Seerstriker redemption moment

Mistral crouches down in the grass, stalking them.

Stormbringer: the first thing I’m doing when I go back into the rainforest is taking a long nap. I think I’ve just been awake for 7 days straight just walking with little to no sleep.

Cascade: how did you guys not make it out of the rainforest sooner? I know it’s big but if you’re partially gliding for some of it, it shouldn’t take that long.

Stormbringer: for just walking, that’s pretty fast. And that’s with me trying to stall as much as possible so you guys or another dragon would find me. You’re used flying through it as fast as possible and nearly having your own wings fall of when you reach your destination.

Blizzard: let’s get you back before Darkstalker can visit Glory again. Inferna, you should go ahead and make sure Stardust didn’t try to do anything about Darkstalker. She needs to stay hidden as long as Darkstalker is still walking around because of the friend enchantment thing.

Inferna: way ahead of you. *She lifts off, flying east as fast as she could*

Stormbringer: .. Mistral, do you want to come with us?

"Sure."

Blizzard: we’ll think of other plans to stop Darkstalker on the way.

Stormbringer: that whole experience was just weird for me..

Cascade: do we know her name?

Stormbringer: apparently it’s Seerstriker, not sure what it’s supposed to mean or what her old job was besides capturing and torturing rainwings during.. that part of the war.. but it must have been high enough to matter somewhat to the nightwings but low enough that Battlewinner didn’t care about her messing with me and trying all these different ways to see if I was a mind reader. That’s where I learned to keep it hidden and that’s where I learned to block out most of the dragons thoughts around me so my brain doesn’t want to explode constantly.

" Hmm...! "

Blizzard; we’ll, ready to go?

Stormbringer: yep.

Cascade: ready.

"Mhm."

*the four of you take off and begin flying towards the rainforest, Stormbringer was dozing off while gliding and it took both Cascade and Blizzard to guide him. He shook himself awake multiple times, feeling a little refreshed*

—mid flight—

Blizzard: so, ideas for defeating Darkstalker.. with our Stardust’s help Cascade.

Stormbringer: hm..? *he shook himself awake*

Cascade: Stormbringer, are you sure you can make it to the rainforest in one trip? You’ve fallen asleep like 5 times..

Stormbringer: I can make it, it’s not that far.

*the rainforest was coming into view now*

"I've never been to the rainforest before! What's it like?"

Lots*

Blizzard: it really is. It’ll be good to see for yourself.

Stormbringer: the nightwings wanted this territory so bad they almost forced the rainwings out.

Cascade: that was a whole issue in of itself. You guys also had the problem of the Volcano. What I’m mad about is that they didn’t even ask if they wanted part of the rainforest, they just kidnapped us and tried to find a way to combat our venom. The rainforest is perfectly capable of housing two tribes.

Stormbringer: I know.

"Wait..."
She stops.
"Nightwings...?"

(Just realized the typo, “without*” was autocorrected to “with our”)

Blizzard: much warmer than the skywing kingdom. Sometimes the humidity gets to you.

Stormbringer: food is pretty abundant, and the villages are up in the trees.

Cascade: it’s colorful, but if you’re claustrophobic, this isn’t a good place for you. There are springs throughout the rainforest. Also, I don’t recommend traveling on the ground, theirs lost of mud in some areas.

Mistral whips her head in the direction of the rainforest.
"That sounds...amazing!"

Cascade: … I’m not sure whether to run after her or stay here..

"Mhh..."

Cascade: … I think I’ll just stay here, I can’t tell where she went..

*Cascade was asleep in 5 minutes, Blizzard was still up however*

Mistral couldn't sleep either.

*Blizzard kept looking around like she was keeping watch*

Mistral stays still, hoping it would help her fall asleep, but it didn't.
She was more worried about Darkstalker and the Nightwings.

Blizzard: … *she stayed up as well, although now she was staring off into space.*

Mistral looks at her.

*Blizzard stopped and looked back, confused*

Mistral just looks away, and tries to fall asleep.

*Blizzard got up and walked over to you*

Blizzard: hey.. if you’re worried about the nightwings and Darkstalker, I, understand. I am as well, and so are most other dragons out there. It’s best not to focus on it right now. We’ll try to figure out a solution in the morning?

"Mmh, okay..."

*everyone else is asleep*

Mistral gets up, and looks around.

