Moon took a deep breath, her heart racing as she watched Reborn and Peril soar off into the sky. The vibrant colors of the sunset painted the clouds, but a knot of worry tightened in her stomach. Nearby, Qibli and Winter stood, their expressions mirroring her concern.

"I don't want to be caught out here by Tsunami," Kinkajou spoke up, her voice breaking the tense silence. She tugged at Moon's arm, her eyes wide with urgency.

Winter scowled, his gaze fixed on the horizon where their friends had disappeared. "We should head inside," he muttered, glancing nervously at the approaching storm clouds.

"Yeah, let's go," Moon agreed, her heart still fluttering from the sight of the two dragons climbing higher. With Kinkajou leading the way, the group turned toward the safety of their lair, the weight of uncertainty looming over them.

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t was strange to return to school after Reborn had left. Moon felt the emptiness in her heart, like a cave echoing with silence. She twirled a scroll in her hands, her mind drifting as the teacher droned on about the history of Phyrria, the words blurring into a soft hum.

Around her, the classroom buzzed with chatter, but all she could focus on was the absence of her friend. The familiar sights and sounds felt different now, as if the air itself had shifted.

With a deep breath, she tried to push the feeling away, reminding herself that change was a part of life. Yet, the weight of longing lingered, a reminder that some bonds, once forged, were hard to break.

Qibli brushed his warm wing against hers, a comforting gesture. "She'll come back, I just know it," he said, flashing a smile that made the scar on his face shift slightly. His confidence was infectious, wrapping around Moon like a warm blanket amidst the uncertainty.

Moon gave him a small smile, a flicker of warmth that danced across her face, though it barely reached her eyes. It was a smile tinged with uncertainty, as if she were trying to convince herself as much as him. As her gaze drifted toward the horizon, Darkstalker's voice whispered in her mind, a soothing yet haunting presence.

The SandWing is right, as much as I hate to admit it. Reborn won't leave you.

His words wrapped around her thoughts like a protective shroud, a reminder that even in the depths of her worry, she was not alone. The gentle rustle of her wings echoed her inner turmoil, blending with the distant sounds of the school, a place that felt both familiar and foreign now that Reborn had flown away. Moon's heart ached with a mix of hope and dread, each beat a reminder of the bond they shared, strong enough to withstand even the longest of absences.

"Okay, now I want you all to leave and take the history scrolls with you," Webs instructed, his sea-green wings shifting slightly to reveal the scar that marked his past. His voice was firm, yet there was an underlying weariness, as if he carried the weight of more than just the day's lessons.

"We're all done for the day."

A murmur of mixed emotions rippled through the students. Some felt a twinge of forlornness, their thoughts lingering on Peril's absence, a reminder of the friendships now stretched thin by distance. Others, however, seemed relieved, the prospect of a quieter classroom bringing a smile to their faces.

As they gathered their things, the air buzzed with chatter—some reminiscing about shared moments, while others eagerly discussed plans for the evening. Moon watched as they filed out, her heart a tangle of emotions. She took a deep breath, hoping that Peril would return soon, bringing with her the fiery spirit that lit up their lives.

Moon, Winter, and Qibli walked out together, the soft patter of their claws echoing in the hallway. Kinkajou soon joined them, her energy infectious as she bounced ahead, eager to explore. They all made their way to a secluded spot outside, where the sky stretched endlessly above, an expanse of blue dotted with wisps of white clouds.

As they scanned the horizon for any flashes of dark or copper scales, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. They hoped to catch a glimpse of Peril, but the sky remained stubbornly empty.

Oh, Moon, Darkstalker sighed softly in her mind, his voice a gentle caress against her thoughts. I can still hear her. She hasn't gone fully away, you know. And the bond you two share—it won't break.

His words wrapped around her like a silken thread, a reminder of the connection that transcended distance. Moon felt a flicker of comfort at his reassurance, though the ache of longing still lingered in her heart.

Beside her, Winter gazed into the sky, his expression a mix of hope and concern. Qibli, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood with a playful comment, but even he couldn't shake the weight of their friend's absence. Kinkajou, sensing the somber atmosphere, flitted between them, her laughter a bright note against the backdrop of their worries.

