Author's note:

Not exactly Christmas, but better late than never.

I did not expect this story to get the amount of interest it did. Like, not at all. Gratifying to see, but also a bit scary in a way knowing you actually have people waiting and stuff. I'm glad I got this chapter out in a semi-timely manner. I didn't want this to seem like a gimmick and leave it untouched for so many months, so I'm glad I pushed through this chapter. And push through I did; this chapter was real rough to get through, and there were many a time when I was completely stuck. But in the end I got it out, and faster than I've gotten any chapter or story or anything out consecutively. I will say that the next chapter is probably going to be a while. I'll be starting full time college again, and to be frank I have no clue where my life will go, so I have a feeling a lot is going to get in the way of future updates. I'll try and get it out as soon as I can though. Just no promises.

I think this chapter is really just filler, and next chapter probably will be too, but I hope it'll answer some questions you might have, and leave you with just as much. I'm looking forward to getting to chapter four though. It's gonna be wild.

Once again big shoutout to Firehawk1100 for basically being my impromptu editor. They've been a wonderful help reviewing and helping me smooth this all out, and all this probably wouldn't be out as fast if it weren't for them.

"Qibli I'm sorry, but I just can't deal with all this anymore. I thought when we moved in together I'd get to be with you more. Instead though I just see you less than ever. This isn't working, Qibli. You can't always leave me like this."

A Sandwing was pacing around the room, claws clattering along the wood panel floor. He had a jagged scar that ran over his snout, and a glimmering earring hanging in his left ear. He wore a frown on his face as he heard her words, his coiled barbed tail twitching. "I've already told you Moon, I'm not trying to leave you. My work is just strenuous right now, that's all."

Moonwatcher let out a huff as she heard his response. "Qibli, it's not your work. This isn't your job. You aren't being forced to do all of this. You don't have to be gone all the time."

The Sandwing turned his head away, before looking back and speaking up. "It's my obligation, Moon. I owe it to my tribe. I owe it to Queen Thorn."

"Qibli, we both know Thorn would be more than happy finding someone else to help her out for a bit. I know she means a lot to you, but she would understand if you needed to take a break. And you need a break, Qibli. Have you seen yourself lately? It's…" Moonwatcher trailed off briefly, before picking back up. "Some days it's like you're not even there. You're burning yourself out."

Qibli scoffed. "I can handle it. I've handled worse before, I can handle it now. I'm not going to sit around and watch the Sand Kingdom crumble apart because of some… some… renegades." He spat out the word, his talons curling ever so slightly, before he forced himself to relax again. "It's something that has to be done, Moon. Queen Thorn needs me, so I'm not-"

"Qibli I need you." Moon tried, her voice raising as she cut him off. "Please, just listen for a second. Think about what this is like. You're gone almost all day, sometimes all day, sometimes days. I have to take care of the house by myself, I have to run the errands by myself, I have to keep my studies to myself. It's like I'm alone in the Rainforest all over again." She paused, taking a breath, before continuing. "Thorn isn't going to hate you for not helping her out. You don't owe her anything. Just tell her you need a break. Take some time off."

There was a moment of silence, as the Sandwing tapped against the ground, before speaking up. "My tribe needs my support, Moon. I know it's… difficult for you, but this isn't something I can sit aside and let happen. My queen needs my help, so I'm going to help. I'm a loyal Outclaw. I'm sorry, but I can't just stand aside and wait when I should be doing something."

"Arghh." Moonwatcher twirled around and looked at Qibli directly, frustration and hurt shining in her eyes. "How are we supposed to be a couple, how am I supposed to feel like we're a couple, when you're never here, Qibli? What happened to us being together?"

Qibli took a breath. "Moon, I'm doing this because we're a couple. I'm trying to keep us safe. I'm doing this for our home, so that we can be safe together."

Moonwatcher looked up at the ceiling, letting out a soft growl, before bringing herself back to look at the Sandwing. Then she snapped, her repressed emotions flooding out of her maw like a tsunami. "You're not doing this for our home, you're doing this for you!" She lashed out. "This isn't even our home, this is your home. I don't like the Sand Kingdom. I hate the Sand Kingdom! It's a vile place filled with dragons even I can barely think have any good inside them. I moved here because I wanted to be with you QIbli, but with how often you're away, even that's not the case anymore. You- You might as well not even be here with how little I get to see you. When was the last time we went on a date together? When was the last time we got dinner together? For moon's sake, when was the last time we even just hung out in the house together? And you think it's all so we can be safe? How can that ever be true when you risk your life every day to go out and serve under Thorn? You're not doing it for us, Qibli. You're doing it for you. So why don't you just say what we both know?"

