We descended into the vibrant green of the rainforest, the air heavy with humidity and the faint aroma of blooming flowers. Queen Glory stood at the center of the clearing, her iridescent scales gleaming in the filtered sunlight, her expression sharp and unreadable. Beside her, Deathbringer lounged casually, though his dark eyes flicked toward us with clear wariness.

Both their gazes snapped to Darkstalker as he landed behind me, his massive wings casting long shadows over the clearing. Their startlement was evident, though they both masked it quickly.

"Um, n-not to be rude," Deathbringer said, his smooth voice breaking the silence, "but you're kind of a big dragon for your tail." His casual tone carried an edge of tension, and his claws flexed subtly against the ground as if ready for action.

I couldn't help but chuckle, the tension easing slightly. "Yeah, his name is Darkstalker," I said, my voice steady despite the oddity of the moment. "I've come to the rainforest with him to talk. I figured your personal guard, Queen Glory, could keep an eye on us... you know, in case he decides to kill me."

Glory's sharp, suspicious gaze slid from me to Darkstalker and back again. She hummed softly, her expression skeptical. "What if he decides to kill my guards?"

I shrugged my wings, trying to keep the moment light but feeling the weight of her concern. "He won't, right, Darkstalker?" I turned my head slightly, glaring up at the towering dragon behind me.

Darkstalker let out a small huff of smoke, his expression equal parts amused and irritated. "Yes, yes, if they don't annoy me," he replied, his deep voice carrying a dangerous undertone that made Deathbringer's tail flick sharply.

Glory raised a brow, her skepticism deepening, though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I'll work on it," she muttered, her tone dry.

Without waiting for more discussion, I slipped past her and Deathbringer, my talons crunching lightly on the damp underbrush as I headed into the depths of the rainforest. The shadows grew denser, the air thicker, and the sounds of chirping insects and distant waterfalls wrapped around us. Darkstalker followed silently at my tail, his presence both reassuring and unnerving.

This was going to be a conversation I wouldn't forget.

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The sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of the rainforest, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the mossy ground where Darkstalker and I had found a small clearing. It was peaceful here, a stark contrast to the storm of tension and uncertainty that constantly churned between us.

I lounged on a gnarled tree root, rolling a pearl around in my claws absentmindedly. Its smooth surface was comforting, grounding me in the midst of this surreal situation. Nearby, Darkstalker sprawled on his belly, his massive form blending unnervingly well with the moss and shadows. His tail flicked lazily, the tip carving faint lines into the earth as if bored.

"So, you can't just go around killing other dragons now that you're out of that mountain," I said firmly, glancing at him with a mix of determination and exasperation. My claws tightened slightly on the pearl as I spoke. "There's a reason Clearsight buried you under there, you know."

Darkstalker let out a deep, rumbling chuckle, one that seemed to vibrate through the air itself. He turned his head toward me, his piercing eyes gleaming with faint amusement. "Ah, Clearsight," he said, his voice smooth and wistful. "Always the clever one. Too clever, really. I suppose she thought she was saving the world, didn't she?"

"She was saving the world," I snapped, my claws momentarily gripping the pearl too tightly. I loosened my grip, taking a calming breath before continuing. "You've done some awful things, Darkstalker. I know you say you've changed, but... dragons are afraid of you. And for good reason."

He sighed, resting his chin on the moss and watching me intently, his expression unreadable. "You sound just like her, you know," he murmured, his voice low. "Always so quick to believe the worst of me. I don't deny my past mistakes, Midnight, but you must understand... I only wanted what was best."

"What's best doesn't usually involve enchantments, manipulation, and... well, murder," I retorted, holding his gaze steadily. "If you want dragons to trust you again, to truly believe you've changed, you need to start proving it. And that begins with not killing anyone."

Darkstalker was silent for a moment, his gaze flicking to the pearl in my claws. His tail stilled, and a faint smile curved his lips. "You're bold," he said softly, almost approvingly. "I admire that. Very well, I'll consider your... advice. But only because you asked so nicely."

