Moonwatcher listened to Obsidain's mind as she jogged towards the library. Letting the raindrops that controlled who she wanted to hear fall away from her mind slightly. She'd gotten a lot better at controlling her mind reading the past two years. Although she still refrained from poking around other dragon's minds unless there was a major reason too. Like now. She thought listening to the sharp buzz of Obsidian's head.

She shivered at the feeling of his thoughts. His mind felt fragmented and sharp, cutting her when she tried to dip deeper. Few dragons could block her out completely without Skyfire, Glory being one of them. She softly brushed the shards of his filter aside, trying to peer into his head.

"Really? How, When!?" The words cut into her like shards of ice as they stabbed into her head. She stumbled, bracing herself on a nearby wall talon half raised to her face. The pain slowly subsided, ebbing back before fading entirely.

Why does he feel so… broken? Was this caused by his Injuries? She pondered as she saw the Library entrance come into view. She smiled softly, she loved how quiet the library was. It was one of the few places where she could let the steady raindrops stop, and slip into a good scroll. It always felt like she was peering into another life, another world.

Starflight turned his head towards her as she entered. His blindfold slipping slightly as he turned. She grimaced slightly as she glimpsed the burn scars beneath. It's a miracle he even survived.

"Hello Moon," Starflight dipped his head towards her greetingly. " How did you like "Saphira and Thorn?" he asked.

" It was very good. I really like how they made Galbatorix in the series," she replied smiling. Starflight, seeming to sense her smile, grinned back.

" I do love it when they write a good villain," his head twitched sideways. "How's your own scroll coming along?"

"Oh-er '' She hesitated, Remembering her messy page-covered desk. It had been a while since she had actually sat down and written anything though. I'll try to revise my last chapter tonight. "Slow, but I'm making progress," she said. Starflight nodded."Just let the Ink flow naturally, The best thing you can do is just get as much as you can down then revise it later."

Finishing her greeting to Starflight, she began to slowly meander her way through the rows of scrolls. Left, left, right, right, left, right, left... She repeated the directions in her head as she came around the last corner. Revealing the rest of the Jade Winglet already waiting for her. Normally they would meet in the caves, but their last meeting spot had already gotten busted by Tsunami.

"Hey, look the moon's out," Qibli said pointing. " I didn't know it was night already. " She stifled a laugh as she approached. Somehow Qibli always managed to find a new moon pun to tell when she was around. She never got tired of hearing them, unlike other dragons. Winter rolled his eyes.

"Spare us from your drollery, Sandsnorter," he groaned. His wing was still firmly wrapped to his side with bandages. Sunny finally let him leave on the condition that he wouldn't do any exercise involving the shoulder for at least another week.

She glanced at him. Winter had grown a lot in the past few years and not just physically. He had bulked up, becoming even stronger. He had also grown into his adult mane, A cascade of Icicle-like spikes cascading down his spine. He's become an amazing dragon. She thought fondly. She didn't regret choosing Qibli, but she often wondered what life would have been like if she had chosen Winter instead…

"What does Droolery mean?" Kinkajou said, her scales flashing purple.

"It's another way of saying humor," Turtle explained.

They had been together for almost a year now. And she had never seen Turtle or Kinkajou happier. She didn't know the full story but about a year after Pantala. Turtle and Kinkajou went on a walk into the forest one day, and when they came back they were dating. Kinkajou's bubbly personality only skyrocketed from there, she also grew tremendously in size. Although she was still the smallest of the Jade Winglet. Turtle had also bulked up, however he still maintained his pudgy play-doh appearance.

Qibli gasped. His lips quivering in mock outrage.

Qibli more or less had stayed the same, He had grown slightly but was about the same height as Turtle. After Pantala he'd made a drama club for the school, Even directing a couple of plays in the cafeteria. After summer break last year, they went back to the rainforest. Checking on Peacemaker and even looking at a few housing options for when they graduate.

Qibli stepped forward"Why Wintee, are you perhaps suggesting that my humor is… is' ' he stopped his voice dropping to a whisper, ' ' inadequate.' ' he whispered.

