Wings of Fire: Prencia - The War

SUMMARY (BOOK FLAP)
Ivory is a eight year old SandWing who’s been sheltered from the truth his whole life: his father is a gangster that abandoned him, Leo, his mother, Georgia - and the last sibling. Ivory needs to find out how he joined the gang, why he joined the gang - all while the MudWing SandWing war is raging. Will he find out the answers to all his questions - or will he meet his demise?
THE PRENCIA PROPHECY
When the sky falls, 
Tribes will unite
And collapse the walls
That contrast and divide.
Use our power for the greater good,
And soon,
We’ll have enough wood
To build walls with gates.
PROLOGUE
Morris glided on the fair wind, spying a landform on the horizon.
“Prencia. A safe haven,” Morris whispered.
A canopy of trees rendered before him, and soon villages came into view as well. 
The sounds of bombs still echoed in Morris’ head. A shiver trickled over his spine.
Morris landed on the cold, damp earth by the river. Morris noticed that he had flown right into MudWing territory.
I can’t be seen here. I’m a SandWing. Plus, these dragons know I’m wanted. Posters bombard the lampposts. 
	“Hey! That’s Morris! Get ‘im!” A MudWing with a broken horn exclaimed in his gruff voice.
Morris took off, looking desperately for the SandWing kingdom, with MudWings hot on his tail. 
Regan taught me to fly in a zigzag pattern to confuse foes, Morris remembered. 
Morris flew this way and that, and soon the MudWings were hopelessly confused. They hung their heads and murmured as they started for their town again. 
Then, a familiar region appeared in Morris’ point of view.
The Grand Pine.
Past the Grand Pine was the SandWing kingdom, where his allies ought to be in a blacksmith’s shack, discussing plans to foil their rival gang’s agenda. 
***
After a crippling night of travel, Morris spotted a faint glow below him. 
This had to be it. If it wasn’t, then Morris would be zigzagging again, in hopes of finding the right place in the morning.
But, miraculously, Morris was on his own two feet when he arrived at the town, and it was the correct one because he saw his gang through a fogged-up window, laughing and drinking cider. 
“Hey,” Morris greeted in a hoarse voice, barging inside. 
“Howdy. You want some cider?” A freckled dragon with a plaid bandana lifted an unclaimed mug to Morris.
“I’m not in the mood. Y’know, I gave up my family just for your sake. I bet they’re getting bombed right now!” Morris yelled under the racket in the room.
“If I knew any better, my family would be alive, Morris! They perished years ago because I abandoned them. You just, gotta move on, okay?” The dragon replied, taking a big sip from his cup of cider.
Morris growled lightly, then nodded. 
I guess I do have to move on, he concluded, feeling defeated. 
But maybe Leo, Ivory, and Georgia are alive. And hopefully Georgia finds a husband with stronger morals than I.
“Hey Morris! I’m glad you made it out of the SandWing-MudWing war!” Phoenix hollered from the other end of the room.
“Yeah,” Morris answered, pushing away any remaining thoughts of his family.
“Me too.”
CHAPTER ONE
In Ivory’s hometown, the street bands drummed, stomped, and kicked, their harmonicas buzzing in the heavy desert air. The sun glared down over Ivory’s shiny tan scales as he trotted nonchalantly past the shabby sandstone buildings lining the dusty asphalt path. 
What was Mother thinking? Ivory thought lividly.
There’s a surreal trading experience there that we’re missing, she said. I can even find a new, better husband there, she said.
 	There’s nothing you can do to convince me to go to this foreign continent. I was born and raised in Pyrrhia. And I wanted my unhatched sibling to grow up here, too.
	Ivory now stood in front of the thick cedar door. He remembered when he was five years old and the adobe house he lives in now was still incomplete. It was a fragile framework with nothing but potential and the smell of imported wood.
Why are flashbacks coming back? Is it a sign that maybe I’ll need to remember this place because we will move - against my own desires? Ivory thought, his heart stinging with anxiety.
“Unless,” Ivory thought aloud, staring over his shoulder.
	I can run away. At least that’s what my father did when he was my age. And look, he made it. Well, until last year, anyway.
Ivory was just about to start for Blackrose Oasis until a familiar voice crawled into his ear.
“Hey, Ivory.” Leo made a friendly gesture with his talon.
“Hey, Leo,” Ivory reeled out of his mouth, lathered in sweat.
Leo was Ivory’s twin brother. Not the identical kind, though.
“Come inside. Mother made us some roasted coconut to tie us over while she’s prepping lunch.”
The brothers sat at the table silently, picking at their snack as the thought of leaving Pyrrhia nagged at them ruthlessly. 
This coconut is sticky. It’s undercooked. 
	Ivory knew that when his mother undercooks or overcooks food, she’s worried.
So she was lying. There’s no enthusiasm in this platter of coconut. I bet something’s making her go. That’s right, she would never leave this place.
	A small fraction of Ivory thought it was considerate to try and make him and Leo not fret by acting like she’s happy about moving. 
It’s deceit, Ivory. Your mother is a fiend.
And soon, Ivory felt mad from snout to tail. But he obviously couldn’t express it. Not in front of his family. Well, at least the rest of his family.
Stop it with Father already! He’s dead and you can’t change that.
But Ivory thought about him anyway.
Look at that constellation. It looks like you and me, sitting together. Like we are right now, he said. 
	If I’m ever not here, just look at that constellation. Then, you’ll feel like I’m here, he continued, watching the sky.
Ivory sniffled, grief gnawing on his heart. A tear tried to slither out from his eye, but he drew it back.
Ivory set his dish in the sink, trying not to make eye contact with his mother, who was dicing chicken on an ebony board. 
Ivory went out into the reedy pen. All the livestock was sold, since Ivory and his family were moving. 
Then, he spotted the cliff in the distance where he and his father had sat, stargazing. 
Then, Ivory started crying.
He crouched down in the grass, swatting mosquitoes before sobbing again. He sat there for a solid thirty minutes, and no-one came. 
Life is so unfair, he thought, wallowing in the grass.
***
When Ivory woke up in the pen after his long sob, he lifted his neck from the tangle of roots beneath the weeds.
Ivory treaded inside, dirt in between his claws.
“What were you doing outside for so long?”
“Sunbathing.” 
Ivory hated lying to Leo. He did nothing wrong. Plus, Leo was the only dragon Ivory actually cared about. And his unhatched sibling, of course. 
“Oh, okay. Well, you missed lunch. Come on in, it’s not too late to fill your stomach,” Leo replied, leading Ivory in cordially.
There was no steam over the bowl of chicken stew. Have I really been out that long? 	
***
After Ivory washed his face in the barrel of icy water, he went to his room where his mother was folding tunics for the journey to Prencia.
“Mother, why’s Father dead?” Ivory stammered.
“Ivory, that’s very impolite to ask. Besides, you caught me off guard, and that’s jarring,” Ivory’s mother scolded, proceeding to fold, except with more aggression.
“But why?” Ivory ignored her remark.
Ivory’s mother sighed, setting the tunics on Ivory’s bedding.
“It was a disease. They called it possum fever,” Ivory’s mother sat down, trying not to look at Ivory.
“Oh. How’d he get it?” Ivory asked.
“Ivory, that’s enough. I know you’re upset. We all are. But you just have to move on, okay?” 
Ivory’s mother raised her voice for the first time in months.
She stormed out, lashing her tail and flicking her wings with rage.
***
The next day, Ivory woke up, ashamed of the incident that occured last night with his mother. His cheeks burned from the morning sunlight that shone through the open window. His wooly blanket was mantled hastily over his knees.
Ivory also felt ashamed that he had read books on possum fever. He learned that it was called that because the fungi that dwelled in your lungs was gray and furry, like possums.
But he also found out that it only existed in Pantala. 
Another lie? What’s with my mother and lies? There’s some knowledge she’s protecting me and Leo from. And I’m gonna find out what it is.
But Ivory’s heart started pounding when he realised that today was the day he was leaving.
Crap! I have to say bye to my neighbors, or my mother will be angry about my impoliteness. Again.
Ivory left home to flit from house to house, spreading blessings like his mother taught him to, and come back for a brief breakfast.
It was ten minutes of “I wish you luck on your journey” and “Farewell, Ivory” from his neighbors. Leo went with him, and received the same treatment. Ivory sensed that his neighbors couldn’t care any less about his departure, since all they did was unlatch the chain lock and say something cliche and robotic to him and Leo. Ivory didn't care either, anyway.
After breakfast, a group of burly dragons escorted Ivory and his family to the dragon train - a flock of dragons accompanying one another on their journey to a specific port, which has more burly escort dragons waiting for Ivory, Leo, and Georgia there.