There was a brief moment where Qibli was shocked into silence, his eyes widening slightly. Moonwatcher stood in front of him, breathing heavily from her outburst, her tail whipping from side to side. Then he tightened his talons, narrowing his gaze back. "Do you have any idea how much I go through when I'm away?" He asked in a coarse voice. "Do you think that I would put myself through all of this if it was just for me? Do you think I like being away from you all the time? That I enjoy the sleepless nights working away in the kingdom? I'm doing this to help my tribe, and to help this be the kingdom I thought you believed was possible. You were all about helping those in need, weren't you Moon? You were always about a peaceful future for Pyrrhia. I thought you of all dragons would appreciate what I'm trying to do."

"Well maybe I don't appreciate what you're trying to do." She shot back. "You think you're being selfless with your heroic acts, when you're just being selfish to those who depend on you the most."

"Well if you don't appreciate what I'm doing, you can always just leave. If you hate this place so much, why not just go?" The challenge was thrown into the air, almost palpable within the room, as Qibli growled it out. Only after he said it did he realize the stakes he had raised with his retort, his eyes softening as regret and guilt flickered within them.

Moonwatcher opened her muzzle, and then shut it. A pause, so intense that each second felt like hours. And then she opened her maw again. "Well… Maybe I will." She said, in a dangerously low voice.

Qibli sucked in a breath, wings quivering slightly. "W-wait, Moon. That's… I- I didn't mean to say that."

"Well clearly you did, or else you wouldn't have said it." Moonwatcher hissed softly. "You're away so much, you probably wouldn't even notice the difference with me gone. Since you value your work more than you value me, I'm sure it won't even be a problem for you. Maybe it's time for you to see how it feels for a change."

The Sandwing reached a paw out in desperation, his gaze wavering. "Wait… Moon, please… You're not… Are you really going to leave me?... Would you…" Whatever else he was going to say died off, caught in his throat.

Moonwatcher hesitated, looking over at Qibli's paw, her anger faltering for a moment. Then she took a breath, and nodded. "I think I need a break from all of this, Qibli. I need a break from sitting around and waiting for you all day long, from wasting my time hoping you'd come back. I need a break from you, at least for a bit. I need to get away from this place." Her fury had stemmed partially after her outbreak, but then her bitterness resurfaced, and she added, "You expect me to handle days without you though, don't you? I'm sure you can do the same."

The Sandwing winced at her barbed comment. "B-but… It's not…" Qibli lowered his talons, the words struggling to get past his trembling muzzle. "After all this time? This is it?... You're just going to leave me like this?" He asked quietly.

Moonwatcher turned away from him, facing the direction of the door. Something tickled faintly against her snout, but she ignored it, and looked behind her for a moment. "I don't know, Qibli. I just need some time away from all of this. I need a break from everything. I need some time to myself. I'll come back when… when I know how I actually feel about everything. When I know how to feel about you."

She pulled her eyes away from Qibli, but she knew that she wasn't going to be forgetting the heartbroken expression etched on his face anytime soon. Had she been less emotion-strewn, she might have changed her mind right there and then, just from the shattered look that tormented Qibli's gaze. But her searing frustrations still ran through her mind, memories of days gone by without him, memories of long nights in her cold bed alone, and she took a step towards the front door. As she took a breath, the tickling against her muzzle grew stronger, and the gentle aroma of fresh herbs wisped into her nose. Herbs? Moonwatcher blinked, and the dry sandstone living room began to swirl and blur away, slowly being replaced with a stifling feeling of warmth and disconnect, as if a blanket of cotton had been pressed over every thought, and then everything faded into darkness.

