What Awaits Us

This is an in-progress fic, and will be updated as we write more!
This is a collab project, the group is TheMangoPirate, MalleablePlatypus, and SkyDragonAerial. All OCs belong to these people, if you aren't one of these three or a mod, do not edit this page.
== Swiftlet's Story ==
Written by SkyDragonAerial
=== Year 5952 AS===
Swift was hiding again, in the one spot Polar didn’t know about yet. She focused on the sound of her breathing, keeping quiet so her mother wouldn't be able to find her. She relaxed a little when Polar’s talonsteps faded away, which meant she was leaving this part of the cave system.
“Swift?” Another voice hissed. She waited a few seconds before emerging from her hiding spot. Pirate must have followed Polar again, since he'd gotten there surprisingly fast.
“What's she mad about this time?” Pirate asked, flicking Swift's tail with his own. “She looks like she wants to kill something.” He laughed at his own joke, which made Swift start laughing. She was grateful to have her best friend, otherwise surviving Polar would have been a lot harder.
“I think she got a report she didn't like.” Swift said. Polar had been fine up until one of her guards had brought her a message, and then she'd gotten angry. Polar being angry usually meant it was time for Swift to disappear for a while.
“So I'm guessing you're going to need to stay over tonight?” Pirate asked, and Swift nodded. His parents were always happy to let her stay at their house, even if it was already a bit crowded.
“Thanks. You're the best.” Swift smiled at him, and they started walking back to the city.
=== Broken Friendships (Year 5955 AS) ===
Swift quickly walked through the tunnel that led down to the river, where Salamander had told Pirate to meet him. It was obvious Salamander was mad at Pirate, and she wanted to know why. She’d planned to follow Pirate when he left, but she had been delayed. Salamander had been watching her and Pirate, even though she’d told him it made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure why she even spent time with him, but she didn’t really have any other friends when Pirate was gone, which happened a lot. Salamander was kind of weird, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. They’d been friends for their entire lives, after all. She didn’t want to hurt him at all, but she did want him to give her more space. 
She sped up when she heard the rushing water of the underground river, and then, almost fully drowned out, Pirate saying something to either comfort or reassure Salamander. She had missed the first part of their conversation, and she frowned. The two of them were hiding something from her, and she wanted to know what it was. Swift hated being left out, especially if it was about herself, which she thought it might be.
"I'm telling you, it's not like that. If you just talk to her-" then Salamander cut him off. 
"Yeah, right. Like she'd tell the truth. I don't believe you." He hissed, and Swift paused, darting behind a nearby stalagmite to watch and listen. She crouched down, making sure she was hidden from view. She didn’t know why she was hiding, but she felt like she had to.
Who are they talking about? She wondered. Had she been wrong? Was it not about her? She had a better vantage point from where she was now, and she could see both of her friends. Pirate was sitting by the edge of the river, looking slightly nervous. Salamander was all puffed up, his tail lashing. Swift hadn't ever seen him that angry before, and she was concerned.
"Why would Swift lie about that? It's not like you've even asked her about it." Pirate said, slowly moving away from the riverbank, like he was worried Salamander might push him into the water. Swift froze, her eyes wide.
So they were talking about her. Swift narrowed her eyes, and scooted closer, to hear Salamander's response. Now she really regretted missing the start of this. It sounded important, and Salamander sounded angry. 
"You're just trying to get to her first, aren't you? You want to steal my girlfriend." Salamander said, taking a menacing step towards Pirate, who just looked confused. 
"But… she's not your girlfriend? Unless I missed something." Pirate said, with an awkward chuckle. He was trying to laugh it off, make it a joke, like he usually did, but Salamander was clearly not amused. He was growling, stalking closer to Pirate. 
Salamander was being completely serious, Swift realized, her breath catching. He actually believed she was his girlfriend. She made a face, it had never crossed her mind that Salamander liked her that way, but it did make a few things make sense. The way he huffed when she spent time with just Pirate, the way he walked close enough beside her for their tails to brush. Salamander saw himself as her boyfriend, and he thought Pirate was a threat to their non-existent relationship. 
Swift realized she had stopped listening to the argument for a few seconds, and she looked back at Pirate and Salamander. She didn't think she could call Salamander her friend anymore, after hearing that. Was that the only reason he was her friend? Because he had a crush on her? She had apparently missed Salamander's reply, but Pirate looked more angry than nervous now, and his blue-gray fur was bristling slightly, so maybe it was better she hadn’t heard it. She’d never seen Pirate that angry before.
“She’s not an object, Salamander. She can make her own choices. Deal with it.” Pirate said, his eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe you would even think something like that.” Swift’s heart was racing now. What had Salamander said to get that much of a reaction out of Pirate? He was usually so calm, and could find humor in anything, no matter how bad the situation was. 
“At least I’m not… oh, let’s say… keeping life-changing secrets from her?” Salamander said, taunting Pirate. Pirate recoiled, like he’d been hit. Swift recoiled slightly as well, stunned by the new information. She didn’t know what to think anymore. Were either of them telling the truth? Was Pirate really her friend? What was true, and what wasn’t? How long had her friends been hiding things from her? 
“I don’t know what you mean.” Pirate said, but Swift could tell he was lying. He knew exactly what Salamander was talking about, which hurt. He was hiding things, important things, from Swift, his best friend. Maybe Salamander was exaggerating about them being life-changing, but Swift felt like he wasn’t. That just made it worse. Salamander sneered, advancing. Pirate wasn’t backing away this time. 
“Oh, you know what I mean. Are you ever going to tell her, Pirate? Tell her about her family?” Salamander said, encouraged by Pirate’s reaction. Swift gasped, forgetting she was trying to stay hidden. Fortunately, neither of them heard her. 
Pirate knew about her family? But that was impossible. Polar was the only family Swift had left. Of course, there was always the mystery of who her father was. Polar would only say that he died in an OutCast attack, and that was the only thing Swift had ever learned about him. If Pirate knew something else, why hadn’t he told her? Even if he only had a name, that would be all she needed to know. Swift had asked Pirate a few times if his parents might know anything about her father, but he would always shake his head, and say that nobody in the clan knew who he had been. 
“That’s not- you’re changing the topic.” Pirate said, avoiding Salamander's question. “And it’s for her own safety.” Pirate looked like he was about to attack Salamander. Swift was holding her breath, scared for her friends. If Polar found out they’d fought, one of them could get exiled. She was very strict about the rules, especially if she could get the chance to exile someone, and Swift knew how much her mother hated Pirate. 
“Her own safety?” Salamander scoffed. “Don’t try to protect her. She can protect herself, can’t she?” Pirate stayed quiet, but he was still fuming. “If you don’t tell her, I’ll have to do it myself. Then she’ll see you aren’t her prince in shining scales.” Salamander said, and then Pirate lunged for him, knocking him off his feet. 
Swift scrambled back, even though she wasn’t anywhere near the fight. Pirate dug his claws into Salamander, who had hit the ground hard. Salamander growled, and slashed up at Pirate, hitting him in the face. Pirate shook off the blow, but he was bleeding badly. Salamander had aimed for Pirate’s eye, and hit his target. Swift watched them fight for a few more seconds before she jumped up and fled, back to the city and her home. She had to find Polar before they killed each other. 
Swift burst into the small cabin she shared with her mother, and stopped to catch her breath. Polar dropped her quill and glared at her, annoyed about being interrupted.
“Swiftlet.” Polar said, her voice threatening. “If this isn’t an emergency, you better have a good reason for disrupting me.” Swift’s ears folded back, and she stared at the floor.
“Pirate and Salamander are fighting, you have to come quickly.” She said, and Polar slowly got up. Swift tensed, not sure what Polar would do next. 
“Show me.” She demanded, and Swift nodded quickly, leading the way back to where her friends were. Polar followed her through the tunnels, muttering to herself the whole time. Swift stopped when she reached the river, and looked up at Polar nervously. The scarred clan leader was furious, and she stalked over to Pirate, hauling him off of Salamander, who looked half-dead. Pirate had been winning, and Swift was pretty sure that if she had been any slower, he would have killed Salamander. She paled. Swift hadn't thought Pirate, who was usually so calm, would hurt anyone that badly. 
“Who started this?” Polar said, staring at Swift. She gulped, not sure what to do. If she told the truth, Pirate, who’d always been her best friend, would get exiled, but Salamander would have a chance to heal. If she lied, and said that Salamander started the fight, Pirate would stay in the city, but Salamander would probably die from his injuries. She didn’t know if she could truly call either of them her friend anymore, but she did know one thing. She knew she couldn’t let Salamander think she would ever take his side ever again. She’d stood up for him before, yes, and he’d decided that she was something to be won. She hated that.
“Salamander started it. Pirate was just defending himself.” Swift said, glancing from Pirate to Salamander, who had just struggled to his feet, and who was now giving her a death glare. Pirate just looked relieved. 
