A/N: First things first...apologies once again. I thought I was going to be able to get this finished by the end of November, but...life (and school) happened. So, I'm just going to have to play this thing by ear, but I should have this collection finished by next January, at the least. In the meantime, I've been working on some other projects, which have also taken much of my time-but I assure you, I won't let this go for too much longer. You should have the entire collection in your hands (or on your computer) by the time the New Year rolls around.

Well, enjoy this first-ever crossover between Ninjago and Wingfeather Saga!

(For Wingfeather TV series fans, this episodic adventure takes place before and during the events of "Leeli and the Sea Dragon Song"-hence the title. This is also partially inspired by the series' concept episode, "A Crow for the Black Carriage," and the Wingfeather Saga isekai-style fanfic "Journey into the fabled kingdom" by Whiteling.)

Story #19: Dragon Song

Ninjago/Wingfeather Saga crossover

Writing prompt: reading; movies; "This is better."

Summary: When Morro, after falling asleep in Ninjago, wakes up in Glipwood, he has no idea how he knows the name "Wingfeather Saga." And as he struggles to traverse this new world—and gain Podo Helmer's trust—he can't help but notice that there's more going on here than he could have possibly imagined…

Morro stirred from his slumber, feeling the cool, damp earth beneath him. He opened his eyes to a dark, unfamiliar landscape, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the trees. Gone were the towering buildings of Ninjago, replaced by the quiet, rustic charm of Glipwood. The stillness of the night was unnerving, and Morro's heart began to race, thumping and thudding like a stampede of skittish colts within him.

As he stood up, swaying slightly as he fought to gain his bearings, the sound of horse hooves thundering on the ground shattered the eerie silence of the midnight air. Morro felt his cheeks turn white-cold as the noise grew louder and closer, echoing ominously through the quiet village. Panic gripped him, and without thinking, he dived into a nearby bush, his heart pounding in his chest like a gong of shattering now.

Trembling like a leaf, Morro cautiously peeked over the top of the bush. His eyes widened in fear as a Black Carriage came racing by, its driver urging the horses onward with a fierce intensity. The carriage's dark, foreboding presence seemed even more sinister in the moonlit night, and Morro's mind raced with questions as the carriage disappeared from sight, rounding a sharp corner and vanishing into the darkness of the night.

Morro's eyes darted back and forth as he slowly ducked back down, whimpering in fear. He hugged his knees to his chest, trying to make sense of the strange new world he had found himself in. Alone and scared, he resolved to stay hidden until he could figure out what to do next.

As the sounds of the storming, charging carriage faded into the distance, the night grew silent once more. Morro, scared, cold, and miserable, shivered and huddled deeper into the bush. The reality of his situation began to sink in—he was alone in a strange place, with no idea how he had gotten there or how to return home.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he thought about Ninjago and the familiar faces he had left behind. The weight of his fear and loneliness pressed heavily on him, and he couldn't hold back the sobs that escaped his lips.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and Morro cried himself to sleep, still hidden within the bush. The night carried on around him, the open plains alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures. Despite the darkness and uncertainty, Morro clung to the faint hope that he would find a way to understand this new world and make it through the night.

Morro dozed on and off throughout the night, the strange new world he found himself in lending no comfort to his restless sleep. When the first light of dawn broke through the trees, he woke again, feeling a little more composed. Determined to figure out where he was, he stood up and started to wander into the village of Glipwood.

As he walked through the cobblestone streets, he couldn't shake the eerie feeling of being watched. Glancing around, he noticed several Serpentine-like lizards lurking in the shadows, their eyes following his every move. Little did he realize that these creatures were the dreaded Green Fangs, and their suspicious glances sent shivers trickling down his spine like rivulets of freezing-cold water.

Morro bumped into several villagers, apologizing hurriedly as he made his way through the bustling morning crowd. The villagers eyed him curiously but didn't seem particularly alarmed by his presence. Eventually, his wanderings led him to a quaint little shop with a sign that read "Books and Crannies."

Shrugging his shoulders, Morro decided to step inside, hoping to find some answers about this bizarre new world. The door softly creaked open, and he was immediately greeted by the sight of Oskar Reteep, the eccentric bookshop owner, who was arranging books on a shelf.

"Ah, a new face in Glipwood! Welcome, welcome!" Oskar said cheerfully, though his eyes twinkled with curiosity.

Morro stepped shyly inside and leaned his elbows on a nearby table, shifting uneasily as Oskar Reteep cheerfully stepped down and tightly gripped Morro's shoulder in an attempt at a silent greeting. He'd never understood nonverbal cues, not in Ninjago and certainly not here. Just then, he spotted a thin, wiry man with a gaunt little dark-skinned face, a mop of dark hair, and a rather angular nose eyeing him suspiciously. Morro gulped. He didn't much like the way that…thing was looking at him.

Just then, Oskar spoke up again, not noticing Morro's trepidation or caution. "Welcome to Books and Crannies!" Oskar said with a flourish. "I'm Oskar Reteep, purveyor of the finest literary treasures in Glipwood. And this," he gestured towards the sly ridgerunner, "is Zouzab, my somewhat... enthusiastic assistant."

Despite Oskar's friendly demeanor, Morro couldn't shake the nervousness that crept over him as he glanced warily at the conniving Zouzab, whose eyes seemed to bore into him with unsettling intensity. Zouzab gave Morro a sly grin, eyes twinkling with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, as if sizing him up for something unknown. "A pleasure," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. His voice was smooth and calculating as he added, "You look like you've had quite an adventure already."

Morro felt a shiver run down his spine but forced a polite smile. He wasn't sure he liked the way Zouzab was hungrily eyeing him, but he didn't want to call the ridgerunner out just yet. He had the sneaking suspicion that Zouzab would just call him crazy.

As Oskar continued to arrange books on a nearby shelf, he chatted amiably, "You know, we have quite the collection here, including the rare works of Alithorn Quillspindle. Not many have heard of him, but his treatises on the migratory patterns of mountain griffins are simply unparalleled! In the words of Quillspindle, 'One must always chase the wind, for it carries tales untold.'"

Desperate to divert Zouzab's attention, Morro started digging around in his pockets. To his surprise, he found an apple nestled in one of them. As he pulled it out, Zouzab's eyes lit up with a gleam of obsession.

"That apple—it's so scrumptious and fresh! Give it to me!" Zouzab demanded, his voice dripping with greed. Morro sighed and rolled his eyes. An idea sparked in his mind. With a smirk, he channeled his Wind Powers and flung the apple towards the back of the shop, yelling, "Go, FETCH!"

The apple soared through the air, carried by a gust of wind, and Zouzab's eyes widened in surprise and frustration. Unable to resist the lure of the fruit, he immediately gave chase, his focus entirely on the flyaway apple. With Zouzab occupied, Morro felt a wave of relief wash over him. He turned back to Oskar, who watched the scene with an amused expression.

"Quite the talent you have there," Oskar remarked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "I think you'll find many more surprises in Glipwood. In the words of Galdor Sternwheel, 'The unexpected is but a shadow of the extraordinary.'" He paused and looked at Morro expectantly. "So, what do they call you, young traveler?"

Morro hesitated, unsure of what to say. The truth about his identity felt too complicated and dangerous to share with these strangers. He swallowed hard, his mind racing for a response.

Seeing his hesitation, Oskar gave him an encouraging smile. "No need to be nervous, lad. Everyone's got a story, and names are just a part of it. If you're not ready to share, that's quite alright."

Morro felt a bit reassured by Oskar's kindness, but he still couldn't bring himself to reveal his true name just yet. Instead, he mumbled, "You can call me... Zephyr."

Oskar nodded thoughtfully. "Zephyr, a fitting name for one who commands the wind. In the words of Thalia Moonwhisper, 'A name is but the beginning of a grand adventure.'"

Morro breathed a sigh of relief, but as he looked around Books and Crannies, he couldn't help but notice the towering piles of books teetering precariously on the edge of disaster. One wrong move and they might avalanche onto the floor. His sense of order and his need to be helpful kicked in.

"Would you like some help with those?" Morro offered, eyeing the unsteady stacks before rushing to steady one particular stack just about to crash in a heap of smoke and paper on the floor. Oskar's face lit up with delight as he saw Morro very, very carefully push the stack back into place, before dividing the books into smaller, more manageable piles. "That would be marvelous!" he exclaimed, his belly jiggling with sheer excitement. "In the words of Herodotus Parchment," he added with a smile, "'An organized mind begins with an orderly shelf.'"

With that settled, Morro set to work, carefully sorting through the books and placing them in more stable positions. As he worked, he noticed a theme among some of the titles—books about dragons. Oskar, noticing Morro's interest, explained, "We're preparing for Dragon Day, a local festival celebrating the legends and lore of dragons. I need to find as many books about dragons as possible to sell to the festival-goers."

Upon hearing the words "Dragon Day," Morro's curiosity was instantly piqued. "Dragon Day?" he asked, looking up from a stack of dragon storybooks he was organizing. "What's that all about?" he added, standing up and dusting some dust off of his tunic.

Oskar's eyes twinkled with excitement as he turned to Morro. "Ah, Dragon Day is a grand celebration here in Glipwood!" he graciously explained, "It commemorates our village's history and the mythical creatures that are said to have roamed these lands. There are parades, music, and all sorts of festivities. And of course, books and stories play a big part in it."

Morro's eyes widened at this. He'd always loved stories about dragons, but never imagined they could be real—at least, he had never expected that any world beside his own would have real dragons in it.

"In the words of Elowen Bookhart," Oskar continued, not missing a single beat, "'A festival without stories is like a dragon without wings.' So, finding these books will help bring the tales to life for everyone who attends."

Morro nodded in understanding, feeling a mixture of fascination and apprehension springing up deep within his core. "Sounds like quite an event." he agreed, getting back down on his knees. "Let's see what we can find." Oskar chuckled, and together, the two continued sorting through the stacks, each book a potential treasure for the upcoming celebration.

As Morro and Oskar continued sorting through the piles of books, Morro couldn't help but chuckle at some of the titles he came across.

"Dragon Taming for Dummies? Really?" Morro said, holding up a brightly colored book with a cartoonish dragon on the cover.

Oskar grinned. "Ah, yes, a classic! In the words of Thaddeus Quibble, 'Humor is the spice that seasons the dullest of tales.'"

Morro picked up another book and read the title aloud, "The Complete Guide to Dragon Fashion: From Scales to Tails." He snickered softly to himself, imagining a dragon strutting down a runway. The picture was pretty ridiculous—and hilarious at the same time.

Oskar laughed along with him. "That one's quite popular during Dragon Day! People love to imagine dragons with a sense of style. In the words of Violetta Silksnare, 'Even dragons deserve a little glamour.'"

As Morro searched, he found yet another book—101 Dragon Recipes: Cooking with Fire—and raised an eyebrow, chuckling and shaking his head in helplessness. "I guess dragons are good for more than just breathing fire." he commented, barely stifling a smirk.

Oskar nodded, grinning himself as the hilarity of it. "Indeed! Though I must admit—that book is more for fun than actual use. It's always good to have a mix of fact and fiction. In the words of Peregrin Swiftquill, 'A well-balanced bookshelf is a banquet for the mind.'"

As they continued their work, Morro found himself enjoying the task more and more. Each title brought a new smile to his face, and he began to feel a sense of camaraderie with Oskar. Despite the strange and unsettling start to his day, he was beginning to feel a bit more at ease in this new world.

After a long day of sorting books and keeping up with Oskar's enthusiastic chatter, Morro finally wore himself out and fell asleep on the hard wooden floor of Books and Crannies. When he woke, the shop was rather dark and drafty, the dim light of evening casting long shadows across the rows of bookshelves. He noticed that Oskar was gone, but the presence of Zouzab still lingered, making Morro feel uneasy. Determined to stay busy and keep his mind off his anxiety, Morro raced around the shop as fast as he could, straightening up books here and there. Just as he thought he had everything under control, he slipped on the sleek floor and crashed into a bookshelf, bringing a couple of books down with him.

Panicking, Morro scurried to pick up the fallen books, his heart racing. As he reached for the last book, he noticed a wooden panel on the bottom of the bookcase. Curious, he opened it up and discovered a hidden compartment with a mysterious map inside. His eyes widened with excitement and curiosity as he carefully unrolled the map, trying to make sense of the strange symbols and markings.

But before he could study it further, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Realizing it must be Oskar returning, Morro quickly stuffed the map back into the compartment and replaced the panel. He hurried to reshelve the books he had knocked to the floor, his mind racing with questions about the hidden map.

Just as he finished, Oskar entered the shop, carrying a lantern that cast a warm, comforting glow. "Ah, there you are, Zephyr!" Oskar said cheerfully. "I see you've been busy. In the words of Cornelius Dustjacket, 'An industrious day ends with the satisfaction of a job well done.'"

Morro forced an awkward smile, still feeling the adrenaline from his discovery racing hurriedly through his veins. He resolved to find a way to examine the map more closely when he had the chance, convinced that it held secrets worth uncovering.

As the night wore on, Morro decided it was time to call it a day and find some shelter. He was just about to leave Books and Crannies when Oskar suddenly yanked him back into the shop by the arm, urgently shouting, "Zephyr, no!"

Before Morro could react or protest, the sound of thundering hooves filled the air. The Black Carriage appeared, racing down the street with an ominous presence that sent chills coiling shudderingly down Morro's spine. Frightened beyond belief, he buried his head in Oskar's belly, trembling and crying softly. "What...what is that thing?" he managed to ask through his fear, feeling wolfish whimpers and sobs ebbing uncontrollably from his lips as he just sniffled and sneezed and wheezed and wept.

Seeing the distress written all over Morro's tearstained face, Oskar gently patted the wind-child's back, his voice somber as he explained. "I was hoping you wouldn't have to see this, lad, but that thing that just passed—that's the Black Carriage. It comes at night to take people away without any warning. Where do they go? No one knows, for no one ever comes back. And the worst thing is, they're starting to take children now—even teens…like you."

Morro's fear instantly deepened, his heart surging with misery, fright, and grief as he clung even tighter to Oskar, the weight of the revelation pressing heavily on his young heart. Never before had he realized to this degree that this strange new world held dangers he had never imagined, and the Black Carriage, he was certain, was one of the most terrifying of all.

Throughout this, Oskar's presence was a small comfort, but Morro knew he would need to stay vigilant. As the Black Carriage continued its journey through the night, he resolved to find a way to uncover its secrets and protect himself and others from its sinister grasp.

