turned back less enthused. "Ah."

"Yeah, I mean I've left him before and the older ones in the village were ok looking after him but he never liked it and back then it was… less of a choice…" He mumbled off quietly, visions of a volcanic background and stern looking Nightwing's giving him his orders.

"I, I mean I'd be happy… To you know…" Summer broke eye contact for a few seconds before looking back into the Nightwings eyes, barely able to make his body out against the darkening surroundings.

"You would? Really? I mean I'm sure I can find someone else if it was a bother."

"No, it would be a pleasure, just bring me back something nice." She winked. The burden of the decision seemed to have lifted, easier maybe than it should have. Now to tell Starcatcher…

"Hey Starcatcher, ready to go?" He called cheerfully. The happy Nightwing swung his head round, smiling not dissimilarly to his Rainwing playmate. His answer came as a pounce onto the chest of his older brother and soon they were back at the Nightwing Village, back in their home.

"So, I've got a question to ask you." He said curling up on the mat of leaves and straw and other bedding materials, his younger brother turning round a few times and tucking himself closely to his brothers side. He looked up inquiringly.

"I've been asked to represent the Nightwings at the Academy, soon. Which means I'll be away for a week or so at a time, but I'll try to visit as much as possible. I mean I haven't even said yes yet…" He realised his mumbling wasn't helping. "What do you think? Summer said you'd be very welcome to stay with her and Pacay for the time being." He waited a few painstaking seconds for his little brother to answer.

"Ok." His sad eyes closing as he rested his head on his talons, coiling himself tighter. "As long as I don't have to stay with Nighthunter… He's a meanie." His response brought a smile to the larger Nightwing's face.

"He is a meanie…" Lightseer agreed.

The next morning he informed the Queen of his decision of which she was very pleased and informed Summer he would be troubling her with caring for Starcatcher.

"So I'm going to be heading off in two days so any questions please fire away." His worrying amused the older Rainwing in front if him.

"It'll be fine, stop worrying…" She repeated numerous times during his spouting. He couldn't shake the anxiety that seemed to suddenly emerge when he finally said to Queen Glory he was going.

He spent the next couple days with his brother, doing what he wanted to do, which mostly ended in him asking Lightseer what he wanted to do. They spent time reading, learning, playing, eating, even hunting which was increasingly unusual and even though not his favourite sport, one he was extremely good at and wanted Starcatcher to be so too.

The night began turning from various shades of beautiful scarlet to darker and darker navy as Lightseer and Starcatcher continued to dine on two swine they had hunted down.

"So you know I have to head off tomorrow…" Lightseer broke the silence that had hung on them for a number of minutes.

"I know…" Starcatcher traced his talons against the ground, no longer attending to the carcass in front of him. "When will you be able to visit?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm sure every couple of weeks at the least, it's not a bad distance. It's only half a days flight out so… Yeah I'm sure every fortnight or so at the least… And hey, I'm sure you'll be having too much fun without me around adult-ing it up anyway." He nudged the little Nightwing with the tip of his wing as he finished off the remains of the swine his little brother had caught, realising how long it had been since he'd had a proper meal. To his delight his little brother's only response was a smile, a relieving smile. He knew it was going to be okay, Starcatcher would be happy.

"Lightseer!" A commanding voice shook the silence that had settled on the two Nightwings. "There you are." A large Nightwing stood, his figure flickering in the flames of the small fire the two Nightwings were huddling around.

"Nighthunter?" Startled to attention, Lightseer quickly got up and faced his older Overseer.

"I hear you're heading to Jade Academy…" He stated in a matter-of-fact manner while peering around Lightseer, eyeing up his younger brother.

"Yes…" His attention snapped back to Lightseer with a piercing gaze.

"Hm, good, good. This could work." He seemed to mutter to himself. "You are still… You will still work in the interests of the Nightwing Kingdom yes? I am still your overseer and no matter how our circumstances have changed…"

"You haven't showed up in six months with an order!" Lightseer interrupted, causing the larger dragon to suddenly pause. Then fury poured over the dragon's face like molten lava.

"I AM GIVING YOU ONE NOW!" Hot smoke billowed from his nostril before he leant back and stroked his head with one of his talons. "This is not a game Lightseer, something is happening, there are shifting sands and I need to know I… We can count on YOU to loyally stick by your tribe. Are you that same dragon I've always been able to rely upon?" His voice was kinder now, negotiating. Lightseer's head flew in multiple directions as he tried to process all the information he was being given, but he had to answer now.

