Brooklyn's early nights in the rookery were full of wonder. The vast stone halls of Castle Wyvern felt like an endless labyrinth of adventure. His world was filled with the laughter and chirps of other hatchlings, the gentle guidance of the elders, and the reassuring presence of the larger warriors who watched over them. He got to taste a lot of different food too which also included Disgust making sure he didn't eat anything rotten or vegetables.

Inside his mind, his emotions worked tirelessly at the console, the red male's mind having formed quite a few islands of personality over the past couple of weeks.

Joy adjusted a glowing lever. "Alright, team, it's another night of discovery and fun!"

Fear raised a claw. "But let'snotget into trouble. Too many unknown variables."

Anger crossed his arms. "Trouble's going to find us sooner or later. We better be ready."

Brooklyn hopped along the stone floor, stretching his small wings, testing their strength. He wasn't the biggest or the strongest, but he was fast, sharp-eyed, and always curious.

And that curiosity was what got him into trouble.

Tonight, the rookery bustled with activity. Some hatchlings practiced pouncing, others tested their wings. Brooklyn was practicing his gliding from a small ledge when a shadow loomed over him.

A larger hatchling with dark gray skin and sharp yellow eyes sneered down at him.

"Well, well, if it isn't the sensitive runt."

Inside the control room, Disgust wrinkled his nose. "Oh great. Here comesthatguy." For they have encountered this gray gargoyle once or twice, who had always seen red hatchling as the weakest because of his size.

Joy kept his tone upbeat. "We can handle this! Just stay calm and—"

The bully shoved Brooklyn hard. He tumbled backward, hitting the stone with a grunt.

"Hey!" Brooklyn snapped, pushing himself up.

The bully laughed. "What are you gonna do about it? Cry?"

Brooklyn's beak clenched. His wings flared out on instinct, but he was smaller, and he knew it.

Inside, Anger slammed his fists on the console. "Oh, it's on!"

Fear, shaking, held up his hands. "Wait, wait, wait! We don't want to start a fight we can't win!"

Brooklyn growled but didn't back down. "I don't cry."

The bully smirked. "Yeah? Let's test that."

Without warning, he shoved Brooklyn again—this time toward the edge of a short drop-off. Brooklyn yelped as his feet lost their grip, wings flailing to stabilize himself.

But he wasn't ready.

Pain shot through him as he crashed to the ground below, landing awkwardly on one wing. A sharp crack echoed through the rookery.

Inside the control room, Fear screamed, grabbing onto the console. "WING DAMAGE! WING DAMAGE!"

Brooklyn gasped, clutching his injured wing. A dull, throbbing ache spread through it, turning sharper with each movement.

The bully peered over the ledge and sneered. "Oops." Then, as the elders' footsteps approached, he slunk away into the shadows.

Brooklyn clenched his jaw, his breath coming in short gasps. His eyes stung, but he refused to let tears fall.

Inside his mind, Sadness hugged himself. "This is bad. He's hurtandhumiliated."

Joy's glow dimmed. "Okay, okay, we can get through this. We just need someone to help—"

A new presence arrived.

A tall, fierce female gargoyle with deep blue skin and fiery red hair stepped forward, her eyes narrowing at the sight of him. She was one of the strongest warriors in the clan, Goliath's Second. Some hatchlings called her theAngel of the Night.

Brooklyn looked up at her, feeling small, vulnerable.

Inside, Fear whispered, "We're doomed."

To his surprise, she crouched beside him, her expression unreadable.

"You're hurt," she said.

Brooklyn swallowed hard. "I—I can still fight."

She arched a brow, then reached out, inspecting his wing. He winced but didn't pull away.

Inside, Disgust muttered, "Ugh, that'sdefinitelynot supposed to bend that way."

The older warrior sighed. "You hatchlings always think strength is in standing tall." Her voice softened just a fraction. "True strength is knowing when to seek help."

Brooklyn hesitated, then nodded.

She lifted him with ease, carrying him toward the healers. His mind buzzed with conflicting emotions.

Inside, Anger grumbled, "Ihatethat we couldn't fight back."

Sadness sighed. "But at least we're safe now."

As they reached the healers' chamber, Brooklyn could hear hushed voices. They spoke of his injury, the way stone sleep would help mend him—but what if it didn't?

Fear was already in full panic mode. "What if we wake up and it's still broken?! What if weneverfly again?!"

Brooklyn lay down, his good wing curled around himself as exhaustion took over. His mind swirled with uncertainty as the healers said it will take time for his stone sleep to fully cure his wing.

Joy, usually so quick to reassure, hesitated. "We don't know what'll happen... but we have to trust that we'll be okay."

Brooklyn closed his eyes as the first rays of dawn touched Castle Wyvern. The familiar pull of stone sleep washed over him.

For the first time, he was afraid of what morning would bring.