It was quiet as Starflight flew through the forest, his body disappearing easily as he flew through the shadows, as if he was becoming one with them.

"Thanks for giving me a ride." I whispered as I listened and looked around. Up down right left, I never kept my eyes on one place for too long, not when there were Forestfangs about.

"Thanks... for helping my tribe move off the island." he whispered back as he collected some fruit and finished tying up his pouch, before moving on to collect more to add to his rations.

"How many bags have you filled so far?"

"That makes twenty, and if you multiply it with the other dragons, by the time we're done, we'll have enough to last us a few days out of the forest."

"Good." I say as I then hear a twig snap. "Shadow." I quietly whisper in his ear.

He nods, and buries himself quickly in the shadow of a nearby tree, as we both hold our breath.

We stay silent for a few moments till I crawl up his neck a little to get on top of his head behind his horn. "Right side, tree with four branches." I whisper in his ear as I notice the slight shimmer of the leaves as something slowly walks by. I bring my head up fast as I hear growling from above me, and end up to see another Nightwing above us. There weren't supposed to be any Nightwings searching around this area, this wasn't part of the plan. "He's one of yours?" I ask Starflight. He shakes his head. "No... she is not-mmph!"

The taller and thin dragon puts their claws around Starflight's mouth, keeping his jaws clamped up together, all of us turning our heads together as we hear the small rustling stop. We all wait with held breath, but finally the rustling continues and starts getting far away from us, before we hear nothing at all.

The other Nightwing seems to sigh before looking back down and growling something softly to Starflight.

"I-It's just me and him, please don't eat him. I-I'm Starflight." He speaks up quietly to the larger Nightwing.

She let out another growl.

"We're scavenging for food, then we're going to fly far from the Rainwings in hopes of safety."

Growl.

"They've turned violent, they'll kill us now." Starflight said as the other dragon then gave a thoughtful hum. "I won't tell anyone you're here Secret Keeper." Starflight said which seemed to calm the larger dragon down, before she finally turned back and went to fly away.

"What was that about?" I asked Starflight as we kept heading back to Hollow.

"She's lived here separate from the rest of them in secret, I warned her about what will happen to Nightwings left here."

I nod. "Good." I say as we finally reach the village where I hear a series of warning whistles coming from the watcher until I stand up on Starflight's head. "It's okay, he's tame." I whisper-shout as I can hear the faint sound of cranks as the ballista's aim away from us. They still look at me warily but the whistles have stopped, and the crossbows take silent aim as Starflight lets me down on the ground while also lowering down the pouch of books.

"River?" I hear Ant's voice ask as he pushes himself through the newly formed crowd. "Where are ya friends?" He asks.

I'm quiet as I looked down before shrugging, they might be still alive... somewhere... "I have no good answers."

His head falls before perking up as he looks at the Nightwing. "And him?"

"He won't harm us, in fact he's leaving." I then turn back to Starflight. "Thanks for bringing me back."

He nods. "It was nice knowing you River, but I have to go-"

I suddenly heard a loud growl.

The Nightwing jumped and dropped a bag on his makeshift belt..

"Three moons, I thought I had more time!" He exclaimed as he fumbled grabbing a bag of fruit he had dropped.

"That one isn't mine, get the serpents ready!" I quickly order Ant as I quickly go to an ammo crate and pick up some bolts.

"Wait don't, she's a friend!" Starflight quickly pipes up as the new dragon enters the light shining through the gigantic trees. A blue one with a long sail going along their back with webbed talons, and bioluminescent spots running along the sides of their body.

The dragon growled something I couldn't understand without the gem.

"Yeah Tsunami, it's me-" He starts before the dragon suddenly tackles him.

We all raise our bows and get ready to fire till I put a hand up as I see the tears falling from the blue one's eyes.

The dragon continued to growl stuff I couldn't understand to Starflight, but they seemed like they knew each other. Wait, what if this was one of his 'friends?'

I followed them as they started to go to a small clearing, Starflight kept trying to politely pull away but noticed me following.

