Rain of Blood

This is a fanfiction for WanderingRaven's []. There is also a graphic novel adaptation, which can be found here!
== Prologue ==
Rain pattered down on Chameleon's scales. Mindful of the scroll growing wet, he tucked the pouch it was in under his wing.
Not that he thought very highly of it now, anyway. A mere seven years, and now one of the spells it had cast had worn off. It was impossible --- animus-cast enchantments were meant to last a lifetime. Yet here Chameleon was, watching a battle between Queen Scarlet and Princess Ruby, a battle that should not have happened. He squinted down at Ruby's ear. Yep, the earring was still there. It hadn't accidentally fallen off or something.
So why isn't anything going the way it should?!
Seven years ago, he'd written a spell on the scroll he carried around with him, a scroll that granted him (nearly) the power of a full animus. The spell had transformed Queen Scarlet's remaining daughter into a completely different dragon, one that was supposed to not even have an inkling of a thought of trying for the throne.
Not that it would matter anyway at this point, though. From what Chameleon could tell, his queen was winning.
Down in the arena, Scarlet had pounced on Ruby, and was slashing at her underbelly, a wicked leer on her face. From this angle, Scarlet could easily claw open Ruby's throat and be done with it, but that wasn't the sort of thing she'd do. No, Scarlet was toying with Ruby, like she had Peril toy with the prisoners on this very same arena not so long ago.
Peril. My...my daughter.
Chameleon glanced sideways at the SkyWing, who, like him, was staring at the battle. Up until yesterday, he'd never known he had a daughter, or any dragonets at all. Kestrel had neglected to tell him. Okay, so maybe him conspiring with the queen who had hated Kestrel for, like, forever hadn't helped matters, but she could have at least dropped a hint.
Kestrel hadn't been very friendly with Peril either, though. In fact, she'd literally dropped Peril and her twin and flown away. So Scarlet had found the chance to use the newly hatched dragonet, who had a rare condition called firescales, as her weapon.
Like father, like daughter, Scarlet had said not too long ago.
He'd hoped, at least, that he and Peril could be a team again. They both had the wits, the guts, and the powers, so why wasn't it happening? Yes, he had cast a spell on her, but it was only to make her normal (as she wished) and to make her forget all about that MudWing she was apparently in love with. Oh, and to make her enjoy Scarlet's company as much as he did. He'd hardly call that a crime.
Yet...When Peril found out she'd been affected by the scroll, she'd been furious, had proceeded to rip off the necklace that held the enchantment and nearly killed Scarlet before Ruby (not so wisely, given her current status in the fight) had stopped her.
Peril caught Chameleon's eye and glared fiercely at him. Have you done anything to Ruby to make her lose?
Me? Why would I do that? Chameleon said, blinking innocently. He thought he was pretty convincing, but either he was wrong or Peril was just a suspicious dragon, because she snorted and took a step towards him, flexing her talons. ''You know what I mean, Soar,'' she spat, using the name Chameleon had dubbed his SkyWing disguise. ''I know Scarlet wouldn't let a daughter of hers pass by without animus enchanting her --- I also know someone else like that --- no matter how gentle and placid she might seem!''
''What--- I-- I haven't enchanted her. Look for yourself!'' Chameleon pulled out the scroll and gingerly held it out to Peril for her to read, carefully keeping his treasure away from her smoking hot scales. ''Do you see any spell about Ruby written here?''
Suddenly, Cliff, Ruby's son, cried out. ''Mommy! She's---''
Yes, I know, it must be very distressing to see your mommy in danger, but I'm trying to save her, Peril muttered, quickly scanning the page. Wait, why is this piece missing? She pointed to a spot where a chunk the length and width of a dragon claw had been torn out. 
Chameleon chuckled nervously. He, of course, knew exactly what the piece had been ripped out for, but Peril shouldn't know that. ''Well, you see---'' 
Peril whipped around. Cliff had somehow gotten his talons on a metal-pronged guards' spear, and was jabbing her wing with it. ''OW, that hurts!'' she yelled. ''I told you, I'm doing my best to help Ruby, okay?'' 
She turned back to Chameleon, angrily rubbing her wing. ''Honestly, I think the memberane here is torn or someth---'' 
''STOP TALKING AND LOOK!'' Cliff screamed at the top of his tiny dragonet lungs. 
That got the two adults' attention. Slowly, Chameleon turned to face the arena, and couldn't quite process what he saw. 
Scarlet had obviously grown fed up with Ruby struggling and hurling curses at her, because the younger SkyWing was now lying motionless on the ground, her wings spread out, not moving. 
