The next day, everything felt off-kilter. None of us were in high spirits, and conversations were sparse. The silence was thick and heavy, a reflection of the unease that had settled over us.

I noticed that Tsunami seemed more determined than ever to escape, her resolve hardening with each passing hour. As for me, I was withdrawn, preoccupied with the turmoil within my own mind.

Starflight often visited my cave during the quiet moments, bringing food or simply lying beside me. He pressed close, nestling under my wing or resting against my side, seeking comfort in our shared presence. It was sweet, and I cherished these moments deeply.

Right now, I was fiddling with a small piece of carved wood I had made one evening out of boredom. It resembled an IceWing, based on what I had seen in the scrolls—shimmering and white, a reflection of how I wished to be one day.

In contrast, I was black with flecks of white, not exactly the image of a majestic dragon queen. My spines formed a crown around my head, and my tail was adorned with spikes. The only royal aspect about me was my deep, oceanic black scales and the icy blue of my eyes.

My friends always told me that my eyes had the power to see into one's soul, but I never truly believed it.

A knock on the wall beside the entrance drew my attention. Clay appeared, carrying a cow's leg in his jaws.

He made his way over as I flicked my spiked tail in his direction. He dropped the cow leg and nudged me with his snout. "So, you've been away all day. Are you alright? What did Morrowseer say to you?"

His concern was evident in his eyes, and I could see the genuine worry behind his words.

"I just don't know how to feel, Clay," I said, picking up the carved piece of wood again.

"I've been dreaming over and over again about what they've told us, about how we're supposed to go out into the wide world. But I've been waiting for the RainWing that they keep talking about or hinting at." I shook my head in frustration. "I can't find her. I can't even smell her."

"It's because I don't want to be found," a voice hissed from the shadows, causing both Clay and me to turn our heads in its direction.

"Why?" Clay asked softly, his concern evident. "We don't want to harm you, just to understand."

"The ones watching you would," the shadows hissed back.

Suddenly, something shimmered in the darkness, and a beautiful dragoness emerged. Her scales were a vibrant green, shimmering and shifting with every movement. Blue feathers adorned her brow, and she wore an anklet of the finest pearls I had ever seen.

"Wow," I breathed out, struck by both her beauty and the eerie nature of her sudden appearance. The sight of her was so striking that it took a moment for me to fully comprehend the situation. The elegance of her presence contrasted sharply with the uncertainty of our predicament.

"Who are you?" I asked softly, trying to keep my voice steady as I looked at the shimmering figure emerging from the shadows.

The RainWing flicked her tail with a graceful sweep, her feathers ruffling elegantly. "I'm Glory," she said, her voice carrying a hint of sorrow.

She wrapped her long, verdant tail around her form, settling into a more relaxed stance. "I've been here much longer than any of you youngsters. I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself before."

"I thought Webs said he took you from the Rainforest around the same time we were taken," Clay interjected, his curiosity evident.

Glory shrugged, her green scales catching the dim light. "All I know is that I was taken from you all at birth," she said, idly twisting the pearl bracelet around her ankle.

"And what are your names now?" she asked, her large, green eyes studying us closely.

"I'm IceMoon," I replied, extending a claw in Clay's direction. "He's Clay."

Glory nodded slowly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Well, it's nice to meet you both, IceMoon and Clay."

Her smile turned wistful. "It's comforting to know that some dragons don't want me dead," she said, her tone tinged with bitterness. With that, she shimmered away, melting back into the shadows as if she had never been there.