Glow awoke refreshed and determined as could be. For once, she was excited to wake up this particular morning. Not that other mornings were terrible or anything– just kind of standard. She stretched her enormous wings and let out a yawn that she was pretty sure shook the whole cave. She craned her head down to the sleeping quarters below her to see a pleasantly sleeping Corona. Looks like someone needs a little wake up call. Glow slowly maneuvered her tail into her companion's sleeping quarters, mischievous intentions pumping her veins.

       She moved her tail tip delicately into Corona's nose to tickle her. She let out a confused snort and tried to scratch herself with her claws. Glow repeated this process trying not to laugh until Corona let out an alarming sneeze and bumped her head on her cave's ceiling. An audible ow was heard and she looked up at the perpetrator above her with a mock scowl. Glow couldn't help it and let herself laugh. "Ngleeeeeeeeh!" Corona stuck her black forked tongue out at Glow and she returned the playful gesture.

       "Morning, sleepy SandWing." Glow cooed mockingly. Corona merely rolled her eyes at her and got up.

       "Morning tickle-tail." Corona responded with equal mockery. Glow scoffed and pulled herself out of her cave and gave Corona a friendly shove. "So, you do realize there's more on the agenda today other than just tickling me, right?" She prodded. Glow rolled her eyes and simply led them both out of the cave.

       "Yeeeeeeees, I know, Corona. No need to remind me. I am the SkyWing of destiny after all." She joked, puffing her chest out to look super important and big.

       "Good grief, please tell me you didn't let it get to your head THIS soon!" Corona groaned cheekily. "The last thing you need is a massive ego." She scoffed.

       "Don't worry, I was just kidding." Glow assured, laughing. "Yes, I know what we're supposed to do. We're on a spying mission to observe the other dragonets of destiny."

       "Oh good, so you DON'T have the memory of a frog." Corona teased.

       "Hey, my memory's not THAT bad! Is it?" Glow asked, shocked.

       "Nah– more like the memory of a goldfish now that I think about it." Corona added. Glow decided to ignore that quip and move on.

       They were almost out of the cave when Kite burst out from behind a rock and let out a small roar at them. They both jumped back in surprise and recoiled from the energetic young SkyWing. Oooooh, you're trying so hard, friend. Better luck next time, small fry. To nobody's surprise, Evenstar was seated no more than two feet away from where Kite was positioned. "Rawr, did I scare you? I bet I was real scary, wasn't I?" Corona simply padded up to him and gave him an affectionate pet on the head.

       "Yes, you were very scary Kite. If I were a snail, my shell would have jumped off my body." Corona teased.

       "Heeeeeeeeeeeey! You're just saying that!" Kite said, tugging at her wing. "Oh well, I guess I'll have to try harder next time! Come on Evenstar, let's come up with a better plan."

       "Actually, Frigga has something to ask you, Kite." Evenstar interrupted. Kite turned towards their master who was standing by her forge with something wrapped in a red velvety bundle. She smiled at the dragonets in front of her and beckoned Corona to come forth.

       "Well, yes I do, Evenstar. However, I have something I'd like Corona to have." She announced. Glow looked onward, curious as to what she had worked on. She's always making some kind of doohickey, doodad, or thingy ma-whats-its. Frigga handed Corona the bundle of material while she looked at it wide-eyed. She had always refused gifts or receiving anything special or fancy.

       Corona opened it as carefully as she could, and inside was what looked like a large metal egg with what looked like a place to attach it to something. She looked at it in confusion and Frigga laughed and began explaining it. "This is a SandWing tail protector of my own design. The 'egg' splits into three protective iron plates and will contain the tail barb. On the ring where it attaches to the tail, there's a ring that when shifted, opens the 'egg' and it can be closed the same way.

       "I've been wondering if SandWings ever accidentally hurt their peers with their tails, and you have worried about that a few times, so I thought I'd remedy it. It's yours, and it's one size fits all." Frigga finished explaining. Corona, staring at it in awe and shock, pressed the button on the band and it sprang apart, the elastic substance holding it together. She brought her tail barb forward and fit it inside. She pressed the button again and it contracted back together and fit around her tail.

