CLEARSIGHT

Clearsight was in the midst of a dream when it unfolded before her like a tangled web, and she couldn't escape its pull. There he was again, Darkstalker, with that SkyWing—Princess Lumina. Clearsight could hardly bring herself to watch as the dream painted them together, like some tragic fable. Of course, it would be a princess who caught Darkstalker's attention, she thought bitterly, her heart twisting in frustration. Why not someone like me?

She sighed and rolled over in her sleep, trying to will the dream away. But it lingered, as dreams often do, pulling at the edges of her thoughts. Then, a sound—soft at first—like the tap of a claw against the door.

Her father's voice cut through the fog of sleep, warm and reassuring. "Clearsight, there you are. Are you ready for school?" His smile, even through her drowsy haze, was familiar and comforting.

Clearsight groaned and flicked her tail in irritation. "Ready? Hardly," she muttered, blinking her eyes open, the remnants of the dream still clouding her mind.

Before she could say more, the door swung wide and her mother's cheerful voice filled the room. "Time to wake up!" Swiftwings poked her head into the room, her feathers as brilliant and fiery as ever. She took one look at the mess and immediately her expression softened in mock horror. "Oh dear."

"I know, look at this mess," Clearsight replied, a touch of frustration lacing her words. Her wings twitched nervously as she pushed herself upright, glancing at the scattered books and half-closed drawers. "Maybe I should stay home one more night to tidy it up."

Swiftwings raised an amused brow. "The real mess in this room is you, sweetheart," she said affectionately, the words light but true. She stepped inside, folding her wings neatly behind her. "It's time to go, and you know it. Come have a nice rattlesnake for breakfast, and you'll feel energized and ready for school."

Clearsight wrinkled her snout. "No, rattlesnake will make me hiccup during the introduction circle," she objected, shaking her head as she ran a talon through her tangled feathers. "Fish could make my talons slippery, so I'd land awkwardly. I'll have a squirrel; I can see that it won't cause any problems."

Swiftwings rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, her wings folding back as she turned to retreat. Her father chuckled softly from the doorway. "You're too jumpy, aren't you? Could it be because you're about to meet your soulmate today? Is that what's making you nervous?"

Clearsight's eyes narrowed, her sharp gaze cutting across the room to meet her father's teasing expression. Her talons scraped against the floor as she swept past him, her wings unfurling in irritation. "Please, Dad," she muttered, "I'm not nervous. Just... distracted."

As she stormed into the living room, she grabbed a fat squirrel from the food stash, its soft fur brushing against her talons. She let out a breath, trying to push aside the unease gnawing at her insides. Today was just another day. Nothing to worry about.

But as she sank her teeth into the squirrel, her mind couldn't help but wander back to the dream. And to Darkstalker and Lumina.

Swiftwings placed a gentle talon on her daughter's shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "I'm sure he'll love you just like we do," she whispered, her voice soft but full of quiet strength. She nudged Clearsight gently toward the door, her expression a mix of affection and subtle encouragement. "Now go."

Clearsight hesitated for a moment, the weight of her mother's words lingering in her thoughts. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of unease, but she swallowed it down, her determination hardening. She stuffed the squirrel into her mouth, the familiar taste grounding her as she stepped toward the door. Without another word, she spread her wings and leapt into the air, feeling the rush of wind against her feathers.

The flight was a brief but necessary escape from the whirlwind of thoughts buzzing in her mind. She climbed higher, leaving the familiar comforts of home behind as the landscape shifted, dark and looming toward the NightWing school. But just as she was settling into the rhythm of her flight, something caught her attention—a sudden flash of copper-red and silver that streaked across the sky.

Her wings stiffened in midair as she focused, narrowing her eyes against the glare of the sun. Wasn't that... her? She squinted harder, watching the familiar shapes of two dragons moving with grace and speed, their forms a stark contrast against the deep blue sky. But no, it wasn't her. It couldn't be. It was them.