As the night grew deeper, Morro found a cozy corner in Books and Crannies to rest. Exhausted from the day's events and the constant buzz of anxiety, he lay down on a pile of soft blankets that Oskar had thoughtfully provided. As he drifted into a restless sleep, a strange name floated into his mind—Wingfeather Saga. The words felt oddly familiar, yet so inexplicably distant, like a memory from a dream or a story told long ago. He whispered the name to himself, trying to grasp at the fragments of recognition. "Wingfeather Saga." he thoughtfully mused, "Why does that seem so familiar, yet so very unfamiliar at the same time...?" he murmured, his eyes growing heavy. "And how do I know it?"

The mystery of the Wingfeather Saga lingered incessantly in his thoughts as a deep, healing slumber finally took hold. In his dreams, images of dragons, vast landscapes, and epic adventures swirled around him. Though he couldn't fully understand their meaning, he felt a connection to this strange and magical tale. But…what?

As the night deepened, Morro lay in a fitful sleep on the blankets in Books and Crannies. He had completely forgotten that he had a tendency to sleepwalk, especially when he felt a deep sense of unease. Even more forgotten was his peculiar attraction to water, which seemed to draw him like a magnet. While he slept, a gentle rain began to fall over Glipwood, its soothing patter on the roof becoming a mesmerizing lullaby to the village. Unbeknownst to Morro, the rain called to him in his dreams, urging him to rise. In his sleepwalking state, he slowly got up and made his way out of the shop, completely, utterly unaware of his actions or direction.

The rain grew heavier as he wandered through the empty streets of Glipwood, his feet guiding him further and further away. The village faded into the background as he followed the pull of the water, his path leading him beyond the outskirts and into the countryside.

Hours later, Morro found himself standing in front of a quaint, cozy cottage. The sign outside read "Igiby," though in his sleepwalking state, he paid no mind to the details. He staggered up to the door, drenched and sopping-wet from the rain, and collapsed tiredly on the porch, still fast asleep, blissfully lost in slumberland.

The next morning, Janner, the eldest of the Igiby children, was the first to hear the noise on the porch. He cautiously opened the door and gasped at the sight of a soaked boy huddled on the doorstep, shivering uncontrollably in the cold. A closer look told him the boy's arms were crawling with tiny, white-cold goosebumps, and his teeth chattered erratically in his dazed, drowsy slumber.

"Tink! Leeli! Come quick!" Janner called out, his voice a mix of urgency and concern. Tink and Leeli hurried to the door, with Leeli moving carefully due to her twisted leg and crutch. When they saw the boy, their expressions mirrored Janner's surprise.

"Who is he?" Leeli asked, her voice filled with curiosity and compassion.

"I don't know," Janner replied, his eyes never leaving the boy. "But we can't leave him out here in the cold. Help me get him inside."

Together, they managed to lift Morro and bring him into the warmth of the cottage. They laid him down on a soft rug near the fireplace, covering him with warm blankets. As he began to stir, they could see the fear and confusion written poignantly in his glassy emerald-green irises and dilated pupils.

Morro's eyes weakly fluttered open as he stirred, and he blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The warmth and the smell of the fire were comforting, but the faces looking down at him were unfamiliar. As his gazed darted aimlessly around, he then noticed Leeli's twisted leg and her crutch, feeling a pang of sympathy for her resonate deep within his core, deep within his very soul.

"Where... where am I?" Morro asked weakly, his voice barely more than a whisper as he craned his head around to take in as much as he could at once.

"You're in the Igiby cottage," Janner replied gently. "I'm Janner, and these are my siblings, Tink and Leeli. We found you on our porch. What's your name?"

Morro hesitated, still unsure if he should reveal his true identity. After several seconds of murmuring incoherent non-answers and gibberish under his breath, he finally sucked in a small gasp of air and muttered, "You can call me Zephyr," the name slipping cooly and calmly from his lips as he gave a weak smile.

Leeli smiled back at him, her eyes filled with pure kindness and wonder. "Well, Zephyr, you're safe here." she reassured him, gently patting his arm. "We won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

Hearing this, Morro immediately felt a comforting wave of gratitude wash over him. Despite the strangeness of his situation, he sensed that he could trust these new friends. As he drifted back into a welcome sleep, the Igiby children exchanged looks of wonder and concern, ready to help him in any way they could.

Later that morning, Nia, the children's mother, and their grandfather, Podo Helmer, walked into the room. Nia's face softened with concern as she took in the sight of the new boy in their home. However, the grizzled sea captain, Podo, was not so easily trusting of the strange newcomer.

"Who in the great sea caves is this?" Podo barked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the gently slumbering Morro. "What's this now?"

Nia, a kind and caring woman, put a gentle hand on Podo's arm, trying to calm him. "Papa, let's not be hasty. The children must have a reason for bringing him in."

"Grandpa, this is Zephyr," Janner quickly explained. "We found him on the porch this morning. He was soaked and freezing, so we brought him inside."

Nia knelt beside Morro, her gentle demeanor calming him as he groggily opened his eyes, staring up at her in barely masked fright. "Are you alright, dear?" the caring woman asked, laying a gentle hand on his arm as he shuddered and shook uncontrollably. "You look like you've had quite an ordeal."

Morro nodded wearily, still feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that was happening. "I'm okay, thank you." he mumbled tiredly, "I'm sorry for causing any trouble."

Podo just crossed his arms, his expression stern. "Trouble or no, we can't just take in every stranger that wanders into Glipwood." he exclaimed, "Who knows what kind of danger he might bring with him?"

Nia shot Podo a reproachful look. "Papa, he's just a boy in need of help. We can't just turn him away."

Podo huffed but didn't argue further, though his gaze remained wary. "Fine, but we need to keep an eye on him. Can't be too careful these days, with that Black Carriage and all."

Morro couldn't help but shiver at the mention of the Black Carriage, remembering the fear it had instilled in him just the night before. But even despite the chilling, nerve-wracking reminder, he once again felt a surge of gratitude within his bones towards Nia and the Igiby children for their kindness, despite Podo's reservations.

Nia smiled again at Morro, her warmth reassuring him. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need, Zephyr." she reaffirmed. "We'll figure this out together."

Yet Podo was still clearly not convinced that harboring Morro was a good idea. His eyes narrowed further as he continued, "How do we know you're not a spy for the Fangs?" His voice was brutish and demanding as he growled, "I know they'd just love to get their claws into our business."

Morro, confused and growing uneasy, asked, "The Fangs? Who…who are they?"

Podo grunted, his demeanor darkening as he explained begrudgingly, "The Fangs of Dang. Vicious creatures that look like humans, but with scales and fangs. They serve the evil Gnag the Nameless and terrorize the land. They take people away, causing fear and chaos wherever they go."

Morro's unease grew as he listened to Podo's explanation. The thought of such monstrous beings sent chills down his spine. "I... I promise I'm not a spy." he stammered nervously, his lip quivering involuntarily as he spoke. "I'm just trying to find a safe place to stay—honest."

Nia, sensing Morro's fear and sincerity, stepped in once more. "Papa, I believe him." she replied, placing an arm around her father's shoulder. "Look at him—he's scared, lost, and alone. We can keep an eye on him, but please, let's show some compassion."

Podo nodded reluctantly, still watching Morro closely. "Alright, but you'll be under my watch, Zephyr. Any funny business, and you'll have me to deal with."

Morro's eyes filled with tears as he quietly exclaimed, "I... I understand." He turned away like a little melancholy flower refusing the sun's rays, and sniffled, feeling utterly overwhelmed by the tension hanging hopelessly in the very air. Nia moved to comfort him, wrapping him in her arms and holding him close. As she kept him warm, snuggling his scrawny, frail frame up against her breast, Morro couldn't do a thing but let out a quiet sneeze, feeling both comforted and vulnerable by the embrace. Looking up, he saw Podo's scowl, silently telling him, "I'm watching you. Just you dare and try something…"

Over the next few days, Morro began to settle into life at the Igiby household. The warmth and hospitality of the family made it easier for him to adjust. Janner, Leeli, and Tink treated him like one of their own, including him in their daily activities and sharing stories of Glipwood and its surroundings.

Morro found himself growing fond of the Igiby children. Janner's leadership and curiosity, Leeli's kindness and musical talent, and Tink's adventurous spirit all added to the lively atmosphere of the household. Even Nugget, the loyal dog, seemed to accept Morro as part of the family, often curling up next to him by the fireplace as he gazed wistfully into the distance, lost in his own thoughts and his own world.

Despite these growing friendships, Podo remained a tough nut to crack. Every time Morro encountered him, Podo made sure to cast a scowl in his direction, as if reminding him that his every word was being noted, his every action watched. The old sailor's distrust was evident, and Morro could feel the weight of Podo's scrutiny hanging heavy on his shoulders.

Despite Podo's watchful eye, Morro did his best to contribute to the household. He helped with chores, shared stories from his own life (though carefully avoiding revealing too much), and even tried his hand at some of the local customs and activities. The children often took him on small adventures around Glipwood, showing him their favorite hiding spots, the best places to catch a glimpse of the sea, and the quiet corners where they could be alone with their thoughts. And it was through these moments that Morro felt a growing bond with the Igibys, appreciating the sense of community and belonging he had found in his journey so far.

Little did he realize that the adventure was only beginning.

One afternoon, as Morro helped Leeli organize some books, he noticed her studying a thick, old tome with great interest. Despite his attempts to hold back the flood of questions he wanted to ask, his curiosity got the better of him.

"What's that you're reading?" he asked, peering interestingly over her shoulder.

Leeli smiled at him. "This is part of our T.H.A.G.S. lessons," she explained sweetly. " The Three Honored and Great Subjects: Word, Form, and Song. We learn reading and writing, art, and music."

Morro's interest was instantly piqued. "That sounds fascinating." he exclaimed. "Do you think I could join in your lessons?"

Leeli nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I'd love to have you join us."

Just then, Tink walked in, catching the tail end of their conversation. "But it's not all fun and games, Zephyr." he warned. "T.H.A.G.S. can be pretty challenging, believe you me."

Janner, overhearing the conversation, added in his own two cents. "Tink's right. It's not just about drawing and singing; there's a lot of hard work and discipline involved. We take our studies seriously because they teach us responsibility and help us understand the world."

Morro grinned, feeling a spark of excitement. "I think I'm up for the challenge." he commented humbly. "Besides, it sounds like a great way to learn more about this place and better become a part of the family."

Leeli beamed at him, seeing the excitement written all over his face. "Great! We'll start with some basics tomorrow. I'm sure you'll do just fine." she reassured him with a giggle.

As Morro looked forward to his first T.H.A.G.S. lesson, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and belonging. Despite Podo's constant scowls, he was determined to prove himself and earn the old man's trust.

As Morro began his studies, absorbing all he could gather and learn, he remained cautious, always vigilant and aware of Podo's lingering distrust. He knew that earning the old man's full trust in him would take much time and effort. For now, he focused on building his relationship with the rest of the family and proving that he was a trustworthy and reliable guest.

As the days passed, Morro's presence in the Igiby household became more natural. He started to feel a sense of peace he hadn't known for a long time. Though the shadow of the Fangs and the mystery of Glipwood Forest still loomed large in his mind, Morro felt more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, buoyed by the kindness and support of his newfound family.

Over the next few days, Morro immersed himself in the T.H.A.G.S. lessons. To his surprise, he found that he had a natural talent for the Song part of their studies. Leeli was more than happy to share her whistleharp with him, guiding him through the basics.

One afternoon, while fiddling with the whistleharp, Morro struggled to play a suitable tune. The instrument felt both familiar and foreign in his hands. Frustrated, he closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Suddenly, a strange melody surfaced in his memory, an old tune that seemed to come from deep within him.

As he began to play the unfamiliar melody, something incredible happened. His Wind Powers, usually so tightly controlled, flared up in response to the music. The notes seemed to carry a breeze with them, and the air around him swirled gently in response to the music. The whispers swirled around him, echoing with a mysterious resonance that sent shivers down his spine. Startled, Morro stopped abruptly, his fingers trembling as he put the whistleharp down in a rush. He was panting, both from the exertion and the confusion of what had just happened.

Morro just sat there for a moment, trying to process what had just occurred. He had always seen his powers as an anomaly, something to be controlled and hidden. But now, as he reflected on the experience, a new thought emerged. What if this connection between his powers and music was a gift? What if it was something to be embraced rather than feared?

With renewed determination, Morro picked up the whistleharp again. This time, he allowed the music to flow naturally, not forcing it but letting it come from within him. The melody that emerged was different from before, more harmonious and confident. As he played, his Wind Powers responded once again, but this time it felt right, as if the music and the wind were meant to be one.

As Morro played, the reaction of the wind was stronger this time, swirling around the room with a gentle but noticeable force. Leeli, who had been nearby, was the first to notice. The tune he played was hauntingly familiar, reminiscent of a lullaby their momma, Nia, used to sing to them.

Leeli's eyes widened in recognition as her mouth dropped wide open. "Zephyr, that melody..." she breathed in wonder, "it's just like one of Momma's songs!"

Morro, amazed and wonder-struck, continued to play, feeling the wind dance and weave in harmony with the music. The Igiby children, who had gathered around, watched in awe as the wind responded to the tune, creating an almost magical atmosphere.

As Morro brought the song to a close, Janner was the first to speak. "Zephyr, how are you doing that?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with awe.

Tink's eyes were wide with equal excitement as he added, "That's so cool! Is that some kind of magic?"

Leeli, ever curious, added, "Can you teach us how to do that?"

Morro paused, realizing that his Wind Powers had inadvertently been revealed. He had been cautious about sharing this part of himself, but the children's genuine interest and excitement made him feel surprisingly more comfortable than he would have expected. Taking a deep breath, Morro decided to explain. "It's not exactly magic." he murmured. "I actually have what are called Elemental Powers—specifically, Wind Powers. I can control the wind and air around me."

The children's eyes lit up with curiosity, and they began to badger him with questions.

"How did you get these powers?" Janner asked.

"Can you show us more?" Tink chimed in.

"Does it work with any instrument, or just the whistleharp?" Leeli wondered.

Morro smiled, appreciating their enthusiasm. "I discovered my powers when I was very young." he continued. "It's something I was born with, and I've been learning to control it ever since. As for instruments, it seems to respond to any music, but the whistleharp, I think, might have a special connection to it. I haven't figured out all the quirks, but I think I'm on the right track. Watch."

He concentrated hard and demonstrated a few more tricks, creating gentle gusts of wind that swirled around the room in time with the music. The Igiby children watched in amazement, their excitement growing with each display. And as Morro played, he could already feel a deeper bond forming with the Igiby children. They seemed to accept him for who he was, powers and all, and their genuine interest and support already made him feel even more at home here.

