Shifting Sands

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==Prologue==
The SeaWing ran through the desert sands, her wings trailing behind her, all efforts to keep them from dragging lost. The bowl must be kept safe, or she didn't know what would happen. Her father needed it to be kept safe, so she was determined to not let anything happen to it. As the day wore the sun grey hotter and hotter untill it was almost unbearable. The intense heat was draining the water from her scales and parching her throat. And there it was. Only a speck in the distance, but it was obviously her destination. And it was that speck that gave her hope.
As the Scorpion Den grew on the horizon, the SeaWing ran faster and stumbled to a stop, gasping for breath. She had made it, safely, the bowl was safe and intact. At least for now. And that was good enough for her because it was her father‘s last wish and she took that seriously.
"Koi," whispered a voice from behind her
"Koi, this way please," It said again. Koi sighed and turned around.
"Nutmeg," She replied "Thank you for being here." Relief flooded her and she walked indoors, welcomed by Nutmeg‘s soft wings.
The fire inside was warm and filled the room with soothing glow. It was perfectly tidy inside, the hard stone floor was swepped clear of all dust and the shelves were neatly arranged with books and odd pieces of stone and crystal. In the center there was a pool of water. Water. Fresh clear soothing water. Koi moaned and stuck her snout, no her whole face into it, taking long droughts. "Thirsty, huh?" Nutmeg commented, a kind smile on her face. Sighing contentedly Koi sat up, "You think," she retorted, "Some of us aren't half sandwing, and need water to survive," Nutmeg led her over to a pile of cushions.
Koi lay down on the mattress, exhausted.
"Do you have it?" Whispered Nutmeg "Is it real, can I see?"
Koi sighed and fingered the small bowl in her pouch. "Yes, it is" She said in a soft voice. And then she brought it out without touching it. Unlike the duplication bowl, this one was tiny and made of pure silver and was inlaid with sapphires. It seemed to radiate authority and power. Careful to avoid contact, Koi set the bowl on a small table, grateful to rid of its presence.
Nutmeg looked at her,
"You understand that nobody must find this" Her voice had gained a serious edge, though its softness hadn't completely gone. "If the queen, or any queen for that matter, found this, it would..." Nutmeg paused, and Koi already knew what would happen. It was not a future she wanted to live in, it could never be or they would be wiped out... forever.
==Chapter One==
Sidewinder grinned as she pocketed the bowl. It was a gorgeous artifact, and would sell for much at the market. Sliding along, she admired the sapphires inlaid in the silver. The gemstones reflected light in a way that made them seem appealing. The scorpion den was the perfect place to sell such a find. Or steal. It wasn't Sidewinders fault that the queen didn't care for them. Queen Sekhmet had hoarded all the treasure, and food, and even water. Her rule was horrible, and Sidewinder didn't stand for it one bit. So she stole from them, money, jewelry, anything she could get her hands on.
It helped everyone, save for the royals. The Scorpion den got richer, there was less poverty, and the queen didn't feel quite so powerful. As she walked Sidewinder felt a strange tingle work its way up her arm. It lasted only a second, but that was long enough for doubt to creep into Sidewinders thoughts. What have I stolen she asked herself, silently. She raised her tail, feeling self conscious.
She picked up her pace, suddenly feeling anxious. Everyone was looking at her! She needed to get away. Was that guard walking towards her, had she been found out about. Sidewinder began to sweat and her mouth felt dry. It had to be Dingo, that traitorous fool. It was all his fault. Barging inside of her house a strange urge came over Sidewinder. She should give the bowl to the queen, or even better, the queen animus. The reward would set her for life. Her muscles began to clench. Without thinking Sidewinder threw the bowl against the wall hopping to shatter it into a million pieces. But that was not what happened, the bowl slammed into the sandstone and settled on the ground, making a ringing noise, like a bell.
As soon as it left her talons, Sidewinder felt better. The horrible thoughts were gone, but the sense of unease stayed with her. This was no normal bowl, it belonged to Koi, and before her Turtle. It was the last animus object anyone had enchanted, the most powerful object in the world. Even Scorpion hadn't ever used her magic. This changed everything. She clenched her claws, flicking her tail nervously.
Shivering Sidewinder wrapped the bowl in cloth and slid it into one of her cabinets. The SpiritBasin hadn't been seen in over thirty years. Sidewinders arms began to shake and her heart raced. And now, she, a Sandwing, had unknowingly stolen it and almost unleashed its power. Suddenly she felt the urge to pick it up again. With its power she could raise the scorpion den to be the most powerful city in the world. She could be the queen, only with this small metal bowl. The thought made her tired, and she sat down on the floor.
The temptation almost convinced her, but it could not be. It was wrong, for someone to cheat there way to the throne, and she wouldn't be any better than Sekhmet was. She shook her head. The right thing to do would be to hide the bowl, at least for now. It would be better that way, the world safer. Or relatively safer, with the bowl existing nobody was safe, but it was hidden.
At that time, Sidewinder didn't know the importance of what she had just done. Accomplished. It saved the world from falling into chaos, only because of sheer luck. Sheer luck that stopped Sekhmet from destroying everything, including the rest of her tribe.
==Chapter 2==
Sidewinder awoke to a sharp rap on the from of her door. Snarling, she leaped out of bed, raising her tail. It took her a second to realize that there was no threat. Or was there. Was there any possibility that they knew she took the bowl? But that was impossible, she had been wearing a mask when she had stolen it. They couldn't have known. it wasn't right.
