FadeWings (PrincessSharpThrustOfTheThornWings)

for 2023 tribe contest
would strongly advise seeing in mobile site
== Notes ==
* Please feel free to take creative liberty with your FadeWing designs! Just as lizards and salamanders can have crests, stripes, spots, long bodies, short bodies, and colorful eyes, FadeWings can have them as well!
* There is no FadeWing bloodline that specifically carries the gene for animus magic, unlike that of the SeaWing royalty. Every few generations an animus dragon pops up, but almost always from varying families. Probably due to the instablity of FadeWing genes
== Description ==
=== Physical Antanomy ===
Slender is the first word that almost certainly will appear in the minds of someone that gazes upon a FadeWing.
Their bodies are long, graceful, with no sharp edges or uneven places. A FadeWing's tail is snakelike in appearance, and very flexible and rubbery, to the point that the dragon can tie it in a knot or grasp it in their mouth (which some FadeWings actually do attempt, as it saves time disentangling the tail from sharp brambles when walking among forests or thick shrubbery). Their heads are of medium length, and their noses are round. FadeWings have sloping foreheads, and their eyes rest in a deep cavity of an eye socket. FadeWings usually have large wings, though their flight speed is no match for the TempestWings' or the SkyWings'.
FadeWings are usually tall and thin, though dragons on the short and plump side have been noted occasionally. There is a reason for this, as they glide a lot when they are flying and as the wind currents are very strong where they live, strength is needed to fight them. Most FadeWing muscles are packed tight together under smooth skin, rendering them almost invisible, but anyone who has arm wrestled with one can confirm their existence. Their snouts are long and cone-shaped, similar to that of a swallow or other species of bird.
FadeWing wings are wide and leathery at the very top. Despite their size, the muscles that ought to support them and aid them to fly faster than SkyWings are tiny and barely enough to force them into the air, let alone allow them speed. It is true that if they made more of an effort to fly fast, stronger muscles would be evolved over enough time, but FadeWings are fine with simply doing what the odd muscles allow them to do with as much perfection as you please: glide.
=== General Appearance ===
FadeWings don't appear to be made of scales at all. Instead, the surface of their strange 'skin' (if you could call it that) shines like a mirror, and is oddly slimy to the touch, as if it was made of dewdrops instead of biological material.
The rest of their bodies simply stress this. FadeWings have no spikes or such along their spines, having instead round, white pearls poking out in a steady stream along their backs. Their horns are normal, long and bone-white, but the color seems a little unnatural for some.
As their name suggests, their colors tend to lean on the lighter side of the spectrum: pastel oranges, light aquamarines, silvery crimsons, the like. FadeWing colors vary, but are more often than not the 'mother' colors: red, yellow, and blue. Other colors are less seen in society, even though they do exist. FadeWings cannot have more than two base colors, and even though there are legends that tell of a rainbow-colored FadeWing, such a dragon would be impossible in real life, scientists say. A 'traditional' FadeWing is normally seen as a richer golden color, with green hints here and there, and depicitions of the tribe in scrolls are often as such.
=== Defining Traits ===
==== Translucid Fade ====
FadeWings, just like their name suggests, have a fade. This is more of a defensive weapon than an offensive one, as it is not the fade itself that destroys their enemies, but an overconfidence in the enemy itself. The reason is that this fade makes them look around 25% smaller and less threatening than they really are. The edges of their bodies are transparent, allowing the objects behind them to be easily seen, making them seem smaller than they actually are. This has a great role in battle, when FadeWings have a tendancy to be underestimated in size by their opponents, especially those from different tribes.
This was evolved long before the Scorching, to help conceal the poor FadeWings in their homes from the scavengers, as they had no huge natural defenses, but now it's just a slightly creepy trait that gives dragons impressive bragging rights.
==== Spots ====
FadeWings are mostly covered with gray spots, similar to that of a leopard, cheetah, or giraffe. These spots can vary in size and shade, but never in color --- they are always gray to help them cameoflage themselves in their grassland territory, and break up their outline if something does fix its eyes on them. This is surprisingly effective even on other dragons, but now not many dragons need these spots, and there are several shops well capable of tattooing over them, turning them an unnatural color, or even removing them entirely using the rest of the dragon's body as a reference. Most dragonets opt for this, as they grow tired of being called a 'kitty-behind' in intertribal schools.
Plus, FadeWings were never a big, bulky, tough tribe anyway. FadeWings are just...FadeWings. Built for flight instead of fight.
And one look at their powers is sufficient proof.
== Abilities ==
=== Regrowth ===
FadeWings can regrow any damaged body part, except for the head and major internal organs (appendix or toe bone? ok. stomach or heart? nope). This can be an arm, leg, tail, wing, etc. This process takes a few months from the accident that took the limb, to the fully grown limb ready for use. Even though the new one is just as large as the old, if this ability is used too much, it can take much longer to grow back and sap the dragon's health, turning its scales dark and the whites of its eyes yellow. Also, when a limb is snapped or bitten off, the blood loss is set to a minimum because the blood vessels have a tendancy to fuse quickly. This is just as painful as for another dragon, but FadeWings have a medium tolerance to pain, so they can easily get by in battles this way. Please note that a limb will fall off by itself if there is poison in the dragon's bloodstream somehow, such as a dragonbite viper bite, to prevent the venom spreading.
=== Taste Vibrations ===
A FadeWing's tongue has a special organ, similar to that found in snakes. It is used to 'taste' the vibrations found in the air around them, allowing them to detect even the slightest movement by prey or any other living thing. This is often used for hunting, during which a FadeWing can often be seen sticking its tongue in and out as it creeps up on its prey.