Winter rolled his eyes"Ye-"

"Because if so, you cold-hearted Prince-cess" Qibli interrupted his voice rising in a false falsetto as he strutted forward." I will have to notify the QUEEEN of your impertinence."

"PRINCESS" Winter roared, lunging for the sandwing. He missed by about 9 inches as Qibli shot out of the way. "My, my, princess, if you wanted a kiss then all you had to do was ask…" QIbli may not have been as strong or big as Winter, but he definitely was a lot faster.

"AS IF YOU SAND COVERED PIECE OF SCORPION SH*" Winter roared diving after him. Qibli expertly pirouetting away, laughing and mocking Winter as he dove after him.

Idiots. She thought smiling. Kinkajou was howling with laughter as she watched the two scramble over each other. They had done this a lot, so she knew that they weren't seriously trying to hurt each other. Nevertheless... She stepped forward, but Turtle thankfully beat her to the punch. Turtle quickly jumped in between them, Winter's claws scraping against his invulnerable skin.

"C'mon guys, save the lovemaking for later." he quipped.

Winter snorted, dark blue spreading across his face. "As if" he mumbled.

"Nice one Turtle" Qibli grinned, rising in a mock salute. "I've taught you well, Padowan."

Moon rolled her eyes. "You've been reading too much Space Dragons." She said, walking over.

Kinkajou, still heaving with laughter suddenly stopped, shooting back to her feet. "Oooooo, What's Space Dragons?" she asked, her scales returning to their vibrant Pinks and Yellows.

"Later," Turtle whispered. Moon nodded at Turtle. Thank you. She seemed to say. He nodded back "No problem"

" So what d'ya bring us here for Moon?" Kinkajou asked, bouncing up and down on her talons excitedly.

Moon took a deep breath. Right, I almost forgot, "I wanted to talk about-"

"Obsidian '' Qibli cut in. "You wanted to talk about Obsidian right?" She wasn't surprised that Qibli knew, of course he of all of them noticed.

"You've noticed it too?" she asked. Referring to how off he felt, not just mentally. But his strange reactions.

"You mean how freaky he got when me and Qibli visited Winter?" Kinkajou asked, Tilting her head as green rippled through her scales before returning to normal.

"He was probably just freaked out," Turtle said. His grin faded to his classic nervous expression. "It doesn't mean he's a bad dragon."

Kinkajou must have filled him in. Moon noted. At least that saves me some time. "Yes but there is something off about him," she said.

"Obsidian's not that bad," Winter cut in. Surprising all of them.

"Really? I would think you of all people would be suspicious of Obsidian," Qibli said. His usual smirk was replaced by genuine surprise.

Winter's eyes flashed for a moment. His mouth twitched downward before returning to his neutral expression. "It's not like I'm not suspicious of him," he growled. " But he respects my space, unlike some dragons I know." He glowered at Qibli. She was thankful that Qibli had been teaching her to read body language since she stopped reading other dragons.

."I don't think we should jump to any conclusions," She explained. Winter glanced at her. "It's just that some things about him are definitely not adding up." She remembered how he'd acted during the tour. Excited, yet timid. Angry, and sad. How he stared off into space, before glancing at a wall or a shelf. "Not her, not yet. Sh*. this isn't good" His mind had felt.. Different then. Like he was speaking with two voices instead of one.

"Did you notice anything in his mind?" Winter asked. She realized she'd been staring into space for a while now.

"Oh-uh yes, I did," she stammered. "His mind feels sharp and prickly, kind of like shards of glass stuck in his head. I could barely read his mind without getting stabbed.

"Like Flame's mind?" Qibli asked, his eyes hardening noticeably. She shivered remembering the horrible dark twisted feeling of flames' minds. choking her, muffling her. Dragging her into the sticky horrible spider web of his thoughts.

"No, he felt okay when I did manage to hear something, it's just that his mind is either really broken or really good at keeping mind readers out," she explained.

