Chapter Forty Two

Panic was always in the back of her throat, she was just one twig-snap away from bursting into fits of screams and tears. Kinkajou controlled her breathing and tried to stop the shaking in her limbs. She was always the bright and happy one, the one who was reckless, courageous, who never held anything back. Never doubt, always go full force into your first impulse, that was the only way to live a full life in her opinion. The only way to have no regrets. Oh, Kinkajou had regrets but she always told herself that there was no point in dwelling on them. After all, why allow something traumatising from your past to eat away at your self esteem bit by bit until it left you with crippling anxiety and self loathing as you contemplated whether you deserved the opportunities handed to you, and if you really were deserving of your current place in the world, and wouldn't it be better for everyone if you just faded away into the background like the lackluster, unimportant worm you were?

No, there was always too much to do rather than waste her energy on stuff like that.

And yet, when she and her friends had been inside Fathom's sanctuary and she'd heard the NightWings coming, the entire world had seemed to swallow her up and this crushing oppressive weight had slammed into her chest and she'd done the only thing her brain could think of to do. She'd run. She'd turned herself invisible and tucked herself on top of a cupboard out of reach. The NightWings had swarmed in and taken her friends. She'd wanted to help them, yes, but seeing the black shapes with their bloodshot eyes and their nasty snarls had frozen her in place. Kinkajou had thought she was past this. She'd gotten over her fear so that she could be around Moon - Moon didn't even register in her brain as a NightWing anymore. And when she'd gone out with Queen Glory's spies and saboteurs, she'd been able to attack the enemy with no hesitation. Was it because she'd had other warriors there with her - was it because she knew the Jade Winglet were at a disadvantage and would lose? Was that the reason for her cowardice?

She'd been stuck above the cupboards for some time whilst the NightWings dragged her friends away and then started ransaking Fathom's home. They tore apart everything. They'd already taken the journal, but now they were scrutinising any object they could get their talons on. Most of them broke, and the rest they abandoned. Kinkajou had crept down from her hiding spot and followed the NightWings out of the hut and into the darkness between the trees. From there, it had been easy to follow them. She'd explored all of the rainforest as a dragonet, and knew how to tell by sight alone which tree branches would bear her weight without a sound, how to creep and have no animals give her away. She followed the NightWings all the way to their village.

Cries of horror almost overwhelmed her. Throughout the area the NightWings had claimed for themselves, they had cut down the trees to use to build their huts. The ground was muddy and trampled. There were no flowers, no ferns, no animals. Just smoke from fires and the stench of dying trees. This didn't look like the rainforest at all, this didn't feel like home anymore.

Kinkajou wandered, invisible still, through the outskirts of the village. Her chest felt numb, and she wanted to cry, but she knew in the back of her mind that she needed to find her friends. She had to be the one to rescue them before they were killed - or worse. She didn't exactly know what that " worse" was, but the threat of it in her thoughts was enough to keep her moving.

Until she found the pit.

At the very edge of the NightWing village, behind a fence and guards, was a huge pit dug into the ground. It had to be at least a hundred feet long, and at the bottom of this rectangular pit were over a dozen RainWings. They were all lined up, shoulder to shoulder, their heads secured in wooden stocks. Their ankles, wrists and wings were chained to the floor. Empty metal troughs lay in front of them, a few decaying pieces of apples or banana peels told Kinkajou that these troughs were meant for food. All of them had muzzles on their snouts, and all of them looked miserable, their scales pale or grey and their ruffs floppy and lifeless. Kinkajou recognised some of the faces here. Scouts and spies that had been lost in the field. Was this where they'd all gone? And then, to make it all the worse in Kinkajou's heart, she spotted a familiar face at the end of the row. A small RainWing, her eyes milky and unfocused.

"Oh, Tamarin…" she whispered mournfully.

When they'd all fled the rainforest, it had been a mad dash to escape the NightWings. Of course they'd all tried to help the sick, old and injured, those who couldn't keep up with the rest of them. But in the chaos, some had been left behind. Kinkajou hadn't even noticed Tamarin was one of the ones missing until they'd escaped into the Claws of the Clouds Mountains. And by then it had been too late. Because she was blind and unable to make her way in any haste, she must've been left by other RainWings as a lost cause, and the realisation shamed Kinkajou to her core.