Peril roared unintelligibly and shot down to the arena. When she got there, she stared first at Ruby's body with a shocked expression, then at Scarlet with a look of fury hotter than her scales. Slowly, she paced toward the SkyWing queen, her gaze burning. 
Woah, woah, woah. Scarlet held up her talons with an expression of mock surrender. Before you start on me, why don't you check Ruby for a pulse? To see if she's really dead? And then she grinned as if she'd suddenly remembered something. Oh, too bad. Guess you can't touch her without killing her anyway. She glanced up towards where Chameleon was standing, and he knew what she wanted him to do. That seemed a little cruel...but he might as well do it. He'd learned that disobeying Scarlet was not a good idea.
Chameleon flew down to the arena, the rain battering at his wings. He dropped down beside Scarlet and slowly turned Ruby over. 
Everyone winced, except for Scarlet, who looked pleased, and Cliff, who fortunately did not see as Peril's wings were blocking the horrifying sight. Ruby was covered in gashes on her underbelly and tail, but that wasn't what caught their attention. Her throat had a long slice down the middle, which was oozing blood. Chameleon wiped some of it away, and Peril flinched. The wound was ghastly because it was uneven, running in a jagged line. That meant Scarlet had tortured Ruby on purpose by first creating a small cut, then running her claw along it again and again. 
Peril broke the silence first. ''I couldn't care less about the gory details,'' she snapped, though the tone of her voice gave away that she was horrified. ''Feel for a pulse!'' 
Chameleon was squeamish at the sight of blood (not useful for an accomplice of Scarlet's), and he didn't want to touch Ruby anymore, but Peril's glare made it clear that he had to do it for her, or she'd do some things to him with her firescales that he didn't want to think about. Reluctantly he placed his talons on the princess's limp wrist, and realized he couldn't feel anything except cold scales. It was at that moment that he glanced at Ruby's eyes. They were glazed and unseeing. 
He wasn't very saddened or shocked by Ruby being dead. It only proved how cruel Scarlet could be --- and how important it was to stay on her good side. 
A whimper sounded from Chameleon's right side, so soft it just barely edged the thrum of the pouring rain. Cliff had arrived. Is she hurt...? But by the way he didn't have the heart to finish his sentence, he obviously knew that Ruby was more than hurt. 
It's going to be okay, Peril murmured. There's just been...a little hitch in the plan. Under her breath, she addressed Chameleon. You can't be so cruel. You just can't. You held back that information just in time for Scarlet to kill her daughter, didn't you?'' 
But didn't you do the same thing over and over again? Chameleon said, confused. Aren't we both killers? 
A growl formed in Peril's throat, and too late Chameleon realized he'd touched a sensitive area. ''That's not the same!'' She yelled. ''I never knew anything else! Scarlet was the only mother I had, and whatever she said went! And I thought I was trapped here, thanks to her 'black rocks' lie!'' 
I was the only mother you had, Scarlet repeated. I'm still the only mother you have. And at least I had the decency to care about you, unlike some parents you knew.'' She shot a look at Chameleon, who tucked in his wings. Well. That kind of stung. 
Scarlet beckoned to Peril. ''Come now, why don't you return to your old life? No complexity, no angst, no irritating dragonet wailing---'' 
Cliff had been staring at his mother's body for so long, he could have been mistaken for a statue. But now it seemed the reality of his situation was crashing over him, and he was sobbing into Chameleon's shoulder (the only semi-safe one he could find). 
The RainWing-turned-SkyWing glared at Scarlet. ''Can we get a move on? Getting stuck with a tear-smeared dragonet was not on my agenda today.'' 
''You can get a move on if you like, Father,'' Peril hissed. ''I have nothing left to say to you. It's your fault Cliff's mother is dead. And if you get stuck with him and his grief, then that's only the beginning of the punishment you deserve!'' 
She turned and pointed her nose west. I'll go find the others. They'll know what to do. 
The...others? 
Aren't you going to take dear Prince Cliff with you? Scarlet asked in the sweetest, most scary voice Chameleon had ever heard her use. 
The firescales shot one last bitter smile at them. Oh, no, I'll pass. I've learned that trying to escape with a dragonet when firescales is in the equation is never a good idea.
She spread her wings and lifted away into the cloud-darkened sky.
Now that Scarlet is back...everything will go back to normal again. I'll be advisor to the queen once more, and the long-standing empire of cruelty in the Sky Kingdom will be rebuilt.
Somehow, this train of thought didn't make Chameleon feel the rush of elation he expected.