       She looked at it, like she was just given the Eye of Onyx personally and waved it around to get used to it. "It's really comfortable and snug. It doesn't bother me at all." You couldn't see the tail barb, only the metal "egg" covering it. She pressed the band against a rock to shift it, and the casket sprang open, exposing her barb inside. All the while, the amazed expression on Corona's face never faltered. She shifted the band again and it closed tightly, as if it never opened at all.

       Corona eyed the contraption starry-eyed. She was shaking it still, seemingly checking if it was really there, as if she was asking herself if this was even real. "Thank you so much, Frigga! No one..." She paused, casting her gaze askew. "No one's ever given me something like this before." She murmured appreciatively. Frigga wrapped her arms around the small SandWing with a smile.

       "It was a pleasure, and the design scrolls for this are here if you ever need to see them if it gets damaged." Frigga added.

       "Thank you." Corona said again.

       "Now, Evenstar brought up that I was going to speak to Kite about something. That is correct, indeed." She continued. She turned to face the small orange SkyWing with certainty. "I want you to accompany Glow and Corona on their assignment this afternoon." Frigga explained. Glow and Corona looked simultaneously at their teacher with concern, while Kite was obviously bumbling around excitedly.

       "Are you sure that's a good idea, master? He might not be safe and he's only a small dragonet." Glow voiced. Kite looked at her with annoyance and whacked her with his tail.

       "Yeah, and besides, he's not good at sitting still for longer than a minute or two. Won't he give us away?" Corona added. A look of offended disbelief sprawled across the young SkyWing's face.

       "Hey!" Kite exclaimed.

       "What? I'm just saying it won't be good for any of us if we get caught." Corona retorted.

       "I think you need to have more faith in our youngest." Frigga retorted. "You underestimate him too much." Corona and Glow still didn't look convinced, but trusted that their master knew what she was doing. I just don't want the little guy to get hurt. This war has been bad for everyone involved and he's too young to be exposed to that. Glow took Kite under her wing protectively, already preparing for the worst without realizing it.

       "Alright, whatever you say, teach." Corona responded. Frigga looked at them calmly and then locked eyes with Evenstar intently. Glow turned to look at him and he looked as if he was listening to her, but she wasn't saying anything. Could he have mind-reading powers then? Glow turned to look back at Frigga and she simply smiled at them and motioned them towards the table. No, he would have told us if he did. I mean, he's the most honest dragon in all of Pyrrhia. Anyone would trust him with their life after first meeting him.

       Frigga indulged in a walrus flipper while the others dined on whatever they liked the most. Corona had her bite-sized lizards to munch on, Kite ate his poultry happily, and Evenstar shared some goat with Glow.

       Goat was her favourite food. It was so lean, and tough, but so savoury. She turned to Corona who raised an eyebrow with a smirk. Glow looked at her in confusion before realizing that her favourite food, which she was currently eating, was what Glow liked calling her the most. Corona started raising her eyebrows repeatedly with that same annoyingly smug grin. Don't you imply anything, you clod! She began to flush wildly when she put two-and-two together, and Corona's expression becoming more and more smug only made her more embarrassed. She turned her head away in embarrassment and stared at the corner trying to avert the SandWing's piercing black gaze. How. Dare. You?

       Once the sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon, Glow and her two partners for today got ready with their capes, and prepared to leave. "You remember where we're going, right?" Glow asked Corona to be sure. Corona rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

       "Ugh, yes! I remember where to go, I don't get lost like you do." Corona responded, rolling her eyes.

       "Hey, that was one time! I'm not bad at directions, I swear!" Glow defended.

       "Well, I think you're both great at whatever you guys do!" Kite chimed in. Glow smiled and stroked his head affectionately. She turned towards Frigga who was standing tall with Evenstar very close by her smiling at them. She smiled back at her and turned to depart.

       "Bye, master! We'll be back soon!" Glow called.

       "See ya in a bit, Friggs!" Corona added.

