Chapter Text
SCreeEEech, clank. SCreeEEech, clank. the sound would've gotten on his nerves if it wasn't the sound of Stargazer returning. "I hid it, Shadowshore," Stargazer called, the young Nightwing limping forward on her mechanical leg. "just like you requested." "good." Shadowshore's hoarse voice carried eerily across the empty dunes. "You're sure no one will find it?" she nodded, hobbling a littlev closer. Shadowshore sighed, then turned to face his Nightwing companion, his golden, enchanted tail barb that replaced his own which had been torn off. "times are going to get rough," he began, the cloak that covered his wings billowing in the unhindered breeze. "but remember that I have our best interests at heart." "my wing!? I'll fly again?!" Stargazer asked, gently flapping her one wing. from what the Nightwing had told him, she'd lost both her left wing and her left leg in an eruption while she lived on the Nightwing Island. while Shadowshore had been able to make a mechanical leg using Animus magic for her, he was still deciding what he wanted to do for her wing.
"Yes, of course!" he laughed, adjusting his cloak to reveal his torn wing. "it's been too long since I've flown..." both his wing and the scorpion-like barb on the end of his tail had been damaged beyond repair, though he'd been able to make a replacement with his magic and some gold. Shadowshore growled internally. it was already bad enough being a Tribrid without being maimed; his mother, a Nightwing-Sandwing hybrid, had told him that it didn't matter, that he was special no matter what. even with his Seawing father, he'd managed to believe he was fine, special even. Shadowshore snorted; what a lie! the world didn't care about what you thought of yourself, only how to tear you down until you were useful!
Shadowshore cast his eyes out to the horizon, in the direction Stargazer had come. "now, we wait," he murmured.
miles away, nestled in the sand under the shadow of the wall of the Scorpion Den, an egg cracked. a little Sandwing, an odd gold-ish brown color, crawled out of her egg amid squeaks and little growls. she opened her dark eyes and scanned the horizon, looking for a creature to call a parent or guardian. she swished her tail and opened her mouth, letting out a little sound. it was so small anyone would have missed it. it was a little "Hello?" but nothing answered. she was all alone.