=== Climbing ===
FadeWings can climb any surface, even perfectly vertical or upside down ones. This is not because of their toes being sticky, as you might imagine, but because their talons have a substance similar to that found in the feet of geckos, that allows the molecules of their feet to temporarily fuse with those of the surface, allowing a smooth climb. Their thigh muscles are unusually strong.
=== Soundseeker (Rare) ===
There is a FadeWing subtype that is well-known within the tribe --- Soundseekers. This power is a FadeWing's only offensive power that could actually allow them the upper talon in a battle.
Soundseekers can make unusually loud noises to the point of being deafening, distort sounds to the ears of other dragons, and allow only select other dragon(s) to hear their speech, for example. They are usually described as 'masters of the sound'. Needless to say, Soundseekers are smooth manipulators as they can distort replies.
Something worth noting is that the powers of one Soundseeker do not work on a fellow Soundseeker and the latter will hear the sounds and speech as they truely are.
Note: one bad part of having this power is that it is required for Soundseekers to own up to and accept their abilities as soon as they discover them. They can't just hide them or run away from them even if they want to, as Soundseekers are set with a great responsibility: they have to undergo special training to learn more about this strange power, and how to use it. Then they need to learn how to attack other dragons with it just in case, as FadeWings have little other powers to help them in battle and there are precious few Soundseekers within the tribe. School is cut down to leave time for this training.
=== Animus Magic (Very Rare) ===
It is possible for a common FadeWing to be an animus dragon, but the chances are unusually small, at only around one in five hundred. Lately there have been fears that the gene has died out completely as the few dragons who had it were too ashamed of their powers to have dragonets.
An animus FadeWing's power is pretty much the same as any other animus dragon from any other tribe. Almost infinite power, except bringing living beings back from the dead. The FadeWings know little about this power, so many ordinary civilians are afraid of it, as is the case with many things they do not know much about. But over the years the FadeWings' need for more powerful dragons has overcome their fear, and it is currently required for all animus FadeWings to turn themselves in to the government, as with the Soundseekers. And all the dragons in said government are required to swear on their job that they will not discriminate against these individuals, as their presence is needed for the good of everyone.
Please note that there is a dragonet's legend of a FadeWing that was a Soundseeker and animus dragon, sort of like a FadeWing Darkstalker, though the chances of such a dragon being hatched is almost zero. Note the word 'almost'.
* Also note that though some FadeWings have suggested treating special dragons like everybody else and letting them go through a normal life, this idea has been veteoed. Because, face it, real life is hard. And it's inevitable that special power FadeWings would try to make it easier.
== Mutations ==
FadeWings are remarkably prone to mutations, due to genetics being relatively unstable. Here are a few examples of the most common ones.
Mutated FadeWings, just like all other minorities in FadeWing society, are to be respected. Discrimination is punished by law.
=== Winglessness ===
Dragonets can sometimes have undeveloped wings starting from its development inside the egg. Contrary to expectations, the dragonet is not hatched completely wingless, but its wings are as shriveled and useless as dried leaves, so the affected FadeWing has to have them cut off under the influence of certain plant juices to dull the pain. These dragons, though limited to solid ground, are often much stronger climbers than their 'normal' friends, due to their legs being well muscled after years of walking.
=== Leglessness ===
Much like how certain lizards hatch without legs, FadeWings can be hatched either completely legless or with tiny, failing leg stumps. This mutation has a much bigger impact on the dragonet's physical boundaries and is understandably much harder to live with than being hatched without wings. Great sympathy is felt for sufferers, as they cannot fight properly or hold things as deftly. They can't even slither, because of their wings getting in the way. The only benefit possible is better flight, as there is a lighter load to carry and a more streamlined shaped body, but this is otherwise a very unfortunate disability.
The FadeWings have noted that the SandWings are working on creating wheelchairs and walking frames from metals and wires, and are planning to bargain some imports into their own kingdom.
=== Bright Colors ===
The classic pale shades of a FadeWing do have a few exceptions. Every once in a while, a FadeWing with bright, fresh colors will grow up among others with the standard coloring. Even though such dragonets are often assumed to be distant hybrids, the chances of them being an example of the least rare mutation are much higher.
The average pale/dull tinges to a FadeWing's coloring are created by a certain semi-translucent chemical, masking the other, more colorful pigments. Yes, you heard me right. FadeWings are naturally brightly colored. Only for some reason, this chemical is not present in some dragons, allowing the colors to show fully. Apart from the affectee being more vulerable to blood loss, this has no ill effects.
=== Albinism / Melanism ===
Albino FadeWings are surprisingly rare, considering how little melanin is in each dragon's coloring in the first place. The thing is that the expected colors and shades tend to remain stable in genes, which is why mutations that affect shades of coloring are naturally uncommon in FadeWings. An albino FadeWing is normally snowy white, with no hints of extra colors, except their eyes, which can lead towards pink or red. The fade is still present, which can explain why many sightings of 'ghosts' are situated around FadeWing territory --- simply young albino FadeWings, scared and lost outside their borders.
Melanistic FadeWings are even more rare. There are only two known examples of the condition in history: an unnamed soldier that was killed in the Great War, and Arrowhead Birdsong herself. It is considered lucky to be melanistic, as it is believed that it brings you physically, and therefore emotionally, closer to Lunaris. The dragon has either darker than usual or gray-black scales.
== Diet ==
FadeWings usually eat a mixture of small animals, such as kangaroo rats, swallows, or rabbits. They catch these in large amounts, in the tall grass and dark forests covering their territory. However, FadeWings are more suceptible to develop hemataphobia, the fear of blood, than the rest of the tribes, so they prefer to have the food cooked --- the more well done the better. A heavy disadvantage for a tribe that, quite conveniently, does not breathe fire. In that case, food is more often dried by hanging on hooks overnight. Salt comes into play this way, and indeed many FadeWings are known to enjoy heavily salted food.
