"Morning!" Says Croc cheerfully, almost too cheerfully.

"Ugh," groans Marigold, waking up. "My wing buds ache."

As Marigold speaks, the rest of the group begins waking up.

"I know you guys aren't morning dragons," Croc says, "but I scheduled an appointment with Luna and Swordtail in like 30 minutes!"

"Ok geez," says Willow.

"Wild," says Croc, "I'm sorry I was mean to you yesterday."

"It's okay," replies Willow, "I'm sorry I had a short temper."

"Wild," Honey interrupts, "Did you see any of the last ingredient for the darts you said you needed earlier?"

"Oh! Yes!" Says Willow, remembering. "I'll go grab them. Be right back!"

While Willow is out collecting, Croc mentions the details of his adventure the previous night to talk to Luna and Swordtail.

"I accidentally woke them up at 4 in the morning. They were... pretty mad," Croc says.

"I bet!" Marigold says. "I heard Luna likes her beauty sleep!" She giggles.

Croc tenses.

"Don't tell anyone I said that."

"Don't worry, I won't," Marigold reassure him.

As the conversation finishes, Willow runs back.

"Finished!" She announces, holding up the newly made darts.

"I hope Croc doesn't loose the darts again," Marigold says, eying Croc.

"I hope not," Willow says as she shoves the darts into a pouch.

"I'm not the one holding them!" Croc protests.

"You were earlier," Honey points out.

"True..." says Croc, "But it won't happen again!"

As they're talking, Honey spots two figures in the distance.

"They're coming!" She says, snapping Croc and Willow away from their argument.

The two figures gracefully land in front of the group of dragonets.

"Hi!" Says Marigold, stepping forward. "I'm Marigold!"

Willow steps forward as well.

"I'm Willow."

Honey, Reef and Stella all introduce themselves in the same way.

Marigold nudges Croc.

"Say hi!" She mutters out of the corner of her mouth.

"Oh," says Croc, realizing his mistake. "Hi. I'm Croc."

Luna and Swordtail chuckle.

"Hi small dragons!" Swordtail says. "Is Blue being a good headmaster?"

At the same time, Luna says, "Hi you guys! What's the reason for waking us up at 4 in the morning?"

Croc steps forward a bit.

"That was me," he says with a sheepish grin.

"And Blue's a great headmaster! Right Wild?" Marigold adds.

"What?" Says Willow, who was preoccupied with checking the darts. "Oh yeah! Blue is a great headmaster. And sorry about Croc, he... is something else."

Swordtail laughs.

"It's ok!" He turns to Marigold. "Are you having your metamorphosis soon?"

"Yes, I hope so!" Marigold says, glancing at her wrists and wing buds.

"Enough pleasantries," Luna butts in. "I'm kind of grumpy, and also impatient to know why you're here. Is it because of the attack on the island?"

"Kinda," Marigold replies.

"We're going to fix the path. We're heading to Phyrria to get supplies." Croc says.

"Ok..." Swordtail says. "But why come to us?"

"Well, you're halfway between Pantala and Phyrria, so it's a good place to stop." Says Reef.

"And we also want more information," Stella adds.

"Well, you've come to the right place!" Says Swordtail. "We are both pretty much experts on Pantala, and our own island."

"And we have some friends in Phyrria that can help too!" Luna says.

"Oh? Who?" Says Marigold, curious. "What?" She says, catching Willows glance. "I've never been."

"Never mind," Says Willow. "Apparently she doesn't pay attention in Crickets class either." She mutters to Croc.

Swordtail, who caught the exchange but decided it best to ignore it, responded. "Some people in Jade Mountain."

"Didn't you use to go to Jade Mountain Wild?" Marigold asks, the familiar name jumping out.

"Yup!" Willow says, excited to for once have an advantage over Croc and Marigold. "Tsunami, Clay, Sunny, and Starflight are the founders and leaders there."

"Cool!" Says Marigold.

"So, do you need to stop for supplies? Luna is doing something else I think." Swordtail says.

"Excuse me!?" Luna exclaims, stepping forward. "I'm right here!"

"Oops!" Swordtail grins. "You were being so quiet!"

"Yes. We need supplies. Food, maybe some healing herbs," Willow says, wisely ignoring Swordtails playful behavior. "In case Croc hurts himself again."

"Ok. Foods in the market, and so are herbs. The market is in the middle of the island, over there." Luna says, and points to the already bustling crowd around the market. "Any supplies you might need are probably around the island, and if you need information , I'm your dragon."

"Ok, thanks!" Says Willow, turning away. "Oh! One more thing! Have any... I guess... 'bad' dragons been in the mix lately? We- or at least I- think the path was sabotaged, not naturally broken."

"Yeah." Marigold says. "And some dragons kidnapped us on the way here. We think they have to do with it."

"I didn't quite catch what they looked like though." Says Willow.

"Black? I think?" Says Croc.

"Yeah, I think." Marigold says. "We were in the cave by the time we got any sort of glance at them, but I think they were definitely a darker color."

"Probably a slimy NightWing like Strongwings!" Swordtail exclaims after listening to the description.

"True. Most NightWings aren't... uh... the nicest dragons on Earth." Willow says.

"Well, if we're done, I'm gonna go collect some herbs from the mini garden I made last night." Says Croc, walking off.

The rest of the group nods their assent and splits off to do their various tasks.

Swordtail yawns.

"I'm gonna go get some sleep. I didn't get a lot during to this little man." He points at Croc and growls, not unkindly.

Croc turns around and laughs in response.

"In my defense, I always wake up early. It rubs off on some people, but not Goldie here," he shoots a mischievous grin at Marigold.

Marigold rolls her eyes and heads away.

"I heard that Croc!" She hollers back as she heads away. "I'm going to look for clues as to who did this." She gestures around the island and at the scattered group.

Willow returns with some seeds and a few pieces of food, which she was shoving into a pouch alongside the darts.

She looks up and waves distractedly. "Hi guys," she mutters, "I got food."

"Are you upset?" Says Croc, confused at the absence of the usual joking and slightly deadly personality.

Willow ignores this and walks towards the camp, away from where Croc is now the only one standing.

Willow looks up and seems to realize her mistake.

"I'm sorry! Did you need something?" She says hurriedly, trying to reconcile.

"Are you upset?" Says Croc, seizing the opportunity.

"I- I'm not!" Willow responds in a high pitched voice. She clears her throat. "Sorry. You go tend to your plants, I'm fine."

"Ok." Says Croc, and he shrugs.

Marigold runs back from an outcropping of rocks.

"Come on guys! I found something!"