Three NightWing guards came in to see the prisoners. Kinkajou instinctively ducked down behind a barrel for cover, peeking out from behind it. She watched as the NightWings checked a list before going to the third RainWing in the line. One took hold of the RainWing's head as the second presented a glass jar with a cloth top. Kinkajou knew what that was, and shuddered at the same time the captive RainWing groaned. His NightWing captor hesitated, but the third one, holding a mean-looking spear, growled and stamped his foot warningly. Slowly, the NightWing encouraged the RainWing to open his mouth wide, and to push his fangs through the canvas on the jar. Massaging behind his ears, they pumped the black venom out of the fangs and into the jar. The RainWing whimpered, but was ignored. When they'd drained him of every last drop, the Jar was barely a quarter full. Spear-guard huffed, but the other two looked tired. One of them handed the exhausted RainWing a piece of fruit. He was slow to take any interest, and when he did eat, it was with no enthusiasm.

"Come on," grumbled Spear-guard, checking his list. "We still need to do number four and six."

"No," said the guard who had held the RainWing's head. "I'm done for today. Let them rest."

Spear-guard looked ready to burst with anger. "These are Morrowseer's orders! You got a problem, take it up with him! But you will do your duty-"

"My duty was to help build homes - I didn't sign up to be a torturer!" For a moment, Kinkajou saw the guard's pretence slip, and they looked a little… broken. As if to be here, to be part of this was taking away something in their soul.

But Spear-guard was mean and bristling. He spat on the ground. "I'll be telling the regent about this!"

"Sure," said the guard who'd taken care of the jar of venom. "And I'll be sure to tell him that my brother reports he and the rest of the army are getting really tired of being ordered from pillar to post. And now Morrowseer's sending our fastest messengers to call them all home? He's mad and I won't be his cruel pet either!"

Though she didn't want to, Kinkajou had to pull herself away from the bickering guards and especially her fellow RainWings. She wanted to save them, to break them all free along with her friends. But the rational part of her brain told her she couldn't save both groups; they'd never all escape. Her only solace in this heartbreaking decision was the hope that she could find her friends, escape, and then hatch a plan to come back and rescue the RainWings. She now knew where they were - Queen Glory would send her army and save them!

She skulked around the edges of the village for a while, her heart in a constant state of racing at every sudden noise or whenever a NightWing would get too close. By the time sunset arrived, her nerves felt frayed to almost nothing. The biggest fright, was when she saw him!

Stood on a roof overlooking the main village square, Kinkajou was watching the NightWings, trying to overhear any kind of gossip about the latest prisoners brought in. It was then that the beast of her nightmares strolled through the village. He was as big as she remembered, his golden eyes cold and unfeeling like stones had replaced his eyeballs. Morrowseer stood tall, not even bothering to look at the NightWings who bowed to him as he passed. Kinkajou felt a phantom pain lance through her skull, like she could still feel his claws around her head. She couldn't remember much from that day - after Soar had slammed her into that rock, she'd drifted in and out of consciousness. But she could distinctly remember resurfacing from the darkness briefly, to see that demon stood over her, his talon on her head and squeezing her so tightly! Upon seeing him now, Kinkajou had huddled down - a part of her brain knew she was invisible, but for some reason she feared Morrowseer would see right through her disguise. The little RainWing trembled as she watched him go by, biting her tongue to stop herself from whimpering.

"Here," Morrowseer paused mid-stride to hand a small box to a skinny dragonet following at his heel. "Give this to my guards, and then inform the jailors to patch up the IceWing. He's no good to me if he bleeds out."

Kinkajou's ears pricked up - Winter was here, at least. Though her stomach churned at Morrowseer's words - what had they done to him? The dragonet took the box from his master, cringing a little to take it, his blue eyes filled with disgust. He went away on his task, and Kinkajou followed from above. She watched him go to a barracks to hand over the box, wiping his talons on the ground to wipe off its taint. And then she followed him back across the village until they came to a sturdy looking building, half dug into the ground. Two guards stood at the only door inside and watched the dragonet approach.

"Morrowseer orders that the IceWing's injuries be tended to…" he told the guards. His blue eyes narrowed as he stared into the dark building. "But in the morning. Let the prisoner suffer a little - might make him more cooperative."