The sound of a soft tinking noise wormed its way into Moonwatcher's ears, cutting through the hazy fog that surrounded her mind. She opened her eyes, struggling against the weights that seemed to try and pull them down, and was greeted with the sight of an Icewing, standing some distance away in the kitchen, his back turned towards her. A soft scent of plant root imbued the air, filling her nostrils with that same light tickling sensation from before. She grumbled to herself, and rubbed her eyes, trying to fight back the weariness that lurked within them. Why does that look like Wi- oh. Her mind answered her own question, as memories of the night before flooded through her head. The storm, the confession, the hurt, and the Icewing that she laid in the same room with at that very moment. The Icewing in question seemed to have not noticed her awakening, as he washed some sort of ceramic in a basin of water, humming lightly to himself. Winter…

Whatever she had expected when she knocked on Winter's door the night prior had been completely fractured since the moment he spoke. Just seeing the Icewing's tall demeanor and imposing features when he opened the door made her feel smaller than ever, and she had braced herself for the onslaught of verbal punishment that would stab at her. She expected anger, fury even, to be burning in his eyes, like every other time she had come to him for help. Instead she got disbelief, uncertainty, and hurt. In fact, if it hadn't been for the cutting edge comment he made about Qibli, Moon almost could have been fooled into thinking it was a different Icewing entirely. Almost. She still noticed the other quirks of her old clawmate, little things like his nervousness towards her, that assured her there was still some of the Winter she remembered.

But there was also so much more she didn't remember. She didn't remember the hospitable side of him, she didn't remember the openly concerned side of him, and she definitely didn't remember the apologetic side of him. Winter never apologized, not like how he did last night. It caught her so off guard she almost forgot his sharp jab at her in the first place. And the way he looked when she admitted her fears of him… Moonwatcher had never seen Winter so defeated before, not outwardly at least. The Winter she remembered held himself strong even through his mental turmoil, and always tried to pretend words meant nothing. Was he really that different, or did her confession dig into him more than she realized?

The Winter she remembered also didn't do… that. Moonwatcher followed the Icewing's movements with her stare as he worked slowly in the kitchen, still filling the room with the gentle hum of some indiscernible melody. For a few minutes all she did was watch, curious to grab even just a snippet of his life to uncover. The Icewing finished washing off the dish, setting a small teapot to the side to dry, before picking up a cup and taking a sip from the contents. Finally Moonwatcher decided to let her presence be known, letting out a soft cough as she shifted on the makeshift couch.

Winter flinched slightly at the sound, looking over his shoulder to the source of the noise. Seeing Moonwatcher sitting on the bed of cushions watching him with green eyes, the Icewing quickly silenced his melody, a flash of surprise and embarrassment crossing his face briefly. "Moon." It was almost moreso a statement. Winter set down the cup to the side, before turning around to face her, watching her with careful eyes.

She gave a short yawn and stretched over the bedding, trying to awake the rest of her body. "Morning, Winter." She greeted him, sitting up as he turned towards her.

The Icewing dipped his head slightly at her greeting. "Morning to you too." He paused for a moment. "I… apologize if I woke you. I'm not sure what your schedule is like, but I tend to wake up early for my studies. If you wish, I can leave you to your rest."

There it was; that strange Winter she didn't know sneaking in. Moonwatcher couldn't ever imagine a world where Winter greeted her with a good morning comment, much less apologizing for something he didn't even know if he did. He also seemed… different from when she had last seen him the night before. There weren't contorted emotions in his expression or lingering hurt resting in his eyes anymore. In fact, in a way, there wasn't anything that hinted at his thoughts. Winter seemed nigh unreadable in his gaze. "Studies?" She echoed in return, catching up to his words.

Winter blinked. "My studies? Of scavengers? The work I mentioned in my letters?" He prompted.

"Oh, right." Moonwatcher mentally clawed herself as the obvious answer resurfaced in her mind. "Sorry, I guess I'm still trying to wake up." She said apologetically, giving the Icewing a sheepish smile.

Winter didn't return the smile, which made Moon feel a bit embarrassed, but he did nod slightly and comment, "Well, like I said, I can leave you alone for a bit longer if you wish. I just need to get my own day started right now."

Moonwatcher looked over Winter's indifferent expression, trying to gleam a hint of any underlying emotion to explain his new outward appearance, but she returned empty-taloned. Instinctively, she tried to reach her conscious towards his, opening herself to the intrusion of his mental thoughts. She was met with a fuzzy silence from his direction. Moon berated herself in her mind as she remembered the skyfire that sat in the band on his wrist. It was a habit she had acquired early into her relationship with Qibli, near when they first began dating. As a sign of trust, Qibli had taken off his skyfire whenever he was around her, allowing her to read his thoughts freely. It was a gesture that Moon always appreciated, and whenever she struggled to figure out the cause of his mood she would glimpse into his mind for the underlying truth.