With each passing day, Morro's presence in the Igiby household felt more natural. He was no longer just a stranger passing through—he was becoming part of their family, sharing in their joys, their challenges, and their adventures. As they continued their lessons, Morro couldn't help but wonder about the full extent of his abilities. The strange melody and the whispers left him with more questions than answers, but he was determined to explore and understand this newfound connection between his Wind Powers and the music.

Two weeks after Morro's arrival, the Igiby family was still adjusting to his presence, but already they seemed to consider him an extended member of the family—except for Podo, of course, but Morro had gotten used to the scowls and piercing glances. On this particular day, Tink decided it was the perfect time to practice his archery skills. Armed with a homemade bow and arrows—crafted from sticks and hand-carved arrowheads—he set up targets using a few tree stumps at the edge of the yard.

Tink plucked the string to test its tension, then picked up one of three arrows lying on the ground. Nocking the arrow, Tink drew the string back, aiming at a sack used as a target. With a swift release, the arrow flew through the air, nearly hitting the center.

Morro watched eagerly from a short distance away, fascinated by Tink's skill. The young archer's focus and precision were impressive, to say the least. Tink reached for another arrow, ready to take another shot. Encouraged, he continued, hitting several more targets with surprising accuracy.

As Tink prepared to take his next shot, he spotted a cave blat perched on a rock. Without thinking, he aimed for the blat, but Morro sensed something was wrong. The wind was starting to pick up, and the wind-child knew from experience a strong wind could easily throw off Tink's aim.

"Tink, do—" Morro began, but it was too late. Tink had already released the arrow. The arrow missed the blat, ricocheting off the trees and disappearing into the depths of Glipwood Forest. Suddenly, a loud, hostile moo echoed from within the forest, making both boys freeze in their tracks.

Tink's eyes widened in alarm as he realized the gravity of the situation. "Uh-oh. RUN, ZEPHYR, RUN!" he shouted, his voice filled with grave urgency and fright.

Morro didn't need to be told twice. His heart pounded as he turned on his heel and sprinted away from the forest edge, his feet barely touching the ground. The sound of heavy hooves and agitated mooing quickly met his ears, growing louder and louder behind him as the moments trickled past. The boys dashed across the open field, their breaths coming in quick gasps as they ran and ran and ran.

Halfway across the field, Morro made the mistake of looking behind him. He felt his eyes locking with the toothy cow's glowing gaze—and within seconds, he was trapped in its deadly, mesmerizing stare. For a brief, terrifying moment, he was hypnotized by the creature's eyes, rooted to the ground as fear gripped him. A jolt of panic shot through him as he realized that the creature's eyes were holding him helplessly in place.

Tink, noticing Morro's paralysis, didn't hesitate. He grabbed Morro's arm with all his might and half-pulled, half-dragged him across the field with a strength unlike any Morro had ever felt coming from a scrawny ten-year-old boy. "Come on, Zephyr! We have to keep moving!" he urged, his voice a mixture of fear and determination as he pulled the shaking Morro across the rough grass and over small hillocks in the dirt.

Morro was quick to regain his senses, shaking off the hypnotic hold in moments. "That thing's eyes... they froze me!" he gasped breathlessly, scrambling to his feet and matching Tink's pace, adrenaline pumping furiously through his veins. The boys raced through the open field, their shoes slipping on the damp grass as they tried to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the enraged creature.

As they ran, the Glipwood Oak Tree came into view, a familiar and safe haven. Janner, who had been reading on one of its branches, heard the commotion and gasped when he saw the scene unfolding. He quickly climbed higher onto the branch for a better view and saw Tink and Morro sprinting toward him with the toothy cow hot on their heels.

"Toothy cow!" Tink shouted, his voice strained with fear.

"Tink! Over here!" Janner called, waving frantically to get their attention.

Tink and Morro changed direction, heading straight for the tree. As they reached the base, Tink jumped up and grabbed a branch, with Janner helping to pull him up just in time. Morro followed suit, clambering up the tree with Tink's assistance.

Panting heavily, Tink looked at Morro and then back at the raging creature below. "I think it likes me. Well, likes the taste of me, anyway," he said with a nervous laugh.

Morro, still catching his breath, shook his head. "That thing is terrifying. Its eyes... I couldn't move."

Janner, still catching his breath, looked down at the toothy cow. "Look at the giant fangs on that thing!" he exclaimed, pulling out his Creaturepedia to read aloud. "'The toothy cow. It uses its long tail to distract its prey before pouncing!'" Janner read, his voice tinged with mingled alarm and wry fascination. As if knowing that Janner was talking about it, the toothy cow angrily kicked the tree, making the whole tree shudder from crown to roots. Janner continued, "Yeah. 'Its toothiness is hideous, and most dreadfully deadly.'"

The cow bit the tree in rage, and Janner read on, completely oblivious to the pasty whiteness of Morro's rapidly paling face and the dilated pupils of his eyes as his hands convulsively shook and his mouth moved without sound. "'And its bulbous eyes disorient hapless travelers with its crazed and malicious gleam.'" Janner finished, his voice taking on a slight ghostly echo at the end as his subtle dramatic flair manifested.

Morro's eyes went wider than grapefruits as he suddenly realized, "That's what happened to me. That's why I couldn't move when I looked at it."

Tink glanced at Janner with a rather disgusted look on his face. "Malicious gleam?" he choked out. "Does that mean you can eat it? Yuck!"

The cow rammed its head into the tree, shaking the branches in fury. All three boys gripped the trunk protectively for a few seconds, then slowly let go, not trusting themselves to move too quickly. "We could be stuck up here for the rest of our lives!" Janner lamented, his voice full of mixed trepidation and despair.

Tink thought for a moment and then gasped in realization. "Wait..." he ventured, "what do toothy cows eat?"

Janner skimmed the page he was on. "Well..." he commented, "Pembrick's Creaturepedia says they'll eat people, ugh, pricklethorns, squeeblins, glipfruit..."

Tink's eyes lit up as he spotted some glipfruit hanging from the branches. "Glipfruit?" he said, jumping up a few inches to pick some.

"Glipfruit!" Janner echoed. Morro smiled. He just hoped this worked. As if on cue, Tink threw the glipfruit into the distance. The cow chased after it and devoured it with its gargantuan maw, but—to the boys' utter disappointment and dismay, it immediately returned to the tree.

"I'll throw it farther," Janner said, picking another glipfruit and hurling it as far as he could. The cow ate it, then came back again. Morro huffed in frustration. Didn't these things ever know when to quit?

Tink suddenly pulled out his bow, an idea forming in his mind. Morro looked at him, realizing what he was planning. "I've got a better idea!" Morro said, a plan forming in his mind. Tink nodded and prepared to nock an arrow to his string.

Janner's eyes widened, and he put a frightened hand on Tink's arm. "Whoa. You know how much trouble you'll be in if you're caught with that?" he cautioned.

Not waiting for an answer from Tink, Morro replied, "More trouble than being trapped up in a tree by a toothy cow?!"

"Good point," Janner conceded. With that settled, Tink impaled a glipfruit with an arrow and nocked it onto the string of his bow. "Just try to get it into the woods," Janner advised.

As Tink pulled back the arrow and let go of the string, Morro focused his Wind Powers, giving the arrow a boost of speed. The arrow flew into Glipwood Forest, propelled by the added gust. The hangry toothy cow immediately gave chase to the glipfruit arrow, disappearing into the trees.

"Uh, now!" Janner shouted, before he, Tink, and Morro dropped from the Glipwood Oak Tree, landing lightly on the ground and breaking into a run.

"You'd better leave the bow," Janner urged, caution still ringing in his tone. Reluctantly, Tink tossed the bow behind him as the three boys ran off, heading for safety as fast as their legs could carry them.

As Janner, Tink, and Morro rushed back to the Igiby cottage, determined to put as much distance between them and the toothy cow as possibly, Morro suddenly realized that, oddly enough, he could somehow hear Leeli playing a sea chanty on her whistleharp through his connection to the wind. The melody was soothing, carrying a sense of calm amidst the chaos. Morro didn't quite understand how he could hear it so clearly, but he felt mesmerized by the tune, almost falling asleep on his feet as he and the Igiby boys continued to run.

Seeing Morro's eyes droop and his pace slow, Janner and Tink each grabbed one of his arms and gave him a sharp tug, snapping him out of his trance. "Zephyr! Snap out of it!" Janner shouted. Startled, Morro blinked rapidly, shaking his head to clear the daze. The realization of the danger they were in jolted him back to reality, and he broke into a full sprint, his feet flying over the ground.

Janner and Tink exchanged a quick glance, then pushed themselves to keep up with Morro. Despite their best efforts, Morro's renewed energy left them trailing behind as he surged ahead, driven by a mix of fear and the lingering melody.

As Morro sprinted ahead, he suddenly stumbled over a tree root, losing his balance. Before he could catch himself, he tumbled to the ground, exhaustion and the mesmerizing tune taking their toll. He tried to push himself up, but his body felt heavy, and his eyelids fluttered shut in a heartthrob. As he slipped drowsily into an unplanned catnap, a fuzzy coziness and haziness of mind overtaking him as the world faded silently away into shadowy oblivion all around him.

In his sleep, the melody he was sensing created vivid pictures in Morro's mind. He saw images of a peaceful sea, waves gently lapping against the shore, and seagulls gliding gracefully in the sky. He saw a ship sailing smoothly over the water, its sails billowing in the wind, and felt a sense of tranquility wash over him. Then the vision shifted to a lush, green forest where the trees swayed in rhythm with the music, and creatures of the forest frolicked joyfully.

When he woke, he didn't know how long he had been out. The sound of distant footsteps and Tink's urgent voice brought him back to his senses. "Zephyr! Where are you?" Tink called out, worry thrumming in his high-pitched tone.

Shaking off the remnants of the elusive, hauntingly beautiful dream, Morro forced himself to his feet, feeling groggy but aware of the need to keep moving. He began to run again, the sounds of Janner and Tink growing closer as he headed back toward the Igiby cottage, determined to reach safety.

Morro quickly caught up to Janner and Tink once more, sprinting ahead of them as they made their way back to the cottage. His swift movements allowed him to reach the cottage first, where he paused on the porch to catch his breath, taking in the picturesque surroundings and the lively sounds of the family at work with a mixture of both wonder and excitement tingling in his stomach. Yet despite the warm welcome from most of the family, he could still sense that Podo still harbored some reservations about having a stranger around.

Meanwhile, inside the cozy Igiby Cottage, Nia Igiby had just finished making maggotloaf, a revolting dish that was to be used to pay her taxes to the Fangs. She placed it in a crate and grunted in disgust before closing the lid. Suddenly, a loud thud startled her, and she gasped as a thwap faceplanted against the window. The small creature slowly slid down the glass, leaving a smudge. Nia couldn't help but smile when she heard Nugget, Leeli's faithful dog, barking outside.

In the garden, Nugget was fervently chasing a thwap. With impressive speed, Podo, the children's grandfather, captured the thwap and dropped it into a sack already brimming with the troublesome critters. Nugget then spotted another thwap hissing at him while attempting to steal a totato. He gave chase, but before he could catch it, Leeli struck it with her crutch, sending it flying into Podo's hand. Podo promptly added it to the sack.

"Missed one," Nia said, holding another thwap.

"Ha! Not with you around, we didn't," Podo replied with a chuckle, though the underlying tension in his voice hinted at his unease with the stranger in their midst.

"I'd love to have an actual totato harvest this year," Nia sighed, tossing the thwap into Podo's sack. "I hope you get all of them this time."

"We will, Mama!" Leeli assured her mother confidently.

At that moment, Tink and Janner ran panting onto the porch. They were out of breath but excited.

"Boys, you're on dinner duty," Nia called to them.

"Okay!" Janner responded eagerly.

"Super tasty—er, hungry!" Tink added with a grin.

"We'll go wash up!" Janner said as he and his brother rushed into the house.

Leeli and Nugget heard a thwap squeaking and rustling in the leaves of the totato plants. It popped out and hissed at Leeli. With quick reflexes, Podo caught it and put it in his sack. "Got 'im!" he declared triumphantly.

Morro, observing the scene, stepped forward. "Hey, can I help with dinner?" he asked casually. "And, uh, what are these things, exactly?" he added, peeking into the bushes for any sight or sniff of them.

Before anyone could respond, a thwap darted towards him, leaping at him and nearly taking off his nose. He jerked back with a startled squawk, eyes wide in horror. Leeli stifled a giggle as Podo swiftly caught the thwap.

"Careful, Zephyr," Podo warned with a laugh, though his eyes still held a hint of mistrust. "These little critters are thwaps. Nasty little pests that love to steal our totatoes."

Morro nodded, shaky but swiftly regaining his composure. "Got it. I'll watch out."

Nia smiled at Morro's willingness to help. "Your help is much appreciated, Zephyr. I'd be happy to have another set of hands to help."

A few hours later, Nia was in the kitchen of the Igiby Cottage, chopping carrots with practiced ease. She added them to the pot of stew simmering on the stove, the rich aroma filling the cozy room. Janner, Tink, and Podo bustled around the table, setting out bowls and cups in preparation for dinner. Morro helped too, though he wasn't sure whether he'd gotten the placement of the spoons and knives correct. Luckily, Janner was happy to gently correct when he got it wrong. But when Morro turned to look at Podo, all he saw was a scowl painted miserably all over Podo's face. Morro's heart sank. Was nothing he did enough to convince Podo that he was sincerely trustworthy?

Nia opened the oven and took out a fresh loaf of butterbread, setting it on a plate. Tink sat down and immediately reached out to snatch a piece, but Nia quickly stopped him with a stern look and a soft yet commanding slap on the wrist.

"Wait until we pray, Tink," she admonished gently.

The family gathered around the table, ready to give thanks. Morro, still adjusting to life with the Igibys, watched curiously from his seat. He had never participated in a prayer before and felt unsure about joining in.

Nia bowed her head and began, "For what we receive from the Maker, may we be truly grateful."

Everyone else echoed, "We are."

Tink, unable to contain his excitement, chimed in, "Let's eat!"

As they started eating, the conversation flowed easily. Morro remained quiet for most of it, totally absorbed in his delicious bowl of stew and scrumptious hunk of butterbread with fresh butter slathered all over it, but his eyes betrayed his curiosity and interest. Despite the fact that not everyone here had accepted him as more than a stranger, he was feeling more and more at home by the day. But what Podo said next caused his heart, once again, to sink all the way to his toes.

"Buzzard Willie says he spotted a toothy cow roamin' the forest edge. You boys keep a keen eye out," Podo warned, his voice gruff with concern.