“If that’s true,” Polar said, giving Swift a sharp look, which she turned on Salamander and then Pirate. “Then you all know the consequences. Salamander and Pirate, you’re exiled. Permanently for the attacker. Pirate, you may return in a year. Until then, if you’re seen in the city…” Polar didn’t need to finish her sentence. They all knew what she meant. If either of them came back, they would be treated as enemies, and killed. Even though Pirate would be allowed to come back, Swift knew it would feel like forever until she saw him again. It would probably be the longest year of her life without her best friend there. It was nice to know she still considered him her friend, at least. 
Pirate looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t get a chance before Salamander stormed off, heading for the entrance tunnel. Polar narrowed her eyes at Swift and Pirate, and followed Salamander to make sure he left. Swift didn’t quite hear what Pirate said to her, but she guessed it was about telling his parents he was exiled. She nodded, and then without thinking, hugged Pirate tightly. He looked surprised, and his surprise turned to something closer to stunned when she kissed him. Swift quickly realized what she’d done, and she stammered something, pushed Pirate away, and ran back to the city. She glanced back once, just in time to see Pirate smile softly and start heading for the exit himself. 
Swift flushed, embarrassed and annoyed, silently cursing at herself the whole way back to her cabin. That was going to be a very awkward conversation when Pirate came back. Maybe he wouldn’t mention it ever again, although she doubted it. Or maybe Salamander had been right, and there was something there. She might never know now, if he decided to not come back. Or maybe he would come back, and never talk to her again, and she’d just ruined her longest friendship. She had no way of knowing how Pirate felt about her, and she’d acted on pure impulse, like an idiot.
== Salamander's Story ==
Written by MalleablePlatypus
=== I Don't Deserve This (Year 5955 AS) ===
The dark dragonet watched the other CavernWing dragonets as they came up with a surprisingly complex game involving a lot of shrieks. He’d come over to watch when he had first heard the shrieks, his mane spiking with fear and curiosity. The first few minutes he’d watched, he had debated whether or not to intervene. After a while, though, he realized the screams were of joy.
The young Salamander now sat on a small boulder a ways off, still watching. He tried to understand the rules, but they kept changing whenever one dragonet thought something was unfair. He didn’t like the random changes, but he was too nervous to go over and complain or fix it.
Mama says not to complain, anyway.
Salamander frowned slightly at the thought of his mother, and he tapped his claws together nervously.
I’d be so embarrassed if that cool purple dragon heard me complaining, Salamander added. His gaze drifted to the dragonet he’d thought about, the only dragonet who was actually trying to keep order. She wasn’t necessarily bossing anyone around, mostly just trying to make the rules make sense. Salamander smiled. He wished he knew her name, but his mother kept him away from the other dragonets when he bothered her.
He often bothered her, but that wasn’t her fault. Today was an exception!
Salamander’s thoughts drifted back to how cool that purple dragonet was. He noticed another dragonet who was almost identical to her, but she didn’t seem to catch his eye. She was also hard to watch; she was really loud and the blue one next to her kept moving faster than Salamander could breathe. For most of the game, he ignored the blue dragonet, since it was easier to see how the other purple one was playing. Right now, the blue one was…
Wait, where’d the blue one go?
“SNEAK ATTACK!” someone screamed behind him. Salamander spun around, fur bristling with fear. His muscles were choosing between fight or flight when he was suddenly tackled. A pale blue blur had thrown itself on him and off the boulder.
“Aha! SAWTELL! I found a SPY!”
Salamander was rigid, pinned onto his side with his eyes shut tight. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! He didn’t know what he was sorry for, but whatever just happened seemed to be his fault.
“You DID? Yay! I’m coming with the interroganation stick!” screamed another voice that got louder as someone approached.
“Uhm, Pirate, that’s not a spy,” scolded the voice, now much closer. “That’s the weird dragonet that no one ever sees because he’s soooo lonely and sad. Poor wee stick. Get off him!” The newcomer’s voice was teasing, but their words made Salamander’s mane bristle.
I’m not weird and lonely and sad. I’ll show you weird and lonely and sad. One day.
Salamander opened his eyes as the weight was lifted from his side. He scrambled up and attempted to look angry and non-threatening at the same time.
The blur that had attacked him was the pale blue dragonet from earlier. He grinned at Salamander in a friendly way. The other dragonet was the cool purple one’s almost identical friend. She held a stick.
“Hi! Sorry, Pirate acts like he’s three months old,” the purple one—Sandlot?—chirped, gesturing to the dragonet beside her.
The blue one—Pirate—gave her a shove, still grinning. Salamander flinched slightly and he immediately straightened up.
Stop being so sad, Salamander scolded himself.
“It’s—uhm, it’s…” Salamander tried to reply, but he was still getting his heart to slow the moons down. “Uhm…” It’s fine but you’re really mean and your rules don’t make sense and I should’ve left when rules stopped existing.
Pirate and Sandlot exchanged an awkward look. Pirate opened his mouth to reply when another voice called from behind.
“Sawtell! Pirate!”
Salamander turned to see the cool purple dragonet—he seriously needed to find a better name—trotting over with a scolding look. As she approached, a smile formed on her face and she gave Salamander a friendly nod.
“Sorry about them, they kinda competititive,” she said, her tone more genuine than Sand—no, Sawtell’s.
Salamander tried once more to reply, but all that came out was a little squeak. He felt his scales flush and his mane fluff up with embarrassment. He was pretty sure he was older than the two purple ones, and close to the bl— to Pirate in age. That fact made the situation even more awkward.
“OK, well, you’re a really good spy I think, so you should come play with us,” Sawtell piped up at last. “You can be on my team.”
Salamander must have looked confused, because Pirate added, “We made teams a thing after I allegebally started being mean to Sawtell.” He grinned again and gave Sawtell another shove. She squeaked indignantly and shoved him back.
Salamander just nodded, pretending to understand. Why can’t they just make the rules make sense? he grumbled, but quickly pushed the thought away. Whiners get pokes in the face, he reminded himself, though he was pretty sure that wasn’t what his sister always told him.
“You don’t gotta, if we’re too crazy,” the other purple dragonet said. “Also, I’m Swiftylet.”
Snippet? Snippylet? Swiftnet? Swiftylet. Swiftylet, Swiftylet, Swiftylet, Salamander repeated, forcing himself to get the name stuck in his head.
“Uh-uhm, no, I mean, sure, I will,” Salamander squeaked, cringing at his uncertain words.
Swiftylet smiled; Softell—no, Sawtell shrugged; and Pirate grabbed Salamander by the arm and pulled him toward the game.
Salamander stared at Pirate’s talon on his arm and told himself that it was just a game. He was just having fun. He wasn’t being lonely or sad anymore. It was just a game.
And anyway, it wasn’t like he had to hang out with these three again after this.
Five years later...
Salamander slowly dragged himself through the tunnels, looking around with a sigh and a scowl. He was immensely bored—and rather nervous—and he didn’t know where Pirate or Swift were. But, if they were being honest, they wouldn’t mind if they only found Swiftlet. They never really liked Pirate; he never took anything seriously and was always hanging out with Swift.
Seriously, he can last a day without asking her some stupid question and then giggling about it, Salamander thought, a growl escaping him.
His scowl deepened when he passed his cabin for the third time. There were still shouts coming from the closed windows and doors, which didn’t do much to block out the noise, and with each minute they got louder. Their fur bristled with anxiety and anger as they glared at the cabin.
As long as they don’t bring me into it, I’ll be fine. At least I don’t have to worry about Rat or Mouse anymore.
Salamander sped up, ears pricked for any sign of his friends. Or his friend. Just Swift would work better.
I bet he’s trailing after her right now like some pet, they thought with a sneer. He almost snickered at his own thoughts when he heard shouts up ahead.
As always, the sound of the yells made his heart drop and his mane slowly bristle. He stopped midstep and listened closely. After a moment, he realized that the shouts weren’t of fear. Their mind flashed back to four years ago, when they had first heard those same joyful shrieks. He went back to scowling and gave himself a quick shake.
Stupid voices. Stupid Rat.
They stormed toward the voices, realized they were storming, and slowed into a weird jog. He turned a corner and Swiftlet and Pirate in a small cave, chasing each other around the stalagmites. Salamander glared at the two of them and how happy they looked.
Swift never looks that happy with you, taunted a voice in his head that sounded painfully similar to Rat’s voice. He almost flinched, but kept his composure. Nobody asked you.
They zoned out for a moment as they silently cursed their family out. He was still cursing internally when a much louder shriek snapped him back to reality. His heart lurched as he watched Pirate and Swift roll together on the ground. The two lay on top of each other, laughing, in the middle of the cave. He could see Swiftlet speak and Pirate reply, but he couldn’t hear them.
Salamander dug his claws into the stone and pinned his ears. They sat down for a moment and closed their eyes, telling themself to calm down.
I knew something was going on with them! their thoughts screamed. I knew that Pirate was trying to take—
“Salamander?”
Salamander jumped and opened his eyes. Pirate was now standing in front of him, smiling awkwardly and giving him a confused look.
“Er… hi!” Salamander said with fake cheer. “What’s up?”
“Uh, not much,” Pirate replied, his grin widening. Salamander hated that stupid grin. “What are you doing here?”
“I was just… going on a walk.”
