Book Three: The Hidden Animus

## Part One: Leafless Trees

### Chapter One

Piranha landed gracefully onto the hard rock bellow her, her Sister, Princess Abyss, and her Mother, Queen Mintstone, trailing behind her. She looked behind her, to see the two SeaWings land. ‘All you have to do is not get caught…’ She thought deeply, stepping forward as she raised her head to look at the huge mountain in front of her. “Well. I believe Fatespeaker should be coming out to take you in, soon.” Mintstone said, taking off a few bags of scrolls, giving a few to Piranha.

“Yknow there is a library here, I don’t need any of these.” Piranha smiled, pushing back the bag of scrolls slightly. “Mother, why can’t I go?” Abyss finally blurted out. “You’re too young. You heard what happened to Anemone.” Mintstone frowned, looking back to Abyss. “But she was two, I’m four!” She whined, lashing her tail a bit.

”Abyss. Look, you’ll have a chance to come here next year, or the next next year. You will get to see your cousins sometime.” Piranha said warmly. “Oh! Piranha, is it?” A purple NightWing came up to her, smiling. “Yes. Are you Fatespeaker?” Piranha asked, stepping forward.

”Yes, yes! Welcome to Jade Mountain Academy!” Fatespeaker smiled, flaring her wings happily. “You may go to Webs for History Class, starting in one minute!” She exclaimed. “Oh! I better get in there!” Piranha said a bit awkwardly, running into the main hall Mountain. “Welcome! Welcome! History Class is in one minute! Grab your pencils and paper, you’ll need it!“ A very golden SandWing NightWing hybrid, who she was guessing was Sunny, banged a gong, and all the other students ran to the History class.

Piranha ran into the History room, where everyone was at their seats, and a grumpy looking SeaWing sat at the front desk.

”Welcome. I am Webs, and today we will be learning about Darkstalker’s Curse.” Webs introduced himself. “Like great great great great great great great-“ Another student was cut off. “We know Adelie! Your Royalty.” A gray SandWing said. “Yeah yeah yeah, Kingsnake.” Adelie mocked him. “Quiet up, I’m teaching now.” Webs growled slightly.

“Darkstalker’s Curse was an enchantment started in Darkstalker’s time. It choses a random high positioned IceWing, like as Adelie was saying, her great something Uncle Ice, and turns them into a NightWing to try and get the Queen to banish them. It is also believed that Queen Mink is one of these IceWings, as her scale color has been getting darker in the recent years.” He yawned, and called on a student raising her hand. “But Ice went to the Night Kingdom, befriended a NightWing Dragonet, and never got banished!” A brighter purple NightWing, asked.

”Yes, because he never told Snowfox. Instead of being banished when he was found out, he was executed.” Webs looked out the window at the setting sun. “Class is over. Go to your dorms, and you go to sleep in two hours.” He mumbled as all the students walked off to their dorms.

“Did you notice anything… weird, with Webs…?” An anxious looking SilkWing MudWing said. “No. He seemed fine.” Piranha lied. Suddenly, the brighter purple NightWing appeared from the shadows. "Do NightWings only appear at night?!” The SilkWing jumped back, startled.

”We are *NiiiiiightWings*.” The NightWing laughed. “I’m Destinyspeaker, but you can just call me Destiny. I know who you both are, Bronze and Piranha! I know everyone here, my mother is Fatespeaker!” She introduced herself to the both of them.

”Destiny, would you come with me to the Principal’s Office? We have things to discuss.” Sunny said from around the corner.

Piranha almost gasped ‘Oh Destiny, I hope you come back alive…’