Morrowseer sighed deeply, his usually composed demeanor slightly frayed as he paced back and forth. His wings twitched in agitation, but he quickly smoothed them back into place.

"Well," he said with a tone of quiet frustration, "so that didn't go as planned."

Blister barely seemed perturbed. Her eyes glinted with amusement, but there was a coldness behind her smile as she watched Morrowseer.

"You neglected to mention a few things," Blister replied smoothly, her voice like silk over steel. Her barbed tail twitched as she draped it deliberately over her talons, her wings folding neatly behind her. She tilted her head slightly, the sharpness in her gaze unmistakable.
"Such as the fact that your five dragonets are remarkably annoying."

Morrowseer bristled at the criticism, but he didn't argue. He had known Blister's sharp tongue would not spare him, especially when it came to the failure of his plans.

Blister's tone softened, but only slightly, as she added, "Though, Frost is something I can get behind." She allowed a smile to play on her lips, one that was both approving and calculating.
"She's beautiful, not to mention strong. I'd love for her to be my advisor if I ever get to be queen."

Morrowseer's frown deepened, his sharp, calculating mind already moving ahead to the complexities of such an arrangement. He hadn't been expecting this. Blister's words were laced with more than just flattery—they were a quiet challenge to his authority, an offer that he wasn't sure how to respond to.

"She's an IceWing," Morrowseer said with a frown, his voice low and thoughtful. "She wouldn't last a day in the Kingdom of Sand."

Blister's smile didn't waver, but her eyes narrowed just a fraction, as if she were considering his words carefully.

"Perhaps," she said with a soft chuckle, "but with the right guidance, even an IceWing could thrive in the desert." Her gaze flicked back toward the distance, as if she were imagining Frost standing beside her, not as an IceWing, but as someone of true power.

"And don't forget, Morrowseer, there are things worth more than just survival—things like loyalty, strength, and ambition. Frost has the potential for all of those, no matter where she comes from."

Morrowseer remained silent, his thoughts swirling. He hadn't expected Blister to take such an interest in Frost, but he couldn't deny that the IceWing dragonet had potential. Still, he wasn't about to let her slip from his grasp that easily. He would have to watch both Blister and Frost closely from now on.

Blister batted away a piece of smoking foliage, her movements effortless as she flicked the ashes from her talons. The air was thick with tension, the faint scent of burning leaves adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

"So, NightWing," she began, her voice smooth but edged with a razor-sharp bite. "I hope for your sake that you bring me news I want to hear."

Morrowseer, unfazed by her tone, simply nodded. He had long learned to navigate the treacherous waters of Blister's expectations. His wings spread slightly as he signaled to something above, the green shape circling ominously in the sky.

"There is another option," he said calmly, though there was a knowing edge to his voice. "But I'm not sure you'll like it much better."

Blister's eyes narrowed, her tail flicking in impatience, but she said nothing as Morrowseer turned his attention to the green figure overhead.

A SeaWing landed with careful precision on the cliffside, his claws crumbling the brittle vines beneath him. He glanced down at the palace below, a shudder running through him as his eyes darted nervously to the surrounding landscape. Morrowseer caught the look—the SeaWing was clearly uncomfortable, and Morrowseer could only imagine the rumors that had reached him. Perhaps he'd heard or guessed what had happened to Kestrel, the deadly consequence of crossing Blister.

"This is Nautilus," Morrowseer said, his voice steady. "One of the leaders of the Talons of Peace." He gestured toward the SeaWing. "Nautilus, explain your backup plan to the queen."

Nautilus opened his mouth but hesitated, glancing nervously at Blister. He cleared his throat, his wings twitching slightly in the chilly air.

"Possible future queen," Nautilus corrected quickly, as if fearing that Blister might find offense in his words. But before he could continue, he jumped back a step as Blister's poisonous tail lashed out, the tip narrowly missing him.

"Er," he began again, the nervousness creeping into his voice. "We have a... set of alternatives."

Blister's eyes narrowed, her posture unimpressed as she raised an eyebrow.

"And are any of them better than the originals?" she asked, her voice laced with impatience and skepticism.

Nautilus shifted uneasily, clearly not prepared for this line of questioning.

"Well, no, not in that factor," he admitted, his wings sagging slightly.

Blister sniffed disdainfully, her attention never leaving him.

"Do they have someone like Frost? Someone as powerful?" she pressed, her gaze sharp as a dagger.

Nautilus sighed, clearly defeated. "Okay, no."

Blister's expression tightened. She looked from Nautilus to Morrowseer, her eyes hard and calculating.

"Then they're useless, just like the others," she declared with finality. "I want Frost, that's all."

Her wings unfurled, slicing through the air with a sharp, venomous grace. She shot one last withering look at Nautilus, her voice low and threatening.

"You better do as you're told, SeaWing."

With that, Blister turned and took off, her wings carrying her with an effortless power that left the air crackling in her wake. Morrowseer watched her go, knowing that her decision was final. Nautilus, meanwhile, remained rooted in place, his nervousness still palpable, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Morrowseer sighed, the weight of his own failure pressing down on him. The plan had been far more complex than he had anticipated, and now it seemed like Blister's demands were leading them down an even darker path. He wasn't sure how this would all play out, but he knew one thing for sure: Frost would not be leaving her destiny in the hands of anyone else.