"Lydia," the air felt tense, suffocatingly so. "Moonglobe said, right?" Quickstrike said softly as he and Lydia walked side by side down the pathway, passing dragons on either side. She felt her voice die off in her throat, so instead of trying to force herself to speak, she just weakly nodded her head from where it hung, her earring bouncing against her scales, almost like it were giving her pats of encouragement. Though, right now Lydai felt like no amount of encouragement could help her in this moment.

"That's a pretty name," The older NightWing hummed, his pace steady as one of his large wings put a little more weight on Lydia's shoulder. She's grown used to it over the last few days, she thinks he dose it to help remind himself that she's real and not a fragment of his imagination. She wished it were that easy for her at times, to be able to tell what's real and what's not. "Do you know what it means?"

Lydia never knew why she was given the name she has, she just knows that Charming named her, he always told her "a beautiful name for a beautiful daughter" whenever she asked.

Qucikstrike chuffed lightly, a reassuring sound as well as one of amusement. He must've already guessed that by her silence, she didn't know.

"It means beautiful one." he smiled softly towards her, his eyes warm. When Lydia met his golden honey coloured eyes with her own sparkling scarlet ones, she couldn't find any hidden malice or conflicting emotions, all she could see was overwhelming love and affection.

"I've also heard some say it also means dark one, but I think those aren't fact as I've only heard it from others, not from scrolls or books."

"You're not upset?" Her voice felt dry, but she managed to get it out, shocking herself in the process that she had managed to find her voice even with her heart pounding loudly in her ears, trying to drown everything else out.

"Upset?" A look of confusion flashed across his features as he looked down at her while they walked down the trail, moving out of the way for a pair of passing SkyWing's who's scales shimmered like polished rubies and amber. "Why would I be upset?"

"My name," she managed to chuff out, her ears pinning back against the sides of her skull, "it's not what you wanted. It's now Swiftrunner, what you've been calling me."

"I already guessed you had been given another name," he sighed, "I just, got so lost in the feeling of finding you that I didn't take the time to really, well, think." he chuckled to himself, "If you were a mindreader, you'd be able to see how jumbled my head is. But then again our family isn't really the luckiest with getting abilities from the moons."

"What do you mean 'isn't really the luckiest'?"

"It's been generations since someone in our bloodline has hatched under one or more of the moons, we've always hatched at weird times. Whether it be sunset, the early glimpses of sunrise, or on moonless nights where only the stars light up the sky."

"Mom's side wasn't so lucky either for the longest time."

"Your mothers side? What did she tell you about her side of the family?"

Lydia felt hesitant, almost cursing herself for bringing it up, but she kept going.

"She hasn't told me much, I haven't heard anything about living family members, all I know is that they're also unlucky, she calls it a curse, but she's told me that I broke it."

"You broke it?"

The two stopped in what looked to be a town square. There was a large fountain made of polished marble. It was carved to look like a large bowl, as smooth as a ring fit for royalty made of crystals as its surface had cuts in it like jewels. In the center were two dragons, both MudWings tightly circling each other, to the point the scales along their sides were scraping against one another. They each had one of their front talons grasped tightly around the others, their heads pressed up together in a welcoming embrace, like how one would greet their family after not being able to see them for months on end.

Water as clear as glass flowed out through their horns, spraying tiny little droplets into the softly rippling pool below. It's surface shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight, almost like it were a pool of jewels made of tiny stars rather than clear water.

It's so pretty, the NightWing dragonet thought to herself as she put her talons on the edge of the bowl, having to stand on her hind legs in order to get a better look. It felt calming to look at the water softly ripple with each tiny droplet that fell into it, making its way back to the center of the fountain to be shot up into the air once more.

"How did you break it?" Quickstrike pulled her back into the present, reminding her that she still hadn't answered him yet. "Swi- sorry," he corrected himself as he sat down next to her, resting his talons beside hers, perched on the edge of the fountain. "Lydia."