== Part One ==
=== Chapter One ===
Prince Cliff stared quietly down at his talons, only half listening as Professor Swordtail droned on and on about the Othermind. History was every other student's least favorite subject at Jade Mountain, but Cliff didn't mind sitting through the classes. Not because he found the subject interesting. Because history was the only class where he only needed to sit there, not taking notes, and consequently the only place where he could think.
Why do you even want to think? Those thoughts are always too painful to handle, and you end up dotting your reference scroll with tears. Don't forget that last time you did that, Swordtail called you over and asked if everything was okay.
Cliff had said everything was. He'd said it to make Swordtail go away, but....
Cliff? Do you know what the name of the dragon half of the Othermind was?
....the teacher kept trying to bring him into the conversations. Can't he see I don't want to talk?
Freedom? He said, trying to insert as much passion as he could into that one word.
Swordtail sighed and scribbled something in his notepad. You're half right. But don't forget Freedom was the name we gave her right before we were forced to kill her. Before that, she was called Lizard.
Cliff shrank down into his seat. He'd known there was something wrong with his answer. Well, okay then, he muttered, feeling his classmates' stares searing into his scales.
As Swordtail turned back to the board, a fierce rush of memories swept into Cliff, with a crushing weight that made him see black and red for a few seconds. Then, blurry pictures flowed into his mind.
He was watching Peril fly away, her bright scales blurring and fading away in the downpour, as if her body was turning to ripples. His eyes filled with rainwater---or was it tears? He couldn't tell. He seemed past tears, anyway. Grief would come later. All he could feel was numbness. My mother is dead, my mother is dead, a part of his brain kept chanting. Cliff tried to stop the chanting. He didn't want it to be real. It couldn't be real. He'd just eaten too much mountain goat for dinner again, and he was having this crazy dream. But soon he'd wake up, and the real Ruby would be at his side. He'd tell her about this dream, and she'd stroke his talons reassuringly, and soon they'd be laughing about how silly it was that Ruby had died. Ruby, who had the entire SkyWing tribe on her side, who could keep her safe from any bad dragons without any trouble.
Why didn't you let them protect you? He thought, almost angry at his mother. Why did you have to fight this battle yourself?
He remembered how terrified and confused he'd been when Ruby had told Scarlet that the throne was hers to fight for. I should have done something. I'm a young dragonet, and I'm her son. If I looked at her with teary eyes and begged her not to, maybe she wouldn't.... maybe she'd still be....
No. He couldn't think like that. It didn't matter anyway, because she was gone and nothing was going to bring her back.
Cliff looked at Ruby's body lying limp and lifeless on the cold stone floor, the rain washing the blood away from her wounds.
She's gone.
And the one dragon who he thought truely cared about her --- the one dragon who felt like a big sister, even though he'd only known her for a day --- now she was gone, too. Even though she was still alive, there was no way she'd be coming back.
And there was no way Scarlet would ever let him go find her.
What will she do with me? He wondered, his mind spinning. He couldn't imagine anything worse than death, but he knew if anyone could think of it, it was his grandmother.
The storm clouds were gathering in a circle now, darkening and growing more opaque by the second. Why were they clustering around him, though? Cliff's dragonet brain imagined the clouds sweeping him into their cool embrace and carrying him away from the Sky Kingdom, away from Scarlet, away from it all.
Just away.
Now it wasn't just the sky that was darkening, though. It was the world around him. A dark inky blotch sprouted in the middle of the groubd under his talons, and another grew on the image of Ruby's dead body lying beside them. He could feel the darkness, pressing in on him, choking him. It wasn't relieving anymore, it was like thick fluff surrounding him, stopping him from breathing.
Grief, he realized. He mentally couldn't yet process it, but it was taking a heavy toll on his physical state.
Cliff fell onto his side, feeling the mix of his mother's blood and puddles of rainwater soaking into his scales, yet he couldn't find the strength to get up. The only one who could make all this stop was Ruby, and Ruby was gone.
Cliff closed his eyes and fell into the darkness, letting it cover him completely. All external sight and sound faded away, and he was left only with the sickly smell of blood and the sound of his own pounding heart.
Cliff came to his senses. Even after six years, the black clouds were still there, hovering over him, ready to pounce. He could almost feel the icy chill of the rain sliding down his spine. 
Uhh.....it's time for recess, a voice came from next to him. You can go out and stretch your wings. Don't you want that? Being a SkyWing and all? 
Cliff lifted his gaze and saw a SeaWing staring at him. She was perhaps a year or two younger than he was, with scales the color of sea glass. Her mouth was curled in a tentative smile. 
