Nyx's POV

As I drifted in my own little world, humming a soft tune to myself, the sound of something brushing against the earth snapped me back to reality. It grew louder, drawing my attention to my young son, Luca, who was rushing toward me with urgency. His eyes were wide, his face lit with a kind of excitement I could hardly ignore.

"Mother, mother!" he yipped, his voice bubbling with a raw enthusiasm only a child could possess. I tilted my head, intrigued.

"What is it, Luca?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He caught his breath, panting in between words. "Mother, there's something... something big and weird by our den!" His yips grew frantic as he tugged at my paw with his surprisingly strong little jaws. Fear mixed with awe danced in his eyes, and it was clear—he needed reassurance.

With a sigh, I rose to my feet, my fur smoothing out as I stood tall. "Let's go see what you're talking about," I said, my voice calm, though a faint frown tugged at my muzzle. We headed toward the source of his panicked barking, my pulse quickening as we drew closer to the den.

Emerging from the shadows of the thicket, I finally saw what had Luca so worked up—a creature that was undeniably large and peculiar. But as I took a closer look, my fear ebbed away. It wasn't a monster, but rather a dragon. A dragon, yes—but not one I had seen before. Its scales were a deep, velvety black that shimmered like the night sky, and its body moved with a graceful power that mesmerized me. The creature glanced up from the pile of food I had set out to attract predators, offering us a lazy nod.

"Well, well," I said, my voice steady despite my surprise, "you're not exactly the type of creature I expected to find here." I flicked my wings back and instinctively placed a protective paw over Luca, just in case.

The dragon's eyes met mine, and a spark of warmth flickered within them—unexpected, considering its imposing presence. "You must be Nyx," it said, its voice calm and almost familiar. "Your sister, Harestar, spoke highly of you."

My tail twitched at the mention of Harestar, a mix of pride and confusion stirring within me. "Yes, I'm Nyx," I replied, the words slipping out a bit colder than I intended. "And you are?"

"Nightstrike," the dragon said simply, and something clicked in my memory. Harestar had spoken of a dragon named Nightstrike in one of her stories—a dragon she had helped find refuge in the sanctuary our mother had established, a safe haven for those like us, where the twolegs couldn't hunt us down.

The situation felt strange. The sanctuary wasn't so far from here that a dragon of Nightstrike's size and strength couldn't fly here quickly. "What brings you here, Nightstrike?" I asked, the question bubbling with curiosity. "Is everything well at the sanctuary?"

"The sanctuary's fine," he answered, glancing back at the food as if lost in thought. "But I had unfinished business... and I missed the thrill of the hunt."

The mention of the hunt sent a shiver through me. I recalled the stories Harestar had told—tales of dragons living in fear, seeking shelter from the twolegs who had encroached upon our lands. Our mother had built the sanctuary to give refuge to those who had lost their homes, or who were too young or too weak to defend themselves. Yet here stood Nightstrike, a dragon who clearly didn't fit that description—strong, capable, and no longer in need of sanctuary.

The encounter was unexpected, but not unwelcome. There was something comforting about the presence of another dragon, especially one who had known my sister. It brought a sense of camaraderie to the otherwise solitary life we lived here. Still, a question lingered in my mind—what had truly drawn Nightstrike back to this place? And what did it mean for our quiet life in the woods?

With a swift, graceful movement, I turned on my heels, my eyes narrowing as I assessed the dragon before me. "You are welcome here," I said, my voice steady and calm, though my gaze was sharp. "But remember, these are Harestar's lands. If there is something of importance you wish to discuss, it would be wise to seek her out. The rules of the forest are hers to uphold."

Nightstrike let out a deep sound, somewhere between a sigh and a snort, his black wings unfurling in a slow, deliberate motion, the edges brushing the air like the shadows of night itself. "Very well," he rumbled, his voice holding something I couldn't place—a strange mix of acceptance and something else, perhaps impatience. "If that is your wish, then I shall take my leave."

Before I could speak again, he shot upwards with breathtaking speed, a shadow against the starry sky, vanishing into the distance as quickly as he'd come.

I stood frozen, watching the night swallow him whole, my mind racing with questions. What had driven Nightstrike to come here? What had he hoped to find, and why had he left so suddenly when faced with the knowledge of Harestar's authority? His departure felt as abrupt as the rustle of leaves in a storm, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions that tugged at my thoughts.

I glanced down at Luca, who had remained quietly at my side, his wide eyes reflecting the same confusion I felt. My tail twitched, uneasy. "I don't understand," I murmured to myself, still trying to piece together the fragments of his visit. His cryptic words and mysterious departure gnawed at me, a puzzle I couldn't quite solve. The forest had gone eerily still, as if it too waited for answers. Whatever secrets Nightstrike had carried with him, they would remain just out of reach for now. The night was far from over, and its mysteries still whispered in the air.