The guards nodded and the errand went on his way. Kinkajou waited a while. Her keen sense of hearing could faintly pick up the sound of Winter whimpering inside the prison, and Qibli's hushed murmurs. She couldn't hear anything from Turtle - was he okay? After twenty minutes, one of the guards decided to sneak away to grab some food. He handed the keys to his partner and then left. Kinkajou realised she wouldn't get a better opportunity. She quietly rushed behind the prison and found a rock on the ground - roughly the size of two fists. It wasn't too heavy, but big enough that she needed two talons to hold it up. She returned to the roof and hung over the edge above the guard's head. Holding up the rock, she took a moment to aim it just right… and then let it drop.

It hit the guard at the back of the skull - right between his horns! The thud was almost sickening, and the guard gave a woozy grumble as he swayed for a moment, before collapsing in a heap. Kinkajou rushed down and fished out the keys from his anklet - her talons were shaking, adrenaline causing heat in her veins. When she had them she flung open the prison door and descended into the gloom below. There were three wooden doors in front of her. She heard the voices of her friends in the middle cell and immediately used the key to unlock it.

"Who's there?!" Qibli demanded, blinking into the light of the torch by his door. Kinkajou realised she was still invisible, so flushed her scales back into full colour - a mottled pale green and white for the fear she couldn't squash down. "Kinkajou!"

"We've got to go, quick!" she whispered, hurrying to her friends. They were all chained by their wrists and ankles, muzzles clamped around their snouts. Turtle lay in the corner, asleep. Was he still unconscious from when he'd been hit in Fathom's house? Qibli was the only one facing her, Winter was hunched and softly whining. She unlocked their chains one by one. "A guard'll be coming back soon, and we need to go before he raises the alar - oh, Winter!"

She flinched as Winter stood to face her once she'd freed him. The side of his face was a blue-bloodied mess. One talon was cupped over the side of his head, but as he moved and winced at every slight aggravation, Kinkajou could see through his fingers that his ear had been cut off. Tears of pain stained his cheeks and still sparkled in his beautiful eyes. His face and neck were smeared with his own blood. Kinkajou wanted to cry for guilt - if only she'd gotten here sooner!

Qibli moved past her out the prison, but was back a second later with a large leaf. "Nice work with the guard," he said to her as he passed her and tended to Winter. He wrapped the leaf around Winter's head, trying to be gentle, and trying to soothe him softly when Winter whimpered with pain. "I know, I know," he murmured, "We'll get him for this - I promise."

"Turtle can heal him, right?" Kinkajou said, breaking herself out of her horror. She went to the SeaWing and tried to shake him awake.

"They took his bag - the healing rock is still in it," Qibli explained. "Along with the Seashell - so we can't call for help."

"Or warn Moon," Winter said in a hoarse voice, as if his throat was exhausted. "Morrowseer knows where the Kingdom of Night is, he's going to try and take her. We need to get to her first."

They formulated a plan. Winter and Qibli dragged in the body of the guard and dumped him in their cell. That might buy them a little more time before the other NightWings suspected something was amiss. Kinkajou took a gorde of water from his pack and went over to Turtle. She poured it on his face and shook him vigorously to try and wake him. Turtle was slow to wake up, and even when he did, he was groggy and incoherent. The effects of being knocked out were still affecting him, and without his healing stone they'd have to wait until they were somewhere safer before they could rectify that.

Qibli took the prison key from Kinkajou and then went to the prison cell all the way to the right. He opened it and spoke to the dragon within - Kinkajou hadn't even realised there were other prisoners. "You want to see your daughter again?"

"... Yes," said a voice.

"Then come with us. It's now or never." And when he stepped back, out came a dragoness. She was much changed from when Kinkajou saw her years ago, but like Morrowseer, she'd never forget that face. She looked a lot like Moon, even if Moon's colouring was more similar to her father's. Dull dark green eyes and a scar on her left shoulder, though she was thinner than before and her wings look frail and unable to support her at all. Secretkeeper - Moon's mother.

Qibli then went to the cell on the far left. Winter was even puzzled. "You want to free that one too?"

"We need all the help we can get," said Qibli as he unlocked the door. "How about it, Deathbringer? Wanna join the rebellion?"

"And get back at that frog-faced Morrowseer and maybe find my RainWing-beauty?" said a male voice. "Hell yes!" And out came a male NightWing.

