Hidden Thorns, Buried Jewels

== Blurb ==
The Tree Wars were just the beginning...
One hundred and fifty years after the two Tree Wars, Pantala is supposedly at peace. The three tribes live side by side, working together, living together. But the LeafWings are growing dissatisfied with the fact that the HiveWings weren't punished after the Tree Wars. They started a group, called the Thorns of Sequoia, in honor of their old queen who would never submit. But the HiveWings retaliated, creating a group called the Jewels of Pantala, in honor of their old queen who created peace between the tribes.
Three young dragonets have found their way to each other, and now they must put aside their differences... and bring peace to Pantala.
(Yeah, dramatic, I know.)
== Characters ==
=== HiveWings (In order of appearance) ===
More to follow...
=== SilkWings (In order of appearance) ===
More to follow...
=== LeafWings (In order of appearance) ===
* Ricin
* Olive
More to follow...
== Other ==
The HiveWings still live in the original nine Hives. SilkWings live in the webs and Hives, but they have a much higher social class and their own queen. The LeafWings have planted nine large forests, called groves, which serve as Hive-like cities. Olive Grove, Berry Grove, Oak Grove, Petal Grove, Tulip Grove, Holly Grove, Fern Grove, Elm Grove, and Bloom Grove, each run by a lady, just like the Hives. The HiveWing royal family is descended directly from Lady Jewel, who became the queen after the Othermind was defeated. 
Feel free to put feedback or things I missed in the comments, but please don't edit the story itself. Enjoy! 
== Prologue ==
Ricin stepped soundlessly through the trees, his claws lightly treading on sticks and leaves. He ducked through a cluster of hanging branches, and stepped into a clearing, where a tall female dragon stood. 
Darker green streaks were scattered across her scales, and her claws had several bejeweled rings on them. Emerald earrings hung from her ears, and a silver crown that looked like thorns rested on her head. A small leaf pouch was slung around her shoulders.
As Ricin walked into the clearing, the LeafWing turned around. She smiled. 
“Ricin. I’m glad you came.” Her voice cut through the silence of the forest. “I have something to ask of you. Come closer, I won’t bite.”
Ricin wasn’t sure about that, but he approached the LeafWing. He bowed deeply. “Queen Olive. I am honored.” He stood up again, and faced the queen. “What do you want with me?”
“I’m sure you know of the riots within the Groves,” the queen said.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“I had one of my spies look into them, and it appears that my subjects are dissatisfied with how the HiveWings were treated after the second Tree War.”
“But your Majesty, the HiveWings weren’t punished after the Tree Wars.” Ricin said, confused.
“Exactly,” the queen hissed. “And my LeafWings want them to be. I told them that I would do something about it, so I came to talk to you.”
Ricin shuffled his feet. “But your Majesty, I’m just an assassin. I don’t see what you would need me for.”
Queen Olive gave Ricin a sly smile. “I’m creating a group to fight back against the HiveWings. A bit like the Chrysalis back in the Tree Wars, but more outspoken and violent. Here are the details.” She pulled a stack of papers tied with a green ribbon out of her pouch. She handed them to Ricin.
Ricin looked down at the papers in his talons.  Me? He thought. A leader? Of a whole movement of LeafWings? He looked back up at the queen. “Y-your Majesty, why me?”
“Why, Ricin, I thought you were a big, bad, scary assassin,” Queen Olive said, making a mock pouty face. “I thought that you would be up to the challenge. After all, I happen to know that you are already a leader of a group. Your little criminal ring.”
Ricin winced. He should have known that the queen would know about his criminal group, the Poisonous Tendrils. 
“Well, yes, but isn’t this practically the whole tribe?” Ricin quickly composed himself. “I mean, shouldn’t you pick someone else? Someone with more experience leading dragons than I do?” He was struck by a sudden thought. “Why don’t you lead this group?”
Queen Olive narrowed her eyes. “I can’t lead this group. I have regular peace meetings with the other tribes’ insipid queens.” She spat the word peace as if it tasted foul. “They would find out before we’re ready to attack.”
