Black Moon jolted awake, her sharp ears pricking up at the sound of claws scraping against the ground outside her den. Blinking her ice-blue eyes, she lifted her white-speckled snout toward the entrance. There stood Moonwatcher, her sister, bathed in the soft light of dawn. "Sister," Moonwatcher called gently, her voice barely above a whisper.

With a graceful stretch, Black Moon raised her head and unfurled her bat-like wings, her finned tail flicking behind her in eagerness. Moon stepped inside, dipping her head to meet Black Moon's gaze with her vibrant green eyes. "Hey, can we go to the History Cave together? I want to explore it before class," she suggested, softly brushing her talon against Black Moon's.

A warm smile spread across Black Moon's face as she stood, shaking herself free of sleep and letting her shimmering scales glisten in the dim light of the den. She brushed past her adopted sister, prompting Moon to hurry after her. Together, they walked side by side down the winding hallway, passing Sora and her brother Marsh, both MudWings greeted the two NightWings with friendly smiles. The sisters returned the gesture, their bond evident in the way they mirrored each other's expressions.

As they ventured on, Black Moon veered into a tunnel on the left, leading them deeper into the labyrinth of caves until they reached the History Cave. The air grew cooler and damper, with fewer glowing orbs lighting the path. Black Moon scrunched her nose at the mingling scents of old scrolls and wet moss, the ambiance thick with age and mystery.

A large green SeaWing poked his head out from beneath a desk, his narrowed eyes sizing up the two sisters. "What are you doing here? Class hasn't started yet," he grumbled in a gravelly voice.

Black Moon lifted her chin defiantly, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence. "We just wanted to explore, that's all," she replied coolly, her tone unbothered.

The SeaWing snorted dismissively, then emerged fully from his hiding spot and shook out his translucent wings, sending a few errant scrolls fluttering to the ground. "Fine, just don't touch anything," he grumbled before returning to sort through the scattered scrolls piled haphazardly upon his desk.

Moon gracefully stepped aside to make room, and Black Moon moved in beside her, both sisters' eyes widening as they scanned the racks of scrolls and the desks that would soon be filled with eager learners. The damp air was thick with a sense of history, and anticipation buzzed between them as they contemplated the secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Black Moon walked over to one of the leaf-covered windows and pulled aside the damp foliage, scrunching her snout at the overwhelming smell. "Geez, what are you feeding these leaves? They smell like they're rotting!" she hissed, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

The green SeaWing glanced up from his scrolls, his expression darkening. "Hey, don't touch anything, I said!" he snapped, rising from his desk. He approached her with an irritated glint in his eyes and carefully replaced the leaf cover over the window.

"Now shoo! I need to organize before class starts," he added, waving a dismissive claw as he returned to his work.

Black Moon felt a surge of annoyance but shrugged it off. She exchanged a glance with Moon, who stifled a giggle at the SeaWing's flustered demeanor. Despite the grouchy guardian of the scrolls, the curiosity in the cave kept their spirits high.

As Black Moon and Moon stepped out of the dim classroom, they abruptly collided with two familiar figures—Qibli and Winter. The IceWing's icy blue scales glimmered under the light, and he snarled, wrinkling his snout at the two NightWings. "What are you doing here? Isn't it a bit early?" he sneered, his sharp gaze demanding an explanation.

Black Moon ruffled her wings defiantly, determined not to let his attitude rattle her. "We just wanted to explore, that's all," she replied calmly, nudging Moon forward with a gentle push, as though to show that she was unbothered by their hostility.

Qibli, however, had other ideas. He jabbed his wing into Winter's side playfully, a smirk dancing across his face. "You need to stop being so grumpy," he teased. "Soon, you'll have Black Moon's talons at your throat—and I don't mean that in a friendly way." With a cheeky wink, he swept off, his laughter echoing down the hall.

As Qibli disappeared from sight, Winter's expression hardened, and he growled lowly to himself, clearly not amused by his companion's antics. Black Moon glanced back at Moon, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, at least he's right about one thing," she said with a smirk. "Some dragons really need to lighten up."

Moon giggled quietly, still feeling the thrill of adventure coursing through her. The day had just begun, and there were plenty more secrets waiting to be uncovered.

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Soon enough, class had started, and Black Moon, Moon, Winter, and Qibli found themselves seated in history class. The air was thick with anticipation as their teacher began to drone on about the history of the tribes.

To their right, Sora's winglet sat quietly, their attention focused ahead. Among them was Icicle, Winter's sister, who was staring disdainfully at the other dragons in the room. Black Moon couldn't shake the strange, murky feeling she always got from the female IceWing. Icicle's icy demeanor seemed to send a chill through the air, and Black Moon noticed how that chill was palpable, almost like a lingering frost in the atmosphere.

Winter occasionally shot glances toward his sister, a mixture of concern and wariness in his eyes. Black Moon watched him, torn between sympathy for Winter and curiosity about Icicle. There was something unsettling about her—perhaps it was the way her piercing blue gaze seemed to assess everyone and everything with clinical detachment.

As the teacher continued explaining the past alliances and battles of the tribes, Black Moon found herself drifting in thought. What could possibly lie beneath Icicle's cold exterior? She glanced at Moon, who was dutifully taking notes, and wondered if she should voice her feelings about Icicle.