Oh, uh, I was on my way, Cliff said, deciding not to tell her that he'd only just realized class was over. He stuffed his scroll into his pack and slung it over his shoulder, but not before the SeaWing caught a glimpse of its blank surface. Wow, you didn't write anything? 
Notes aren't required in this class, Cliff pointed out. He just wanted to leave and get away from this dragonet, but she couldn't seem to take a hint. 
But...Professor Swordtail heavily encourages them. 
''Well, then I don't want to be encouraged!'' Cliff snapped. ''Just...this isn't your business, okay? Stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong!''
He pushed past her and rushed out the door. Guilt at his own behavior was already setting in, but he tried to push it away. It wasn't the SeaWing's fault she was making whatever he was feeling worse, and he knew that. But...the way she questioned him reminded him in a horrible way of Scarlet faking innocence when she was about to hurt him just for being Ruby's son.
Cliff, what are you doing?
Cliff, did you see the weather today?
Cliff, what do you think of me staining my claws a beautiful color that happens to be my namesake?
Cliff was running so fast he fell down a few times, but the scrapes on his scales were almost laughable compared to the searing agony writhing in his mind.
He was thinking about his reviving of the terrible moment this all started, six years ago. He'd tried so many coping techniques in all this time, trying to give all this pressure an opportunity to get out of his system. He was a terrible writer, and vent art just made him associate watercolors with grief and give it up. Tossing stones into a lake got him into trouble with someone who happened to be swimming there, and ripping into prey until it was unrecoganizable just did damage to his appetite. 
Cliff hadn't come to Jade Mountain because Scarlet had let him. He'd snuck out, like he'd snuck in when he tried to 'rescue' Ruby when Soar and Peril weren't looking. He'd overheard that 'Soar' was actually a RainWing called Chameleon, and taken his main scroll, the one he used to make new enchantments. And then he'd fled his home. He still felt guilty about that now, feeling that Ruby would have wanted him to stay in the place when he was hatched. 
But that place just wasn't safe for him anymore. 
He'd come to Peril at her private room at Jade Mountain, figuring that if anyone could help him, it was her. She'd apparently taken pity on the poor dragonet without a home or family, and offered him a job sorting out the whiteboards and replacing the sticks of graphite used to write. It didn't pay, but to three-year-old Cliff, safety and being near the only dragon he was close to was payment enough. 
But Peril had discovered the scroll hidden away under his bed. She'd questioned him about it, and made him bring it to her new friends at Jade Mountain. A fight had broken out, and Peril had ended up burning the scroll to stop it. However, that had released Darkstalker, the NightWing terror of the past. He was gone now, but he'd left his mark indeed. Cliff didn't know at that moment that animus magic couldn't bring dragons back from the dead, and had brought forth the tiny spark of hope simmering in his heart that Darkstalker could bring Ruby back to life. 
But that hope had been snuffed out when Turtle told him how the magic worked. Cliff felt like he was grieving for his mom all over again, and whatever progress he'd made in the past years had been undone. He'd been so consumed by hopelessness he'd barely stirred at the news that a new continent had been discovered, and he cared even less about their mission to save Pantala. He didn't play any part in the rescue. What was there to save for him, now that his world was crumbling all over again? 
And if he was being honest with himself, every time he interacted with a Pantalian dragon, he was edged with resentment and anger at the fact that they were now leading happy lives when he wasn't, and that they'd had help when they needed it. 
It's not fair! I never did anything! Why am I being punished? 
But the truth was, life wasn't fair. In all these years, with the defeat of Darkstalker and the discovery of Pantala, nobody had time to settle the ongoing matter in the Sky Kingdom. While IceWings and NightWings and SilkWings and LeafWings were being saved, SkyWings were being killed and tortured. 
And the dragon who was responsible was still free, without so much as a scolding for her actions.
 
It's not fair that I'm the one who has to hide, Cliff thought as he leaped off the ledge. I'm the good guy. I never did anything wrong. 
He circled around the open sky where other dragonets like him were already enjoying themselves. 
But I won't be a dragonet anymore soon, Cliff realized. Tomorrow is my seventh hatching day. I'll be an official adult. Cliff had dreamed about this moment as soon as he was old enough to. He'd always imagined being a grown-up meant you could boss everyone else around and have full control of your life when he was little, and while most of that was silly fantasy, he'd always pictured that he'd feel different once he was seven. More mature, somehow. But now that his sweet seven hatching day was actually approaching, he felt a bit unsure about that idea. 
