— Chapter 4 —
Oracle
Oracle's mind was racing with thoughts as he got away from the Seawings and entered the mountain.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!? DID I JUST STEAL FROM ONE OF THE HEROES? And okay I know that Turtle based on his personality probably won't do some calling out or retaliation in public, but he probably still will talk to me and… oh my gosh I STOLE FROM ROYALTY! How would he want to be friends with me after I just stole from him within 5 minutes after meeting?
But the deed was done, and all that Oracle could do was to hold tightly the Skyfire he snatched on his left front talon.
"Hey there!" A sudden female voice appeared, directed towards him, and the Nightwing quickly remembered who's going to meet him there as he looked up after having been looking to the ground and saw another midnight black dragon looking at him.
"Welcome to Jade Mountain's Great Hall! I have never ever seen or heard about you before in my life, so that leads me to think you're Oracle, am I correct?" She asked with a very positive tone, a high contrast to how Oracle is feeling which is anything but positive.
"R-Right, Oracle, nice to meet you F… friend." Oracle quickly corrected himself, he was about to distractedly say Fatespeaker, and that would have raised plenty of questions about how he'd just know when no other Nightwing has heard of him.
"Wow, easy going when it comes to making friends huh? That 's very nice! I wish other Nightwings would be as eager to make friends too. OOOH! I have a prediction, I can tell we'll be good buddies!" Fatespeaker spoke.
Oracle looked for a moment at her, head slightly tilted before she laughed.
"You know it's just a joke. Huh the prediction part I mean! I'm totally up for having the buddies part be real!" She would be the one to correct herself now.
"R-Right…" He answered awkwardly and looked back, terrified of the idea of Turtle appearing right there at that moment, but instead he was able to see more black scales approaching through the cave entrance.
"H-Huh, I am a bit tired, I'd like to go to my room and huh, meet my clawmates if possible." He said and let out an over the top big yawn which made the other dragon look at him.
"Hm, right, and oh wow the term Clawmates is already spreading around? That's great to hear!" She said gleefully.
Oracle wanted to facepalm hard but he didn't, there he is, slipping up with his words, he has to be more careful with his actions and with what he says.
"Anyway! Here's your welcome scroll and a map of the academy, and you will be sleeping on…" she'd check a scroll on her claws and look for a few moments "Aha! Second tunnel on the left and the fourth cave on the left." She said tapping the spot with a claw.
"Understood, thank you, see ya!" Oracle blurted out and quickly headed out of the Great Hall.
"Byeeee!" Fatespeaker waved, a bit taken off guard from how suddenly he had just rushed away.
Okay, okay, so far so good, now I just have to see what's my Winglet, I doubt it'll be Jade, I cannot replace Moon as the Nightwing in that Winglet or everything would be ruined! he thought nervously.
He reached the cave that was specified before and peeked inside.
There, pacing around angrily and letting out some annoyed puffs of smoke from his nose was a bright red Skywing, with an awful scar on his face that goes through one of his eyes.
Just seeing that scar made Oracle scared right away, he knew perfectly who this was.
He's going to share a room with Flame, possibly one of the angriest and most dangerous dragonets in this academy.
When he got startled, that must have attained Flame's attention, possibly a small gasp or a step back in surprise, because his head immediately turned towards him at the cave's opening.
"What do YOU think you're doing? Are you spying on me? Even now they want more Nightwings behind my tail?" He exclaimed angrily, taking a step towards the black dragon.
"N-N-NO! Sorry! I-I am your n-new Clawmate! Name's Oracle…" He quickly replied in fear, he doubted he could either take on anyone or defend himself from anyone, he was sure that even any one year old dragonet that could just appear would have high chances of killing him. If Flame wanted to hurt him, the Nightwing might as well say goodbye to this new world in 10 seconds.
"No," Flame stated bluntly, staring right at his eyes "You are lying, do they really expect me to share a room with one of you!? I already had enough with living years alongside that lunatic Fatespeaker, then that stupid, horrible island, and now this!?"
Oracle flinched back, he could feel his breath being very quick, his heart beating fast.
"I-I promise that I am not like any of these Nightwings at all! I… haven't even stepped foot even for a second in that island and huh, I cannot make predictions! Y-You'll barely even notice I'm here, I swear," he replied as fast as he could, his tone being rather pleading "Please don't turn me into a-ashes, I just want to learn in this place and make friends…!"