Strangely, while other tribes get nausea and possible food poisoning from eating decaying living things, FadeWings don't seem to mind this --- their stomachs adapted to it pre-Scorching, when they often profited off what other dragons and scavengers killed, sometimes a long while ago. Although food is sometimes left to rot slightly to 'enhance the flavor', and FadeWings can eat things that have been rotting for up to a quarter year, most prefer not to take it too far. After all, the fact that they can handle it better than other tribes doesn't make rotting meat any tastier!
FadeWings were also the first tribe known to use honey as a confectioner's item, as the sheen over their scales protected them from bee stings.
== Society ==
Just as IceWings seem distant, RainWings lazy, SkyWings grumpy, and TempestWings battle-hungry, FadeWings are often regarded as selfish by other tribes, only caring about their own safety and never those of others. But in truth, with all they've been through, many dragons are still living in survival mode, as if every day is a life-or-death battle, which can be interpreted as selfishness. The FadeWings are trying to shake off the shadowing sterotype with all their efforts.
They're trying.
=== Arrowheads ===
FadeWings do have rulers, just like most other tribes. However, this ruler isn't called a 'king' or 'queen', but an 'arrowhead'. This is because of FadeWings often using a bow and arrow to hunt for the animal portion of their food, and they believe that without the head of the arrow, the rest is essentially useless. Thus the name. Arrowheads can be of any gender, not just female, as FadeWings believe that gender doesn't matter in a ruler of a tribe, only that they are of great use to said tribe and they use their power to help their citizens.
New arrowheads usually come to be in a similar fashion to other tribes' ways. Royals and only royals are allowed to make an attempt for the throne, though this rule is slightly more loose --- any dragon that is at least 1/8 royal has full right to challenge. Killing the current arrowhead is not strictly nessessary --- if the current arrowhead chooses to give up and hand their crown over, it can be accepted --- but due to FadeWings being on the proud and impulsive side, and therefore not willing to let go of such power so easily, it usually happens anyway.
=== Weaponry ===
The FadeWings have a surprisingly wide range of weapons, mostly bows and arrows (as mentioned above), but also clubs, knives, axes, and swords. There are also more elaborate offensive weapons, such as glass vials filled with dragonbite viper venom (something only the bravest of souls attempt at collecting), maces covered in cured, hardened wasp stingers (don't laugh, a swing from that actually hurts a lot), and several solutions that if mixed together, create a toxic gas that can easily kill a scavenger and knock an adult dragon out for several days.
=== Naming ===
FadeWings are named after mystical/extinct creatures, such as Unicorn, Wyvern, or Pteranadon. They can also be named after various snakes, such as Sidewinder, Boomslang, or Garter. An old way of naming one's dragonets was after various natural formations, such as Canyon, Valley, or Stalactite, though this system has since gone out of fashion quite a bit. There are also unique names.
=== Dragonet Raising ===
Married couples are forbidden from having or adopting dragonets until at least one year after their marriage, to double-make-sure that the possible dragonets will grow up in a stable household.
Education is taken seriously, and the stages of the dragonet's progress are seperated into 'levels'. There are at first ten levels, to secure basic knowledge, then there are five more levels, to progress into advanced things and explore what each student is good at, which might potentially help them in later life when they are searching for a profession. Lastly, there are five extra levels, which are more or less optional --- they can be taken if the official guardians and dragonet wish, but if not, it has little effect on the dragonet themself. These difficult levels are for dragons with high expectations for their futures only.
==== School Subjects ====
===== History =====
FadeWing dragonets generally feel the need to understand the world around them, and that need is satisfied with history classes, which are scattered throughout each school year. Sometimes, tribe mannerisms can be exaggerated, particularly SkyWings, which some teachers can describe as evil and untrustworthy. For this, teachers are required to remain unbiased to their own political opinions to allow the dragonets to develop their own. 
==== Mathematics ====
FadeWings are famous for their cool, logical way of thinking, and the primary reason could be considered the prioritizing of mathematics in their educations. Young dragonets tend to enjoy the subject very much, and some will even be heard bragging about their test scores in this field to their friends.
==== Draconic ====
FadeWings learn draconic like every other tribe, although they do have an accent of the older way of speaking it, from the FadeWings' culture remaining stable throughout the centuries. Though the subject is not considered one of the most important, it is the first that a pupil should study, to be able to easily communticate with their professors and accquaintances.
=== Marriage + Funerals ===
The traditional way for FadeWings to get married is at night, beside a bonfire. This is believed to connect the spirits of the married to Lunaris's wisdom, all the while keeping Solestia's courage. The sparks that fly into the air represent the blazing love the dragons hold for each other. They usually pick two butterflies each the day before the ceremony, keep them in a large enclosure together, and release them both into the air at the same time when the fire has nearly burned out. Sometimes, the dragons that are getting married give each other something precious that they own, such as a valued family heirloom.
As for funerals, the body is usually wrapped in leaves and buried in a special graveyard, situated on a part of the beach near the side of FadeWing territory that faces the ocean. The spirits of the dead are believed to sunbathe on the beach at day and enjoy a feast with Lunaris, the moon god, every night.
=== In General ===
FadeWings tend to be wary of new things, due to a culture set in place firmly over the course of many centuries. They enjoy supporting the things and dragons that they love, however, and can be quite passionate and dramatic. They believe very strongly that the only way to rightfully recieve power is if you've really worked for it, and can be prone to burnouts. Therefore, all dragons have developed at least a few ways to unwind.
== Territory ==
=== Lookout Quarters ===
Near the edge of the SkyWing border are lookout quarters, to keep watch for invasions from other tribes. At least, they say it's for all other tribes, but judging by the place it is situated, it is only for the SkyWings, the FadeWings' public enemy number one.