***
Ivory felt as if he were one blade of grass in a prairie. Hundreds of dragons flew huddled together like bison, signaling with their talons to turn. At one point, Ivory couldn’t even find his mother, who was carrying the egg in a leather belt and holding Leo’s talon. 
The bleached sky above them seemed to lower, but Ivory knew they were just getting higher. 
Ivory never liked flying.
He knew it was critical in the dragon world and he should appreciate the ability, but he can never get over how everything beneath him looked like pebbles and ants.
An hour later, the clouds started to part and make space for sunlight to beam down over the dragon train. Ivory got accustomed to the salty breeze by now, and he was having a better time than before.
Until he started to get sore.
His talons were numb and he felt as if dragon claws were drilling into his veins. But, the flock leader spotted a gathering of islands mid ocean. 
All of the dragons made a vertical swoop onto the rocky island shores. Only a single palm tree swayed proudly, washed in daylight.
The dragons crowded around, absorbing the sunlight with their outspread wings. 
By the palm tree, Ivory noticed a strange-looking dragon shaking the palm tree. Her scales had a tint of red and her eyes were blue, which was unusual for a SandWing. 
Curious, Ivory gingerly stepped over the sun basking dragons to get a closer look at her. Then, the red dragon gave Ivory a daunting look at Ivory.
Then she said something, surprisingly benevolently. 
“Hey, you want some bananas, too?” 
“Oh. Um, sure,” Ivory stuttered.
The two of them sat on a thin satin blanket, peeling the bananas like we haven’t eaten in a week.
“Sorry if I intimidated you at first glance. I look odd because I’m a SkyWing-SandWing hybrid,” The red SandWing explained.
“Figures. Well, what’s your name?” Ivory asked.
“Ethereal,” She said in between bites.
“Ethereal? That’s a cool name,” Ivory replied.
“Yeah. My mother is very regal, so they gave me such a name. You can just call me Ethel though.”
“Where is the SkyWing parent?”
“Oh, my mother? She works for the SkyWing queen. That’s why she’s so formal in the first place.”
The flock started to re-engage in the travel.
“So fast? It’s only been ten minutes!” Ivory exclaimed.
“Yeah, I know. Well it’s only the morning anyway. Plus, I’m used to such short breaks. I’ve travelled a lot to see my mother,” Ethel stood up from her position on the blanket. 
“Wait, your parents are divorced?” Ivory stood up in sync.
“Well, yeah. My mother would never stop working for Queen Ember. She has a great salary,” Ethel scraped sand from under her scales.
“My father is dead. Well, maybe he isn't. My mother lied that he had possum fever,” Ivory looked down.
“That must suck. More than a divorce. Oh, gotta get back to my father. I’ll see you around!” Ethel rushed after a silhouette of a dragon. 
Ivory milled about in the crowd, trying to find his family.
Oh shoot! Ethel didn’t get my name! Ivory remembered. But he had already lost her, and his mother was calling his name. 
***
Time passed, and the sun was just an orange line on the border between the sky and the sea. The dragon train landed on a cluster of islands, where they would spend the night resting.
A vicious wind occasionally ripped through the air, sending the grass fluttering, hanging onto their roots for dear life.
Ivory was in charge of keeping the egg warm while Leo and Ivory’s mother waited for an unlucky seagull to fly onto the island’s premises. 
Ivory never felt this responsible. The night was violent and cold, and he had to fold his wings over the last sibling he’ll ever gain.
Then, a figure loomed over Ivory.
“That egg yours?” Ethel joked, kneeling down next to Ivory and caressing the stippled shell with her talon.
“Hey, Ethel,” Ivory chuckled.
“By the way, I’m sorry about earlier. I never asked what your name was,” Ethel said, leering at the three full moons and their silver sheen.
“It’s Ivory. And it’s okay, we just ran out of time,” Ivory said in a drowsy voice.
“You sound tired, let’s get some sleep. I’ll be with my father,” Ethel grinned, and waddled away, stepping over sleeping dragons here and there.
Ivory lay down on his side with the egg held tightly in his arms.
Fatigue inched its way up his whole body, and he was fast asleep.
Dawn was innocent and sunny, unlike the malevolent night before.
The other dragons were all on their feet when Ivory woke up.
I must’ve overslept, Ivory thought, humiliated at his irresponsibility.
“Ivory, come on! We have to get going!” Leo pranced around, attempting to get Ivory’s attention.
“Alright, I’m coming!” Ivory staggered over to Leo and his mother, only half awake. The dragons around him were just hazy splotches of color.
Finally oriented, Ivory joined his family and the rest of the dragon train to resume their travel to Prencia.
***
A week passed, and the flock made it to Prencia.
The port was stuffy and crowded, and all Ivory could hear were overlapping conversations and occasional birds cawing above them.
Ivory felt as if he was going to collapse, right then and there.
But he stayed on his feet, because there was nowhere to fall but some stranger’s wings.
Ivory noticed some SeaWings within the crowd, since the port was right on the border between the SeaWing and SandWing kingdom.
Ivory pushed past a few dragons, and reached his mother.
“Mother,” Ivory sighed. His mother turned to face him.
“What is it?” She answered, puzzled.
“Possum fever only exists in Pantala, so stop lying to me!” Ivory snarled, while Leo watched with a bewildered look. 
“Ivory! For the last time! Stop interrogating me about your father all the time. Let it go,” She hissed, drawing her chin back at his behavior.
	I’m gonna run away. Without a doubt. 
But deep down, Ivory thought, Where do I run?
***
The new house was already furnished. 
Mother must’ve been ready before me and Leo were told about the trip, Ivory guessed, adjusting himself to the arrangement.
Well, I won’t be here for long, anyway. I’m leaving tonight. I want to set out and start my own life. 
For the rest of the day, Ivory’s mother was out shopping with Leo, and Ivory was in charge of the house and the egg. He alphabetically sorted the books, he wiped down the countertops with a wet rag, he smothered the egg in blankets to keep it at its designated temperature. Ivory wasn’t sure why he was doing it, though. He knew he wasn’t gonna stay.
Maybe I’ll miss Leo and my unhatched sibling. 
Maybe every day, I’ll be regretting running away, and that will be sitting on my shoulder for the rest of my life.
I won’t even see my new sibling take his first steps, and his first wingbeats, and his first intelligible words…
No. I have to do the right thing. Which is escaping my mother’s household and roaming free. Free as a dove.
When his mother came home, the sky was indigo and Ivory couldn’t lift a claw. 
“What’d you get?” Ivory said, trying to sound lively when all he wanted to do was drop into bed.
“I got some lamb, deer, and- Ivory, you look distracted. Is something bothering you?” Ivory’s mother cocked her head, setting the totes down next to the sink.
“No, I’m okay. So, lamb and deer, what else?” Ivory yawned. 
Something is bothering me. I can’t leave if I don't get to see the new dragonet.
“I also got us some bear meat. So, which one do you want for dinner, hm?” Ivory’s mother asked.
“I think the deer’s good,” Ivory selected randomly, his eyes half closed.
“I think Ivory’s tired. Must be from taking care of the egg the entire day. Let’s give him some space,” Leo patted Georgia’s shoulder kindly.
“Well, just wait until the little one hatches. They’ll really be a talonful then,” Georgia snickered lightly.
That drew the line for Ivory. He needed to take the egg with him. 
I’m sorry, mother, Ivory thought pityingly, snuggling in the hay bedding.
CHAPTER TWO
Ivory missed having a bedroom upstairs. 
Downstairs was an all-in-one: a kitchen, a bedroom for Ivory, and a library. 
And that was the primary factor to his discomfort.
The spaciousness. 
No walls, just a big open space which was cold and woeful. Almost like a void. 
But that wasn’t gonna be a problem for that long, since Ivory was leaving that very night.
Ivory continued fidgeting with his fork, barely taking a bite out of dinner. 
Usually, he loved deer. But right now, he had too much on his mind to eat.
Leo tried to spark conversation.
“Um, Mother, what did you use to season this?” Leo asked awkwardly.
“Rosemary and paprika,” Georgia responded hopefully.
Ivory didn’t submit any of his thoughts to the dinner table, since the things jumping in his mind were confidential.
“That explains the vague spiciness,” Leo’s words wandered off.
Five minutes later, everyone left the table to go off to sleep, and the silence that had tormented them finally dissolved as they exchanged good night’s. 
Once all the fire lanterns were extinguished and everyone but Ivory were in deep sleep, Ivory rolled off his bed and snuck upstairs to snatch the egg.
He lifted it carefully from the flannel sheets underneath it, and tip-toed back downstairs to unlock the front door and sprint off into the night.
***
Ivory had thrown on a tunic to stay heated in the uninviting cold that haunted the desert.
Suddenly, Ivory felt something hot blowing near his face.
Ethel had breathed out a puff of fire to get Ivory’s attention.