With quiet urgency, the group made their way out of the prison. Kinkajou was in the lead - though she wanted instinctively to turn herself invisible again, she knew the others needed to see her in order to follow her. And from her scouting earlier, she had a good idea of how to escape the village quickest and with least likelihood of being spotted. Deathbringer was behind her (which Kinkajou tried not to be intimidated by), and whispering his own input. Behind him was Qibli and Winter helping to hold up Turtle as the SeaWing groggily stumbled about - without their support and guidance, he more than likely would've tripped over his own feet and collapsed again. And bringing up the rear was Secretkeeper, Kinkajou could see that she must've been in that prison for a long time. Bright light from torches seemed to overwhelm her, and her limbs were shaky from disuse - there were old scars on her wrists and ankles where her manacles had chaffed.

Noticing Kinkajou watching her, Secretkeeper tried to gather herself and give a nod. "I can make it. Anything to see my daughter." Kinkajou could respect that, and remembered the mother fiercely battling back Morrowseer to protect Moon and the others once before. So she trusted in the dragoness to keep up, and ploughed forward.

They needed to get to the Night Kingdom, to get to Moon before Morrowseer could. So they needed to head west. Kinkajou crept with them through the back alleys of the village and towards the dense treeline. If they could make it into the rainforest and away from the torchlight, the darkness would help to offer them sanctuary. Kinkajou kept her ears alert for any loud noises, her eyes wide to try and spot any threat. A NightWing shouted loudly from around the next corner, and the whole party pushed themselves close against a fence, hiding in its shadow. But the voice wasn't shouting for them, instead it was more a drunken shout about a game of some sort. As soon as the voice died down, the escapees relaxed and continued on. Kinkajou kept them on well trodden paths, as going through the underbrush would cause too much noise. The depths of the rainforest were just ahead - they passed beneath the low hanging branches of a tree. Once behind the treeline, they could make it, just one more -

From the corner of a clump of trees came a NightWing. Everyone froze, the NightWing almost nose to nose with Kinkajou. It was Morrowseer's skinny, blue-eyed errand boy. Everyone was motionless, silent. The errand boy stared at them, and they stared back. Kinkajou begged him with her eyes to keep quiet, to have pity.

"ALARM!" he shouted as loud as he could. "PRISONERS ESCA-"

Kinkajou didn't think - she just acted. She opened her jaws wide and let loose her fangs. Her venom sprayed wide, black and foul, and landed on the side of the errand's snout. His flesh immediately began to bubble and dissolve away and he fell to the ground, screaming and writhing.

"RUN!" Qibli shouted.

They did so. It was panic and chaos, but they managed to stick together. Qibli and Winter helped to pull along Turtle, who was falling behind the rest of them. They cared not for stealth anymore, just to make as much distance between them and the village as possible. They ran between the tight trees - it might've been faster to fly, but the trees being so close together and it being so dark meant they'd more than likely hit the trees and therefore slow their progress, a fact that would also be true to their pursuers. They could hear roars and shouts coming up behind them as the alarm sounded throughout the NightWing village - guards were coming after them.

"Follow me!" Deathbringer yelled, running into the lead. "I know where they might not follow us!"

He led them west and as they ran, Kinkajou could hear howling winds and almost slammed to a stop. "We're heading for Wind Canyon!"

"There's a bridge!" he called back. "If we can get across and cut it off, then that'll buy us time!"

A roar exploded behind them as a NightWing burst through the brush. He grappled Winter, ripping him from Turtle's side and tumbling across the floor. Winter tried to fight back, to unleash his frostbreath, but the NightWing clobbered the injured side of his head, and he howled with agony. Secretkeeper and Kinkajou were the first to act, spinning in place and leaping onto the enemy. Secretkeeper clawed at the NightWing's neck and exposed back, grabbing hold of his head and pulling it back exposing his throat. Kinkajou leapt at him, clawing his neck ferociously spraying him with another bout of venom. The NightWing roared with pain, and released Winter long enough for the IceWing to open his jaws and unleash a deadly blast of frostbreath. Secretkeeper managed to get her talons free in time before ice engulfed the NightWing's head and he fell to the floor, dead. The group had no time to marvel at the brutality of the quick fight. They simply got back up and kept running, Winter even ignoring the blood seeping through his bandage to trail behind him in little droplets on the forest floor.

Within the next ten minutes, they made it to Wind Canyon. The gorge was just as massive as Kinkajou remembered, the ravine below so far away it looked more like a tiny trickle. The winds were fierce and loud - too loud for Kinkajou's sensitive ears. Even from the relative safety of the cliff edge, the winds were strong enough to blast the dragons. Just as Deathbringer had promised, a bridge lay across the gorge - it hadn't been there all the time RainWings had ruled the Rainforest, so it must be a NightWing construction. The ropes were pulled tight and the wooden planks sturdy, so that even in the blustering gale, the bridge only lightly swayed.

