Soon, the group stumbled upon a clearing — a rare break in the oppressive tangle of the forest. The ground was soft with moss, and golden sunlight filtered lazily through the gaps in the leaves above, dappling the ground in patches of warmth. It wasn't much, but it was enough for a brief rest.

Frostbite found her spot near a gnarled tree root that jutted from the earth like the twisted spine of some ancient creature. She curled around it, her icy scales shimmering faintly as she settled into a crouch. Her serrated claw slid absently into the bark of the root, carving little grooves without thought. The rough texture beneath her talons was oddly grounding, though it didn't quiet the restless hum in her mind.

Across the clearing, Glory curled up in a tight ball, tucking her head beneath her wing like an owl. Her vibrant, rain-soaked scales dimmed slightly as she slipped into rest, her camouflage blending her into the forest floor. She looked peaceful, though Frostbite knew better. None of them were really at peace, not with Scarlet's shadow hanging over their heads like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Nearby, Tsunami and the others settled beneath the same massive root Frostbite had claimed. Clay spread his broad wings, wrapping them protectively around Sunny and Starflight, who huddled close like dragonets seeking comfort from a storm. Clay's warm, steady presence radiated reassurance, though even he looked tired — bags under his eyes, his usual cheerful grin absent.

Frostbite gazed at them for a moment before letting her eyes drift back to the trees. Sleep would have been a welcome relief, but it wouldn't come. Her mind was too busy, too loud, filled with thoughts of Scarlet and the Sky Kingdom.

"You're not going to sleep?" a soft voice broke through her thoughts.

Frostbite glanced over to see Glory watching her, head tilted slightly, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion but still sharp with curiosity. Frostbite shook her head. "I can't," she admitted quietly. Her voice was steady, but there was a tension beneath it, like ice cracking underfoot. "I really want to go to the Sky Kingdom."

Glory sighed, the sound weary and knowing. She shifted her wings, letting the tension ease from her shoulders, but her gaze stayed locked on Frostbite. "We can't go back there," Glory said softly. "Not if Queen Scarlet is still alive." There was a pause, heavy with unspoken memories. "And she probably is. You know she's looking for revenge."

Frostbite's claw froze mid-carve, her grip tightening against the root. "I know," she murmured, her voice low. "But she took something from me. Something I can't just forget."

Glory's eyes darkened, her expression unreadable. "We've all lost things because of Scarlet," she said. "But we can't fight her alone."

"I'm not saying I want to fight her." Frostbite's voice was sharper now, her words cutting like the ice she wielded. "I just... I need to get back what she took."

Glory's gaze softened, and for a moment, neither dragon spoke. The forest around them seemed to breathe — the whisper of leaves, the distant trill of birdsong, the creak of ancient trees leaning in the wind.

Finally, Glory sighed again. "We'll figure it out," she said quietly. "Together. But not yet."

Frostbite dipped her head in reluctant agreement, though the ache in her chest didn't fade. The moonstone necklace. Fathom's gift. She could still feel its absence like a phantom weight around her neck.

Her claws dug deeper into the root, carving another line. The thought of Scarlet still out there, still holding what was hers, made her blood boil.

But for now, she forced herself to be still.

SCENEBREAK

"SUNNY!" Clay bellowed, his voice echoing through the trees like a thunderclap.

Frostbite jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest as she flared her white wings, nearly slipping off the tree root she'd been curled around. Her serrated claws dug into the bark to steady herself. "What? What's happening?"

"Sunny's gone," Starflight gasped, his voice trembling with barely contained panic. He looked as though someone had yanked the ground out from under him. His dark wings fluttered in agitation, his wide, worried eyes darting from tree to tree. "I-I don't understand — she was right here a moment ago!"

Tsunami whipped her tail through the air with a sharp crack, her blue scales glinting in the dappled sunlight. "Gone? What do you mean, gone?" Her growl rumbled through the clearing like a distant storm. "We made it through the Sky Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Sea without losing anyone, and now we're two minutes into the rainforest and one of us is gone?" She flicked her tail again, slicing through a patch of ferns in frustration.