“What are you doing outside, with the egg?” Ethel pondered.
“None of your business. Wait, what are you doing?” Ivory squinted at Ethel. 
“I’m getting the mail for my father. But again, what are you doing? It’s curfew for you, clearly,” Ethel pointed to Ivory’s window. 
Hold on. I thought Ethel lived in Pyrrhia and she’s visiting the SkyWings. What’s going on?
	“By the way, what are you doing here? Aren’t you a Pyrrhia resident, coming to visit your mother in Prencia?” Ivory snapped. 
“Okay, I guess I didn’t tell you everything. My father is getting married. To some SandWing I’m not completely fond of. It’s fine, really,” Ethel looked away from Ivory to keep her tears from him.
“Now, what are you doing?” Her voice cracked, still looking at the sky and not Ivory.
“Hey, it’s all right. We have each other’s backs. You can come to me whenever you need to. Well, not anymore, at least,” Ivory turned her chin to him. 
“So what are you doing?” She said, sniffling.
“I’m running away,” Ivory sighed deeply, bracing for Ethel's feedback.
“To be honest, I never want to leave you, or you to leave me. You said we’ll always have each other’s backs,” Ethel smiled through her weeping.
“I’m coming with you,” Ethel held the Ivory’s talon that wasn’t holding the egg.
“But give the egg back to your mother, she needs to be there when the last child is born. After all, she laid it,” Ethel claimed, nodding her head and wiping the last of her tears.
“But I wanted to raise this dragonet so that it knows the truth about its father,” Ivory protested, swinging his tail to the left, knocking over a barrel of fish, which clattered loudly on the ground.
A few lights in the homes turned on,
Including the light above Georgia’s bed.
***
Ethel and Ivory ran together, running until the town behind them was just a few lights glimmering softly in the night.
“Woah. Look at that,” Ethel gasped, staring up at a tall brick wall that held a gate between two intricately-chiseled pillars. four SkyWing guards, all armed with spears, stood by the gate.
“Salutations,” Ethel tried to sound lavish as she spoke.
“State your business in the SkyWing kingdom,” One ordered.
“I’m the daughter of Agnes. She works for Queen Ember,” Ethel bowed.
“Ethereal, right? You may pass,” That same guard said, creaking open the gate.
“And should we be worried about whoever that SandWing is? You know, the one holding the egg?” A different guard asked.
“Not at all. He’s a comrade of mine,” Ethel brought him forward, nudging him past the gate.
“Okay,” They all said simultaneously, shutting the gate behind them hurriedly.
“We’re in the SkyWing kingdom?” Ivory shuddered, watching the red dragons pass nearby, trading and bickering, drinking and laughing on their front porches.
“This is the most populated kingdom in Prencia,” Ethel explained.
“But, isn’t IceWing territory the biggest?” Ivory said, staying close to Ethel to avoid separating from her.
“Yeah, but those vast ice flats aren’t used, considering IceWings aren’t plentiful in Prencia,” Ethel waved to pedestrians that recognized her.
“I actually lived here for a few weeks when I was visiting my mother last year,” Ethel said, continuing to walk brazenly in the crowd.
Ivory looked around. Dragons filed into the streets from out of their apartment complexes, and dragons strided out of farmer’s markets with polyester bags hanging on their tails. The town was abuzz with activity.
It dawned on Ivory that he’s never seen a desert town with so many dragons and so many tall buildings - it was a feast for his eyes.
“Look, Ivory. A hotel,” Ethel pointed to a building that was a tad shorter than the rest. 
Inside, it smelled like sawdust and dry, old paper. Lights were strung loosely along the hooks on the ceiling. The desk was crowded with succulents in glass pots, vials of ink, yellowed books, along with one clunky brass typewriter in the middle.
“Hi! Come here, I’ll book you guys a room,” a SkyWing said, his head popping out from behind the big machine.
“Write your names on this ticket,” The desk dragon shoved a beaker of ink towards Ethel and Ivory. Ethel dipped her claw into the container, scribbling their names on the crusty ticket.
“All done. Here’s your key,” The desk dragon dropped a gold key into Ethel’s palm. She closed her claws around it, and the two raced up the stairs, longing for somewhere to fall. 
The two of them dropped onto the plush fabric of the hotel beds. It smelled musty and the beds were greasy. 
“It’s better than sleeping outside, though,” Ivory laughed, reading Ethel’s mind. 
Ivory set the egg down on the nightstand, in the shelter and warmth of the lampshade.
Ethel and Ivory were fast asleep.
***
A siren blared loudly, waking up Ivory.
“What the hell is going on?” Ethel opened the blinds, prying through the planks to get a good look at what was happening in the city below.
“Oh no,” Ethel realised something. Something bad.
“The MudWing-SandWing war has reached the SkyWings,” Ethel gasped lightly. 
“What?” Ivory exclaimed.
“The SkyWings are sandwiched between the MudWings and SandWings, and the MudWings need to get past the SkyWings in order to get to the SandWings. The CaveWings were partly affected by the MudWings' schlep to the SandWing kingdom, too. But, the SkyWings will get it much worse,” Ethel said quickly, scouring the drawers for things that they can salvage from the hotel for later use.
“But I thought the war only went on in Pyrrhia,” Ivory said. 
How did I not notice this before? Ivory thought. My mother was leaving so that we can be safe here. Many other SandWings evacuated, and the MudWings found out about the evacuation and they followed them here, except they travelled to their territory so they could gather ammunition and medicine for the battle.
	“I think I understand,” Ivory dragged himself out of bed. “We have to get back to my family.”
“Ivory, are you a blithering idiot? It’s way too far to travel and your mother will know you were trying to run away!” Ethel cried. “Excuse me. I’m sorry, I’m just panicking-” Ethel got cut off. 
“It’s okay. Let’s just stay low, alright? We’ll make it,” Ivory nodded, determined. He grabbed the egg from under the lamp.
Chaos brewed in town square. Dragons were being stabbed by spears and shot by arrows.
Just how much worse can this get? 
Ivory’s stomach was a knot, and Ethel couldn’t keep herself from breathing hard and loud.
Ivory fondled her back with one talon and clutched the egg in another.
Ivory heard a boom from outside.
Why is that noise so familiar? Ivory knew he had heard it somewhere.
Oh. I bet when I was a dragonet, the war was still rampaging. Figures.
	Then he knew exactly which weapon that was. 
It’s the missile - the most advanced dragon-made weapon.
	There were back-to-back booms for ten whole minutes. Ivory felt as if the room was getting smaller and every cell in his brain produced one emotion: fear.
Ivory then heard the desk dragon - yelling. 
“Get out of here, or I-I’m getting the cops!” He shouted from downstairs. An arrow fired, and that was the last of him.
The same dragon who killed the SkyWing at the front desk stormed into the room. He cocked his crossbow and he slowly made his way around the bad-smelling hotel room, knocking over crates and sending papers flying with his powerful tail.
Ivory noticed a pin on his leather jacket. It read, “General Terracotta.” 
Ivory knew they weren’t safe. No SandWing is safe around MudWing generals. 
***
General Terracotta craned his neck. 
Ivory felt a surge of fright pound into the marrow of his bones. He felt hope die away. He held the egg tighter.
I’m so sorry you’ll never get to hatch, new sibling.
I’m so sorry I ran away, Leo and Mother.
I’m so sorry I let you down, Ethel. 
I’m so sorry I never found out the truth about you, Father.
The last thing he saw in that hotel room was Ethel and him getting hauled out of the room by the MudWing general. The only thing that he knew was good was that he was still holding the egg, and that Ethel wasn’t hurt.
Soon, they were outside. 
All he could see was the mob behind them and the belt that was wrapped tightly around Terracotta’s waist. A tarnished buckle. Forty exposed threads. One crossbow, tucked into a sheath.
Ivory squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that the riot behind them might fire arrows at him and Ethel. 
But no arrows fired.
Ivory felt at peace, more or less.
He could’ve watched his mother and Leo die back at home.
But he’s safe, and he didn’t have to watch anyone he loved die before his eyes.
Ivory pictured he was floating on his back in a pond. A pond in a calm rainforest. The irises danced gently in the spring wind.
Occasional chatter from nearby hunters echo through the trees. 
Ethel and the new sibling are probably somewhere near, drinking mango smoothies in a hammock.
CHAPTER THREE
Ivory woke up, his talons and wings tied to a wooden post. A squadron of MudWings were circled around a campfire, smoking salmon and sharing anecdotes. 
Ivory looked in every direction, trying to see if Ethel and the egg were anywhere.
Soon, he spotted an obscure shape of a dragon - also tied to a wooden post - trying to wriggle free. 
Through the window of a nearby cabin, Ivory saw the egg, stowed away with some barrels like it’s cargo.
“Hey!” Ivory scowled at the troops around the campfire. They all turned to look at Ivory.