Moonwatcher felt her muddled smile fall, as the dream washed back over her with extreme clarity. Qibli… For over a year she had been a partner to Qibli, and for almost a year she had lived with the Sandwing in his own house within the Sand Kingdom. She remembered the adorably cheeky grins he'd give when she laughed at his jokes, or the rather heroic look he'd have on his muzzle when he stood up for himself. She remembered the night he showed her his favorite restaurant, and the many many times he played pranks on her and her clawmates. She remembered the elated disbelief that reflected in his eyes when she asked him to become official, and the warm evenings flying together with him and feeling like they owned the world. He became distant from her, sure, and she was still deeply bitter over it, but was it really something worth throwing everything away for? Suddenly the magnitude of her situation finally hit her. She had left him. She had left her mate. She had left him, and ran away, to none other than Winter. Her old cold-hearted clawmate.

"...Moon?" She was pulled out of her thoughts as she noticed Winter looking down at her. Finally his stone-cold composure softened, as a flicker of concern grew in his gaze. He had taken a step towards her, before stopping in indecision, seemingly unsure of himself.

No… Not cold-hearted. Certainly not anymore. He's different now. Moonwatcher shook her head slightly and took a breath. "It's okay. You don't need to worry about disturbing me." She reassured him. "We… I think we have a lot to talk about anyways, don't we?"

Winter winced and looked down briefly, before nodding. "I suppose we do." There was a pause, and Moonwatcher tried to find the right words to begin. Before she could start though, Winter tilted his head slightly towards the cup that sat on the counter. "...Would you like me to make you some tea?" He asked hesitantly.

Moonwatcher pulled her head back slightly in surprise. "Tea? I didn't know Icewings drank tea." She thought back to the numerous scrolls she had read, and her own experiences with their tribe, but she couldn't recall a single mention about warm drinks of any kind.

"They don't." Winter affirmed. "It's something I picked up here actually, from, well… from Kinkajou specifically." He admitted after a pause, as he reached over to a small metal pot, filling it up with water from a small barrel to the side and hanging it above a bundle of wood.

Moonwatcher wasn't expecting that. "Kinkajou?" She repeated, watching as the Icewing sparked a fire to life with the strike of two dark rocks. With a twist of guilt she was reminded just how little she knew about Winter's new lifestyle. She had remembered Kinkajou telling her that she had visited Winter a little over a month after the Darkstalker fiasco, but she didn't think much of it at the time. Ever since Moon had graduated from the academy, she found it difficult to arrange for more than just writing to her flamboyant Rainwing friend, and the topic of their old Icewing clawmate never cropped up in note. It never even crossed her mind that the two were still keeping in personal contact. They were complete polar opposites, and she couldn't even imagine Winter putting up with Kinkajou, much less willingly spending time with her.

Winter nodded as he grabbed another cup from a rack and poured some crushed leaves from a pouch into a mesh ball, clamping it shut. "Kinkajou has been visiting me here and there since I left, partially as an ambassador of the Rain Kingdom, and partially as… well, an old friend. When you run a town that's filled with so many different tribes of dragons, you have to learn how to pick up customs." He commented, as he set the herb-filled ball down into the teapot, setting it beside the quickly heating water.

"One visit where she stayed, I had to stay up late through the night working on a paper to publish, and that's when she introduced the concept to me." He recalled, pausing for a moment as he noticed her flummoxed expression, before letting a faint smile cross his muzzle. "I know, I don't seem like the one for warm drinks. I thought I wasn't too, but with her insisting, a lot of insisting, I gave it a try anyways. And, well, now I pretty much start every day with a cup before work. It helps clear my mind and calms me, something that… well, that I'm sure you would appreciate." He finished, his smile fading away as he briefly glanced at the floor.

It really did hurt him to see how scared I was of him. Moonwatcher realized. She had seen him crumble when she admitted her fears, but it was with this little action that she realized just how much it dug into her old clawmate. She had also never would have thought that he would open up so much, especially to someone like Kinkajou. Now I'm the one who doesn't know you anymore, Winter… Unable to bring herself to respond to his statement, Moonwatcher gave a slight nod at the makeshift stove the pot hung over, and asked, "So… was that another one of those customs you integrated into your life as well, or?..."

