Nyx really, REALLY hoped that she was wrong. But it didn't look like that at the moment. If Stoat had killed Alpine's mother, why would he? Maybe it was because of the war Nyx thought. Maybe they were both fighting for their lives and Dad just ended up winning. 

That would explain why Alpine didn't like him, but she acted like she knew Stoat. Plus, Alpine was an assassin. If Stoat had killed her mother, Nyx had no doubt Alpine would kill him. But then... why didn't she? Even if he hadn't killed her mother, Alpine's fury showed that she hated Stout enough to kill him. So, why wouldn't she kill him? 

Nyx's thoughts were interrupted by Mulga saying, "We're here!" The dragons stood at the foot of a huge treehouse. 

"Hibiscus is probably working on some potions," Alpine explained.

 "Potions?" Nyx echoed. 

"Yep!" chirped Mulga, "Hibiscus is a healer and kind of a witch doctor. But don't worry! You'll love her!" 

Nyx was sure she would. She'd heard of witch doctors and they sounded cool. Nyx, Alpine, and Mulga flew up to the treehouse door and Alpine knocked on it.

 A RainWing with pale blue and gray scales opened the door. "Hello, Alpine, Mulga," said the RainWing, who Nyx assumed was Hibiscus, "Who is this new dragon?" 

"I'm Nyx," Nyx introduced herself. 

Hibiscus looked at her for a long time, as if she was trying to recognize her and finally said, "Hello, Nyx. I'm Hibiscus. Please, come in."

 Hibiscus lead them into the treehouse and Nyx, Alpine, and Mulga each sat down on wooden stools around a wooden table. Nyx noticed that there were many shelves in the room stocked with bottles full of potions, Nyx guessed. 

Another RainWing walked into the room, this one a dragonet. "Hi, Alpine. Hi, Mulga," she said, "Who's the new dragon?" 

"Apple, this is Nyx," Alpine said. "Nyx, meet Apple." Apple waved and sat down at the table, as well. 

"Ember!" Alpine called. At first Nyx thought another dragon was coming, but then a tiger cub ran into the room and went straight to Alpine. 

"That's Ember," Mulga told Nyx, "Alpine rescued her from some NightWings a few months ago." 

"Mulga," Hibiscus called, "Alpine just told me about the situation with Nyx's family. Could you please go to the training grounds and get Nyx set up with some weapons while I figure out how to break into the IceWing Palace?" 

"Sure thing!" said Mulga, "Come on, Nyx! Let's go!" 

Nyx followed Mulga to a clearing in the forest. "This is where me and Alpine trained to become assassins," Mulga said. "If we're going to save your family, you need to train. So... Alpine would probably be better at training you, but I have to so bare with me." 

"Why can't Alpine do it? I mean, no offense, you're nice, but why isn't Alpine doing it?" Nyx asked. 

"I'm going to be honest as much as I can," Mulga assured her, "It... has to do with Stout."

 "What did he do to Alpine?" Nyx asked as Mulga handed her a throwing star.

 Mulga sighed. "I'm not allowed to tell you. Sorry. Besides, I think Alpine should be the one to tell you anyway. Let's just say that Stoat did something really, really wrong." 

I hope he didn't kill Alpine's mother Nyx thought. Or maybe he knew her father. Alpine seemed pretty against him, too. Nyx aimed at the target with the throwing star and threw it as hard as she could. The star hit right on the bullseye. 

"Nice!" Mulga exclaimed. "Waaaaaay better than me and I've been training my whole life!" Nyx smiled and threw some more throwing stars. They all hit around the bullseye or on it. Mulga kept cheering her on and it reminded Nyx of Caribou when she was young.

"Go, Nyx, go!" three-year-old Caribou said. They were playing battle. In the game, Nyx was fighting a SandWing and winning. 

When she finally knocked the SandWing unconscious (the sisters were three and didn't play really violent games), her father came in. "Time for bed, girls!" he said.

 Nyx and Caribou climbed into their little loft bed and Stoat tucked them in and said good night. 

"Do you think we'll be real soldiers one day?" Caribou whispered. 

"I know I will," Nyx said sarcastically, "but you might not. I'm the one who defeated the SandWing after all."

 "Yeah, but I cheered you on," Caribou argued, "Whatever. Good night, Pink!" 

Nyx rolled her eyes. 'Pink' was Caribou's nickname for her because of her wings and it annoyed Nyx every time she heard it.

As Nyx thought of the memories with Caribou, it made her feel even more inclined to train. Glacier would NOT get away with capturing her family and that was that.