“What?” They scoffed. “You’re wasting our time.”
“Set me and Ethel free! And give me back my egg!” Ivory roared.
The buff one stood up from his tree stump seat and walked over to Ivory with a pocket knife.
He made a small cut on Ivory’s wrist and sat back down at his place in the campfire circle. Ivory grimaced.
“Open your jaw just an inch and you’ll be even sorrier,” The buff MudWing growled, stuffing the stained knife into his pouch again.
One of the dragons in the circle was telling a childhood story, but the same dragon that cut a slit in Ivory’s wrist kept monitoring Ivory with a look that hurt more than the hole in Ivory’s talon.
Ivory knew it was all down to Ethel. There was no MudWing near her to glower at her. 
Wriggle.
Wriggle.
Wriggle.
Do something else, it’s not working! Ivory pleaded. 
Wriggle.
Come on…
Chomp.
Chomp.
Chomp.
Ethel chewed the rope. It was almost as if they were telepathically communicating. 
Chomp.
Chomp.
Rip.
Now she had to do her wings.
Chomp.
Chomp.
Several bites afterwards, the rope keeping her wings tied to the pole was on the ground, frayed and useless.
Ivory beckoned to her by kicking his foot up in the air. Ethel tramped over to Ivory, ready to set him free as well.
“Ethel, be careful, there’s-” Ivory got interrupted by the buff dragon rising from his seat and unleashing his knife. Everyone at the circle turned to watch him injure Ethel.
Ivory kicked his legs up and down with anguish, suspense closing in on the campsite. 
Ethel coughed a massive fireball from her throat, burning the knife bearer’s cheek. The fumes lingered like Ivory’s perpetual worry.
The buff dragon swung his knife, but Ethel dodged. 
Ivory began chewing his rope. He needed to retrieve the egg, and help Ethel fight.
Ivory finally cut both ropes, and he lunged out from behind to tackle the MudWing. 
Instead, Ivory ended up getting pinned down.
“You’ve made a fatal flaw, little one,” The MudWing grunted. 
“Yes. You did,” Ethel stabbed her poison-barbed tail into his back. The MudWing’s veins turned black as they filled with venom. He fell over onto his side.
“Let’s get that egg and get out of here,” Ethel took Ivory’s talon. They ran past the dragons at the campfire to avoid more combat, and stole the egg from the pile of barrels. 
“Females can fight too,” Ethel chuckled, gripping the egg tightly. The two of them darted off like elk running from a pack of wolves. (Which is how Ivory summed up the situation.)
They stopped, both gasping for air.
“Where even...are we?” Ethel asked breathlessly.
“We’re definitely still in the MudWing kingdom, so we better keep low profiles,” Ivory said, looking at the swamps and mangroves surrounding them. 
“Yeah, makes sense,” Ethel said, swatting gnats with her wing.
“But other than that, I really don't know where to go. We’re so young to be out in the wild alone. I just, really thought we’d find a home in the SkyWing kingdom. I thought we’d find out what happened to my father,  and I thought my last sibling would hatch there, born knowing the truth,” Ivory kneeled on the soft mud below him.
“Don’t beat yourself up. We will find a home. Promise,” Ethel kneeled down next to him.
“And we made it out of that campsite alive, And that’s what matters,” Ethel followed those words with a smile. She began to count the ants that marched along the soil. She counted until she fell asleep, her head rested on Ivory’s shoulder.
At that moment, the sun started ambling up the sky, lighting it up in the process. 
“We’ll be okay,” Ivory sighed, patting the egg gently.
***
When Ivory and Ethel awoke, they decided to begin their quest for a home. For now, they gathered sustenance. Well, tried to.
“All I can see are toads. We can’t eat those,” Ivory’s talons squelched in the mud. 
“Maybe we can visit some marketplaces to trade,” Ethel shrugged, scanning the marsh ahead for any signs of civilization.
“We’re SandWings, we can’t be seen here,” Ivory responded, joining her in searching for inhabited structures and towns.
“We can create a disguise,” Ethel suggested, holding up a few trinkets and garnets she had seized from the hotel’s cabinets last night.
Ivory stood examining the items with a pensive expression. Finally, he nodded. “Let’s make this work,” He agreed.
***
“We look like fools,” Ethel concluded, watching their reflection from a pool of water.
“Think about it: these clothes will feed us,” Ivory said, scooping up the egg and tying it down to his belly with a shawl.
“Or, we’ll have another reason to never come back to this kingdom,” Ethel said scornfully, tugging at her cape.
“Hey, it was your idea!” Ivory punched her shoulder lightly as they traipsed towards the sun.
“Hey, look at that!” Ethel waved her talon to the direction of a nearby village. 
Ethel and Ivory scampered over there, trying to find the market stalls. But, all they could see was a newspaper cart and a few houses. 
“This looks pretty...run-down,” Ivory thought, taking off his costume, knowing no-one was around in the abandoned town.
“SANDWINGS?” A MudWing screeched, popping his head out the balcony. 
Soon, more dragons popped out of windows and doors.
“I bet they’re illegal immigrants! Ugh, those RainWings cause so many travel mishaps! Get a security system for once!” An old dragon cried from out her shattered window, waving her cane by the rubber handle.
Soon, about seven to eight guards emerged from the tallest building in the town, all wielding copper spears. 
***
Deja vu.
	Ivory recalled travelling to Prencia with a flock.
Except this one was made up of guards and guards only,
And they were headed for the RainWing kingdom. 
Ivory could smell the salty breeze again, even though they weren’t travelling overseas. 
But once they crossed CaveWing territory, they would be flying over a bay and Ivory won’t just imagine the salty breeze.
In Pyrrhia, he would never go to the rainforest, since there were NightWings there, and NightWings were the most dangerous and formidable dragons he knew.
“Never befriend a NightWing, they ought to rip your heads off,” His father used to warn him when he still went to school.
Ivory now started thinking about his father. 
If you were here, then I’d probably never be with this dragon train. But then, I would never have met Ethel.
	His thoughts went this way and that, left and right, up and down. 
If I found my father now, then I’d still get to see Ethel and I’d have a normal family. That’s why I shouldn’t give up. 
	Ethel looked as if in distress. 
Ivory more than anything wanted to be closer to her.
But he wouldn’t be able to talk anyway, especially if the last time he tried confronting MudWings he got a gash on his talon.
Ivory had kept the shawl, so he could carry around the egg with two free talons. But, his scales had chafed from the rough textile. 
***
We’re here already? That’s one small bay. 
	Ivory saw lush groves and gardens of bamboo. The birds trilled beneath them. 
Maybe living here won’t be so bad after all, Ivory smiled inside, looking down at the vibrant treetops. 
Ethel and Ivory were dropped off at a port - though it wasn’t as crowded as the port in the SandWing kingdom, since evacuations aren’t headed to the rainforest.
The flock of MudWings didn’t hesitate to venture back to their kingdom. They were off in a blink of an eye.
“So...Ethel...what do you know about RainWings?” Ivory nervously chuckled.
“All I know is that they are the agricultural capital of Prencia, and that most of the dragons here are kind. But lazy. Very lazy,” Ethel said, browsing her brain for any more things Ivory should know. “Well, that’s it, really,” Ethel shuffled her feet in the coarse earth underneath them.
“Are those newcomers?” A shrill, young voice came audible to Ivory and Ethel.
“Hello?” Ivory looked around to determine the source of the words.
“Down here!” The voice cried.
“Oh. Hi, sorry!” Ivory turned his head down at the RainWing dragonet. 
“My name is Sunday, and I’m supposed to help dragons from other tribes find their way back home after getting lost, or dropped off at a port by guards,” She explained, fiddling with the tip of her prehensile tail. Her feet were emerald green and her body was vermillion. 
“Oh. Well, we shouldn’t go back. Home, I mean. Or the MudWing kingdom. War, and stuff,” Ivory said anxiously. 
“Not to worry! I can also help you start a life here, in our rainforests,” Sunday clapped twice with triumph.
The dragons here are kind. They let any dragon - from any tribe - waltz right into their territory, and make themself feel at home? 
	But then, Ivory pictured floating on his back in a pond - in a rainforest - with nothing wrong in his life at all. 
Okay, let’s be flexible, Ivory. You can find a safe home here, if you learn to accept the RainWings and their traditional behavior, Ivory persuaded himself.
“Are there any vacant homes me and Ethel can live in?” Ivory asked politely.
“Hmm, let’s see. I have a few homes in Redbrook you can check out. Other than that, it's the settling season, so many foreigners come for vacation and free time here, since our tribe is the safest. Not to brag, though,” Sunday tapped her chin, contemplating.
“Alright. How far away is Redbrook?” Ethel searched for signs to help her navigate.