A second knock hit her door. Clearly an impatient one. Warily, she opened the door, stepping back as she did so. Three dragons waited outside. The first, she noted was a Sandwing, his large bulky build made the other two look small in comparison. But the sandwing was not the center of attention, flaring her wings she took in the other two. Clearly, they were hybrids. With the lithe, flowing bodies of a rainwing, and the snakelike touch of a nightwing, they were a horrible sight. Cruel, cunning eyes and pointed teeth. They were obviously twins, with the same shape, and cruelness.
The sandwing spoke first, his voice was low, but didn't seem to fit his size. "It has come to our attention, that something has been stolen. Something important" Sidewinder's heart skipped a beat. And then started pounding in her chest, akin to the panic rising inside of her. No, how did they find out, how do they know- "Oh, and what is this, oh-so-important item" Said Sidewinder, with mock annoyance. She needed to act her way out of this.
The Hybrid twins turned to her, troubled and angry looks on their faces. "We need this artifact" Said the one on the left, her voice was slithery and reminded her of a viper stalking its prey. "Yessss" said the other, this one was clearly male, but his voice was startlingly similar to the females. They both possessed a cold edge, like the ones in their eyes.
The sandwing sighed and breathed a plume of fire, distracting her from the twins. "I guess you haven't seen it either" He said with a worn out tone. Sidewinder shook her head, struggling to contain the relief flooding her system. They didn't know, they weren't accusing her. Though they were looking for it, she was safe. For now. She folded her wings tightly to her sides as she watched them stride away and stop at another house.
She closed her door, taking care to see to it that the lock was set. Then she flopped down on her bed curling her tail tightly around her body. She looked around the room, her room. Ans couldn't help thinking about what would happen if they found out. About the bowl, her other stolen items.
Sidewinders thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound of something hitting the floor. Something large, and alive. The scrape of talons followed. Careful not to make a sound she got up and pressed herself against the wall, so whoever entering wouldn't see her. Ignoring the fear inside of her she drew a breath, summoning the fire inside of her, but not letting it go. A face appeared in the dark, a slim crystaline silver face with slim horns and a regal look to it.
An Icewing! His rich scales glinted in the dark air and a small sigh escaped her. He turned, flaring his wings and slamming against the back wall. Sidewinder stepped backwards her tail jabbing at the air in front of her. He didn't retaliate. Just settled himself and stepped forward, causing her to flinch. His eyes were surprisingly soft. "Hello, we have been looking for you" He said in a kind, non threatening tone. "My name is Emperor, and I would like to help you, Concerning the bowl."
==Chapter Three==
Sidewinder stared at the Icewing blankly, at a loss for words. Finally she sputtered "Wha- how, why, how do you know!" Spitting out the statement with confusion. Calmly the icewing sat down, but Sidewinder still stood, battle ready. "We know you took it, and we are thankful for that. You might not be aware what that bowl is capable of, in the hands of the queen." He paused "You, without knowing saved us from a horrible fate, now we must ask one thing. Will you come with us, to help destroy the Soulbasin?"
"Y-you what" Sidewinder said, confusion radiating off of her. Destroy it!, how where or when? This has to be a trap. Her mind raced, and her head spun. It was too much to take in, all of it. Her life was changed in the course of only a few hours. Hours. That was all it takes for her life to be ruined. The Icewing, Emperor smiled sadly "Im sorry, but you must come with us now"
Before she could object a heavy, tired feeling came over her. She thoughts grew sluggish and heavy. Her wings drooped and the ground swayed beneath her. No..... Please.... She grew faint and lunged forward, already on the tip of unconsciousness. She slammed into the floor and felt her eyelids close. And then she slipped into the darkness, to the void beyond.
Sidewinder awoke to the sound of distant voices, whispering. Groaning, she got to her feet, swaying a little before a cold talon reached out to steady her. Instinctively, she flinched, pushing the talon away. Then it all came back. The Icewing. The bowl. The strangers. Everything.
She cried out and fumbled backwards into a wall, panic rising inside of her. "Woah, calm down... please... we won't hurt you." This was a soft feminine voice. Sidewinder looked up to see a small purple raining standing over her, as well as the Icewing from the day before. "You understand why you are here, no?" Said the lavender rainwing" Smiling shyly at her.
"No ,  Y-es, wait, I think so, Yes, I do" She said warily, looking for a way out of this situation. There was seven dragons in total a Rainwing, and Icewing, Three Sandwings, and two Skywings. Her odds were not good. Even if one of them was a rainwing. This time the Icewing spoke "Please you must understand, we need you-" He was cut off by an old scarred sandwing. "Enough!" He roared, then sat back down "She needs to be eased into this, not thrown in face first."
Sidewinder turned to face the old Sandwing, looking him in the eye "What do I need to be in" She paused "And Why?" The scarred sandwing turned to her "We are the Soulbreakers, don't be intimidated by the name, it has a different meaning. Our life goal is to destroy that" He pointed at the bowl. it sat on a shelf, surrounded by glass. "Only one thing can destroy it. The purifying waters, located in the heart of the Ice Kingdom itself!"
==Chapter Four==
Once again, Sidewinder was at a loss for words. But finally sputtered out a response "W-why do you want me to do it! Im a Sandwing!" The scarred dragon sighed "Not entirely, your grandmother was partly Icewing, and that gene has been transferred down to you." Sidewinder fumbled for a response, it was all racing through her head, why she had strange coloring, or prominent bones, or an slender build, or cold eyes. All of it swirling around her.
"You can't get across the border, of course, but this can" Said the Sandwing, completely unaware of her bewilderment. A glint across the corner of her eye, roused Sidewinders curiosity enough to make her look up. A mangled silver bracelet snapped in half at one end rested in the scarred Sandwings talon. The silver shine had faded into a dull grey, but it still radiated power, Icewing power.
More Coming Soon!
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Work in Progress