While a group of Flaringos decide to help out Veje in their own respective way, Skylar finds himself in an unfavourable situation that he needs to overcome… Twice.


With Tudor searching for Nico, Veje, and Shaniqua, Skylar seizes the opportunity and steps toward his father. "Dad! When I was out with Luna and Migs we noticed these dark clouds. They make the wind strong and cold. It is becoming hard to fly, and – and the trees do not like it, too! They rock back and forth. I think it is getting dangerous."

Migs positions himself next to the yellow-and-blue Jaquin and adds: "He is right, king Verago. The area has become wind-swept. It starts posing a threat to us. Perhaps to the nests as well. Avira is making her way here at a slow pace. I would say it is best to let her at least stay inside the Palace fo…"

However, he cannot continue speaking as Skylar interrupts him in an exhilarated manner: "Yeah! She got hurt when – her wing started looking weird and… When we were playing…"

While thinking of better words to describe the situation, Skylar quickly stops himself as his eyes widen of a sudden realisation: he just bluntly told his father about his involvement in an accident that will have him punished. He pouts in uneasiness, trying to express regret towards his father in an effort to elicit at least some sort of forthcoming.

Both Luna and Migs wince at the sight of their king. They understand the situation is getting awkward for the young prince. They decide now is a good time to exit the Palace. Migs feels he needs to assess the situation outside. Luna, on the other hand, feels now is the time to seek the comfort and warmth of her nest during this cold spell, hoping to alleviate the discomfort from the impetuous weather.

"Well… This clearly turns out to be a private conversation. I will leave you to it. See you, Skylar." Luna says hastily and quickly follows Migs out of the Palace.

Verago, however, already heard enough. The big black Jaquin snorts violently of discontentment. He glares at his eldest son in a contemptuous manner. If there was a way for him to show utter displeasure, this is it. Hearing of a member getting hurt under his rule by, what appears to be inconsiderate behaviour, is something he simply cannot tolerate. Not from anyone. "Sky-lar…" Verago starts slowly while sounding annoyed.

"I – I was trying to play. Just an innocent game, that is all." Skylar comments uneasily.

The black Jaquin knows his eldest son well. Too well for Skylar's sake… Verago sees through his son's fa?ade with ease, knowing the young Jaquin is fond of attempts in playing him with little lies to cover his own tracks. It's something Verago is all too familiar with, and for this reason, Skylar's effort will bear him no fruit. "Skylar." Verago repeats himself to make more clear his scowling intention.

"There was… wind and boulders. I could barely avoid them. The boulders, I mean. Avira… She could not… and got hurt, and…"

"Skylar!"

Skylar cringes hearing his name bellowed like this. His eyes turn wide even more and are now filled with fright. Verago looks down at his eldest son through an austere glance. He groans of displeasure. He then looks up to those standing behind the yellow-and-blue Jaquin. "This will have to wait… Now are more pressing matters that need my attention. Step aside!' he says sternly and paces past his son toward the Royal Guard as he continues in a commanding way, 'There can only be serious injuries if Jaquins were to stay in their nests tonight, something that would be one of my worst fears. Royal Guard, send everyone for the Palace! None shall spend the night outside of it."

The disciplined members of the Royal Guard stomp the ground twice followed by shouting 'For the king!' and immediately take their leave. Normally they would do so through the hatch in the roof far above the throne. Alas, the harsh gusts make it difficult. For now, they use the main exit. All start directing everyone they find toward the Palace. Skylar feels he too must help as part of his retribution for hurting Avira. But he also desires to show his father that he has that sense of responsibility. He flies off and heads outside while being yelled after by his father. *Sorry, dad. I know you want to speak with me – even reprimand me, but I need to find Avira. It was my fault and now she is outside still.* he thinks while exiting the Palace.

Fortunately, it doesn't take him long to reach the group Avira is part of. After all, they are heading for the Palace Perimeter he just came from. Upon his arrival, Skylar notices something that makes him feel relieved: two members of the Royal Guard already found them thanks to Migs, and are aiding Tornado and Dióntan in bringing home Avira safely. He also notices Sienté being with them, looking after her trainee in a motherly way. After hearing Skylar speak of the state Avira is in, she had likely followed Migs here. Skylar realises the Soothsayer Jaquin probably wants a word with him as well. While being caught in this moment of distraction, it springs to mind that Luna is outside as well. Without approaching Migs or anyone around else Avira, he darts away from them. He might know where the red-and-crimson Jaquin went.