I rolled my eyes, though a small part of me felt a flicker of relief. "Good," I muttered, turning my attention back to the pearl. The weight of the moment hung between us, fragile and uncertain, but for now, it seemed like a step forward.

The gentle rustling of wings above broke through the otherwise tranquil clearing. I glanced up to see Deathbringer descending gracefully through the trees, a wooden bowl of fruit cradled in his claws. His landing was smooth, practiced, but his expression was a mix of casual and something slightly sheepish as he approached us.

Darkstalker's attention snapped up as well, his brow furrowing in what looked like a blend of mild irritation and bemusement. Deathbringer ignored the massive dragon's gaze and stopped in front of me, setting the fruit bowl down on the mossy root beside where I lounged.

"Here," he said, his tone friendly, though there was an underlying hesitance. "Thought you might want something to eat."

I blinked at him, momentarily surprised. "Oh, thanks," I said, glancing at the bowl. The vibrant array of rainforest fruits glistened in the dappled sunlight—bananas, mangoes, and some unfamiliar ones I could only guess at.

Deathbringer lingered awkwardly, his tail flicking once before he finally lowered himself into a sitting position nearby. His sleek black scales seemed to blend into the shadows, though I caught a slight flush on his snout as he glanced at me, then at Darkstalker, then back to me.

"So, uhh..." Deathbringer started, his voice uncertain as he cleared his throat. "How's it going?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, its simplicity contrasting with the complicated dynamics at play in the clearing.

Darkstalker snorted softly, his massive tail flicking a small cloud of dirt into the air. "Well, I would say it was going splendidly until someone decided to interrupt our little... philosophical discussion." His tone was smooth but carried a faint edge, and he shot Deathbringer a look that could have peeled bark off a tree.

I groaned inwardly and shot Darkstalker a glare. "Be nice," I muttered before turning to Deathbringer with a reassuring smile. "It's going... fine, I guess. Thanks for the fruit, really."

Deathbringer shrugged, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "Figured you might need a break from all the, uh..." He gestured vaguely toward Darkstalker, whose smirk had widened. "...intensity."

"Intensity is putting it mildly," I murmured under my breath, picking up a piece of fruit and nibbling on it.

Deathbringer's shoulders relaxed slightly, though he still seemed wary of Darkstalker, who was now watching him like a hawk studying a field mouse. I couldn't blame him; being in the presence of such an ancient and unpredictable force was unsettling, even for someone as skilled and confident as Deathbringer. Still, his effort to reach out didn't go unnoticed, and for that, I was grateful.

Deathbringer offered a slight, somewhat awkward smile before standing and stretching his wings. "Well, if you need anything more, just let me know. I'll be around," he said, his tone light yet tinged with the unease of being under Darkstalker's watchful eye. Without waiting for a reply, he leapt into the air, his dark form disappearing into the dense canopy above.

I watched him go for a moment, then turned to Darkstalker, who was now reclining lazily against a patch of moss. His expression was somewhere between amused and exasperated.

"You know," I began, my voice carrying a hint of scolding, "you really need to learn to be nicer to other Nightwings. They've been scared of you for thousands of years, Darkstalker."

He sighed dramatically, his massive wings shifting as if the very idea was exhausting. "I know, I know," he replied, his tone almost petulant. "But it's not as though I intended for them to be terrified of me forever. Things just... spiraled out of control."

I arched a brow, setting the piece of fruit I had been eating back into the bowl. "That's the understatement of the millennium," I muttered. "If you're trying to prove to me, or anyone, that you've changed, you need to start showing it. Little things, Darkstalker—like not glaring at dragons who bring me fruit."

His sharp gray eyes softened slightly, and he huffed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Fine," he said, his voice low but sincere. "I'll try. For you, Midnight."

I gave him a small nod of approval, though his words left a strange warmth in my chest that I wasn't quite ready to examine. For now, I would take his effort as a victory, no matter how small.