Before she could speak, Quickstrike had a look of excitement. "Are you a future seer? You don't have tear drop scales along the sides of your face so you can't be a mind reader. A prophecy teller?" He continued to guess as he gently held Lydia's face so he could look at her, his palms cupping her cheeks. "How many moons were you born under? One? Two?" he gasped with a smile, "maybe three?" his voice took on a silly tone, one that sounded dramatic and childish.

Lydia couldn't help but let out the light laughter that bubbled inside of her, she felt like a dragonet again, for the first time in days, she felt her age, even if it were only for a few moments. A large grin spread across Quickstrike's face as he gave her a laughing chuff of his own, the warm air softly blowing against her face.

"No," she chuffed back, "Mother says I hatched under the eclipses."

Quickstrike gasped, a look of shock spreading across his face before the large grin returned, his wings flapping happily with excitement at his sides. "You were born under the three eclipses?" she nodded, "Oh my little shooting star!" his arms wrapped around her, making her head rest against his shoulder beside his neck, "What abilities do you have? Strengthened future foresight? Powerful prophecy telling?"

"I..." she didn't actually know how to describe it, it wasn't like any power she had heard of before and her parents didn't truly know what she had, all they knew was that she would space out, have panic attacks and talk to dragons who weren't there. Like in the dancing hall where Charming was teaching her to dance.

Morpho's eyes changing colour, turning into a dragon with shimmering golden and black striped scales with black eyes as hollow as the deepest pit with no light, glinting with hatred and anger.

The NightWing dragonet had to close her eyes in order to get the image out of her head. When she opened her eyes, she saw that a few wing lengths away was a wispy Fatefinder, his eyes looking at her with pity and sorrow, the edges of his looked blurred, like smoke blowing into the air before disappearing. She could still see through him, she could see the dragons passing by and chatting behind him, as though he were a piece of foggy glass.

"I don't know what it is." she whispered as she continued to stare at Fatefinder, his golden honey gaze looking at her in turn, realization looking to dawn upon him as he seemed to realize that she could see him in that moment.

"You don't know what it is?"

"No, it's..." she blinked, her scarlet red eyes focusing on fatefinder as his jaws moved. He was talking but she couldn't hear him. She continued to focus on him, the world around her drowning out. "Strange."

Lydia could start to make out what the wispy NightWing was saying "Watched" He was saying it over and over again while his eyes looked off to the side of her, as if he were trying to tell her something while not looking away from her, like he was scared she suddenly wouldn't be able to see him anymore.

"Watched, Watched, Watched!"

Watching what? She questioned, Is something watching? He must've seen her look of confusion as his talons shot out and were pointing, pointing behind her. Lydia turned her head, her scarlet red eyes scanning around her. When she saw it, she felt her heart sink, stopping.

She saw two very different things, both terrified her. Standing along the edge of the center square was a dull coloured MudWing, her eyes narrowed into thin slits as her dark amber eyes were locked onto Lydia. Behind her were more wispy MudWing's, five of them, their edges blurry in an angry way, like flames. Their faces were blurred and smudged, the only features she could make out were the hatred in their yellow eyes. Like a burning fire fueled by anger, its embers burning till there would be nothing left.

"I just," the MudWing blinked before her ears perked up, hearing something that pulled her attention away from Lydia. Quickstrike pulled out of the hug, making the young princess look at him. "I see things, I don't know what they are, but I see dragons and events, things I don't recognize."

She turned back to see if she could spot the MudWing again, the one who sparked familiarity in Lydia. It was the same MudWing she saw when she met Moonglobe, the one who seemingly disappeared into thin air when she tried to look at her again. Just as she had guessed, the MudWing was gone, along with the five other wispy ones. "I see dragons I don't recognize."

Quickstrike hummed, pulling her attention back to him, she could see from where she was sitting in front of the older NightWing that Fatefinder was gone, his wispy form no longer there.