"Come on!" Deathbringer urged them. The bridge was only wide enough to allow two dragons at a time - and even then it was a squeeze. Qibli helped Turtle cross first, with Deathbringer right behind them. Winter went next. Kinkajou paused on the edge, everything she'd ever been taught about Wind Canyon told her not to cross under any circumstances! But these were less than usual circumstances so her old teachers might possibly forgive her. So, she tucked her wings in as tight as she could, hunkered close to the ground and made her way onto the bridge.

Almost immediately, the winds tried to snatch her away. She clung to the planks of the bridge with everything she had. Every shudder of the bridge, every jostle of the wind made Kinkajou want to screech but she held her nerve. This thing wasn't going to beat her. If she looked ahead, ignoring the sting of the wind slapping her in the face, she could see Qibli and Turtle already three quarters of the way across.

There was a shout and Kinkajou turned. Secretkeeper had just stepped onto the bridge when two NightWings came out of the forest. The dragoness turned back around to face them with a roar, blocking the way to the bridge. One NightWing, smaller than her, tried to leap for her but Secretkeeper batted it away. The other had a spear and tried to strike her, and Secretkeeper barely managed to deflect the blow.

"Secretkeeper, come on!" Winter yelled. The others had all turned around and seen. They each shouted for her to hurry. Secretkeeper went to break away from the fight, but the first NightWing was back and leaping at her. She had to step back onto the cliff top to grab hold of him and throw him aside again.

A third NightWing broke through the trees, saw his fellow tribe mates being held back and decided to go a different route. Before his comrades could stop him he took to the air and tried to come at the Jade Winglet from above, claws and teeth brandished. Kinkajou shrieked in terror as his hateful eyes were set right on her. But as he drew too close, the torrent of the canyon seized hold of the delicate membranes of his wings and flung him down. The NightWing screamed as he was helplessly carried away. There was a distant, awful crunch as he tried to get control of his wings but instead had them ripped from their sockets. His cries were cut abruptly short when he was smashed into the cliff wall once - twice - three times, before then being rendered lifeless and limp.

On the cliff-edge there was a scuffle. Both NightWings tried their best to get past her and Secretkeeper just managing to block the way. From the brief glimpses of her face that Kinkajou could see, her eyes were wide and frightened and strangely sad. She stretched her wings wide to further block the way; they were tattered, thin and flimsy. There was no way they would support her weight. Her limbs were shaking from this sudden exertion, her neck was drooping from exhaustion. Kinkajou recognised the signs as she'd seen it all before. The RainWings who'd all been captured on the island for some time, once set free, had needed time to adjust to real life. Using their limbs so much after so long being inactive tired them quickly, and wing-muscles lost their strength when unused. Kinkajou felt her heart break when she saw the moment that Secretkeeper realised what she had just discovered…

She wasn't leaving the Rainforest.

A NightWing thrust his spear at the same time as Secretkeeper reared and twisted to defend from the second soldier again. It went wrong, and stabbed diagonally through her stomach and came out again through her side. The dragoness roared in agony, and the two soldiers stared, wide eyed and frozen for a moment, shocked at what they'd done.

"Secretkeeper!" Deathbringer shouted.

She met their eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek, clenching her jaw against the pain. Her ankles were starting to buckle under the strain. With one thrust of her arm, she broke the wooden shaft of the spear and pulled its head out the otherside. She held the bloodied blade in her shaking talon. At the treeline, three more NightWings were rushing out. Secretkeeper staggered, her free talon held onto the bridge post. She stared at the bridge for a moment, and then at her fellow escapees.

"Hold on!" Kinkajou yelled.

"Secretkeeper, don't!" Winter pleaded.

She cut the ropes.

"NO!" Winter screamed as the bridge fell. The last Kinkajou saw of Secretkeeper, was her turning towards her fellow NightWings, spearhead raised high, and the three who still had weapons raising them to meet her. And then she disappeared from view and the winds took hold of those on the dangling bridge. Kinkajou squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the gales batter her and try to pry her off her perch.

