The Hive's Secret

I appreicate anyone who takes time out of their day to read this. I am not yet finished with Dragonfly's story and I carefuly check what I can to ensure none of this could be 'disproven'. Yes Dragonfly's ability seems impossible all things considered, but there is a reason for it as she, and we will soon find out.
= !The Hive’s Secret! =
Note: the events in this book take place roughly 2 years before the official first Pantala book “The Lost Continent”
== Chapter 1 Discovery ==
Dragonfly yawned as sunlight streamed in her window, she stretched her wings and sat up blinking sleepily. She was looking through her jewelry box for her favorite ruby and copper bracelet when her mother poked her head inside still blinking sleep out of her eyes as well. 
“Dragonfly sweetie, did I leave my cape in here?” she asked, looking around.
“No mom,” Dragonfly replied.
“Did dad leave already?” she asked shifting through her jewelry box now, looking for the matching necklace. 
Her mom wrinkled her nose before replying, “he did, I tried to convince him to take the day off though. It is the weekend after all,” she sighed, her golden colored spikes rattling softly. 
Dragonfly sighed as well, Her dad Bullet Ant or ‘Bullet’ was captain of the guard in their hive, but it didn’t seem like he was comfortable with that position. He’d always wanted to move to Wasp Hive, like his older brother did a few years earlier. The only thing that kept him here was her mother. Honeywisp, who was looking around Dragonfly’s room right now, and finally saw that it was messier than usual. 
“Oh sweetie, you need to clean your room! I thought we’d have time after the party but well we were so tired, Mayfly’s party went on a little long...and well you know how things happen.”
“Yes, I know,” Dragonfly said, she had hoped she could get out of cleaning it for a few more days but to no avail. Her mother rustled her wings saying,“Well I’m going to find my cape, you need to clean your room.” 
Dragonfly frowned, her room was so annoying to clean, she had to gather up her capes and hang them all up, she had only two extra hooks for any capes she might get in the future but upon hanging them up she realized one wasn’t there. 
“Comeon! Where could I look? I wish it would just be here!” she exclaimed. With a pop the cape she had been looking for appeared on it’s hook so suddenly she jumped back startled. She moved forward cautiously, tapping the cape that was clearly real. What just happened? I want to know that for sure. She thought. As if it had been waiting for the question her mind suddenly started reeling off information she never heard before: You are an animus dragon, very rare and very powerful they can enchant anything into doing almost anything except bring a dragon back from the dead. This power originated from the continent of Clearsight among the Icewing tribe. It was also said to be dangerous, sometimes turning dragons homicidal. The sudden information that she was this powerful was a shock. From the Distant Kingdoms? Anything?
Dragonfly mumbled to herself, “What should I do with this power?” 
An idea struck her, if other animus dragons exist they could find a way to do something mean to her she needed a way to stay hidden, as well as a way to make sure no one could put a damper on her abilities. 
She thought for a moment before saying out loud to herself, “I enchant myself so that nobody can discover I am an animus dragon, no matter what spells they use any dragon that will ever know about my powers can’t tell anyone and I am the only person who can reveal this power, no matter how irreversible their spell may be there is no way for anyone to know I am an animus except if I tell them.” 
She shivered as a chill ran down her spine. It must have worked. She thought, relieved. Now a spell to make it impossible for anyone to stop my ability to cast spells. She thought long and hard about this. It can’t be anything that I could lose nothing I might not have with me, gem embedments if I were to ever get one wouldn’t work...they still could come out. 
After thinking for a minute she came to a conclusion, “There’s only one thing that I know for sure I’ll never be without.” 
She took a breath in and recited the spell she had come up with, “I enchant Dragonfly the Hivewing’s blood so that if an animus dragon who had lost their ability to cast spells, were to taste the blood at all this spell would automatically overpower the spell halting their ability to cast new spells successfully for that dragon. This spell cannot be overpowered no matter how strong or unstoppable the spell its overpowering may be, this spell is irreversible and will always succeed in overpowering the spell it ends up against.”
She took a breath in slowly hoping her new safeguards would work, and that she would be hidden from any animus dragon’s knowledge and maybe she could have some fun with this. With a swish of her claws and a murmur of words she finished cleaning her room and went to the main room to find some breakfast.