I don't feel any better. I don't magically know what to do about Scarlet. I don't know whether the dark clouds over my life will ever clear. And I don't know what I'm going to be when I grow up. 
That last one sounded a bit trivial, but it was a very real concern for Cliff. He couldn't leave Peril's line of vision, since Scarlet would pounce on him if he did, and if he fell into her captivity again, there was no way he was ever getting out. If he was still alive. It would be too much to ask of Peril to leave Jade Mountain with him, and never really see Clay again. 
He could be a teacher, but he wasn't too happy about that concept. Cliff just wasn't good with dragonets, especially little ones. They reminded him too much of himself when Ruby died, and opened old scars --- plus the fact that taking care of them would require a lot of time and clarity of mind, when Cliff had neither. It would be all too easy for the storm clouds to envelop him in the middle of a lesson. Most importantly, Cliff had only recieved the bare minimum education-wise, since Scarlet figured his chances of hitting it off with another dragon on a date and having dragonets that would endanger her throne would be lowered if he couldn't read or write. Peril taught him, but she couldn't quite read and obviously couldn't write. Cliff had scraps picked up from other teachers who took pity on him, but apart from that, he was hopeless. A teacher who couldn't really read or write would be less than ideal. 
Cliff's vision blurred as he realized that he couldn't imagine a future for himself. What good is me being seven, anyway? He thought bitterly. Scarlet ruined my life, like she ruined Ruby's and nearly Peril's. And all those prisoners Peril had to kill... 
Suddenly, Cliff realized he was falling. The wide blue sky around him in the smudged view he had of the world was rapidly stretching away, and the ground below was rushing up to meet him. Frantically he opened his wings a little further to steady himself, but that only made him spin a dizzying spin that made him feel like he was going to throw up. Pleasepleaseplease don't let that happen...I look stupid enough to my winglet without vomiting too... 
Cliff remembered that before Ruby died, he'd faked not being able to fly, that he'd plummet to his death if he toppled off the ledge they were keeping him on, so that he could go and meet his mother. This was cruel irony now, wasn't it? 
The ground was growing closer and closer now. Perhaps it won't hurt as much as Ruby's death...perhaps it'll be over before I know what hit me. Will I see Ruby in the afterlife, if there is one? 
The thought warmed him up. Maybe dying won't be so bad after all.... 
All at once, a warm green talon shot out of what seemed like nowhere and held firmly onto Cliff's. He yelped as his arm was nearly torn out of its socket, but managed to finally right himself with a few flaps of his wings. Cliff gaped at the SeaWing, which he suddenly recogonized. It was the same dragonet he'd been so snappy to an hour ago. 
''Hey,'' she grinned. It was obvious that she recogonized him. ''You should be more careful when you're flying. If I told my brothers I rescued a SkyWing from falling to his death, they'd never believe me!'' Suddenly her brow furrowed. ''Why were you falling, anyway?'' 
Cliff felt his face turn a slightly darker red than he was supposed to. ''That's...my business. Look, I'm sorry that I was so rude to you today. It's just that...you reminded me of someone I don't like. No offence.'' 
''None taken.'' Was it just his imagination, or was she blushing, too? ''I'm going to the prey center next, want to come with me?'' 
Cliff suddenly felt the reality of his situation come crashing back down. It never leaves for long, he thought sadly. ''No, sorry,'' he said quietly. ''I'm going to pick something up later when it's more peaceful.'' He was turning around when he realized he hadn't asked this dragonet for her name. ''Uh, so, Flood, right?'' 
She shook her head, her eyes still holding a sparkle in them that never seemed to die down. ''No, that's one of my brothers. We look a lot alike, and we were in the same hatching together. No, I'm Auklet.'' 
''Nice,'' Cliff murmured. ''I'm Cliff.'' 
As he was winging away, he thought he heard Auklet yell, ''Come back another time!'' 
I might not do that, Cliff thought. But you're a really nice dragon, Auklet. Even if we didn't become friends, you were really nice to save me, and forgive me when I was so mean. 
But the good feelings were tinged with envy. 
I wish I could be so carefree. 
=== Chapter Two ===
Where am I?
Duckweed pushed faerself up from the hole where fae seemed to have slept. A hole?
Now it all came rushing back to faer. The discovery, the chase, the enchantment, the guilt.
Duckweed was an animus MudWing. Faer powers had remained hidden for the first ten years of faer life, but at a party when a drunken Duckweed had told a chandalier to float away as a joke, the fact that fae was an animus had been discovered, and fae was hunted down. Out of desperation, fae had enchanted faerself to become a crocodile so that fae could blend in. Fae remembered the wording quite clearly:
I enchant myself to become an ordinary crocodile that nobody can notice or eat. I will retain my powers and all my memories, and I will not die or be injured in this state.