This fraction of the territory consists of a forest with some of the tallest trees you'd ever see, tightly netted together. The lookout posts are put at the near top of each tree, and a house is built around the base for the dragon that works there to live in. Dragons can be seen flying above the trees, or strolling beneath the canopy at any time of day, even the darkest times of night.
There are also many shops between the trees in the lookouts' territory, and surprisingly there are several of the best tropical foods, drinks, and garments there. It is the duty of the arrowhead to keep the lookouts safe and happy in their own little patch of land, as warnings are very important during a potential war, and the occupation needs to be glorified to young dragonets to encourage them to pursue it. This is commonly seen as trickery by other tribes, but the FadeWings are willing to do anything to ensure the safety of their tribe.
=== Magnolia City ===
Magnolia City is the largest city for commoners, and decently well kept. It has a lake at the border, which offers clean, fresh water to the inhabitants. There are strips of forest to explore, and rolling hills that have been frequently described by inhabitents to be stretching into the distance as far as the eye could see until they disappeared into a soft green haze. Tents are used in this area instead of regular houses, as the hills are prone to large storms and the FadeWings soon tired of rebuilding them each time. Tourists are readily welcomed here, and there's plenty of space for everyone.
=== Royal Palace ===
This part of the territory is only for highly ranked dragons' living quarters. The further inland you go, the better it is. At the edges, respected dragons in society live. These are oridinary dragons who have done great things for their tribe, such as retired soldiers, healers, famous writers, etc. The streets are paved with stone, which is polished weekly. The houses range from two to three stories, and most of the furniture inside is made from expensive white marble. There are shops all around, satisfying the residents' basic needs. Walk past these, deeper into the royal grounds, and you'll find where dukes, duchesses, and generally dragons of medium rank live. Minor royalty may also stay here if they wish. The roads are paved with calacite pebbles, the mansions each one fancier than the last, spread widely across the offered ground and painted with replicas of ancient murals.
In the perfect center of all this, you'll find the FadeWing palace. It doesn't really look like a classic palace. Instead of having tall, sharp turrets and foundations that tower into the sky, it apppears fairly small. But that's because half of it is underground, and only small portions of the actual palace --- the gardens, the dining rooms, and the balconies for guards to keep watch --- are visible from above. The bedrooms are all at ground level, to prevent occupants from getting too cold underground or too hot at the higher areas.
Underground is where it all gets serious. Instead of fancy painted walls, flowers everywhere, and enough jewels to make one's eyes ache, there are chilled stone walls that have never seen the sunlight and crushing silence all around. This is where the most important parts of the Fade Kingdom are kept: deadly battle strategies, every single notable royal's and hero of war's profiles, the deepest, darkest secrets in the kingdom, all carefully filed by talon on the shelves weaved into these dark depths.
For this reason the palace is guarded. By sentries, of course, but there are chances a rogue dragon that meant harm could slip past them and reach the palace's interior. The chances of that are small, but still exist. So the important documents are placed underground, and the paths linking the two are only meant for FadeWings. The tunnels are wide enough for a dragon with folded wings to fit through, but they aren't wide enough for outstretched wings. This is a reference to FadeWings being able to climb vertically upwards and vertically downwards, as the tunnels are at at 90 degrees angle. If a dragon that wasn't a FadeWing tried to enter, they would break bones if they slipped and fell onto the ground below, as the tunnel is quite long. And of course it would be physically impossible for them to fly straight down, and they couldn't use their wings to break their fall. Even if they somehow went in safely and got what they wanted, if they tried to go back up the tunnel again, they'd find no purchase on the smooth walls, and they could only stay there until they were discovered. That's unless the thief is a traitorous FadeWing, of course.
=== Prison Grounds ===
The FadeWings firmly believe in humanely punishing their prisoners, so instead of keeping most of them in cells, they build a wide structure of steel buildings for them to stay in inside a very tiny patch of land, in the near center of the territory. The city was animus enchanted so that nobody could hurt each other, and that the prisoners can go in, but not out. Vistors are allowed, and guards are not sent, for the most part, as the enchantment ensures everyone's safety.
Please note that if the dragon has comitted a great crime, such as murder, they will have to drag around a heavy plaque that states their crime, and be kept in lockdown inside their house. This step is not nessessary safety-wise, but is instead an extra punishment for their actions. The dragons they wronged are allowed to visit and insult them whenever they feel like it.
=== Wilt Village ===
If there was a retirement home for FadeWings, this would be it. Around 90% of dragons that live here are over 60 years old. There are plenty of places to bask in the sunshine, and just as many places to cool down. It's the largest singular village in FadeWing territory, and inargubly one of the most quiet. In fact, tourists who came there stated that they thought the village was abandoned. While it is true that Wilt Village does not house as many as it could, it's still fairly lively. Each house is quite cozy and has its own large garden, for those who enjoy growing plants. The color palettes are faded to pastel after many years, giving the scenes an appearance of pleasant fantasy. One disadvantage is that the area can be prone to tornado activity because of the damp air from Rivere City meeting cold mountain air from the Sky Kingdom.
=== Rivere City ===
FadeWing parents who used to live in Rivere City speak fondly of it to their dragonets, for the city, though not one of the biggest in FadeWing territory, is beautiful to explore and beautiful to live in.
The 'city' is not, as it suggests, all that much of a city. Instead, it's made up of olden style villages, with small but stable grass huts and dirt roads. Many patches of land are left there instead of being taken over by civilization, giving dragons a pleasing taste of the wilderness not far from their own home.