Ricin nodded silently. He slid the stack of papers into one of the many leaf pouches strewn around his body.
The queen looked up at the sky, then back down at Ricin. “I must leave now. Read the papers, and recruit more LeafWings. Report back to me in one month.” The LeafWing queen spread her pale green wings, and took off into the sky.
Ricin sighed, and looked down at his claws. Why did I agree to this? Why did the queen have to ask me? What did I just get myself into?
'''
Back in his treehouse in Elm Grove, Ricin was staring at the stack of papers on his desk. He still hadn’t untied the green ribbon that bound them together. When I open these papers, it means that I agree to being the leader of this group. Ricin hesitated, then reached out with one claw and sliced the ribbon off the papers. 
Ricin nudged his flamesilk lamp closer, and began to read. The first paper was a letter. It read:
Ricin,
I’m glad to see that you decided to open the papers and accept your duty as the leader of the Thorns of Sequoia. But before you go and abuse your power, there are a few things you should know. 
The goals of this group-
* Reduce the HiveWings to a status as low as the SilkWings’ back in the Tree Wars
* Burn down the Hives
* Kill the HiveWing royal family
* Recruit a very large army, big enough to accomplish these goals
* Convince the SilkWings to side with us
* Become the most powerful tribe in Pantala
* Scare the HiveWings and SilkWings so badly, that they will never question our authority again
You may be surprised at a few of these goals, but they have good reason behind them. The reasons are listed below, in the same order that the original goals were listed in.
* This is exactly what they did to the SilkWings, and they tried to wipe us, the superior tribe, out, so downgrading their social rank is the merciful thing to do.
* They did this exact thing to us, back before the first Tree War. They burned down our homes, so we are justified in doing the same to them.
* We need to make sure that they don’t get any ideas about revolting and demanding their own queen, and what better way to do that then to kill the royals?
* We need an army to make sure that the Thorns of Sequoia don’t get stomped on as soon as we go public. An army is just the thing!
* If the SilkWings join us, then the HiveWings won’t stand a chance. Two tribes against one greatly increase the odds in our favor.
* I don’t think I really have to explain this. Every LeafWing should hatch with a knowledge that we are the best and most superior tribe.
* If the HiveWings and SilkWings are scared of us, then they won’t try to fight back. That would save us from many tiring battles that we are sure to win.
You may have a few questions concerning the name of this group, the Thorns of Sequoia. As every young LeafWing knows, one of the best queens in history was Queen Sequoia, who was queen during the Tree Wars. She would never submit, and she fought back against the evil Queen Wasp. I named this group after her, because it shows LeafWings that we don’t have to bow our heads and follow the rules. We can stand strong, like the queen of old!
As you surely now see, we must fight against the HiveWings. If they fight back against us, then we are sure to crush them. If they keep fighting… well, this is a small continent. Would only two tribes really be so bad? 
'''
Ricin stared at the letter. Did Queen Olive really think that these goals were justified? Reducing the HiveWings to a terrible social status? Create an army? Kill the HiveWing royal family?
Ricin skimmed through the other papers. The first few after the letter were what to do in secret, before going public. After that, was things to plan after the HiveWings new about the Thorns. Then, there were lists of demands that the HiveWings were supposed to agree to. There were a few prototype posters and propaganda about the Thorns trying to do good, and the how the HiveWings needed to be fought against.
Ricin stacked the papers neatly, and put them in the corner of his desk. He covered the flamesilk lamp with a thick cloth, and closed and locked the window shutters. He then walked to his bed, a pile of soft leaves and mosses in the corner, and lay down.
Ricin thought about the queen’s letter. Did he really want to lead a movement of LeafWings bent on bringing the HiveWings to “justice”? But the more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself that the goals and reasons were justified. Maybe two tribes on Pantala wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all...
== Chapter One: Goldenrod ==
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Genre (Romance)
Category:Genre (Adventure)
Category:Fanfictions (Semi-Canon)