"Yes, sir," Janner replied, slurping his soup in a way that made Podo raise an eyebrow suspiciously. Podo's stern gaze made Janner shift nervously, but he let out merely a small grunt in reply. "Everyone excited for the festival tomorrow?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Dragon Day! I can't wait for the sacky-tack races, and handyball!" Tink exclaimed with a grin, dropping his spoon into his stew in the process.

"I can't wait to hear the dragons sing." Leeli began, her eyes shining with anticipation as she added, "Their songs make me feel so...so…"

"Dragon songs make people feel many feelings, sweetie," Nia said, smiling fondly at her daughter. Morro grinned as well. Dragon Day sounded more and more fun by the minute—perhaps even more fun than Oskar had fully conveyed back at Books and Crannies.

"Lot of hubbub over nothing, Dragon Day is," Podo muttered, his gruff exterior betraying a hint of fondness, nonetheless.

Suddenly, a loud pounding on the door interrupted their meal, and the family fell silent. Morro slumped down in his seat, feeling his stomach beginning twisting into knots within him. Suddenly, he wasn't so hungry anymore…

Nia looked at Janner with concern. "Janner. Did you return it like I asked?"

It? What does she mean, "it"? I've got a really bad feeling about this…

Janner squirmed uncomfortably. "Well—I meant to..."

Podo stood up, patting Janner's shoulder reassuringly. "It's alright, my lad. I'll deal with 'em."

Morro's heart pounded frantically in his chest as Podo walked to the door and opened it to reveal two Fangs, Brak and Slarb. He instinctively moved to hide in the shadows, feeling a surge of anxiety curling uncomfortably in his stomach.

"You... Igiby?" Brak hissed, his forked tongue flicking out in malicious intent.

"Helmer. Igibys are my kin," Podo replied coolly, not missing a beat.

"You didn't turn in the hacker. Second weapons violation, ya sleaze," Brak accused.

Podo grabbed a garden hoe from beside the door. "Apologies, masters." he replied, still cool as a cucumber, despite the circumstances. Morro gulped. Podo was brave, but this…this was ridiculously unfair.

"One weapon, formerly known as a garden hoe." Podo continued, not noticing Morro's discomfort from the shady corner of the dining room.

Brak hissed as Podo submissively handed over the hoe. "I'd love to slap shacks on ya, but then Slarby'd have to drag that belly back to jail."

"He's a real plumper, all right," Slarb sneered with a slight hissing lisp in his speech.

"You lose tool borry privileges for a month—another violation and it's the Black Carriage for ya," Brak warned, holding up an open book. "Scribble yer name."

Podo dutifully wrote his name in the book, but meanwhile, Slarb noticed Nugget sniffing his spear and hit the dog with the butt of his weapon.

"Don't hurt him!" Leeli cried, collapsing to her knees and rushing to Nugget's side. She wrapped her arms protectively around him, struggling to hold him back as he barked and thrashed and snapped his teeth at Slarb. The cranky Fang leaned in menacingly as he snarled back. "I'll show you a real pair o' biters!" he threatened, baring his teeth at poor Leeli.

Morro, still hidden, felt a surge of protectiveness. Despite his own fear, he couldn't stand by and do nothing. Stepping out of the shadows, he squared his shoulders and marched towards the door.

"Hey, slimy serpentine thing, mind your own business!" Morro shouted, his voice steady despite the fear churning inside him. He stared Slarb in the eyes, challenging him to back down. No way was Leeli gonna get hurt on his watch—and no way was he going to cower like a squealing piglet in front of these nasty serpentine beasts! (Morro had never known when it was best to stay out of a fight, and tonight was no exception!)

The Fangs turned back, eyes narrowing. For a tense moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Then, with a final hiss, Slarb turned away, and the Fangs disappeared into the night.

"Anything else, master Fangs?" Podo asked coldly.

Brak sneered. "Slarb! Leave the pink piggies and their filthy mutt. And get that black-haired scarecrow back in the house!"

As Brak turned to leave, Slarb muttered to himself, "I'll show that scrawny crow a thing or two... when I get my fangs on him..."

Podo just stared after them for a few moments before closing the door. Returning inside, Morro was met with a mixture of surprise and gratitude from the Igiby family.

"Thank you, Zephyr," Nia said softly, her eyes filled with warmth.

Despite the anxiety that still lingered, Morro felt a sense of belonging among the Igibys. He was still stunned by the scarecrow comment, though, looking down at his frame and thinking to himself, Am I really that skinny? But for the first time in a long while, he believed that perhaps he could find a place in this new world.

Later that evening, as the day wound down, the Igiby children and Morro began preparing for bed. The gentle hum of the cottage settling for the night created a comforting backdrop. Leeli was brushing her hair while humming a soft tune, Tink was already halfway under his covers, and Janner was rummaging through his things, looking for his favorite book.

Morro, who was folding his blanket in the corner, suddenly wrinkled his nose. A peculiar odor was wafting aimlessly through the room. He glanced around, trying to locate the source. His eyes landed on Janner, who was entirely unaware of the smell he was emitting.

"Uh, Janner," Morro said cautiously, "you smell kinda... off."

Janner paused, confusion written on his face. "What do you mean?" He sniffed the air around him and then his shirt. His eyes widened in realization. "Oh no, the fazzledove! I forgot it sprayed me earlier today!"

Leeli giggled from her spot by the mirror. "Janner, how could you forget something like that?"

Tink peeked out from under his covers, his nose crinkling. "Yeah, Janner, you smell like a wet dog mixed with old socks."

Janner's cheeks turned a shade of red as he sheepishly scratched his head. "I guess I was just so excited for dinner and everything that I didn't even notice."

Morro couldn't help but chuckle. "Might be a good idea to wash up before bed. I'm not sure we can survive that smell all night."

Janner laughed along, nodding. "You're right. I'll go take a quick bath."

As Janner headed off to clean up, Morro turned to the other kids, a smile playing on his lips. "Hey, while Janner's washing up, how about I tell you another story?"

Tink's eyes lit up. "Yes, please! What's it about?"

"Well," Morro began, settling into his spot, "it's about a magical ring and an epic adventure. Long ago, in a place called Middle-earth, there was a dark lord named Sauron who created a powerful ring. This ring had the power to control all other rings and their wearers. But one day, the ring was lost, and Sauron was defeated."

Tink and Leeli listened intently, their eyes wide with anticipation.

"Many years later, the ring was found by a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who eventually passed it on to his nephew, Frodo. Frodo, along with his friends, set out on a dangerous journey to destroy the ring by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom, where it was originally forged."

Janner returned from his bath, his hair still wet, and joined the group just in time to hear Morro continue. "Along the way, they faced many perils, including dark creatures called Ringwraiths, giant spiders, and even betrayal from within their own group. But with the help of brave companions like Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, Frodo managed to reach Mount Doom and destroy the ring, bringing peace to Middle-earth."

As Morro finished the story, the kids were awestruck. "Wow, that sounds amazing!" Tink exclaimed.

"It really is," Morro agreed, smiling. "Maybe someday, you can hear the full story."

The Igiby Cottage stood quietly in the middle of the night, rain pouring down with thunder cracking in the distance. Janner, Tink, and Leeli's bedroom was peaceful, with Leeli sleeping on her bed and Janner and Tink on their bunk bed.

"I'm faster than Rand Blaggus now. I bet that I'll win the blue ribbon tomorrow in the hop-hop-squat-hop-run race!" Tink whispered excitedly.

"I wonder what weird creatures the menagerie-master will have this year?" Janner mused. "Maybe he'll have baby snickbuzzards!"

"And after I win, I'm gonna eat a whole gumpkin pie!" Tink declared with enthusiasm.

Janner chuckled softly. "You do remember there's a limit to sweets, right?"

Tink just leaned over the edge of his bunk to look at Janner. "Not on Dragon Day there isn't. We can do whatever we want!"

At that moment, Nia entered the room with two folded articles of clothing. She walked over to Morro and handed him an outfit. "Here, Zephyr. I thought you might need something for Dragon Day."

Morro took the clothes, a bit surprised. "Thanks, Nia. I appreciate it."

Nia then began to place some other outfits on the nightstand for the boys. "Not whatever, Kalmar. Here are your outfits."

Tink groaned as he sat upright in bed. "Mom! I can't even run in those! Please not the vest."

Nia just went over to the sleeping Leeli, commenting in a tone that spelled finality, "You know everyone dresses up for Dragon Day."

"I like the vest," Janner admitted, blushing slightly.

Nia kissed Leeli on the head as Tink teased, "You just want Sara Cobbler to see you looking all fancy."

Janner's eyes brightened. "Oh, will she be there?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could manage, but failing miserably to hide his rapidly reddening face.

"Dragon Day may be a day when folks try to forget about Fangs," Nia said, her tone growing serious. "But it doesn't mean the Fangs forget about us. Have fun, but no shenanigans, hmm?"

Nia extinguished the candle, kissed Tink on the head, then sat next to Janner. "Remember, you and Zephyr are responsible for Leeli and Tink tomorrow."

"I know. Can't I ever have Dragon Day just to myself?" Janner asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Someday," Nia replied softly. "But then, maybe you'll miss it." She kissed Janner on the head and stood up. "Goodnight, boys.

"Goodnight, Nia. Thanks again," Morro said softly, holding the clothes she had given him.

As Nia exited the room, Janner looked unhappily at his book. The moon cast a serene glow over the rainy night, illuminating the hopes and dreams of a new day to come.

As the night grew deeper and the rain continued its gentle patter against the windows, Morro found himself on the couch in the Igiby Cottage. The warmth of the fire and the comfort of the soft cushions lulled him into a peaceful slumber. He drifted off, his mind still swirling with the events of the day and the stories he had shared.

In his sleep, Morro began to murmur softly, his voice wispy and wistful yet clarion and crystal-clear, "Wingfeather Saga... Wingfeather Saga..." The words slipped effortlessly from his lips, barely audible but poignantly persistent.

Podo, who had been passing through the room on his way to his own bed, paused when he heard the strange utterances. His brow furrowed with concern and uneasy curiosity. "What in the name of Aerwiar is this boy on about?" he muttered to himself.

Unable to shake the feeling that something was amiss, Podo decided to confront Morro. He approached the couch and shook Morro mercilessly awake, his grip firm and unyielding. Morro's eyes fluttered open, confusion and fear evident in his gaze.

Before the wind-child could fully comprehend what was happening, Podo grabbed his wrists in an steel-strong grip, calloused and hardened by years of tying unbreakable knots in thick rope and handling hunting spears the size of young ironwood saplings, and pinned him firmly against the wall. "What do you know about the name 'Wingfeather'?" Podo demanded, his voice a low growl as Morro squirmed and tussled helplessly like a breathless, flopping dragonfish.

Morro's heart raced like a stampeded of skittish colts as he struggled to understand the situation. "W-Wingfeather? I-I don't know what you're talking about, Podo," he stammered, his voice shaking and quivering with a fear greater than any he'd ever known.

"You were saying 'Wingfeather Saga' over and over," Podo insisted, his eyes narrowing. "Don't lie to me, lad."

Morro shook his head vigorously, his wrists still held tightly by Podo. "I p-promise," he blubbered and whimpered, tears streaming in uncontrollable waterfalls down his cheeks as he added, "I don't know anything about it. I must have been dreaming. Really, I don't know—honest!"

Podo's grip tightened momentarily before loosening. Morro's eyes filled with even more tears as he murmured, "I don't know how I know. I just don't know how I know." He squeezed his eyes shut, not having a shadow of a doubt that his days here were over, and Podo was going to throw him out of the house into the chill of the darkened night—or worse.

Nia, startled awake by the commotion, hurried protectively into the room. She took in the scene with wide eyes and quickly moved to intervene. "Papa, let him go." she spoke in a respectful yet concerned tone. "He might not know what he's saying, after all."

Podo hesitated, his grip loosening slightly as he craned his head around to look his daughter in the eyes, still indecisive as to whether he could truly trust the wind-child. "But he was muttering it in his sleep, Nia." he nervously explained, "'Wingfeather Saga.' It can't be a coincidence."

Nia placed a reassuring hand on Podo's arm, causing him to loosen his grip even more as she defended, "Sometimes people talk in their sleep without being aware of it. Let's give him a chance to explain if he remembers anything later, but for now, we just have to trust him. He's just a boy, and I'm sure he's telling the truth."

Morro trepidatiously opened his eyes and nodded vigorously, silently trying to tell Podo that Nia was on the right track. Reluctantly, Podo let out a loud huff and released the wind-child, who sank limply to the floor in relief, rubbing his aching wrists and sucking in shaky breaths of air, still badly shaken by the encounter. When he finally screwed up the courage to look up, he met Nia's eyes confidently and murmured, "Thank you, Nia. I promise, if I remember anything, I'll let you know."

Podo, not willing to let Morro have the last word, gave him one last stern look before leaving the room with a growl. "Fine." he scowled on his way out, "But don't forget I'm watching you, lad."

As the tension in the room eased, Nia moved to comfort Morro. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke softly, "Try to get some rest, Zephyr. We'll talk more in the morning."

Morro nodded weakly, grateful for Nia's support. As he stumbled back to the couch and lay back down, he couldn't help but feel a nagging worry in the back of his mind. The name "Wingfeather" had stirred something deep within him, something he couldn't quite grasp. But with the support of Nia, he felt a bit more secure in facing whatever mysteries the future held. He just hoped that he wasn't making a big mistake in staying here—especially since Podo still didn't trust him as far as he could fling him.

As the night deepened, the Igiby cottage was cloaked in a serene silence, save for the gentle patter of rain against the windows. The family was sound asleep, each member lost in their dreams. Unbeknownst to them, Morro, still grappling with the strange events of the previous hour, began to stir restlessly on the couch.

Moments later, Morro's eyes fluttered open, unseeing, as he rose from the couch in a trance-like state. His feet carried him soundlessly towards the door, his movements slow and deliberate despite his unconsciousness. The words "Wingfeather Saga" slipped unheard from his lips once more, whispered imploringly into the quiet of the midnight. He made it no farther than the door before his legs gave out, and he collapsed headlong onto the floor. The cold wood against his skin jolted him slightly, but he remained bound in the grip of his sleepwalking state.

Nugget, Leeli's faithful dog, had been resting on a small rug nearby. The small creature perked up at the sound of movement and trotted over to Morro. Seeing him lying on the floor, Nugget's instincts kicked in. He nestled tenderly and loyally against Morro, his warm body providing blissful comfort and gentle reassurance as he snuggled deeper and deeper into Morro's chest.

Morro's breathing evened out as he sank into a deeper sleep, unaware of Nugget's presence but feeling the warmth and companionship, nonetheless. The gentle rise and fall of Nugget's little chest and the soothingly timbre-like thrum of the puppy's heartbeat created a soothing rhythm that peacefully lulled Morro further into his dreams.