       "Goodbye Frigga! We're going to be the best at spying!" Kite chimed in.

       "Goodbye, my apprentices! Stay safe!" Frigga called back to the three. They launched out of the cave and lifted into the sky. Corona was beginning to lead them towards the other side of the mountain but then abruptly stopped, fear painting her face white.

       "What's wrong?" Glow asked, fearful.

       "Dive down! Now!" Corona quickly ordered as soon as she shot behind a tree on the mountainside. Glow and Kite followed her instantly and hid in the tree as well. Glow was about to ask what the reasoning for that was until she saw a giant black dragon flying through the mountains. Glow looked at them in astonishment. Three moons! That dragon is HUGE! "Now what would a NightWing like that be doing in a place like this?" Corona pondered.

       "The dragonets! He must be going to see them." Kite guessed. Glow looked at him as if she was telling him to continue. "The Dragonet Prophecy was written by a NightWing named Morrowseer. He's been around for more than twenty years, so it would make sense why he would be that big." Corona looked impressed and brushed him with her wing.

       "Wow Kite. Didn't know you were that into history, but it came in handy." She commented.

       "What? It's interesting, and it's kind of important to know, don't you think?" He responded.

       "I agree." Glow said. "Anyways, should we follow him, then?" Glow asked anxiously. The three onlookers merely stared in reverence of the massive dragon. When they watched him disappear into the mountains, Corona finally broke the silence.

       "Alright, he's heading in the same direction as the dragonets of destiny, and I don't think he noticed us. Let's follow him." Glow and Kite followed her without any hesitation and they lifted from their tree into the mountains, being careful not to lose the massive black NightWing.

       They kept him within their sight from afar, being careful not to catch up with him too quickly. Even Kite was intimidated by this giant behemoth of a dragon, and they all feared what would happen if he caught them. Glow took note of the route he was taking, and while it was leading to the dragonets, it was also much harder to traverse. Probably for good reason. A NightWing like him probably has to stay secret, after all. I'd want to be hard to follow if I were him, too.

       When he finally reached the dragonets' cave, the three spies hung back, being careful not to be spotted. The cave opened to the red SkyWing Glow saw yesterday and she let him in without hesitation. Once they heard the click of the boulder being put back in place, Corona signaled them to move forward.

       Corona soared, scanning the area with her sensitive SandWing ears. Her ears pricked to a sound from one of the holes in the mountain and she dove towards it, being careful not to cast a shadow inside. The others followed suit and seated themselves beside her.

       They peered inside and saw the dragonets and three adult dragons, the SkyWing, a mutilated SandWing, and the green SeaWing, standing rigid while the large NightWing, presumably Morrowseer, was assessing them. It didn't take long for him to notice that one thing wasn't as it should have been.

       "What. Is. THAT?" He said, pointing at the RainWing, disgust hissing through his voice like an angry snake. The RainWing sat there staring calmly at him, purple and gold lacing her scales. Glow both felt admiration for her incredible amount of restraint, and sympathy for how she was viewed. Just because she's a RainWing...

       "There was an accident, we lost the SkyWing egg, so we had to get another one somewhere–" the SkyWing said, cut off by the NightWing.

       "From the RainWings?" The black dragon snarled.

       "It was his idea. He brought her egg here!" the SkyWing snarled, whipping her tail at the SeaWing. Glow felt a sharp sting. That could have been me. If only it were me, then that RainWing would have grown up in the Rainforest Kingdom and she wouldn't have been treated this way.  Morrowseer would have  been happy with me, at least. Some part of her doubted that last part. It was more of a hope than it was a vote of confidence.

       "At least we have five dragonets, that's what matters." The sea dragon said, trying to sound optimistic.

       "More like four and a half." The NightWing said, looking at Sunny. Glow suddenly felt a burning rage building up inside her. Don't you dare, you heartless fox. "Are you supposed to be the SandWing? Don't you eat? What's wrong with you?" You son of a maggot-eating vulture! Glow felt helpless as the silence was growing more and more unbearable. Come on, Sunny! tell him he's wrong! Stand up for yourself!