“Redbrook is only a few paces away, lucky for you! And that place has a high clay composition, so not many plants grow there, and you can stroll about as much as you want!” Sunday squeaked.
***
Sunday was right, and Redbrook was pretty near. The ground was made up of dry red dirt and deposits of clay here and there.
Sunday was also right that there weren’t many plants, and they could roam for a great distance. 
“Ouch,” Ethel winced, holding her stomach. “I’m starved. Do you have anywhere we can go to grab some food?” 
Sunday nodded. “Of course! It’s mostly vegetarian cuisine though, so if you’re not into that, go hunt down an ocelot or two while I lead this fellow around, okay?” 
“Thanks, Sunday,” Ethel said in a raspy voice, patting the dragonet’s shoulder. 
“Name’s Ivory, by the way,” Ivory blushed, scratching the back of his neck. 
“Oh, yes. I saw you in my newspaper this morning! You’re the SkyWing queen’s assistant’s daughter’s new boyfriend! There’s a picture of you two in a hotel room together!” Sunday said, the sparkle in her eyes brighter than a thousand suns.
“No, no, no, no, nothing like that!” Ivory retorted.
“Don’t be silly. You two are meant for each other! You can get married here, have a dragonet, and name it Sunday!” Sunday spat, laughing a little.
“Now, where were we, a house?” Sunday refocused, pointing to an empty home with a sign near it saying “For Sale” in big, blocky letters. 
“I guess that one looks good,” Ivory replied faithfully.
“That was just the exterior. Lemme show you inside!” Sunday scrambled to get the keys. 
The door clicked open.
Inside, curtains adorned the windows and modern bar stools stood against the table. The polished granite countertops were illuminated by four glass fire lamps that hung above them. A private workspace resided in the corner. 
“What do you think?” Sunday asked like the house wasn’t the most glamorous place Ivory’s ever seen.
“It’s perfect! I’ll take it,” Ivory claimed.
“Swe-eeet! That will be seven copper ingots!” Sunday sang.
“WHAT?” Ivory exclaimed.
CHAPTER FOUR 
Seven copper ingots? What kind of dragon charges seven copper ingots for a house? 
If Ivory wasn’t negotiating on a house with a four year old, dragons from on the other side of the continent would be able to hear him scream his lungs out. But, he kept his temper and asked, “Can I bargain for a lower price?” In a passive tone.
“I’m sorry, but you may or may not have heard that we are economically failing! We need all the profit we can get,” Sunday said crossly. 
“I guess we can find a different house,” Ivory drooped his wings. It was time he felt that reality was often out of range of his expectations.
Soon, Ethel came back with a rounded belly.
“Oh man! I was barely able to stop eating. They have the best vegetarian food I have ever eaten! Tofu, persimmon salad-,” Ethel droned on about RainWing food until Ivory stopped her.
“I know all you want to talk about is herbivore food, but we have bigger issues on our talons. Which of these homes would you like? Well, anything but the one with the amazing interior,” Ivory showed her the mundane but cheap homes that they were able to buy. 
“Um...maybe that one,” Ethel waved her claw at the one with a balcony and a backyard with a maroon-painted plank fence.
“Not a bad choice! That’s come to a total of ten copper coins!” Sunday cheered, relieved that Ethel and Ivory finally made a choice.
“Here,” The small coins fell into Sunday’s talon, clinking as they knocked into one another.
“Hope you enjoy your new home!” Sunday piped, capering away, the coins rattling in her fist.
***
“I’m so glad we got that over with,” Ivory moaned, setting up the egg’s corner with anything soft that came upon his field of view, even the newspaper calling him Ethel’s boyfriend.
“That girl is truly an eyesore,” Ivory whined. “And an earsore.”
“Tell me about it,” Ethel rolled her eyes.
“Ethel, you were eating lunch the whole time I was shopping,” Ivory looked at her accusingly.
“While I was there!” She finished.
“The house looks ratty, but it’ll improve. Right?” Ethel said, overlooking the entire bottom floor.
“Yep,” Ivory agreed, standing by her. 
***
That night, a cold rain swept over Redbrook.
Ivory has only experienced rain twice in his entire life, considering he lived in a desert. 
He loved rain. It was a delicacy in the SandWing kingdom, since it didn’t come very often.
Now, Ivory would be getting used to it, because they found home in the RainWing kingdom. 
The rhythmic tapping of each raindrop lulled him to sleep.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Ethel was still awake. She was having trouble sleeping, since the past few days have been corrupted with near-death situations.
“I miss you, Father. I’m sorry for running away. You were having  hard times, putting together a new family and finding work in Prencia,” Ethel sniffled, staring out the window at the rain.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Ivory awoke to the sound of Ethel sobbing. 
“Ethel? Are you okay?” Ivory rose out from under his tunic which he had used as a blanket. 
“Go back to sleep, Ivory. It’s trivial and you shouldn’t waste your time on it,” Ethel shooed him away before he crawled towards her.
“Ethel, remember when I said that we’ll always have each other’s backs? I meant it. I really did,” Ivory crawled towards her, ignoring her talon gesture. Ethel sighed. 
“You can cry if it makes you feel better,” Ivory encouraged. Her sobs grew louder. 
The rain sped up. Thunder bellowed in the distance. 
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
The tempo increased again, almost as if in sync with the volume of Ethel’s crying increasing.
Tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap.
Ethel stopped, wiping her face off with one of the egg’s blankets.
“Tomorrow is a new day. You can start fresh,” Ivory grinned from horn to horn.
***
In the morning, Ethel and Ivory grabbed breakfast at a humble cafe.
“Hello, I’m Danny! How can I help you?” The waiter asked in a patient, kind voice.
“I’ll take the smoked bass,” Ethel decided, salivating at just the word.
“I’ll take some of that, too,” Ivory said. “Oh, and a jug of ginger tea.”
“Alrighty then!” Danny romped away, reporting the orders to the chef dragons.
“I’m pretty convinced that this isn’t just the agricultural capital of Prencia, but overall the culinary capital of Prencia,” Ethel opined, drumming her talons on the table.
***
Ethel and Ivory sauntered through the forest, shoving away tall grasses with their feet. 
“Hey, Ivory, maybe we should do something about your wound,” Ethel thought aloud, looking down at his wrist.
“Come on, it’s been days since I got it. Plus, I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Ivory giggled.
“I’m gonna find a drug store with antiseptic cream, you go home,” Ethel said, disappearing behind a row of shrubs.
“Classic Ethel,” Ivory mumbled.
Clouds started rolling in.
More rain. That’s nice.
A raindrop fell on his temple, and dripped down onto the ground.
By the time he came home, there was a full-on thunderstorm like the night before, and he began to worry over Ethel. She can’t get sick now, after everything that’s happened already. 
Ivory sat down on the egg’s blanket nest after removing the egg from it, and putting it in his lap instead. He rubbed it to keep it warm in case the insulation is faulty and a cold wind might break in.
Ivory heard the door open downstairs.
“That was one excruciating - and wet - walk,” Ethel complained, her voice getting clearer as she came up the stairs.
“Did you get the cream from the pharmacy?” Ivory asked, looking at her wingtips and talons for any shopping bags hanging.
“Yeah, and I also got us some other medicine just in case we get congested. Since, well, you know. Rainy weather,” Ethel clarified.
Ethel pumped out two drops of antiseptic cream, which combined in her talon to form a wad. She spread the substance on Ivory’s cut, and applied a fresh bandage shortly after that.
“Switch it out every four days,” Ethel reminded, standing up from her position next to Ivory.
“Got it,” Ivory reassured, tightening the bandage. 
“Should I also go to the open-air marketplace to get some food? Restaurants are usually far away, and a trek is not as fun as baking beef.
“Why are you paying me so much hospitality?” Ivory asked. 
“You’re ailing.”
“Can you elaborate please?”
“Okay, fine. It’s just...I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. You see, I’d be dead by now if I was alone. Also, if this egg hatches and you’re not here, then I wouldn’t know what to do. It’s your sibling. You’d know it best,” Ethel explained, dropping her bags and sighing thickly. 
“Hey, Ethel, we won’t be in trouble for a while. Our condition isn’t perfect, but we’re doing the best we can to survive and meet our goals,” Ivory soothed.
“So, do you agree to stop worrying about me excessively?” Ivory cackled lightly. 
“Yeah. I suppose so,” Ethel held out her talon.
The two of them shook talons.
CHAPTER FIVE
Nightmares.
It was one thing to see a dream, but it was another to see a nightmare.
Ivory almost never had nightmares. It was so strange, how this one just hit him like that.
In the nightmare, Ivory had awoken in a room with no walls, no ceiling, and no floor. 
He was floating in midair.
As if he was suspended in time after hopping off a trampoline.
Then, he heard a voice.
