Chapter Text
Winter’s life was peaceful. After the whole deal with Darkstalker, he was somehow convinced to spend two more years at that Academy, years that thankfully weren’t filled with nearly as much danger as the first month, with maybe Tsunami’s classes being the exception. After that, he was finally considered a Jade Mountain Academy Graduate and could use that to help with publicity and veracity in his scavenger research.
He would have been perfectly happy spending the rest of his days alone in Sanctuary, studying his hyperfixation and making a name from himself, if it weren’t for Kinkajou bursting through his door a year after graduation announcing a meet-up between all the ex-students to “re-kindle old friendships, form new bonds, help each other-” yada yada honestly he just wanted to get it over with. But it was thanks to that, that he got to talk with some members of his Winglet again, especially Moon. It helped clear the air between them, and form a friendship stronger than ever. Now, it was all perfectly fine, and he could go back home with a few new pen-pals and some monthly hangouts.
Except that now, after another long, excruciating year, he can see the Jade Mountain seal at the top of the letter he just got.
“Riptide, I’m not going to another re-kindling party” He declared.
Riptide’s face visibly dropped “Come ooon, I know IceWings don’t enjoy fire, but you can certainly do with some kindling in your life. It's gonna be fun!”
“Frankly, for being a SeaWing, you are fiery enough for a thousand IceWings. And besides, I have plenty of friends already, I don't need more.” Winter declared, while trying to get the SeaWing out of the comfort of his home.
“You have two drakes that show up once a month, and at best three pen pals, considering the rate at which you write and receive letters” Scarily accurate, though Winter wouldn’t consider the constant back and forth with Queen Snowfall trying to get reinstall him into IceWing royalty as a means to ease her own burden as a pen pal.
Wait- Winter realized “Why is the mayor of Sanctuary spying on the social life of a random researcher that lives in the edges of town? Shouldn’t you be doing more important things? Like actually doing your job?” He couldn’t even remember the amount of times Riptide had barged into his home asking for help running the town, he’d started to question whether his house had suddenly become the City Hall without him knowing.
“Well first of all, you’re not a random researcher, you’re my friend! And also because a good chunk of this town is either illiterate or unimportant enough to barely receive letters, so it’s not hard to keep track” Well, it’s true a lot of the town was probably living among the dragons they cared about, and lot of them being Talons of Peace meant that they HAD lived among themselves for most of their lives, but it was still wrong to do!
Before Winter could fight back, the SeaWing started speaking again. “Just… give it a try. You said you had fun at this party last year, who says it’ll be different this time?” He said, passing Winter the letter and stepping toward the door.
Except that now that the letter was in his talons, he could see not only the Jade Mountain seal, but also something else.
Right next to the seal, was a stamp depicting a tall tree with the Moons on top. A stamp reserved only for the highest of RainWing Royalty. A stamp that meant that this letter wasn’t as simple as a party invitation, but rather an official meeting.
“Riptide!” Winter shouted. The SeaWing turned, just before lifting off. “Who exactly did you say this letter was from?”
Riptide’s head tilted. “Acording to the courier, it came from one of the Jade Mountain founders, why?” He was starting to come back, so Winter responded quickly before he could start snooping into the contents of this letter.
“Nothing, forget it” He said, before turning around and closing the door with his tail.
“To the esteemed Prince Winter of the IceWings.
Your presence is solicited at the official meeting room of Jade Mountain Academy for an urgent matter. Due to your relations to the Academy, as well as your standing as a researcher of Scavenger behaviour and relations, we ask of you to help us in an urgent mission. The meeting will take place at sunset, the same day as this letter's arrival. We ask that you show up and receive the full information before making any decisions.
With reverence
The Founders of Jade Mountain Academy
and Queen Glory of the RainWings and the NightWings”
Winter had already read the letter thrice, yet the perplexed look on his face had yet to disappear. What part of his research screamed IM DOWN FOR AN URGENT MISSION!!?. Even more than that, what could this mission possibly be, for the letter to be signed and sealed by both the Founders AND the Queen of the RainWings?!?
Whatever it was, the third reading got him to realize that he most likely wouldn’t figure anything out by doing a fourth, and would have to show up at his old School if he was looking for answers. And as appetizing as staying at home felt, pissing off Queen Glory didn’t seem to be a good idea if he enjoyed his standing in the academic field. The RainWing-NightWing throne was, after all, connected to most of the biggest investors of research related projects.
With a long sigh, Winter started preparing his Scavenger Sanctuary for however long he might possibly be out for, making sure to leave a letter to Riptide explaining, for the billionth time, every single step on how to take care of the place. Hopefully he will be back tomorrow, but only the moons know what he is going to have to take care of. As of now, the theory winning in his head is the start of a second Scorching, as little else seems important enough for a Queen to get involved in with such little time.
“We’ll just have to see how it goes” he whispered, to no one in particular, before stepping out the door and lifting off to the skies.