"I've got some news for you all," The guardian Webs announced during dinner that day. He flicked his tail with uncertainty. "According to the prophesy, tomorrow is the day you can finally leave."

Clay stopped chewing, a whole cow in his mouth that he tried to fit. "Whut!" He mumbled, not believing what he just heard. He spat out the cow. "We can leave?"

Kestrel glared at Clay, then looked at Webs. "They're not ready for the world! We can keep them here a little longer!" She protested.

"Why do you care if we are ready? You hate us!" Tsunami snapped.

"I've wasted nearly a decade of my life protecting you worms. The last thing I want is for those years to go to waste by you getting killed!"

Webs shook his head. "No. We can't tamper with the prophesy. So far, the basics have all gone as told to. If we don't leave tomorrow and ONLY tomorrow, who knows what could go wrong?"

"I agree with Kestrel," Dune spoke up. He hobbled over to an empty spot and sat down, setting his crutch on the ground next to him. "If they're not ready to fight, they won't last a week of battle."

Now it was Hivitur's turn to speak. "But the prophesy didn't say that they had to be assassins, or even that they had to be able to fight! They should leave tomorrow."

"But it didn't say exactly when they had to leave, either!" Kestrel pointed out.

Clay hated it when the guardians argued, but this was important, so he listened to their quarreling.

Then Tsunami stood up. "Why should we wait? The world is out there and it needs us! We should go as soon as we can and stop acting like lazy Rainwings!"

Sunny opened her mouth to correct the "Lazy Rainwings" comment, but saw it was a bad time and closed her mouth.

"Why not ask Morrseer?" Someone said. Everyone turned to Starflight, who had been quiet the whole time.

"Yes! Ask him!" Hawk said. "If anyone knows what to do, it's the one who told the prophesy."

Webs shook his head. "That couldn't work. Morrseer told me he would be gone until next moon."

Starflight sank back into a slouch, looking like he regretted even offering a suggestion.

"What if they prove they are ready?" Kestrel spat. "What if we test them? Have them fight me? If the majority of them wins against me, they can go. If not, then they must stay here and continue to train."

"Seems fair," Webs said. "Everyone agree?"

"I'll be more than willing to fight for my freedom," Tsunami growled at Kestrel. "And I'll be more than willing to be fighting you for it"

Sunny nodded. "I think that is a good idea, but I'm sure I'll lose."

"But you have your scorpion tail," Dune said to her, noting the poison-tipped tail all Sandwings had.

"I don't like the idea of using it on others," Sunny said admittedly, looking at her talons. "Also, it would hurt Kestrel, wouldn't it?"

"I think It's a good idea," Clay said. "Fighting Kestrel, not using her tail, I mean." He quickly added.

"Alright then," Kestrel said, swallowing the last of a boar. "Tomorrow, you all challenge against me. If at least three of you win, you may leave the following day." She paused. "BUT," she went on. "If that isn't the case, you all will stay here until I think you are ready to take on the world."

Kestrel walked away, muttering to herself until she seemed satisfied with her complaints.

Tsunami finished the last of her meal. "C'mon guys." she said, standing. "Let's do a bit of training. I want to be ready to take on Kestrel."

___________________________________________________

"Guess which object I'll take," Tsunami said to Starflight, placing a scroll, a rock and a dead pig Tsunami saved from their meal in front of the Nightwing.

"I know which one I'd take," Clay said while watching the two. He licked his chops, staring at the pig. "If it was a cow though, you guys wouldn't even have to guess what I'd take. But then again, I think it's still obvious on what I would choose, even though it isn't a cow. Why didn't you get a cow instead? I mean"-

"For the Blazing's sake, will someone shut him up?" Hawk groaned, covering his head with his arms.

The Seawing turned to the rambling Mudwing. "Clay, can you stop, please?" Tsunami asked. "Starflight needs to concentrate."

All of the dragonets were in the library, watching Tsunami and Starflight, except for Sunny, who was reading their only scroll on Rainwings. Well, it wasn't a scroll; more just a brief roll of paper. She read it constantly, hoping she would find new information proving they weren't lazy. Clay had no idea why she couldn't accept what everyone told them, but she didn't. Clay shook his head and went back to watching the Tsunami and Starflight.

After another glance at each item, Starflight looked up. "How's this going to help me fight Kestrel?" He asked her.

"If you can harness your Nightwing powers, you might be able to read Kestrel's mind to find out what move she will do." The Seawing said to him. "Now, on the count of three, I will touch the object I want to take. At the same time, place your talon on the object you think I want to take."

Starflight closed his eyes and nodded, opening them. "Okay. I'm ready."

Clay really wanted that pig now. He imagined eating it, tasting the soft meat, swallowing it.

"One..." Tsunami began.

Clay stretched backwards into a pounce position, aiming for the corpse.

"...Two..."

You're mine now! Clay thought, legs bent all the way, ready to push him foreword.

Hawk noticed Clay and sighed. "Oh no!" He muttered, turning away while using his left wing to block his view.

"...Three!"

Clay jumped straight ahead, opening his mouth to swallow the pig; at the exact same time, Starflight and Tsunami reached towards the objects.

The next thing Clay knew, Tsunami was giving him an awkward look and Starflight's head was halfway in his mouth, the Nightwing beating on Clay's muzzle with balled talons.

Oops! Clay thought, lifting his mouth off of him. "Sorry!"

Starflight wiped drool off of himself, glaring at the Mudwing. "What was that all about?" He demanded.

"I just couldn't resist. The pig looked so good and I wanted it, so I jumped at and, and well..." He looked at the pig. "Can I have it?"

Starflight sighed, gesturing a 'go ahead' motion with his claws. Immediately, Clay snatched up the animal and ate it with one bite.

"So, did I guess right?" Starflight asked Tsunami hopefully.

She shook her head. "No. I was reaching for the rock, not the pig."

Starflight sighed again. "The Nightwings wouldn't accept me if I can't read minds." He moaned, laying his head pitifully on the ground.

Hawk looked at Clay and gave him an annoyed 'Is he seriously giving up?' face.

Sunny noticed Starflight sulking and walked over to him. She lied down next to him and said, "I don't think the Sandwings will fully accept me, either."

Starflight raised his head at her in awe. "You? But everyone likes you!"

"I know," Sunny agreed. "But think about it: I'm not a normal Sandwing color and I don't like to use my tail. That's not normal for a Sandwing."

Starflight cocked his head at her. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, just like how you think I'll fit in with my tribe, I KNOW you'll fit in with yours." She nuzzled him a bit and gave him a smile, which was reflected back to her.