Due to being close to the MudWings' marsh, a part of the Diamond Spray River runs through Rivere City, making the ground soft and squishy undertalon and rainfall frequent. The FadeWings don't exactly mind, as they are similar to their MudWing neighbors in one way: they both enjoy the feel of mud on their scales. However flat-out rolling in the mud is considered a childish activity for FadeWings, and they prefer to rinse their scales immediately afterwards, as there is nothing more undignified to them than having dried mud caked all over one's scales.
== Culture ==
=== Religion ===
Half of the FadeWings have no religion. Out of the others, most believe in Lunaris and Solestia, the sun and moon gods --- and also the general interpretation FadeWings have of good and evil.
Lunaris, contrary to what you might believe, is the god with virtues. They have purple and blue scales, bright silver pearls lining their spine, and matte black wings. Their wings are so dark that even looking at them can cause a deep stirring inside you, a stirring of hope and peace. Their eyes are a kind gray color. Lunaris has faint stars speckling their body, which is why FadeWing commoners, sometimes unconciously, hold a certain respect for NightWings, as the dark-scaled tribe can look very much like their beloved moon deity.
Solestia, on the other talon, is fast and furious and quick to anger. Their scales blaze eye-scorching shades of white and gold, brightening when they are feeling strong emotion, which is often. They're everything you hate and more, stories say. The dragonet who pushed you into the mud on your first day of school, the one who cheated on their exams, the one who burned your homework 'by accident'. Their eyes are blazing red.
Legends say that even though the two gods rule the world, they are not the creators of it; it was a pure coincidence of events that led to the birth of the world. Lunaris and Solestia were born at the same time as the universe, and took it upon themselves to add color and flavor to the bleak and dreary landscape, Lunaris taking charge of the pleasantries and Solestia of the more distasteful aspects of life.
* generally, the relationship between the two gods is...not good. as in solestia messes stuff up and lunaris tries to fix things
* both of them have no confirmed gender. they're whatever gender you see them as
* young dragonets believe everyone would be better off without solestia and can't get why everyone makes offerings to them as well as lunaris, but adults explain that good/evil is a nessesary balance, and as for the offerings they're to stop the sun deity from getting mad, not because anyone supports their actions
=== Festivals ===
==== Day of Freedom ====
This marks the date that the FadeWings renounced their part in the War of SandWing Succession, also known as the time where soldiers and civilians stopped dying for another tribe. This festival is bittersweet; the FadeWings mourn the needless loss of innocent dragons, and sympathize with those who have lost family or friends, but at the same time celebrate the day when it stopped. Visitors from other tribes who may come here to join in are readily accepted, even those who came from other sides in the war, as the FadeWings see it as repenting for their actions. Even SkyWings are accepted --- not without discreet glares or hisses, of course, but no fighting is allowed on this special day. 
On Day of Freedom, the dragons visit the graves of those who have fallen in battle, and place bouquets of flowers on the tombstones. With every bouquet set down, the dragon will traditionally mutter thanks to the dead for the sacrifice that was made to preserve the tribe's safety. 
==== New Year's Day/Eve ====
FadeWings celebrate the arrival of another year, just as humans do. They believe this is the time where new opportunities arrive and the errors of the past year are forgotton. Most prefer to celebrate at home, privately among relatives.
New's Year's Day is a time when the FadeWings thank Solestia for giving them courage and stubborness, and Lunaris for humor, happiness, and kindness on New Year's Eve. They also welcome the new changes that another year can offer.
== History ==
=== B.S. (Before Scorching) ===
The FadeWings were relatively widespread compared to the other tribes before the Scorching. Their flexible bodies, affinity for climbing, and limb regeneration abilities allowed them to survive in a scavenger-infested environment. It is possible that the FadeWings were one of the first tribes on Pyrrhia, which in turn allowed them more time to evolve --- any unfortunate dragons that were not fast enough, clever enough, or strong enough fell prey to the scavengers, and the survivors passed on their skills.
Some FadeWings hid underground, coming out only at night to hunt, and in a very short time in the day to sunbathe on rocks. The more daring groups of FadeWings made home right in the heart of the scavenger cities, in the upper floors of abandoned skyscrapers. The scavengers could not reach the dragons, for the latter ripped away the links between the floors so that only dragons, who could fly, could reach them. The FadeWings sometimes sent troops downwards to find food.
The FadeWings, lacking fire, did not play an active part in the Scorching, but occasionally picked off one or two scavengers from the fleeing crowd to kill progressively among themselves. They greatly enjoyed torturing the scavengers because even though FadeWings are not usually cruel by nature, they take revenge very seriously. And the scavengers deserved everything they got.
=== A.S. (After Scorching) ===
The FadeWings regrouped completely after the Scorching, since the ones who formerly lived in the scavenger homes had nowhere to stay, and the rest of the tribe which was once scattered across Pyrrhia was driven together by the other tribes establishing their own territories.
They found home in the lower 'wing' of Pyrrhia, taking advantage of the cooling winds and soft sunshine that the territory provided. There was not much to do once they were settled, in crude houses fashioned out of straw. There were many flat stones tucked among the hills and plateaus facing the sky, so the FadeWings often settled there to nap, enjoy prey, or even just gaze up at the rolling canvas above their heads. That was how they found that they took quite a liking to warming under the sun --- and cooling under the moon. Some argue that this was how the legends of Solestia and Lunaris came to me, while others claim that they date from even earlier.