“Oh, well…”
Salamander’s gaze drifted over Pirate’s shoulder and the pale dragon’s voice became distant as they gazed at Swiftlet, who was watching them from afar. She waved and he smiled.
He felt someone shove his shoulder and he snapped his gaze back to Pirate.
“Salamander,” Pirate called, waving a talon in front of Salamander’s face.
Salamander gave Pirate an apologetic grin. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“Well, I was telling you about this dragon I met a few weeks ago, but then I asked you what you were staring at.” Pirate looked over his shoulder at Swiftlet then back at Salamander. “Ohhh, I see.”
Salamander frowned. “See what?”
“You’ve got eyes for Swiftylet,” Pirate said, chuckling. Salamander hated that stupid chuckle. And he hated it when Pirate called Swift ‘Swiftylet’. That was their nickname for her.
Salamander looked back at Swiftlet, who had begun to approach and had almost reached them.
“Look, Pirate,” Salamander interrupted. “Uh, we need to talk. I’ll meet you at the river later.” He gave Pirate a dark look and turned away, flicking his tail and smiling at Swift as she reached them. They then stalked away.
Salamander stared at their reflection in the dark water, resting his furry tail tip in the water. He scowled at his reflection and smacked the water, causing ripples to break apart his reflection. He shivered.
He heard a familiar voice clear their throat behind him and he looked over his shoulder to stare at Pirate. The pale CavernWing grinned at Salamander, apparently trying to seem friendly.
Stop smiling, they hissed internally. You know what you did and I’m going to wipe that stupid grin off your face or die trying.
They forced themself to give Pirate a brief smile.
“So… why did you want to meet me here?” Pirate asked, padding over to sit beside Salamander. They frowned at him and he blinked in confusion.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” Salamander muttered, slightly surprised that he had said that aloud.
“What do you mean?” Pirate’s smile became a little nervous.
Stop acting like you don’t know, Salamander grumbled again.
“I mean I saw you and Swift in that cave together,” he hissed.
Pirate’s smile faltered and he gave Salamander a look. “I mean, yeah, I knew that. I saw you spying on us. Again.” He grinned again and Salamander stood up.
“Look, I want you to know that you two will only ever be friends,” they growled, lashing their tail.
“What? Well, yeah, I kind of figured we’d stay friends,” Pirate replied nervously. The confused look on his face made Salamander angrier.
“Really? Then why was she hanging out with you like that?” Salamander snarled, puffing out their mane.
“Like what?” Pirate asked, furrowing his brow. “We were just playing, Salamander.”
“Playing. Right. Playing my feelings, more like! I can tell you two are way closer than you should be!”
Realization dawned on Pirate’s face and he gave Salamander a worried look. “We’re not like that, buddy. I promise. We’re just friends! Just ask Swift!” He tried to smile, tried to ease Salamander’s anger.
Salamander lifted his chin and breathed a puff of smoke. How dare Pirate joke with him like this? Why couldn’t the dragon take something seriously for once? Couldn’t he tell how upset they were?
“Stop lying! Stop joking! Your aggravating jokes aren’t going to get you out of this one, Pirate,” Salamander snapped. Pirate gave them an injured look. “She will never be anything more than your friend. Stop acting like you’re more than that!”
Were those talonsteps?
“I’m telling you, it’s not like that! If you just ask her—”
“Yeah, right. Like she’d tell the truth. I don’t believe you,” Salamander scoffed. I don’t believe your lies. “You’re just trying to get to her first, aren’t you? You want to steal my girlfriend. She’s NOT yours!”
"But… She's not your girlfriend? Unless I missed something,” Pirate replied nervously, stepping away from the riverbank. The movement made something in Salamander stir.
Salamander growled and stalked closer. “Yes, she is. She’s mine. You’re too thick to get it through your skull! Swiftlet is mine and I will have her. I deserve her and she deserves to be mine and you can’t take her from me!”
Pirate dropped his act and puffed out his mane. “She’s not an object, Salamander. She can make her own choices. Deal with it,” he hissed, narrowing his eyes. “You can’t say or think that.”
Salamander curled his lip. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t think!” Nobody will ever tell me what to think again. I’m tired of them trying. His thoughts flashed back to Rat and Mouse. At the thought of his sisters, his dead sisters, he sneered.
“At least I’m not… oh, let’s say… keeping life-changing secrets from her?” Salamander taunted. Pirate recoiled, his eyes widening. His reaction sent a jolt of joy through Salamander and he lashed his tail.
Pirate tried to act ignorant, but Salamander wouldn’t let him. If he wasn’t going to listen, they’d have to attack him from another angle.
Attack him from another angle, his mother’s voice echoed, almost making him flinch.
I’m not like her.
“You know what I mean.” Salamander narrowed his eyes. “Are you ever going to tell her, Pirate? Tell her about her family?” He tossed his head and stamped a talon. “She deserves to know.”
“That’s not—you’re changing the topic!” Pirate retorted, avoiding Salamander's question. “And it’s for her own safety.”
“Her own safety?” Salamander scoffed. “Don’t try to protect her. She can protect herself, can’t she?” When Pirate didn’t reply, he turned his head. “If you don’t tell her, I’ll have to do it myself. Then she’ll see you aren’t her prince in shining scales.”
Suddenly, Pirate lunged. Salamander’s eyes widened and he went rigid. Pirate tackled him and pinned him down. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! their mind screamed, images flashing through their head as they shut their eyes. He felt claws dig into his scales and his eyes snapped open.
No, I’m not. I shouldn’t be sorry. I don’t deserve this! Not again!
Salamander turned his body and slashed his claws across Pirate’s eye. The other dragon shook it off, but satisfaction went through Salamander as he saw that he’d done significant damage.
Pirate started slamming Salamander’s head against the ground. Stars appeared in their vision and they shook their head angrily. They dug their teeth into Pirate’s arm, unbalancing him. He took the chance to tackle the pale dragon, inhaling deeply to breathe a plume of fire. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of purple moving away quickly.
Swiftlet was watching?
Momentarily distracted, he was left off guard as Pirate made another blow. He snapped back at Pirate and shook the thought away. The next few moments passed in bloody flashes. At one point, Salamander’s vision got dark and all he felt was the weight of claws scratching him. He closed his eyes.
Suddenly, the weight was lifted off of him and he blinked. They lifted their head to see the clan leader, Polar, dragging Pirate away with a growl. They quickly scrambled up. He turned to see Swiftlet joining Polar and looking at Pirate and Salamander nervously. His spirits lifted.
“Who started this?” Polar hissed, staring at Swift.
Swifty will back me up. I’m sure of it! She was there, I saw her. He gave Swiftlet a hopeful look. Come on, Swiftylet.
“Salamander started it. Pirate was just defending himself,” Swiftlet told Polar, staring directly at Pirate and then turning her gaze to Salamander.
Salamander’s heart dropped. They stared at Swiftlet. She betrayed them.
She betrayed me.
He barely heard Polar’s order of exile. His ears were ringing. I don't deserve this.
I thought you loved me, he thought to Swiftlet.
Salamander’s stare turned into a hard glare. He dropped his gaze to his talons and stormed off, tail lashing. They chose the fastest route to the exit tunnel. Halfway there, he bumped into another dragon and looked up.
They stared into their mother’s harsh, disapproving gaze. She was disappointed in him and she didn't even know he was exiled. She had always been disappointed in him. They stared at her for a long moment and she glared at them expectantly. When Salamander didn’t move out of her way, she shoved past him and kept walking, leaving him alone.
She never loved me. Swiftlet never loved me.
Salamander turned and stormed off again, heading for the nearest exit with a heavy limp.
No one ever loved me.
But I deserved it.
Swiftlet doesn't. She doesn’t.
She doesn’t deserve to love.
She doesn’t deserve to love ever again.
She’ll never love again.
Not as long as I’m still alive.
=== Robbed (Year 5955 AS) ===
Limping heavily through the tunnels, the wounded dragonet found a small cave far from the city; as far as he could get. They dropped to the floor and lay on their side, breathing shakily. He couldn’t hear the bustling sounds of the city anymore. The only sound that reached his ears was the quiet drip of water somewhere nearby. The near silence was incredibly lonely, and the defeat was overwhelming.
All he really felt was pain and anger, though the fury was beginning to become numb from the pain.
After a few minutes of silence and bleeding, a thought occurred to them
I’m going to die here.
All alone.
And she gets to live with Pirate; happy.
Salamander was reminded of his newfound mission. He growled weakly and forced himself up, yelping with pain.
Stop being such a hatchling! He couldn’t have done that much damage, he scolded himself.
Salamander lifted their head and surveyed the damage, eyes widening as they quickly looked away.
He did.
He cried out again as he pushed himself into a sit, looking around the cave. They looked out at the tunnels, trying to find something that could stop the bleeding, or at least the pain. With a growl, he pulled himself up and stumbled towards the cave entrance, barely able to stay standing.
They looked around, staring at the never-ending tunnels. He’d never been this far, and he couldn’t go back. Shaking his head weakly, he limped further through the tunnels, following the drip of the water.