As dawn approached, the cottage began to stir with the sounds of morning. Nia was the first to discover Morro and Nugget by the door. She smiled softly at the sight, her heart warming at the bond forming between her guest and their loyal pet. She carefully draped a blanket over Morro, making sure not to wake him, and then proceeded to go about her morning tasks.

When Morro finally awoke, he found himself still on the floor, Nugget curled up beside him. He couldn't recall how he ended up there, but the warmth of the dog against him filled him with a strange sense of peace. Though the mysteries of his past and the strange dreams that haunted him were still there, for now, he was thankful he could face them with the strength of newfound friendships and a loyal companion.

The morning sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon as the Igiby family prepared for their day in town. The air was fresh, and the dew glistened on the grass. Podo was busy getting Danny the carthorse ready, the creak of the harness and the gentle nicker of the horse creating a serene morning symphony.

Tink, Leeli, and Janner emerged from the cottage, their excitement palpable. Tink was the first to dart ahead, running to the cart and jumping onto it with a wide grin.

"First thing I'm getting is blueberry gooeyballs. Lots of 'em!" Tink declared.

Leeli followed more cautiously, and Tink helped her climb onto the cart. "Maybe they'll have plumyum fluffins again!" she said hopefully.

Janner approached carrying a stack of books, his face a mix of anticipation and mild annoyance. Nugget, ever faithful, jumped onto the cart beside him. "The first thing we'll do is return these to Books and Crannies. I am not lugging them around all day," Janner said firmly.

Tink couldn't resist a playful jab. "Right," he teased, "'cause you really need more practice returning things. Like, garden hoes?"

"Tink, don't pester," Nia said as she approached, carrying a crate filled with the maggotloaf she had made the day before. She placed it on the cart, and Janner immediately held his nose.

"Does it have to be next to me?" Janner complained, waving a hand in exasperation as he tried to fan the stench away from him.

"We'll all be smellin' it," Nia replied with a slight smile.

Just then, Morro stepped out of the cottage, walking with a slight limp from his fall the previous night. He'd first noticed the dull ache in his ankle at breakfast, and when he ever-so-precariously reached down a hand to feel it, he found that it was strangely puffy and swollen to the touch. The pain had only grown since then, and even now he winced slightly with each step, but he still tried to mask it, not wanting to present a reason for any one of the Igibys to be forced to stay home on his account. As he approached the cart, Tink peered at him, observingly noticing his awkward gait.

"Hey, Zephyr, you okay?" Tink asked with a touch of concern in his tone.

"I'm fine, Tink—just a bit stiff from last night," Morro replied, managing a reassuring smile. He carefully clambered onto the cart, pushing himself up with his hands before settling in with the others. Nugget gave him a slightly ticklish lick on his sore ankle, and he just barely managed to hide a wince behind a strangled giggle.

After securing the crate, Nia climbed to the front seat of the cart with Podo. She then turned to the children, her voice taking on a more serious tone as she reminded them, "What are the rules when you're in town?"

Janner, Tink, and Leeli recited in unison, "Stay together. Be polite. When Fangs are mad, stay out of sight."

Nia nodded approvingly, then turned her attention to Morro. "Zephyr, do you understand?" she asked him, waiting patiently for him to answer.

Morro, eager to fit in and show he could be trusted, nodded. "Together—polite—stay out of sight. Got it!" he replied a second later, patting Nugget gently on the head.

Tink's patience was wearing thin as he bounced up and down on the cart. "Now can we go?" he begged, his ecstasy radiating in his voice.

Nia just smiled at her son's enthusiasm. "Yes, we can go." she answered, and Podo, who was still wary of Morro, gave him a scrutinizing look before cracking the reins. Danny the horse started pulling the cart down the road. As they traveled, the family passed a seemingly abandoned house, all broken, torn up, and dilapidated beyond repair. Nia and Podo exchanged a sorrowful glance but said nothing, each lost in their own thoughts.

The ride into Glipwood Township was filled with the children's chatter and laughter, the excitement of Dragon Day buzzing in the air. Morro watched them with a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism, still getting used to the rhythms of the Igiby family yet excited to see what would happen next. The only celebration he could recall being even the slightest bit similar to this was Day of the Departed, and he was starting to get the feeling that it wasn't something the Igibys would be familiar with—or necessarily celebrate themselves.

As they approached the town, the bustling sounds of the festival grew louder, and the children's excitement reached new heights. Tink was practically bouncing in his seat, dreaming of all the treats he would devour, while Janner and Leeli discussed the various sights and activities they hoped to see. Morro took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. This was his first Dragon Day, and he was determined to make the most of it, to prove to the Igibys—and himself—that he did indeed belong.

The bustling excitement of Dragon Day was in full swing as the Igiby family arrived at the entrance to Glipwood Township. Villagers lined up to pay their entrance fees, each handing over a variety of goods and trinkets to the Fangs in charge.

A townsperson handed a coin to a Fang named Vop, who inspected it and nodded with approval. "Next," Vop called out.

The Igiby family's cart halted next to two other carts. Morro, still getting used to the sights and sounds of the festival, watched as the transactions unfolded. He noticed a woman approach the counter and hand Vop a ring with a ruby on it. Commander Gnorm, sitting nearby, belched loudly.

"Just a moment," Gnorm said, slipping the ring onto his finger, where three other pieces of jewelry already resided. "Hmm, shiny. That necksilver too."

The woman hesitated, her hand going to the necklace around her neck. "But—it was my grandmother's..."

Gnorm, ignoring the woman's protest, held out his hand greedily, and with a reluctant sigh and a sniffly sob, she handed over the cherished necklace. Vop repeated, "Next," and the Igiby family stepped forward, with Morro in tow.

As they approached the counter, Morro's eyes widened in alarm. He hadn't realized that the Igibys would also have to hand over their entrance fee to that…that slithery, good-for-nothing jewelry freak. Quickly before anyone could notice, he stuffed the dragonstone pendant he always wore around his neck under his shirt, hoping it wouldn't draw any unwanted attention. His heart raced as he tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, but he couldn't help but shift nervously behind Nia as she slid the crate of maggotloaf onto the counter.

Gnorm eagerly opened the crate, smacking his lips as he sniffed the contents. Without hesitation, he aggressively devoured the slimy dish, much to the disgust of the onlooking Glipfolk. "So slimy!" Gnorm exclaimed with satisfaction, smacking his lips and dribbling slimy slobber everywhere. Morro made a face. How could anything like that goop—and be so rude in eating it, too?!

"I mixed in a few more rat tails than last time, and I dusted the spider eggs with hogpig dandruff," Nia explained, her voice steady. Morro was just struggling not to gag, but he had to admit—Nia was brave, especially in the way she handled the burly serpentine jewelry-freak and his blatant lack of manners.

Gnorm nodded approvingly as he chomped and slurped the gooey mess as fast as he could stuff it in his black-toothed mouth. "Your squirmies got the most plumpery pop. If you wasn't a people, I'd almost like you. Next!" he growled, and the Igiby family shuffled quickly past.

As the Igiby family began to move down the path into the township, Morro felt a surge of relief mixed with anxiety. He had noticed Gnorm's greedy eyes and the way he had taken the woman's necklace without a second thought. He instinctively tried to hide behind Nia, but his efforts were in vain as he trailed slightly behind the family. Tink, ever eager, ran ahead, urging the others to follow.

"C'mon. Let's go, let's go!" Tink shouted excitedly.

"I've got business at the Gunkles. I'll find you later on the Green," Nia said, offering a reassuring smile to Morro as he finally worked up the nerve to come out from behind her skirts.

Podo patted Janner on the back. "Good luck keepin' an eye on your brother," he said with a slight chuckle.

Tink bolted over a bridge and into Glipwood Township, his excitement contagious. "Tink!" Janner called after him, already preparing to chase his younger brother.

As they made their way into the heart of the festival, the decorations and festive atmosphere lifted Morro's spirits, even if he couldn't shake the unease entirely. He was determined to make the most of his first Dragon Day, despite the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead.

As the Igiby family made their way into the heart of Glipwood Township, the lively atmosphere of Dragon Day filled the air. Tink was racing ahead, with Janner and Leeli close behind. Morro, still feeling the effects of his limp from the previous night's fall, struggled to keep up with the others. His breath came in short gasps, and his leg ached even more with every step.

"Go on ahead without me," Morro called out to the others, trying to sound casual despite his discomfort. "I'll be there in a moment."

Without waiting for a response, he slowed his pace and leaned against a nearby building to catch his breath. The rule of "stay together" slipped from his mind as he watched the bustling crowd, lost in his thoughts.

After a few minutes, Morro felt ready to move again. He pushed off the wall and began to wander through the town, captivated by the various stalls and colorful decorations. His mind, however, was elsewhere, still processing the strange dream about the "Wingfeather Saga" and the unnerving encounter with Podo. Suddenly, he noticed a group of Fangs looking in his direction, their eyes narrowed in suspicion. Panic surged through him, and without thinking, he turned and ran, his heart pounding in his chest.

In his haste, Morro didn't see the figure ahead until it was too late. He collided with someone, and they both tumbled to the ground. Momentarily dazed, Morro struggled to sit up, only to realize he had crashed into a man dressed in mismatched socks, known to the town as Peet the Sock Man. Black spots danced in front of Morro's eyes as the world dissolved into a kaleidoscopic mass of colors and smells and sounds and dizziness.

Peet looked at the semiconscious Morro with wide, fearful eyes. Startled and scared, Peet began to scream like a hawk from fright, his mouth moving frantically as he fought to process the force that had jarred him out of his own thoughts and his own world. Morro's unconscious mind betrayed him, and he whispered the words, "W-Wing-Wingfeather... Wingfeather Saga..." softly, his comprehension dazed and hazy as he lay there unmoving, still reeling from the crash.

At the mention of "Wingfeather," Peet's demeanor changed instantly. His eyes widened further, and he began to shake, his breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps as he trembled and shook like a leaf, wringing his hands in fear and terror. "Mad bemories... Bad memories... Polds hower... Holds power..." Peet muttered, mixing up the beginnings of his words as he typically did in his frequent panic attacks. In his fright, Peet reached out and grabbed Morro's wrists, his grip tight and desperate as his screeches and howling shrieks grew louder and more distraught by the second. At the feeling of the Sock Man's hold growing more and more intense as Peet clutched his wrists in a death grip, Morro's eyes fluttered weakly open, and his mind felt sluggish yet screaming in pain as his vision began to blur and his consciousness to wane yet again.

Realizing the distress he had caused and struggling to stay awake and alert amidst the agony in his wrists, Morro knew he had to act quickly to calm this mysterious stranger down before he did something really desperate. Managing to yank one of his wrists out of the Sock Man's grip, he reached out gently, placing a comforting hand on Peet's arm. "It's okay, it's okay," he said softly, fighting to think as Peet began to not only scream but blubber and sob like a four-year-old. Searching his mind for something to soothe the Sock Man, he sucked in a breath and began to hum a gentle, calming tune. It was a song he remembered from his past, though he couldn't quite place where he had heard it—and yet the lyrics were so melodic and wondrous that there hadn't been a single, solitary time when it had failed to calm his own nerves and steady his own heartbeat in a frantic tizzy or the aftermath of a ghastly nightmare.

In the darkness of night,

When it seems there's no light,

Remember that love will keep you safe, will keep you strong—

Chase the wind, touch the sky.

Close your eyes, don't you cry.

I'll keep you safe, I'll keep you warm, my love is always there.

Slowly but surely, Peet's trembling began to subside as he focused on the melody. The familiar tune seemed to anchor him, and his breathing gradually slowed. Morro continued to hum, his voice steady and soothing, until Peet was finally calm again.

When the night-terrors fly,

And the light seems to die,

Remember that love will keep you safe, will keep you strong—

Chase the wind, touch the sky.

Close your eyes, don't you cry.

I'll keep you safe, I'll keep you warm, my love is always there.

"Th-thank you," Peet whispered, his eyes still haunted but calmer as Morro's voice trailed off, and the tight grip on the wind-child's other wrist slowly loosened and fell away. "That name... it b-brings back... b-back brad memories. Bad memories." Peet hurriedly explained, blinking sheepishly.

Morro nodded, his own heart still pounding from the encounter. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

With a deep breath, Peet seemed to gather himself fully. "It's... it's alright." he assured the wind-child. "Just be careful with that name. It polds hower. Holds power."

As Peet wandered off, still muttering to himself, Morro felt a stunning wave of relief wash over him. He had managed to calm Peet down, but the encounter had left him badly shaken. The name "Wingfeather" seemed to be more significant than he had realized, and he knew he needed to be more cautious than ever before.

As he stood up and dusted himself off, Morro noticed his wrists were bleeding slightly. He examined the marks and realized they looked like those made from talons. The sight sent a shiver down his spine, adding another layer of mystery to the already perplexing situation.

With a renewed sense of determination, Morro made his way back to the festival, hoping to reunite with the Igiby family and find some answers to the mysteries that surrounded him.

As Morro tried to make his way back through the bustling crowds of Glipwood Township, the throngs of people celebrating Dragon Day made it difficult to navigate. His slight limp only added to the challenge, and before long, he found himself disoriented and unsure of where he was. The faces of the festival-goers blurred together, and the festive noises seemed to drown out his thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity of wandering, he finally spotted a familiar sign: Books and Crannies. With a sigh of relief, he made his way to the bookstore, hoping to find the Igibys inside.

As Morro approached the window of Books and Crannies, he peered inside, watching the lively scene unfold. Janner was setting a stack of books on the counter with a sigh.

"Uh, Mister Reteep!" Janner called out, his gaze darting frantically around the shop, searching desperately for the kindly shopkeeper's whereabouts. Leeli found a chair and sat down with Nugget, picking up a book to read.

Meanwhile, in another part of the shop, Tink, ever curious, wandered into the hallways of bookshelves. He pulled a berry out of his pocket, looking around for a certain familiar ridgerunner.

"Zouzab? Zouzab!" Tink called out. Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder and took the berry from him. He turned to see Zouzab sitting on a bookshelf and eating the berry with a scrumptious grin on his face as he licked his lips clean of every drop of the berry juice.

"Tink Igiby. Ever so polite, and generous," Zouzab said with a mischievous grin as he hopped down.

Tink offered another berry to Zouzab. "Wanna race?"

Zouzab, ever the sucker for fruit, eyed the berry greedily, and with that, Tink took off running, the ridgerunner chasing him through the bookstore and darting from bookshelf top to bookshelf top.

