Quickstrike paced anxiously, leaving a small worn path on the rainforest floor where she walked.

She was waiting for her son, who was bound to come anytime soon.

"Mother, we should go."

Quickstrike glared at her only daughter.

"We're not leaving until Deathbringer gets here."

Infinity raised an eye-ridge, "Cool, then I guess I might as well settle down to live the rest of my life here."

Quickstrike growled at the hybrid and kept pacing.

She was not in the mood to play along with her daughter's jokes.

"He will be here. There's nothing for him here in the rainforest. We're his only family."

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night," Infinity rolled her eyes.

The NightWing mother looked up at the darkening sky with a pleading look.

Deep... things would be so much easier if you were hear. I lost him, then found you. I lost you, and then I found him.

Quickstrike sighed at the familiar vague pain in her heart when she thought of Deep.

She missed him terribly, now more than before. Deep had always been there since that faithful day when her life had gone downhill.

He took care of her and never failed to make her smile with his thoughtful poems and songs.

Most importantly though, he loved her.

Then the storm came in with its furious winds and towering waves, leaving with Deep's life.

Quickstrike thought she only had Infinity left, no one else.

Never had the possibility of Deathbringer actually being alive crossed her mind.

For years, she thought he was dead.

Gone forever.

But he was alive, she was sure of that now.

Perhaps she may not have been the best mother back then, but all Quickstrike wanted to do was make it up to Deathbringer.

The NightWing wanted to show her son that she was different now. Finally she could be the mother she was never able to be.

"He's not going to show up, this is pointless," Infinity pestered.

"Infinitesea, if you don't shut up this moment I swear to the moons you will get what you deserve when we get home!"

Quickstrike's daughter groaned, "Ugh... fine! But don't say I didn't warn you."

Nonetheless, time passed slowly, and it wasn't long before the only light available was the one that a single half moon and the stars provided.

Quickstrike kept hoping and hoping, but eventually she had to be truthful with herself.

A tiny seed of doubt was beginning to grow in her.

Was Infinity right?

Would Deathbringer actually just let them go like that?

Quickstrike subconsciously bit the inside of her cheek.

Had she been too demanding? Was that it?

It was then that there was a strange sound.

Now, the rainforest was home to thousands of living animals, but the noise she heard stuck out like a sore claw.

After a few seconds, Quickstrike finally figured out what it was.

Flapping wings.

He is coming with us.

That lonely but sure thought sent a small boost of adrenaline up her veins.

Quickstrike looked behind her to see Infinity lazily lying down on a tree branch, munching on some yellow colored fruit with an indifferent face.

It wasn't often that Quickstrike snapped at her daughter like that, but Infinity just kept pushing and pushing her to the limit.

A few seconds later, she heard it again.

Deathbringer was closer now, and soon they would be off to their island.

Only, when Deathbringer finally showed up, he wasn't alone.

The RainWing Queen was with him too.

For some unfathomable reason, Quickstrike's stomach clenched uneasily.

Something is wrong.

Why did he bring her?
We are not taking her with us too.

"Mother," Deathbringer started with a hesitant voice.

She didn't like that voice. It was hiding something she didn't want to hear.

"We can't take her with us, she's the queen. Surely she has many duties to attend to here in the rainforest," Quickstrike said more out of panic than anything.

"No, mother, I..."

He seemed to have trouble finding the right words, and that's when the RainWing placed her talon over his own.

Quickstrike didn't miss that little action, and it just made fear present itself in her head.

Whatever Glory did somehow helped Deathbringer finally say, "I'm not going with you, Mom. I'm staying here."

Just like that, Quickstrike was struck by lightning again. However, this time it was worse than before.

This time, instead of hitting her physically, that shocking bolt of realization hit deep into her heart.

"Why?"

That was the only word that left her mouth. Any other and she would collapse in tears.

"I can't leave Glory like that. I... love her. My heart is here, in the rainforest with my queen. I'm sorry, Mom. I really am," Deathbringer replied with sad eyes.

The emotions and thoughts in her head were overflowing her entirely.

Quickstrike found it harder and harder to breathe with every second that passed by.

Her heart was beating too fast and she could feel it literally pounding against her chest.

"Mom... are you okay? Mom!"

Infinity's voice was panicked and fearful as she rushed to Quicsktrike.

Her vision began to flicker on and off, and her chest was hurting too much. The NightWing's body was too fragile, she could give in at any moment.

"W-what's wrong?" Deathbringer sounded frightened.

Quickstrike stumbled back and fell against a tree, her only focus was on trying to get some air into her lungs.

"She- Dad said she's had heart problems since she got struck, and they got worse when he died. But it's never been this bad!"

Quickstrike's chest was heaving up and down at an unhealthy speed, and she couldn't stand the pain in the center of her chest.

It's over. Deep, help me.

A silent cry escaped her mouth before everything went dark, and then she couldn't feel anything.

——————————————————————

Decided to give you and insight into Quicsktrike's head this time.

Just to see what she's really like and to give you more a little more insight on what Quickstrike's and Deep's relationship was like.

So, another pretty twist. And cliffhanger, lol.

Sorry XD.

Poor Quickstrike, always getting hurt.

And no, Infinitesea is not a typo. That's Infinity's full name. Just a little quick bonus.

Anyways. Thanks as always for reading!

Don't forget, every Tuesday is Glorybringer Tuesday!

I'm actually quite proud of myself for keeping up with the schedule after this whole time.

Yes, I'm a procrastinator like that. XDDD

Okie Dokie

Have any of you heard Julia Michaels?

I'm listening to her songs right now, and I've never felt lyrics hit me like that, really recommend you give her music a try. Bonus, she's an amazing person!

-Sofi