Just as he thought he was getting close, his claw caught on a sharp rock.
The next moment he found himself falling and barely had time to call “Help!” before the world went dark.
A loud gasp escaped him as Salamander jolted awake. They looked around, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light. Slowly, he pushed himself up and took a moment to examine his surroundings.
He was no longer laying in the dark tunnel that he’d been limping through. They were sitting in a small cave on a bed of moss. There was more moss wrapped around his wounds, which confused him further. There was nothing else in the cave aside from a few stalagmites. The drip of water was gone now, replaced by the loud rumbling of a river.
A river?
Salamander looked out at the cave entrance, where he could faintly see a river.
Am I back in the main tunnels? A flutter of hope rose in his chest, quickly to be replaced by anger. How could I get back there, when no one wants anything to do with me? I’m clearly dead. A ghost forever cursed to wander these stupid tunnels.
“Maybe I can haunt her until she loses her mind and can never feel anything again,” Salamander growled aloud.
“Did I manage to find a vengeful sack of pity wandering the tunnels?” a voice chuckled.
Salamander started, straightening and turning around to see a yellow-orange CavernWing approach. She was carrying a bowl of water and had a small smile on her face. Unlike Pirate’s stupid grin, hers was rather soothing.
Salamander wasn’t about to let their guard down, though. Not again. He glared at the dragon as she approached, fluffing out his mane. She stopped and set the water bowl down carefully.
“Sorry, you’re probably confused,” the CavernWing mused as she sat down. She paused and furrowed her brow. “Did you say you were going to.. haunt someone? Not-so-sorry to say, but you’re not dead enough to do that properly.” She smiled again.
Salamander stayed silent, looking the other dragon up and down. She seemed to be close to his age, and judging by her height she was probably a year or so older than him. After a close examination, she didn’t seem like a dragon making sure he was chased further into the caves. They wondered where she came from if she wasn’t here for them.
How did she find me?
The two dragonets sat there in silence for a while, Salamander looking furious and the yellow-orange dragon looking politely curious.
“My name’s Robber,” the dragonet said at last. “What’s yours?”
Salamander narrowed his eyes. “Salamander.” Had he met this dragon before? She didn’t seem that familiar.
“Were you recently exiled? Those bruises look pretty bad.” Rob-Robin? Robbarn? flicked her tail towards Salamander’s beat up, moss-bandaged body. “If it makes me any friendlier, I was exiled a year ago.” She shrugged and looked down at the bowl of water, pushing it towards him.
Salamander reached forward and took a careful sip of the water, recoiling and pinning their ears.
“Are you usually so quiet or are you just in shock?” Robin… no, Robber asked. She laughed softly. “You probably think you didn’t deserve being exiled. Trust me, Salamander, nobody’s going to believe you. Because, you know what? You do deserve it. And even if you don’t, you’ll just have to accept it. Accept that you’re never going back and you’re nothing more than a monster left to die and haunt these cursed tunnels. No one wants you back and no one’s coming for you.” She snorted. “Life sucks.”
Salamander scowled, momentarily startled by the other dragonet’s harsh tone. “You’re worse than everyone else.” He pushed himself to his talons, wincing. “If you’re going to tell me how to live my life, I’m leaving.”
They stormed past Robber, promptly stumbling and falling onto the hard stone. He yelped in pain and held his throbbing head. He felt Robber walk over and help him back to the moss bed, where he sat down and turned away.
After a moment of silence, in which Salamander’s head had time to stop spinning, the other dragonet mumbled, “Sorry for snapping. I haven’t talked to another dragon in over a year, and I guess I’ve been wanting to vent to someone for a while.” She sighed and Salamander looked over his shoulder.
Realization dawned over them and they turned back to face Robber. “Were you the one who tried killing Polar?”
Robber looked down at her talons and frowned. “Allegedly,” she corrected. “It was an accident, and Polar happened to be walking by. Not that it would’ve been a horrible thing for the world if I’d succeeded,” she mumbled.
Salamander tilted his head and looked away. “Well, I was exiled because of my stupid ex-girlfriend and a very aggravating dragon who tried to steal her from me.”
Robber snorted softly in confusion but didn’t press. “Well, at least we’re not alone anymore.”
Salamander looked up to see her smile at him again. He found himself smiling back, his anger momentarily numbed.
Six months later…
“I don’t see what you think this will accomplish,” Salamander grumbled as he padded close beside Robber. They were so close that their tails brushed against each other while they walked. Each time their tails touched, Salamander was reminded of his time with Swiftlet. This reminder kept him from letting go of her and his feelings for Robber buried.
Some days it didn’t work, though. More often he found his heart beating quickly and his smile widening when he was with Robber. They weren’t sure they had let go of Swiftlet enough to let these feelings strengthen, but the yellow-orange dragon chased their loneliness away.
Six months of wandering the tunnels together and Salamander felt like he knew Robber as long as he’d known Swiftlet.
Should I just give in? Let Swifty—Swiftlet go? Keep her miserable life out of mine? a voice whispered loudly in their head. Robber actually cares about me. I don’t want to let that arrogant purple fool ruin that.
Robber’s voice poked through his thoughts and brought Salamander back to his question. “Yes, I’m sure! Polar the Pompous Purple Tyrant can’t stop us from taking a peek at the Clan.” She smirked at him. “Maybe she’s dead by now and someone cool has taken over.”
Salamander frowned doubtfully. On the days when Robber wasn’t ranting about how unfair it was that both of them had been cast out, she would come up with ridiculous plans that were mostly jokes. Today, however, she’d woken Salamander up in an incredibly happy mood, announcing that the two of them were going to visit the city. Salamander found this plan flawed and they’d pointed out how terrible of an idea that was multiple times. Why couldn’t they just go about their day as usual? Robber was undeterred, though.
Now the two of them were walking through a back tunnel that led to the outskirts of the city.
“I still think this is a bad plan,” Salamander complained. “Can’t you just use your head and do what I want today?”
Robber gave him a playful shove, sending an old familiar jolt through his chest. “You’re so boring, Salamander!” she teased. She saw the offended look on his face and she added, “I don’t mean that seriously. You’re good company, but we always end up doing what you want.” She gave him a softer nudge, her smile soothing Salamander’s anxiety a bit. “There’s no harm in looking.”
Salamander gave her a look but followed her onwards. He sighed loudly but didn’t complain again.
Whiners get—
Shh. You can’t use that anymore, it means nothing to me now.
"It’s not even a plan, anyway, just an idea I wanted to try,” Robber added as they passed a small stream.
But I don’t want to go back. I don’t want that pink rat to ruin this.
Salamander shook their head. What would I even do if I saw her? Maybe we won’t see her. Hopefully, I will. Hopefully, we won’t.
Robber nudged Salamander, looking at him expectantly. He blinked and realized she’d asked him a question. Before he could reply, however, Robber suddenly stopped and gestured for Salamander to do the same. They both pricked their ears, noticing that the familiar sounds of a bustling cave system were becoming louder.
Robber smirked and hurried onward, pulling Salamander gently by the arm. The two of them crept along the tunnel, seeing a light from up ahead.
Robber and Salamander exchanged a glance, Salamander’s heart thumping angrily, excitedly, and nervously.
“Let’s take a look up there,” Robber whispered, gesturing to a large pile of boulders that were from an old cave-in. She hurried toward them, Salamander close behind.
The sound of pebbles tumbling to the ground startled Salamander, and they looked up.
Is that a dragon?
They stared at a crevice in the stone above them, where they thought they saw a tail disappearing.
“Hey, Rob—”
Robber’s furry tail smacked Salamander in the mouth, silencing him. He glared at her as the two of them began climbing the rocks, looking down into the city.
They could see a small portion of the city nearby, close to the tunnel entrance. Dragons were bustling about the buildings, talking loudly and carrying objects that Salamander had forgotten existed.
He could hear Robber breathe excitedly, but Salamander couldn’t join in. He was too busy searching the crowd for any sign of Polar or Swiftlet or perhaps Pirate, but no familiar flashes of color came to his attention. They narrowed their eyes in anger, tail lashing.
I wish one of those idiots were here so I could drop a stalactite on their heads, he hissed internally.
“This is stupid,” Salamander mumbled aloud, turning to stare at Robber. “I wanna go back.”
Robber flashed him a disappointed look. “Oh, come on, it’s not like anyone’s going to see us.” She looked back at the crowd, her eyes flicking back and forth as if she were searching for something.
Or someone.
Salamander hissed, offended at the thought that Robber would even think of replacing him. Did the last six months mean nothing to her? She probably just brought him to the city as an excuse to find some friend or someone less boring than him.
Are you sure that’s what Robber would do? She’s never mentioned anyone important enough to replace you, reasoned a voice in his head. Everyone hates her as much as they hate you. You’re the only one who cares about her.
Salamander frowned. “Did you bring us here for another reason?” they asked carefully.
Robber blinked and turned back to them. “No, why? I just wanted to see this place one more time, maybe see if Polar’s gone.” She smiled at him and glanced back at the city briefly.
