The wind brushed his dorsal fins, as Hollybush touched down on the ground for the first time in days. The feeling was unfamiliar beneath his talons, but refreshing. Grains of sand slipped between his paws like silk. He was sure he loved sand.

He fixed his eyes on the purple SilkWing landing in front of him, shaking out his wings, sending shingle scattering across the beachfront.

He wanted to smile, but he found it impossible.

At last the dragon turned to him, and his name rolled off of Hollybush's tongue instinctively. "Striker? What now?"

Striker's eyes gleamed. "We celebrate! We made it, Nightstar!"

The use of his real name shattered Hollybush and every wall he'd built during the tense, silent flight. Suddenly the paint seemed to leech from his scales and the banana leaves on his wings itched. But he was Hollybush - but he wasn't Hollybush - but - were these thoughts even making sense anymore?

Nightstar paused. Breathed.

Here was Striker, his best friend, in front on him.

Here was Pantala, below and above and around him.

Here was he, standing.

Here was he, smiling for the first time in a while.

"You're right," he agreed, "we did make it. Now we'll be safer, I guess? Mum can't disagree with that."

"Exactly, she can't!" Striker trilled triumphantly. "Now let's get these off of you."

He approached, and the banana leaves were ripped from their straps, revealing a shimmering night displayed on his wings. Striker chased him into the sea, growling happily, and the pair rolled and splashed and laughed around until the briny water had purged his scales of most of the paint.

Nightstar's frills flared a sunshine yellow as he climbed onto the sand again, relishing the squelch under his talons. He so should have been a MudWing. Or a SandWing.

For the first time, Pantala looked beautiful to him. Then he remembered something; and with an exalted shout of 'Bananas!', he charged into the surrounding forest.

His search was not in vain: there were plenty of fruiting trees around. Nightstar and Striker shared a feast under the sweltering sun, for once, the sweat and heat added to their joy. This was just like the rainforest kingdom, after all.

"Where do we go now?" Striker sighed contentedly, basking under the clear sky. Nightstar tracked the clouds as they patrolled the air, drifting from one side of the land to another. They had detached from the Pantala patrol a long time ago, and now roamed on their own. Somehow, he had to get in contact with his parents before they tore apart the continent looking for him - and dad would probably assassinate a few innocent dragons.

"Do you know anyone who lives nearby?"

"Sundew and Willow, I guess, but I can't see Willow being particularly happy about you."

"Me?"

"Stow - a - way," Striker enunciated teasingly. "The same can be said for Blue and Cricket. And definitely not my parents."

"Are you kidding me? Swordtail is chill about anything!"

"And Luna is not. Besides, my house is a long way to fly." He glanced up at the sun, falling from its climax in the sky. "We need someone who lives nearby."

"Where are we?" Nightstar asked thoughtfully.

"Dragonfly Bay."

Aha. For the fact remained that he did know two somebodies who lived nearby - and he was the somewhat friend (probably future brother-in-law) of their son.

Kelp's parents. Sunny and someone.

He explained this to Striker, who sounded overjoyed and declared it 'a perfect hideout!', because in his words, 'Sunny was bribeable and Squid - Kelp's father, he assumed - would find their situation pretty cool'

So the two launched into the sky after a brief rest, and shot towards the location of Sunny and Squid's secluded hut on the other side of Dragonfly Bay.

During the flight, Nightstar recited everything he knew about these two dragons to Striker: they met on Pantala, I think, that's why they moved there later on. They used to live at the Bay of a Thousand Scales on Pyrrhia. Kelp's their only dragonet, but I think they have an egg on the way if I remember correctly.

I remember Squid, he saved me. He's a good dragon. So is Sunny, she ACTUALLY played hide and seek.

Then he progressed into talking about everything he remembered about Pantala from a fleeting collection of childhood memories, finding that he remembered quite a bit. The thought of it brought another easy smile to his face.

Striker stopped him only to point out the little hut that jutted into the lake, which was thatched with leaves and overall looked pretty cosy. Kelp, of course, had stayed at school (determinedly not to look out for Cloverpool) so he wouldn't be there to back them up.

Nightstar made a mental note to write to him too.

They landed at the doorway, where Striker flicked his tail indicatively, ushering Nightstar to the door. He understood: they would definitely get a better reaction if someone they remembered as cute and not destructive turned up on their doorstep.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Kno-

An older, sleeker, brighter green dragon opened the door in his face. The years had moulded Squid into someone a little different to before: his scowl still rode upon his face, but it was softened with sarcasm, and when he spoke it was with confusion rather than spite.

"What are you doing here?"

***

They were inside. Sunlight filtered like viscous liquid through the open windows, and wrapped the two dragonets in a shawl of warmth. Sunny and Squid sat opposite them, on a humble collection of pillows that he recognised from a nearby market Striker frequented, sharing worried expressions.

"Let me get this straight..." Sunny struggled to say, "Instead of going home with your magical death spit wielding Queen and her assassin bodyguard, back to a place where you are the prince and your protection is vital... You flew out to another continent with a small party under a fake identity, all to get away from this killer?"

"You missed the part where a student actually died," Striker added helpfully.

Sunny rubbed her forehead. "I'm... confused."

"Well, I'm pretty proud." Squid shrugged. Sunny shot him a glare that meant shush in every language.

"But why didn't you think home was safe? You're not the target of this killer!" Sunny cried.

"Then who is?" He challenged.

Sunny could not come up with an answer.

"We're not going back," Striker added, "so unless you're the kind of dragons who abandon helpless Dragonets in the wilderness..."

"Oh, you know we're not monsters," she sighed haughtily. "You might as well stay here where Glory knows her son is looked after."

Striker exchanged a beam with Nightstar.

"But I am writing to her to tell her where you are." She said as she left the room.

"Fine by me."

"Er... I'll write to Deathbringer, but I think he'll just be pretty pleased." Squid shook his head as he followed his partner from the room.

"You know what?" Striker said, sounding rather amused. "That went really well."

"It surprisingly did. How long will we stay here?"

"Not sure," Striker shrugged. "But we don't need to think about that now. I mean, look! We're safe! And in good care. They have raised a son, and you said they have another egg soon to hatch."

"Twin eggs," Squid called gleefully from the next room.

"Twin eggs." Striker amended. "See? We'll be fiiiine."

Maybe they would be 'fiiiine'.

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Wham bam, take your new chapter.

Innocent question, but I'm considering doing a CounterPart rewrite? With scheduled, biweekly releases, and a cover drawing competition? What be your say on this, wise people?

PS, I don't think Nightstar and Anakin see head to head about sand :/

~ Solar out