Misleading Jewels

PROLOGUE
The blackened sky swallowed pure, white stars, like a predator devouring its prey. Red flames danced, burning sticks and crackling with laughter. Smoke rose from the pot, hanging above the embers. Boiling water swayed from the container, cooking a piece of deer meat.
Raven glared at the village, full of dragons. Her choice was simple: put on her sapphire necklace or her topaz necklace. It didn’t feel simple to her, though. 
Come on, Parakeet. This choice is so easy. Put on the topaz necklace, eat the carcass and glide over there Her mind whispered. 
She picked up the topaz necklace with care, then placed it on her neck. She then pulled off her ruby necklace and let the magic take her over .
CHAPTER 1
Cactus sailed through the air, landing in a courtyard. Barrels and boxes placed up against the sandstone wall. Some palm trees created shade, covering wounded Sandwings with shredded wings, missing claws and rotten teeth. She shivered before wandering right into a market.
The layout was all over the place, with stalls selling dead prey right next to a dragon selling scarves. There were barely any Seawings, which meant Cactus made the right call. Dragons roared at each other, slashed at their faces and went into full blown battles.
Trying to move out of the commotion, Cactus bolted into a huge tent. Inside were two Sandwings. One had a scar across his neck, a burnt talon and a bracelet made of leather. The other had no scars, missing limbs or shredded wings. Her scales looked perfect, not damaged at all. Her wings, arms and legs were white though, while the rest of her scales had a muddy yellow color.
The weird looking Sandwing peered at her, then nodded.
“So you want some spices, hey?” She had a demonic smile, showing yellow teeth. 
“You’ve come to the right place scrawny,”
CHAPTER  2
“Scrawny!” The other dragon roared. “She wants to buy something, Scorch. Don’t scare her away!” He turned to Cactus. 
“I’m deeply sorry for my worker’s rude comment. What would you like to buy from us?” 
“I would like to buy some nuts, thanks,” She answered.
“Hear that, Scorch. She wants nuts, so get her some nuts,” He hissed. 
“Woah, thanks Monitor,” Scorch mumbled. She reached for a jar, full of nuts. 
CRASH! A huge noise exploded from outside. Scorch and Monitor raced to the opening in their tent, while Cactus scurried behind.
She heard roaring and then cheers. A huge group of Sandwings were peering out of tents, turning to see what was happening and pushing through the crowd to get a good view. She tried to squeeze through Monitor and Scorch. Scorch didn’t budge, but Monitor moved out of the way to let her see.
Scorch grumbled “He’s gone and done it again!” 
“That Seawing is a menace,” Monitor  replied, staring ahead. “He comes in and wrecks the entire place,”
“Who?” Cactus interrupted. “He’s a Seawing, but what’s his name and, what is he doing?”
Scorch shoved Monitor and he started to speak up. “That’s Shark,” 
He pointed through the crowd, with one of his burnt talons. Now she could see him. Scars everywhere on his body, with dark beady eyes tracking whoever he was fighting. He had grey scales with some purple dots. Twisted horns that were sharper than a scavenger‘s knife. 
He was fighting a Sandwing, who was now on the floor, drenched in blood. 
“Wouldn't the queen be angry, upset and want him dead?! Why is nobody stopping him?! He’s fighting against allies!” Cactus pleaded.
“The queen doesn’t care,” Scorch replied. “She never cares about anyone or anything, only herself.”
That one line told Cactus that the Kingdom of Sand was way more dangerous than she ever imagined.
CHAPTER 3
Shark had already defeated his enemy. The poor Sandwing was lying on the dusty ground. Dead. Shark was being rewarded with gold coins, golden bracelets, Topaz earrings and jewels.
Monitor grumbled something about ‘the general should ban Seawings from our market’ while Scorch snorted. They both trotted back into their tent. Cactus began to follow behind but something caught her eye.
A hooded figure stared down at her from atop a building. Their barbed tail coiled dangerously, watching like a hawk. It was clear that the dragon was a Sandwing, from the shape of their tail. When they smiled, Cactus jumped.
She bolted into the tent, with fear spreading across her face. Scorch must have known something was wrong.
“What’s with the rush?” Scorch asked. She turned away for a second, stating “You were probably scared by Shark,’’ She then  reversed back to looking at Cactus, asking “Was he urging for a fight?”
Cactus shook her head and Scorch signed. “You should keep your distance from him, alright,” 
Cactus shivered and trotted over to the counter. Scorch had already put the jar of nuts down. Cactus sat on a stool that was sitting right near the counter, enabling her to rest her talons on the counter. Two other identical stools were near it as well.
Monitor seemed to be sorting out boxes, barrels and jars near a corner that was covered with them. In the middle of the room were two sets of tables, with two seats each. In a corner near the entrance, a couch was winding around a table. The couch was like a square, with one side opened.
Cactus seemed to be lingering a bit, so Scorch started a conversation.
“We don’t just serve spices and herbs,” She seemed to stumble with her words. 
“We also sell..drinks and...food,” Scorch kept slightly turning away, not making eye contact.  Cactus looked confused, staring at Scorch awkwardly.
“I guess I’ll have water for the drink and some vulture meat..,”
In lightning fast speed, Monitor chucked a water and some kind of meat over to Scorch. She caught the bottle, then grabbed the vulture meat, then slammed the carcass into a clay bowl. Next she took the bottle and poured it into a glass cup.   “Alright, enjoy your meal,” Scorch answered. She went back to washing some clay bowls.
CHAPTER 4
A brawny Sandwing trotted through the opening of their tent. They were covered by a black coat.
Scorch growled at the figure. Only one word was heard from her mouth “Dingo,”
“I’ve had more welcoming welcomes from assassins, but thanks for acknowledging I exist,” the unknown dragon replied.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)