Duckweed had thought fae'd know when the coast would be clear again, but over the decades, fae just couldn't be sure. So much was happening around faer, and it just made faer head ache.
The Great War, Jade Mountain, Pantala....
Duckweed had seen that weird animus SandWing get rid of all magic that all animus dragons had.
But she didn't say anything about animus crocodiles, fae thought gleefully. 
But despite faer casual exterior, fae was worried about how close fae had come to losing faer magic. It's tough being an animus, fae decided. Just a slight change of wording could mean life or death, sometimes literally too.
But...I think it's safe now. Everything's become peaceful and there's been a message going around that 'all dragons are the same, regardless of powers or looks'. Even though I think that's a really dumb message, it'll be useful if I want to mix myself up with society again.
I enchant myself to become a MudWing once again, exactly as I was before, Duckweed thought.
And fae was back. Looking faerself over, Duckweed realized just how much fae had missed every amber red scale on faer body. Being a dragon has caused problems before, fae thought. But it's much preferrable to being a boring crocodile and sitting around all day.
Time to stretch my wings, then.
The tall MudWing opened out faer full wingspan and lifted off into the brightening dawn sky.
* * *
Pumped full of energy, Duckweed touched down on the ground right beside the ditch fae'd been in before. Hunting had gone successfully, as had swooping closer to the ground in a few places to catch all the latest gossip. Fae had managed to compile a list of all the current queens' names, a basic summary of what was going on, and how a MudWing faer age was supposed to act. I could easily get that information from enchanting something else, Duckweed thought ruefully. But learning to get by without magic is a useful habit, and even though I'm sure I'm not insane, I don't want to run more risks than I have to.
Now that fae had completed everything on faer mental list, though...
What next?
Fae couldn't go back to the MudWing kingdom --- there would be too many questions about where fae came from and who faer sibs were. (Sadly, they had died long before faer animus reveal.) Plus, fae wouldn't be able to feel comfortable among everyone else anymore, knowing that they'd happily kill fae if they found out the truth. Duckweed could fix all that with yet another spell, but....
But I don't want to. I want genuine love, or no love at all.
Hello.
Fae spun around, and saw a orange SkyWing gazing at faer with friendly eyes. Who are you, little MudWing?
My...my name is Mallard. I left the Mud Kingdom to explore Pyrrhia. I'm an adventurous dragon, Duckweed lied, chuckling nervously.
Wrong. Your name is Duckweed, and you spent the past thirty years as a crocodile. And you're an animus, the SkyWing countered. I followed you during your little trip through Pyrrhia a while back, and I heard you talking to yourself.
Am I really that transparent? I should really stop saying my thoughts out loud, Duckweed realized. I can explain, fae spluttered.
Another relationship ruined by my magic, fae thought sadly.
But why was the SkyWing still smiling? ''I'm really impressed, Duckweed. You managed to hide your magic for so long, and I think you were brave not to give up when everyone wanted you dead.''
Duckweed gaped. It was as if she understood everything.
''Would you like to come live in the SkyWing palace? You can help me with official matters --- I could use someone like you to give me advice.''
''That sounds great, thanks!'' Duckweed blurted. Fae was taking a liking to this dragon by now. But then fae realized something. ''The...palace? Are you a royal?''
''Yep,'' she grinned, pointing to a crown perched neatly on her head. ''I'm Queen Scarlet of the SkyWings.''
* * *
''ARGGGGGGGGGG!!''
Cliff shot upright in his bed, the furs beneath him drenched with sweat.
It's just a dream, he told himself. Queen Scarlet isn't really after you. Ruby's death happened six years ago, not just now.
The dream hadn't been so much a product of Cliff's imagination as a memory, but the images, still fresh in his mind, flashed in front of his eyes.
Peril and Chameleon arguing, oblivious to what was happening right next to them.
Ruby lying motionless on the dark floor of the arena.
And Scarlet's words to Cliff: I killed your mother...soon I'll kill you too....
Cliff gasped in horror and fell back, feeling the soft thud of his weight hitting his bed. After the vivid memories, the cave in which some of his winglet slept felt strangely dark and quiet.
Just a dream. It's just a dream.
Cliff? You okay mate?
Cliff groaned. It was Lustfinder, the NightWing in his winglet, the Silver Winglet. Lustfinder was okay, Cliff supposed, but he wouldn't be able to count on the black and gold dragon being too high up on his list of favorite dragonets.
