Starflight gasped. 

"Fatespeaker!" He cried, shooting next to her. He wrapped his wings fiercely around her smooth scales, definitely NOT crying. He brushed some tears out of his eyes and grinned. Fatespeaker wrapped her wings around him, slower than usual, as if she were dragging them through honey. They were freezing cold. Without sight, it was hard to tell, but he lifted her chin. "Are you alright?" Fatespeaker paused and clasped her talons with his.

"Yes. I'm ok. Just tired." 

"Where were you?" He asked, then paused. His question came out sharper than he expected. But she DID run off without telling me. One side of him argued. But you don't own her! His other side snapped. Fatespeaker hesitated again, shifting her wings uncomfortably.

"Glory...sorry sorry...Queen Glory said that I had tooooo...Go to Jade Mountain...and help...Clay out with the new shipment of scrolls." Starflight nodded, a little hurt that Glory had asked Fatespeaker instead of him. Maybe they do just think I'm annoying. He thought again, then shook himself. For moons' sake, stop thinking that! He scolded himself. But it stuck to him like ashes. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, letting go of her talons. 

"Well it was so sudden, that I didn't have-SHUT UP-time." Starflight yelped at her suddenly outburst.

"Who are you talking to?" He asked. He couldn't sense anyone else around. 

"No one." Fatespeaker said sweetly. "Just...an annoying thought." She paused again. "I don't care if it's mean." Starflight grabbed her talons again. 

"Are you sure you're ok?" Fatespeaker tensed, her claws suddenly curled.

"Yes!" She snapped. Starflight nodded slowly. I'll figure out her weird mood swing later. He thought, worried about his...friend. She took a deep breath, and Starflight looked up into the warmth of the sun, not for the first time wishing he could see it. Fatespeaker let go of his talons again, and she flapped her wings, creating a rustle in the leaves. They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the sounds of birds flying by. A leaf landed on Starflight's snout and he batted it away, coughing awkwardly, which was strange. He never felt weird around Fatespeaker. Silly Starflight. His brain scoffed in a voice that sounded, exactly like Tsunami. You haven't known Fatespeaker for THAT long. He shifted and frowned down at where his talons were rooted to the tree. 

"Um...Fatespeaker." She turned her head towards him, wings still and tense. 

"Yes?" She said quietly. 

"We have a meeting with Queen Glory and Deathbringer soon. Well...now." There was a moment of pausing and then Fatespeaker let out an odd sort of chuckle. 

"Right, yes, of course." She said, a grin in her voice. Starflight wrinkled his snout. Fatespeaker HATED the stilted talk of political meetings. Something wasn't right with her, but Starflight didn't push it. Most likely she was just angry at him. What have I done now? He asked. Starflight shook out his glittering wings and shook his head, throwing himself into the air. I'm overreacting. But still...something just felt off. Fatespeaker never radiated gloom like this before. They flew in silence (Which was DEFINITELY odd for Fatespeaker) until they heard some shouting. 

"No no NO! DEATHBRINGER! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU THIS?" That was definitely Glory. 

"About ten times, your majesty!" Deathbringer. 

"THEN LISTEN TO IT FOR ONCE!" Fatespeaker snorted and Starflight gave her a grin. "YOU HAVE EARS, DON'T YOU?"

"Yes." Deathbringer said flatly. 

"THEN USE THEM!"

"Why don't you listen to me?" Deathbringer shot back. Starflight landed on the branch beside Glory, but she was probably arguing too hard to notice. 

"Because I'M the QUEEN, you HOG-SNORTING SNORE-A-SECOND SON OF A SAUSAGE!" Glory paused for breath and Deathbringer burst out laughing. 

"That's a new one!" Deathbringer laughed. Glory snorted and finally noticed Fatespeaker and Starflight.

"Starflight! Fatespeaker..." Glory trailed off. "Starflight! You found Fatespeaker!" Starflight nodded and patted Fatespeaker's talon. Fatespeaker remained silent. 

"Yup, well...she found me!" Glory paused.

"Indeed." The quartet hopped off the branches and onto the soft ground. They began walking, chatting with one another. 

"So what-" Glory began. But she had barely opened her mouth when a high-pitched scream tore through the air. Then claws dug into Starflight's back, and a dragon attacked from behind.