FadeWings were badly bullied by other tribes during the time period while they were all settled down. They had taken great amounts of treasure from their own territory, as they had the good fortune to discover a diamond mine near the ocean shore, and took as many resources as they could from it. And when some of the other tribes, notably the SkyWings, found out, they decided to conduct a series of raids on the FadeWings' territory. The FadeWings reacted with anger and counterattacks at first, but when that only got more dragons killed or injured, they tried to calm things down and arranged a diplomatic solution: the FadeWings would dish out the diamonds to each of the tribes, leaving only a small fraction for themselves. But in return, the other tribes had to give up as much as they took of a different thing that belonged to them. The SandWings gave dragonflame cactus seeds should a rogue sand dragon ever harm any of the FadeWings, the SeaWings beautiful pearl necklaces and some of their structural secrets (which is why some FadeWing buildings resemble those undersea even now), and the DriftWings gave a simple immaterial gift: their promise of peace, as long as the current arrowhead, Arrowhead Cougar, was alive. (Even though the DriftWings of course cannot be bound to the promise now, they're still peaceful, of their own accord.)
The FadeWings accepted the SandWings', the SeaWings', and the DriftWings' gifts graciously. But what they were primarily waiting for was one from the SkyWings, as they caused the most damage, and seemed the most unwilling to admit they were wrong. A half year passed, yet nothing. Finally, Arrowhead Cougar, terribly impatient, sent three scouts to remind the SkyWings of their debt. A day later, all three returned and reported that the SkyWings not only refused to give anything, they also had the nerve to laugh in the scouts' faces and say that they were keeping the diamonds they were given --- without acknowledging their wrongdoing! The queen of the SkyWings, Queen Ravine, also insulted the FadeWings and called them 'weak, worthless lizards'.
Fury bubbled to the surface at that. The SkyWings turned in an instant from mysterious cool mountain tribe to selfish, spiteful idiots in the FadeWings' eyes. They decided to cut off all contact with SkyWings, and trading goods with the tribe became a taboo subject --- not nessessarily forbidden, but best not mentioned.
==== FadeWing Exodus ====
The FadeWings were formerly friends with the BeetleWings and LeafWings pre-Scorching, and their friendship continued well into two hundred years after the Scorching. However, trouble stirred between the tribes, and soon the BeetleWings, LeafWings, and CentiWings had to flee. It was not safe for them to stay. The FadeWings were angry at the other tribes, saying that they couldn't just push others around if they felt like it. But they were only one tribe against twelve, and their voices were quickly muffled by the others' saying that it was for the good of everyone that the exile happened.
But it wasn't for the good of everyone. And Arrowhead Cougar knew that. He led a small group of the most highly ranked figures in his kingdom to the tribes' territories, hoping to persuade them to help bring the others back, a mission they couldn't accomplish by themselves. But they refused. Either they were afraid of breaking the peace that was held since the Scorching, or they just didn't care and didn't want to. Or they wanted the tribes to spilt up, for nearly a fifth of their union to go away and fend for themselves. Cougar couldn't tolerate it. Angry and disappointed, he eventually headed back home with his dragons.
After that, the FadeWings did their best to persuade the others. They subtly dropped hints (e.g. Oh, it's so hard to make plants grow nowadays! I wish the LeafWings were still around!''), spread information about the tribes in question that made them seem irreplaceable, and started rumors about a lost continent that the dragons had moved to. Nothing worked. Finally, Queen Starbent of the NightWings couldn't take it anymore, and told the FadeWings to, essentially, bug off. The FadeWings were frustrated, of course, and realized that perhaps they had gone a little too far, but it was too late to take back their words. And the SkyWings didn't help matters, with their constant whining about the FadeWings. Finally, the latter told everyone that they were better off without the FadeWings, and that they should be driven out as well.
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. The FadeWings were furious and ashamed, sentiments which were only made worse from several members of other tribes agreeing with the SkyWings. Arrowhead Cougar decided that if they weren't going to be appreciated, they would do what their enemies suggested. Move. And nobody could disagree with him.
The FadeWings left, coldly, without even a backward glance at the continent that had been their home for so long. They didn't know that most tribes didn't hate them and hoped for their change of mind, or if they knew, they just didn't care. The FadeWings knew that there had to be another continent waiting for them somewhere, as the dragons who were exiled hadn't returned on the other side of Pyrrhia, had they?
Or...had they been too exhausted and fell into the ocean?
The FadeWings did their best. They used their sixth sense to taste the air for the smell of beach sand to find the islands, but it was way more unreliable a fashion than how Clearsight would traverse the continents thousands of years later. It was beyond harsh --- many dragons died of exhaustion. If someone was to, say, dislocate a wing, another dragon would carry them until the bone was set back in place, but if too many had dislocated wings, than some had to be abandoned to maintain the strength of the healthy dragons. Exhaustion and worry about what was to come drove the dragons to be irritable and snap at each other for no good reason, though Cougar successfully stopped any fights from breaking out. Finally, just when they thought they'd arrive at the other side of Pyrrhia, the dragons who were scouting ahead reported a line of land in the distant horizon, and the FadeWings, powered by hope that they'd succeeded, rushed forward as one and collapsed on the beach, exhausted.
Eventually, they were discovered by the LeafWings, who offered them a warm welcome. The BeetleWings and CentiWings were pleased as well. The FadeWings settled down happily, and the first year was smooth-running, the FadeWings getting tours of the territory and taking in the information given. However, there were occasional problems present already in the first year, which were exacerbated in the second. The truth was, the FadeWings were not built to live in Pantala. Their sleek, slippery bodies, cold-blooded nature, and flexible structure were made for smooth savannah grass, warm sun and cooling winds, as well as water always being at talon when you needed it. Not cold, dark, dry forests, where the sharp branches drew many cuts in the FadeWings' scales. Plus, the food was rather nasty as well. Oh, how they longed for a gazelle or two!
Finally, though it took two years, the FadeWings decided to journey home. There was no point staying anyway, as the tribes expressed clearly that they were happy in Pantala, happier than they had ever been in Pyrrhia.
And far happier than the poor FadeWings could ever be there.
