I lunged at another stone beast, my claws tearing through its craggy surface like paper. It shattered into a flurry of pebbles, and I let out a triumphant crow, the sound ringing through the forest like a victory cry. My wings unfurled instinctively, stirring up a thick plume of dust that caught the sunlight, glittering like gold in the air.

Kirishima doubled over in laughter, his toughened arms resting on his knees. "Damn, girl! You're really getting a kick outta this, aren't you?" he called out, his grin as wide as the horizon.

I purred deeply, the vibration running through my throat like a contented engine, and with one powerful motion, slammed my tail into the ground. The impact reverberated through the earth like a thunderclap, sending a shockwave that cracked the forest floor and scattered loose stones into the air. Trees groaned under the force, and the sound of shattering stone filled the space like a symphony of chaos.

Feeling exhilarated, I launched myself into the sky, my wings catching the thermals as I soared above the training grounds. The forest below blurred into a sea of green and brown, and my sharp eyes caught sight of Izuku in the distance, his small figure darting across the terrain with practiced precision. He was leaping between narrow ledges, a bubbling river of molten lava gurgling dangerously beneath him.

I dove toward him, my descent sending a gust of wind that rustled the treetops. A grin curled on my face as I opened my jaws, releasing a sudden, biting snowstorm. The icy breath cascaded over the lava river, solidifying it into a gleaming surface of jagged ice.

"Whoa!" Izuku yelped, his footing slipping on the slick, frozen surface. He flailed for balance before his momentum carried him forward, sending him tumbling into a patch of overgrown moss with a muffled thud.

I landed nearby with a graceful thud, shaking the ground slightly. My green eyes gleamed with amusement as I approached, folding my wings neatly against my back. "Careful, Izuku," I teased, the cold mist from my breath still curling through the air. "You're supposed to run over the obstacles, not through them."

He groaned from his tangled position in the moss, brushing a leaf from his freckled cheek, and gave me a sheepish smile. "Noted," he said with a laugh, his breath fogging in the frosty air.

"Onyx," came Aizawa's familiar voice, low and stern, cutting through the crisp forest air like a blade. I froze mid-step and whipped around, my tail brushing against a tree as I moved. There he stood, his ever-present scarf draped over his shoulders, his piercing eyes locked onto me with that unwavering, no-nonsense glare he had perfected.

"You aren't supposed to interfere with the students' training regime," he reminded me, his tone even but carrying the weight of his authority. "That was one of the deals we made, remember?"

I let out a heavy sigh, the sound rumbling in my throat like distant thunder. My wings, which had been held high in exhilaration moments before, drooped slowly, folding tightly against my back in resignation. "I know, sensei," I murmured, my gaze dropping to the cracked ground beneath my claws.

For a moment, the tension hung between us like an unspoken reprimand. "It's just..." I hesitated, my voice quieter now, "it's fun training with them again." I glanced back at him, my green eyes filled with a mix of defiance and remorse, the thrill of battle ebbing into something softer—something more wistful.

Aizawa's expression softened, if only slightly. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he crossed his arms over his chest, his sigh mirroring my own. "Onyx," he said, his voice quieter now, "I get it. But rules are rules, and they're there for a reason. Don't make me have to remind you again."

I nodded slowly, my tail curling around my legs like a scolded pup. "Understood, sensei," I replied, my voice subdued but tinged with a flicker of lingering mischief.

As he turned to walk away, I couldn't help but grin faintly, watching him retreat back toward the training area. Even when he was scolding me, there was something oddly comforting about Aizawa's unshakable presence—like the steady rhythm of a metronome, keeping everything in balance.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Dinner time arrived, and I lay just outside the gathering of students, the sounds of their laughter and chatter carried on the evening breeze. I was content, gnawing on the leg of a deer I had hunted earlier. Its rich, gamey flavor was far more satisfying than anything they could have cooked over their campfires. The warmth of the setting sun bathed my scales in a soft, golden glow, though I remained cloaked in the shadows near the treeline.

Footsteps crunched on the dry forest floor, and I lifted my gaze, my emerald eyes narrowing slightly. A small figure emerged—a boy with dark hair and a baseball cap that sat low over his intense, brooding eyes. He stopped a few paces from me, his gaze sharp and appraising, unlike the wide-eyed curiosity I often saw in others.

"You aren't a hero, are you?" he asked bluntly, his voice carrying an edge of disdain. His dark eyes flicked toward the rowdy group of wannabe heroes dining not far away, as if their mere presence irked him.

