Falling Rain

Prologue

Deathbringer watched his egg glow under the moonlight. Glory, his Glory, sucked in her breath. The egg turned silvery, but the Rainwing egg patterns were still visible. "Are you sure this is going to work out?" Glory asked. Deathbringer thought for a bit.

"Maybe, though no dragon has ever met a Rainwing-Nightwing hybrid," Deathbringer replied. He entwined his tail with Glory's. Glory turned a little pink then recovered. Deathbringer laughed a bit under his breath.

"Shh. She's hatching," Glory nudged him. As always, Glory's right. The silvery egg had cracks on it. The cracks became larger and deeper. Deathbringer felt Glory tense. She has the right to worry. This is their first egg and also the first Rainwing-Nightwing hybrid. With a final crack, a small dragon head popped out. It looked more like a Rainwing than a Nightwing, but Deathbringer tensed when he saw the silver teardrop-shaped scale. Glory stared into his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Glory asked.

"She-she-she-she can mindread," Deathbringer said, worry glinted in his eyes. Glory smiled sadly.

"It's okay, we will send her to Jade Mountain Academy when she is ready. There, Moon will teach her. I promise," Glory reassured. Deathbringer relaxed. The new dragonet is baby pink with dark purplish-black wings, blue eyes, and white flecks under the wings, like a Nightwing.

"She looks like a flower," Deathbringer pointed out. Glory looked at her more closely. Her eyes widened as Glory realized that Deathbringer was right.

"She does," Glory whispered. For the first time,

Deathbringer was right. He was glad he was right. "Petal," Glory suddenly said. Deathbringer jumped up a bit by the sudden sound.

"Petal what?" Deathbringer questioned.

"Her name is Petal, Princess Petal of the Rainwings and Nightwings," Glory answered, looking affectionately at her daughter, Deathbringer smiled.

"I love the name," Deathbringer picked up his daughter, "She is the very first Rainwing-Nightwing hybrid." He smiled as he cradled newborn Petal in his arms.

"Luckily there is no Burn to kidnap my daughter," Glory joked. Deathbringer shivered, remembering the Great Sandwing Succession.

"Don't remind me," Deathbringer as he handed Petal to Glory.

"Murph?" Petal mumbled. Deathbringer chuckled, "Morefy?"

"She is trying to talk already!" Deathbringer exclaimed. Petal gurgled more, she stared into Deathbringer's eyes, distant at the same time. Is she reading my mind?" Deathbringer thought.

"Mairip?" Petal chirped. Deathbringer tensed again. Glory seemed to know what happened.

"It's okay," Glory said and rested a wing on him. Deathbringer watched Petal grab hold of Silver, Glory's sloth, who is now very old. Glory untangled Silver from Petal.

"A little killer," Deathbringer whispered. Now, this time, Glory tensed.

"She wouldn't be," Glory shook her head.

"I can feel it," Deathbringer quivered.

"You sure? Should I fetch Moonwatcher?" Glory raised an eye. Deathbringer thought for a bit, then he nodded.

"Or maybe we can go to her," Deathbringer said, catching Glory off guard.

"I will get Kinkajou if you want. She can look after the kingdom for a bit," Deathbringer said. Glory nodded, spread her wings, and soared above the trees with Baby Petal in her talons. Deathbringer also took off, taking some of the eggshells for evidence. He soared above the rainforest, following his wife, his queen. They stopped in the entrance of the academy, opened the door, and heard the snoring dragonets. Glory rushed into Moonwatcher, or Moon's room.

"Moon! Wake up! We need you!" Glory shook Moon awake.

"Uhh? What?" Moon sleepily opened her eyes. She jerked her head up when she saw Deathbringer, holding egg fragments, and Glory, holding a newborn dragonet. Deathbringer watched Moon suck in her breath and saw her eyes roll-up. Glory stared at Moon's body twitching.

"Oh no," Moon whispered. "This dragonet has a powerful future, but...she is more powerful than Darkstalker himself. I saw...in a vision, she was sitting on a throne, with every tribe bowing down at her...she also kills any dragon who opposes her. She has both RainWing venom and Nightwing fire. She can camouflage," Moon quivered. Deathbringer stiffen.

"Deathbringer, you were right, a little killer, Petal..." Glory cried. Deathbringer looked at her sternly. In his bravest voice, he said.

"I will train her. I will train her to control her powers. I promise." Deathbringer gently took Petal away from Glory's talons. He cradled Petal in his arms. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a talon in my eye. He quietly thought.