== Chapter 2 Still Ordinary ==
Breakfast was more or less normal. Her older brother was bragging about his high scores at the academy this week. Her mother had seemingly forgotten it was breakfast and not snack time, and was munching on a pair of sugar spun beetles in bright greens and blues. Her father had left maybe an hour earlier to do whatever guard stuff he does. She rummaged around in a cabinet finding some honey and gazel jerky that would be going stale in a couple days. She sat at the table munching on the jerky, sometimes dipping it into a small pot of honey. 
Her mom glanced over, “Any plans today Dragonfly? Wolf’s going to run some flight patterns with his friends and practice other things he’s been learning.” 
Dragonfly thought for a minute gently tapping her necklace, “I think maybe I’ll look around the Glitterbazzar, maybe hang out in the garden a bit later.”
Her mother nodded, accepting her plan. Her brother snorted, “That's it? No homework this weekend? Not practicing anything?”
“No,” she shook her head.
“At least I’m being productive with my free time.”
“Maybe that's why you always seem to be in such a grumpy mode! You have no real free time!” she retorted, breaking into a sly grin “And don’t act like you always do your boring homework and formation stuff. I’ve seen you and your friends hanging out too.”
“That's not just hanging out! It's taking breaks.”
“Whatever you say,” Dragonfly replied with a smile.
Her brother huffed growling in the back of his throat, Dragonfly munched on her last piece of jerky unconcerned. Her mother looked on knowing Wolf wouldn’t do anything, he saves his energy for his fight training usually. 
Dragonfly left the table going to her room to grab the scales she’d been saving up. She looked at her cloaks pulling the light green with golden colored butterflies embroidered on it, throwing it over her back and fastening it around her neck. She then slipped her soft gray silk pouch around her neck, the scales inside clinking gently. She adjusted her jewelry slightly and headed out the door. 
She flew down to one of her favorite stalls. A Silking worked there who had so many different tapestries and other silk articles. The Silkwing there dipped his head acknowledging her presence. His yellow antene twitched slightly but he otherwise didn't pay her any attention. She traced her claw lightly over silk spun images of music notes on a cloth of the palest pink. She looked at a blanket of thick double woven silk with images of a night sky, all three moons full the stars dots of light against the midnight blue. The images here were always so beautiful. She had a couple of tapestries from here in her room. The Silkwing who ran this stall made each one unique. She thought for a moment trying to remember his name, she had asked once...Ah! It was Apollo. She picked up a delicate silk woven veil with small amber teardrops hanging from it. Beautiful. She thought marveling at its delicacy. She looked at it for a moment. The amber teardrops looked like rather small honey drops which made her want one. She decided to go get a snack. Setting the veil down, Dragonfly left, flying up a couple levels looking for her favorite sweet shop. Despite her new power her life still felt comfortingly ordinary.
== Chapter 3 The Mystery ==
Dragonfly sat outside a cafe near the garden appreciating the view of the plants growing all over, pathways snaking in between, as she watched Hivewings and Silkwings meander along the path stopping to smell the flowers, or watch bees buzz around. Something strange caught her eye. At first she didn't know why it was strange, it seemed an ordinary Silkwing her scales shades of pale green with a blue underbelly and details on her wings and snout.  But, then she realized this dragon didn’t quite fit in, she had a small cape of a shimmery light blue that matched her scales as well as some dark-ish green scarves around her front legs, she even had a necklace one with jade and sapphire colored beads. But, though she looked fancy enough she seemed different, like she was unused to the slight weight of the necklace or the feeling of having the cape cover her wings. Strange...almost as if she didn’t belong here at all, there was also something about how she kept looking at Hivewings, half checking what they might be looking at, half….angry at them? She shook her head confused and looked away, not wanting to be caught staring. She decided to keep an eye out for the strange dragon in case she was just some really strange visitor from another hive trying to fit in. Or...if she was something else completely.
She finished her lunch and was wandering around the garden when a thought came to her, Queen Wasp has that hivemind thing. I know it’s only happened once in my life but it was so annoying, right in the middle of art class! It’s like the one really annoying thing about my life, I could get ripped from what I’m doing at any second. So, maybe I could use my new power to make myself immune to whatever causes it. But, if everyone’s hive-minded I’ll be in big trouble not being, oh! If anyone’s being hive-minded they can’t see me! Perfect! Thinking of the spell in her mind she wandered to a secluded area to cast it.