I paused mid-gnaw, considering him for a moment before snorting a plume of smoke in his direction. "No," I said coolly, my tone as steady as the earth beneath me.

A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "Good," he said simply, as if that single word solidified an unspoken agreement. He stepped closer, offering his small hand toward me with surprising boldness. "We can be friends then, right? I'm Kota," he added, his tone softer now, but still guarded.

I tilted my head, intrigued by the defiance radiating from this tiny human. Lowering my snout, I sniffed his hand cautiously. The scent of innocence mixed with a quiet sadness lingered there. Slowly, I nudged my snout into his palm, the gesture as much an acceptance as a reassurance.

"We can, little one," I murmured, my voice low and rumbling, like distant thunder. His small fingers brushed over the scales of my snout, hesitant at first, then firmer as his confidence grew. There was a quiet understanding between us, one born of mutual recognition—neither of us quite fitting into the world around us.

Kota smiled faintly, his first genuine expression since he'd appeared, and for a moment, the hum of the students' laughter faded into the background.

"Kota, come over here!" Mandalay's voice rang out, breaking the quiet moment between us. I perked up, my ears twitching as Kota sighed heavily, rolling his eyes with the exaggerated frustration only a child could muster. He gave me a half-hearted wave before trudging off in her direction.

Mandalay stood nearby with two familiar figures—Izuku and Iida. She placed a gentle hand on Kota's shoulder and said, "This is Izuku and Iida. They're heroes." Her voice was warm and inviting, but Kota's sharp glare at the pair betrayed his distrust.

Izuku, ever the optimist, stepped forward with his signature wide smile. "Hey there, my name is Izuku Midoriya," he said cheerfully, offering a hand.

Kota's eyes narrowed, his small body stiff with defiance. He didn't return the greeting; instead, he fixed Izuku with an unflinching stare, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

My instincts flared. Rising from my resting spot, I unfurled my wings slowly, letting them spread wide. The imposing shadow they cast fell over the small group, the light dimming under their span. Even Mandalay hesitated, her gaze flicking nervously between me and Kota.

"Kota," I said, my voice calm but laced with a warning edge, "think about what you're about to do."

The boy's glare snapped to me, his stubbornness flaring as he huffed loudly. With a sharp turn, he veered off toward the underbrush, stomping away with all the force his little feet could muster.

I sighed, letting the tension drain from my shoulders as I folded my wings neatly against my back. The sunlight returned to the clearing, warming the uneasy silence left in Kota's wake.

"Thanks," Izuku said softly, stepping closer to me. His face was slightly flushed, and his green eyes looked troubled. "I didn't know what he was going to do, but he looked like he was ready to hit me," he admitted with a nervous chuckle.

I lowered my snout and gently nuzzled him, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. Izuku smiled faintly and rubbed my jawline before stepping back to join Iida and Mandalay.

Without another word, I turned and padded silently into the forest after Kota. The boy's emotions were like a storm—wild and untamed—and it called to something deep within me. Someone had to make sure he didn't lose himself to that tempest.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Dabi stood on the ridge, a faint breeze rustling his coat as he stared down into the camp below. The soft glow of campfires dotted the clearing, their light flickering against the encroaching shadows of the forest. He sighed, the sound low and tired, a man weighed down by too many battles and too little hope.

"Did the boss say our target should be here?" he asked, his voice gruff, directed at the man beside him.

The figure turned slightly, his curious hat tipping forward as the mask obscuring his face gleamed in the dim moonlight. "Yeah, he did," the masked man replied evenly. "But don't take her lightly. She could kill us."

Dabi's lips twisted into a smirk, though his eyes betrayed no humor. He shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets, the faint scent of ash clinging to him like a second skin. "Don't all the heroes eventually kill us?" he murmured, almost to himself, the weight of inevitability heavy in his tone.

The masked man didn't answer, his gaze already fixed on the task ahead. Dabi didn't press him. He had seen enough of these operations to know that silence before the storm was better than false bravado.

With a sharp exhale, Dabi kicked off the ridge, sliding effortlessly down the slope, the loose dirt and rock crunching softly under his boots. Behind him, the rest of the League of Villains followed, their figures shadowed specters against the moonlit forest. Each step closer brought a palpable tension, the kind that coils deep in your gut when you know the night won't end quietly.

He flexed his fingers as the group reached the camp's perimeter, the familiar crackle of blue flame licking at his fingertips. The firelight painted his face in flickering shades of blue and shadow, an eerie glow that matched the simmering unrest in his chest.

