Nightstar shivered as the chill of the Entrance Hall crept into his bones. Kelp trailed behind him, wings tucked in tight, eyes darting around like a hawk on the prowl.

The two of them had rejoined that evening to gather some fish from the Clay's nighttime Prey Centre slot, whilst Cloverpool went out with her new flame Halfmoon, who she didn't seem very passionate about.

This was all Kelp was willing to discuss as they made their way down the ice-cold corridors.

"She obviously doesn't like him," he kept repeating, more to himself, "obviously."

"No." Nightstar agreed half-heartedly. "But she did agree to go with him to the icebreaking ball."

"But who am I going to go with?" Kelp fretted.

"Kelp, you were never, never going with Cloverpool anyway, remember? She's my sister. You're on good terms with her or me. Not both."

"Y-you, obviously. You. I'll just go with someone random." He mumbled.

Good point. Who was he, Nightstar, going to go with?

Another cold shiver racked his spine and forced him to cower back as they navigated through the Copper Winglet common Hall...

This is Jade Mountain. It's supposed to be safe.

Kelp sidled up next to him. "You feel that, Nightstar?" His voice was unusually hushed, almost reverent.

"Yeah." Nightstar didn’t need to ask what 'that' was. The air felt wrong, thick with something they couldn’t quite name.

Ahead, they heard voices. Quiet at first, but soon louder - panicked. Nightstar exchanged a glance with Kelp and without a word, they darted toward the sound, their talons clicking hurriedly against the stone.

When they rounded the corner, they nearly collided with Striker, who looked pale under the dim glow of the stone lanterns. But far from being angry at Nightstar, he seemed simply lost for words.

"You guys... I -" Striker's voice broke. He didn’t have to say anything more. The look in his wide, terrified eyes said it all.

Nightstar pushed past him, his stomach already twisted in knots. What he saw next made his heart plummet into an icy abyss.

⚠️ Gore warning ⚠️

A dragon lay slumped against the wall, their wings crumpled unnaturally at their sides. Red stains marred their scales, trailing from deep gashes down their chest. Nightstar’s breath caught in his throat, every fiber of his being recoiling at the sight. It was undoubtedly Astral, a SilkWing from his year.

He couldn't stand looking at her body; it made him sick to think that just yesterday he was meeting her for the first time.

Kelp gagged. "Three moons..."

Nightstar couldn’t tear his gaze away.

It's the killer, it's the killer, it's the killer, it's the killer, IT'S THE KILLER, IT'S THE KILLER, IT'S THE KILLER, ITSTHEKILLER ITSTHEKILLER ITSTHEKILLER -

"NIGHTSTAR!" Striker was yelling, shaking his shoulders roughly. "Nightstar, are you okay?"

He sat up groggily. Huh. He was on the floor. He must have fainted... He looked down ... Into a pool of Astral's blood. Poor Astral! Poor dead, mauled Astral...

Skip to here
Astral died, Nightstar fainted

The sound of frantic wings echoed from behind them as other students poured into the hall, drawn by the noise. Whispers erupted, spreading like wildfire.

"Is that…?"

"No way…"

"There’s blood everywhere."

Someone screamed.

The chaos was immediate. Nightstar stepped back, his eyes darting around as students pushed and pulled at one another in fear, panic ripping through the crowd. Somewhere, someone was shouting for a teacher. Nightstar felt frozen, his limbs heavy as if they were made of lead.

"Night," Striker whispered, his voice trembling. "We gotta - "

"I know." Nightstar shook himself out of his stupor, turning to face his friend. "We need to get help."

But even as he said it, he wondered if help would come in time.

Sky was right, it's here! Wait - IT'S HERE. IT'S STILL HERE.

Nightstar took a shaky breath, forcing himself to move. Striker was still standing beside him, stiff and wide-eyed. Kelp had collapsed to the ground, trembling violently.

"Someone fetch Cloverpool!" Nightstar yelled the first name to come into mind. "Striker, come with me," he ordered, his voice steadier than he felt. "We'll find a teacher."

Nightstar tore his gaze from the grisly scene and bolted down the hallway, his wings trailing behind him as he pushed his body to move faster. His claws skidded against the stone floor as he hurtled through the academy corridors, his mind spinning.

How did this happen? How did someone get past the guards?

Sky knew. Was Sky alright? Was Sky the murderer?

HE was right! This school WASN'T safe!

The academy was in chaos. Students ran past him in every direction, their voices rising in panicked shrieks. Everywhere, the same whispers followed him, chilling the air as he moved through the halls.

"Murdered."

"Dead."

"We’re not safe."

By the time Nightstar and Striker reached the teachers' wing, they were out of breath. Nightstar's heart pounded in his chest. He burst into the main hall, his eyes desperately scanning the room for anyone in authority.

Professor Moon, the small NightWing and Halfmoon's mother, was there, deep in conversation with one of the older students. Nightstar rushed up to her, barely able to get the words out. "MOON! There’s been - there’s been a murder. In the corridors."

Moon's face darkened immediately, her eyes clouding over. He knew she could read his mind, but his thoughts were frenzied.

A STUDENT. ASTRAL. DEAD. MURDERED. KILLER. LOOSE. IN SCHOOL. STUDENTS. TERRIFIED. BLOOD. YOUR SON OUTSIDE OF PREMISES.

The cave went deathly silent.

Professor Moon didn’t waste a second. She snapped orders to the other teachers who had gathered, and soon, the halls were filled with the sound of dragons rushing towards the corridor. Nightstar followed in their wake, his thoughts a blur.

This couldn’t be happening. Not here. Not at Jade Mountain.

He cried out in fear and Striker wrapped his four wings tightly around Nightstar.

But as they reached the scene once more, the reality hit him like a thunderstorm. The body was still there, and the crowd had only grown. Fear and confusion clung to the air like a thick fog, and Nightstar found himself struggling to breathe.

Professor Moon quickly took control of the situation, ushering students away from the scene. But the damage was done. Panic had already taken root, and it would be near impossible to pull it out.

As Nightstar watched the teachers gather around the body, a cold dread settled in his chest.

The killer was still on the loose. Moon surely knew, as she ordered Clay to do a scout of the school and for all students to stay within the Entrance Hall.

Whoever had done this… they were still out there. And if they could strike once, what was stopping them from striking again?

Nightstar’s frills flushed a pale green, fear coiling tightly around his heart.

No one was safe, were they? Mum was wrong, wasn't she?

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Yoooo I'm back :D

DEATH WOOHOO! Anyway so what do you think Nightstar will do next? Who do you think the killer is? And why?

Hmmmm ~

Also, Qinterwatcher is in action in this book ^^ Halfmoon and Sandtracker are both Moon's sons: one with Winter and one with Qibli.

~ Solar out