They slammed into the other side of the gorge, hard enough that the RainWing felt her teeth rattle. For a dreadful moment, she thought either her claws would come loose, or the planks of wood she clung to would break away. Just beyond the howling of the wind, she could hear her friends shouting, urging the others to climb. Kinkajou gathered her courage. She couldn't open her eyes as they filled with tears from the wind the moment she tried. Blindly, she reached up for the next rung and pulled herself up. It was a slow process and more than once she feared her grip would be loosened. By the time they reached the top, nearly every muscle was screaming at her. The rest of the Jade Winglet (and Deathbringer) looked just as exhausted as she felt.

She dared to look back across the gorge, Winter at her side. They looked at the place where Secretkeeper had once stood. Through the haze, they could make out a line of angry-looking NightWings, each bristling and seething. At their feet on the cliff edge, a wing lay draped over the edge, flapping lifelessly in the wind.

Kinkajou felt her lower jaw tremble, her eyes welling with tears. Silently, she followed the others and escaped into the depths of the rainforest.

Darkstalker came out of the vision with a gasp. It had overcome him so suddenly, so fiercely, he'd been rendered powerless and unable to escape it. His talons were shaking. He was sat on the cliffs overlooking the southern sea and he swivelled to look north-eastward. He'd seen it. Kinkajou, Winter, Qibli and the male NightWing making their escape from the NightWing village… and Secretkeeper's death. This wasn't some event in a far future, he could feel the urgency in his bones - this was an event that was about to happen within the next few moments!

But what was he to do? He was powerless, and to fly to the rescue would at least take him a night and half a day's flight! By then it would be too late. And what of Moon? He could ask her permission for magic, but where was she? To find her now and gather her permission - three moons, why had he been cursed with this knowledge if there was nothing he could do to help!?

As the seconds ticked by towards disaster, Darkstalker felt his heart quietly break. This was going to destroy Moon. He didn't need to see into the futures to know that she would be devastated. Secretkeeper had been a good soul - all she'd wanted was to make sure her daughter was safe. And now she was dead, and it was going to hurt Moon so much. He fought back tears. He mourned for Secretkeeper, memories of losing his own mother resurfacing. But he was also angry; in fact, he was furious. Rage filled him at the idea that this stupid war was going to hurt the dragon he cared most about. She was willing to see the good in all of them yet they ripped her mother from her! He stared helplessly at his talons, at his long claws. He had the power inside him, buried deep down, to stop all this. If he'd had his magic, Secretkeeper would never have died. If he'd had his powers he could've stopped this war long ago - no more mothers and sons and daughters and siblings and fathers being lost to war!

"Darkstalker?"

He startled at the sound of the voice and quickly brushed away at his face to be sure she wouldn't see any stray tears. Moon landed beside him, her green eyes bright and dazzling, her smile warm and oblivious to the pain that lay in wait for her. Darkstalker felt a pit yawn open inside of him at the thought of him being the one to tell her this horrible news.

"Why're you all the way out here?" she asked and thumped his wing with hers. "Escaping hatchingday preparations? Tomorrow's the big night! Are you excited yet?"

He had to try twice to clear his throat. "Y-Yeah, of course I am."

Though he tried his best to shield his thoughts and feelings from her, she must've read something in his tone or his face. Her smile instantly vanished and she looked concerned. "Darkstalker? What's wrong?"

He was paralysed with indecision. To tell her would break her, she would be miserable and laden with guilt - blaming herself for not doing more to help free her mother sooner. But to not tell her would be just as cruel. Unbidden, memories came, of watching his mother try to protect him, of throwing herself in front of spears meant for him. His grief had consumed him for weeks. To know of Secretkeeper's death felt like losing Foeslayer all over again. He looked into Moon's eyes, trusting in him, filled with light and love and happiness that he'd helped to make with her here. He'd promised himself he would never do anything that would cause her pain.

"Nothing's wrong," he heard himself drag out the words. "I'm just a little… overwhelmed. No one's ever done something like this for my hatchingday - even though I don't even know what you're planning. The sentiment is what matters."

Her smile returned, warm and slightly amused. She put her wing over his back and leant against his side, her head on his neck. Her touch was warm and made his betrayal feel all the more sickening. But he couldn't go back now.

This has to be the most wicked thing I've ever done in my life, he thought to himself, in the part of his mind where she couldn't hear. He put a talon above hers and touched his forehead to hers. He promised himself that he wouldn't keep this from her forever. He would tell her. The night after next. Let her celebrate his hatchingday how she wanted, let all her hard work pay off, let her have this happiness… before he was forced to destroy it.