Back at the front of the shop, Oskar walked down the spiral staircase with a stack of books perched precariously in his cupped hands. He noticed Morro watching from the window and his eyes lit up with recognition and delight. "Zephyr! You're back! Come on in, my boy!" he called, waving Morro inside with a small jerk of his head.

Morro hesitated for a moment, then smiled and made his way into the bookstore, relieved to have found familiar faces. As he entered, he could hear Tink and Zouzab's playful antics continuing throughout the bookstore.

"Ah, Janner my boy. As the great poet and, not-so-great circus performer, Adderley Flameswallow said, 'I could maybe use some help!'" Oskar exclaimed as he descended the staircase, struggling to keep from spilling the books he was holding.

"Um, well, I can come back tomorrow. We're kind of in a hurry to get to Dragon Day—" Janner started.

"Dragon Day! Exactly! I'm putting these books in the window to sell to festival-goers, all of them about sea dragons," Oskar interrupted enthusiastically.

Janner's curiosity got the better of him. "Do any of them say why dragon song makes people act so—"

"Odd? Silly? Discombobulated?" Oskar offered as Morro peered up at the selection of books that he recognized as having helped the eccentric proprietor sort just days before.

"Oh, yeah! Last year, Mayor Blaggus couldn't stop crying for a week!" Janner laughed.

"Oh, not only that—he was so deeply moved by the song, he promised to never again pick his nose in public," Oskar said with a soft, throaty chuckle.

"I'm pretty sure that didn't work!" Janner laughed.

"He made it almost five minutes!" Oskar grinned, laughing before getting back on topic. "Sadly, the mysteries of dragon song have never been fully explained." Seeing Janner's disappointed look, he then added, "Ah, here's a rare copy of a masterwork by Dimble the Chomped," dutifully handing Janner a rather thick hardback book. "In it, he catalogs more than 720 distinct odors present in dragon breath. Burnt pudding, troll wax, thwap burps."

"Why is he called Dimble the... Chomped?" Janner asked, intrigued, holding the book uncertainly in his hands before handing it to Morro, who nearly stumbled backwards from the sheer weight of it.

"My boy, consider the necessary proximity of Dimble's nose to the subjects of his research and let your imagination work it out," Oskar replied with a knowing smile.

Just then, Tink and Zouzab barreled down the staircase, their playful chase causing quite a commotion. Just like Morro had days before, Tink slipped on the sleek wooden floor and crashed headlong into both Morro and Janner, sending them all sprawling to the floor in a heap of laughter and mild confusion. Books flew everywhere, scattering across the floor in a terribly disorganized pile of chaos and bewilderment. Morro quickly scrambled to his feet, helping Janner and Tink up as well. "I'm sorry about the mess, Mr. Reteep," Morro apologized, glancing around at the scattered books as his cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment.

As the trumpets sounded, signaling the start of the Dragon Day festival, Leeli sprang to her feet. "The games are starting! C'mon!" she exclaimed in wonder.

"Come on, we're missing Dragon Day!" Tink added excitedly.

"I'm coming! I'll see you soon, Mister Reteep," Janner said, gathering his things.

Morro nodded in agreement and turned to leave, but he couldn't help but notice Zouzab's eyes following him intently as he did. The look was downright disturbing, sending a chill down Morro's spine. He decided not to mention it to the others, unsure of what to make of it.

As Janner, Tink, Leeli, and Morro exited the bookstore, Zouzab stopped staring after them and sat down next to Oskar.

"Ah, well, here we have Spawly Tortnouse's 1001 Things I Was Surprised to See a Dragon Eat. I believe Dimble the Chomped was number 411. Oh, well, as Klimby Bunting said, 'Goodbye then, my young informal apprentice.'" Oskar mused, watching the children leave with a fond smile.

As the Igiby family made their way through Glipwood Township, the lively atmosphere of Dragon Day was almost overwhelming. The streets were lined with vendors selling an array of colorful goods and delectable treats. Morro, still struggling to keep up due to his limp, couldn't help but be captivated by the sights and sounds around him.

Despite his discomfort, Morro's curiosity got the better of him. He kept stopping at various stalls, using the pouch of money that Nia had given him before entering Glipwood. The tantalizing smells and vibrant displays were irresistible, and Morro found himself wanting to try every dessert he came across.

Morro's first stop was at a vendor selling blueberry gooeyballs. The vendor, a cheerful woman with a kind smile, handed him a small bag filled with the sticky treats. Morro took a bite, and the burst of sweet blueberry flavor made him grin with delight.

"These are amazing!" he exclaimed to himself, savoring each and every bite.

Next, he found a stall offering nut pies, their golden crusts glistening in the sunlight. The vendor, an elderly man with twinkling eyes, handed Morro a slice. The rich, nutty filling was a perfect contrast to the crisp crust, and Morro couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.

As he continued to wander, he discovered a stand selling berry tarts. The bright red and purple berries atop the flaky pastry were too tempting to resist. The vendor, a young girl with a mischievous smile, handed Morro a tart, and he marveled at the blend of sweet and tart flavors.

With each stop, Morro's pace slowed further, and he found himself falling behind the rest of the Igiby family. They seemed to be moving with purpose, eager to experience all that Dragon Day had to offer. Morro, however, was content to take his time, exploring each new stall and sampling the delicious treats.

At one point, he spotted a group of children playing a game and paused to watch, his heart warmed by their laughter. Moments later, he glanced around in panic, realizing that he had lost sight of the Igibys again. For a moment, panic threatened to rise, but he quickly pushed it down, determined to simply enjoy the festival to the full.

After a while, Morro decided to make his way back to the main square, hoping to find the Igibys there. The crowd had grown thicker, and he had to weave his way through the throngs of people. His leg ached from all the walking, but he pressed on, fueled by the excitement of the day.

As he approached the main square, he spotted Janner, Leeli, and Tink walking through Glipwood, taking in the sights. They admired the kites shaped like dragons flying in the sky and marveled at the creatures of Glipwood Forest in their cages. Janner gasped as he saw Peet the Sock Man standing on his head behind one of the crates.

"Iggyfeather!" Peet called out, grinning upside-down before turning right-side-up again.

Janner waved at Tink, who was busy looking at food and chuckling. "Tink!" he called out, fishing out his own pocket money to buy treats.

Morro hurried to catch up with them, his limp more pronounced but his determination unwavering. Once he caught up to them on the grassy field known appropriately to the gentlefolk of Skree as "The Green," the siblings and Morro gathered to share some berry buns, with Leeli feeding some of her own to Nugget. Peet, always full of energy, walked on his hands before leaping away. As the trumpets sounded again, signaling it was time for the games at Dunn's Green, the children hurried over to participate. Morro hung back, not sure his ankle would allow for such athletic endurance trials, but he was delighted to see Tink giving his one-hundred-and-fifty percent in every game he participated in.

The children participating in the sacky-tack race put sacks on their heads and began the race. Tink, being the fastest, won the race and celebrated his victory after taking the sack off his head. He also excelled at the handyball game, much to everyone's delight.

A cart carrying Mayor Blaggus rolled across the field. Everyone sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Gentlefolk of Skree. Welcome to Glipwood's annual Dragon Day!" Blaggus announced, receiving quiet, polite applause from only a few scattered onlookers. Morro was getting the itch that the mayor wasn't really liked by the people of Glipwood—and didn't have the spine or the nerve to do a thing to alter his reputation.

"We are truly indebted to our brave and magnanimous hosts," Blaggus continued with more courage in his voice than was appearing on his face, "whose presence here is ever... present. I would particularly like to acknowledge Commander Gnorm! Where is he?"

Gnorm, hearing this, just belched. Blaggus launched right back into his hesitant speech, and Morro just rolled his eyes as the cowardly mayor cleared his throat and continued, "There he is. Thank you for your generosity in allowing us this... one day of... gladdish celebration in remembrance of our storied history, up to including our liberation at the hands—er, claws of the Fangs, whose guidance and order have forever changed our lives into something... that is so very, very... different... from what they once were..."

The crowd just stared awkwardly at Mayor Blaggus as Gnorm growled. Morro hid his hands in his face, shaking his head in disbelief. But then he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, a tall, slender figure wearing a tattered red cape stood up and stepped forward, as if he was preparing for something. Blaggus finally regained his composure and exclaimed joyfully, "Well, anyway—may I present, a favorite of towns near and far, the one and only, Armulyn the Bard!" Blaggus introduced, gesturing to Armulyn as the red-cloaked figure walked warmly onto the cart.

"My, don't you all look beautiful! Well, most of you anyway..." Armulyn began, then whispered conspiratorially, "Fangs are ugly."

Alarmed gasps were heard from the crowd as Gnorm looked at Armulyn threateningly. Morro's concern grew, fearing that Armulyn might get clobbered for his snide comment. Totally unfazed by the crowd's response, Armulyn pulled out his whistleharp and started playing a hauntingly beautiful tune on the small, delicate instrument.

"Can you see the half-moon rising?

From the sea so dark and wide..." Armulyn sang, as the Fangs groaned painfully at the sound of the music.

As Armulyn continued his song, Morro could feel the elements reacting around him—earth, fire, water, and wind seemed to resonate with the melody. In that instant, the Green seemed to fade away into shadowy dimness and hazy yet welcome oblivion, and Morro felt his mind being transported to a world where the elements were living and vibrating and radiating and sparkling and thrumming all around him.

Far beyond the east horizon,

Lies an island on the tide.

The ground beneath Morro's feet began to hum, vibrating gently in sync with the melody. It felt as if the earth itself was alive, responding to the tune. Small rocks and pebbles shifted slightly, creating intricate patterns that seemed to dance to the rhythm. The soil felt warm and inviting, grounding Morro and filling him with a deep sense of connection to the land.

Where the land was fair and plenty,

And the queen was fairer still.

Flames from a nearby hearth flickered more vibrantly, their colors intensifying with each note Armulyn sang. The fire seemed to dance joyfully, casting a warm, golden glow that bathed the surroundings in a comforting light. Sparks floated gently through the air, like tiny fireflies drawn to the magical harmony. Morro could feel the heat radiating in a gentle embrace, warming him from the inside out.

And she walked beside her noble king,

On the green of Rysen Hill.

In a nearby forest stream, the water began to ripple and swirl, its surface shimmering like liquid silver under the influence of the song. The gentle babbling turned into a melodic gurgle, as if the water itself was singing along. Droplets rose and twirled in the air, reflecting the light and creating a mesmerizing display. Morro could feel a cool, refreshing mist on his face, invigorating and soothing him simultaneously.

As Armulyn started into the second verse, the wind, ever-present and playful, swirled around Morro, carrying the notes of Armulyn's song to every corner of the space. It rustled through the leaves, making them sing in harmony. The breeze caressed Morro's skin like a gentle, comforting touch, lifting his hair and clothes in a playful dance. He felt lighter, as if he could float away with the wind, carried by the melody to distant lands.

As Morro sat in the midst of these elements, he couldn't help feeling an overwhelming sense of wonder and joy springing up within him, like an eagle taking flight on a clear, cloudlessly sunny day. In that one moment, the elements seemed to be alive, each reacting to Armulyn's song in its unique way, yet all harmonizing together in a beautiful symphony. As the song continued, the wind-child couldn't help but feel a strange tingling sensation coursing through his skin like a serene, soothing lightning. The song was just so…mesmerizing and enchanting that Morro wanted to laugh, sing, and cry all at the same time. He almost fell asleep, entranced by the wondrous music, but he shook himself awake, trying to focus on the words, though the rest of the song threatened to escape him.

As Armulyn's song filled the air, Morro's mind painted vivid pictures. He saw a half-moon glowing softly in the night sky, casting a silver path on the dark, endless sea. The horizon stretched far beyond his sight, leading to an island bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The land was lush and green, teeming with life and beauty. He could see a queen, her grace and beauty unparalleled, walking hand-in-hand with her noble king on a hill that seemed to touch the sky.

Morro felt a strange connection to the queen, as if she was more familiar to him than he had realized before. It was a comforting yet mysterious sensation, deepening his enchantment with the music.

As Armulyn deftly transitioned from his previous gentle ballad to a soothing, mesmerizing aria-like instrumental piece, Morro suddenly noticed Peet out of the corner of his eye, gazing intently at him—and his hurt wrists. Peet's intense stare was unnerving, but Morro was internally grateful that the Sock Man did not have a panic attack this time. The pain in his wrists was a reminder of the strange events that had led him here, but for now, he tried to focus on the beauty of the music and the joy of the festival.

Time and space and even the Green itself began to meld into a wondrously delicious stream of blurred consciousness, as Armulyn softly, tenderly played song after song after song, lost in the wonder of his music—and drawing Morro farther and farther away from the woes of the reality he'd found himself in. He forgot the Fangs. He forgot his hurt wrists. In those timeless moments, all Morro knew was the magic of Armulyn's music and the warm tingling feeling it gave him in his heart and his core.

As Armulyn's enchanting performance continued, the children settled down to enjoy the festival's festivities. Morro, feeling the soothing effects of the music and the weariness from the day's activities, began to nod off. He was so drowsy that he didn't notice Tink running off with Jebb and Rand Blaggus until Janner nudged him awake.

"Zephyr, wake up! Tink ran off!" Janner urged, shaking him gently yet firmly as he wrestled the snoozing Morro back into full consciousness. Morro blinked groggily and sat up, rubbing his eyes vigorously as he sluggishly processed Janner's plea. Finally recognizing the urgency in his friend's voice, he quickly got to his feet as Janner instructed Leeli to stay put until he got back. Then Morro dusted himself off and followed Janner as the two chased after Tink.

The path twisted and turned as Jebb, Rand, and Tink ran down it. Janner and Morro were a little slow, but they finally managed to catch up, with Janner groaning in frustration as he shouted, "Tink…" Stopping to catch his breath, Janner scolded breathlessly, "You can't just run off…" as Morro bumped into him from behind, stumbling backwards a few feet before regaining his balance.

"They've got a pop rocket!" Tink replied excitedly, ignoring Janner's biting tone.

"Really?" Janner exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Ugh, but we can't do anything to get in trouble," he then warned.

Tink simply laughed, his mischievous nature shining through. "Then let's not get caught!" he proposed, ready to catch up to the Blaggus boys in a heartbeat.

"That's not what I meant..." Janner replied, his concern growing as he explained gravely, "When you ran off, I had to leave Leeli alone, listening to the songs."

Tink blinked in confusion as he peered around Janner and Morro, murmuring, "What songs...?"

Hearing that, Janner and Morro both shared a bewildered glance, their confusion mirroring Tink's to the letter. Janner then turned to look where Leeli had been sitting, only to discover she was gone. Panic was quick to set in as he called out, "Leeli?"