       "She does. She eats just fine. As much as anyone." Tsunami said to Sunny's defense. Glow let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she's not alone right now.

       "It's not her fault she's small." Starflight chimed in.

       "She's a good fighter, and so is Glory." Clay jumped in as well. Glory. So that's her name.

       "Stop talking now." The NightWing interrupted. He scanned them again, his menacing eyes locking on each of them. He turned towards the adult dragons and glared at them. "Something has gone very wrong here."

       "Yes! It has, and I can tell you what. We're treated like prisoners!" Tsunami snapped. "We've never been outside these caves, not once. All we know about this world we're supposed to save is what we've learned in scrolls. We're supposed to be the most important dragonets in the world, but those three treat us like blind salamanders!" Tsunami raged. Glow couldn't believe what she saw. Wasn't Tsunami afraid of this NightWing? He could bite her head off in a second, and looked like he just might. Glow suddenly felt very grateful for every outing she'd ever made and everything Frigga had ever done for her.

       "Tsunami, hold your tongue." The SandWing snapped.

       "I will not!" Tsunami cried. "Please get us out of here. Take us away with you." Tsunami said to the NightWing.

       "Ungrateful lizard." The SkyWing growled.

       Without warning, the giant NightWing attacked Tsunami, aiming his jaws at her neck. Clay leaped onto him, thrashing his tail and clawing at the NightWing's scales. Tsunami escaped his grip and tumbled away from him, and slashed his snout and underbelly. Clay flattened himself and bit into the NightWing's neck. He leaped away from Tsunami and thrashed himself violently, throwing Clay off and landing with a resounding thud sound near the river.

       The NightWing staggered to his feet, facing Tsunami and grinding his teeth. He swung his tail around in front of him, something hanging onto it. Glow recognized the shimmering golden shape as the smallest dragon out of them all. Sunny! Way to go! "Ha! That's a surprise." The NightWing laughed and pulled Sunny off as if she were a leech. Glow heard a small voice next to her and almost forgot that she wasn't doing this alone.

       "Why haven't they moved?" Kite questioned.

       "Pardon?" Glow said, turning to Kite, Corona still listening in.

       "Why haven't Glory or Starflight moved? Or the adults?" He questioned. It was a good question. Glow didn't even notice that they didn't move, but once she did, she was appalled. Why didn't they help Tsunami when she was in danger? She could've been in real trouble.

       "We followed the prophecy. She wasn't in a clutch of eggs–I found her egg alone, buried out in the desert. Just like the prophecy said." The mutilated SandWing insisted.

       "As for you." The large NightWing stared down at Starflight, who was growing more and more stiff by the second. "I assume you used your NightWing powers to figure out that I wasn't going to harm the SeaWing. Perhaps you even had a vision of my visit today. No doubt you already know that I'm going to take you into the next cavern for a private conversation." Uh oh, I don't like the sound of that. "We'll talk about her later." The NightWing said, taking Starflight down the cavern deeper into the cave. Glow didn't want what they had to say to each other to be secret.

       "Corona, Kite. I want you to follow them and eavesdrop on the NightWings and the come back to me. Whatever they're going to say to each other, it can't be good." Glow ordered. She then turned to Kite to address him directly. Corona gave her a stern look that made Glow's skin crawl, but she couldn't decipher it.

       "Don't worry. We'll get the job done as best as best can be, Glow!" Kite piped up. Corona's expression faded back to one of trust and she nodded her head and slithered off without a word. Glow's attention returned back to the dragonets in the cave below. She returned to the SkyWing charging at Tsunami.

       "Stupid SeaWing!" She snarled, shooting across the cave and slashing Tsunami across the snout. "Complaining to the first strange dragon you see! Trying to make us look bad! Whining about your life, after all we've given up for you!" She screeched.

       "If you hate this too, why don't you let us go?" Tsunami shot back.

       "This is for your safety, that's what all of this is for. The Talons of Peace need you to survive long enough to fulfill the prophecy. You have no idea how many dragons would love to get their claws on you five." The green SeaWing answered.