"Hm?" Winter followed her gaze before realizing what she meant. "Oh that. No that's… Well, obviously I can't make my own fire," He said, gesturing vaguely to himself. "And after I got into the habit of cooking my own meals I needed a way to heat stuff up myself. So a little after Kinkajou left I managed to find a Skywing here who was knowledgeable with her talons and, after swallowing my pride and asking her, she helped put together a way for me to start my own fires, if that makes sense." The Icewing explained as he picked up the pot by the handle, pouring the boiling water into the teapot, before setting it down.

"I see…" Was all Moonwatcher said at first, watching him prepare the drink for her. After a brief moment of silence though, she finally spoke up again. "You seem… It sounds like you've gotten pretty settled down over here." She observed.

Winter was quiet for a few seconds as he poured her a cup of tea, before turning around and offering it to her. "Well… it wasn't exactly an overnight thing." He clarified as she took the cup and held it in her paws. "It took me a while to figure out who I wanted to be for this town, and even longer to actually start taking up that role. It… Well, it isn't an easy transition when you're brought up the way I was." He reflected, his voice getting a bit softer.

Moonwatcher looked down to the cup she held, watching the wisps of steam rising from it. The warm scent of fresh leaves permeated the air, filling her nose with a comforting odor. She brought the cup up to her mouth and took a sip, blinking in surprise at the unexpected zest in the drink. She began to open her maw to give her response, when suddenly a gurgling rumble emanated from within her as the tea made its way to her stomach. With a rush of embarrassment and a growing heat in her muzzle, she realized just how hungry she was. It had been days since she last had something to eat, and while dragons were generally resilient, flying for a day straight and two stressful events back to back took its toll on her. "I… Eheh… Do you also have anything to eat by any chance?..." She managed to get out, fighting the urge to wrap her wings around her and fade away.

Winter blinked slowly, before a small smile grew back on his face. "I'm afraid I don't have anything here at the moment. I seldom bring anything back home since I pass by the market on the way to my work, unless I want something in particular. Most days I just pick something up along my way."

Another pang of hunger that ran through her prompted her to ask, "Is there… Do you think you can show me where the market is then?" In truth, Moon was also rather glad for a genuine excuse to escape the long talk that she knew was about to follow. She knew her situation had to be brought up eventually, and she knew all she was doing was delaying the inevitable, but she also wasn't sure if she was quite ready to explain it all to Winter just yet. Especially not when she didn't even know how she felt.

The Icewing hesitated briefly, before giving her a nod. "I need to be heading to my office anyways. You can tag along, since I go by the market already. Guess it's about time you get a tour of the place. Give me one moment." And before she could respond, Winter turned around and headed into his room, carrying the cup of tea with him.

Moonwatcher shook her head slightly, before turning her attention to the room she was sitting in. With the warm sunlight pouring through the uncovered windows, she was finally able to get a good look at his abode. As she took a few more sips of the tea to try and quell her aching hunger, she was struck with just how… simple it all looked. Sure, he didn't have much furnishing to begin with, but what little he did have seemed completely unremarkable, as if stripped down to their basic functions. Even the house itself was built with an almost rustic aesthetic, with bland counters and barebone woodwork. Certainly not something worthy of an Icewing prince. Ex-Icewing Prince. Moon corrected herself. I forgot about that. I can't imagine how hard that must have been… I should do my best to remember next time.

Winter stepped back out into the living room, with a satchel tied around his side, dipping his head at Moonwatcher. "I had to get my stuff real quick, since I wasn't expecting to leave yet. You ready to go?"

Moonwatcher nodded, taking one last drink before setting the cup down on the table as she stood up and stepped towards the Icewing. "Yes, please. Lead the way, heh." She said, beckoning towards the door. Winter opened the door and slipped outside, and Moon followed suit, closing the door behind her. As she stepped down onto the street below, she was greeted with a soft swirling breeze, bringing with it a nip of chill, along with the cobbled tiles still damp from the long gone storm. In the light of day, she was able to truly take in the extent of the town. Huts of all different styles lined the road she found herself standing in, borrowing from a variety of traditional tribe designs. Down the right, the road ended, leading into the lake she had first come along. Down the left, the path wove its way into the town square, where a sizable cobbled clearing laid. Then, sitting right at the opposite side of the center, was a towering building of tarps and scaffolding, with an assorted piling of lumber and stone resting in purposeful stacks beside the construction piece.