Fine, Cliff muttered, burying his head into his pillow. He hoped Lustfinder would be sleepy enough to not ask too many questions for once, but apparently that was too much to hope for, because the NightWing wriggled to the edge of his leafy hammock and began staring at him.
''Are you sure about that, Cliff? Because you definitely don't look or sound okay to me. You've been droopy all day and---''
Cliff wasn't even in the mood to yell at him. And even though Lustfinder's chattering might have been annoying, he didn't really regret not quieting him down by now. Because, as crazy as it sounded, listening to the NightWing drone on about how Cliff had seemed weird all day was a comforting distraction from his dream. And those were rare nowadays.
Cliff dropped back into sleep, and thankfully his previous dream was discontinued, replaced with an oddly peaceful black backdrop.
This, though, left his own thoughts clear as day in the bland scenes:
Drifting off mid-class.....being pestered by a dragonet....no future....and most of all, nobody left in my family who cares about me...
What was left of a hopeful life for Cliff now?
=== Chapter Three ===
Cliff finished up his swallowtailed kite, the afternoon sunshine baking his back and casting a reddish edge to his shadow. Life, at least for now, was good; his stomach full, his scales warm, and his soul content. Cliff had long since learned to savour moments like this instead of thinking about how they'd never last, because he couldn't do anything about that part.
Living purely in the moment might not be recommended by all those old dusty philosophers, he thought, but it definitely feels better than worrying all the time.
''How's the birthday dragon?''
Cliff turned to see Auklet standing behind him, smiling shyly.
''How did you know it was my birthday?'' he asked.
She shrugged slightly. ''One of the teachers here was at your hatching. He told Peril, who thought that it deserved a celebration.''
''Well, thanks I guess,'' Cliff said.
''Want to come with me for....I don't know, a talk or something?'' She suggested. ''You can come to my room, my winglet won't mind.''
''Nice,'' Cliff said slowly. He really hoped Auklet wasn't inviting him because the school had planned a surprise party or something like that. He wouldn't be able to cope with it, surprises being one of the things that could cause a knee-jerk reaction with terrible consequences.
Once Lustfinder thought it would be funny to sneak up on me and tackle hug me from behind, he thought with a shudder. I screamed like a startled kite and clawed fiercely at his nose before I recogonized him. Cliff had felt guilty every time he saw Lustfinder with the wrapping of gauze around his snout after that, but strangely the NightWing hadn't held a grudge over it. Mistakes happen, he'd said in a muffled voice. Instead of making Cliff feel better, though, that had made him feel worse.
It's going to be okay, though. Everything's the way it should be. You're safe, happy, fed, and apparently the school commitee cares enough to take notice of your birthday. You have chances that so many dragons weren't lucky enough to have. How can you be complaining? I bet Ruby would complain, too --- if she could......
The voice in Cliff's head left a suggestive silence after that, and guilt roiled inside him.
Stop it, he told himself. You can't feel this way, not on such a happy occasion.
* * *
Cliff wouldn't have said he had a concretely good time talking with Auklet. The black clouds still lingered over his head, sometimes wrapping him up entirely. When that happened, he had to make an excuse to leave and get the bulk of emotion out of his system before returning. He wouldn't have called it the worst hour of his life either, though. Because the clouds seemed to have lifted a bit, its effect dimming ever so slightly. It always happens when I'm interacting with others, Cliff thought in satisfaction.
He learned more about Auklet than he knew before. He'd certainly guessed that she was a princess, an heir to the SeaWing throne, but she told him so much more. How she'd started coming to Jade Mountain when she was two years old, how eventually Queen Coral had decided, per Auklet's wishes, to put away the leash used to tie her to her mother, and how much she enjoyed her life in this school now. The more the young SeaWing talked, the more relaxed she became. I wish I could do that, Cliff thought wistfully. He hated talking about his past.
He'd also learned some more facts about his new SeaWing friend. She actually wasn't all that younger than him --- she'd only given off that impression because she was pretty and small for her age. She was also very fast at reading scrolls and had a good memory.
Cliff, on the other talon, could only put together a few sentences about how he'd gotten away from Scarlet and ended up where he currently was. Thankfully, Auklet seemed to sense his discomfort and reassured him that she already knew the gist of it already. Then she'd changed the subject.