       "Or what they'd do to you if they did." The SandWing growled.

       "Our job is to keep you alive. Or else I'd have strangled you myself a long time ago." The SkyWing said. Well, isn't she just a bucket of sunshine.

       "Great. Well, it's been a terrific life. Thanks very much." Tsunami retorted. The SkyWing made the sound Glow recognized as the sound when a SkyWing is about to breathe fire. Clay pulled Tsunami towards the river and Sunny jumped in front of the SkyWing.

       "We are grateful. We would much rather be alive than not alive! We're glad you keep us that way, we really are." Sunny interjected. Awwww, she's not even half her size. That's so adorable! But Glow was impressed that deterred the SkyWing. She's pretty persuasive, huh.

       "Come on, we need to talk." The SeaWing said, prodding the two other guardians towards the corridors.

       "Now he has something to say." The SkyWing grumbled, following them. Tsunami threw herself into the river leaving behind only bubbles and the image of her curling up in a position that Glow remembered from her breakdown yesterday. Poor Tsunami. She looked back towards Glory, and noticed that she hadn't moved an inch from where she was sitting.

       "Are you alright?" Clay asked Glory. Sunny sat next to her and Glory simply sat there.

       "Of course. I mean, we knew that was going to happen. It's not like the minders have been talking about how awesome I am this whole time." She responded, dullness in her voice.

       "But you are awesome!" He insisted. "They just don't see–"

       "They see a RainWing." She said with a nonchalant shrug. "I don't care. It's their own fault for bringing me here." Glow felt a pierce in her gut as she suddenly felt incredibly guilty. No...It isn't...it never was. It was my fault for not being there.

       "Why didn't you fight Morrowseer when we did? Then maybe he'd know how brave and fierce you are, too." Sunny asked. Glow smiled at her calm supportive nature.

       "Why bother? It was obviously a test, and I'd already failed." Her colours shifted from purple and gold to blue fairly quickly. Glow didn't have to know about RainWing biology to know that blue was the colour of sadness.

       "Well, we don't care what the prophecy says, or what Morrowseer thinks. You're our fifth dragonet. We don't want anyone else." Clay said stoutly. Glow knew what he meant by that–they didn't know that she even existed–but she still felt a sharp pain at that remark. Though, she began to realize something. Maybe it wasn't so bad that I never ended up here after all. Glory has a great support group and even if I was there, I don't think she'd be as strong or witty if she grew up in the rainforest.

       "That's very sweet." Glory said yawning. "I'm going to take a nap."

       "Now? Is that a good idea?" Sunny said, alarmed.

       "I'm tired, and they all think I'm lazy anyway. Nothing I do can change that." Glow felt immense empathy for Glory. She didn't know whether to blame Burn, herself, or just the cruel cogs of fate. Poor Glory. Glow suddenly had a key realization. It doesn't matter whether or not I was meant to end up here or not, this is just the way things ended up. She watched Glory slump into a nearby cave sullenly. They need her, and she needs them. And no matter what, I'm going to help you all. I promise.

       Glow's thoughts were interrupted by Kite prodding at her. "Glow? We have a problem." Something immediately clicked in Glow and she followed Kite to where Corona was listening. She turned to Glow with a look of genuine concern and fear in her gaze.

       "What is it? What's happening?" Glow asked. Corona pointed into the cave.

       "Listen for yourself." She simply said. Glow anxiously strained her ears to the hole to listen to the two NightWings talking.

       "Once I leave here, you must take up leadership of those dragonets and keep them in line. You need to make them listen to you. Let them know you are in charge from now on. You're a NightWing, and I'm expecting you to act like it." Morrowseer turned away from Starflight. "This meeting has come to a close." They heard him say to Starflight. Glow saw him leaving the cave when Starflight stopped him.

       "And what about Glory? What happens to her now?" He asked. Glow could see he was trembling, terrified of what answer he might get. She saw Morrowseer don a scowling smile on his face.

       "Don't worry about the RainWing. I'll take care of it." Those words chilled Glow to the bone. He's going to kill her!