"You shouldn't be-"

"I'm not letting you be alone with them." I say as I shot a glare at Tsunami, before looking back to starflight.

***

"Stupid little scavenger." She muttered before going to hug Starflight again.

Starflight took a step back and flinched.

Tsunami's eyes widened before she let out a nervous laugh. "Starflight, what are you doing, it's me."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Glory was still herself too, when she used her acid on me."

"She did what?" Tsunami snarled with her head recoiling back, her pupils turning to slits.

"I did." Glory suddenly announced sadly as she materialized behind River. Starflight quickly picked him up to keep the small scavenger away from Glory's talons.

"Starflight... I'm so happy you're okay-" Glory started when Tsunami tackled her.

"You told us that he was caught in the crossfire of a Rainwing and Nightwing, not that you were the Rainwing?"

"It was my fault." Starflight suddenly spoke up.

"What?" Tsunami snapped.

Glory was already shaking her head. "You're wrong, can we please talk in private?"

"No! You don't! Not after-"

"Please Tsunami!" Starflight suddenly asked.

Tsunami lowered her head and huffed before snarling to Glory. "We'll have a talk, all of us will, later."

Glory simply nods as the blue dragon walks off before looking down at the River. "Let me guess, he gets to stay?" she asks before scoffing as she flies off.

Glory looks down at the scavenger.

Starflight sighs. "I lied about River... this... is River." Starflight said as he made a motion to River.

River kept glaring at her and seemed eager for a chance to strike. "I... didn't know it was so bad that this thing became your friend." Glory said sympathetically as a tear rolled down her eye.

"He's..." Starflight started but decided it would be best for River to choose to reveal if he speaks or not. "...Very protective of me since me and Fatespeaker rescued him."

"You act like he's dangerous-" Glory speaks softly as she goes to pet the top of River's head.

"But you are..." Starflight says as River shoots one of his bolts at Glory's scales, the arrow bounces off harmlessly but makes the message clear. Glory retracts her hand as she looks down shamefully.

"I deserve that... I do regret hurting you... I'm really sorry... you're a brother to me Starflight... and you're right, I shouldn't have had to make you choose." She took a few steps closer but River quickly got between the two.

"It's okay, I'm his friend-" Glory tried speaking softly to the scavenger but Starflight just backed away.

"I'm not so sure of it, you said you shouldn't have given me a choice, then what would you have chosen, what would you do if you saw any other Nightwings?"

"I would lock them up."

Starflight scoffed.

"It's not killing them, but they still have to pay for their crimes... wait... you know where they are... don't you?"

Starflight stiffened and his eyes went wide before he started shaking his head. "No, I don't know-"

Glory suddenly grabbed Starflight by the shoulders. "Where are they-"

"Starflight!" He suddenly heard as a smaller yellow dragon quickly pounced on him, knocking the gem away from him. "Sunny!" He exclaimed he wrapped his wings around her, they nuzzled before Starflight finally looked back to River and Glory. "Can we talk... i-in privacy, please?" He asked.

Glory paused for a moment before nodding, RIver seemed to understand and started to leave.

***

I quickly grabbed the gem and reluctantly headed back to Hallow, something about that Sandwing was familiar, but I couldn't put a name on it. I headed back and waited, the air was uneasy and I felt as if I was being watched.

"The forest has eyes." Ant mutters behind me as he takes a swig from a flask.

"Where did you get that from?" I ask him.

He points up where I flinch as I notice six pairs of giant eyes looking down at us. "Three moons!"

He chuckled. "They're harmless... but River... I've... I don't care if it's a good answer or no."

"We... we found more than we were looking for... and Palm was hurt too much by it... and she took Pebble and left me to die."

"I've... sorry... What will ya do now?"

I sigh and rub the bridge of my nose. "To be honest, I have no idea. When Starflight finally came back, I quickly tossed the gem to him. "Dropped something?" I asked but noticed his long face.

"It was nice knowing you, River, goodbye and thanks... for everything." He said before dropping the gem and flying off, just like that.

