A week had drifted by since the dragons had first arrived in the rainforest, and the vibrant, humid world of towering trees and tangled vines had begun to feel almost like home. The days were filled with the chatter of RainWings, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional squawk of parrots overhead. As evening settled over the canopy, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and purple, Icemoon found herself alone, her talons brushing against the broad, waxy leaves of banana plants as she gathered fruit for the group. The air was warm and thick with the scent of blooming flowers and damp earth, the sounds of the rainforest a soothing backdrop to her thoughts.

But as she reached for a particularly ripe bunch of bananas, a flicker of awareness tugged at the edges of her mind. It was faint, like the whisper of a breeze through the leaves, but unmistakable—a presence, familiar yet distant. Her thoughts reached out instinctively, brushing against the green-tinged mind of the NightWing she had sensed earlier that day. The connection was soft, almost hesitant, but it was there.

"Just come out; I know you're there," Icemoon said, her voice calm and steady as she gently floated down to the ground, her pale, star-speckled wings catching the last rays of sunlight. She landed softly on the moss-covered forest floor, her icy-blue eyes scanning the shadows.

For a moment, there was only silence, the rustle of leaves in the breeze the only sound. Then, with a hesitant step, the green-tinted NightWing emerged from the shadows. Her scales shimmered faintly, catching the fading light as she stepped into the open. She smiled shyly, her eyes darting to Icemoon before quickly looking away, her tail flicking nervously.

"Uh, hey," the NightWing said, her voice soft and uncertain, like the tentative chirp of a bird testing the air. "My name is Moonwatcher, but you can call me Moon. I've... uh, been watching you and wondering if you are a mindreader." She tapped the teardrop scales near her own eyes, her expression a mix of curiosity and hope. "I... I am, and I noticed that your thoughts seem familiar to a mindreader."

Icemoon's lips curled into a faint smile, and she nodded, her icy demeanor softening just a fraction. "Why, yes, I am," she said, her voice cool but not unkind. "Now, why have you been hiding?"

Moonwatcher shifted her weight from one talon to the other, her green-tinted scales shimmering faintly as she rubbed her talons up her arms in a nervous gesture. "Me and, uhh, my mom don't really socialize with other dragons," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's always hidden me here in the rainforest. It's... kind of lonely, honestly."

Icemoon's gaze softened, and she took a step closer, her movements slow and deliberate so as not to startle the shy NightWing. "I can imagine," she said, her tone gentle. "It must be difficult, living in the shadows like that. But you don't have to hide anymore. There are dragons here who would welcome you—dragons who understand what it's like to feel different."

Moonwatcher's eyes widened slightly, and she glanced up at Icemoon, her expression a mix of hope and uncertainty. "You really think so?" she asked, her voice trembling just a little.

Icemoon nodded, her smile growing warmer. "I do," she said. "And if you ever need someone to talk to, or just... someone who understands, I'm here."

Moonwatcher's shy smile returned, and she nodded, her tail flicking with a hint of excitement. "Thank you," she said softly. "That... means a lot."

The two dragons stood there for a moment, the sounds of the rainforest humming around them as the last light of day faded into twilight. For the first time in a long time, Moonwatcher felt a flicker of hope—a sense that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to be alone anymore. And as Icemoon turned to lead her back toward the village, she couldn't help but feel that the rainforest, with all its vibrant life and hidden secrets, might just become a place she could call home.

SCENEBREAK

When Icemoon and Moonwatcher entered the village, the warm glow of firelight and the soft hum of dragon chatter greeted them. The treetop platforms were alive with activity, dragons moving about as the evening deepened into night. But standing at the edge of the central clearing, his dark, star-flecked scales catching the flickering light, was Starflight. His expression was a mix of relief and anxiety, his wings twitching nervously as his eyes scanned the shadows. The moment he spotted Icemoon, his entire posture shifted, and he perked up, his tail flicking with a mix of frustration and relief.

"There you are," he breathed out, his voice tinged with exasperation as he hurried over to her. Before Icemoon could say a word, he pulled her into his wings, his embrace tight but gentle. "I told you to stop traveling off without telling us," he said, his tone a mix of scolding and concern. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

Icemoon snorted, her icy-blue eyes glinting with amusement as she patted the smaller NightWing on the head. "I told someone," she said, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "I told Sunny. But I guess she's being scatterbrained again and forgot to pass it along."

Starflight sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he released her from his embrace. "You could've told me," he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "I don't like not knowing where you are."

Icemoon's expression softened, and she gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I know," she said. "But I'm fine, Starflight. Really." She then stepped aside, her wing brushing against Moonwatcher's shoulders as she gently guided the shy NightWing forward. "Starflight, this is Moon. Her mother has hidden her in the rainforest since she was born." She turned to Moonwatcher, her tone warm and encouraging. "Moon, this is my boyfriend, Starflight."

Moonwatcher's green-tinted scales shimmered faintly in the firelight as she glanced up at Starflight, her expression a mix of curiosity and nervousness. "Hi," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's... nice to meet you."

Starflight's eyes widened slightly as he took in the green-tinted NightWing, his scholarly instincts immediately kicking in. "Moonwatcher?" he asked, his tone shifting to one of intrigue. "I've... heard that name before. In the scrolls. You're a mindreader, aren't you?"

Moonwatcher nodded shyly, her talons fidgeting as she glanced between Icemoon and Starflight. "Yes," she admitted. "I am. I've never met another mindreader before, though. It's... kind of lonely."

Starflight's expression softened, and he took a step closer, his usual awkwardness replaced by a quiet warmth. "Well, you're not alone anymore," he said, his voice gentle. "We're here. And if you ever want to talk—about mindreading, or anything else—I'm always happy to listen."

Moonwatcher's shy smile returned, and she nodded, her tail flicking with a hint of excitement. "Thank you," she said softly. "That... means a lot."

Icemoon watched the exchange with a faint smile, her wing still resting lightly on Moonwatcher's shoulders. For all his worrying and occasional clumsiness, Starflight had a way of making others feel at ease, and she could see the tension slowly melting away from Moonwatcher's posture.

"See?" Icemoon said, her tone teasing but affectionate as she glanced at Starflight. "I told you I wasn't just wandering off for no reason. I was making friends."

Starflight rolled his eyes, but there was a fondness in his expression as he looked at her. "You're impossible," he said, though there was no real annoyance in his voice. "But... I'm glad you're safe. And I'm glad you found Moon."

The three of them stood there for a moment, the sounds of the village humming around them as the firelight flickered against their scales. For the first time in a long time, Moonwatcher felt a flicker of hope—a sense that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to be alone anymore. And as Icemoon and Starflight led her further into the village, she couldn't help but feel that the rainforest, with all its vibrant life and hidden secrets, might just become a place she could call home.