"Hmmm," he looked deep in thought as they sat beside the fountain, "why don't we go pay a visit to Starfinder and Futurereader?"

"Starfinder and Futrurereader?"

The NightWing stood up, pulling Lydia along with him, he gave her a look of reassurance, his wings unfurling to wrap around her and over the cloak she wore. "They're two of the teachers who work at the school just outside of town, they're good at this kind of thing."

She tilted her head, her large ears perked up in interest, "Good at what?" she asked with a look of confusion, her ruby red eyes looking up at Quickstrike as he led the way.

"They specialize in gifted dragonets of all kinds."

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

By the time they arrived at the school, Lydia's wings were aching and felt as though they were about to fall off and run away so as to not be abused anymore by having to travel. She's never had to fly like this before, in fact, she rarely flew back home. The only times she really did was when she was a dragonet learning to fly with her parents.

The sky had begun to dim, it's colours growing cooler, but not cool enough to be sunset yet. The very early signs of sunset were just starting to peek through along the far off horizon. The school was situated along a mountain side, the entrance carved of white stones to look like spiraling pillars that held the entrance open. Off to the left, was a river that branched out around jagged rocks, weaving back around them to connect back into one large river that crashed down the mountain side like a small waterfall. The area was bustling with dragons, each in groups of mixed tribes, all setting off in different directions with an adult accompanying them.

"This, my little star," Quickstrike gave her a smile as he gently nudged her forwards, "is Entwined River Academy."

"There are so many dragons here."

Lydia felt like she was entering the village for the first time again, seeing so many dragons in one place. It terrified her. The only times back home where she would see so many dragons were during tribe meetings, which Queen Animosity mostly called to address large matters. Lydia attended them, but never had to say anything, she didn't have to.

"It's one of the few schools that takes in students of all kinds, from any tribe, and hybrids." he explained to her as they folded in their wings, walking closer towards the entrance. "They have special classes for dragonets who were born with different abilities."

"What kinds of abilities?"

"RainWing's who can't change their scale colours, NightWing's born under the moons, IceWing's with too much or to little ice, SeaWing's who have a hard time adjusting to speaking with their vocal cords rather than their scales," he continued to explain more of what the school teaches and how they strive to help as many dragonets as they can.

Lydia's spines rattled at the mention of RainWing's. They scared the princess to no end, from stories her parents told her and how awful and selfish they were, she didn't understand how anyone could like them. They were dangerous, able to hide in plain sight with acid spitting fangs that could melt your scales clean off of your body in a matter of minutes.

Quickstrike didn't seem to notice Lydia's change as he continued to talk. Apparently they have separate caves inside of the mountain that are for dragonets from across the continent, giving them a place to stay while they attend school. " you name it, they do it. When the tribes from Pantala split off and moved here, they've made adjustments for them and have hired Pantalan teachers."

"Pantalan tribes?" her eyes widened, the only pantalan dragon she's seen in person was Morpho the SilkWing. Just thinking about him made her heart sink and it reminded her as to why she was here in the first place.

Because of him, I'm away from mom and dad, but at least I might be able to find my way home if I get my claws on a map.

As they walked up to the entrance, she saw a wispy NightWing walking alongside her. When her eyes looked at him, she saw it was Fatefinder. He's still with me, she realized with a blink, maybe it's not all in my head and he's really here.

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her. Everything felt real when she could see him, like she wasn't in a dream.

But then what about those other dragons I saw around that MudWing?

Fatefinder met her gaze, as he too realized she was looking at him and could see her. He blinked sheepishly for a few seconds, he looked as though he was still adjusting to being able to be seen, which made her question how long she hadn't been able to see him since he died. He gave her an encouraging smile. His voice sounded muffled, like it were underwater, but still clear enough for her to be able to understand.