***

I looked at the giant stack of books on the table, but I didn't have it in my heart to read them, at least not yet. I just felt disgusted seeing them there. I should have been here with Palm, Pebble and Scorpion, how had things turned to complete shit?

"Why?" I asked the room.

All I got back was silence, it wasn't like I could get anything else.

I sighed before taking a step outside and looking at the stars and the mountains, where I could see the Invincible City perched and protected by it's walls and ballistas.

I shouldn't have gone there, I should have been able to stay at home, I should... I looked back at my books before flipping one of them open, showing diagrams and diagrams of tools and weapons.

"I was running and I didn't even realize it." I scoffed at myself as I started packing things. It was time to go back home.

***

"Heel." I whispered to my horse as I took a bite of my apple. It was dark, the night shining though as it filled the sky, the stars no match to the might as Perception was full and beamed its light down on the delta. I clicked my tongue to my horse as I got off, giving the rest of my apple to the hungry creature. It neighed in response and stayed put as I started to move forward.

"Mmph! Mmmmph! Mmmmmph!" I sighed as I moved closer and took down the nearby plants to reveal a boy, he was my age when I was sacrificed, he had dirty rags, binds, a gag on his mouth, the rope looked so tight that he was starting to turn blue from how tight it was. He still tried to yell, but his eyes widened as he saw me. I quickly sliced the rope off and took the gag off as he collapsed towards me.

"Hey, are you okay-" I start to ask but he just breaks down into my arms as he wraps his hands around me, holding me tight and never wanting to let me go.

"T-thank you..." He sobbed.

I patted his back as I quietly spoke. "It's okay now... I won't let them hurt you again." I assured him as he sniffled into my chest.

"W-who are you?"

"I'm someone who was also chosen for the ceremony, Not too long before you were born though... my name's River, what's yours?"

"B-Berry."

"Berry, do you wanna help me teach these frauds a lesson?"

His eyes widened, and through his tears he managed to smile. "I would really like that mister-"

I chuckle. "I'm not that old." I say before clicking my tongue to summon my horse. "Come on kid, let's get you home."

"You're not old enough to call me kid either."

I snicker as I help him on.

"Let's go."

***

I took a deep breath before heading to the gate, covered in scrubs of foliage. It still looked exactly the same after all these years. My horse's trots echoed throughout the whole town as it moved on the stone floor. It was curfew, no one was allowed outside, no one but them... I squinted as a few figures started to emerge before the ones in red cloaks finally made an appearance.

"What is the meaning of this! He was suppose to be sacrificed or-"

"Fraud!" I shouted loudly which made him flinch.

The whole crowd backed away as I left Berry on the horse as I pulled back my hood.

"You-" One growled but I already shot an arrow through his throat, silencing him forever. I paid no attention as his body dropped to floor with a quiet thud.

"Remember me?" I asked the other two.

One started to draw their sword but I quickly shot another bolt at his shoulder, and another at his leg while the other started to run away. I let out a snicker as he fell to his knees. "On the ground, like a dog." I said as I delivered a swift kick to the side of his face. The crowd surrounding me had rapidly started to shrink as they whispered curses and profanities at me for my actions, that was until I pulled out a wooden whistle.

"Come closer... I dare you!" The shrinking stopped. "No one? Anyone?" I asked.

Silence, they now stayed far away from as if I was sick. Maybe I was sick, but it was their fault for leaving me to the giant flying wolves.

I walked over to the cloaked figure on the ground, putting my crossbow-arm to his head, so the arrow was already touching his head.

"Get off of him!" I heard behind me in a familiar voice. My breath hitched as I recognized her. I slowly got up and turned around as I looked into the familiar gray eyes, and the teardrops below them.

"Mother?"

Her eyes widened and filled with tears. "River?"

My breathing started to race as if I was running, yet I still stood there. My heart started thumping against my chest, trying to escape, yet I was still there. My hand started to shake, but I reloaded the crossbow and pointed it right at her. "You left me." I choked out through my own tears as I fired.