"Yes, overseer. What do you need me to do?" The large Nightwing gleamed at this response. A smile that didn't inspire happiness in others, more curdled their blood.

"Good, there will be a satchel by your hut tomorrow morning before you head on your journey, keep it with you and you will receive your orders in due time."

"What do you mean something is…?"

"Ah ah ah!" His overseer shook his talon tutting. "You have your orders." And with that he turned his back on the smaller Nightwing and, just after peering back behind him at the small campfire, soared off into the night sky, almost immediately disappearing from view.

"Lightseer, what does he mean there's something happening, everyone's happy now aren't they?" If the second exodus of the Nightwing's is anything to go by, no, not everyone is happy with their situation. Could it be Darkstalker is still alive somehow, he was an animus after all and there was no body? Or could Nighthunter be planning a coo? Maybe he knows I'm loyal to Glory so he wants me out the way? But it doesn't make sense that he wants me to bring something with me, a satchel.

"I wish I knew bud… Just promise me you'll stick with Summer ok? Even if something does happen."

"Like what?

"I DON'T KNOW! Just promise me."

"Ok, ok… I promise, jeez"

"Good."

Lightseer slept little that night but evidently slept a bit as he heard neither footsteps nor wingbeats yet as dawn broke and he emerged from his hut, there was a black buckled satchel. It was designed to discreetly clip under a Nightwing's wing without hindering it's flight. Did he look now, does he look when he gets there, what if it has a note in it? He began unbuckling the front of it and he drew the top over to reveal two tubes of wood and a number of darts - the kind the Rainwing's used.

"What on Pyrriah?" He mumbled to himself.

"Hey!" Startled out of his mesmerisation he suddenly forced the bag closed and buckled it back up, pretending that he was just about to clip it underneath his wing. "Thought I'd wish you 'farewell traveller', or should I say scout?" A blur later and a pink and yellow Rainwing was beaming in front of him.

"Oh, hey Summer, you needn't have." Ignoring her mocking comments but secretly glad to see her face once before heading off. Both dragon's heads turned as stirring was occurring in the hut with Starcatcher suddenly panicking that his guardian wasn't beside him, but relaxing as his eyes met Lightseer's.

"I'm heading off now buddy, goodbye hug." He gestured with his talons for the little Nightwing to come closer, although he needed little encouragement. He pressed the dragonet into his chest, wrapping his arms around his waist, just under his wings, lifting him slightly.

"I'm going to miss you..." Starcatcher managed to squeak while under duress.

"Nah, I'm sure you'll be having too much fun to miss me." He dropped the dragonet whose face was most dubious, looking back and to the Rainwing beside him. "I'll miss you too." Lightseer corrected. Anxiety and excitement swirled around his mind forming a bundle of nervousness he was endeavouring not to show as he waved before departing from the Nightwing village. His eye caught a large Nightwing standing in a more open section of the rainforest, watching him intently as he flew onwards, causing his thoughts to fall back to the satchel of sticks and darts.

Then it struck him.

"I'm on a mission!" His wings carried him up and up and up, above the line of clouds that were slowly forming, still white as wool. I'm on a mission. Which would infer I have a target. Please not at the school, that place has had enough tragedy.

"Ugh, stop thinking about it, it never helps!" He growled aloud at the open sky as he flew on. I wonder what I'll learn. Who will I be clawmates with? I'm sure I can get on with most, even a grumpy Skywing, anything other than an Icewing and I think I'll be alright. When should I go to Starflight? Will he actually know anything as he doesn't have any powers and he's technically younger than me, but Queen Glory did say he was very learned… Maybe there's another way. Nighthunter would probably kill me if I let anyone, especially a so-called dragonet of destiny, know of my powers, even if more Nightwing's now had powers. Supposedly there was a mind reader in our camp, that was there before Darkstalker began handing out powers. Although most felt dirty with their powers and gave them up, I knew a couple at least who hadn't. Is war about to break out again? Is that why I have been redrafted?

"STOP!" He began barrelling through the clouds in front of him, trying to focus on his flying rather than the ridiculous number of concerns that kept surfacing in his mind.

The cool air became warmer and warmer as the sun climbed the sky behind Lightseer, his scales absorbing it's warmth and distributing it throughout his body. Flying made him feel so free and purposeful, the only thing you had to do was stay up in the air and direct yourself, it was innate now at his age but it was restful listening to the whistling of the wind going by. Slowly a number of peaks began to penetrate the horizon as the forest below him turned more into scrubby grassland. He was nearly there. He didn't really know what to expect, most of the Nightwing's had seen it, along with the old Nightwing kingdom that he happened to have missed too while Darkstalker was around but if it was 'see it and be enchanted' he was glad he stayed put in the Rainforest under Queen Glory's protection.