Salamander still had his doubts, and the sight of the city upset him further. Without another word, he began to climb back down. He could hear Robber follow him, calling his name softly.
Were those more pebbles falling from up high?
Salamander was about to look up when Robber called to him again. He reached the bottom of the rock pile and paused, back turned to the yellow-orange CavernWing.
“Salamander! What’s wrong? Did you think I was looking for someone else?” Robber called, a tinge of hurt in her voice. More pebbles fell from the ceiling, and Salamander watched the larger stones drop to the ground. He frowned, his thoughts tumbling over each other.
He started walking back down the tunnel, head down and scowl deepening. He could hear other talon steps approaching loudly from the other side of the rock pile, thumping against the stone as if a dragon were running. They weren’t Robber’s talonsteps—they were too light—so he ignored them.
They continued on angrily.
“Wait! Why are you so upset?”
More rocks fell.
"Salamander!”
A sharp cracking sound echoed through the tunnel.
“Come back! Salamander!”
Salamander looked up in time to see a large crack claw its way through the stone above, snarling loudly.
His eyes widened and he spun around to face Robber, who was still yelling.
“Let me explain—”
A sharp crack echoed throughout the tunnel, and the ceiling suddenly fell apart.
Salamander hurried back to Robber. Her eyes were wide and she looked up at the falling stone as she stumbled away.
She had time to look back at Salamander and open her mouth before Robber was crushed.
Salamander skidded to a stop, rocks smashing into him and sending him backward. They rolled onto their side, gasping silently. He clawed his way towards the rocks that replaced Robber, pulling his breath back.
She’s not— She has to be— Robber—
Salamander heaved himself up, stumbling towards the rocks frantically. He collapsed by their side, clawing desperately at the stone. He’d dig Robber out and she’d be fine. Maybe a little bruised, but he could fix her, like she’d fixed him.
I don’t deserve to be isolated again. She doesn’t deserve any sort of demise.
After long, agonizing moments of digging, realization slammed into him.
She’s gone.
She left me.
Grief exploded from his chest, forcing tears out of Salamander’s eyes as the weight of the loss bore down on him.
“No, no, no, no, no.”
Gasping for breath, they let the tears flood down their muzzle and over Robber’s grave of stone.
“R-R—”
A rock tumbled from the heap and banged into Salamander’s nose, making him cry out and look up.
He stared up at a blurry purple figure, his tears clouding his vision. They blinked rapidly and their heart dropped as they recognized the shape above them.
It’s her.
Swiftlet was climbing through the rocks, digging beside a gray-brown dragon that looked as devastated as Salamander.
His stomach tightened and he snarled, gaze hardening.
Swiftlet was here. She’s the one I saw escaping through the crevice.
She caused this.
She took Robber away from me.
Salamander threw a rock against the walls of the tunnel, smashing it into pebbles. He spun around and stormed off, stumbling in pain and grief and anger. They were blinded by hot tears as they forced themself back through the tunnel.
I don’t deserve this isolation.
Robber didn’t deserve her demise.
He could feel his heart harden as he stopped in a dark passage, breathing heavily.
Salamander glared into the darkness.
I’ll make her see what she deserves.
We’ll make her see.
There were other Outcasts wandering the tunnels, dragons of other Clans and crimes.
Dragons that understood his pain.
Dragons he could use.
Salamander forced himself further into the black passage, cold anger overwhelming him.
She’ll see. They’ll all see.
I won’t let anyone take anything from me ever again. I’ll be in control.
I won’t let this go again. I won’t let her go, either of them. I won’t let Robber go. I won’t let Swiftlet thrive.
She’ll have to survive.
===Revenge Is Almost Mine (Year 5956 AS)===
Would she be proud? Would either of them? Salamander’s thoughts drifted back to Robber again, as they often did. Unfortunately, they also tended to make their way to his mother’s existence. They hated it when they had to think about her, but sitting here and planning made it hard not to. He had to wonder if his mother would approve of this new goal. Probably not. When had she ever approved of their ideas, let alone their existence?
Salamander forced himself to think back to Robber and his mission. Robber would be proud. She would want him to avenge her. Would she? whispered that nagging voice in his head.
He pushed it away. This would work and she would have to be proud. He just needed one more dragon to make it work.
Well, two.
Salamander’s gaze returned to the purple dragon a few feet away. She would be valuable indeed. They narrowed their eyes and frowned. The resemblance between this dragon and Swiftlet was uncanny, and his mind seemed to be trying to dig up some buried memory. They didn’t want to be around a dragon so similar to Swiftlet, but they had to if they wanted this to work.
Just you wait, Salamander internally promised Robber. She’ll soon be dealt with. They paused and growled quietly. Robber was gone. What were they trying to tell her? She couldn’t hear him now, but he could at least fix all this.
He just needed—
“Do you need something?” a voice interrupted his thoughts.
Salamander blinked, returning from his vengeful daze. The purple dragon in front of him had noticed his presence at last and was giving him an odd look. He stood and slid out of the shadows, giving the other dragonet a better examination. He nodded slightly to himself.
“You’re Corvus’s daughter,” he mused, watching her carefully. A direct approach usually got a reaction out of dragons and gave him information that he needed. They’d learned this as they’d begun gathering Outcasts together for the last few weeks.
The other dragonet nodded slowly. Salamander puffed out his mane slightly as he stared. What was this one’s name again? Sunnell? Suntell? S… Sandlot? That sounded right. He’d heard from other Outcasts that Corvus, the well-known hybrid medic, had taken this purple dragon in a few years back. She was definitely his age, give or take a year.
“Yeah,” Sun— er, Sandlot replied, poking Salamander out of his thoughts again. “Why? Do you need him for something?” She sat down and lifted her head, irking something in Salamander. “Because you can just go talk to him yourself…”
Ugh, she already looks as stuck-up as the other purple one, they thought with disgust, narrowing their eyes. And she already questions me! I can’t get distracted by that, though. I can’t let her get away. She won’t question me soon enough. None of them will.
Salamander snapped himself out of his thoughts as the other dragonet continued, “…you don’t need to go through me.”
You have no idea.
They gave her another quick examination. “It would be faster to speak with both of you at once,” he reasoned and she nodded.
“Well, I was going to head back now anyway, so I guess you can come with me,” S… Sandlot replied.
You guess? Like you have any authority over me? Salamander forced themself to push their frustration away. Soon enough.
“Who are you, anyway?” the purple dragonet asked. “I don’t think we’ve ever met before. I’m Sawtell, but you probably know that.” She was still giving him an odd look as if trying to fit him with an image in her head. He shook it off.
As she began leading him along the passageway, realization hit him.
Wait, Sawtell? “Sawtell?” Salamander echoed quietly. He would probably need to work on that. He shook his head quickly and looked back up. “I’m Salamander.” A name you’ll have to remember.
Sand— no, Sawtell smiled at him softly. He looked away. That was good, she was beginning to warm up to him. He told himself he wasn’t feeling the same. He couldn’t feel the same. Not with her, or any other dragon.
They padded along in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. His mind was still straining to recognize this dragon, though they’d just barely met. Maybe he was just caught up in the fact that he was almost finished with his goal. He was beginning to recognize where they were going, and he figured they were getting closer to Corvus.
“So, what do you need Corvus for? You don’t look hurt, or sick,” Sawtell mused at last. Salamander just scowled at her so she turned back around. The question still worked its way into his thoughts, though.
He’ll accept the offer, won’t he? Salamander worried. He needed a medic for this to work. He shook his head. They had to remind themself they had another option. You sound like a hatchling. You at least need S… Saw… tell. Sawtell. The reasonable voice in his head sounded painfully similar to his sister.
If only Robber could see this, Salamander thought sadly. The thought was brief, but the surge of emotion still hurt. He shook his head again and looked back at Sawtell. They needed to focus.
Once they’d arrived at the cave, Salamander hurried past Sawtell and headed straight for Cor… vid? No, Corvus. He’d spotted the hybrid a few feet ahead and wanted to get this over with. The hybrid glanced back at Sawtell briefly before turning to Salamander.
“What do you need?” the older dragon asked, his wings tucked at his sides. Salamander had heard about this dragon many times, but it was still odd to see someone so close in appearance to his tribe look so different.
Focus.
They took a moment to give the purple dragon a closer look. He seemed to be openly friendly and easy to convince. They’d have to hope their initial thoughts were right. It was easier to read Sawtell than this dragon, which was saying something.
He’s willing to listen, so hurry it up and talk, snapped his conscience.
Fluffing out his mane and lifting his head, Salamander began, “I’ve heard much of your profound abilities and have come to realize they would be useful for us.” For me. “You’re talented in the medical field, are you not?” This was the most effective tone for this dragon, wasn’t it?
Apparently not. The dragon in front of him was clearly amused, and Salamander could hear a small snort from behind them. They scowled.
How dare he not take me seriously? He has no idea how hard I’ve been working for this. They forced themself to keep a calm demeanor. Just ignore him. He’s still listening.
“Right. Well, I appreciate the flattery, but what are you really here for?” Cor… Corvus asked. Salamander could hear the lack of respect, but he had to ignore it for now.
