-Four Years Later-

"Get up you lazy berry-faced-lizard!" Artemis hollered, clambering onto a sleeping platform and bouncing on top of Prophecyteller. Her sister growled lightly and flared her wings with a louder protest. The younger dragonet gave an urgent hiss, and pulled at her talons.

"Go back to bed," she said, irritated, shoving Artemis away. The purple Nightwing flailed her wings and ended up falling to the floor with a loud thud. Artemis then scowled down at the floor, and her poor stubbed talons, rolling back over and hissing again.

"We have to go and see the shooting stars!" She shouted, jumping onto Prophecyteller, who hissed back in response and waved her talons. "Let's go. I'm not going to miss this! How could you just lay there! You're so boringly boring and irritating!"

"In the morning," her voice trailed off into a light snore. Artemis fell back on top of Prophecyteller, her wings splayed outwards as she tried(and failed) to nudge her off the ledge. Despite being only a year older, Prophecyteller was much larger.

"They won't be out in the morning!" She whined. "That's not how astrology works."

Prophecyteller's mouth curled down into a grimace, the older dragonet obviously being tired, and at this point, over it. Artemis curved her head down to her sister, gently poking her neck. Prophecyteller hissed again. She did that a lot.

"Wanna go for a fly afterward?" She asked. "I know how much you like going flying." The dark Nightwing was silent for a moment under her, until Prophecyteller launched Artemis off herself and the platform with an annoyed shove. Though her rising from the platform signaled her finally giving in.

"Only for a little bit." She said.

Artemis giggled in delight, jumping from the platform into the cave opening. Her sister took off after her, silently gliding past their parents sleeping all intertwined as they snored on.

She rolled her eyes as they glided past trees, careful to stay in the shadows they cast as to not be spotted. Special perks of their tribe. Soon they found a decently hidden ledge under a bending elm tree to watch the stars from.

They both clung to the surface as the night sky came to life, colors dancing across the surface, and shooting stars whizzing past in a blaze of silver-blue glory.

Artemis's eyes were wide and scattering like the lights themselves. Prophecyteller glanced at her little sister, watching the stars rocket past. She wanted to back up a bit further.

"Come on!" Artemis suddenly exclaimed. "Let's get a better view!"

Prophecyteller frowned, uncertain as she debated this. "Here's good enough." She said firmly, digging her talons into the niches in the dirt and moss coating the spire. Artemis has dragged her too far tonight.

Artemis scowled, and began shaking her forearm. "Please please pleaaaaase-"

"Alright!" Prophecyteller mumbled, and was ashamed at herself for giving in so easily.

Artemis's scowl faded, replaced with a sharp grin.

"I better not regret this." Her sister warned, spreading her wings. The silver scales underneath them weren't as bright as a normal Nightwings, so the underside of her wings seemed like someone had painted a night sky, then some other dragon's tail accidentally smudged it.

Artemis spread her own wings and they took off again. Prophecyteller scanned the ground below them, spotting a slab of stone surrounded by trees that jutted out of the side of a mountain, creating an angled area that brought them a bit higher, and therefore a bit closer. She angled her wings, and began her descent to it.

Artemis beat her, flapping her wings in a flurry of movements, and she rocketed past her sister and tumbled onto the rock slab in her glee. Her wing, while folding, caught the branches of a small tree nearby, and she growled as she tried to rip it away.

"Come here." Prophecyteller said. "You're getting too excited, you'll hurt yourself." She scolded. Still, she helped her sister get untangled. After that was over, they faced the night sky once again, this time even closer.

Artemis watched in awe, they were so close, she felt like she could reach out and catch one of the stars in her talons. They sparkled like diamonds, and the sky was so incredibly clear. The views were nice from their cave entrance, but this...being out here in complete darkness but the light of the moons was incredible. A few minutes passed, and the falling stars became less and less, until every now and then a tiny streak of blue or white would light up the sky.

"It's time to go home." Prophecyteller decided, facing Artemis. She had began nodding vigorously as she tried to keep herself awake. Her ears drooped, blue eyes turning pale.

"Yeah, I don't want to get into trouble." Artemis agreed, standing up. She snorted, "Mother would kick our tails if we-"

Suddenly, a cold rush of air came from behind, giving them both shivers up and down their spines. Clouds seemed to start to gather and darkened the sky even more as Artemis felt her heart leap into her throat. The light was practically gone. Despite being Nightwings, they didn't have the special sight most of their tribe did. They peered with strained eyes into the dark sky.

"You're leaving already? Now that's a shame."

The two sisters turned around to face a large Skywing.

Some of his teeth protruded from his lower jaw, curving over the top, forming his face into a permanent snarl. One of his shimmering horns was broken off, the tip jagged and pointed. His wings were huge, nearly as big as Artemis herself and the membrane inside was a fiery orange, dimmed greatly by the darkness around them. As he moved, the colors clashed with the russet tone of his scales. His overly-long talons made a horrible sound as he calmly walked towards them, dragging them on the ground.

Prophecyteller spread her wings, shielding Artemis from the Skywing's horrible grey eyes. Artemis bared her teeth from under them, trying to appear brave as her body shivered instinctually in fear. She had to be strong for Prophecy.