" Did you hear anything important?" Turtle queried.

She thought over the bits and pieces she did hear. "In more ways than one," she shook her head. Blushing slightly. " No, nothing conclusive."

"Did anyone notice the way he walked?" Qibli asked. They all hesitated looking at Qibli. " He walked like a dragonet." He explained."The way he shuffled his feet forward instead of lifting them."

She thought back again to the tour. How he kept stumbling and tripping. It certainly wasn't how a normal dragon walked. It was like he knew how to run and crawl, but not how to walk.

"He could just be clumsy," Kinkajou said. She turned to her boyfriend "I could name pleeenty of dragons that trip and fall a lot.

"Hey, I'm not that bad, am I? Turtle said, his face genuinely worried.

Kinkajou poked her tongue out at him. "No you got better, but it's still funny."

"I think we should keep an eye on him," Winter said. Diverting the conversation back to Obsidian. He glared at Qibli "He's not that bad, but if what you're saying is true. Then we should watch and see what he does."

"Do you think he might be another Icicle?" Turtle asked. Winter flinched slightly at the mention of his sister's name.

Moon shook her head. Sparing Winter from answering.``No, but I do think we should still try to watch him"

"I agree," Qibli said

"Me too," Kinkajou said

"Me three" Turtle added

Winter just nodded, silently confirming his agreement.

...

Obsidian was falling. He fell through the mist caverns of his mind as memory fragments whipped past him, too fast to see properly. Twisting his head down, he realized he was about to fall into one. He closed his eyes preparing for Impact.

...

When he opened his eyes again he was in a different body. Looking around he saw endless dunes spread out in all directions. She was at the edge of a moderately sized pool, next to a small hut a few yards next to it. What is this place...

"Heads up Monarch. " Someone was shouting for her. She turned to see her sister barreling towards her. She yelped, trying to dodge out of the way as Mamba careened into her. Sending them both tumbling into the cold water of the Oasis. She came up spluttering, coughing water. "You cactus brain," she cursed, diving after her laughing sister. Grabbing her tail she yanked her downward, forcing her to go under before letting her go. She came up spluttering

" Tail grabs aren't fair," Mamba pouted. She dived towards her, but she managed to dodge this time, sending her back into the water.

"You started it." She said laughing. They continued to grapple with each other beneath the water, giggling and playing as the sun dipped closer to the horizon. Eventually, they crawled up onto the shore, their bodies spent as they gasped and coughed on the sand."I *Pant* *Pant* Win," She said. spitting out the words along with her spent lungs.

"No" Mamba coughed. "I do"

She tried to growl out a response but instead, she laughed. The laughter cut through her exhaustion like paper mache. She began to laugh more and more. Her chest heaved violently, it felt like someone was piling boulders on her chest. A smile stretched across her face even as terror seized her. She couldn't stop. She writhed on the ground clawing at her throat as she laughed.

"Monarch?" she heard Mamba ask. She heard her sister's footsteps getting closer and farther away at the same time.

I can't breathe, she thought distantly. Her body writhed in the sand as she continued to laugh. Black beginning to encroach on the edges of her vision. She howled her mirth into the dying light of the sun, black quickly approaching from all sides. Laughing and choking.

"MONARCH," Mamba screamed. She could feel her sister shaking her, shouting her name. The front door of the house burst open, and she could see her mother racing toward them. And That's when she passed out.

...

"WHAT!" Someone roared right next to him. He jumped, turning to see a dragon completely covered in shadow. Like a gaping void in the dream, he couldn't make out any of their features in the darkness. The terrain around him was also covered in shadow, the same black mist swirling around them.

"HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN" The dragon wailed again. Their voices cut into his ears and mind.

He tried to cover his ears, run, move, do something. But he couldn't. He was once again shoved into the background. Forced to watch as the vision played out in front of him.

"YOU PROMISED, KNOWING THEY WOULD DIE" The void growled, staring up at another figure.

