Shadowflare laughed at the name pun.
"Very. Hey, I never asked you your name. What is it?"
"M-my name? Oh, it's Shadowflare!"
"Dad, can we stay with her for awhile? At least until we find a new home to go to?"
"Of course, Opal. Let's gather some of these fruits and head back to wherever you live at, Shadowflare." Metalhide agreed to her request, happy that they had a place to stay at, even if temporarily. For the duration, he and Opal seemed to have found a new home.
"Yay!" Shadowflare cheered excitedly. As they started to pick the fruits,
"SCEECK!" A loud bird screech sounded off, right above the three. Metalhide quickly directed his gaze to search for the source, but couldn't see past the dense foliage.
"What in three moons was that?!" Opal cried, trying to find the source as well.
"It's Aria!" Shadowflare shouted rather excitingly, confusing the other two.
"Aria? Who, or what, in Pyrrhia is an Aria?" Metalhide asked, scanning the skies.
"You'll see." Shadowflare replies, then grins as a large hawk-about the size of a young horse- glides into view. The feathers were a deep amethyst coloration, a sharp beak and huge talons of a dull amber shade. A medium-sized tuff was on it's chest, colored a light blue hue that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, as was its underbelly. It's piercing yellow eyes darted from Opal, to Metalhide, then to Shadowflare before landing on the dragon's shoulder. As it did, it made a soft and almost melodic caw. The sight of the bird impressed both Opal and Metalhide, who'd never seen it's like. "This is Aria." They stared at the hawk.
"Ah, I see. A fine companion for any dragon. I've never seen that kind before." Metalhide replied, while Shadowflare petted Aria's head. "Hmm? What's that?" He noticed something around one of the hawk's talons. Shadowflare sees and takes it.
"Huh, I got a letter…" She reads the contents. "Huh…" Opal got curious.
"Who is it from?" She blurred.
"My older cousin, Tempo. I told you about her earlier."
"Tempo?" Metalhide asked, clueless.
"Yeah! She's very cool and wonderful, but also mysterious. She's the one who helped me out with my home. Oh, and she also has these cool magical powers! But she doesn't use them much. She says that she's coming over to visit, and that she'll arrive in about an hour or so. Should on we hurry up?"
"Cool, magical powers? That very sounds familiar, like you and uncle."
"I know, Opal. Now, let's get the fruit and head back." Metalhide replied.
"Hey, I just remembered Tempo is a skilled cooker, maybe she can use these fruits to make some treats…"
"Quite possibly. I have already made some recipes for them, but it's going to be fun to add more to the list."
"Yeah! Now let's get to it!"
Meanwhile, back inside the cave, the two mysterious dragons were studying the interior. They reached the garden, the light pouring in illuminated them-a Nightwing-Seawing hybrid male and a Mudwing female. They looked around, were joined by a Nightwing in bronze armor, then headed back into the main room without uttering a single word.
After half an hour had passed, the three were done fruit-picking.
"This should be about enough. Let's head back to the cave. I gotta get things set for when Tempo arrives."
"Alright!" Opal agrees rather energetically. Each one of them took a third of the bags holding fruit. As soon as they were ready, Shadowflare spoke in a dramatic and funny voice.
"Now let us set forth and make way back to the cave!" She took to the air. "You two coming or what?"
"HA! You sound just like my brother, Midnight. Of course, that is the type of stuff a war hero is bound to say." Metalhide answered, as he and Opal followed the enthusiastic Nightwing.
"Think uncle can come visit us?"
"Quite possible! I'll send him a word when I can."
"I've never seen a war hero before." Shadowflare says as they reach and enter the cave. As she goes in, a dragon similar to Metalhide, but wearing bronze armor from the tip of his tail to the top of his head. His piercing neon green eyes stared out from beneath the helmet he wore.
"Uhhhmm…...Hi?" Shadowflare asked the dragon, feeling quite anxious.
"Hello…" The dragon cocked his head slightly at her, as if listening to something. "Shadowflare. Nice to meet you." She started to fidget nervously.
"Nice to meet you too...um…" At that moment, Metalhide and Opal came in, and both recognized the other dragon.
"Midnight?!" Both of them exclaimed at once, surprised by the newcomer.
"Hello, my brother. You too, Opal." Shadowflare looks between the two brothers, thinking I knew something about him was very familiar… "Of course, brothers are that way." Midnight states, freaking her out extremely.
"W-wha-you can read my mind?!" Shadowflare asks, visibly flipping out at the thought of her reading her thoughts.
"Well, yes. Shadewings are a separate faction of Nightwings, so we naturally have the gifts they have."
"...okay…." Shadowflare said blithely, still quite freaked out.
"On a lighter note, you have quite the well-made establishment for a home." The other two mysterious dragons came up, the Mudwing and the hybrid.
"Thank you, I designed it with the help of my cousin Tempo, who us coming over soon. This wayyyyyy…..Hold it, where'd you two pop up from!?"
"We came with Midnight. I'm Phantomtide, and this here is Pine."
"A pleasure to meet you, Shadowflare. Thanks for watching out for Opal."
"You are very welcome. The far room on the left should be big enough for all of you, I have to get ready for Tempo." Shadowflare stated, then headed off to another room, while the group went to find the room Shadowflare mentioned.