“I enchant Dragonfly the Hiveing to be immune to the effect of Queen Wasp’s Hivemind and immune to what she uses to cause it. In addition any dragon under the hivemind’s control cannot see me, I am invisible to them.” she said to herself, casting the spell in a secluded spot of the garden, so that nobody would notice what she was doing. Dragonfly hoped it had worked, so she left the area to wander around the garden more before the day was over, and she had to return home. 
== Chapter 4 The Theory ==
She wandered around the house before dinner waiting for her mom to get back from shopping or for her dad to come home. Her brother was home already and doing something in his room, he wouldn’t let her in. He rarely did. She’d have to sneak in later. She wandered to her room pulling out a box labeled ‘Dragonfly’s Jewelry supplies’. She opened it up by taking a piece of silk string and tying a knot at one end. She picked out a range of light blues and pale green, her mind on the strange dragon she had seen. She did as usual when she couldn’t stop thinking about something, she made jewelry themed for it. 
Dinner was the usual affare, Wolf talked about flight patterns and fighting moves, he bragged about beating his friends in training and other boring stuff. Mom looked mildly interested, Dad nodded and said what a good guard he would be someday. Dad mentioned that the hive was on a minor alert, possible sightings of strange dragons (or leafwings) had occurred within a few miles of the hive. Apparently hunters had seen something in the savanna, only for a second but there was a flash of pale green. It disappeared when they looked for it, still dad was so serious about his job of course the guards would have to be on alert. Dragonfly fiddled with her new necklace, the beads glinting in the light of the flamesilk lamps. Her mother had said the colors looked nice together. Her brother snorted, asking why she wasted her time on jewelry, though he had to admit the onyx and ruby colored bracelet she had made him a year ago looked cool on him. 
Later in bed Dragonfly mulled over the day. Her bed was a hammock of silk suspended between two walls. Unlike most Hivewings she liked the soft folds of silk curling in on her, as well as the gentle swaying motion. She preferred it over the solid stillness of most beds at least. She thought over what her dad had said about a mystery dragon who seemed pale green. She knew her dad thought it could be a leafwing but...what if it wasn’t? What if it somehow was the strange seeming Silkwing she had seen. She thought for a bit, drifting off only after deciding to try and follow the strange dragon to wherever she lived tomorrow. Tomorrow was the only day that would work, after that she had school.
== Chapter 5 Secrets and Spies ==
The next morning she got up early. Like really early, her dad was still home, albeit he was about to leave but still. She scribbled a quick note to her mom leaving it on the table before pulling on her red cape with the silver swirls. She picked out her silver anklet and a piece like a horn ring but it curled around both horns and her smaller face horn. She found it kind of weird when she wore it but it looked very elegant. Ready to leave, she left the note for her mom (saying she had decided to spend the day like yesterday) on the table and darted out the door.
She flew down towards the same level as yesterday to Apollo’s stall. When she got there her wings faltered just before landing. The strange dragon stood in a corner with Apollo having a heated discussion in a hushed whisper. As she looked at the items for sale she wondered, what are they talking about? What might this mean? She edged closer slowly, straining to hear them better.  If only I could hear what they were saying! She thought, an idea struck her. Could I use magic to hear them? She thought the spell to herself this time not risking being overheard. I enchant Dragonfly to be able to hear the conversation going on there for the duration of those two Silkwings talking. 
The effect was immediate: her hearing sharpened and she heard their every word. “-an alert Moth! They'll catch you for sure!” Apollo was saying. 
The green dragon, Moth replied, “Normal security here could be beaten by any dragon. I’m sure I can get past, besides I need to check on my accomplice and you can’t both you and me going for long. Not without raising any sort of suspicion.” 
Apollo glanced around nervously eyeing Dragonfly, likely worried she’d get close enough to overhear them, before replying, “Still if Wasp discovers not all the Silkwings…” he trailed off, before continuing, “She’d be furious. And she’d probably kill you, I can’t bear the thought that the Chrysalis would be all that's left to fight.” Moth sighed her voice carrying far enough Dragonfly would have been able to hear it normally. Enough, Dragonfly thought, ending her spell. She thought about this new information a lot, it sounded like the green dragon, Moth lived somewhere outside of the hives, and needed to go back there and she said something about an ‘accomplice’. She looked over the silk weavings waiting for Moth to leave.