"What do you want?" Prophecyteller tried to sound brave, but her voice came out like a whisper instead. Artemis hissed lowly behind her as the Skywing rolled his eyes.

"What do I want?" The stranger winced as he spoke, as his bottom teeth scraped the sides of his top jaw. "Idiot dragonets." He muttered under his breath. "I think it's what do you want? You are awfully close to Skywing territory."

Prophecyteller looked horrified, all the nightmares of being caught alighting in her head. She whirled to face her sister. "We went-"

"We wanted to see the shooting stars." Artemis spoke up. "We didn't know we wandered this far into Skywing territory. We'll leave right away." She said quickly, and the Skywing turned his attention to her.

"I can't let you leave now. Queen Scarlet was so excited, hearing about you two. Nightwings really are a rare sight. And so close to home? It would be such a shame to disappoint the Queen. I am afraid you'll have to come with me." The dragon said, sharpening his talons on the rock slab as he mused to himself. "Now, will we do this the easy way-" his claws screeched against the rock. "Or the hard way?"

Prophecyteller ran a plan through her head as he waited. It was risky, but if it worked it would save her and Artemis from being captured and from getting any horrible injuries, save for a burn or a scratch or two. They would have to catch this dragon off guard. The edges of Artemis' eyes said it all as the older Nightwing focused on her sister. She was scared. Prophecyteller had to get her out of this.

Artemis brushed her wing across Prophecy's as they had a silent communication.

"You need to make your choice soon." The stranger rumbled. "You scared, dragonets? You shouldn't be unless you're going to resist." He scoffed. "Is it the fact we're strangers? Did your mommy tell you not to talk to big scary dragons like me?"

Slowly, Artemis began to spread her wings-

"My name is Lance. Wow, look how easy that was. Now you're coming with me-"

Prophecyteller barreled into Lance, hard, knocking him off balance despite his size in one swift motion. Artemis raced into him as well, her talons grazing across his face as she quickly took off into the air, Prophecyteller close behind.

They beat their wings restlessly as Lance soared after them. He roared angrily, blasting fire from his nostrils and his now open mouth. Artemis yelped as a flame licked past her tail and she dove after Prophecyteller. It wasn't long until they had raced back to their home.

"Mother! Father!" Artemis cried, first to be sent stumbling in the dark. Blacktalon and Dreamcatcher woke quickly, confused by all the commotion.

"Skywing-take us to-Queen." Artemis panted, struggling to get the words out of her mouth. Prophecyteller dove into the cave, Lance right on her tail. She hissed and breathed her own tongue of fire right at his face as her talons sparked against the stone.

Their parents roared in surprise, their confusion soon replaced by anger. Before Lance could turn around, Dreamcatcher charged at the Skywing, slashing at his russet scales as the two dragons circled each other in the small space. Lance shrieked and stumbled back, falling to the ground and cracking his head against the wall. As she braced her tail harsh across his now scorched snout. It wasn't long until he had his head pinned by their mother.

Blacktalon shoved his daughters into a different room as he left to help Dreamcatcher. Artemis was terrified, and she clung to Prophecyteller, who was repeatedly blaming herself for what was happening. Artemis felt more guilt than anyone. It wasn't Prophecyteller's fault, it was hers. She wanted to go out and risk getting found.

"Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Mom and Dad are going to get killed." Prophecyteller choked back a sob, listening to the fight outside of the safe cave.

"Please don't say that." Artemis pleaded, the Nightwing gripping her sister. "It's my fault, not yours, I'm so sorry!"

Lance flipped Blacktalon over and knocked Dreamcatcher back, blasting a searing jet of fire at his exposed underbelly. Blacktalon roared in agony, his talons raking at Lance's head. The Skywing's scream thundered through the night and Prophecyteller covered Artemis's ears, waiting for the horror to end.

The Skywing's roars echoed into the night until Artemis heard a sharp thud, and all was silent.

Dreamcatcher lumbered into the cave, looking bloody and rather furious. "Who's grand idea was it to go out?" She snarled, and Artemis shivered as her mother roared at them.

She tried to admit to it, but her voice didn't seem to be working. She messed up so badly this time.

She had messed up before, but not like this. Her mishaps are when she accidentally swallows a bone from their dinner, or accidentally cuts her palm when attempting to carve soft pieces of wood. But she endangered her family, all because she wanted to see stupid glittery lights.

"Me, it was me." Prophecyteller suddenly said. Artemis looked at her, bewildered as her older sister took the blame. She didn't get it. "I wanted to go out and see the shooting stars with Artemis." She said, her voice turning hoarse.

"Prophecy, how unlike you!" Dreamcatcher put in, terribly furious. "Don't you even listen during your training?"

Artemis drifted from the conversation, a new spark igniting in her mind. Training? They never had any training, save for some basic battle and hunting sessions. If Prophecy had training, she'd tell Artemis about it!

...right?

Were not only her parents keeping things from her, but her own sister was, too? She couldn't help but wonder, as she was scolded by Dreamcatcher and Blacktalon.

What else were they hiding?