They were only a day into their journey, though, when Arrowhead Cougar's partner, Cygnet, started complaining of terrible pains in her chest and throat. The medics tried to help, but nothing worked and the situation only became worse. It was probably a sort of lung disease the tribes had never heard of. ---Author's note Finally one night when everyone was sleeping on an island, Cygnet screamed one last time in pure agony and fell back onto her bed. 
She didn't get up again. 
The medics wanted to do an autopsy of Cygnet's body to find out where the sickness came from, but Cougar disallowed it. The medics asked what would happen if someone else contracted it, but Cougar coldly replied he'd take the risk. Nobody dared argue with him. Thankfully there were no more cases after that. 
But there seemed something...off about the FadeWing leader, anyway. While he was usually pessimist, it was done in a teasing way, like he was never serious. Those days it seemed like he really meant it when he muttered that maybe they'd all die on the way home and never get to see Pyrrhia again. That the SkyWings --- Lunaris forbid --- would take over their territory in their absence. 
And one night, after Cougar disappeared unusually early in an official meeting, one of his advisors came up to his temporary royal bedroom.....and heard him crying. 
Crying. 
All this was overlooked. Of course Cougar would be grieving for Cygnet. Who wouldn't? She was his partner, after all. But when the FadeWing tribe finally arrived home a week after that fateful incident, they wished they'd talked to him. Listened to his fear. 
Maybe they could've helped. 
It started when they were hunting fish on the go, after having flown for three hours straight. Even though they were exhuasted, they were oddly exhilerated, knowing home was so close. Except for Cougar, of course. 
But a scout reported in a panicky voice that there was a monster shark circling in the water. Someone had accidentally sliced its nose hunting, and now it was out for revenge --- the certain someone (everyone knew it was the scout herself) barely got out alive. They had to get it out. They'd barely caught anything, and nobody had eaten yet! Cougar volunteered to help. 
The group's luck quickly spiraled downwards in the worst way possible. Not because they couldn't find the shark, but because it shot out of the water as soon as they neared it, taking down a dragon with it as it fell back. 
Cougar. 
The others screamed as one and dived down into the water. By some miracle the dragons landed a surprise attack on the vicious giant fish, and managed to recover Cougar's body from the ocean. Sadly, they had barely gotten him to dry land when their beloved arrowhead drew his last breath. Medics insisted the sound that came from his throat was just his lungs drawing desprately for air, but others say it was Cygnet's name. 
Needless to say, the entire exodus deeply sapped the FadeWings' strength. The twin nieces of Cougar's took the throne as co-rulers, but there was an empty space that the arrowhead had left that the two sisters just couldn't fill. 
==== FadeWing-SkyWing War ====
Around a thousand years after the exodus, tensions grew between the FadeWings and SkyWings. There was the time that the SkyWings wanted them gone, of course, but there were more recent developments that were...troubling, to say the least.
Once, a stray SkyWing wandered into FadeWing territory. She swiftly took an innocent civilian captive and took him to the SkyWing palace, where she insisted to Queen Carmine that the dragon knew of plans to make weapons containing a potent poison. The FadeWing denied the accusation, of course, but the few SkyWings that believed their tribemate figured that it was only a matter of a few torturing sessions until he confessed. Queen Carmine, however, would not tolerate these lies, and ordered the FadeWing to be allowed to go home, and that no more false rumors about this should spring up again.
But slowly word got around, and their queen's decison was said to be made 'out of allience and submission to the FadeWings' and 'cowardly'. More and more SkyWings were persuaded that this wasn't right, and a riot started.
It was small at first, Queen Carmine occasionally getting hate letters or curses being painted on her garden walls. But over a year, it grew to the point where angry mobs were storming the royal gardens. Soon she was driven out of her palace and the riot leader, Crimson Rosella, took over.
The first thing CR did was attack the FadeWings. The latter did their best to defend their territory, but CR was unfortunately an effective battle planner and many dragons were killed or injured. And as soon as the SkyWings recovered, another ambush was launched, the FadeWings only barely managing to fight them off.
But by this time the FadeWings were angry. They counterattacked, killing many SkyWings, and soon the battles died down. But CR was doubtlessly picking off random FadeWings one by one, because many civilians disappeared at the border. The FadeWings were helpless because they had no way of knowing when and where it would happen next and therefore could not fight back.
This went on for years, with many causalties, and the remaining troops from both sides were completely exhausted.
At the end of this time, though, unknown to CR, Ex-Queen Carmine and the group of dragons that still supported her had long since sought refuge in the FadeWing Kingdom. Slowly, the FadeWings began using CR's technique against her, and captured SkyWings to bring to Carmine. Most joined her side, and those who didn't were released under threat of death if they told CR.
There was going to be a final battle, to settle this once and for all. And Carmine was going to be a part of it.
The battle started at ten in the morning. The SkyWings had been equiped with complicated weapons from the FadeWing armoury, and everyone was wearing some form of protection. CR was eventually overthrown and exiled permanently from the Sky Kingdom, and things returned to normal. Carmine took a liking to the FadeWings who helped her, but her daughter, rebellious, unfortunately ruined the peace when she took the throne and kicked up trouble by clawing open old wounds on both sides. The FadeWings are still a bit salty about that.
==== War of SandWing Succession ====
The FadeWings originally planned not to get mixed up with the Great War, but when news came of the MudWings being badly hit by the war, with dragons dying every day, they decided to help their faithful allies and joined to hasten their job and minimize damage. And when they realized that they had just put themselves in danger, Burn had them under her thumb. However, the new arrowhead, Arrowhead Birdsong, came and managed to escape the turmoil of battle a few years before the war officially ended. Which seems like a short amount of time for so much effort, but which probably saved thousands of lives.