Now that it was day, the road was shared by a diverse cast of dragons treading along it, going through their daily routine. Skywings seemed to be the most prominent tribe in sight, but she spotted Sandwing's here and there, and even the odd Nightwing to her surprise. What she hadn't seen yet was a Rainwing of any kind, nor another Icewing, save for the one she found herself beside. Moonwatcher glanced at Winter briefly, getting a look over him as he began to lead her in silence. She had forgotten just how bright his scales were in the light. It was apparent he still took as much pride as ever in keeping himself presentable, as his spotless scales glimmered like a gemstone under the sun. Moonwatcher turned her gaze away towards the surroundings, taking in the forest that enveloped the town. The trees seemed to glow a spectrum of oranges and yellows, with golden leaves that would occasionally flutter into the wind. She took in a breath of the morning air, letting it fill her lungs with a crisp cleanness she hadn't felt for many moons. This place is nice… Surprisingly nice…

"How long do you plan on staying?" The question was suddenly thrown into the wind, as Winter finally spoke up. Moonwatcher looked up at him in surprise, and was greeted with a decidedly unreadable expression in the Icewing's muzzle. He didn't seem angry at all, but it also hadn't been said in a lighthearted conversation-starting tone. It was spoken very matter-of-factly, as he briefly looked back down at her, before moving his gaze back forward.

And with that question, he put her right back into the spotlight she tried so hard to worm her way out of, pushing that ever-present situation back into the forefront of attention. "I…" It was a question she didn't even have the answer to, as her voice faltered. She flicked her tail as they walked, growing closer to the town square where she saw several stalls set up along one side. "I'm not sure yet." Moonwatcher finally got out. "I… It's not like I had planned on coming here after all. I don't intend on staying here for a while though. Just… Just long enough for me to figure out how I feel about Qibli." Moonwatcher let out a soft breath as her emotions flared up, stinging hurt and guilt filling her thoughts. Even after almost two days she still wasn't anywhere closer to folding up her feelings in an organized fashion. In some ways she missed him, in others she despised him. Mostly she tried to ignore it all entirely.

"And how long is that going to take?" Winter asked simply after a pause.

Moonwatcher glanced up at him, but the Icewing was giving her no further cues. With a sigh, she said, "I'm not entirely sure… I think I'm still trying to process it all in a way, to be honest. I can't give you an estimate."

Another silence took over, weighing over them awkwardly, as the two trotted down the road. And then it was broken. "Look, Moon. I don't have a problem with you staying here." Moonwatcher turned to Winter, his voice catching her off guard. "I really don't. It's not that you wish to stay here that's the issue. It's… Well, it's everything surrounding your stay that's the issue."

Moonwatcher flicked her tail and looked down at her talons. "...Such as?" She asked, although she had a fair few ideas already.

"I understand that this is an issue that was deep rooted in your relationship," Winter started. "But from what little you told me, this seems like an overreaction on your part. Was it really mature of you to leave Qibli the way you did?"

Stinging guilt sparked deep within her mind, and she was suddenly greeted with the memory of Qibli's gaze as she turned her back away from him. A wave of ashamed indignation washed over here, and before she knew it she retorted back, "An overreaction? Is that what you think? You think this is all an overreaction? You're going to criticize me for leaving Qibli because it wasn't mature of me?"

Winter narrowed his eyes at her, and for a moment Moonwatcher felt rather small beside him as she realized the bite she had put in her voice, before he took a deep breath and regathered himself. "I'm going to criticize you for coming into my town, into my house, and expecting me to treat you like a lost dragonet." Moonwatcher flinched, before nodding slowly. "I want to help you Moon, I owe you that much… but you have to understand that you coming here has implications on my life as well."

Moonwatcher let out a slow sigh. He was right. It would be naive of her to expect his complete support for her situation… especially with how long she had left him for. "You… You don't owe me anything, Winter. I'm sorry for lashing out. I'm just… I'm just really lost right now."

Winter let out a soft snort. "Of course you are. You're here after all, aren't you? Sanctuary is the place where lost dragons go to be found again. I knew it from the moment you arrived on my doorstep." Moonwatcher opened her muzzle to respond, before realizing she had no idea how to take his statement, and closing her maw again. Luckily, Winter continued after a pause. "I'm not going to kick you out. I'm not going to be… I refuse to be that dragon I was before. But there's only so much I can do to help you, Moon… Especially when I'm still trying to figure out how I feel. And there's only so much help I can provide when you don't even know how long you'll stay. Your situation is now directly impacting mine, so I need you to start thinking about what you're hoping to accomplish here."