== Chapter 6 Outside the Hives ==
Dragonfly followed Moth through the winding corridors of the hive, hiding when she looked around to check if anyone might be following her. She followed as the Silkwing wound down the corridors checking every so often for anyone following her. Or so Dragonfly assumed. Soon they reached a hole with an exit to the savanna below. Moth glanced around one more time before leaping off the edge and flying into the savanna below. Dragonfly followed, barely considering the fact it’d be much harder to hide in the open savanna. The dragon Moth only flew a couple miles before landing. What is she doing? Dragonfly wondered, watching her carefully check a few rocks. Dragonfly landed watching as best she could while staying hidden. Moth sniffed a slightly odd shaped rock before pushing hard on it, the rock slid aside revealing a hidden tunnel! Dragonfly bit her tongue to stop herself from gasping, revealing her presence. Moth glanced around once more before diving into the tunnel. Dragonfly dove after her a couple minutes later. Inside the tunnel was dark, but she could tell it only went one direction, forward. Taking a deep breath, Dragonfly followed the tunnel, Moth had disappeared perhaps going faster now that she didn’t have a chance at being seen.
Dragonfly followed the tunnel for a long time walking and running through the passages respectively. When she realized it was slowly getting lighter. She must be near the end of the tunnel. She burst out into the daylight. She barely had a moment to get her sight settled before she was lept on from behind! Her attacker pinned her down as Dragonfly twisted and writhed; she never had been good at fighting but she could try to use her stingers. The dragon held her firm but she managed to twist her wrist free enough to stick her attacker in the arm, it wasn’t a venomous attack like some Hivewings could do but it would still sting badly. Her attacker let out a yell rearing up on her back legs and Dragonfly scrambled free but, before she could make her escape through the tunnel blue talons shoved her down. From this angle she could see silk spinning out of them ensnaring her wings and wrapping around her talons, the silk was as thick as the webs silkwings in Jewel hive lived in and though she tried she couldn’t get out. 
The dragon who pretty much tied her up turned asking the first who Dragonfly couldn’t see well from her position but she guessed it was the Silkwing from the hive Moth, “Got it, do you need help? Is it paralyzing or deadly?” 
The fist dragon replied, her voice confirming Dragonfly’s thought, “No, it just hurts like a hundred bee stings in one spot. Keep an eye on that hivewing Chimaera.” 
The other dragon sighed, “Moth it’s a dragonet, how would it get away, I snared it with silk and it could barely move a foot if it wanted to.” 
Dragonfly frowned at this trying to wiggle her way towards the tunnel, she felt a dragon grab her tail which was still free from the silk. 
The second dragon she assumed, pulled her away from the tunnel saying, “Nope! Not getting away.” The voice sounded less like the sort of dragon she might fight and more like a dragon who might be a friend, if they clearly hadn’t been enemies. The way Moth spoke about the hivewings here made it obvious she definitely did not like them. The other dragon must feel the same despite her tone. The mystery dragon pulled her back to the tunnel, after pulling Dragonfly a few feet she sat down in front of her. The dragon’s scales shocked Dragonfly; they were mostly shades of blue with a copper that was similar to her own, and an almost undertone of dark pink. But, her horns and spikes were black, as well as some scales along the length of her body. Her wings were colorful as any silkwing but a bit thinner and more angular like a hivewing. This dragon was obviously a Hivewing/silkwing hybrid! Dragonfly couldn’t fathom how this could have happened, intertribal relationships were beyond forbidden. Though there was a rumor Lady Jewel’s Treasurer and Chief steward like liked each other. 
The strange dragon smiled a little bit at Dragonfly and said, “Yes, I suppose it is a shock, but all hivewings aren’t bad, my mom wasn’t at least.” 
Moth stomped over, “Chimaera don’t talk to the hivewing. Their enemies for goodness sake.” 
The hybrid, Chimara replied to Moth, “But, look she’s a dragonet, what harm would she have done? What harm could she do?” Moth grunted, “Plenty, she could tell the other hivewings for one.” 
Dragonfly couldn’t help pointing out, “My dad’s the captain of Jewel Hive guards.” 
Moth glowered at her, “Your father?...well we certainly can’t let her go then,” Moth said looking at Chimaera. Chimaera simply shook her head, mumbling something unintelligible. 
Dragonfly who had been in fact considering the possibility of using magic to teleport herself home piped up again wanting to seem as if she wasn’t afraid she said, “I could go home any time I wanted! You can’t keep me stuck here if I decide to leave.”