A voice that he knew he heard somewhere, but he couldn’t pinpoint where from.
Ethel? Not a chance.
His mother? Sounds like it, but younger, so not sure.
His father? Nada.
Leo? There’s not even a reason to ask. 
Another dragon appeared in the room with no walls, no ceiling, and no floor. 
She was a SandWing.
A SandWing that looks as if she’s genetically connected to Ivory.
“Who are you?” Ivory asked the dragon. 
“Ti...da.”
“What?”
“TILDA!” 
She yelled louder than a hundred oxen stomping their hooves at the same time.
And then Ivory had woken up. In a room with walls, a ceiling, and a floor.
Sweat had streamed down his face. He could hardly make a clean breath. 
“Are you alright? Why are you sweating?” Ethel tapped his forehead, her face washed and her scales polished.
“How’d you get ready so fast?” Ivory asked.
“You slept thirty minutes longer than usual. Are you alright?” She repeated. 
“Oh,” Ivory said blankly.
“Nothing. Just a weird dream,” He chuckled.
“Okay. Well, I’m bringing home some food from the markets today so we don’t have to keep visiting cafes. Take good care of yourself!” Ethel left the room, leaving Ivory all alone with his anticipation that the dream meant something.
It’s just a dream, Ivory. A silly dream. 
	Ivory tumbled out of bed, falling on the creaky floorboards.
Just a dream.
***
An hour passed, and Ethel wasn’t back.
How long does it take to get a few chunks of meat from a marketplace? Ivory wondered, guesses of what happened to her rolling through his mind. 
Ivory stepped outside of the house, combing the land ahead for anyone who even resembled Ethel.
“Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about her. She once worried so much about me that she lost her mind,” Ivory’s laugh faded.
Ivory worried anyway.
Ivory started groaning in distress, circling the house for what seemed like thousands of laps as he looked for her. 
Then, Ivory passed out. Right on the front porch.
But it wasn’t because he was scared for Ethel.
When he fainted, he woke up in the same room he did when he had the nightmare.
Tilda appeared again.
“What do you want from me?” Ivory demanded.
“Shriveled Oaks,” Tilda said.
“Come alone,” She finished in a voice that was dead serious.
Oh, Shriveled Oaks. It’s a coppice in the CaveWing kingdom.
 	Wait...maybe Tilda exists. Maybe she’s in the Shriveled Oaks, waiting for me for some reason. 
	“Okay. I’ll go there,” Ivory nodded, though inside he felt that it was a very naive thing to do. 
Then, Ivory woke up.
Ivory was glad that Tilda didn’t yell again. He must’ve met her needs.
“Shriveled Oaks,” Ivory said, awake, on the stone tile of the porch.
***
Ivory had set course for the CaveWing kingdom. He had packed a map and a compass, along with a knife to sharpen his claws when hunting.
He had launched off the coast of Redbrook, flapping his wings and looking left and right.
He was above the bay in no time at all. The seabirds had accompanied him on his fly. 
It felt weird flying with nothing but pelicans such a great distance. But Ivory felt alive, for the very first time in weeks. He had nothing stopping him.
Ivory scraped his foot along the bay, sending sprays of water in the opposite direction.
Am I allowed to have this much fun? Ivory suddenly wondered, his rapture fading at the thought. 
When Ethel comes home, she might panic since she’s alone. She even recently told me that she’d be dead by now if I hadn’t been by her side the whole time.
	Ivory’s face sagged.
He was letting her down.
Who knows, maybe going to the Shriveled Oaks was a mistake. Maybe it was just a silly dream after all. 
I must keep my word. I must find out what happened to my father. And Tilda might be a clue.	
***
The sterile coppice seemed to stretch out for acres. 
	Who would do this to a perfectly good forest? 
	Ivory walked the rubble until he saw a flickering campfire on a barren hill. Next to it was the shape of a dragon.
“Hello?” Ivory echoed. The wind breathed onto him angrily, his tunic flapping.
“Ivory!” Tilda called out, standing up from a fallen log.
“So you are real!” Ivory smiled, realising that he hadn’t left Ethel for no reason.
Ivory’s amber earring began to blink. 
“Woah! I didn’t know my jewelry could do that!” Ivory limped back a little.
“That’s because the closer you get to me, the faster and brighter it flashes,” Tilda said, holding it in her talons as it flashed hysterically.
“Why and how does it do that?” Ivory asked. 
“I’m an animus,” Tilda laughed, itching the back of her ear.
“Oh. Well, then why does it do that?” Ivory’s head churned with questions.
“I wanted to know when you finally chose to join me,” Tilda asked, an enigma filling the space around them.
“Join you…?”
“Yeah. I wanted to know what happened to our father.”
“Wait...you’re my SISTER?” Ivory gasped.
That’s why she seems familiar. That’s why she looks like Mother but younger.
“I created those dreams a long time ago, and I made it so that you’d start seeing them when you got closer to me,” Tilda explained.
“They had a very ominous, scary vibe though. What’s with that?” Ivory waited for an answer.
“I only wanted to make sure you were convinced to go,” Tilda sat back down on the fallen log.
“So you scared me into going?”
“That’s a dramatic way to put it,” Tilda picked at a lump of moss on the grey, dried up wood. “But I guess that was my strategy.”
“So, why am I here?” Ivory sat down on a neighboring log. 
“I know all the answers to your questions about Father. I’ve researched day and night, tearing apart libraries just to find that one scroll with what I’m looking for,” Tilda threw her talons in the air, exaggerating the grueling research process. 
“Hey!”
“Huh?” Tilda and Ivory drew their chins back at the new voice.
“You can’t be here! This place doesn’t welcome trespassers!” A CaveWing yelled through a wire gate, tapping his claw on a rusty sign saying, “Authorized Personnel Only.”
“So only lumberjacks can come here,” Tilda said, deceit sitting on their shoulders. 
“Let’s get outta here,” Ivory stood up.
“It’ll be afterdark by the time we reach halfway over the bay, so let’s stay in a CaveWing city for a while,” Tilda recommended. 
“Hurry up and get through this gate while my arm isn’t asleep, alright?” The impolite CaveWing growled. 
“I know a great motel we could sleep in,” Tilda started for the gate, pulling Ivory along by the talon.
The motel was not dissimilar to the one in the SkyWing kingdom.
Tattered bedsheets, dust and cobwebs draped along the shelves. 
Tilda and Ivory had to write their names on a ticket. Again.
Ivory didn't sleep very well that night.
Nothing felt right, sleeping without Ethel in the bed next to his. 
He felt alone, when he wasn’t.
***
In the morning, Ivory and Tilda set course for Redbrook.
The skies were azure, and the bay was bustling with life. The fish splashed out of the water and back in, and the birds soared strong on the wind’s current. Cirrus clouds embellished the sky.  
While the views were perfect, two clueless CaveWings sparked a flame and formed the words “SOS” with pebbles and smooth stones. 
“Hey, shouldn’t we help those two?” Ivory pointed down at the dragons on the island. 
“Why? They’d just be cargo that needs food, water, and attention,” Tilda said in a careless voice.
“Come on, imagine if you were stranded on an island with injured wings!” Ivory pleaded.
“Okay, fine,” Tilda gave up.
The two landed on the island, noticing the rips and tears in their wings preventing them from flying.
“Oh, three moons, that was a long wait! But it paid off,” The one with a scar on his snout sighed with relief. 
“My name’s Sachar, and my brother here is Garret,” Sachar remarked, pouring out his gratitude shortly after the introduction.
“No problem!” Ivory said, but Sachar kept rambling on about how they would’ve died if Ivory and Tilda hadn’t flown by.
“This island is inadequate-,” Sachar got cut off.
“Sachar’s quite the blabbermouth,” Garret covered Sachar’s talon. 
“Wait, couldn’t you two have swam to the RainWing coast?” Tilda asked.
“The water bites! It’s cold as hell!” Sachar yelped.
“Hell is a hot place, not a cold place.”
“Stop commenting on everything I say, Garret!” Sachar squeaked. 
Wow, those two don’t get along at all. Now I’m grateful to have Leo. Well, not that he’s with me at the moment.
Ivory and Tilda reclined in the sand, leaning against a wet rock. 
“When will you two be done?” Tilda yawned, interrupting their quarrel. 
“Right…” Garret stopped, lifting his fist from the position where he’s about to lam Sachar. 
***
As they wheeled through clouds and around birds, Ivory and Tilda made sure that Sachar and Garret weren’t in fighting range. 
“Look! Redbrook!” Ivory’s eyes widened. 
Down there, he saw Ethel searching for him at the coast, like he had done with her. 
“Ivory!” Ethel cried, spotting him dipping down for the beach.
“Who are these dragons?” Ethel pointed at the duo of CaveWings and Tilda. 
