Dawn stood at the exit of the Tunnels. Dewdrop stood next to her, her ears flapping slightly in the breeze. 

It was a glorious day outside in the Rainforest, which was ironic. Beetle wouldn't be able to see this day. She wouldn't see what her death had brought. 

With life, there is always death.

Dawn raised her head and stared up at the thick leaves. Far above, golden sunlight poured onto the Earth beneath her, and the sky seemed so blue that it was bursting at the seams. Flutterwing leapt out of the Tunnels, chasing her dragonet. 

Orange tumbled into the sunlight and stopped, staring at the bright world beyond.

"Gotcha!" Flutterwing said happily, pouncing playfully on top of Orange.

Dawn couldn't help but laugh at this. This is what Beetle's death brought. Without her sacrifice, Orange would have never seen the sun. This moment would never have happened. As Pomegranate stepped next to her, her ears drooped. 

"Do you think she's happy?"

The question surprised both Pomegranate and Dewdrop. Both were silent for a moment. Then Pomegranate spoke. "I think she is," she said gently. "She would have loved to be out here, playing around in the sun with Orange. But most importantly, she would be happy to know that her death brought the life of others." 

Dawn thought about it. Admittedly, the thought did make her feel better. She watched as Pomegranate ran up and started to play with Orange. She turned to Dewdrop, her mouth opening, but she was silenced by a glance at Dew. 

"Check this out," she said seriously, moving to the small pouch tied around one of her ankles, which she had liberated from a guard as soon as they had left. She pulled out a glowing sphere of blue energy. "This appeared in there- it definitely wasn't there before."

Dawn gasped, gently taking it from Dew. "W-what?" She asked. "What's this supposed to be?" 

Dewdrop shrugged. "I don't know. It just looks like a pebble to me."

Dawn glanced down at the pebble. Inside was a perfect reflection of the Rainforest sky, except it was slowly shifting into a beautiful meadow. A lone figure sat in the center of the meadow, holding a flower. 

The long grasses and many wildflowers flapped gently in the breeze. The sun was setting in the background, bathing the meadow in a reddish light. Even in the dull lighting, Dawn could see what color scales the lone figure had. 

She had bright, sky-blue scales overlapping on top of a row of dull indigo scales that lined her white stomach. She was clearly a BeetleWing, with the ruff behind her ears, the antenna on her head, and her four wings.

Then another dragon stepped out into the clearing. She was clearly broken and sad. Dawn could tell by the slump of her back and shoulders, and the droop of her ears, tail, and wings. She was also a BeetleWing, with scales like sliced gems. 

They were glossy and sleek, gleaming in the reddish light. They were a swirled collage of reds, oranges, and pinks. There was even bright, butterfly yellow mixed in.

She took a few steps toward the lone figure, then stopped, one arm raised in a silent question. The blue BeetleWing looked up from the flower she was holding and reached out. Her face lit up like a lightbulb. 

The other BeetleWing just dropped her raised arm back to the ground. She stood still, glancing around hesitantly, then she hurried forward and leaped into her mother's arms. Dawn smiled. She knew who both BeetleWings were. There was Beetle and her mother, together at last. 

A single tear appeared in the corner of her eye. It slid down her cheek and dropped. It fell down and landed with a sizzle on the happy image. The tear spread over the surface of the sphere, blurring the image. Then it dissolved into blue smoke that drifted away and evaporated in the warm afternoon air.

"What did you see?" Dewdrop asked. 

Dawn looked at her and smiled. "She's happy," she said. "Now we can go." 

Dewdrop sighed. "To Cyan's, right?" 

Dawn nodded, remembering. Cyan. The dragon that had somehow managed to survive all the tragedy that had happened to her family. The way out. It was finally over. "Yes," Dawn said.

"There's just one problem- I don't really know where in the Rainforest we are," Dewdrop confessed.

"Oh," Dawn said. "Well, I guess we'll have to find out." 

Together, the two dragons stepped out of the tunnel entrance and stood in the shade, watching as Flutterwing and Pomegranate played with Orange. Dawn didn't think she had ever seen her sister this happy.

She heard a noise behind her in the tunnels, and she whipped around just to see Mango and Chamomile standing in the doorway. Chamomile was holding a small bag with a roll of parchment sticking out of it. 

Dawn and Dewdrop had offered for the two RainWings to come with them, but they had said they needed to do something first. 

"What's that?" Dawn asked. 

"We went and got all of our things," Mango explained. 

"Most of the stuff was Snappea's," Chamomile added. 

"We got what few belongings we had left," Mango finished. 

Dawn felt her heartache. All of their belongings; were gone, just like Mango's and Chamomile's. These poor dragons, having to grow up in such hard conditions. She would never truly know what they went through. 

"And we thought you might need this," Chamomile said with a wry smile, taking out the roll of parchment and handing it to Dewdrop.

Dewdrop unrolled it with a gasp. It was a full map of Pyrriha, overlayed with twisting red lines. Dawn couldn't help but smile when she saw the thick line meandering over the continent. The Underground Market. Someday, she was definitely taking Dewdrop there. 

"This is amazing!" Dewdrop exclaimed. "Now, where are we?" 

Mango tapped a spot on the map close to the ocean, and Dewdrop's face lit up. "Yes! I know where we are now!"

Dawn laughed. "Alright then," she turned to the three playing dragons. "It's time to go, you guys."

Flutterwing was lying on the ground, having been tackled by Pomegranate and Orange. "Alright, little bug," Pomegranate said, getting off of Flutterwing and scooping up the squirming dragonet. Flutterwing got up and immediately stopped and doubled over, clutching her stomach. 

"Oh my Eternity! Are you okay?!" Pomegranate yelped. 

Flutterwing gave her a weak smile. "I'm fine. The egg..." 

She didn't need to say anything more. Dawn understood. "Well, then. We'd better get moving then." 

They all took to the sky, heading toward their future.

≺︱✵︱≻

A/N

Here we go, I was able to cough up another chapter. Lucky you guys. However, this book is almost finished! I'd love to hear your guy's opinions on it so far!

Location on a map:

Bonus: 

Beetle's theme song is Youth by Daughter. Go and check it out and tell me if you also think so.