The largest of the peaks grew closer and closer, there were no dragons flying around the peak and emerging from cave mouths and re-entering them again. He expected a great rainbow of dragons to greet him he supposed, yet it was quiet, clear, much like the sky itself. As he was finally upon the massive mountain he took this opportunity to do a bit of scouting, after all it was what he was good at. He engaged his vision and began his spiralling ascent of the structure. Brown, white, blue, gold, red, black and green signatures instantly became visible (there's the rainbow of dragons) underneath the Mountain's surface as did a number of amber glowing balls that evidently line the pathways through the cave system mapping it out perfectly. It was notable, even at this distance that there were evidently less Nightwings at the school than other tribes, likely due to recent events. What was slightly startling was a large orange and red glow, near the northernmost tip of the internal tunnels, fluctuating, flickering and possibly moving. A fire maybe? It was large and unlike anything Lightseer had viewed before. A fire underground? But it's moving?

As he followed the mountain round he glimpsed a Sandwing below him, outside the school, startling him out of his vision. He was still a distance below but he was sure, no he was certain it was wearing a cloak. It seemed to be pacing but upon looking up, walked calmly under some large tree coverage nearby. Strange. He circled back around to the main entrance and realised a little late, due to the light intensity difference, that it instantly opened up into a reception. He spread his wings out to bring himself to a halt on the rocky ground below as a pale Sandwing spun around and met him with the largest smile he'd seen in a while, well since he had been in company with Summer.

"And you must be Lightseer, it's very nice to meet you, I'm Sunny!" She reached out with a bag, similar in design to his under-wing satchel but tan in colour and it used a clip to keep it shut. "This contains your library card and everything else you should need here." Similarly to the other bag it clipped under a dragon's wing, at least he'd be balanced now he thought.

"Uh, thanks. Is everyone already in classes at the moment?" He looked around to see a sole Mudwing happily trotting to the right, off into another corridor which he guessed lead to the dining hall due to the large number of animal signatures he noticed during his flight.

"Yeah, that's right, but don't feel bad, we've only started back up properly recently..." Her glance faltered but her smile quickly reaffirmed itself. "So I'm sure it won't take much to catch up." She began walking over to a bulletin board that contained a number of scraps of scroll attached to it along with a crudely drawn map of the caves they were now standing in.

"That." She pointed to the rear left-most side of the map, one of the many indents in a wall of a room unmarked. "Is where you'll be sleeping, it shouldn't be too hard to find, I believe your clawmate has kept your side pretty much untouched I remember him saying when I mentioned he was getting someone new.

"Ah yes! Clawmate!" Lightseer suddenly scanned all the sheets of scroll on the board in front for the list of pupils, trying to firstly find his name. He couldn't.

"Yes, you're clawmate is Kittiwake, he's lovely if I do say so myself." She went on. Kittiwake, Gold Winglet (same as himself), Icewing.

"Icewing! Really?" She seemed stunned into silence at the Nightwing's sudden outburst. "After all we've done to them, surely they hate us now?" His fears had been realised and his face dropped, maybe he wasn't going to be here very long after all.

"Why?" She seemed genuinely puzzled.

"Maybe because they already hated us for stealing their Icewing Animus, then Darkstalker sent a plague to wipe them out and then the massive battle just a couple of weeks ago, ring any bells?" Throughout his ranting the Sandwing kept her composure admirably, almost as if she dealt with this on a daily basis.

"Have you met your Clawmate yet?" She simply asked.

"Well, obviously not."

"Then what do you have to lose, what if you stay for today, get introduced, if things are still a bit tense then we'll re-look at the arrangements tomorrow, how does that sound, but I'm sure you guys will get along great… You have a little brother back home don't you?" His eyes widened at the sudden change of subject, and he was unable to agree nor disagree with her previous statement.

"Yes..."

"Ah, Glory mentioned so, well I'm sure you'll have a great time here, the booklet that is within the bag I gave you will inform you of everything else you need to know." And with that she took her leave down one of the passageways leading to the food room. Well here you are Lightseer, Jade Academy, what can go wrong? With that thought still in mind the reception became busier and busier with the classes of dragons breaking up for some lunch.