One day after Moon's visit

The stone beneath Clay's claws were colder than ice, biting and snapping at him with every step he took. Despite the warm colours splashed across the sky, it was a cold, miserable day. There was hardly anyone out and about in the areas of Jade Mountain that were exposed to the harsh air. Clay himself didn't want to be out here, but Sunny did and that's who he was currently with.

"...And Maybug, our new MudWing-RainWing, is settling in really well with Nori and Eclipsecatcher - their clawmates. It was really hard to find the right winglet for them, but I really think I did a good job! And Eclipsecatcher has really seemed to take a liking to Maybug... I wonder if anything will happen between them..."

Clay didn't want to admit he was hardly listening to Sunny's rambles, but his mind was definitely far from the conversation. He couldn't get Peril or Bronze out of his head. He hadn't been able to get either of them out of his head for a long, long time. He missed them, and wanted to be there with them. He didn't want to miss the precious moments with Bronze that would shape his life. He didn't want Peril to be worked to the bone, something that was happening even at this moment. He had willingly gone back to school, and he was happy to be teaching the students and watching them learn and grow. But gosh, did he miss Bronze and Peril.

"Um... Clay?"

Clay blinked. He had stopped walking and was now several paces behind Sunny. She tipped her head to one side, worry clouding in her eyes.

"Yes- um- I'm sorry, I was just- you- you know how it is... I just can't stop thinking about them."

Sunny sighed and sat down, curling her golden tail around her talons. The sun caught on her scales in a beautiful ripple of light.
"I totally understand," she said, "times are changing. You, and eventually Tsunami, have dragonets to look after. A family to care for. You can't keep running this school with Bronze. What needs to happen right now is you need to go home and stay home with them, until you are ready. That's how life goes. Because Peril and Bronze are your everything - you have to be with them."

Clay was silent.

"But-" Sunny sniffed and her eyelids fluttered, holding back tears, "just because you aren't at this school, it doesn't mean we'll grow apart. I'll always be your friend. But enough about me; you need to go home."

Sunny looked away, and shifted her claws on the stone. And then snow began to fall, delicate breaths of it whispering across her scales.
Slowly, carefully, Clay walked towards Sunny and wrapped his wings around her.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

And then Clay lifted off into the sky, the snow swirling around his wings as he flew.

When Clay got home, the snow had already pilled up on the side of the mountain. It was churned and covered in talon-prints - probably Bronze's doing. The door of the house was wide open - and when peering inside, Clay could see half-open cupboards, draws with all their contents splayed on the bench, and the general house was a mess.

Gingerly stepping inside, Clay studied the counter. Was this Bronze's doing? Or maybe...
A stone slab sat in the middle of the tabletop, words inscribed on it.
So this was definitely Peril.

Clay-
Urgent. Have to go. Read this letter if you want to know more

Clay's brow furrowed.
'Strange' he thought, glancing to his left. There was the letter. Tear-stains splashed the thin, yellowed parchment. Peril's name was written in swoopy letters in front.

Clay read the letter. Word for word.

And was shaking by the end of it.

Before he had any time to sort out the whirr of thoughts exploding like fireworks in his mind, there was a knock at the door.

"Is mum back?" Bronze's eyes went as big as the moons in excitement, "She's been gone for like aaaagggges!!!"

It wasn't Peril, Clay knew that for sure. She didn't bother to knock before entering the house. And from what Clay could see from the window, it was a group of dragons. And they all looked very familiar.

"Moon! Turtle! Winter! Qibli! Nice to see you." Clay blinked in surprise - he hadn't been expecting these guys to show up at his doorstep. And that wasn't the only thing that had shocked him - it was the worried expressions on their faces. Clay ignored it.
"Look, I really have to get going." he said, "I need to find Peril. So if you'll excuse me-"

"Wait!" Turtle cried, flinging out his wings. Some of the glowing stripes on his body flashed in alarm. "We want to find Peril, too. We're coming with you."

Clay didn't even worry about how they knew anything about Peril's letter - he just wanted to get going and find Peril. He didn't now what Peril would be like when he found her - she could be happy or sad, or anything in-between. She could even admit that she had loved Crag... a icy-cold feeling stabbed at Clay's heart. All Clay needed to do was comfort her.

"Alright, guys - let's go." Clay spread his amber-brown wings, droplets of snow and water cascading down on him, and sprang into the air. The others all did the same behind him.

"Do you know where we're going?" asked Qibli, soaring to Clay's side.

"We're going to Pyrrhia's tail." replied Clay, gripping the letter in his talons. Thunder boomed and lightning clapped through the sky, but still Clay flew on.

Peril needed him.

And he would be there for her.

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GOSH I put off finishing this :')

There's still one more part to go - but I promise it won't take me this long to write it.

Honestly, you don't have to view these little shorts as cannon - I was just bored one day and started writing them. It's up to you whether it's real!

Anyways, I hope y'all have a great day <3