Terror From the Deep

Ash, Starhunter, and Muck were all angsty the next morning. Wingshredder woke them all up excitedly bouncing around, "Get up, get up, get up!" They all glared at her and took their sweet time getting up. Muck grumbled, "What are you so happy about?"

"Because it's a new day and we're still alive!" The three of them shook their heads at each other. Starhunter stretched and looked at his friends. "What are we going to do now? Go to the Nightwings? Go after Deepreef? We can't take him. One of our only assets in maybe knowing strengths or weaknesses is gone. But maybe optimism, hope, happiness, and friendship will take down the twelve foot murder machine with literally magic." He scowled again, he didn't know why he was so irrationally angry. They had failed. There was nothing they could do about it now. Wingshredder scowled as well and walked off into town. Great. He had made Wingshredder pissed off too now. He followed her to a small oasis, it was empty, except for her of course. He wandered over, "Hey, Wingshredder, I'm sorry for what I said back there, it was totally uncalled for. I'm just stressed, you know? But that is no excuse for that little show. Forgive me?" Wingshredder turned around, visibly sad, she gave a slight smile though before saying, "I forgive you. You were right though, we can't take him. And Abyss is gone. Sure being cheery won't take Deepreef down, but we can't get anywhere being angry or sad all the time. Let's get back to the other two, okay?" Starhunter nodded and they headed back to the little camp they had made just outside the Scorpion Den. Muck and Ash were waiting there, and for once, Muck looked, happy? She was smiling and talking to Ash, Ash who had his signature, seductive smile on. Wingshredder shook her head jokingly when she saw the scene. Muck was telling Ash about her family, and boyfriend, for some reason Ash just had a way of getting information out of people, quite a useful skill indeed. It made sense that Muck was so happy talking about her family, Mudwings have such a deep connection to family and friends. Ash and Muck turned around to look at the two, "So that's where you two are! We're just talking about family. How about you tell us about your family? You got any you care for? I know I don't. My family sucked, like big time." Starhunter couldn't help but read Ash's mind, he felt bad doing it, but he wondered if it was as bad as he thought. It was worse. He left his mind, feeling new compassion for Ash, no wonder he wanted someone to love so badly. Starhunter spoke up, "Yeah, my family is pretty good. I'm the oldest, well a twin, with my sister Farreach. As you might tell, I'm a pureblood Nightwing. My younger sister is half Sandwing, half Nightwing, her name is Copperclaws. My father died, and after some time, my mother fell in love with a Sandwing she was stationed with in a stint in the Sand Kingdom by the Nightwings. They had my sister, she mostly stays here, in the Sand Kingdom, but sometimes she comes to visit. That satisfy your need to know?" Ash smiled at him, "Above and beyond. That should be your nickname you know." Starhunter knew Ash was just being kind, but it didn't stop him from blushing and muttering some thanks. Wingshredder also smiled at him, she already knew all about it but it was also so interesting to her that he had a hybrid sister. "Yeah, I met Copperclaws a few times. She's a good kid, if not a bit odd. We could probably go meet her soon enough if you wanted." She said nodding at Starhunter, "Why not? I haven't seen her in a while, and she's always happy to see the both of us. I bet she would like both of you too." Starhunter said, referring to Ash and Muck. Muck was seemingly in a good mood even saying, "Well if shes a sister of yours, she's probably a good kid, why not?" Starhunter knew it was probably the Mudwing protectiveness of family and friends and family of friends. Ash turned to Wingshredder, "Shredder! You got any family you care for?" Wingshredder smirked at him, "Shredder, huh? Getting real comfy with me already. And yes, I do have some family. My father and cousins are the only real family in my life. My mother ditched me, and my siblings all died." Ash grimaced, "Hey, I'm sorry, for, all that stuff." He actually looked like he was at a loss for words. Muck spoke up and broke the rather, uncomfortable silence, "So, Copperclaws? We gonna go meet her or what?" That broke it perfectly. "Yeah, let's go meet Starhunter's sister!" Ash said brazenly, "Always great to see Copperclaws again." Wingshredder admitted, "I'm not saying no to seeing sis again." Starhunter said with a grin. "You lead Starhunter." Ash said. Starhunter took off and headed for the Scorpion Den, they flew into the city and wandered around the streets until they came to a house. Starhunter knocked on the door a few times. A large Sandwing with small scars on his face answered the door. "Starhunter! Wingshredder! Good to see you again! Who is this with you? Come in we can introduce each other." He had a deep booming voice, despite being deep, it was gentle and welcoming. The four of them walked into the living room, the large Sandwing walked into the kitchen and started some water on the boiler. He walked out into living room with them and called into the next room, "Copperclaws, Starhunter and Wingshredder are here." A small stunted black dragon rushed through the door. "Starhunter, Wingshredder! You're here!" She had a high voice and was yelling, Ash looked like someone had just punched him in the nose. However he was already smiling at the show of this little dragonet seeing someone she liked. "Dad why are they here?" Copperclaws asked Kori, her father. "I don't know Copperclaws, but it's always a good time when they come over." Kori replied to Copperclaws, "Now, who are your friends?" Starhunter replied to him, "Ash and Muck-" They both smiled at Kori and nodded at him when their names were mentioned before going back to playing with Copperclaws. "-We're traveling all around the continent, we got permission from Battlewinner, if we bring them back something. We just came from the Sea Kingdom." Kori looked perplexed, "Wow, I didn't know Battlewinner did that anymore. Well, are you having fun? Traveling around the continent? I've only ever been here and the Night Kingdom." Starhunter looked at the other three dragons he was traveling with. "Yeah, we've been having a good time, we found some useful stuff along the way too, and even-" He leaned in close to Kori, "-I found a girl I really like." Kori smiled at him and whispered back, "Great for you Starhunter." His friends were all playing with Copperclaws and didn't hear him. He was glad. He was pretty sure that Wingshredder knew he liked Abyss, but he didn't mind, he knew his secret was safe with her. He also trusted Kori completely, he was a real good dragon, he could tell why his mother loved him. "Go play with Copperclaws, we can talk more tonight." He went back into the kitchen. Starhunter went over to where Copperclaws and his friends were. They played and talked with Copperclaws until it was time for her to go to sleep. Kori put her to bed before coming back to the living room, his voice was still gentle, but firm, "Alright, Starhunter, why are you actually here?"