"Remind me again why we're walking toward that place?" Clay grumbled, his talons squelching in the muddy forest path. His gaze flicked toward the distant horizon, where jagged peaks pierced the sky like the teeth of some ancient beast. Dark clouds churned overhead, blotting out the sun, and from somewhere beyond the cliffs came the unmistakable echo of a scream — long, shrill, and bloodcurdling. "The place with the monster and the screaming and the something that kills dragons?" he added, his wings twitching nervously.

"We could go somewhere else," Starflight suggested quickly, his voice carrying a note of pleading desperation. His dark scales shimmered faintly as he kept pace beside Clay, eyes darting toward every rustling branch and shadow. "Maybe to the IceWings? I've been meaning to update our diplomatic treaties with Queen Glacier anyway..."

Frostbite's ears perked up at the mention of the Ice Kingdom. Her pale blue eyes brightened, and for a moment, her usually stoic expression softened. She hadn't seen Queen Glacier in far too long, not since the... incident. It wasn't exactly a visit she looked forward to, but perhaps there was still a chance to mend that icy bridge.

"I'm sure that would go so well," Glory drawled from the back of the group, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She flicked her tail dismissively. "Yes, let's head to the frozen wasteland and freeze to death instead. That sounds so much better."

Glory turned to Frostbite, one brow ridge arched. "Well, maybe not all of us." She gestured toward the icy-scaled dragoness with a flick of her talons. "You'd probably enjoy being in the Ice Kingdom without worrying about turning into a dragon-shaped popsicle."

Frostbite met Glory's gaze with a solemn nod. "I think I would," she murmured softly. Her breath plumed in the chilly air as she spoke, her thoughts drifting to the towering glaciers and endless snowy plains of her homeland. It would be nice to return — to see Queen Glacier again. To prove that she wasn't a failure.

But as Frostbite's talons brushed the bare scales of her chest, a pang of sorrow tightened in her heart. She reached instinctively for her moonstone necklace — the one Fathom had given her — but her claws only met empty space. Her chest ached with the memory of it, and she let out a long, resigned sigh.

It was gone. Taken by Scarlet.

The image of the SkyWing Queen flashed in Frostbite's mind, her blazing orange scales glinting like molten gold, her cruel smile etched deep into her memory. Scarlet had torn the necklace from Frostbite's neck as if it were nothing more than a trinket — but to Frostbite, it had been everything. A symbol of trust. Of friendship. Of... love, perhaps, though she wasn't sure she could admit that to herself.

Now it was gone, and Frostbite felt its absence like a hollow space in her soul.

"Well?" Clay's voice broke through her thoughts, cutting through the heavy silence that had fallen over the group. "Are we going to the monster place or the ice place? Because both sound pretty awful right now."

"Neither," Frostbite said suddenly, her voice stronger than she felt. Her claws clenched at her sides, and her gaze hardened with quiet determination. "We're going to Scarlet."

The others turned to her, surprise flickering in their eyes.

"To Scarlet?" Starflight echoed, incredulous. "Are you serious? That's — that's suicide! She's—"

"She took something from me," Frostbite interrupted, her voice cold and resolute. "Something I intend to get back."

Glory tilted her head, studying Frostbite with new interest. "Revenge, hmm? I like it."

Frostbite didn't respond. Her mind was already far away, picturing the fiery Queen's smug grin turning to shock as Frostbite stormed into her throne room. She could almost feel the weight of the moonstone necklace back around her neck — its cool, soothing presence against her scales.

Scarlet thought she'd won.

But Frostbite wasn't done fighting yet.

And this time, she wouldn't leave empty-handed.

At the front of the group, Tsunami flicked her shimmering blue wings back, her scales catching what little light filtered through the dense forest canopy. "Oh, come on, you guys!" she called over her shoulder, her voice brimming with determination. "We're here to find Glory's family, so let's do it already!" Without waiting for a response, she sprang into the air, powerful legs launching her upward in one swift motion.

Her wings sliced through the air as she twisted and turned, ducking beneath low-hanging branches with ease. Leaves rustled in her wake, and a few birds took flight in startled squawks. Frostbite watched her for a moment, noting the fluid way Tsunami moved — like water streaming through cracks in stone. Graceful, yes, but Frostbite could tell she wasn't fully in her element. Tsunami's movements, though swift and confident, lacked the effortless flow she displayed when swimming through ocean currents. Here, among tangled roots and dense undergrowth, her wings occasionally snagged on branches, and she flared them out just a little too wide when landing to avoid tripping over unseen roots.

Still, there was something impressive about the way the SeaWing princess pushed forward with such relentless energy. Her confidence was unshakable, her posture commanding, as if she refused to acknowledge that the forest might not bend to her will.

With a quiet sigh, Frostbite shook herself from her thoughts and padded after her. She moved carefully, each step deliberate, her icy claws sinking slightly into the loamy ground. The forest air was cool, but not the kind of cold Frostbite was used to — more damp than biting. She glanced down to make sure her claws didn't snag on a root or slip on a mossy rock. It would be just her luck to stub a claw in front of Tsunami and the others.

Above, Tsunami darted through another gap in the trees, her blue wings flashing like twin blades. Frostbite couldn't help but admire her resolve. There was no hesitation in Tsunami's movements — only a fierce, unwavering certainty that they were doing the right thing.

Frostbite wished she could feel that same certainty.

But her mind was still tangled in thoughts of Scarlet and the moonstone necklace. The ache of its absence gnawed at her chest like a dull toothache. As much as she wanted to focus on Glory's mission, part of her couldn't stop thinking about what she'd lost — and what she might never get back.

The underbrush crackled softly as Frostbite stepped around a gnarled root, her gaze flicking toward Tsunami again. For all her energy and drive, Tsunami didn't know what it felt like to lose something so deeply personal. Or maybe she did. After all, hadn't Tsunami left the sea behind to stand with her friends?

The thought made Frostbite pause. Maybe Tsunami did understand — and maybe that was why she pushed forward so fiercely, why she refused to let fear or uncertainty slow her down.

Taking a deep breath, Frostbite steadied herself and followed. If Tsunami could keep going, so could she. There would be time to mourn her loss later. For now, they had a mission.

And missions didn't wait for broken hearts.