Moth looked amused at this comment, “Oh really? Then how about you try to get out of Chimy’s silk?” Dragonfly frowned thinking of the words, then thought to herself silk get off me right now. The silk obliged flopping into a pile around her talons. 
Dragonfly gave the silkwing a jubilant look, “Bye, I’ll see you tomorrow if you're at the hive…” Then leaving both dragons standing surprised, she used her magic teleporting herself back to the hive near the exit she had left from. 
== Chapter 7 Bottled Up ==
Dragonfly went through the rest of her day normally only slightly more bland feeling than normal. She still buzzed with the same slight adrenaline from the fight. She had a few hours left before she had to go home. She used that time to relax in the garden, staring at patterns of clouds as they drifted across the sky. When she went home for dinner she thought about telling her dad, but he would definitely be mad at her for leaving the hive, as well as wanting to know how she got away. Besides the point she hoped that by keeping her secret, that Moth might not be as hostile and maybe the other dragon who definitely seemed friendly enough at first maybe, just maybe they could be friends. They certainly would be interesting friends to have. She also kinda wanted to know more about them. How had they avoided Wasp for so long? Why did Moth seem to feel so violent towards hivewings? As well as so many more. 
The next day at school she was buzzing with excitement to tell her friend Lampyrid about this weekend. But, as her friend approached her her copper and red scales flashing in the flamesilk’s light she thought to herself. Lampyrid would certainly tell an adult, and she’d find a way to reveal my power to Lady Jewel who might reveal it to Queen Wasp. As much as she was unwilling to betray the Hive she was even more so towards the idea of Wasp using her power for personal power. She knew Wasp was dangerous, terrifying too. But, she’d always seemed slightly insecure. If she felt she had a way to become invincible she’d snap it up like a starved crocodile. So, despite her overwhelming urge to spill everything that had happened to her BFF the moment she asked about her weekend. Dragonfly kept her mouth shut simply saying she had been at the glitterbazzer as well as the garden. Though this was a slightly odd way to spend one’s weekend instead of going to parties all day long. Though her mother was doing that most of the time Dragonfly preferred other things like relaxing in the garden sometimes though. 
School was the same thing as always, she was the only dragon who felt different. She shifted in her seat, her secret was so big, and there seemed to be more secrets now than ever with the information about Moth and the hybrid Chimaera. As well as her magic. She felt like it was all bottled up. After school she burst out of the classroom feeling she had to get away from other dragons before she spilled her secrets. She leapt out the nearest exit trying to fly her problems away. After about twenty minutes of flying a silkwing swooped down next to her. It was Moth! 
Dragonfly barely had time to growl at her before she said, “Listen hivewing I can tell you're not normal from how you got away as well as the fact you didn’t spill about what happened yesterday due to the fact I’m not being arrested right now. I don’t want to talk to you but if I didn’t Chimy would have come here and she definitely would stand out like a sore talon. Basically this is what she wanted me to say: You can meet her at the end of the tunnel I went through at midnight two nights from now. Don’t ask me what she wants, I wouldn’t know. All I do know is she’s too friendly for her own good. But, if you do anything suspicious or bring soldiers I will get my revenge. Understand that hivewing.” With that Moth flew away a scowl on her face, and Dragonfly now realized a slightly worried expression. Likely worried for her friend.
Dragonfly thought on Moth’s proposition for a long time while she did homework, tidied her room (without magic) and while her family had dinner. Even Wolf’s bragging didn’t bother her that much. As she lay in her hammock that night she decided that it seemed like a genuine invite. Not a trick to try to capture her again or anything like that (she hoped). Not that they could if they wanted. She thought with a spark of glee. After much internal debate she decided that it might be best to go. She wanted to know more about them and this seemed like an opportunity to learn.
== Chapter 8 Midnight Meeting ==
Dragonfly paced her room. Her plan was set, she’d magicked a decoy in her place in her hammock. She waited until it was almost midnight. Then focusing she used her magic to teleport herself to the tunnel near the end. She walked the distance left through the tunnel. When she emerged from it she found the small area of savannah bathed in moonlight. While the radiance of the sun scorched the ground during the day the softer glow of the three moons one full and another nearly so. Fireflies danced from blade to blade of grass, she spotted a cheetah right before it came out of it’s frozen stance and lept away running over moonlit plains. She smiled, breathing in the moonlight turning in a full circle.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” said a voice as the hybrid Chimaera emerged from the shadow, “Sorry for hiding,” she said. 