"I…" Moonwatcher turned away. She let her gaze wander over to the town square they were beginning to enter, absentmindedly noting the different coloured stalls that had been propped up around the square. Dragons had begun to crowd her view, various different minds tickling against the edge of her consciousness as the two welcomed themselves into bustling town center. She paid little attention to the assorted dragons that had littered her vision though, nor the hazy thoughts that pressed against the outside of her head. The only thing on her mind at the moment was Winter's words. As much as she hated to admit it, what he had said earlier was more likely right than not. She had run away from Qibli, like a dragonet, only to throw the consequences of her decision right back onto her old clawmate. Winter had clearly matured, more than she ever thought possible from the Icewing, but had she? Maybe he was right about that one after all.

"I… I still don't think I can give you a good answer for that yet." Moon started. "I promise I'll try to keep out of your talons as much as possible though. I think I can-"

"Winter!" Moonwatcher was suddenly cut off as a voice broke through the crowd. She flicked her ears and turned her head towards the source of the sound with confusion. It seemed faintly familiar, but she couldn't quite place why.

Similarly, the Icewing beside her tilted his head towards the direction of the noise, and the two watched as a Seawing weaved between two dragons, before treading up to Winter. The Seawing was clad in sky-blue scales, tainted with rough clawed scars across his stomach and snout. The newcomer stopped in front of the Icewing, dipping his head slightly and giving him a good-natured smile.

"How's the morning treating you? I didn't expect to find you here this early, I must admit." It was only then the Seawing seemed to notice the Nightwing beside him, his deep blue eyes glancing over her, before turning to Winter inquisitively, as if asking a question with his gaze.

Seeing the Seawing in front of her only added to that feeling of familiarity. Where have I seen him before?... It was on the tip of her tongue, but try as she might, Moon couldn't put two and two together yet. She saw Winter shift on his paws slightly, before he replied, "I didn't anticipate on being out this early. There's been some… unexpected circumstances this morning, which drew me out sooner than usual." He gave a slight nod towards Moon. "I'd like you to meet Moonwatcher." His voice seemed to hitch slightly at her name, but it was so brief she wondered if she had even heard it at all. "She was my old clawmate when I went to Jade Mountain. Moonwatcher, meet Ri-"

"Riptide!" She blurted out, before shutting her muzzle in embarrassment as the two looked at her. While they were talking together she had finally managed to connect the dots, and figure out why exactly his voice sounded recognizable. "Er, my apologies." She said with an embarrassed twitch of her wings. "You're Riptide, aren't you? I think we've actually met before."

There was a brief pause as the Seawing studied her carefully, before Winter chimed in with newfound understanding. "That's right actually. It was back when we were trying to find Scarlet together. Our old winglet met up briefly with you, Riptide, around when the… well, when the whole Darkstalker fiasco was going on." Winter grimaced as he spoke his name, before letting out a soft breath, as if trying to smooth his expression. "I guess we all have met at some point after all."

Moonwatcher felt a pang of guilt in her chest as she saw Winter's reaction. It had been over a year and a half since she had confronted Darkstalker, and his fate had been one secret she had kept completely. At the time she had deemed it a necessity to hide it from her icy clawmate, knowing how deep his hatred ran for the immortal Nightwing, in order to protect everyone's futures. This new Winter seemed so different though, she wondered if he was still as dangerous as she believed. Was this one of the things that had changed too, or did his loathing still run just as deep as before?

Recognition filled Riptide's eyes at Winter's explanation, and he gave Moon a pleasant smile. "Ah, I see it now. You've grown a bit since we last saw each other. Graduated from Jade Mountain yet, or are you still a student there?" He inquired politely.

"I graduated a year ago." Moonwatcher responded. "I've been… Well I…" She fumbled over her words as she thought about her life after the academy with Qibli, trying to figure out how much she even wanted to say. "It gets complicated after that. But yes, I've been a graduate of the academy for a while now." She finished.

"Mmm…" Riptide turned to Winter with a thoughtful look, before adding, "Complicated pasts is a theme that is common here. I can't say I'm surprised that you're no exception."

