Everyone was talking about it. The experiments going on in the Starfall Isles were releasing more than usual amounts of dangerous energy. It seemed to be changing the genetic structures of many of the hatchlings born. The Clan had hoped that it wouldn’t spread to their Tangled Wood, or, better yet, had believed that this was all hogwash.

Quicksilver arrived at the nesting grounds, late as usual. Khrynia was already there, poking at the nest that held their three glowing Shadow eggs. “Anything wrong?” he asked anxiously. Normally, he’d ask the question with a relaxed I-know-nothing-could-go-wrong aura, but not now. With all the rumors flying about radiation and mutations, he couldn’t help the genuine fear in his voice.

“I don’t think so,” Khrynia replied. They were both clearly hoping for a normal nest. Whatever normal was.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Three tiny little cracks announced the arrival of their hatchlings. In the dim light of the rising moon, the three silvery hatchlings looked almost translucent. Their eyes were shut tight, although it was so dark they could’ve been born with their eyes open and nothing would’ve been wrong.

“Nothing, right?” It was Duskwing. She had come up with her typical Shadow stealthiness, and was looking at the hatchlings through eyes narrowed to slightly glowing purple slits.

“They look fine to me,” Quicksilver commented, with Khrynia nodding in agreement. “I don’t think they’ve been affected.”

“What do you mean, been affected?” Duskwing’s eyes widened to normal-sized slits and she hissed slightly. “There was nothing to be affected by in the first place. You know your stuff, Quicksilver.” She turned and disappeared back into the trees.