"I'll keep watch," the honey eyed young NightWing hummed lightly, "I'll stay by you, you'll get back home, I'll make sure of it."

She gave him a tiny smile, to which his broadened in turn as they walked. "Thank you." she whispered to him as quietly as she could while Quickstrike continued to explain to her things about Entwined River Academy.

"-they'll help you with figuring out your powers, I know they will. Starfinder and Futrurereader specialize in this kind of thing."

She tuned back into what Quickstrike was saying as the two walked down a torch lit tunnel inside the academy. It reminded the NightWing of the halls she would walk down back home, but these ones were busier, louder. They passed by caves full of classes, teachers teaching dragonets all ages.

In one classroom there was an IceWing with cool teal shimmering scales, a thin wire necklace hanging from his neck with four silver rings hanging from it, chiming whenever he moved to point to a map. A map! She stopped in her tracks to stare at it, watching as the teacher continued to point at what looked to be a section along the border of the Sand and Ice kingdoms.

His students sat around him in a semi-circle, some leaning forwards with their ears perked up with interest. She could see all kinds of dragonets her age. A small group of MudWings sat beside a pair of SandWings by a NightWing who had golden classes over her face, the golden wires reaching up to wrap around her horns in a floral design. She could see a few SkyWings by a cluster of SeaWings and IceWings, all listening to the teachers' lessons. One tribe she didn't see in the room were any RainWing's, which made her shoulders relax in relief.

"Swift?" Her ears perked up and she realized she had stopped. Quickstrike was walking back over towards her, "why did you stop?" He stopped beside her and turned to look in the direction she was looking in. It took him a few seconds before his eyes lit up in understanding.

"Oh! Do you like history?"

"Yeah," she admitted, not revealing that her true interest was that map, but now knowing that it was a history classroom, there should be more inside. If I can sneak away for a few minutes while he's not looking, I could hide a scroll under my cloak. Lydia wasn't lying when she said she liked history, she always enjoyed her lessons with Wiseflight.

Wiseflight, her heart stopped for a few seconds, almost shuddering with each beat. She had hardly thought of her teacher since being taken away from her. How is she doing? Is she okay? She must be worried sick.

The older three legged NightWing never shared how she felt often, but Lydia had been around her long enough to be able to read her like a book, she'd been teaching Lydia since she had hatched afterall, she was like a grandmother to her, someone wsie to tell her tales of old. Lydia had learned to recognize the small glances she would receive from her teacher, when she was little she thought they were just looks to make sure she wasn't goofing around while in her lessons, but in reality, they were looks of affection and care. The old NightWing must be searching high and low for her, she just knew she was.

Same with Mom and Dad, they must be searching all of Pyrrhia for me.

"Quickstrike? Is that you?"

She realized she had gotten lost in her thoughts when a new voice reached her ears. Scarlet ruby red eyes focused back into reality, looking around to see the teaching iceWing was looking at them, along with the students. Her eyes widened and her round ears pinned back, her earring brushing against her scales in a swooping motion before bouncing as she swiftly moved to hide behind Quickstrike.

That was too many dragons staring at me! She whined as Quickstrike opened his wing, giving her a place to hide behind him, helping her to blend into his side much like she would with her mother, but with Quickstrike her scales blended in with their dark shades, with Animosity hers blended in with their colour tone.

"Eirwen!" Quickstrike spoke up, Lydia could hear his smile as he spoke. "Sorry if we disturbed your lesson! We were just passing through."

"Oh no worries! It's actually an amazing time for you to show up!" The IceWing, Eirwen, chittered, his spines clicking against one another in a light tapping noise. "I was just teaching my class about The Scorching of the SandWing royal family a few decades ago and the war it brought with it, you remember that don't you?"

"Oh I'm sure all of us older dragons remember that, it was an awful time, but it's also when I was able to catch a bunch of fugitives who poked their snouts out of the ground."

"Fugitives?"