"She's not gone!" Starflight protested, his voice rising in pitch. His breathing grew shallow, panic making his words tumble out in a rush. "She can't be! She has to be here somewhere. I was looking at her only a few moments ago! I-I would have seen if she—"

Frostbite folded her wings back and narrowed her icy blue eyes, scanning the dense greenery around them. The rainforest was alive with sound — chirping birds, rustling leaves, distant animal calls — but something felt off. Her instincts prickled with unease. The air was too thick, too quiet beneath the surface noise, as if something unseen was watching.

Her snarl deepened when she felt it — a faint prick against her neck, like the sting of a needle.

Her vision blurred for a split second, her body swaying. She slapped a claw to her neck and pulled out a tiny dart, coated with something sticky and green. Her pupils narrowed to slits. "A sleeping dart," she hissed, her voice low and venomous.

"Ouch!" Tsunami yelped from nearby. She clapped a talon to her own neck, pulling out an identical dart. Her lips curled in a furious snarl. "Something just stung me!"

Clay yelped as well, leaping to his feet and clawing frantically at his neck. He twisted in circles, wings flapping in agitation. "What the—"

Before he could finish, Starflight's eyes widened with pure terror. He didn't wait to see what would happen next — instead, he threw himself to the ground and rolled under a low-hanging bush, covering his head with his wings like a dragonet playing hide-and-seek. His voice, muffled but panicked, called out from beneath the foliage. "They're trying to knock us out! Everyone, hide!"

Frostbite barely heard him. Her blood was boiling now, her focus sharpening. She crouched low to the ground, her claws sinking into the mossy soil. She could feel something moving in the trees — a presence, slinking from shadow to shadow.

There.

A flash of scales in the branches above.

Without a second thought, Frostbite lunged. She drove her claws into the dirt and leaped into the air, slamming down hard on a figure that had been creeping along the tree trunk. There was a muffled shriek as a RainWing tumbled from the branches, landing hard on the ground with a thud. It flailed for a moment, dazed, but when it opened its mouth to caw a warning, Frostbite was already there, looming over it like a glacier about to crush a ship.

Her serrated claw pressed against the RainWing's throat, her eyes as cold as the ice that ran through her veins. The RainWing's scales shimmered in panic, shifting from green to orange to white in rapid succession.

"There you are," Frostbite growled, her voice low and menacing. "You little lurking snake."

The RainWing gawked at her, its pupils shrinking into pinpricks. It tried to twist away, but Frostbite's grip tightened, her claw barely grazing its scales. "Don't even think about it," she hissed.

Behind her, Tsunami stomped over, her wings flared wide. She jabbed a talon at the RainWing. "Start talking. Where's Sunny? What are you doing out here, sneaking around like a coward?"

The RainWing whimpered, its colors rippling with fear. "I-I wasn't trying to hurt anyone," it stammered. "I swear! I'm just following orders!"

"Whose orders?" Frostbite demanded, pressing her claw in just enough to make the RainWing flinch. "Scarlet's?"

The RainWing shook its head frantically, its scales shifting to a pale yellow of terror. "N-no! Not Scarlet! Please — it's Queen Dazzle! She—"

"Queen who?" Tsunami snapped, her tail flicking dangerously.

Before the RainWing could answer, another dart shot out of the trees, narrowly missing Tsunami and embedding itself in the ground at Frostbite's feet.

"Ambush!" Clay roared, pulling Tsunami behind him with a sweep of his massive wings.

Frostbite snarled, her eyes darting through the shadows, hunting for movement. "Stay down!" she barked to the others, her voice ice-sharp. "They've got us surrounded."

And somewhere in the distance, a high, mocking laugh echoed through the rainforest.

Frostbite's heart went cold.

It was the laugh of someone who knew exactly where Sunny was.