Reborn awoke with a soft yawn, her wings stretching languidly as the first light filtered into their den. She glanced over at Moon, who was still wrapped in the quiet of sleep, her breath slow and steady. Not far off, NightWing was visibly restless, caught in the throes of some vivid dream, muttering unintelligible words as he tossed and turned. Reborn pricked up her ears, straining to catch the murmurs, but Moon's voice was lost in the barely audible murmur. The quiet night sounds had never seemed so soothing. The memory of her conversation with a voice in her head lingered, its presence comforting in its familiarity, calming the worries that had previously haunted her thoughts.

Still, there was a hint of suspicion in her mind, a small nagging uncertainty that she couldn't quite shake. The voice she'd heard had seemed familiar, achingly so, yet she struggled to place it. It tugged at her memory like an elusive shadow, always just out of reach.

A sudden, cheerful chirp interrupted her musings. "Oh, good!" came a voice from above. Reborn looked up to see Kinkajou grinning, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, let's wake up Moon!" she suggested brightly. Reborn felt her scales ripple in excitement, colors shifting into shades of deep black and bright blue as her lips curled into a toothy grin.

"Alright, let's give her a good scare," Reborn replied, a glint of playful mischief in her eyes. Together, the two RainWings—one vibrant and the other cloaked in disguise—moved carefully towards the slumbering NightWing. Reborn crawled over Moon, positioning herself so her soft, warm underbelly brushed against Moon's back, the gentle purr reverberating through her scales. With a final, calculated motion, she reached out and tapped Moon on the head.

Moon jolted awake with a scream, flinging herself directly into Reborn's belly. Reborn let out an "oof!" as the unexpected collision sent her stumbling backward. She laughed, her scales flashing a silvery white as she shook herself off. "Oops, sorry, Moon!" she managed between chuckles, wings shaking with amusement. But Moon's glare was fierce, her eyes narrowed in a way that would have sent a mouse scurrying.

Moon took a deep breath, standing up and shaking out her wings, which were now slightly ruffled. "Why did you wake me up?" she demanded, trying to maintain a stern tone but only half succeeding. Reborn stepped forward, placing a reassuring wing on Moon's shoulder.

"It's exploring day," Kinkajou chimed in, her voice as steady as she could muster in the face of Moon's glare. Reborn and Moon exchanged a knowing glance before Reborn gave a casual shrug.

"Let's get going, then," she said with a grin, nudging Moon out of the den as Kinkajou darted ahead. Reborn felt her heart lift—today promised to be an adventure, and with her friends at her side, she was ready for whatever the day would bring.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

The day had drifted by quickly, and at last, it was time for Reborn's favorite subject: history. She and Moon made their way through the dimly lit hallway, their talons clicking softly against the stone floor. They exchanged a few quiet words about the day's lessons when, out of nowhere, Moon stumbled. Her wings flared briefly, and before she could fall, Reborn reached out, catching her friend by the talon. Reborn's eyes, a striking (e/c), searched Moon's face, noting the pain etched there. She didn't ask if Moon was alright—she already knew the answer in the silent way that close friends do.

Suddenly, a voice erupted fiercely within Reborn's mind, sharp with worry. Are you alright, Reborn? Now! The urgency made Reborn's heart skip, but she pushed it back, steadying herself. Instead, she leaned in close to Moon, gently cupping her snout. She opened her eyes to meet Moon's, a silent promise passing between them.

A quiet moment hung between them, filled with unspoken words, before Reborn moved forward. Moon stiffened under her claws, caught off guard. Yet rather than any touch more intense, Reborn pressed her forehead to Moon's, reaching through her thoughts, joining her mind to Moon's with a comforting warmth. She let her thoughts entwine with Moon's, calming the storm that she sensed inside.

"You're alright, my dear," she whispered, closing her eyes as Moon's slowly did the same. "You're here with me, not in the cave of memories. I saw it... I know what you saw. We can stop them. We can stop it. Just stay with me. I'll handle this. Just stay." Her voice was soft, almost musical, yet carrying an unyielding strength. Moon's eyes widened, startled, when Reborn said, "I want to do it," but Reborn gently lulled her back into calm.

Stay with me. Listen to him, Reborn urged, her voice barely a breath.

Then, as suddenly as she had reached out, she pulled back and returned her gaze to the entrance of the Story Cave. The world fell into an eerie silence, a hush so complete that Moon didn't even notice when Qibli, Winter, and Kinkajou joined her. But as Moon was about to follow Reborn into the cave, she caught sight of her friend emerging, something clutched tightly in her claws. Reborn held a thick, spiny cactus, its skin dark and sharp, and she offered Moon a small, knowing smile before striding out of the cave with determined steps.

Moon shared a glance with her friends, fear coiling in her chest, and together, they trailed after Reborn, quickening their pace. They had just stepped into the sunlight when a thunderous explosion cracked across the sky. All eyes shot upward as a plume of smoke unfurled, blotting out the sun. And then, through the swirling darkness, a form tumbled—hurtling down from the blast.

"No!" Moon's cry tore through the air as she launched herself skyward, catching Reborn's limp, heavy body before she could hit the ground. Reborn's scales were charred in places, their natural luster dimmed by dark smudges where fire had singed her. Her shape looked... altered, as if something profound had changed within her. But Moon didn't think twice. She flew down to the mossy clearing, gently laying Reborn's still form on the soft ground, her heart pounding.

Kinkajou ran forward, stifling a sob, her wings trembling. "No... please, no," she whispered desperately, nudging Reborn as though trying to wake her with sheer will alone. But the darkened RainWing lay motionless, her breath absent.

Qibli's gaze turned hollow as he spoke, his voice soft. "She knew what it was... She knew it was going to explode, that it would destroy us all. She sacrificed herself to save us..." He trailed off, lowering his head, and Winter followed suit, grief shadowing his icy eyes. But Moon refused to believe it.

She shook Reborn, willing her to stir, to respond somehow. Even Darkstalker's voice echoed faintly in her mind, laced with unease and worry.

But there was nothing any of them could do. All they could do now was wait, hope, and pray that somewhere in the quiet stillness, Reborn would find her way back to them.