“And who’s that? How does she know you?” Tilda asked, watching Ethel with a judgemental look on her face. “Did you marry already? HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN GONE?” 
“I’ll explain everything,” Ivory sat them down at the porch of his and Ethel’s house.
“Oh. But what about the last, tiny, crucial, prominent thing: you ran away from your parents?!” Sachar’s jaw fell.
“Isn’t that what you were doing?” Tilda said in a menacing tone.
“We’re nineteen! Is that unclear?” Sachar squawked.
“You look pretty pathetic to be roughly two decades old,” Ivory inhaled.
“It’s only because of Sachar. He’s always the one making us look like buffoons,” Garret shot Sachar a glare.
“Regardless...we need your help getting to where we need to go,” Garret said. 
“Sure, where do you need to be?” Ivory replied.
“We have a meeting about volcanic energy, which can power nearly a hundred homes in the volcano’s vicinity! We have a high budget this year so we can achieve that goal that we planned two years ago-,” Sachar explained.
“WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT?” Garret berated. He cleared his throat.
“Our meeting is in the SeaWing kingdom,” Garret said, simplifying Sachar’s nonsense.
“Oh yes! The SeaWing kingdom! We set up our meeting there since some of the best - and not to mention, wealthiest - entrepreneurs are there and if they saw us succeeding they could join us and make our company thrive!” Sachar maundered.
“You’re revealing our company’s tactics, you know that, right?” Garret hissed. 
“Okay...SeaWing kingdom,” Ivory concluded. 
CHAPTER SIX
The SeaWing kingdom was tropical and abundant with vegetation. The dragons there were never involved in many wars due to their patient and kind personality.
Ivory, Tilda, Ethel, and the CaveWings that couldn’t stop arguing landed by a massive lake. Dragons were splashing around in the cool morning water.
“So, what building is the meeting being hosted in?” Ivory asked half-mindedly, mainly focused on the line of pretentious limestone buildings that loomed over the street.
“That one over there,” Sachar folded his arms proudly, looking up at the skyscraper before them.
Is it possible for us to build that high? That building would kill many many dragons if it fell.
	A bell rang slowly and loudly. Ivory covered his ears.
DONG.
DONG.
DONG.
DONG.
“A hurricane is coming!” Multiple citizens clamored. 
“Why didn’t you install a siren? Bells are old-fashioned. Plus, I thought you SeaWings were rich!” Tilda detested.
“It’s a really old bell, and it was hung there the day Queen Hydra was born. And she was the greatest queen of all queens!” A SeaWing with gray scales responded with enthusiasm.
“Okay, okay, can you just lead me and my tag-alongs to the bunker?” Garret screamed over the crowd’s chatter. 
“Follow me,” The SeaWing promenaded through the ocean of dragons, acting like he does this every day.
Soon, a number of strangers got in front of Ivory, Ethel, Tilda, Garret, and Sachar. The gray-scaled dragon had separated from them. They had no idea where they were. Maybe they were already under the hatch. 
Ivory stroked the egg in the shawl. “We’ll be alright, little one. You’ll hatch in a safe place.”
***
A sharp rain swept over the SeaWing kingdom. It was only stage one of the natural massacre. 
Ivory's band of dragons wasn’t in the bunker.
They were in the lake. They dove under every time the ground shook, and every time a wind crawled along their scales. 
Under the water, it was filled with coral and kelp. A few SeaWing eggs laid on the lake floor, waiting to hatch. Some were speckled blue, and others were speckled black. 
“We need food, I’m starved!” Sachar’s stomach growled. 
“We can’t get food now, all the animals are hiding in their dens until the storm ends. Besides, it’s way too dangerous to go out there for food!” Ivory gasped for air, the water getting deeper as rain landed in the lake. 
“But me and Garret haven’t eaten for so long, and we need to get our strength up in order to survive the storm!” Sachar grizzled. 
“Okay, but, be quick! I’ll come with you. Ethel and Tilda, you stay. As for me, Sachar, and Garret - let’s do our best to find some game,” Ivory dragged himself out of the water, the storm nearly ripping his shawl. 
A finch hopped on the arms of a tree. Ivory crawled up the trunk of the tree, clawing at the bark to catch it, but he ended up nearly getting blown away.
“Here, I’ll make sure you stay secured to the tree,” Garret lended a talon to help. Sachar stayed on guard at the base of the tree. 
Ivory held the small bird by its tail. It chirped like crazy, and looked into Ivory’s eyes to find that one gleam of mercy in there, but his eyes remained matte. 
He jabbed a claw into the bird’s breast.
“Killed it,” Ivory inched down the tree, looking down at his feet to make sure he doesn't slip. 
Sachar pulled him down the rest of the way. 
“Okay, let’s head back to the lake,” Garret breathed heavily with fear as the wind grew even more fierce. 
But, in a clap of thunder, Ivory, Sachar, and Garret were whisked away, into the shadowy grey abyss they called the sky. 
Ivory tried to fly on his own, but his wings did none but flail around uselessly. He held the dragon egg tight, hoping a miracle would come to rescue him. 
***
Ivory woke up on a coastline, his feet draped with sticky, wet seaweed. Salty water sprayed out of his mouth. 
Where am I?
Ivory searched for any landmarks or biomes that could help him determine where he was.  
A savannah? That’s odd. There aren’t any savannahs in Prencia. And there aren’t any in Pyrrhia, either…
Ivory stood up. He was wearing his shawl, but the egg wasn’t wrapped in it. 
Crack.
“What in the world?”
Snap.
Ivory turned around. Behind him, the egg was on its side, pieces falling out the top. 
The egg is broken.
I’ll never get to see my fourth sibling. 
It’s all my fault. 
This egg would’ve been safe and sound if it wasn’t for me bringing it on my quest to find out what happened to Father. 
I ended a life before it even started. 
Another crack. 
Ivory’s despair vanished almost instantly after he saw the head of a SandWing dragonet pop out of the hole in the egg. 
Ivory gasped ecstatically. The dragonet tried to get his wings out of the small hole. Ivory crawled over to help.
Ivory picked away at a few shards so his sibling could jump out. 
It felt so weird, seeing the eggshells lying around, and the dragonet frisking around on the sand. 
“Dada?” The dragonet babbled, curled up in Ivory’s arms. 
“No. I’m your brother. But we’ll find out where your father is. Promise,” Ivory said solemnly, scratching the tiny dragon’s chin. 
“Bro-daw,” He thrummed his chubby talons on Ivory’s lap. 
“Food! And this food is way better than a bird that’s practically microscopic!” Sachar howled with triumph, nibbling on coconut flesh. 
“Sachar?” Ivory and his little sibling turned to look at Sachar, who was eating like a swine. 
“Oh! Ivory! Try this coconut!” Sachar waddled over to him like they didn’t just wash up off the shores of somewhere foreign. 
The insides were dense and thick, but sweet. 
“Yep. It’s pretty great,” Ivory said, in the middle of a bite. 
“But, didn't you notice something yet?” 
“What?”
“Well, maybe we’re alone on a beach with nothing we recognize other than each other?” Ivory said passive-aggressively. 
“Oh,” Sachar stared off into the savannah behind them. 
Then it hit Ivory. 
We’re in Pantala. There’s no other place I could think of with such conditions.
Ivory discarded his shawl, knowing that from now on he’ll be carrying his sibling on his shoulder. 
“We’re in Pantala, Sachar,” Ivory said. 
“We’re in Pantala,” He said again, just so that he could believe it.
CHAPTER SEVEN 
“Where do we go?” Ivory scooped up his brother. 
“You wanna find out what happened to your father, right? And since Tilda’s not here, perhaps you can ask some HiveWings if they know Morris,” Sachar suggested.
“That’s a really dumb idea,” Ivory scoffed. 
But maybe Morris did have possum fever, and maybe he travelled here for some reason. Either way, I have to find out. And asking a HiveWing might be my only chance. 
	“But we can give it a shot.”
***
Ivory could barely believe that past the waxy walls of this dragon hive was a city. A city with marketplaces and houses and libraries. 
“We can always turn back,” Sachar laughed nervously, tapping his claws against one another. 
“No. You were right. This might work,” Ivory said in a voice that showed he was sure.
“I don’t know...HiveWings have these scary stingers on their tails and four wings and...I just don’t know if we’re cut out to even look at them I mean-,” Sachar scooted further away from the hive entrance. 
“I wish Garret was here so he can tell you to stop cowering!” Ivory growled. 
“I’m glad he’s not here!” Sachar exclaimed.
“Whatever. I’m going in, even if you aren’t.”
Inside, lanterns lit up the shops that sold grapefruits and cherries, along with an occasional pumpkin. 
“Pumpkins? I want one!” Sachar suddenly skipped inside, flying over to the cart of plump gourds. 
“He would do anything for food, even face his fears,” Ivory shook his head, snickering.