On his way there, Skylar experiences some fierce gusts that throw him off balance. He manages to recover quickly but knows the short trip ahead will prove challenging. Some shivers run through him from the frigid harsh winds that seem to cut through his fur with ease. He'll need to intensify his efforts in getting through this impetuous and cold weather condition if he wants to find Luna. *Who knows how much worse the weather might become?*

Suddenly, the sound of wood cracking can be heard. Then once more… And again. Skylar pricks up his ears at this sound coming from up ahead. He notices how it increases in both loudness and frequency. As he draws closer to the source, he starts observing what's making that sound: there's a tree falling over! It poses no threat to him and as he flies towards it. He thus ignores it and flies past, when all of a sudden he hears a shriek originating from the tree's canopy. Skylar immediately stops himself in mid-air and looks up, listening closely to be certain if he heard that right. There's another shriek, accompanied by a high-pitched wailing. He realises there's a Jaquin family inside the canopy. They probably sought the safety of their nest to ward themselves from the storm.

Without hesitation, Skylar darts into the canopy of this toppling tree. While sounds are heard all around him causing mild disorientation, he manages to avoid the many branches and get to the family of three. A triple pair of horrified eyes start watching him as they lay eyes upon the yellow-and-blue Jaquin. Both parents have their cub tightly pressed in between them to protect it from any harm. "Quickly! We need to get out of here.' Skylar yells to drown out the cracking sounds and starts making his way toward the other side of the canopy, 'Come on! Hurry!"

The family doesn't budge, though. They're in dismay and have frozen in place from the frightening situation they've caught themselves in the middle of. When Skylar looks back and sees they aren't following him, he hurries back toward them. He grabs both parents by their paws and pulls them away from the nest, which starts falling apart underneath them. As if pulling them out of a trance, the stunned family finally starts to move on their own. "Please! This place is not safe! Come on!" Skylar shouts once more to get the Jaquins to go with him.

All four rush out of the canopy. The moment they leave the last of the branches behind them, they can hear all of the branches and leaves hitting the ground. With the deafening sound, the tree hits the soil and comes to a crashing stop. "We… we – made it – out." the female stammers out of both relief and shock.

"That was a close call! You guys alright?" Skylar asks with clear worriedness in his voice.

"I guess – we are fine now… Thanks to you.' the male replies with a trembling voice from all the commotion that just happened, 'Thank you, Skylar."

"Thanks to you, our cub is safe now!" the female utters in full relief now.

Both parents start cuddling their cub intensely with all the affection they can provide it knowing they're safe from harm now, knowing they can continue to be a happy family still. A careful smile appears on Skylar's face. "Happy to help out!' he says zestfully and then uses one of his paws to point at the Palace, 'Good you are okay. But I need you to go to the Palace now. It is much better there. You know, safe and warm. I will see you guys there!"

Without waiting for confirmation, Skylar moves further into the hazardous Palace Perimeter in search of Luna. With the development he just caught himself in, he's grown more desperate to find her…

Meanwhile, Veje heads deeper into the tropical wetland that's Nautíca. The region sees many seasonal floodplains harbouring lush grass thriving here, together with loose standing mundavi trees scattered throughout them. The taupe-and-brown Jaquin lets himself glide through the region using the many thermal columns found here, generated by the warm waters heating the air directly above them. This is what makes Nautíca one of the most benign and favourite places for Jaquins to visit.

As Veje's making his way towards the area he desires to collect food for his quota, he feels his eyelids becoming heavy. He might not want to admit it to himself but the recent discord with king Verago has been emotionally stressful to him. It has left him tired. Now that he again has returned into his comfort zone, being in an easy-going situation and without anyone around to disturb him, fatigue starts hitting him. *Suddenly so tired… Luckily I am high up here. I can close my eyes for now. Let the thermals carry me wherever I go. This sounds like a great idea! Jaa-wel… And then I will collect food there. That sounds like another great idea!* he tells himself in eased succession as he becomes dreamy.

While gliding over one of the floodplains, Veje unknowingly descends slowly. Even though the thermal columns extend his gliding path, they cannot prevent the inevitable. At some point, he'll be touching down, eyes open or not.

Veje, however, is not alone here. Throughout this floodplain, groups of Flaringos are found bathing in its waters. In one of them and ahead of the taupe-and-brown Jaquin, a total of three Flaringos find themselves standing in a shallow pool. They're enjoying the warm water that reaches up to their knees, making it feel pleasant and satisfying. It's an ideal way of softening sore muscles or simply enjoying a moment of zen. Alas, the latter has become difficult as the water just started to kibble. A rogue breeze makes it so; a remnant from strayed off fierce winds tormenting the nearby Palace Perimeter area. But it hasn't gone unnoticed. All three Flaringos start watching the surface of the pool. Somehow, each of them hopes silently doing so will bring its surface back to its former state. It doesn't seem to work but they notice something in the water's reflection. It makes them look up simultaneously and closely observing the sky. "Look at that, Maya! The clouds seem in a hurry today."

"Ri-ight you are, Zuni.' Maya agrees heartily in a sing-song manner while swaying her long neck slowly and adds in a regular tone of voice, 'They must go somewhere they are needed more than here."

"Unlike us. Despite the frolicking wind and the hasty clouds, we need nowhere to be right now." Lomo adds.

As if struck by a certain realisation, Zuni opts an idea: "Whoa! Perhaps the wind is telling us where to go… I think we need to move along with it!"