"I know it might feel like a lot," she told him softly. "And if you feel like it's all too much, tell me and I'll stop. You're my best friend, Darkstalker. I only want your happiness."

Her words both wounded and amazed him. "I just find it a little odd that you're willing to do all this, when at your own hatchingday six months ago, you cringed at the very idea of someone else going through all this trouble for you."

She shrugged sheepishly. "Well, that's different!"

"Oh really?" he cocked a brow and masterfully summoned his best acting so he could grin for her. "Careful, my dear, or I might think you're starting to get a taste for fun ."

She snorted and smacked his shoulder playfully. Darkstalker gasped and clutched his offended arm, moaning and rearing on his hind legs. Moon giggled at his antics. Wings spread and articulating dramatically, he pretended to faint and fell over the edge of the cliff. He heard her call out his name before she dove after him, laughing all the way. Darkstalker flipped and righted himself in the air, pulling his body up just in time so that his claws skimmed the rolling ocean surf. Moon was above him, then diving beside him soaring with him, and whooping for joy all the while. Darkstalker laughed with her, the despair momentarily forgotten for the happiness that being with her brought to light in his soul. She splashed her tail into the waves to spray the salty water into his face. They weaved amongst the rocks and low stone arches along the coast. Until finally, they gradually ascended up into the skies, their wings bathed in the moonlight.

Darkstalker glanced over and watched Moon's face as she soared alongside him, wingtip to wingtip. She looked so happy, so peaceful, so carefree. When she looked at him, there was no reverence, no fear, no wariness. She knew some of the darkest secrets of his soul and yet she accepted him for who he was, as he was. She was happy here, and in that moment he wished he had the power to extend this moment forever, to make this night unending.

Whilst he couldn't exactly deliver that feat, he did have a more obtainable idea.

"Follow me!" He called to her and led the way back to the old city. Over the hills and valleys, past the forests and rivers they went. Through the streets both crumbling and rebuilt, over parks and old homes. Until finally, Darkstalker brought them to the diamond quarter and swooped towards one of the four great buildings that had made one of the corners of the plaza. There was a large hole in the roof, big enough to allow both dragons to fit through easily if they tucked in their wings. This was one of the few buildings at the city centre that they hadn't managed to rebuild yet. Wooden shelves and desks were overturned and collapsing on themselves from rot, the stench of mold and rat urine almost unbearable. Darkstalker landed in the middle of the cracked marble floor, dust clouds kicking up from the wind under his wings.

Moon scrunched her nose as she landed beside him. "It smells so musty in here," she said. "What is this place?"

"Do you remember when we made the mosaic?" he asked. "You told me that if I went the entire night without using my magic, I could have permission for any spell I wanted. I still haven't claimed that reward yet."

Her eyes were a little guarded. "Yes, I remember."

Darkstalker couldn't contain his grin as he moved to an old overturned pillar, where a piece of parchment and pot of ink lay. The idea he'd had for this had come upon him the night before last, and he'd been busy trying to arrange it all. But now, everything was ready and he had the perfect spell in mind. Dipping a claw in the ink pot, he wrote out the spell and then brought it over to Moon, folded.

She sat on her haunches and delicately took the parchment. He sat behind her, one talon on her shoulder, almost unable to contain his excitement. "Read this, and trust me."

Her eyes softened. "I do," she whispered and slowly opened the parchment to read. "Darkstalker, I give you permission to use your magic to restore this building that we now stand in…"

As she spoke, Darkstalker leant to one side and placed the palm of his free talon flat against the floor. He whispered the words along side her and felt the warmth of his magic flush through him. He imagined it like a trail of gold-dust winding down his arm spreading out from his claws like a golden wave. Around them, bricks began to pick themselves up off the floor and fly back into place, the damage in the ceiling began to repair itself, columns righted themselves and shelves stood upright - the wood growing strong and full of colour again.

Moon's breath hitched a little as she read. "...Return the building to how it was when it was newly built and strong. The bricks and mortar will be strong and fresh. Clean all the mess and restore all the ancient texts that have been discarded for centuries. Bring the Grand Library back to its former glory."