Dragonfly nodded, “It’s ok,” she sat down watching the stars twinkle, they looked so much like Apollo’s silk blanket. 
Chimaera smiled, “Moth insisted I don’t show myself immediately in case you brought other dragons with you. But, she was wrong not to trust you. You didn’t come to fight, then again you are a dragonet. I suppose I’m barely not one though. I only went through metamorphosis a couple months ago.” 
“You still had a metamorphosis like a Silkwing then?” Dragonfly asked. Chimaera nodded, “Though I have hivewing’s paralyzing venom in my teeth.” 
Dragonfly smiled, “Cool.” 
They sat in silence for a couple minutes before Dragonfly said, “I’m just glad this wasn’t a trick to try and capture me.” Chimaera frowned, “we only did that because at first we didn’t know who followed Moth then it was to stop you from telling anyone.” 
“How did you know I was following her?” Dragonfly asked the question that had been on her mind for a while. 
Chimaera laughed pointing to the antenna on her head, “These, Moth could tell a hivewing was following her from the disturbances your wings made against the air. She couldn’t do anything while she was near the hive so she ran all the way back once she got into the tunnel and told me as soon as she got back. You know what happened from there.” Dragonfly nodded it made sense, she knew Silkwings could feel vibrations in the air with their antene she just never thought about the differences between SIlkwings way of flying versus hivewing’s way of flying. 
“But, you couldn’t tell I was a dragonet?” she asked. 
Chimaera shook her head, “Moth wasn't sure, we saw when we….kinda ambushed you, that you were just a dragonet but it’s not like we’d just stop suddenly because of that. You put up a good fight for a dragonet though. Getting Moth with your stingers.” 
Dragonfly shifted remembering extending her wrist stingers to stab the green dragon, “I’m not that good at fighting, I just don’t usually use them in basic defence training so I thought it might work. That's all.” 
Chimaera twisted a small horn ring on her face horn thing hivewings have, “I’m not a good fighter either, that and I would have no way to blend in is why I stay here near our camp, if something happens there and Moth doesn’t come back I have to report….” she trailed off, “...certain things.” She looked like she had been about to tell a secret and though Dragonfly wanted to press for information to fuel her curiosity  she knew it might not be a good idea. 
They spent about another half an hour watching the stars and talking a little about various things before Dragonfly tenced, “Someone’s coming into my room, I’ve got to go!” Chimaera nodded, “I don’t think they would appreciate you having snuck out.” Dragonfly nodded, darting back towards the tunnel she could feel her dad walking towards her hammock through her spell. As soon as she was out of sight she murmured the activating words to replace her decoy with herself and erase the decoy. She was just in time to feel her father shaking her to wake her up.
== Chapter 9 Captured ==
“Wha…” Dragonfly said, trying to sound as if she had been asleep. Her dad’s red and black scales rose above her hammock and made him seem to tower over her. She sat up blinking false sleep from her eyes and stretched. 
“There was a dragon captured in the hive. These guards are so sloppy, anyone can get in.” he growled. Dragonfly got out of bed. “What exactly happened?” she asked butterflies in her stomach. If Moth slipped up… she thought. Poor Chimaera. 
Her father growled stomping out the door, “Some Silkwing got mad at a Hivewing and pinned her down, poor thing. The guards noticed but when we tried to arrest her she started spewing silk everywhere,turns out she’s got flamesilk! Well that complicated things, we had to grab water quickly to keep the hive from burning then the rest of us tried to subdue her. Finally Carpenter managed to stab her with the nerve toxin and we could get her to a cell. But she injured a couple guards dangerously and managed to give a few minor scrapes and burns to some other guards.” he snorted, “she only gave me a minor burn on my tail. But, then we realized she’d burn her way out as soon as the paralysis wore off, so we clamped her wrists over her silk glands so it wouldn’t be a problem and left Carpenter on duty.” By now they had walked into the main room and her brother was there too as well as her mom. 
Wolf looked at his dad, eyes narrowed, “Wish I had been there to teach the Silkwing a lesson.” 
Bullet nodded, “You’ll get your chance yet.”
