Glory dragged her talons on the hard, cold stone. Warm sweat trickled down her temples, leaving traces of liquid on the cavern floor. Every breath was interrupted by a searing pain in her throat. Exhaustion picked at her head as she heaved her tail across the room. Her wings sagged to her sides, cuts and bruises were visible on her wings membranes.

Rays of sunlight entered from holes that had formed above. A river led into the cave, licking at the rock walls. Water dripped from stalagmites perched neatly on the roof, echoing like the desperate screams of terror as she watched them die.

"Welcome, Glory."

Glory sunk her incisors into her tongue, swallowing the salty blood that gushed from her mouth. Stay calm. Foeslayer is not here to kill me. Not like how her son tried to destroy my tribe. But Glory could not relax. Her claws were twitching rapidly. Fear gripped at her stomach, as if it was twisted into a knot. No! Stay calm! Act fearless! At once, Glory summoned a straight face, lifting her head high.

"Greetings, Foeslayer. We haven't see in a while, have we?"

"We haven't," The Nightwing finally emerged from the her hiding place.

Foeslayer carefully observed the newcomer, as of every intricate scale were made of pure gold.

"Tell me. Tell me I haven't wasted my time. Why have you brought me here?" Glory snarled, her eyes darted warily around the cavern.

"It's about Peacemaker," Foeslayer heaved a sigh.

"Go on."

"He cannot know the truth. Never. He cannot be told he was once Darkstalker. He cannot know what he became twenty centuries ago."

"And you told me to come here? Just to say something I already knew about?" Glory snapped, her bloody teeth bared, flicking her tail up and down.

But Foeslayer did not flinch.

"I am much older than you, Glory. I would not bring you here to kill countless hours by giving you useless information."

"Then confess!" The Rainwing Queen's lip was curled.

"The moment you go back home, tell Peacemaker he was raised by Nightwing couple who died. But you cannot let anyone tell my son about his past. Make an announcement. And make sure each and every Nightwing and Rainwing understands. I do not want Peacemaker realize his shadow, in case if he attempts to follow Darkstalker's footsteps."

Glory hesitated. Was hiding the truth necessary? Peacemaker was not animus. Surely he wouldn't have any need for power! She would teach him well, and act as a mentor to him. She could change his path to peace, just as she had always wanted. But would Peacemaker try to rise to the throne? Especially if dragons all around him treated him differently? Like a monster? It's worth the risk. I have no other choice.

"I will," Glory said.

"Thank you, I appreciate it. I wish for the best. For my son, and every dragon in the continent."

Glory dipped her head, and turned away to leave. Foeslayer slipped away. The silent, eerie feeling informed her that the Nightwing had left. Strange. Glory was about step outside, but a rock plummeted onto her forehead. Glory froze in fear as more boulders tumbled down, blocking the entrance completely, colliding with her wing. A yelp of pain and terror escaped Glory's sore throat. But something else had caught her attention in the darkness.

Beady jet black eyes appeared in the shadows. It was a dragon. It stepped closer, approaching the Queen, and into the light. The dragon had dark scales, its face was covered in burns and scars. Then, a ping suddenly hit her— like the sound of an exploding cactus plant, or the burst of unique flavor in a mango.

Morrowseer