She looked up and stared in wide-eyed wonder, captivated as she saw stacks upon stacks of scrolls and books mend themselves, the ink no longer faded but now filled with colour and vibrancy. Candelabras stood up, cobwebs gone, and lit themselves. Great stained glass windows fixed themselves and shone rose and emerald and sapphire light into the dark depths. She stepped away from him, turning in a circle to look up at the stacks of tomes so high they even dwarfed Darkstalker. All the knowledge of the ancient world, all was now restored and within reach.

"It's… it's beautiful!" she said, her voice a mere whisper.

Darkstalker smiled. "And it's yours."

Her head snapped towards him. "What?! You can't be serious!"

"I am. I want you to have this, Moon. As a gift from me to you."

"You do realise that I'm supposed to give you a gift for your hatchingday, not the other way around."

"Then consider this a late present for your hatchingday," he shrugged smugly. "I didn't get to give you one, after all. Seeing as how I was trapped and all that."

She looked back out onto the sea of rows upon rows of shelves. "It's so wonderful… I don't know what to say."

"Like you said," he stepped closer and took her talons in his and twined their tails together. "You are my dearest friend, and I care only for your happiness. For you to be happy here with me is the only thing I want in all the world." He brushed the tip of his nose against hers, a chaste touch. Her eyes sparkled like the sharpest emeralds in the moonlight. "Promise me that no matter what happens, we shall always be friends, and that you'll always be by my side. I just don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled and her eyes glistened. "Of course, I promise."

His grin was so wide it almost split his face. He spread his wings in a huge gesture that encompassed them and the entire library. "Then I declare this library to be yours, Moon! When this war ends, and the NightWings finally return to their rightful home, I want you to be the keeper of all our knowledge. You loved teaching at Jade Mountain, and I want you to do that here. You can be the one to teach the next generation from all the knowledge of our ancestors."

Moon laughed, and then suddenly flung herself at him. She embraced him, wings wrapped tightly around his middle, her head over his shoulder. Her mind was filled with overwhelming happiness, with hope for a bright and noble future. Darkstalker was stunned for a moment, not expecting that reaction. But then he pulled his wings around her and hugged her back.

The time for tears and harsh realities would come later, he told himself. For now, all he wanted was to be in this moment with his Moon.

The candles were burning low, the humid air was just easing off with the dark hour. Morrowseer leant back from his desk and stretched his neck until he heard a satisfying crack. His bed was beckoning him. The next few days would be when his plans would finally come to fruition. It almost felt like he was wasting time to sleep away precious hours. But he knew he would be slow and not at his best if he neglected a sleep schedule. And he needed all his faculties on top form if he was to go toe to toe with Moonwatcher and her monstrous lapdog.

He held out a talon over the flame of the candles, ready to snuff them out on his palm. When, abruptly, the door to his hut swung open and a soldier burst in. "My Lord Regent!"

"Yes," Morrowseer demanded irritably. Usually his errand boy was the one to carry messages to him - where was he? "What is it?"

The soldier swallowed and wouldn't meet his gaze. "There's something you need to see, My Lord."

Morrowseer was led quickly through the village and out into the forest. The soldier tried to explain what had happened. The prisoners had escaped - all of them. A team had tried to recapture them but they'd escaped over Wind Canyon. All the while, Morrowseer's brain was trying to scramble to think ways around this development. The plan could still work, he told himself. But then strange words started to spill from the soldier's mouth, words that didn't make sense in Morrowseer's head.

And then he came to the cliff. Half a dozen NightWings stepped aside for him. They dropped their eyes and shuffled their wings. They were confused on how to act in front of him. They stepped back and revealed a black shape laid on the ground. The dragoness appeared to be sleeping, her expression peaceful, aside from the wounds in her stomach and neck. A broken spear-head lay discarded by her talon.

A sound tried to burst out of Morrowseer's throat, but he clamped his mouth shut. His chest was shaking, his tail twitching. For some reason, he didn't seem to have the energy to stand anymore. What was happening to him? He sat heavily, and reached for the sleeping dragoness. She was cold - why was she so cold? His breathing was ragged, his vision swam. He strained his jaw further shut, so tight it hurt. He gathered Secretkeeper into his arms - she was so cold, so limp, so unlike herself. She'd always been the warmth and comfort he'd relied on. Even in the years they'd been estranged, there had been no one else in his heart. He held her to his chest, bent his head over hers and rocked her slowly. Behind him, soldiers turned their backs to him.

And he quietly wept.

A/N: I'm sorry for hurting you all, my lovely readers! Please, have these tissues *passes out boxes*