But it was no use. A closer look revealed that their fears were indeed being realized. Leeli had just vanished without a trace. As the emotions of the three boys began to spike in worry, they scurried around the Green as fast as their legs could carry them, frantically searching for Leeli as their voices steadily rose in urgency. "Leeli! Leeli!" the three cried intermittently, looking desperately for any clue where the young girl could have gone—and finding nothing.

As they scanned the area another time, Morro quickly assessed the situation and felt a plan begin to form itself in his mind. "We need to split up," he suggested. "Janner, you and Tink go one way, and I'll go the other. We'll meet back at Books and Crannies once we find her."

Janner nodded, appreciating Morro's quick thinking. "Alright. Let's go." he replied, and with that, they split up, each heading in a different direction in search of Leeli. The worry of what could possibly have happened to her gnawed mercilessly at them, but they pressed on, determined to find her and ensure she was safe.

Morro could barely run with his injured ankle, each step sending sharp, prickling streams of agony shooting relentlessly through his leg. He knew he should stop and rest—but he also knew he couldn't give up now, so he gritted his teeth and pressed on, driven on by the need to find Leeli ASAP. But as he pushed himself further, his ankle gave out, and without warning, he stumbled, crumpling into a sprawled heap on the hard, unforgiving ground. The wounds on his wrists, which had barely begun to heal, opened again in an instant, and a whole stream of sticky, viscous blood seeped oozingly from them as his vision began to blur and his eyes to water. His hearing dulled, and his senses felt hazy and muted as his wounds continued to bleed. Desperate, he struggled to get up, pushing himself upward with his arms, but his strength was fading all too rapidly. In the end. he could only manage to crawl into a nearby alley before his heartbeat grew sluggish, his pulse faint.

Lying completely vulnerable and helpless, he whimpered wolfishly as his whole body began to stiffen, growing cold, numb, and still as he shivered and shuddered and trembled, shaking frantically and uncontrollably, the rapid blood loss skewing his comprehension and warping his perception of the world around him. His vision began to tunnel, black spots dancing in front of his eyes as the street dissolved into a kaleidoscopic blur of colors and sounds and smells and dizziness.

Just when it seemed like the darkness would overtake him, Peet the Sock Man appeared. Once again, unlike before, Peet did not panic. Instead, he approached the convulsing, writhing Morro with calm determination, cautiously pouring some water from the First Well onto Morro's wounds. The effect was immediate and miraculous—the wounds healed instantly, closing up as if they had never been there. As Morro stirred, feeling weak and dizzy from blood loss, he realized faintly that his ankle was healed too—completely whole, with not an ache or bruise or swollen patch of skin left. He wrestled himself into a slight sitting position, his eyelids fluttering rapidly as he struggled to regain consciousness. He felt a clawed yet gentle hand run kindly and worriedly through his sweaty mop of wispy, silky raven-black locks, lingering momentarily on his emerald-green hair streak before falling away altogether. It took a few seconds for Morro to realize that the hand belonged to Peet.

As he murmured a wistful, breathless thank you, Peet gave him a shy smile and then gently cupped his chin, whispering softly, "Esben... Esben..."

Morro was stunned awake as, confused and dazed, he tried to focus on Peet's words, but before he could ask what the Sock Man meant, Peet ran off, disappearing into the shadows like a phantom in the night. For a moment, Morro just lay there a bit longer, his mind swirling with questions and the remnants of excruciating pain. Peet's intervention had saved him, but the name "Esben" echoed in his mind, adding another layer of mystery to the already complex situation. Slowly, he gathered his strength and pulled himself to his feet, determined to continue the search for Leeli and uncover the truth behind Peet's cryptic words. As he stood, he turned his ankle back and forth on the ground in amazement. It was a miracle—his ankle didn't even hurt anymore. It neither throbbed nor winced with pain. Almost as if…it had been made completely whole again, with neither a scratch nor a welt nor a single scar to mark the sight of the wound.

As Morro continued his search for Leeli, he felt his strength returning rapidly. Each step seemed easier, his energy levels higher. Intriguingly enough, the miraculous healing from Peet was not only mending his wounds but also bringing back his powers, stronger than ever before. Confused but determined, he pressed on, his senses heightened and alert for any sign of the missing Igiby girl.

As he navigated through the maze of alleys, Morro spotted Leeli walking with Nugget. She turned a corner and found Ferinia Swapleton, Oskar N. Reteep, and Armulyn the Bard speaking together. Morro watched from a distance as Leeli approached Armulyn while the others left.

Morro couldn't help but feel a connection to Leeli as she spoke with Armulyn. He knew just from what she was speaking about that she had somehow experienced the same profound emotions that he had during the music— the urge to laugh, sing, and cry all at once.

"Hello, little princess," Armulyn greeted warmly, seeing Leeli trundle slowly towards him, crutch in hand.

"Hi. I liked your song," Leeli responded with a bright smile.

Armulyn's eyes twinkled as he murmured, "Why, thank you. I like your dog." As if affirming his statement, he then reached down and petted Nugget gently on the back.

"It made me want to laugh, and sing, and cry all at the same time," Leeli confessed, her eyes reflecting the magic she felt in the wonderful chords and melodious notes of Armulyn's playing.

"Well, there can be a kind of magic in music," Armulyn said thoughtfully, looking wistfully at his whistleharp slung over his shoulder.

Leeli tilted her head, curious and a bit dejected at that. "I don't think there's any magic in my music." she confessed mournfully before adding, "What's your secret?"

Armulyn chuckled softly as he knelt down and placed a hand on Leeli's shoulder. "It's like that sometimes for me, too." he explained truthfully, "Other times, something happens. Something I can't explain. Some songs can make you homesick, even when you're right at home."

Leeli's grin was as wide as the light of the midnight stars—but then chaos broke out. Suddenly, the Blaggus boys' firework exploded in the sky, setting a dragon-shaped kite on fire. The noise startled Nugget, who barked loudly before bolting towards the direction of the explosion.

"No, Nugget! I'm so sorry," Leeli called out as she chased after her dog.

Armulyn watched them go, a gentle smile on his face. "Well, till we meet again, then," he murmured, knowing deep within that, one day, their paths would cross once more.

Morro, still hidden in the shadows, felt a surge of determination. He was relieved to see Leeli safe but knew they had to reunite quickly. As he stepped forward to follow, he couldn't help but marvel at his newfound strength and the mysterious powers coursing through him. With a renewed sense of purpose, he continued his search, eager to solve the mysteries and protect his friends.

As Morro quietly tailed Nugget and Leeli, he could feel his heart pounding like a gong of shattering against his ribcage as Leeli kept crying out Nugget's name, struggling to keep up with her injured leg and crutch. Morro's eyes scanned the surroundings, his senses heightened for any sign or stint of trouble. Sure enough, seconds later, he spotted Slarb from afar, trying to rip down the ruined kite from a nearby roof. Morro hid, gulping as he recalled the terrifying encounter with Slarb the night before. He'd barely managed to salvage his own hide, let alone Leeli's and Nugget's, and that was only because that one Fang, Brak, had stepped in and put Slarb in his place.

Nugget rushed up, barking furiously at Slarb, who immediately jumped and grabbed the dog, holding him to his mouth, intending to eat him in one gulp. Leeli, rounding the corner and seeing this, gasped in horror, covering her hands with her mouth as her precious puppy whimpered and whined and squirmed in Slarb's unyielding grip. After a brief moment of indecision, Leeli screwed up her courage and hobbled up to Slarb, kicking him in the tail as she demanded, "Put him down, you slithery bully!"

Slarb turned, his eyes narrowing as he knocked Leeli to the ground, still holding Nugget in his slimy, unwashed claws, and stole Leeli's crutch with a malicious hiss. "Crawl closer, little hobbler, and I'll give your bones a crunch," he sneered, breaking her crutch into pieces with his fangs and throwing it behind him.

Morro, seeing Leeli threatened, couldn't stand by any longer. Kicking a puppy around is one thing, he thought, but HARASSING a DISABLED KID goes WAY too far! Summoning his courage, Morro decided to fight Slarb himself, help or no help. The wind swirled around him as he called on his powers, and he launched a series of controlled gusts at the Fang, momentarily distracting him and driving him back bit by bit by bit.

"Put him down and leave my friend alone!" Morro shouted, using his powers to push Slarb away from Leeli and Nugget. Slarb dropped Nugget and staggered back, surprised by the sudden force as Morro rushed closer and closer to him, his gusts growing stronger by the second. But as Morro prepared another attack, Slarb lashed out and knocked Morro to the ground. He leaned menacingly over Morro as his dribbling venom splattered onto him, burning his skin like a ghastly chemical burn in a chemistry lab. Morro cried out in pain, struggling to stand, only to stumble and fall to the ground once more.

Just then, Janner and Tink ran into the scene, stopping next to Leeli's broken crutch. Seeing the situation, they immediately reacted. "Hey, oh. Okay. Take it easy!" Janner called out, trying to defuse the situation as Leeli stood up, an equally determined and defiant look on her face as she stood steady on her own two feet. She may not have had two good leg, but the spirit of a warrior is not held back by such things. And Leeli was most definitely a warrior in her own right.

Slarb hissed again and hit Leeli with his tail, causing her to cry out, "Hey!" as she fell back to the ground, landing on top of Morro, who let out a wail of anguish and woe as even more venom splattered onto his bare, unprotected arms and neck. The acidic sizzle of the venom was causing his skin to blister and blanche rapidly, a rash rising and hives breaking out as his sensitive nerves screamed in misery and agonizing terror.

"Disgusting piglets..." Slarb growled as he approached the two boys standing at one end of the alley. Just then, Tink saw Leeli's broken crutch on the ground and picked it up. "You smell better when—" Slarb began, but Tink lashed out of sheer protective instinct and threw the crutch at Slarb's head. Slarb ducked, and the crutch ricocheted off buildings, hitting a small chimney in the process.

Slarb laughed a cackling, guttural laugh, thinking Tink had missed, but then the silhouette of Peet the Sock Man appeared, knocking over the chimney and making it fall on Slarb. "Look out!" Morro screamed as he scrambled to his feet, snagged Leeli and Nugget in one go, and dove out of the way.

With no time to move out of the path of the imminent avalanche, Slarb was knocked unconscious, buried by the bricks of the broken chimney. Janner and Tink stared at the pile of rocks in disbelief. Nugget whimpered and howled as the two brothers breathed a huge sigh of relief and ran over to Leeli.

"Leeli," Janner said, relief evident in his voice as he helped her up. Tink offered a hand to Morro, and he took it with a grateful smile, hoisting himself up onto his feet again, wincing and wheezing with lingering pain and fear as he did so.

"Thanks for helping me fight that Fang," Leeli replied, her voice shaky but grateful as she leaned against Janner for support. But before the foursome could celebrate yet, they heard Slarb snarling weakly and wheezily as he struggled to get up from the pile of bricks. Morro, still feeling the sting of the venom dotting his arms, saw the danger and shouted, "Uh, angry Fang! Angry Fang!"

"Run!" Janner yelled, scooping up Leeli as they all bolted down the alleyway, racing to get away as fast as their legs could carry them. There was no time to duck out of sight; they just had to run, and run quickly. The four of them zipped past Vop and Brak, only saved by the Fangs' spears crossing to stop Slarb from passing. Yet despite the panic, Morro, feeling his strength returning rapidly, couldn't help but sense his powers coming back stronger than ever before. He was confused by these changes but choose to focus on the immediate danger.

But as they ran, Morro quickly fell behind, the pain from the venom and his weakened state taking their ominous toll. He stumbled and nearly fell into the river, his vision blurring and melding into bleariness as he struggled to keep his balance. Just as he teetered on the edge, Peet the Sock Man appeared again, grabbing him in a warrior-tight grip and pulling him back to safety.

Morro couldn't help but feel a sudden surge of relief, but it was too late to keep the pain from the venom and the shock of almost dying from overwhelming him. Without a word, he felt his eyes rolling into the back of his head and a shudder shimmer through his whole frame as he fainted dead away in Peet's arms, his body going limp and still as the darkness swiftly took over, and he collapsed headlong onto a deep, dreamless sleep.

Careful not to disturb the boy's slumber, Peet, with a calm and steady demeanor, scooped the wind-child up and carried him to safety. The streets of Glipwood swirled helplessly around them, but Peet's unwavering focus remained on the injured boy, determined to keep him safe and help him recover once more.

Within several minutes, Morro slowly regained consciousness, feeling a soothing coolness where the venom had burned him. As he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on his back on the ground with his legs elevated on a small cardboard box. The burns had healed, thanks to the miraculous water of the First Well being reapplied to him. Beside him sat Peet the Sock Man, calm and composed, watching over him like a guardian, calm as a buzzing bumblebee in a rose garden. Morro was totally bemused. Just hours before, he'd been struggling to calm this man down and soothe his panic away with a song. Now Peet was returning the favor—twice over.

"Why do you keep helping me?" Morro asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity and gratitude as he added, "I don't understand. Why would you risk your own neck to save me?"

Peet's eyes softened, and he replied with an unusual calmness, devoid of his usual frantic energy as he explained, "You remind me of Esben, my brother."

Esben…

Esben…

The name resonated melodiously and mysteriously in Morro's mind, a puzzle piece that seemed to fit but still left many questions unanswered. Before he could ask more, though, Peet stood up and quietly left, once again disappearing as mysteriously as he had arrived.

With that, Morro knew he had to find the others. His strength returning rapidly, he stumbled back onto his feet and set off towards the cliffs, where he hoped to reunite with the Igiby kids. Despite stumbling multiple times, his determination never wavered. Each fall was met with renewed resolve as he pushed himself harder, driven by the need to stay with his friends and protect them.

At long last, Morro reached the cliffs and spotted the Igiby children. Relief washed over him as he saw their familiar faces. He approached them, breathless but steadfast as he caught up and matched their hurried pace.

"This time, I'm staying with you," Morro declared, his eyes shining with determination even as he ran to keep up with them.

The Igiby kids welcomed him back with relieved smiles, grateful to have him by their side. But as the four continued to run along the coastline, Morro swiftly became strangely aware that something significant was about to happen. The only question was, what?

Sharp, jagged rocks jutted out from the sea beneath the cliffs, a perilous reminder of the danger below. Panting from their recent escape, the Igiby children sat down to catch their breath. Janner looked over at Leeli, concern etched on his face.

"Are you hurt?" Janner asked.

"Uh-uh," Leeli replied, shaking her head.

"What about your leg?" Janner persisted.

"Nope!" Leeli assured him with a determined smile.

Tink's excitement bubbled over. "Can you believe we fought a Fang?" he exclaimed, his voice ringing with exhilaration and glee.