Together, they stood united, each one holding onto the hope that Peril would soon return, their spirits intertwined like the clouds above.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Moon was hunched over her history scroll, her mind swimming in ancient tales of long-lost dragons, when she heard the unmistakable rustle of scales outside her cave. She barely had a moment to lift her head before Winter burst inside, eyes bright with excitement she'd rarely seen from him.

"It's—she's reborn!" he announced, his words tumbling over each other in breathless urgency. And, to Moon's shock, his face was actually... smiling.

"She's back!" he repeated, his ice-blue eyes alight with something she hadn't seen in him for so long—pure, unguarded joy.

Moon blinked, trying to process. "Wait... who's back?"

Winter's wings quivered as he struggled to contain his excitement. "The Queen of Starlight herself—the dragoness who vanished ages ago... She's returned!"

Moon's eyes widened with delight as she leaned forward. "Really? Is Peril with her?"

Winter shook his head, a slight smirk tugging at his snout. "No. Probably sent her off on some wild quest, knowing her."

Before Moon could ask more, Winter slipped out of the cave, leaving her buzzing with curiosity. With a soft sigh, she rolled her scroll shut and tucked it safely away, padding out to join the other dragonets who were already gathering outside.

There, at the center of the growing crowd, stood a dragon whose very presence seemed to cast ripples of awe through the gathered dragons. Reborn was here. The AllWing looked... different. Her scales were larger, her horns more sharply curved, and her eyes held a gleam of ancient wisdom that seemed far older than just a few days' absence could explain.

Moon frowned, her mind racing. She was only gone three days... how could she have changed this much?

As she pondered, she felt the soft brush of scales against her side. Qibli grinned at her, eyes sparkling with encouragement. "Go on, Moon," he murmured. "Go talk to her."

Taking a deep breath, Moon stepped forward, heart pounding as she approached the legendary AllWing.

Reborn's piercing gray eyes found Moon's, and a slow, warm smile spread across her snout. "Ah, dear Moon," she murmured, reaching out a wing to draw the smaller NightWing closer.

Moon barely had time to react before Reborn wrapped her in a fierce hug, scales warm and comforting. "Hey," Moon mumbled, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the AllWing's embrace and the strange, electric aura that seemed to radiate from her.

In the back of her mind, Darkstalker's deep, rumbling purr filled her thoughts, a mixture of delight and intrigue. Oh, she's even more impressive than I imagined, he mused, his voice like a rich undertone beneath her own thoughts.

And by the knowing gleam in Reborn's eyes and the faint twitch of amusement on her face, Moon knew she could hear him, too. Reborn's gaze lingered on her, as if peering straight into her mind, sharing that same unspoken connection.

Moon pulled away just as Clay, Sunny, Starflight, and Tsunami came rushing out, their faces lighting up at the sight of the AllWing.

"Reborn! You're back!" Clay bounded up to her with his usual energy and wrapped her in a big, warm hug, his brown eyes wide with joy—and a hint of worry. "You didn't send Peril away, did you?" he asked, his voice softening with concern. "She didn't... want to come back?"

Reborn let out a long sigh, her gaze drifting to the mountains beyond. "No, Clay. She... she didn't want to come back. She's still struggling. I thought time away from Jade Mountain might help her work through her guilt, but..." Reborn's voice dropped, the weight of sadness flickering in her eyes. "It only made things worse. She's still haunted by everything that happened."

Clay's wings drooped a little, but he gave Reborn a determined nod, as if silently promising he'd find a way to help Peril, no matter how far she'd gone.

"Well, anyway, you're always welcome back. And so is she—I hope you told her that," Clay said, his voice warm with kindness.

Reborn nodded, a grateful smile flickering across her snout. Then, with a playful fluff of her wings, she declared, "Right now, I just want to eat." Her voice rose above the murmur of excitement in the crowd. "I'll answer all your questions in the prey center... after I've eaten a whole goat!"

She spread her wings wide, and the crowd gasped as starlight shimmered along the undersides, like the night sky itself had unfurled above them. The students burst into cheers, their excitement filling the air as they followed her, a growing throng of dragons eager to hear tales of her mysterious journey.