"Yes, Cranberry." Lydia lowered her head so she could watch from around Quickstrike's shoulder as Eirwen nodded towards a MudWing dragonet who looked to be about Lydia's age, maybe younger, but with her size she looked to be older than her. "Quickstrike here is a bounty hunter, one of the best in Pyrrhia."

"Oh you don't gotta say that."

"But you are," the IceWing shook his head with a chuff, cold air swirling up into the air, "you've caught some of the most wanted criminals."

"I don't catch many," he chuckled lightly, reaching up with one of his closest talons to pat Lydia's head, "but I do get the job done, I can find anyone  if I work hard enough."

The IceWing's attention moved towards Lydia, his solid blue eyes locking with hers as her scarlet red ones widened. "Who is this little one?" Eirwen asked, lowering his head to be level with hers, his thin, pointed ears were perked with almost childlike interest. It made her relax a little, but her spines still stood straight up and on end.

Right, she told herself, he's a teacher, he knows what to do around nervous dragonets.

The rest of the class, the other NightWing dragonet in the room sucking in a sharp breath at the sight of her but Lydia wasn't really paying attention to her as the scarlet eyed dragonet was locked in Eirwen's solid blue gaze.

"This is Swiftrunner," he paused before adding in her other name, "or Lydia, whatever she prefers. It's all up to her," Quickstrike said with pride lacing his voice, "she's my daughter."

"Your daughter? I thought...' Eirwen's voice trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid but mentally heard. "Your daughter," he looked at her again, "wow."

"Is she going to become a bounty hunter too?" Asked a SkyWing dragonet, raising his wing in question. Some of the other dragonets around him letting out their own questions.

"Yeah!" voice up another, this time an IceWing, being a bounty hunter would be so cool!"

"Now now class," Eirwen hushed them with a flick of his tail, letting out a huff of ice cold air that puffed up like a tiny cloud into the air. "Let's not hound them with questions like that, besides, Qucikstrike could come back another time to answer anything you like." he looked over towards the NightWing, a questioning look with his thin brows raising his crested head.

Lydia watched as Qucikstrike gave his friend a nod in return, making the IceWing smile before he turned back to his class, "besides, I think he's here for important business, so we shouldn't keep him here any longer."

A series of "aww's" and "darn it's" filtered through the air, making the two adults in the room chuckle.

"I know I'm super interestin' and all that, but I am here on important matters. Which, Eirwen, you could actually help me with."

"Oh? What would you need?" The teal coloured IceWing questioned as he made his way to the front of the board, back where he was sitting before Lydia and Quickstrike had gained the attention of the whole class.

"I'm looking for Starfinder and Futurereader, are they here today? Or at least free sometime after classes are done?"

"Starfinder and Futurereader?" Eirwen tapped one of his serrated claws on his chin with a huff, his wings shaking themselves out as he sat back down, "I believe they're here today, but they had their classes this morning with some of the special SkyWing students this morning with Cobalt and Skyseeker."

"Do you think they'd still be here? Even Skyseeker would be good to talk to about my little shooting star here." The NightWing smiled as his wing tightened around Lydia, holding her close as they talked.

When Lydia looked around the class, the other NightWing dragonet was still staring at her, unmoving, waiting on baited breath. Why is she staring at me like that? She felt a cold gust whoosh around her, and out of the corner of her eye she could see Fathefinder standing beside her, and from what she could see without breaking eye contact with the other dragonet, he was looking at her too.

"I'm fairly sure they're all still here, they should be in the teachers wing by the dinner cave."

"Great, thank you Eirwen! Have a good time with the rest of your history lesson, you won't be disappointed with the ending!" He called the last part to the students with a smile as he started to lead Lydia away and down the warm torch-lit cave hallway.

Why was that other NightWing staring at me like that?

She thought to herself as her claws tapped against the cool stone, making her palms feel numb against its smooth and rundown surface.

Like I was some monster?

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- MindlessTyper