Clearsight's eyes flicked to the ground below, where the NightWing school grounds sprawled, bustling with activity. Among the familiar black and dark purple wings of her fellow NightWings, she spotted the unmistakable gleam of two red dragons—SkyWings. She could feel her muscles tense, a familiar irritation curling in her chest.

Of course, she thought, growling softly under her breath. SkyWings. Here already. Why does everything have to be complicated?

She fought to keep her frustration in check, reminding herself to stay calm. Patience, she repeated to herself like a mantra, even as her heart drummed with unease. There was no use in letting the presence of the SkyWings ruin her day, especially when so much else was at stake. But that didn't mean it was easy.

Clearsight took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on the school ahead, ignoring the growing tension in her chest. She knew what she had to do. Today wasn't about them. It was about her, about what awaited her at the school, and what the day would bring—no matter how much she'd rather just avoid the complications entirely.

The smaller of the two SkyWing dragonets landed gracefully, her wings folding with practiced ease. She lifted her head, and Clearsight felt an odd shiver run down her spine as their eyes locked. The SkyWing's warm amber gaze was bright and inviting, and before Clearsight could fully process it, the dragonet smiled and waved—a gesture so friendly it momentarily froze Clearsight in place.

Why... why is she coming to me? Clearsight's mind raced, her thoughts tumbling over one another in confusion and irritation. I don't want to be nice to her. I can't be nice to her—she's going to steal my soulmate! What do I—

Before she could fully retreat into her spiraling thoughts, the SkyWing dragonet spoke, her voice light and cheerful. "Hey there," she said, her smile unwavering. "I'm Luminara. It's nice to meet you, Clearsight."

Clearsight blinked, caught off guard by the sudden introduction. Luminara? The name rang faintly in her mind, and she tilted her head, confusion flickering across her face. How does she know my name?

A chill ran down her spine as she scanned Luminara more closely. It wasn't just her name that unsettled Clearsight—it was the way Luminara spoke, as though they were already connected in some inexplicable way. Clearsight had seen it in her visions: the SkyWing dragonet would know her name. But why? Why now? Was it fate? Or something more?

"How do you know my name?" Clearsight asked, her voice guarded, a faint edge of suspicion creeping into her tone.

Luminara's smile was sincere, without a hint of hesitation. "I don't know. I just feel like I do," she said, her voice soft but confident, as though she hadn't even considered the possibility of Clearsight rejecting her.

Clearsight narrowed her eyes, searching for something in the other dragonet's expression, some crack in the facade that would give her a reason to dismiss her. But there was nothing. Just that calm, unbothered smile. Clearsight exhaled slowly, releasing the tension in her body. Why is she so easy to trust?

With a frustrated sigh, Clearsight let her guard down, the sharp edge of her irritation fading for a moment. She knew it was silly to be so on edge, but she couldn't help it. "Oh well," she said, the words escaping before she could fully process them. "I'm Clearsight, yes. Want to go inside together?"

Her offer hung in the air for a moment, and Clearsight immediately regretted it. Am I really being so nice? she thought, scolding herself silently. But the offer was already out, and there was no taking it back. Besides, Luminara didn't seem like she was going to go away anytime soon.

Luminara's smile brightened even further. "Sure! I'd love that."

Clearsight couldn't help but roll her eyes at herself, though there was a flicker of curiosity in her chest. Despite her instincts telling her to keep her distance, something about Luminara felt disarmingly genuine. And it irked Clearsight to no end.

Luminara turned to the guard, her expression warm as she dipped her head in gratitude. "Thank you, Fink, for bringing me here," she said, her voice light with appreciation.

Fink, ever the steadfast protector, smiled back warmly, his red wings glinting in the light. "It's no problem, Princess. I'll be here when school is finished." He gave a respectful nod before turning and taking off into the sky, his wings cutting through the air with practiced ease.

Luminara watched him for a moment before rolling her eyes with a fond smile. "Protective little fuzzball," she muttered, though the affection in her voice was undeniable.

Clearsight didn't respond. She didn't want to engage with Luminara in that moment, especially not when her thoughts were already swirling with questions and uncertainties. Instead, she turned and led the way into the school, her talons clicking against the stone floor. The air inside the building felt cool and familiar, though her mind remained focused elsewhere.