*it’s still night, the Nightwing Seerstriker was gone.. she mentioned another group of dragonets would stop Darkstalker.. you thought everyone was asleep, but Cascade was missing from the hammock, she must have gotten up. Maybe she heard the conversation and was only pretending to sleep. Maybe she just got up and went to grab something*

"Hmm..."

*turned out she had just camouflaged and gotten up slowly, she was standing next to Stormbringer and her camouflage was starting to fade away into red scales*

Cascade: I just wish that dragon could just leave us and others alone..

"Huh?"

Cascade: you heard them as well?

"Mhm."

Cascade: what I don’t understand is why she called Stormbringer her brother, the two barely even know each other.

"Mmh, yeah..."

*the icewing starts talking, more yelling than talking actually, which even surprised her**

???: what do you mean you failed? That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?

Seerstriker: ..

Stormbringer: if you don’t tell them, I will.

Seerstriker: … I kidnapped Stormbringer in the hopes he could talk some sense into that idiotic dragon. At the very least try to make him reconsider war.

*the rainwing speaks now*

????: … did something happen to this strange Nightwing or is she just playing mind games? I swear she sounds less crazy than before.

*Stormbringer, being held at spear point, shrugs*

Stormbringer: don’t know what happened. She still thinks I can read minds, which is why she thought I could somehow reason with Darkstalker. I knew it wasn’t going to work but as you can see I really don’t have many options. *looks like he’s already been stabbed by the spear in multiple places, maybe while trying to escape Seerstriker, or punishment for attempting escape*

Mistral sneaks a bit closer, hoping they don't see the grass moving around.

*Seerstriker glances in your direction, she hopes it’s not an icewing given that any icewing besides the one in front of her would just kill both them and Stormbringer*

???: let him go!

Seerstriker: not a chance, I still have time to stop this. My chances might not be great, but it’s worth a shot.

Stormbringer: it’s just going to bring us both under the “Darkstalker’s friend” spell and get us killed. And personally, I don’t want to be even near Darkstalker.

????: Stormbringer’s right, it’s not a good idea. We need to find another way.

Stormbringer: thanks Cascade.

Cascade: how did this even happen anyway.

???: long story.. not right now.

Mistral sticks her head up from the grass, to get a better view at the four. Her scales stuck out from the grass, so it was easy to tell that somebody was watching them.

*Seerstriker started pulling Stormbringer and slowly backed away*

*A small skywing speaks up*

?????: leaving so soon?

Seerstriker: we’re wasting time! I still have chance to stop this.

Stormbringer: any chance you actually had was probably gone by the time he left the old Nightwing kingdom. So, can you please let me go?

Seerstriker: … no.

???: he’s right, even if Stormbringer actually did have a chance to reason with Darkstalker, it’s gone now.

"Hmm?"
Mistral says it a bit too loud.

*the Nightwing holding stormbringer takes one look at you and panics, they start to back up towards the Nightwing army in the distance, spear now pointed at the four of you as she drags Stormbringer with her*

Seerstriker: I don’t have time for this.

*the skywing moves around you to take her flank*

???: you’re right, you never had time in the first place. Now let him go, this not we’ll thought out plan of yours failed.

Mistral looks at the Skywing, and whispers.
"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down...!"

???: ..*she looks back* your right.. *she takes a deep breath but continues advancing from the side*

Cascade: release Stormbringer, now!

Seerstriker: again, no. *she smirks*

Mistral shakes.

Stormbringer: erm.. yeah. The Nightwing tribe ended up making a deal with Glory, so the nightwings and rainwings were all supposed to be under the rule of Queen Glory. Then rest of the nightwings were just getting used to it when Darkstalker showed up.

Cascade: then he created this whole other mess.

" O-oh... "

Stormbringer: yeah, all of the nightwings following Darkstalker are enchanted to like him. There were a few that stayed behind according to Cascade but I think it their fear of him how outweighed how much the enchantment would affect them. Either that or they feared Glory would stop them if too many left.

Blizzard: that makes sense. Some dragons just want to settle down and have a peaceful life, the last twenty years haven’t been peaceful in the least.

Cascade: just think about what would happen to us if we were born before the war started..

Mistral pays no attention to them. She worries about the Nightwings and Darkstalker.

Blizzard: you have any ideas on how to stop him?