"Awesome!' Maya excitedly says and adds in a contemplating fashion, 'Maybe that breeze wants us to go to that hole in the grou-ound. You kno-ow, that hole in the fo-orm of a cres-cent moo-oon."

Zuni adds uplifting: "Yeah, that hole with water down below, with that strange shiny thing in it."

"Ah yes. That strange shiny thi-ing, too deep for even us to re-each." Maya adds in a sing-song manner still.

Zuni nods at both and says: "Let us go there, then! With the wind shear up here, it will be pleasant down there. Oh! And we can slide down there using the earthen slide."

"Yeah. That is always fun!" Lomo adds and chuckles.

Maya adds once more in a sing-song manner: "The wind stops being chi-ill. It is becoming chil-ly."

Suddenly, they spot the silhouette of a Jaquin soaring through the sky. They believe it to be their good friend Skylar. But after closely watching it, they notice it being a taupe-and-brown Jaquin closing in on the ground below him. He seems unaware of this. "Hey, amigo!" Lomo shouts at him.

The shouting seems to hold no sway so Maya tries helping out by waving her wings and shouting in a sing-song way: "Ter-rain a-hea-ead! Ter-rain a-hea-ead!"

Veje, however, remains unresponsive. Zuni then joins in with Maya and alternates with her shouting: "Pull up! Pull up!"

The taupe-and-brown Jaquin continues flying without heeding their calls. He has entered a state of relaxation, a recurring state of mind this laid-back Jaquin finds himself quite often in…

With all that has happened so far at the Palace Perimeter, the developments of today up until now haven't contributed to it being a regular day, one in which the Jaquins perform their obligations peacefully and revert to everyday life afterward. Now should be the time for some peace and quiet. At least, if that'll be possible now the trees holding them are rocking back and forth in the strong winds, let alone the nearly deafening and violently rustling of leaves, its sound carrying across all of the Palace Perimeter.

Many a species desire to seek shelter from the fierce and chilly winds, which by now blow strongly across all of the open woodlands. Although Jaquins have their nests inside trees, some of them find it too risky to make it there, let alone entering the canopy of a rocking tree. The thought of doing so otherwise renders some sick to their stomach. These Jaquins are thus found positioned against the lee side of a tree's stem, their wings folded around their bodies for the purpose of insulation. While being oblivious to Verago's declaration and until located by a member of the Royal Guard, this is their best chance of sitting out the storm unscathed. Some nearby Peabunnies and Veloz Ciervos copy this strategy, with the former looking especially frightened of all the violence that's happening around them.

There are some Jaquins, however, that do wish to return to their nests. One who truly desires so is Luna. She tries making her way back there within this temporary harsh condition the wind is generating. Some strong gusts carrying across these open woodlands knock her back a bit. Each time, though, she picks herself up and continues flying towards the tree her nest is located in. These gusts also prevent Luna from properly looking at where she's going. She has her eyes squinted and her head partially tilted sideways to avoid getting her face blasted completely by the frosty and cutting winds. It's exhausting, a struggle Luna hoped to avoid when hearing of this ill weather condition about to take place. Nevertheless, she's in the middle of it now, much to her dismay. All she can do at this point is embrace the thought of lying comfy inside her warm nest soon enough.

As she closes in on her destination, she notices how the fierce winds make the tree her nest is located in rock heavily: its robust stem and forked branches move around slowly and seemingly dance elegantly yet at the same time release crackling sounds as if repining on how much they have to endure.

Luna becomes distracted by this sight and sound to such an extent she doesn't notice something coming right at her. When it's getting closer she barely notices it through her squinted eyes. She tries focusing on the inbound projectile but is unable to identify it. All she can determine is that it looks like a round object of sorts, much like a ball or a shrub picked up by the strong wind. If anything, it doesn't make the situation any better for her. Luna braces herself for impact by folding her wings partially before her face, hoping to deflect the object while tilting her head once more due to a fierce gust. When she looks up again, the object lands against her. It makes for both a slightly painful and surprising experience the moment the unidentified flying object impacts her chest, having Luna let out an 'oof'. Immediately after, she clutches the ball-like object to her chest instinctively.

At this point, Luna starts hearing certain giggling. She looks down as a thought crosses her mind: *This clearly is no shrub. It is some ball, and it feels soft! Wait, is it made of… fur?*

Much to her surprise, the ball suddenly starts to unfold. Luna gasps of bewilderment. Of all the things she could imagine, she never thought to be holding a Jaquin cub in her paws at a moment like this. As she looks at the young one, two gloomy eyes start watching her. The giggling Luna heard just now originated from this cub, who's giggling still as it seems to be having fun. "Again!" it exclaims gleefully.

Apparently, this cub was flung away from its parents when a gust caught it by surprise. Instead of becoming afraid, the cub found it exciting as if it were a game. "At least someone is having fun. I bet your parents must be worried, little one… Better get you back to them first before I can finally enjoy the safety and comfort of my nest."