Dabi knew what was coming. Blood, chaos, and screams always followed them, no matter the plan. But tonight was different. Tonight, their target wasn't just another hero.

Tonight, they were hunting Onyx.

And Dabi knew better than most: things were about to go down.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

I found Kota perched on the edge of a rocky ledge, his small figure silhouetted against the muted colors of the setting sun. Below him stretched a dried-up valley river, its cracked bed a reminder of struggles past. The breeze played with his dark hair, tugging at the brim of his cap. He didn't turn to look at me, his posture rigid, his anger radiating like heat from sunbaked stone.

"Why are you here?" he snarled, his voice sharp and defensive.

I huffed softly, easing myself down a few feet behind him. My body coiled into a resting position, my tail curling neatly over my foretalons, the faint scrape of scales against rock breaking the silence. "I know how you feel," I said, my voice calm but edged with a quiet understanding.

Kota's head snapped up, his eyes blazing as he turned to glare at me. "What?"

"Hating heroes," I replied simply, flicking the tip of my tail against the ground. The words hung between us, a weight I knew he would recognize.

His face twisted in confusion and indignation, but he didn't speak. I pressed on, my tone gentle yet unwavering. "I used to feel the same way," I admitted, the memory of my past surfacing unbidden. "Before heroes found me—before the government dragged me back from the wilds I'd claimed as my own. I hated them. I thought they were nothing but meddlers who ruined lives, not saved them."

His gaze softened, just a fraction, though the storm still brewed behind his eyes.

"But then," I continued, my voice tinged with the faintest hint of a smile, "I began to understand that most heroes just want the best for people. They don't always get it right, but that's what they're trying for." I lowered my head slightly, catching his eye with a quiet intensity. "Well, at least the ones like Izuku and his class."

Kota snorted, crossing his arms over his chest, but he didn't lash out this time. I saw the tiniest crack in the fortress of his anger, a sliver of doubt beginning to form.

Kota's voice was thick with pain, raw and unfiltered. "My parents were killed by villains," he muttered, his gaze now cast downward. "They left me behind, and the heroes saved others over me." He turned slightly, his voice quiet, but the bitterness still cut through every word. "I will never forgive them."

I felt the weight of his words settle in the air between us, heavy and painful. His grief was palpable, a tangible thing, but I couldn't stop myself from reaching out, my clawed hand hovering above his head, intending to comfort him, to show him that not all heroes were like the ones who failed him. But before I could touch him, something sharp struck my back.

I let out a startled hiss, my wings flaring instinctively as I spun around, fury igniting in my chest. There, standing just a few feet away, was a man who looked like he had crawled out of a nightmare. His body was wrapped in a black straitjacket, tight and constricting, held together by black restraints adorned with red spikes. His face was obscured, save for his mouth, which was forced open by metal clamps, leaving a grotesque, eerie expression on his face. His lips were pulled back unnaturally, the sharp outline of his teeth barely concealed behind the restraining metal.

I bared my own teeth, the air thickening with my anger. This man, whoever he was, reeked of madness. He looked like a twisted, deranged experiment—his mind as broken as the straps that bound him.

"Kota, run!" I commanded, my voice sharp, a growl rumbling deep in my chest. Every instinct screamed at me to protect him, but I knew the boy was too slow to fight back. This man... no, this thing was a villain, and he was dangerous.

The man's gaze wandered over me, his eyes unfocused, like he wasn't fully there. He licked his lips with an unsettling, slow motion, as though savoring the moment. "You're pretty," he murmured, his voice hushed and unnerving. "Really pretty. I know why the boss wants you now..." His words trailed off, as if he had lost the thread of reality entirely.

I narrowed my eyes, instinctively bracing myself. "And who might you be, freak?" I snarled, my claws digging into the earth, preparing for an attack.

The man let out a dark, hollow laugh that sent shivers down my spine. "My name?" He paused, his eyes growing vacant. "Oh, don't worry about that, darling." His lips curled into a sickening smile, his teeth gleaming unnaturally white. The air seemed to grow colder as blades slowly extended from his teeth, like a grotesque weapon. "You're gonna be a bloody mess before I'm done with you anyway, so you won't remember anything."

A sick, twisted chill ran through me as I realized just how far gone this villain truly was. His quirk was as disturbing as his appearance, and he wasn't playing games. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, my heartbeat quickening as I prepared for the inevitable fight. I would protect Kota, no matter the cost.