But just as she opened her mouth to speak, a sudden burst of laughter erupted from the group in the back of the room. It snapped her back to the present, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Sighing softly, she leaned in closer to Winter, who looked just as annoyed.

"Does it always have to be this chaotic?" she whispered, her own frustration creeping into her tone.

Winter shrugged, casting a sideways glance at Icicle, whose expression hadn't changed, almost as if she were above the noise. "Welcome to history class. It's just how things are," he replied, his voice low.

Feeling the tension in the air, Black Moon shifted her focus back to the teacher, hoping for a moment of peace to guide her thoughts. The lesson would ultimately unfold many layers of the past, but those layers only added to the intrigue surrounding the present—especially with Icicle nearby.

Webs, the history teacher, flapped his wings with authority, instantly quieting the room. "Hey, hey, silence, please!" His voice cut through the noise like a blade, commanding respect from even the most rambunctious students. He then rolled out a massive map of Pyrrhia, its intricate details capturing the attention of everyone in the classroom.

"Now, who can tell me anything about the Scorching?" Webs asked, adopting a no-nonsense tone that made it clear he expected serious answers.

A SandWing with sparkling diamonds in her wings and a winding pattern curling around her horns raised her claw. "Sir, may I ask about Queen Thorn?" she inquired, her voice confident and inquisitive.

At that mention, Qibli's body tensed. He bristled visibly, a wave of protectiveness washing over him. "You better not be saying anything bad about her! She's the best queen we could have had!" he interjected, his eyes narrowing at the SandWing.

Webs regarded Qibli with a knowing smile, a twinkle in his eyes that suggested he had seen this kind of response before. "Let's remember to keep our opinions constructive, Qibli," he cautioned gently. "Queen Thorn has had her share of triumphs and challenges, just like any ruler."

The SandWing who spoke earlier looked taken aback but quickly regained her composure. "I just meant to ask about her leadership during the Scorching. It's said she was pivotal in uniting the SandWings during that time."

"Absolutely," Webs replied, nodding approvingly. "Queen Thorn's influence and determination were essential to gather the tribes and counter the chaos of that era. It's important to study the relationships between leaders and their kingdoms—both the good and the bad."

As he spoke, Black Moon exchanged a glance with Winter, who leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Qibli seemed to relax slightly, but the protective gleam in his eye remained.

Black Moon felt a twinge of curiosity about this "Scorching" and Queen Thorn. A ruler who could command such loyalty and fierce emotion must have a compelling story. She leaned closer to Moon, who was scribbling notes fervently, eager to learn more. "Do you think Queen Thorn was really that good?" Black Moon asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I think there's more to her story than we know," Moon replied, glancing back at Black Moon with wide eyes. "History never tells everything, especially not the juicy details!"

As the discussion continued, Black Moon's intrigue deepened, imagining the complexities of leadership, loyalty, and the stories that shaped their world. The classroom buzzed with ideas, the once chaotic atmosphere transformed into a space of shared knowledge and discovery.

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After history class, the break came as a welcome relief, and Black Moon and Moon made their way down to the prey center. The lively atmosphere was filled with the chatter of dragons, and in the corner, Kinkajou was animatedly talking to a blue and golden RainWing.

"Oh, Black Moon, Moon! Come over here!" Kinkajou called, her scales shimmering with the vibrant colors of pink and green, shifting with her excitement.

"This is Tamarin," she introduced, waving a paw toward the smaller RainWing. "She's really cool! Please, feel your faces!"

Black Moon narrowed her blue eyes, studying Tamarin. The RainWing had a soft, pale yellow underbelly, and though her eyes were calm and focused, Black Moon could see her twitching ears catching every sound around them, her nose twitching as she absorbed the scents in the air.

"Oh, um, alright," Moon replied, smiling as she dipped her round head forward. Her curiosity piqued, and she was eager to engage in this unusual custom.

Timian reached up and gently stroked Black Moon's head with her delicate claws. "You're not any dragon I've felt before," she remarked after a moment, pulling back, her expression thoughtful. Then she turned to Moon, who sat down on her haunches close to Black Moon. With a light touch, Tamrian explored Moon's features in the same way.

"Your scales are so different! It feels... unique," Tamrian said, her voice filled with genuine wonder.

Black Moon hooked her head slightly, a mix of pride and curiosity welling up inside her. "I'm a Night Fury, the last of my kind," she stated, her voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of yearning.

Tamrian's eyes widened in awe. "Really? That's incredible! I've heard legends about Night Furies, but I never thought I would meet one!"

The commotion of the prey center seemed to fade a little for Black Moon, leaving only the sounds of their small group. Kinkajou bounced on her toes, her enthusiasm infectious. "No way! You should show us some of your cool moves later! Like, can you walk on air or breathe fire?"

Black Moon chuckled softly, a rare smile breaking across her face. "I can do a few things, but walking on air isn't one of them," she replied, her heart lifting. For a moment, surrounded by new friends, the weight of being the last of her kind felt a little lighter.

As they talked, the vibrant colors of the prey center swirled around them, a lively backdrop to the blossoming friendships that were forming. In that moment, Black Moon felt not just the weight of her lineage but also the joy of connection—a reminder that even in a world filled with history and legacy, there was still space for new bonds and memories to be forged.