They lifted their head and smiled, forcing the gesture out of them. It took a moment for him to make it more natural, but it wasn’t noticeable enough for Corvus to suspect him. He needed this dragon’s trust.
“Well, I’m gathering the Outcasts together for one common goal; the fall of Polar and Swiftlet,” Salamander hissed, trying to sound commanding. “You would be welcomed into my group and valued. We need you… Corvus.” Right? Corvus? “Will you join us? Both of you?” He turned his attention back to Sawtell, remembering her presence.
Salamander blinked at Sawtell as cheerfully as he could before turning back to Corvus. The hybrid hesitated as if considering. He then shook his head.
Three moons, what does it take for dragons to listen to me around here?
“I can’t speak for Sawtell, but I won’t join you,” Corvus growled. “As much as I dislike Polar and how she runs things, I refuse to be part of something that would result in more pain.” You refuse?
Salamander scowled, his mask of amiability slipping. I can’t run these losers without a medic! They won’t listen to someone who can’t promise them security. ARGH. Just JOIN ME. It’s NOT THAT HARD. He kept himself rigid as he internally snarled.
Calm DOWN, you featherbrain! snapped his sister’s voice. They almost flinched at the thought. You have another option, so stop acting like a bratty hatchling and get over it!
SHUT UP. Aloud, Salamander replied, “Pity. I could’ve used someone like you.” His gaze drifted to Sawtell and he let his scowl relax. She still trusts me, doesn’t she?
“Will you come, anyway?” he asked with a toothy smile. “You’re needed, whether or not you come with.. Corvus.” He arranged his smile to seem genuine and desperate. They had to make her think they cared about her.
He could see the purple dragonet contemplate the offer. She knew what he needed, and she knew she could give it. At least someone has a heart.
At last, she nodded. Salamander smiled widely. “Of course I’ll join you. You still need a medic.” She smiled back at him and he relaxed.
He’d gained her trust.
Finally.
Revenge is almost mine.
== Sawtell's Story ==
Written by SkyDragonAerial
=== Revenge Is A Choice (Year 5956 AS) ===
Sawtell didn't notice the other dragonet until she turned around, which startled her. She hadn't even realised she was being watched, and it was a bit unsettling. She was pretty sure she hadn’t seen him before, but he was tucked away in a shadowy corner, hidden by his dark colours. She stared at him for a brief moment, trying to identify him. He stared right back at her, frowning slightly. 
“Do you need something?” Sawtell asked, and the other dragon blinked briefly, like he was startled out of his thoughts. He stood up and walked over to her, giving Sawtell the distinct feeling that he was inspecting her. She definitely hadn’t met him before, she would have remembered his scars if she had. He had dark blue scales, claw scars over one eye, and his grey-blue mane had paler blue markings. 
“You’re Corvus’ daughter.” He said, more telling her than asking. Sawtell nodded slowly, still confused. It wasn’t rare for other OutCasts to ask Corvus for medical help, but usually they would go straight to him, not wait for her to talk to them. It was true, Corvus had taught her a little, but she definitely didn’t trust herself to deal with any serious injuries. 
“Yeah. Do you need him for something? Because you can just go talk to him yourself, you don’t need to go through me.” Sawtell said, sitting back and resettling her mane. She didn’t want him to think he was making her uncomfortable, even though he definitely was. He narrowed his eyes at her, still being slightly unnerving.
“Hmm. It would be faster to speak with both of you at once.” He said, and Sawtell nodded again.
“Well, I was going to head back now anyway, so I guess you can come with me.” She said, trying to move around him. “Also, who are you? I don’t think we’ve ever met before. I’m Sawtell, but you probably know that.” At least, she was pretty sure they’d never met, but there was a tiny part of her mind that was desperately trying to place him in her faintest memories, from before she was exiled. She glanced over at him, and he started following her back to the cave where she lived with Corvus.
“Sawtell?” He said quietly, like he had been expecting her to say something else. He shook his head quickly, and looked at her again. “I’m Salamander.” He added. Sawtell gave him a small smile, which got no response, not that she expected anything. He didn’t say anything else, and she didn’t either, so it was quiet for a little bit. It wasn’t an awkward silence though, which was nice. It felt like Sawtell was walking with a friend, not the strange dragonet she’d just met. 
“So, what do you need Corvus for? You don’t look hurt, or sick.” Sawtell said, curious. Salamander just scowled, and ignored her question. She felt a bit hurt, but she understood. She didn’t need to know his personal problems if he didn’t want to share them with her. She was still practically a dragonet, and he didn’t even know her. Of course he wouldn’t want to share anything with her.
They didn’t speak until they reached the cave, and even then Salamander just pushed past her and went right over to Corvus, who had heard them approaching. Sawtell was going to say something, but then didn’t. Corvus gave her an amused glance, and then looked at Salamander.
"What do you need help with?” Corvus asked him, tucking his large wings close to his sides. He was taller than the average CaveWing, and with his deep purple wings, he could be intimidating sometimes, but he was one of the nicest dragons Sawtell knew. 
Salamander was silent for a moment, examining the older dragon. At last, he responded, "I've heard much of your profound abilities and have come to realise they would be useful for us. You're talented in the medical field, are you not?" Corvus looked amused, and Sawtell had to try and hide her laughter. 
“I appreciate the flattery, but really, what are you here for?” He asked. Salamander lifted his head and smiled. It looked strained and fake, but the falter was brief and his smile quickly became genuine. Sawtell was pretty sure Corvus hadn’t noticed, but she had. Salamander intrigued her, and she wanted to know what he was up to.
"Well, I'm gathering the Outcasts together for one common goal; the fall of Polar and Swiftlet. You would be welcomed into my group and valued. We need you, Corvus." He had an odd look on his face, as if he were concentrating. "Will you join us? Both of you?" He finally looked at Sawtell, as if just remembering she was there. Corvus hesitated, then shook his head.
“I can’t speak for Sawtell, but I won’t be joining you. As much as I dislike Polar and how she runs things, I won’t be part of something that would result in just more pain.” He explained. Sawtell felt another brief flash of recognition. She knew who Polar was, of course, but Swiftlet? Why would that name be familiar? She pushed the thought aside, it wasn’t important.
Salamander scowled at the hybrid, apparently struggling to keep his composure. "Pity. I could've used someone like you." His gaze turned to Sawtell and his scowl relaxed. "Will you come, anyway?" he asked her. "You're needed, whether or not you come with Corvus." His smile returned, his teeth showing as if he were desperate. Sawtell was surprised he’d asked her directly, and she scrambled to find an answer. If Salamander really needed a medic, and Corvus refused, he’d be stuck if anything happened to one of his dragons. Sawtell, while not being as skilled as her dad, knew what to do for minor injuries, and even that was better than nothing.
Sawtell nodded, and Salamander’s smile widened. “Of course I’ll join you. Having a medic is important.” She said, smiling back at him. After all, Polar had exiled dragons she cared about for no real reason, and Sawtell wanted to get back at her for it. Not just for herself, but for Corvus, and now Salamander.
== Pirate's Story ==
Written by TheMangoPirate
=== Over the Edge (Year 5955 AS) ===
Pirate made his way down the tunnels, heading for the place Salamander had told him to meet. He moved with a quick and easy grace, although he stopped along the way a few times, distracted by some shiny rock or interesting stalactite. Eventually meandering into the more open area, he spotted Salamander, his reason for coming here. He still had no idea why he was here; probably wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Maybe Salamander wanted a one on one playdate! That would be fun. He started to sneak up from behind, fully intending to jump him. However, a tickle in his throat forced him to clear it, and Salamander turned around. Pirate instantly grinned, if a little awkwardly, trying to act as if he totally hadn’t been about to tackle his friend. “So, uh…why did you want to meet me here?” He asked casually, wandering over and plopping next to him almost playfully. He was obviously not here to cause trouble or anything, just wanting to have fun.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.” Salamander snapped, causing Pirate to start a little. Okay, so definitely not in a good mood. His signature, goofy grin wavered slightly. What’s going on?! Why is he mad? What did I do this time? Did I prank him recently?
“Huh…? What do you mean by that? What don’t I know?” He asked, his brain scrambling to transition from goofy and carefree to…well, he didn’t know. The sudden sharp moment struck a chord in him that only Polar had previously, instantly making him a cross of defensive and apologetic. He desperately clung to the only other strong emotion; confusion.
“I MEAN I saw you and Swift in that cave together!” Salamander roared angrily. His eyes were snapping fire, and Pirate flinched ever so slightly, his smile looking almost painted on at this point. Act like you knew. Act like this isn’t a big deal. Just don’t react, for moons sake!
“Uh…I knew that. Yeah. Totally. I saw you spying on us. Again.” He added, just in case Salamander had done it before. He wasn’t very aware, really, of anything that happened around him, he only got lucky a few times when he noticed something obvious and made a big deal out of it. Apparently, the other dragonets made it out to be much cooler than it was. He sincerely hoped Salamander wasn’t overestimating him in that way. Pirate sure hated to disappoint...and yet he always did, according to Polar.