Looking up, chills shot down his spine as he beheld the figure in front of him. A Sandwing sat calmly on a giant throne. Inlaid with gems and bones. The dragon wore a black and red cape, also inlined with gold. It reminded him of how Dracula would look if he was alive. His entire body was covered in black dragon skull tattoos, covering almost all of his pale yellow scales. Pain lanced through his head even as he realized who the menacing dragon was.

"Vulture," he remembered. Dread shot through him. Vulture's onyx black eyes glittered menacingly, he felt himself sinking deeper into those lifeless eyes as he stared at them. Like small dark black holes, glittering with malice.

"Casualties are necessary for the bigger picture of our goals dear. —-" Vulture purred. It felt like someone was pouring freezing water down his neck just listening to him. He shivered violently.

"But-" The dragon next to him tried to protest.

"It was just a few worthless criminals." Vulture reasoned. His voice, catering and soothing. "It is tragic, but in the face of the bigger picture necessary." His tail swished from side to side lazily," Besides" he reasoned. " It's not my fault, they decided to try to kill them instead of capture them."

"You still could have sent someone else, someone who knew what they were doing." The void argued, her voice dropping slightly.

"Well, I did send that one sandwing. She's been a part of my group for years, and never failed an assignment I gave her until now," Vulture explained. His tail stopped moving. "You've made a lot of… Shall we say grand promises?"

"Everything I've promised is true, The scavenger will come. BUT KILLING HIM ISN'T HELPING."The void dragon shouted.

Vulture snapped his fingers. Instantly, guards poured into the room from the darkness each covered in varying amounts of black dragon tattoos. Forming a circle around them, they leveled twisted spears at their throats. Why are the spears so oddly shaped?

"My patience with you J— is wearing thin," Vulture growled. His voice had dropped all hints of friendliness, now low and dangerous. He stalked forward, lowering himself from the throne. "You no longer have any power, so stop trying to act all tough."

"Vulture please, just don't kill-"

"Kill you?" Vulture laughed darkly, the laugh never reaching his eyes. " We made an agreement, But that won't stop me from killing you if you speak out of place again." He snapped again, and as quickly as they had come, the guards left. "Although you are correct," Vulture murmured suddenly. " I sent them knowing that they would try to kill the scavenger. I hired them after all"

The void dragon tried to speak again but was cut off by Vulture "Then why-"

" So you could say that it was a test. To make sure your own promises were up to code with my expectations." He chuckled darkly "We wouldn't want you to be lying now would we."

"I told the truth," The voice growled next to her- him. He reminded himself. " I just don't want anyone else to die unless they have to. You bring the scavenger, I'll do my thing, then I'll give you the map to Pantala."

"Well if it's any consolation, one of them did survive..." Vulture said. Grabbing a small ring he began to twirl it slowly in his hand. Shifting from one talon to another.

"I've sent some of my eyes and ears to follow them, They will report back to us soon" Obsidian's eyes widened. Not him, not him, not him. She felt Mamba panic, mind muttered. Over and over as he stared up at the dark, pale sandwing.

The dragon next to him hesitated."Fine" its shadowed head turned away from the underworld leader. "Just try not to kill too many people this time," she growled as she walked out.

He noticed that their dark features were beginning to lighten. He quickly tried to follow but was still rooted in place. The dragon walked out of the room and out of sight.

Vulture's eyes glittered above him. His dragon tattoos all seemed to stare at him as Vulture stared after the figure. He smiled coldly. "Promises upon Promises." he muttered softly, " You don't really expect me to keep all of them, J-"

...

He was falling again. This time lurching upward like a speeding rocket shot into space. The dark mist swirled faster and faster around him, propelling him even further into the darkness. He saw shards of glass begin to fall past him. A giant piece hurtled at him from the darkness. He tried to move, to turn, but the shard sliced into his wing, Tearing through it like paper. He roared, more tiny shards tearing into his chest, his talons, his face. He continued to fall,

A giant wall of broken glass rushed to meet him. He wailed as he slammed into it. And he could have sworn he heard someone else scream with him as his bones shattered, his muscles tore, and every atom in his body screamed...