Flame stared at him for another 10 seconds, 20 seconds, then half a minute. Oracle was feeling absolutely unnerved until the Skywing finally spoke up again.
"Hmph, you do not look like a threat at all, simply do not ever open your mouth while I am in this cave and we might have an understanding…" Flame offered, his dangerous tone showing that a "No" could be the worst possible choice.
So Oracle very quickly nodded his head at the red dragon, not even saying Yes because the other dragon had just said to not open his mouth while he's also here in the cave.
"Good…" And without any further words, he began to walk outside, Oracle quickly moving to a side to give him ample space to leave, and waited until Flame was out of sight to sigh relieved.
He decided to inspect his map for a few minutes to memorize as much as he could, for him knowing where everything is located is of utmost importance if he wants to change some events.
Oracle thought that by heading to the library, he could get to see another of the dragonets of destiny, and maybe he could get a pouch for his Skyfire because he really doesn't want to just carry it all over on his talons.
So constantly checking the map he made his way to the library, on the path he saw a couple more Nightwings, looking at him thoroughly and with scrutiny, reminding Oracle that akin to Moon, he is not in a body state like these dragons that for many months were constantly hungry and slept among ashes and smoke, they were looking better by now but the difference is still clear.
He decided to move faster, but right as he was entering the library he noticed a couple more people were there based on the sound of voices.
"Can she have a pouch to keep it in?" A cute and extremely happy female voice asked someone.
"Of course," was the simple response of someone else, a male this time.
Oracle realized who these were and accidentally took one step backward, which made one of the dragons there realize someone's there.
"Hm, who's there? I don't recognize your step." The male voice called, and with a sad sigh, Oracle fully stepped in and saw that some meters right ahead was a small and very colorful Rainwing, and two Nightwings that were now facing his direction, one of them with a white cloth above where his eyes are to cover them.
"I-I'm new here, my name's Oracle…" The dragonet whispered with a nervous tone, wishing the earth swallowed him, there's Moon, she's right there, and based on the expression he saw on her for just a second, he knew she was surprised about why his mind is blocked off too. And that means that Darkstalker probably just tried to peek right now as well.
"Hello! Looking around in exploring day as well? I can already tell that this room is going to be all of the Nightwing's favorite spot." The Rainwing said with a happy smile.
"H-Huh y-yeah, that's right, I don't actually know much so I thought this could be a good place to start building up some knowledge…" Oracle nodded, his eyes still on Moon.
Maybe she sees just how nervous I am too of this whole situation without even needing to read my mind and she'll take pity on me and not question much… he thought now.
"Oracle, I haven't seen you in the village before," she said curiously.
"A-Ah simply I, didn't grow up in either Nightwing settlement, but outside," was his fast response, that sounds similar to how Moon lived, nothing odd to question.
She gave it some thought for some seconds and nodded.
"S-So I… wondered if I could have one of these, stamp things for scrolls and a pouch…" He said anxious to Starflight.
"Oh you already know about our new system? Word sure spreads around fast." Starflight replied with a surprised nod.
Seeing him nod, Oracle approached and promptly received the requested items after a few minutes, bringing out two pouches, one for Moon and another for Oracle, made of black leather on a silver chain. Oracle saw how the other dragonet placed hers on her neck and he proceeded to do the same.
Alright, I got something to hold the skyfire and keep it on me at all times, I just have to do it when there's nobody looking… Oracle thinks now.
"Sora, are you still here?" Starflight asked, raising his voice a little.
Oracle noticed there was a Mudwing reading a scroll near the window who lifted her head to nod, which made the Rainwing give her a quick reminder that Starflight can't see.
"Sorry," the brown dragon said softly.
"It's all right," Starflight said, his tone remaining normal.
And a shiver went up Oracle's spine.
Sora… Sora's the one that's going to place the bomb, the one that's going to target Icicle.
What could I do?
"Oh hey, didn't see you there, w-what's your Winglet? So far I only met my Clawmate… Flame the Skywing." Oracle decided to ask the Mudwing, and the Nightwing noticed how Starflight's snout had moved a bit, reacting to Flame's name.
That's right, they met on the Night island, if I recall… Starflight saw firsthand how Viper accidentally slashed across Flame's face with her tail, and then he saw her death by lava a minute after… Oracle remembered.