At the rack by the door, Clearsight took two scrolls, handing one of them to Luminara without a word. Luminara accepted it gracefully, her fingers brushing against Clearsight's for a brief moment, the contact unexpected yet not unpleasant.

It struck Clearsight how much Luminara stood out among the other students. The sea of dark scales surrounding them was broken only by the sharp contrast of Luminara's red-copper ones, the glow of her wings almost like fire against the shadows. The other NightWings seemed to subtly avoid her gaze, as though they weren't sure how to interact with the SkyWing dragonet in their midst.

Clearsight noticed, too, that Luminara was the only SkyWing dragonet here. There was something oddly lonely about it. She hadn't expected to feel anything at all—after all, Luminara was a SkyWing. But the sight of her, standing out among the others, her coppery scales gleaming in the dim light, struck Clearsight in a way she couldn't explain.

She thought about the possibility of Luminara being bullied, isolated because of the way she looked, because she was different. Clearsight felt a pang of sadness, more than she expected. It was strange, this sudden sympathy she felt for the other dragonet.

Is she really the type to be excluded? Clearsight wondered, though the question lingered without an answer. Luminara didn't seem to care much about standing out. Still, the pang of pity caught Clearsight off guard. She'd never felt this way about anyone before—at least, not someone who was a SkyWing.

Shaking her head, Clearsight focused on the scroll in her talons, avoiding eye contact with Luminara. Focus, she told herself. Don't let her charm you. Don't forget the bigger picture.

"Clearsight," Luminara called, her voice bright and full of energy. Clearsight's attention snapped to her, and she saw the SkyWing dragonet already a few steps ahead, her wings slightly fluttering with eagerness. "Let's go! Ms. Sunscorcher is my scheduled teacher, so I wanted to meet her before class. Are you coming with me?"

Clearsight sighed, a deep breath of resignation escaping her. The last thing she wanted to do was follow Luminara around, especially when her mind was still tangled with confusion and frustration. But she wasn't about to refuse outright—Luminara's enthusiasm was infectious, and despite herself, Clearsight found it hard to resist.

She nodded, though with a hint of reluctance, and began following the SkyWing dragonet down the hallway. As they walked, Clearsight's thoughts drifted. Please, please don't let Darkstalker be here today, she thought, hoping with a quiet desperation that her vision of meeting him would remain in the future, out of reach for now. She needed some time to figure things out. The connection she had with him, as complex and mysterious as it was, deserved a moment of clarity—a moment where I'm not distracted by a SkyWing princess, she added, grimacing inwardly.

Luminara seemed blissfully unaware of Clearsight's internal turmoil as she chatted on, the enthusiasm in her voice a constant hum. "I've heard such great things about Ms. Sunscorcher," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "She's supposed to be tough, but fair. And I love a good challenge, don't you?"

Clearsight half-listened, her mind drifting as she followed, her gaze flickering around the school grounds, searching for signs of Darkstalker. The place was busy with activity, students moving in and out of classrooms, the chatter of dragons filling the air. But no sign of him. Clearsight exhaled in relief, allowing herself a brief moment of peace.

Focus, Clearsight, she reminded herself. Just get through today. One step at a time.

As they approached the classroom, Luminara finally seemed to notice her silence, casting a quick glance over her shoulder. "You alright?" she asked, her tone softening, a flicker of concern in her amber eyes.

Clearsight blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yeah, just... thinking," she replied, forcing a smile, though it felt more like a thin mask than anything genuine.

Luminara smiled again, her expression bright and open. "Well, we've got this! I'm sure today's going to be fun!" She grinned, pushing the door to the classroom open with an excited flick of her tail.

Clearsight followed, stepping into the room behind her, her mind still heavy with the questions that loomed. But as the door clicked shut behind them, she tried to shake the unease off. Today was about school, not fate, not soulmates—at least, that was what she told herself as she settled into her seat, bracing for whatever the day would throw at her.