Stormbringer: besides somehow getting something to use his own magic against him? Otherwise, I really don’t have a big idea to defeat a giant dragon who’s pretty much invincible.

Mistral was pretty silent.

Blizzard: … Mistral, do you have any ideas?

"...h-huh...? Oh...uh...no...."

Blizzard: well.. this isn’t good.. maybe once Stormbringer’s better rested.

Cascade: I’ll guide you all towards one of the villages, watch out for branches.

*Cascade and Stormbringer took the lead as they descended into the rainforest, they slowed down drastically to help you navigate the rainforest.*

Mistral looks around.

Blizzard: we really don’t want to fight, but if it’s to save my friend, I will. *She pulled out an ancient looking dagger, she looks determined to get Stormbringer back, whether she dies trying or not*

Cascade: you said it yourself, you’ve failed, release Stormbringer.

Seerstriker: *she suddenly has a change of heart* alright little rainwing, one condition, you answer this truthfully. Can Stormbringer read minds?

Cascade: no. And I’ve told you a million times, he can’t.

Stormbringer: …

Seerstriker: well? *she looks at Stormbringer*

Stormbringer: … I can.

*Cascade was shocked, she just lied to try and save Stormbringer but Stormbringer told the truth*

Seerstriker: so I was right all along.. *her tone and mood had completely changed* I’m.. sorry, for the damage I’ve caused. *she actually releases Stormbringer. Stormbringer then runs towards the other dragonets* I shouldn’t have let myself go mad for two years trying to figure out if you were one or not.

*she takes one last look at Stormbringer before taking to the sky*

…

Stormbringer: I’m sorry Blizzard, I should have told you earlier..

Blizzard: I already knew. I’m just glad to have you back.

*Inferna circles back around*

Inferna: you could have lied and left her completely in the dark, why didn’t you?

Stormbringer: … I.. I don’t know. Also, you knew?

Blizzard: well, I put 2 and 2 together when I noticed how strange you were reacting to me when I was thinking of certain memories.

Mistral gets up.
"That was...kinda brave."

Stormbringer: .. I guess it was.. I’m not even sure why it worked, I thought she was just going to use that as a reason to hold me hostage or kidnap me again.

Cascade: that’s why I lied.

Blizzard: you didn’t panic, and more importantly, you’re safe, that’s all that matters. You were very brave. *he realized she never put away her dagger, so she sheathed it*

Mistral looks at Stormbringer, and she lightly smiles.

*Stormbringer smiles back*

Inferna: we should get these wounds checked out, make sure you weren’t infected.

Blizzard: we’ll do that on the way back.

"Way back?"
She then sort of backs up and widens her eyes, as if she regretted what she had said.

*Blizzard looks confused*

Stormbringer: you mean back to the rainforest?

Inferna: yep.

Cascade: I guess in the meantime, we’ll think of ways to stop Darkstalker. I know our rainwing healers aren’t the best, but.. well.. they’ll try their best.

Stormbringer: relax, it’s not like this is going to kill me.

Mistral walks up to Stormbringer, she looks at his wounds.

*some wounds look like they were from getting scraped by some low hanging branches, there were some holes in his wings to prevent most movement in flight, and multiple stab wounds on his legs that look like to be punishments for attempting to escape, luckily Seerstriker missed the major arteries. The big nightwing looked like he had several fights over the last week and hadn’t recovered from any of them*

Stormbringer: could be worse.

Blizzard: I’ve almost forgotten about this, hang on. *she was wearing a ring, she took it off and gave it to Stormbringer* put it on. It’ll heal you pretty quickly.

Stormbringer: there aren’t any other spells on it right?

Blizzard: I made sure of that. I’m not an animus but I do know what enchantment is on the ring.

*Stormbringer looks at the ring skeptically and puts it on, almost immediately the wounds begin to heal, Stormbringer’s wings were ready for flight in maybe seconds, the rest of his wounds took a little longer to heal, but nothing was serious enough that it would take hours or days to heal using the ring*

Stormbringer: healing ring? *he hands the ring back to Blizzard, who immediately puts it back on*

Blizzard: yep.

Stormbringer: that’s clever.

"Huh..."

*Blizzard laid back down in between you and Stormbringer, but stayed up to keep watch*

After a while, Mistral falls asleep.