“Look, I just want you to know that you two will never be more than friends, okay?” Salamander snapped in a slightly snobbish tone, this time causing Pirate to frown. He hated dragons who thought they were better than everyone else; that was a pet peeve of his. Still, though, he was a bit confused as to where this was going.
“I mean…I kinda figured we would…?” He could hope though, obviously. But childhood crushes were completely normal, right?
“Oh really? Why was she hanging out with you like that then?” Salamander snarled. His mood wasn’t getting any better, and his fur was puffing out now, confusing Pirate a little bit more. What under the moons got his tail in a tizzy? 
“Like what? We just play together. That’s completely normal.” Pirate replied, trying to calm his friend down. They were friends, right? He always saw Salamander as one, but it didn’t appear that he had felt the same way. “Playing. Right. Playing my feelings is more like it! You two are WAY closer than you should be!”
Oh.
Oh so that was where they were going.
Oh dear.
“We’re not like that, buddy, I promise! Just ask Swift, we’re just friends! Nothing more, I swear!” Pirate exclaimed in sudden sharp, clarified worry, in an attempt to try to gain at least some credibility. If Salamander didn’t believe him, he might believe Swift. Just smile. Smile and act as if everything’s okay. Laughter is contagious, right? Shouldn’t smiling be too?
Salamander obviously didn’t think so, as his mane was puffing out to something reminiscent of a porcupine. Pirate couldn’t help but think that he would find that hilarious in any other situation. “Stop lying! Stop joking! Your aggravating jokes won’t get you out of this one, Pirate!” The way he practically spat the light blue CavernWing’s name made him flinch a little and he gave Salamander a look of both hurt and confusion. He hadn’t been joking…? What had Salamander seen as a joke?!
Wait. Did he just hear something? Who was there?
He flicked an ear towards the sound, something like talonsteps. However, he just shrugged it off; probably just a little cave creature that was scared off by Salamander’s obnoxious behavior. “I’m telling you, it's not like that!” He exclaimed. “If you would just calm down and ask her-”
“Yeah, right. Like she’d tell the truth. I don’t believe you. You’re just trying to get her first, aren’t you?” Salamander sneered. Just the outright doubt of Swift’s honesty made Pirate feel a slight twinge of defensive anger. She tells the truth every time, you half baked badger! If you REALLY loved her, you would know that! Ugh. Maybe if we just don’t react in kind he’ll stop. Is he just looking for a reaction or something?
“She’s not your girlfriend, though.” Pirate tried to still act somewhat nervous and unassuming, stepping away from the riverbank slightly, but not because he was scared. If things got down to it, he didn’t want the water at his back. He wanted the advantage of being the farthest away from the water. Push him under the waves, if he needed to. Just like Polar would have expected him to-
No.
He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t do what Polar wanted him to. Just the thought angered him. She was always trying to provoke him, poke and prod him to react. And it always worked.
Just like it was now.
Salamander’s voice snapped him back to reality. “Yes, she is. She’s mine. You’re too thick to get it through your skull! Swiftlet is mine and I will have her. I deserve her and she deserves to be mine and you can’t take her from me!” He closed the small distance Pirate had created, growling aggressively. Expecting Pirate to back off again, like some cowering cave animal.
He had another thing coming.
This time, Pirate stayed firmly in place, his own fur starting to rise. Dropping his pretense of confusion and nervousness. “She’s not an object, Salamander. She can make her own choices. Deal with it.” He narrowed his eyes, crouching slightly. “You can’t think or say that. It’s wrong.” If Salamander wanted a fight, he would give him one. He wasn’t even thinking about Polar anymore, just about Swift. She deserved better than this…this absolute scumbag! How dare he even think of Swift like an object?
“You can’t tell me what I can and can’t think!” Salamander sneered, before his expression changed slightly to something Pirate absolutely despised. Smugness. Triumph. Polar. Polar... “At least I’m not… oh, let’s say… keeping life-changing secrets from her?”
Pirate physically recoiled. Wait...no. That was impossible...he knew too?! How did he know about that? Who told him? He sputtered slightly, for once at a real loss for words.
Salamander obviously enjoyed Pirate’s reaction, as he pressed further. Prodding the bull into the bullfight. “You know what I mean. Are you ever going to tell her, Pirate? Tell her about her family?” He sneered, tossing his head like some privileged higher being. It angered Pirate to no end, despite his shock. Just…just deny it. Or better yet, avoid it. Don’t let him use that as leverage against either one of you. It sounded so much like something Polar would say, that last part, but he had to admit she was right.
“That’s not—you’re changing the topic!” Pirate retorted angrily, his fur standing up a bit more as each second went by, a testimony of his rising fury. “I’m just trying to protect her! It's for her own safety!” “Her own safety, really.” Salamander scoffed, rolling his eyes. “She can protect herself perfectly fine without her knight in shining scales following her around like some lost puppy.” Too far.
Too far.
Go for the legs. Disable motion, make your prey an easier target.
Polar was coaching him. The 1-on-1 training classes she took with him. Always using his anger as fuel. Just like now. He never felt the desire to kill so terribly as he did now though.
And then he lunged, seeing pure red across his vision. He could stop himself, but he didn’t. Salamander deserved this. His prey's eyes were widening in horror. Realizing what he had done. Realizing that he could only take so much. Realizing that he had just made the mistake of his life. He was scared.
Good. He should be. His claws dug into Salamander’s shoulder. He had missed his initial target, the joint where his forearm met the larger part of his arm. He had overshot it. Oh well. The shoulder was fine too. Once the target is immobilized, go for the throat, specifically the voicebox if you want a silent kill. If you want a more bloody, showy kill, go slightly left for the artery. His head shot forward, teeth bared, ears flattened. Aiming for the throat. Just as Polar had instructed him. Claws met his face, and he jerked back with a snarl of pain. His eye was on fire, blood pouring into it and making it hard to see. His head shook back and forth like a rabid dog, trying to clear his head and eye. He roared, his anger merely heightened by the injury. Adrenaline hid the extent of the pain from him, and he grabbed Salamander’s head, slamming it repeatedly into the stony ground, blinded by blood and rage. Not even Polar’s voice in his mind could cut through the cold-blooded fury. He just reacted off of purely feral instinct, a beast-like maw in his brain that burned like a fire and chilled him to the bone at the same time. Pain cut through him as Salamander sunk his teeth into Pirate’s arm. He screamed and jerked back, that moment of maniacal rage gone, shattered by a feeling of sharp, intense pain. Fire engulfed his arm and he screamed in anger and pain, shoving back at Salamander with his hind legs in a kicking motion. He didn’t react this time, but Pirate didn’t have time to look into what had distracted him. All he could think of was revenge and blood and claws and protect and slash and revenge-
Polar’s voice suddenly cut through the bloody haze, and it wasn’t in his mind this time. He only barely registered it before she bodily heaved him off of Salamander.
“Who started this?” She demanded angrily, her eyes landing on Swift. Pirate stared down at the ground. He was in big trouble. He hadn’t even known Swift was there; she had seen his anger, hadn’t she? She had seen Pirate ripping into another dragonet like some feral monster. Was that all he was? Just a bloody monster? That was surely all he would be to her, at least. Polar had been trying to train him that way. Had she succeeded? It didn’t matter anymore; her so-called ‘masterpiece’ had malfunctioned. He would undoubtedly be OutCast.
“Salamander started it. Pirate was just defending himself.”
Pirate blinked, trying to register what had just happened. Did he just hear that right, or…? He glanced over at Swift, relief written all over his face. Her gaze just nervously brushed over him and went back to Polar, as did his after a second of surveying the damage he had done to Salamander. He felt horrified and shocked. Had…had he really done that? All of that?
“If that’s true,” Polar glared harshly at Swift, “then both of you are exiled. The attacker is exiled for life, and you, Pirate, are only exiled for a year.” That was all he heard. Exiled. I’m exiled.
Pirate followed Salamander up the cave tunnels in a mix of shock and dread and a ton of other emotions that he didn’t have the energy to sort out. He was glad that it wasn’t for forever, but still. A year without his family, without Swift, without Polar. Well…he rather looked forward to that last one. He watched as Polar brushed past him somewhat roughly to make sure Salamander actually left, and glanced back at Swift. They were alone for now. Taking a few seconds to collect his scattered brains, he couldn’t help but feel terrible for leaving her behind with an ogre like Polar.
“Say, uh…I don’t know how much of that you saw, but I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have seen any of that, argh…” He sighed, wanting to avoid eye contact while at the same time wanting one last look into her eyes. He wouldn’t see her for a year, after all. “Look, can you tell my parents and Rock about this? And uh…I’ll miss you. Obviously. But like-” He was cut off suddenly as Swift threw herself at him, hugging him fiercely. He blushed, starting to glance back to make sure Salamander couldn’t see this before something happened that he could have never expected.
Swift kissed him.