Bullet sat down, “The strangest thing was, she wasn’t registered, no wrist cuff, no initials on her palm. I don’t think she’s ever been in a hive officially. Even if she found a way to remove the wrist cuff she still would have had her and her parents initials. It doesn’t really matter anymore we have her and we’ll soon put her silk to use. We’re moving her to Wasp Hive’s flamesilk department, tomorrow. I’ve already arranged for us all to go with the guards so I can explain it to my brother as he works with the flamesilks sometimes, and you all can have some time with relatives. The last time we visited them was a while ago after all. '' Dragonfly perked up a bit at this news, she hadn’t seen Thorax in what felt like ages and they always had fun. Wolf would be off doing guard practice or something with Phanlinx. 
“Why’d you wake us up though?” Dragonfly asked, still confused about that part. 
“Because this is the most action our hive has seen in a while and two because this is exactly why We must always remain alert to danger and report anything strange to authorities.”  Dragonfly drifted off a bit during her dad’s talk on more vigilance and strange activities, yada, yada, yada. She fell asleep on the cushions near the couch, the exhaustion of that night finally kicking in completely.
~---------~
She pulled out her favorite jewelry only and put it in her bag. She was packing for her trip to Wasp hive, where her cousin and her dad’s brother lived. She also thought, maybe during this visit she could find a way to free Moth, at least to give Chimaera a reason to not try to save her herself. She put a length of silk rope now enchanted not to break no matter the strain it takes. She looked around her room wondering what else she might need, she grabbed her scale pouch popping it in her bag. Though she hoped to rescue Moth she wouldn’t be in a hurry. Not like Moth was a friend. Her dad said they were leaving later in the day but she was still anxious to pack and prepare. She wondered if she could get help, Apollo had mentioned something called the Chrysalis. If she could talk to him, maybe he could tell her what it meant. She called to her mom who was in the main room telling her she was headed to the glitterbazzar. Then headed out the door and went as quick as she could trying to just seem excited. 
== Chapter 10 The Chrysalis ==
She dropped down into Apollo's shop seeing him bent over a piece of paper in the corner muttering to himself nobody else was there. 
She cleared her throat and said, “Apollo? I need to speak with you.” 
He looked up, startled, then huffed and replied in a growling voice, “I don’t have time, just browse and tell me if you’d like to buy anything.” 
Dragonfly shook her head, “I’m not here to shop, I want to talk to you about Moth.” He froze when she mentioned Moth’s name. 
When he replied his voice was guarded but filled with danger, “What makes you think I know anything about the dragon captured today?” 
Dragonfly sighed, “Well she never gave the guards a name first of all so even if I hadn’t seen you talking yesterday and heard some of what you said….” She didn’t have time to finish before Apollo pulled a rope dropping curtains around the stall hiding them from view. 
“What did you say?” he growled. 
Dragonfly shifted nervously, “Look, I’m not gonna do anything.” 
Apollo snorted, “Alright I’ll just trust a hivewing of all dragons then, it's not like…” 
Dragonfly cut him off, “You can trust me, I want to help but...I’m not sure how to do much. My dad’s taking us to Wasp hive during her transfer to see our cousins, but I had an idea. If I could find a way to get her free? I don’t really know. I never would have considered breaking anyone out of anything.” 
Apollo snorted, “Since when would a hivewing care about silkwings, let alone help them?” Dragonfly took in a shaky breath, “I mean, I can see how it’d be strange but I heard Moth mention an ‘accomplice’ when talking to you, I’ve met her friend, and I know if I don’t try to rescue Moth then she will, I barely care about what happens to Moth but her friend is my friend, and I care about Chimy.” 
Apollo looked at her carefully, before replying, “And you're here because….” “I’ll need help, when talking to Moth you mentioned something called the Chrysalis. It seemed like something that could help with a breakout” Dragonfly said.
Apollo stared at her, seeming to be unsure if she was lying or not he carefully answered her, “The Chrysalis...are a group, who...disagree with the hivewing’s control over everything. We have ways to communicate and leave messages if you want to see if Wasp hive’s members would help you, but I don’t know how many dragons are in any other hive’s Chrysalis. But, I’d say look for  a tribute to the Salvation Mosaic from Cicada hive, you might find something there. A message or something.” Dragonfly looked at him, he seemed tense, nervous. “I promise I won’t tell anyone,” she said. He sighed and said, “I hope I’ve made the right decision, but Moth is important to...certain parties. Dragonfly nodded, not sure what he meant by that. 
She walked to the stall and pulled up the curtain before turning back, “Oh Apollo?” 
“Yes?” he replied. “
You made the right choice, you can trust me,” Dragonfly said.
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Canon)