*after a while, you hear something.. you can tell it’s still not morning*

She whips her head up and looks around.

*Blizzard was now asleep, she had her wing over Stormbringer like she was protecting him, meanwhile Seerstriker was back, and talking to Stormbringer, who looks like he just woke up as well*

*they were both whispering*

Seerstriker: —I said I was-

Stormbringer: sorry doesn’t even begin to cut it. I don’t care, this is the third time you’ve kidnapped me, I don’t care what you have to say.

Seerstriker: I thought you would be the Nightwing to save our tribe, and now the world. You have to—

Stormbringer: I don’t understand, first you tell me you want to use me for your personal gain, to use me to become queen. Now you’re telling me I was going to save the world by you kidnapping me and telling me I need to speak with a dragon to stop a war. I didn’t even need to see the future to know how that would end.

Seerstriker: I.. was wrong.. another some of the dragonets at Jade Mountain Academy have the best chance… not you.

Stormbringer: and you know this how?

*Seerstriker scoffs*

Seerstriker: you and I were part of an experiment to see if we could finally regain our powers. I was granted the ability to read the future, I couldn’t do it very well though… you got lucky *she sounded angry at him now*. I will not bother you anymore in the near future, to show I will keep my word. I do not intend to use you for such purposes either now. I will find a way to make it up to you brother. *Stormbringer looked confused when she said that* I must say however, I don’t approve of you being around Icewings and rainwings.

*Stormbringer looked at her confused and a little angry when she took off, he still looked tired, like he had just been forcefully woken up, he tried to find comfort after hearing that, but only his tiredness drew him back on the brink of falling asleep*

Mistral tilts her head.

(That should really say “he tried to find comfort in being near Blizzard and Stardust, but he couldn’t)

Stormbringer: *he tries to go back to sleep*

Mistral just lies there.

Stormbringer: *whispering to himself* I’m so confused, did she just say I was her brother? *He eventually does fall back asleep just because of how tired he was*

"Huh..."

*It was night, so there wasn’t much to see, the occasional stream or spring but otherwise not much. You could hear all sorts of noises of nocturnal wildlife, you might have seen a couple of sloths in the trees earlier*

Blizzard: it’s much more beautiful during the day, I swear I’ve never seen more shades of green than here.

Cascade: I actually quite like it at night, it’s a little more peaceful.

Stormbringer: *he looks lost in thought, perhaps trying to read a mind.. or maybe something else*

Cascade: Stormbringer? Hello? Buddy? You alright?

*Stormbringer snaps back to reality, sort of*

Stormbringer: hm..? Sorry, I was just thinking about something.

*Cascade shook her head like she didn’t think that was true, she didn’t say anything more. Blizzard was with you so she just shrugged, she didn’t know, finally, you see some platforms up ahead, Stormbringer used his remaining energy to keep a study landing on the platform. Cascade landed next to him, Blizzard waited for you to land.*

Mistral lands.

*Blizzard lands right beside you. Stormbringer was looking for an open hammock to just lie down in, Cascade was trying to help him, finally they found one near one of the lower platforms that was empty*

Cascade: if it wasn’t for the healing ring, I would have put you in the healer’s hut.

Stormbringer: eh.. I’m happy to just sleep on the platform at this point. *he looked half asleep already*

Blizzard: I see 3 more over there. A couple on the level above us.

Cascade: I missed a few?

Blizzard: sure did. I think you’re tired as well.

"Hmm..."

Cascade: … let’s just get some rest.

Blizzard: *she chuckled* alright then, goodnight.

*Stormbringer was already out, he wasn’t even in the hammock. He just sort of collapsed on the platform.*

Blizzard: I’ll watch him. I guess you two can fight over the hammock.

Cascade: well, if I was fighting with you, I’d call dibs, but I’ll let Mistral pick. Beside’s I see the ones your talking about.

Blizzard: we could probably just, lift him into the hammock..

Cascade: I don’t want to risk us accidentally breaking it.

Blizzard: alright then, you two decide who gets the hammock. *Blizzard laid down next to Stormbringer*

Mistral laid down where she was standing.

Cascade: Mistral, are you sure, there is another hammock over there.. I can take that one.

"No, it's okay! You can take that hammock!"

*Cascade shrugs*

Cascade: alright then.. *she takes the hammock, you can tell she feels sort of guilty about it*

"Huh...."