Janner squealed slightly, the weight of their actions settling in. "We fought a Fang!" he cheered at one point—but then his face fell as he realized the potential implications of the four's actions. Morro realized this, too, and he murmured worriedly, "Oh, we're in so much trouble..."

Just then, a distant roar echoed from the Dark Sea, drawing their attention.

"Hey, look!" Tink exclaimed, pointing toward the water.

"Whoa..." Leeli whispered, her eyes wide with wonder as the four got a little bit closer to the edge, peering out into the distance as the little girl breathed, "Sea dragons!" her voice full of wondrous awe and excitement.

All four of the children watched in amazement as a whole herd of sea dragons danced in the water below, bobbing and weaving in the water like a whole school of tadpoles in a lily pond. On another cliff, townspeople of Glipwood gathered to witness the spectacle. Janner's gaze caught sight of some Fangs in the crowd—and immediately his excitement faded away.

"We have to get out of sight, now!" Janner urged, eager to get away before he, Morro, Tink, and Leeli were all spotted.

Tink protested, "We can't skip the dragons, it's the best part!"

As if in a trance, Leeli began to vocalize a haunting melody as she stood upright, Janner's own protests interweaving with her notes as he cried out, "Mom put me in charge, and I say we're going home."

But then he seemed to notice that Leeli was acting a little more strangely than usual. "Leeli? What are you doing?" Janner called, confused and itching to get away. But then, his confusion fell away as Leeli sucked in a breath and began to sing,

"Oh, Holoré, lay thee low,

Holoél, dark in the deep.

Down beneath the earth you go.

Go, Holoré, fast to sleep."

The sea dragons, captivated by Leeli's song, began to listen intently. As she sang, golden flecks of light appeared, swirling around her. Leeli repeated the lines, her voice melding with the harmony of the sea.

"Oh, Holoré lay thee low," she sang softly.

As the melody flowed through the air, Morro felt an inexplicable connection to the song. Memories from his past surged forth, and he found himself singing along with Leeli. The golden flecks of light began to swirl around him as well, mingling with Leeli's. His powers reacted, wind, water, and lightning seeming to pulse and move with him as he sang, "Holoél, dark in the deep."

"Down beneath the earth you go.

Go, Holoré, fast to sleep," they sang together, the song flowing out from within Morro and Leeli as if it had always been there.

As Leeli and Morro headed into the song's bridge, an old gray sea dragon, Yurgen, rose from the water, his ancient eyes filled with wisdom as they continued with the song.

"Fast to sleep,

Fast to sleep,

Dark Holoré in the deep," Morro's voice intertwined with Leeli's, the song resonating with a deeper meaning.

Janner just stared, not believing his eyes—but Yurgen's voice echoed strangely in Janner's mind, How do these children know the song?

"He spoke…" Janner gasped in wonder.

"What?" Tink echoed, equally astonished.

"He spoke, in my head. Tink, did you hear—" Janner began.

Yurgen's voice reached out again, Can you understand me, boy?, as Leeli and Morro continued to sing, "

Rise again, Holoré, now

Spring abundant Holoél.

Render green the dying bough.

Raise the rock where Yurgen fell—"

But before either one could finish, Nia appeared and gently yet firmly covered Leeli's mouth, cutting off her song in an instant.

"That's enough," Nia said softly, her eyes wary as she stared in confusion at the sea dragon hovering just inches from the cliff's edge.

When Leeli stopped singing, Morro's song immediately cut off, leaving him with only the lingering emotions of the melody. In that moment of silence, he hesitantly reached out a trembling hand and touched Yurgen's scales. The ancient texture was cool and smooth beneath his fingertips, and a sense of awe washed over him.

Morro became the first Ninjagoan child to ever touch a sea dragon.

Yurgen looked at Nia, snorted in irritation, and then returned to the sea, followed swiftly by the other dragons.

"Mama. I could feel what the dragons were singing about. I think the big one is very sad," Leeli said, her voice full of empathy as Nia firmly yet tenderly led her away from the cliff's edge. Janner, Tink, and Morro followed close behind, all talking at the same time.

"I heard him—he spoke to me!" Janner exclaimed.

"I saw—" Tink began just as Morro cried out, "I felt—"

"Enough. It's time to go! Now," Nia commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument as she continued to walk away, tightly gripping her daughter's arm as if both their lives depended on it. Nia remained quiet the rest of the way home, and the children too felt an awkward silence wash over them as they walked and walked and walked away from the cliff. Only then did Morro feel a bizarre yet unignorably profound realization dawning upon him. In an instant, all the mysteries began to fall away, the name "Wingfeather Saga" suddenly making completely perfect sense. It was a book series from Ninjago—his favorite adventure was coming to life, and now he was a part of it.

Determined to stay with his friends and uncover the mysteries surrounding them, Morro walked dutifully beside them, his heart and mind racing with the possibilities of what lay ahead. What next, he couldn't help but wonder. Whatever it was, he knew deep within—it would be something that would change his life forever.

Nia and the four children returned to the Igiby cottage late that night. Podo was sitting on the porch, and as they approached, he picked up a lantern and walked concernedly toward his family.

"Now what in the great gobblin' grizzlefins happened to ya—?" Podo began, his voice filled with panicked worry.

Tink's excitement spilled over once more as he blurted out, "You should've seen it! Leeli kicked a Fang! Then Zephyr used his Wind to fight back. Then we all fought him. I even got him with the brick trick! And Leeli and Zephyr can sing with sea dragons!"

"Dragons? Fangs? Now slow your tongue, boy, what—" Podo started to say, bewildered.

Nia interrupted, her tone firm as she exclaimed, "What we talked about, Papa. Batten the hatches."

"Aye. Batten the hatches," Podo agreed, his demeanor shifting to serious and grim in a heart-flutter. He leaned toward Leeli and instructed, "Leeli, get inside and help your ma."

Leeli nodded and followed Nia inside. Then Podo turned towards Tink and Janner. "Tink, close up the shutters. Janner, help me get some things from the barn. Zephyr…make yourself useful and just find something to do."

Morro nodded in like grimness, feeling his stomach curling into tight little balled knots within him. He wasn't entirely sure what "batten the hatches" meant, but he knew instinctively that it couldn't be anything good. The magic of what had happened on the cliffs was over—and reality was fast to sink in, cold and numb, baring its fangs just as Slarb had his.

As Tink slowly trotted away to close the shutters as Podo had said, Janner looked guiltily up at his grandfather and said, his voice filled with gravest remorse, "I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do."

Podo patted Janner on the back, reassuring him lovingly, "You can't be two places at once. You defended your sister, and all four of ye are home safe. Tonight, that's all that matters." But then he noticed the glum, puzzled look on Janner's face and added, "What is it?"

Janner hesitated before confessing, "I heard them, Grandpa. I heard a dragon... speaking. I understood the words. How?"

Podo's eyes widened slightly. "Speaking, eh?" he questioned—before changing the subject with a small huff of, "Huh. Come on, let's get to work."

With that, Janner and Podo walked toward the barn, leaving Morro standing there with a heavy heart. His eyes welled with tears as he realized anew—this new world he was now a part of wasn't perfect. It had its own struggles, its own fights, its own problems, its own wars. And now…he was caught in the middle, trapped in a limbo of not understanding why he was here, or what role he had to play to get through this. All he knew was that what he had felt on that cliff was real—and he just had to find out why.

Later that night, after a late-night dinner of cheesy chowder and more butterbread, Morro finally found a moment alone with Podo, tapping him shyly on the shoulder before stepping back, crossing his arms behind him and sucking in a series of shaky breaths. As Podo stood there expectantly, Morro sighed deeply and began to speak, his mind swirling with guilt and anxiety and melancholy woe as he whispered, "Podo, I need to tell you something."

Podo raised an eyebrow and then looked him in the eyes, his expression serious but kind. "What is it, lad?"

Morro swallowed hard, feeling an uneasy lump forming in his throat as he stammered, "I…I broke the rule of "stay together" today. At the festival, I lost track of Janner, Tink, and Leeli three times in succession, and I almost wasn't there for them when they needed me. I almost failed to protect them."

Podo's gaze instantly softened, and he listened intently as Morro continued, stammering and stumbling nervously over his words as he explained, "And there's something else... My real name is Morro, and I... I understand the secrets of the name 'Wingfeather' now." He paused to suck in another breath, feeling Podo's eyes bearing down on him, as if the burly old sailor could peer straight into his very soul. "I know what's going to happen next, or at least I have a rough idea of it," Morro finally admitted, his voice trembling with the weight of his confession.

Podo nodded slowly, gradually absorbing Morro's words as he gently placed a hand on the silently crying wind-child's shoulder and admitted, "I misjudged you, Morro. You've done your best, and you've got more courage than most." Then Podo straightened and commanded firmly yet kindly, "Keep the name 'Wingfeather' secret until the time is right. We'll need that knowledge."

Morro felt a surge of relief and gratitude welling up in him as he replied, "Thank you, Podo. But..." He hesitated momentarily, trying to figure out how to word his thoughts before asking, "What do we do about the Fang?"

Hearing this, Podo's brow furrowed in deep thought before he answered, "I don't know, lad. We'll just have to play it by ear and stay vigilant and alert. But for now…let's just worry about what needs to be done today."

Later that night, the moon once again shone brightly over the Igiby Cottage, casting a serene selkie-silver glow on all its pure rays graced. Inside, Nia looked out a window, then walked toward Podo sitting solemnly at the table. In the other room, Morro was busy pulling a nightshirt over his head, but he couldn't help but overhear the conversation from behind the door to the main room as Nia reported, "All quiet out there. What should we do, Papa?"

Podo grunted softly and replied, "The sea dragons will be gone south tomorrow. We lie low for a few days, and hope that the Fangs go back to their muck."

Morro gulped, realizing that he was indeed in over his head. It was becoming clarion that, if he'd not been caught in the throes of an oncoming conflict before, he certainly was now. And something told him that, after tonight, nothing he had ever known would be the same again.

As Nia and Podo settled down for the night, Morro closed his eyes and thought back over all that had happened that day. His hand reflexively clutched his dragonstone pendant, which thankfully succeeded in escaping the notice of any greedy Fangs, and he smiled wryly as he recalled the exhilarating moment when he had begun to sing with Leeli to the song of the sea dragons' dance. He hummed the tune to himself now, feeling a strange tingling feeling glowing and pulsing within him as he remembered the sensation of touching Yurgen's scales—of feeling the sadness and wisdom intertwining within the great, ancient beast. And he was beginning to wonder…what was this gift that he'd been given, that his song could transcend the boundaries of minds and influence the hearts of all those who listened?

More to the point, were all three Igiby kids gifted the same way he was…or was he the only one?

The Igiby cottage was quiet as Morro settled in for the night. As dusk ended, twilight faded, and the midnight began, the wind-child lay drowsily dozing on the couch, his mind still buzzing from the day's events and the secrets he held. The moonlight filtered gently through the shutters, casting a peaceful glow in the room and sending a soothing serenity deep into Morro's aching heart and frenzied core. He was unsure about what exactly he should share with the Igibys, particularly his knowledge about Nugget's sacrificial death and Tink's ominous transformation into a Grey Fang. But he knew that, no matter what he chose to reveal and when, he had to be careful. Knowledge could be powerful, but it could also be dangerous—and Morro was determined not to divulge more than necessary. One slip-up, and the whole family could be done for.

As he continued to lay there, his thoughts drifted to the bond he was forming with the Igiby family. Despite the dangers and uncertainties, there was something comforting and grounding about being with them. He remembered the thrill of using his Wind powers to protect his friends, the shared song with Leeli, and Podo's understanding and support.

His thoughts drifted to his old life—isolated, always on the move, and filled with uncertainty. Now, despite the looming threats, he had found a sense of belonging and purpose. The warmth of the Igiby cottage, the laughter of Janner, Tink, and Leeli, and the steady presence of Nia and Podo created a feeling of home he had never truly experienced before.

Whispering to himself, he softly murmured the remaining lines of "Yurgen's Tune" under his breath—

Render green the dying bough.

Raise the rock where Yurgen fell.

Raise the rock...

Raise the rock...

Spring abundant, Holoél.

Unnoticed, a dying white hyacinth blossom nearby suddenly revived, glowing with a slight golden light before the light disappeared. Morro didn't see the flower, but he felt a sense of hope and renewal within himself, nonetheless—and for the first time in weeks, he felt strangely refreshed and rejuvenated as he reflected on the journey ahead. He knew that the knowledge he possessed was a heavy burden, but it was also a gift. He could help guide and protect his new family, making a real difference in their lives.

Morro closed his eyes, feeling a sense of peace welling up wonderfully in him as he wiggled around, trying to get comfortable for the night. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was exactly where he needed to be. And as he drifted off to sleep, a thought crossed his mind, bringing a small smile to his lips: "This is better."

Back in Ninjago, the aftermath of the Battle of Stiix left many in a state of confusion and heartache. Master Wu, standing alone on a quiet balcony overlooking the serene expanse of the mountains, especially felt an overwhelming sense of loss. The wind, usually a comforting presence, now carried a chilling emptiness that echoed his inner turmoil.

His thoughts were consumed with worry for Morro, his former pupil who had once strayed down a dark path but had shown glimmers of redemption. Now, Morro was missing, and Wu had no idea where he had gone or if he was even safe. The uncertainty gnawed furiously at him, a painful reminder of the bond they shared.

With tears streaming down his face, Wu looked up at the sky, his voice a broken whisper. "Please...bring my son, Morro, back to me," he pleaded, his words carried away by the gentle breeze. The weight of his sorrow pressed heavily on his heart, and he felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Yet despite the pain, a flicker of hope remained within Wu. He knew that the wind carried messages and possibilities beyond human understanding. As he whispered his most desperate imploring heart-cry, he hoped that somehow, in some way, the winds would reach Morro and guide him safely back home.

The serene landscape offered no immediate answers, but Wu's resolve immediately strengthened. He would continue to search for Morro, to believe in his return, and to trust in the bonds that tied them together. The journey ahead was uncertain, but Wu was determined to hold on to the hope that one day, they would be reunited and their familial bond restored.

"Maker…." Wu added, recalling the name that his father, the First Spinjitzu Master, had held in such great reverence and love as he whispered further in a fervent prayer for divine intercession, "protect him. Show him Thy way—teach him Thy paths. Keep him safe, and please…bring him back here, if You will it to be so. May Your will—not my own—be done."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the mountains, Wu stood in silence, the gentle breeze whispering through the trees. He closed his eyes, allowing the wind to carry his heartfelt plea, trusting that the Maker would hear his cry and bring Morro back to him…one day.