"The Gold Winglet," Sora said in the same soft, little tone.
"Oh the welcome scrolls that Fatespeaker has been handing out tells the Winglets so everyone knows who's in which group." Starflight chimed in helpful, so Oracle checked that scroll.
"O-Oh hey… I see my name here, the Gold Winglet too… with Sora of course, Flame's there… Icicle of the Icewings, Tamarin of the Rainwings, Onyx of the Sandwings and Pike of the Seawings…" Oracle announced after reading it down.
You have to be joking, Sora, Flame, Onyx and Icicle in the same Winglet? Gold is cursed with dangers! Why me…? Oracle lamented internally after reading that.
"Oh you're with Tamarin! She's one of my best friends, you know? Just like Queen Glory is one of my best friends too since we've met and we're great friends!" Kinkajou the Rainwing chimed in happily.
"I-I'll tell her I've met you when I see her…" Oracle nodded.
O-Okay, relax, you know that the Jade dragonets spend like less than one week in this school before departing, just, survive… He sighed sadly.
"A-Anyway, I am feeling hungry so, I'll see you later," The black male dragonet said and just ran out of the library to the others' surprise.
As he ran, he carefully placed the Skyfire stone inside his pouch, which is constantly touching his neck, so that made him feel quite better.
He stopped for a minute to check again his map and see where the prey center is, after reading the map he quickly headed over that direction, then kinda regretted it.
There were so many dragons in here, most of them running around, shouting, clawing, diving down, munching loudly or trading prey to each other, live prey.
Oracle immediately felt sick as he saw that. He's got absolutely no issues with meat, in his mind he's still a human after all, but seeing all these living animals just snatched like that and eaten alive and raw was not a good sight.
He quickly turned over and looked around, seeing a fruity mountain near the river and decided to go there, just grabbing whatever and starting to munch on it. A few Rainwings were there and one looked at him a bit funny.
After some minutes, Oracle was able to hear some footsteps coming his way and at his side he spotted Kinkajou talking happily to a very boring sounding Rainwing, then Kinkajou gave Moon a couple mangoes for her to slice open.
Moon looked at Oracle's face for some seconds, the male dragonet seeing her rubbing one of her ears for some seconds, as he knew this room in specific felt like madness for Moon, then she actually asked "Are you okay?"
"H-Huh…? W-Why do you ask?" Oracle asked awkwardly.
"It's the expression on your face, you look kinda sick, is that fruit fine?" Moon explained after some more seconds, not able to answer too quickly due to the cacophony that must be going through her head.
"O-Oh… Well I think just, after seeing all this…" his voice lowered to a whisper so only she could hear "I think I am going to turn into a herbivore," he announced seriously.
Moon looked a bit surprised by that statement, a Nightwing suddenly turning a herbivore fruit eater must be quite unheard of, but Oracle could not follow with the idea of hunting these creatures himself.
Before either of them could say anything else though, a sudden commotion occurred near one of the prey center's tunnels.
"Catch it!"
"Mine! I claim it! Mine!"
"It went that way!"
The two Nightwings turned, seeing many of the dragons in the room moving over to a side, as they saw now a small shape running into the cave, and both black dragons recognized it right away.
A human!
He had forgotten this scene, right, this is when Winter the big cold fan of humans will come into the scene, he should just let the female Nightwing take care of it like how it would normally go.
But he couldn't, this is another human, just like he is in reality. About as big as Oracle's head in this new body.
In the distance he can see Winter storming into the cavern with icy fury.
Both Moon and Oracle bolted over to the human at about the same time, practically circling him.
Oracle tried to speak to him before he heard his surprised yells and realized that even though both of them are humans.
This human didn't speak any modern language that he knew about.
And during that moment of indecisiveness, the human had moved just slightly closer to Moon's side and she quickly and carefully snatched him on her claws.
Once more Oracle could feel a shiver, but this one is due to the actual cold he was suddenly feeling close to him, he looked up and saw dark blue eyes, eyes that looked extremely angered.
Just one Nightwing was enough in the regular timeline, two right here? With his "scavenger"...?
"Nightwings, you have 5 seconds to give me back my scavenger," he said with a very loud snarl "Or else I'll freeze your faces and shatter them."