Pirate just froze up. He had a multitude of different response mechanisms, but his body chose to react like a deer caught in torchlight as he tried to process what just happened. Did she just…did I…did ANYONE see that? Did that just even happen?! He finally blinked a few times, looking around; by now Swift was long gone. He slowly raised a talon to his face, still in complete shock. He only budged when he heard Polar bustling back down the tunnel, yelling his name angrily and impatiently. He scuttled back up, risking one last glance behind him at the city. He would miss it, but now he had to leave. He would come back though. Rock needed him for his plans. And Swift needed him. Too much was depending on his return.
No pressure.
== Corvus's Story ==
Written by SkyDragonAerial
=== Exiled (Year 5947 AS) ===
Corvus hadn’t expected anything out of the ordinary to happen, so Polar sending two of her guards to the hospital to retrieve him hadn’t been a part of his schedule that day. Retrieve. That's what the guards, Marsh and Golden, had said, but judging by the worried, scared, and nervous looks he'd gotten from the other medics, this wasn't a simple meeting with the clan leader.
He’d known for a while that he had to be careful to stay on his clan leader’s good side, since Polar’s distrust of hybrids was pretty well-known. Bear had warned him when he'd started working at the hospital that he had to stay away from Polar, that she'd use any small incident as an excuse to get rid of someone she didn't like. Corvus couldn't imagine disobeying his leader, and the thought of exile terrified him.
"But… why? I didn't do anything." He protested. Corvus was surprised he'd managed to keep a low profile for such a long time, but it looked like that was over, now that he was nine years old. Polar probably just didn’t want to ruin her image by throwing him out as a dragonet.
“Stop stalling, Corvus.” Marsh said, glaring at him. Corvus glanced over at the hospital door, wondering if Bear was still there. She’d been there when Polar’s guards showed up, so she knew what was happening. Corvus turned back to Marsh and Golden, his wings pulled close so they would know he wasn’t trying to escape. 
"Sorry. I'll go now." He said quietly. He didn’t want to give these two an excuse to attack him. If this is what was going to happen to him, he wouldn’t make it any worse.
The two older dragons started walking him to Polar’s cabin, and Golden grabbed his arm, dragging Corvus along. He didn’t struggle, because that would have just made it worse. He didn’t even know what reason Polar could have come up with to get rid of him, he had never done anything to make her mad. At least if she didn’t have a good reason, the rest of the clan would know something was up. 
They had made it about halfway when they were stopped by Rock. Corvus felt bad for him, it wasn’t his fault that his sister was evil, even if he was the reason that she became leader in the first place. Corvus had always thought that the only reason Polar hadn’t exiled him by now was because she wanted to keep an eye on her older brother.
"What's going on?" Rock asked, looking between Marsh, Golden, and Corvus. His expression changed to one of realization a moment later. "Polar’s making a big mistake here if she goes through with this. Exiling a medic? Really?" He asked, getting no response from either guard.
"I can take him from here." Rock offered, apparently trying a different tactic to make the guards free Corvus. He wasn’t sure why Rock was doing this, they didn’t really know each other, but he appreciated it. There weren’t many dragons in the clan who trusted Rock, on either side. The dragons who disliked Polar hated him for helping her get power, and Polar’s supporters thought he was planning something to overthrow her. 
“Good try, but no.” Golden snorted, their grip tightening. Corvus winced, trying to keep himself from yelping. He was pretty sure Golden’s claws had pierced his scales, and he could smell his own blood. Apparently Rock could smell it too, and he recoiled. 
“He’s bleeding, Golden. What do you think he’s going to do, run away? Doesn’t Polar want him to leave?” Rock snapped, darting forwards and ripping Golden’s talon off of Corvus’s arm. Corvus stumbled away, a bit stunned. Rock turned, his mane fluffed up, keeping himself between Corvus and the guards. 
“Corvus, run!” Rock hissed, and Corvus didn’t think twice. He bolted, running as fast as he could towards the cave entrance. 
He didn’t see Polar until he ran directly into her.
“Well, well. Are you trying to run, Corvus?” She said, with a chilling laugh. Corvus immediately froze, he knew what was going to happen. He stared at his talons, hoping she would just exile him now. Instead, she looked over him to where Rock was still facing off with Marsh and Golden.
“Of course. My brother helped you.” She spat. “He doesn’t know what’s coming for him, does he?” Corvus guessed she was muttering to herself, and felt even worse for Rock. 
“As for you.” Polar said, staring down at Corvus. “Get. Out.” She said, taking a step towards him. Corvus paled, and ran for the exit again, his thoughts spinning.
Rock just put himself in danger to protect me. Can I ever repay him? If I ever get the chance, I will.
=== Rescued (Year 5949 AS) ===
Corvus shifted his wings, trying to stay silent while he ran through the cramped tunnel. He wasn’t used to hiding with another dragon, but he knew this dragonet wouldn’t survive for very long on her own. That may have even been Polar's plan, now that he thought about it. At least the dragonet was staying quiet as well, although that might have been because she was only half awake. If he hadn’t found her, she wouldn’t have made it at all.
It wasn’t long before they made it back to his main hideout, a small cave that he’d been living in for a few years now. It wasn’t a very nice spot, as most of the ones near the water were already taken, and Corvus didn’t want to start a conflict. After all, he only needed enough room for himself. At least, that had been the case, but now he had a dragonet to raise. That was an issue for another time, right now, he just needed to make sure she would survive.
He gently laid the dragonet down on his sleeping spot, and looked her over more carefully. She wasn’t badly injured, which was good, and she was very young, probably a little less than a year old. Corvus scowled. Polar had gone too far this time, exiling a dragonet. He guessed she hadn’t even done anything really bad. Maybe her parents had annoyed the clan leader, and Polar had decided to take it out on their dragonet, which was harsh even for her. Corvus shook those thoughts away and returned his attention to the dragonet. She was stirring now, and he settled down so she could see him properly.
“Hello. My name is Corvus. Who are you? What happened?” He asked gently, and the dragonet’s eyes went wide, she must have been terrified. He pulled his wings close to his sides, making himself look smaller. “I’m not going to hurt you, I want to help. Are you okay?” He asked again. The dragonet nodded slowly, after glancing around quickly.
“I’m Sawtell.” She whispered. “Polar threw me out of the city for nothing.” Corvus frowned, his tail lashing slightly. He’d been thrown out for ‘plotting against the leader’, but it was obviously because he was an obvious hybrid. Unlike him, this dragonet looked like a normal Cavern CaveWing, but maybe…
“Who are your parents?” Corvus asked. Sawtell was slightly familiar, and he had a hunch. He faintly remembered when Polar became leader, and the rumors that had surrounded her false win and stolen leadership. It had been her brother fighting for her, a dragon Corvus didn’t really know named Rock. Sawtell blinked, thinking for a moment.
“Um, my mama’s name is Bear. My dad is Rock.” She said, and Corvus sighed. He knew it. Polar was just punishing her brother, possibly out of fear that he could beat her in a straight fight, but if she threatened his family, then Rock wouldn’t fight back. It was smart, in an evil way, which Corvus thought was a very apt descriptor for everything Polar did. He recognized the name Bear as well, she had been one of the other dragons working at the hospital with him before his exile. “Can I go back home now?” Sawtell asked, and Corvus had to shake his head.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t. It sucks, but it’s the clan rules. I’ll take care of you now, okay? I’ll keep you safe.” Corvus promised her, and Sawtell looked nervous. Soon, though, she nodded again. He smiled at her gently. “We’ll be okay, I promise.” He was a bit surprised when Sawtell pressed close to his side, but then he smiled and curled his tail around her protectively.
I guess I’m her dad now, aren’t I? She doesn’t have anyone else, so it looks like we’re a little family. I don’t mind that, actually.
== Rock's Story ==
Written by SkyDragonAerial
===Year 5938 AS===
Rock had never been able to connect with his little sister, even after being her only family for three years now. Polar had always been an angry dragonet, but now she was worse. Rock knew it was because of their mother, and although he also wished she hadn't left them behind, he thought Polar was overreacting. 
He was pulled out of his thoughts by a knock on the door, talonsteps, and a loud screech that could only have come from his four-year-old sister. Rock peeked out of his room, and stopped dead in his tracks. 
“Mother?” He whispered, stunned. Polar was still holding the door open, her mane fluffed up, pure fury on her face. On the other side of the door stood their mother. The dragon who'd abandoned them after their father died. She looked pretty much exactly how he remembered her, and she was holding a small, dark purple dragonet. 
“Rock. Oh, it's so good to see you again.” Tetra smiled at him, but he couldn’t look at her. Polar stalked away from the door, and Tetra stepped inside, settling her new dragonet on the nearest pile of pillows. Rock just kind of stared at her, confused.
“Why? Why did you come back?” Rock asked, his voice quiet. He'd been three when she left, and he blamed himself for Polar’s anger. He hadn't been old enough to raise his sister on his own, and the dragon who should have been there for them was back, about three years too late.
“Who's that?” Polar spat, glaring down at the dragonet, who had sat up, his little wings spread wide, displaying the star patterns scattered across them. Tetra smiled, looking warmly down at the dragonet.
“That's your brother. Corvus.” She said, scooping Corvus up and hugging him. “His father is a NightWing, but I know he'll fit right in here.” 
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)