Moonwatcher blinked, but before she could question the odd statement, Winter jumped in. "Was there a reason you were looking for me, Riptide? I'd hope you know me enough not to seek me for just pleasantries."

"Oh yes, right." The Seawing stood up slightly. "I was on my way to your hut actually, so I should consider myself lucky I didn't miss you. Carmine wanted to talk to us about the hall project."

"Carmine… The project lead?" Winter asked in clarification. Moonwatcher let a faint smile cross her face. Obviously his struggle with names hadn't changed.

Riptide nodded. "That's her. There's been some… setbacks as of late. The Rain Kingdom has been trying to help prop up the Sandwings in light of the recent unrest in the desert, which has unfortunately lead to issues on our end since we rely-"

"Since we basically rely on the Rain Kingdom for subsidization." Winter finished with a soft huff. "I'm well aware of that fact. What's the issue right now?"

"Nothing too major, really, but it has meant the price of lumber has increased significantly since the project started. As far as I know Carmine just wants us to look at some budgeting proposals, although if we can't find a solution the project might end up taking longer than we'd hoped." Moonwatcher shifted her weight as she stood, trying to follow the conversation as best she could. She hadn't realized just how official Winter could be, nor how seriously he seemed to take his role. She vaguely recalled mention in his letters about a position in the town, but to be honest, she couldn't even imagine the Icewing having enough patience to take up any role of service. Sure he was a prince- ex-prince- but even before he softened up from the Ice Kingdom he seemed rather undiplomatic. This was a new side of him she never even saw before.

Winter flicked his tail. "Right now?" He asked.

"As soon as you're able to, at least." Riptide responded. "I was hoping to catch you before you went to your office, although it seems like there have been some… developments in your life, so I understand if you are busy." He said with a conspicuous glance at Moonwatcher.

Noticing Winter's uncertainty about the choice to be made, Moon jumped in. "It's fine, Winter. I can handle myself from here. There's still the rest of the town for me to explore after all. And, well, I… I think I could use the alone time as well." She admitted. Winter's company was… nice. Surprisingly nice actually, especially for what she had remembered of him before. But she was still no closer to answering any of his questions, nor her own, and the past few days still weighed heavy on her mind.

A conflicted expression crossed Winter's muzzle, and he gazed off into the distance towards the forest, before letting out a soft sigh and nodding. "Alright. If you say so. Let's go take a look at those proposals of hers." Riptide dipped his head and began to turn around to where he had first appeared, his webbed talons settling clumsily against the ground.

Getting the impression that the conversation had ended, Moonwatcher began to change her attention to the market they had been standing in, when suddenly she felt an icy paw against her shoulder. Her wings twitched as she turned around in surprised confusion, before finding herself face to face with Winter, almost uncomfortably close to her. "I… U-uhm…" She trailed off as her gaze met his eyes, noticing the complex storm of emotions that reflected from them. It was like his mask had suddenly slipped away, and she finally saw the full extent of his thoughts. Just like the night before.

Winter let out a soft breath, the cold air swirling down as he looked towards the ground, before finally pulling his gaze back to hers. "...Look, I know it's been a long week for you, and I know that you're still shaken up by what's happened, but… I need you to figure out what you want to happen next, Moon. Please… For all of our sakes." He lowered his paw and stepped back, turning towards where Riptide had stopped, looking back at them in confusion, before adding softly, "I'll see you later today. Feel free to go back to my hut after you're done looking through town."

Moonwatcher found herself speechless as she watched Winter walk away and join up with the Seawing, who gave Winter a questioning glance when he got closer. It was like she had been hit by a claw to the face. Just a few minutes ago he seemed so impassive and collected, and then for a brief moment it all dissolved in front of her, and she saw him for what he tried to hide; a lost, confused, and uncertain dragon. It happened so quickly she almost found it hard to believe it even happened, but his words continued to spin around her head, dragging up recent memories. Moonwatcher let out a sigh, feeling her wings droop slightly, as she took a look at the market around her. Suddenly her hunger felt a lot less relevant in the moment, as a rush of melancholy washed over her.

He's right… Moon concluded to herself. It's not fair of me to put this all on him, not when I don't even know what I'm doing here. Not when I don't even know what I want. Not when I don't know what's going to happen next. Which then led to another thought; one that had been on her mind since she had taken flight from the Sand kingdom, one that had been brought up many times that day, one that she still had no answer to.

… So what do I want to happen next?