==== Current ====
The FadeWings are still recovering from their brutal decline in numbers during the war. They were pressed and threatened more than any other tribe by Burn, and sometimes the cruel princess lauched attacks at random on them if she even felt like they were considering leaving or changing their mind. Birdsong's eventual escape was essential, but not without its consequences. Many FadeWings have recieved both mental and physical injuries, and they have to turn to other tribes to help them get their tribemates the treatment they need, which is a severe blow to their pride. But they have also realized that there are more important things than appearing weak, and it wasn't as hurtful as it would have previously been.
== Alliances ==
=== SandWings ===
The FadeWings don't really like the SandWings, and think they are immature for dragging the other tribes into their personal battle. However, they do appreciate their knack for developing fairly advanced technology, and are trying to stay on good terms with the SandWings to get in on some of that action.
=== MudWings ===
The FadeWings have a positive relation with the MudWings. They often exchange goods from their own territories, and can be counted on to side with each other during wars. FadeWing/MudWing hybrids are more commonly seen in FadeWing streets and houses, and they face much less prejudice than other hybrids do inside both tribes' socities.
=== SeaWings ===
The SeaWings hate the FadeWings for siding with the MudWings instead of them during the war of SandWing Succession. But the FadeWings are hopeful that someday they will make up. They did not choose the MudWings on purpose to spite the SeaWings --- they simply felt closer to the MudWings, and they certainly did not anticipate that the SeaWings would react violently. Arrrowhead Birdsong and her husband are currently trying desprately to make the SeaWings forgive the wrongs that were did during that terrible war.
=== SkyWings ===
The FadeWings feel a vicious hate towards the SkyWings, and it is impossible to deny that the SkyWings don't feel the same way. SkyWings and FadeWings that meet each other on borders have been known to slash at each other in a blind fury, sometimes inflicting mortal wounds. Most of this was the doing of Queen Scarlet's mother, then the queen herself, in the past half century. Queen Ruby is trying to make peace with Arrowhead Birdsong, but the FadeWing ruler won't hear a word of it.
=== IceWings ===
The FadeWings live far from the IceWings, far enough to feel neutral towards them. FadeWings will have no problems with seeking political aid from the IceWings if needed, but they would be far from the tribe's first choice.
=== RainWings ===
Some FadeWings have traveled far enough to visit the RainWings. They are strongly unimpressed by and even pity them, for they find the RainWings' lazy manner something that would wipe them out instantly if faced with a war. Some FadeWings have a secret resentment deep in their hearts toward the rainforest tribe, as they believe they should not have such power if they did not work for it in any way.
=== NightWings ===
The FadeWings like the NightWings, as they know that they are just as strong as them. They bear no hard feelings toward the NightWings, but are uneasy on the subject of the tribe's trustworthiness as the NightWings still acted in a seemingly friendly way after the FadeWings choose the MudWings over their rumored allies, the SeaWings.
=== HiveWings ===
The FadeWings were old allies of the HiveWings, and even though they agree that Queen Wasp made the tribe far too bloodthirsty, they are still pushed to believe the best of the insect-like tribe.
=== SilkWings ===
The FadeWings pity the SilkWings for their prior predicament with the HiveWings, but they think that the SilkWings deserved it at least a little for giving up during the Tree Wars. They view the SilkWings as trustworthy and quick-thinking, albeit useless in a bloody battle, and are trying to build an alliance with them.
=== LeafWings ===
The FadeWings find the LeafWings arrogant and annoying, especially after the conflict with them when the FadeWings temperarily moved to Pantala. They are not active enemies with the LeafWings, though they will not offer any help to them if it is asked.
=== AviWings ===
The FadeWings respect the AviWings in their own right, though the tribes are fairly distant.
=== DeathWings ===
'My enemy's enemy is my friend'.
Such a sentence is quite applicable to the relationship between the DeathWings and FadeWings. While the DeathWings would deny that the SkyWings were their actual enemies if asked, everyone knows how tense the relationship between them is. Therefore, the FadeWings have found the DeathWings...relatable, in an odd way, and they have been growing more and more close as the years slip by.
=== DriftWings ===
The DriftWings, living quite far from the FadeWings, don't really know what they're like. Most have never even seen a FadeWing. But, as the two tribes are both quite friendly with the MudWings, the general opinion they have of each other is mostly positive.
=== LightWings ===
The FadeWings see the LightWings as cool and fun-loving, and the rare interactions they have are quite positive.
=== CentiWings ===
The FadeWings haven't really met any CentiWings yet, but they're impressed by the CentiWings' way of making things work.
=== TempestWings ===
The FadeWings have no idea what they think of the TempestWings. There have been a few spats with the tribe in the past, but those were trivial enough. Most FadeWings parents teach their dragonets to 'never cross a TempestWing, they hold grudges'.
== Trivia ==
* FadeWings sunbathe, much like RainWings, and feel generally happier and more relaxed when they do it. However, unlike most Pyrrhian dragons, FadeWings are cold-blooded, so after a long period of time spent sunbathing, they need to cool down their body temperature before continuing.
* FadeWings do have scales. However, since they are tightly packed together, they aren't extremely obvious. The scales are also coated with a thin layer of protective slime, which keeps the skin moist. The dragon, unlike an amphibian, will not die if their skin dries out, but will become itchy, uncomfortable, and irritable.
== Bases ==
File:FadeWing Sigil.png|Sigil by me
File:FadeWing Base1.png|By me
File:FadeWing Base2.png|By me (shaded)
File:FadeWing Base3.png|By me
File:FadeWing Base4.png|By Emerald
File:FadeWing Headshot.png|By me
File:FadeWingChickendragon.png|By Chickendragon
File:FadeWingAPIF.png|Base by APeregrineInFlight, edits by me
Category:Content (~warmbluevanilla~)
Category:Tribes (Fanon)