The NightWing looked around the silent palace, seemingly looking for something. There seemed to be no guards guarding the entrance, he thought. Two other NightWings joined him, looking down at the palace. It truly was a sight! Gleaming in the moonlight, reflecting the stars. The first NightWing flapped his wings calmer than the others. The other two were nervous and flying all over the place. "Stop that, you two!" He barked at the two NightWings, who were now circling each other, muttering prayers. They stared at him. "How are we going to do this anyway?" One of them complained, her tail swishing in anxiety. The first NightWing let out an exasperated groan. "How many times have we gone over the plan?" 
The female NightWing started staring at the palace again. "I forgot it" She whispered. "Can you explain it one more time, Starchaser?" She pleaded. The first NightWing, Starchaser, sighed. "Oh, all right!" He grumbled. "Sneak in through the entrance. Do you see it? No guards. Find our way to the creepy old book room. Get the jewel. Boom. Done" Starchaser said quickly. "Understand, Cassieopia?" He said with a sharp glance at the female NightWing. "Y-yes" Cassieopia said quietly. "And you, Darkbringer?" Starchaser swung his head around to glare at the male. Darkbringer nodded. Starchaser turned back to the palace, studying the entrance. Why wouldn't the SandWings guard? It wasn't a special night, as far as he knew. He narrowed his eyes. The SandWings had a smart queen. Could they have known about the trip to get the precious jewel? Who could have told them? Starchaser exhaled through his nose. 

"Okay. Let's fly." Starchaser growled before folding his wings in a dive and gliding down at the entrance. Wingbeats behind him said the two were following. They moved like shadows against the air, zipping through the sky with barely any sounds. Starchaser halted when he got closer to the entrance. He carefully hit the ground with a soft thud. "Well, then. I guess we're going in" he said after a while. "A-are you really sure?" Cassieopia whispered. Starchaser felt the urge to whack her over the head with his wing and shout "I AM REALLY SURE, FROG-BRAIN!" but stayed calm. He took a deep breath and stepped through the entrance. Cassieopia scrambled after him, and Darkbringer followed more slowly. Starchaser looked around. The sand was blowing quietly, and the walls of the palace were still. A talon was put on Starchaser's wing. "What?" He whispered fiercely, whirling around to glare at the dragon. Cassieopia flinched, then looked down. "I heard something." She mumbled. Starchaser sighed impatiently. "Well, don't waste my time for nothing! What did you hear?" He snapped as quietly as he could. Cassieopia twitched her wing towards two barrels that sat by the entrance, on either side. "I think they moved" Cassieopia whispered. "Don't be absurd" Starchaser snorted. 

Cassieopia frowned anxiously, before following as Starchaser stalked through the sand. 
"Wait! Starchaser!" She hissed. Starchaser kept going. "Starchaser!" Cassieopia called louder. Then there was a yelp and a thump. Starchaser whirled around to see that a SandWing had pounced on Cassieopia's body. He was a big SandWing! He looked Starchaser dead in the eyes. Starchaser looked at Darkbringer, but he was frozen in shock. Starchaser let out a soft, menacing growl and folded his wings. The SandWing waved his venomous tail, a signal of some sort, and another SandWing stalked out of the shadows. Starchaser's tongue flicked through his teeth. Three moons, how did I not guess that! I'm so-
Starchaser's thoughts were cut off when the second SandWing leaped at Darkbringer and the two of them went rolling away. Starchaser snarled and flung himself at the first SandWing, bowling him over. Starchaser slashed a gash on the SandWing's snout and kept clawing wildly as he fought to keep down the SandWing's tail. The SandWing roared and wriggled around, squirming and trying to get away. Cassieopia joined him and started trying to land blows on his face. The SandWing kicked out a leg, sending Starchaser tumbling away and Cassieopia jumped and backed up. The SandWing shook his head, scarlet drops flying through the air. There was a loud roar of pain, and a sickening thud from behind them. Starchaser glared at the SandWing, not wanting to look back. He feared he would see Darkbringer, dead on the ground, and the SandWing staring triumphantly down at him. Starchaser hissed and lashed his tail, waiting for the SandWing. The SandWing took a step forward, then let out a howl of pain. Cassieopia had breathed fire on his tail! The SandWing staggered, roaring in agony. Cassieopia backed away, staring in terror at the pain stricken SandWing. The SandWing yelled out and fell to the ground. Starchaser whipped around and saw that Darkbringer had gotten struck by the SandWing's tail and was laying on the ground. He clearly was still alive but was probably paralyzed. Starchaser rounded on the second SandWing, growling. "Starchaser, we have to go! The palace-" Cassieopia hissed. Starchaser looked sorrowfully down at Darkbringer. He looked back up at the SandWing. Then he sighed in defeat. The SandWing shook his head. "Oh, no. You're coming with me!" He said, lunging at them. Starchaser dodged the attack. "Over my dead body!" He snarled. "I'm fine with that!" The SandWing growled, stalking towards Cassieopia, tail kinked over his back. Starchaser rushed to Darkbringer. Darkbringer sat up. "He only struck me very briefly. O-only my leg" He assured Starchaser, but was looking sickly. "Can you stand?" Starchaser asked anxiously, flicking his gaze to were Cassieopia was scrambling away from the SandWing, desperately dodging his tail. "Yes. I think so, at least..." Darkbringer muttered, trying to stand. With some help from Starchaser, he had stood and was trying to flap his wings. Starchaser helped him lift from the ground and start flying. "Cassieopia! We're done here!" He bellowed. Cassieopia quickly leaped into the air and flew to them. "Hurry!" She squeaked. Starchaser flanked Darkbringer's left, and Cassieopia flanked his right. "It's okay. We're going home now." Cassieopia whispered encouraging words. Starchaser took a risky glance behind him and didn't see the SandWing. He sighed in relief. Never again.