I should go to a library. Librarians know a lot of things, and maybe they know something about my father, Ivory considered, his brother still mounted on his shoulder, now biting his own thumb. 
Ivory stepped inside, peering over behind a stack of books to find the librarian. 
“Hello there! You can check out any book you’d like, all but the Book of Clearsight, of course. Hehe,” A short dragon with small, round, foggy glasses joked. 
“Do you know anything about Morris?” Ivory whispered, not to obey the library rules but to stay incognito. 
“Sure. The law-abiding citizen with a loyal wife and four splendid children. Naw, I’m just fooling around again. He’s a co-gang leader with a depressed wife and four less than phenomenal children, one of which ran away and another who still hasn’t hatched,” The librarian looked down at a piece of paper, adjusting her glasses. 
“I’m actually his son. And the egg did hatch. My brother’s right here,” Ivory sighed, his eyes burning. 
Less than phenomenal? What kind of propaganda has this librarian heard? Is the entire continent like this? Ivory’s head spun. He didn’t think his father was bad. And he certainly never thought he was a bad dragon himself. 
Maybe it’s a family business, and they think me, Leo, Tilda, and my youngest sibling are after gang life, too.
	“I’m sorry-,” The librarian began. 
“No, whatever, it’s fine,” Ivory said, his breath unstable. 
“Well, it says here that he’s in a mental ward near the Tsetse Hive. He was brought there after robbing Queen Wasp,” The librarian traced the words on her paper as she read it. 
“So, which hive am I in now?” Ivory asked. 
“Right now we are in Yellowjacket Hive, so you won’t have to fly that far to reach the asylum,” The librarian adjusted her glasses again.
“Thanks for the help,” Ivory waded through the paper and books that flooded the floor.
Tsetse Hive, Tsetse Hive, Tsetse Hive. How am I supposed to tell these hives apart anyway? 
“Sachar!” Ivory bellowed from across the street. 
“Perfect timing! I’ve practically saved up for hibernation,” Sachar said in a muffled voice, scarfing down the last fig. 
“Well, let’s go. My father is this close to us, I can feel it. We just have to fly over to a mental ward near Tsetse Hive,” Ivory explained.
“More flying? Gah! I just ate a three-course meal!” Sachar moaned, the two of them shimmying along the curb to avoid bumping into other pedestrians.
“That was your mistake,” Ivory snapped.
Outside of the hive, the sunlight scorched their scales and burnt the tips of their tails black. 
“Why does this place have to be in a savannah?” Sachar sniveled.
“Hey, this isn't so bad. After all, I’m a SandWing,” Ivory shrugged. 
“WATER!” Sachar yapped, running towards mirage, only to realize it was an illusion.
“Sachar, quit it! We’re going to see my father and I don’t want to partake in any dilly-dallying!” Ivory pulled him away from where the water would’ve been if it was real.
The metal door to reality.
It was right there. 
So imposing…
Ivory couldn’t believe it was happening, finally happening! He would discover every secret he’s been sheltered from his whole childhood.
The only thing that was stopping him were the guards.
“Hello,” Ivory greeted.
“Visitor?” A HiveWing guard presumed.
“Yes. For Morris. SandWing,” Ivory nodded stiffly.
“I’m sorry, but he’s in a restricted room. The Black Class, super dangerous,” The guard said.
“You really think he’d hurt his sons?” Ivory stepped forward. 
“Hey, back away, kid. You’re a minor, and that dragon would crush you flat,” The guard replied, pushing Ivory away by the wing.
“Even with handcuffs?” Ivory asked hopefully.
“It’s still really risky,” Another guard chimed in.
“Just let me in!” Ivory kicked the guard in the stomach. 
The other guards jumped out to attack Ivory and escort him out of the asylum’s courtyard. They battered him and strangled him, while Sachar unlocked the door. 
Sachar yanked at the guards, Ivory’s brother under his wing.
“I’ll get you free, Ivory!” Sachar strained.
“Just protect my brother! He needs to see his father!” Ivory kept at the guards, shredding their uniforms with his claws.
“No! This dragonet would be separated from his family if you’re gone! I’ll save you!” Sachar teared up, still pulling the guards away from Ivory, without any luck. 
“Use strategy then, not brute force!” Ivory screeched.
Sachar threw an apple he had smuggled from the markets in Yellowjacket Hive on the other side of the tower.
“Who’s there?” A guard grunted, releasing Ivory. 
The guards raced over to where the apple was thrown.
“Get inside!” Sachar ushered, nudging Ivory and his brother past the door.
Inside, the decor was tiresome and the vents emitted frigid air into the halls. Dragons with white vests paced the intersection at the end of the hall Ivory and Sachar were at. None of the mental nurses noticed them...yet.
A silver plaque that had the word “Administration” carved into it hung above a door that leaked mildew. 
“Let’s go in there,” Ivory whispered, momentarily tongue-tied. 
In the administration room, the walls were painted a soft blue and the floors were made of polished baobab wood. A kind-looking dragon sat at a desk, slouched over a typewriter.
“Hi, I’m Ingrid. How can I help you three? The little one’s very cute,” She said in an innocent voice.
I bet she talks like that to ease the pain for when you visit your mentally ill family members and friends, Ivory thought angrily. 
“Which room holds Morris?” Ivory looked at his feet the entire time.
“Morris? I’m sorry, he’s in the Black Class, you can’t visit him. Wait, how’d you get past the guards without being told that?” Ingrid asked.
“Well...there was also someone else we could’ve visited in case we couldn’t see Morris,” Ivory lied sheepishly.
“Oh. Well, who?” Ingrid scribbled something with her inky claw on a notepad. 
What should I say? Ivory’s knees trembled. I don’t want to have to fight the dragon at the desk now.
	Ivory looked at a tree outside the window.
“Um...tree. I mean, Acacia,” Ivory blurted. 
“That’s in White Class. Okay, you’re free to visit him,” Ingrid threw the keys for Ivory to catch. 
“Thanks,” Ivory shoved out a fake smile. 
“What was that?!” Sachar frowned.
“I don’t know, I just saw a tree outside,” Ivory facepalmed. 
“We have to find a guard with the keys to my father’s room, okay Sachar. Sachar?” Ivory tapped Sachar’s shoulder. Sachar was looking up at a list of execution dates.
The top of the list said: “Morris.”
“My father is being executed today?” Ivory cried out.
“Execution yard, execution yard, execution yard!” Ivory repeated as he ran around the halls, dragging Sachar along.
Then, a massive gate stood in front of them.
Past the gate was a bright light.
Ivory opened it.
The smell of dry dirt clogged Ivory’s nose as it wafted through the air. A big audience stood past a neck-high wire fence, all chanting the same thing.
“Justice!”
“Justice!”
“Justice!”
Ivory won’t feel even an ounce of justice once his father is killed in front of hundreds of HiveWings.
“Justice!”
“Justice!”
“Justice!”
It was practically tattooed inside Ivory’s head by now.
He wanted to scream, to bawl.
He wanted to sever the world in half.
Soon, Morris was delivered to the gallow where he would be hung.
Ivory covered his brother’s eyes.
“There’s nothing to see here,” Ivory sniffled.
“Ivory! Do something! Don’t just watch them slay him!” Sachar punched Ivory’s arm.
“FATHER!” Ivory roared.
Morris looked down from his spot on the gallow. The HiveWing guards tied the noose around his neck.
“FATHER!” Ivory let out again. He flew out from past the wire fence.
“Hey!” Two HiveWings grabbed Ivory by his arms, flying him back behind the fence and standing by him so he wouldn't charge for Morris again.
Ivory and Morris met eyes, all hope vanquished. 
“Father…,” Ivory wailed.
And just then, Morris stopped breathing.
EPILOGUE
Fire.
Fire, fire, fire.
Fire all around.
Who would’ve thought that Prencia isn’t safe, either? Georgia thought, holding Leo tight in her wings. 
If she stepped one foot from outside of her house, she would be done for. 
Where is the egg? Where is Ivory? Did someone take them? Are they gone, just like Tilda? 
	Georgia couldn't even remember what Tilda looked like at that point. 
Who was she? Why is Ivory wearing her earring? 
	The horde of questions swarmed around her head. 
“Mother, will we be okay?” Leo asked.
“I don’t know. But let’s be optimistic, alright?” 
Georgia wasn’t optimistic at all. 
She counted the cracks in the wall. 
One.
Now that she lost two more children, she was supposed to raise Leo well. 
Two.
Now that Morris left her, she must marry again.
Three.
Now that the war has reached Prencia, she must find a new home again.
four.
Now that she’s failed, she must try again.
I won’t fail you, Leo. I know I won’t.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Completed)
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)
Category:Genre (Prophecy)
Category:Genre (Adventure)