Red started appearing under Glory's wings. And since the Rainwing queen almost always hides her emotions, this was a sign that she was dangerously unhappy.

"Oh this better be important !" She snapped. "I didn't send you to go hide in the Kingdom of Sea for nothing."

Firefly had to admit, she didn't get why dragons insist that she's scarier than her mother. Just look at her ! How can anyone be more intimidating than her ? Even Deathbringer declared once that Glory becomes gorgeously horrifying when she's angry.

"Are you okay, Firefly ?" Deathbringer asked hurriedly. He wasn't really any better at not being an overprotective parent. "Are you hurt ? Or sick ? I knew that Mirage was incapable of taking care of you !"

"Uh... I'm fine ?" Firefly replied as black talons started skimming her face and shoulders.

"Ekhmm.." Fangsnapper cleared his throat to draw the other dragons' attentions to the two other dragonets in the room. "We're here too ?"

Deathbringer glared at the younger Nightwing, a natural reaction to anyone of the male species whom is anywhere near Firefly if honest. "Don't tell me this is another one..."

"Deathbringer !" Glory scolded from her throne.

"Right. Firefly, no dating, remember ?"

"DEATHBRINGER !"

Firefly could see from the corner of her eye how Lychee and Fangsnapper were snickering at the bickering couple. She decided to take pity on them and tell them what they (or her mother, at least) wanted to know.

"The assassin found us and we now know who she is," she said. The aldults' eyes were immediately on her.

"Who is it ?" the two of them said at the same time menacingly, nothing like the rather childish pair they were before.

Any normal dragon would gulp and be drowning in sweat if they were in Firefly's place. Thank the moons she was not one of them. She was actually used to this. Her motto was : do as my parents say and you'll be blessed with another sacred day of life.

"Her name is Gaia, Mudwing-Rainwing hybrid, lives in the Mud Kingdom, absolutely humongous, is probably coming here right now."

"WHAT ?!" Glory and Deathbringer exclaimed.

"Nonononono NO !" Glory muttered to herself. "Do you think..."

"She better not..." Deathbringer growled. Whatever they were talking about, they were being very vague about it.

"What ? What is it ?" Firefly asked.

Glory got off her throne and stood tall in front of her daughter, anxiety clear in her emerald eyes.

"Firefly, I know I should've told you this earlier and for that, I'm sorry.." Glory told her slowly, too slowly for Firefly's taste.

Firefly was extremely concerned now. Her mother never said sorry, not so freely at the very least.

".. but the truth is," she continued on. "I had an egg. Another one."

Firefly stopped breathing for a solid minute. So many questions were flying through her head like the swinging monkeys she used to count when she couldn't fall asleep.

Acid green seeped into her ruff, accompanied by golden dots scattered everywhere. Because although she was most definitely not ready for this turn of events, she was not completely unhappy about it. Firefly wasn't the greedy type, after all.

She was, however, the inquisitive type.

"When did this happened ? Whose idea was this ? Why didn't you tell me ? And where is it now ?" Firefly said in one breath.

"I layed the egg about a year ago," Glory answered, cringing at herself. "And we didn't tell you because we wanted to make sure that the egg will hatched healthily first."

"And to answer your last question, the egg is with Jambu back in the east hatchery," Deathbringer added. "We're going there right now, no matter what."

"Why ? What's wrong ?" Lychee piped up from the back. "My dad is very capable of guarding an egg."

"It's not your dad they're worried about," Fangsnapper responded. "It's Gaia. She might be going for the egg at this exact moment."

"Yes," Deathbringer said firmly. "And that's why we have to get there first."

Glory nodded at her mate and said one last thing to Firefly before flying out the windows, "Stay safely away, Firefly. I mean it."

Once they were gone, Firefly turned to face the only two companions she currently had left. Both had mixed expressions.

One was without a doubt, at edge and not as pink as usual, while the other was almost bored, but maybe a touch mad.

"We're going to follow them, aren't we ?" Fangspapper deadpanned.

Firefly smiled. She actually smiled. That curvy line she displayed on her dark purple snout did not match the tense atmosphere in the slightest. Maybe she got it from her dad, but Firefly's mischievous side was showing.

"No.. Why would you say such a thing ?" she cooed all innocently.

Firefly had a plan. She was very good at making those. And this one could work in her favour without her having to disobey her mother's instructions.

"We're just simply watching from a safe distance.."

"Uh-huh.." Fangsnapper nodded, unconvinced. "Sure.."

"What should we do Firefly ?" Lychee, who had far more faith in the hybrid dragonet, asked.

"First, we meet up with the others," Firefly said eagerly.

They launched themselves to the almost night sky. It was purple, darker than Firefly's scales. Stars could be visible here and there, twinkling like polished diamonds on a cave ceiling. There was also the three moons, none perfectly circle, which meant her younger brother/sister would most likely have no special Nightwing abilities just like her.

The three dragonets were approaching where they had left their friends to stay behind. Someone made a campfire from the looks of it, Firefly could only hope it wasn't Gaia.

They stumbled to the ground ungracefully since Lychee couldn't see a thing in the dark, and walked over to the source of light.

Around the campfire were the rest of their gang, huddled in groups of two and threes on top of mossy rocks and oversized leaves.

Those who possesed the power of night vision must've spotted them, because the moment Firefly, Lychee, and Fangsnapper neared them Krill, Mirage, and Nemertea shone their luminous stripes to indicate where the dragonets were.

Firefly noticed a few things in the light. One, being able to see in the dark was great, but nothing looked very accurate, especially not color. Two, everyone except for the Seawings (including part Seawings) and Clandestine were deep in slumber. And three, two remarkably familiar scavengers were among them, sitting on top of Mirage's back. They were none other than their favourite two legged buddies, Poppy and Lily.

"What......." was all Firefly found herself capable of saying.

Note : So sorry that this took longer than usual. Blame school and all the useless topics they make us learn !

Jk, I like school (just not the studying part 😅)