Peril obviously knew him well, because she'd had the sense not to have everyone surprise him all at once on his birthday. While Auklet and Cliff chatted in the Jade Winglet's dormitory, Cliff noticed that several dragons he knew rather well --- Bumblebee from the Crystal Winglet, a brash but funny dragonet. As well as a few others he'd heard of. Dusky, Mink, and a shyish SandWing named Ferret. They all pretended they came inside to get something that was theirs, even though some of them didn't even belong to the Jade Winglet. Cliff doubted their reasons anyway though, because they all placed something on the table next to Auklet's sleeping place (a section of the river that had been dug out just for SeaWing) and left. When Cliff opened them, they looked suspiciously like birthday presents, from cards to accessories for his wall.
''Pretty rich harvest you got there,'' Auklet remarked, peering from behind his shoulder.
''Thanks,'' Cliff replied. Was that the right thing to say? ''Mostly gifts from well-wishing dragons who heard what happened in the Sky Kingdom.''
''You know, it's pretty sweet, how you're so welcome,'' Auklet murmured. ''I'd give anything to be you right now. I mean, I'm enjoying my freedom and all that, but I also miss how Mother would tuck me under her wing and read me a story, even if it was something she wrote herself, and trust me those were horrible!'' She smiled, then looked serious again. ''I know that me, Tsunami, and Anemone are adults now and she needs to spend more time with my brothers, be a real mom to them and make up for all that lost time she spent worrying about heirs. But I still want her to spoil me again, at least a little bit. Don't you think that's a little selfish? My brothers have barely known Coral for all these years. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for me to want her attention?''
''No, it's not,'' Cliff said quietly. ''It's naturally going to come as a big shock to you that suddenly she's indulging in other dragons instead. After all, you're used to having her close by, so even if this is what you want and need, it's going to be tough to get used to. And about you wanting to be me...please don't want that, okay? I...I...I'd give anything to be in your place right now. It's...b..been a tough six years. Ruby's death is still...''
''I'm sorry,'' Auklet said. ''Even though my father, Gill, is dead, I was only an egg when it happened, so I never knew him. My only knowledge about him comes from Mother. So I don't know what it feels like to lose a parent, not really. And at least I know that he'll be missed, but the kingdom is still in good talons. I'd do anything to get revenge on that Scarlet, though. She gave the order to have him killed.''
''I'd...like that too.'' Cliff admitted.
''I know the best way to help you with that,'' Auklet said, suddenly whispering for some reason. ''But we can't talk about it here. Follow me. We're going to the deep end.''
=== Chapter Four ===
'The deep end' turned out to be the parts of the mountain that hadn't really been explored. Befitting its name, the tunnels Auklet led Cliff into kept going down and down at erratic angles. Cliff nearly fell off of a steep ledge where the tunnels continued below, and had to squeeze through narrow openings several times. The result was scraped and bloody scales and talons, but he hardly felt it. He was too busy thinking.
What does 'the deep end' truely mean? Cliff thought as he scrambled down a rock face, his claws screeching harshly on the surface. What part does Auklet want me to play in it?
''You're wondering what I mean, don't you?'' Auklet said, risking a glancing smile back at him. ''Don't worry too much, Cliff. I promise you can trust me. After all, I did save you from certain death. Just remember that today is probably going to be the most important day in your life, and not just because you've just turned seven. Use this time wisely.''
''Well, that really calms my nerves,'' Cliff muttered, and instantly felt guilty over his sarcastic remark. ''I'm sorry, I know you're just trying to prepare me for what's coming next. Are you mad at me?''
''Mad? No,'' the SeaWing scoffed. ''I make lighthearted comments like this all the time. Nobody ever takes them seriously, nor are they supposed to.'' She peered around a bend in the rocky path. ''Hold that thought. We're here.''
Auklet and Cliff were standing in front of a mess of giant stalagmites. They didn't look different, so why was Cliff's friend looking at them as if she expected something to happen?
''You can come out now,'' she called, a touch of impatience in her voice.
We have company? Cliff looked at her, surprised.
Still, nothing happened.
A long sigh made its way out of Auklet's throat. ''Okay, maybe you're right. Maybe I do have to explain everything to him before you show your faces. If that's the way you want it...''
She turned to Cliff. ''Sit down, get comfortable. This is going to take a while.''
* * *
''You do know that many dragons were unhappy when Scarlet returned?'' Auklet asked, getting a terse nod. ''Well, some of them had personal revenge agendas against Scarlet. She'd killed their friends, their lovers, members of their family, all that. And those dragons were furious when she came back. So furious, in fact, that they decided that they couldn't sit by and hope someone else did away with Scarlet any more. No offense.''
''None taken,'' Cliff replied dismissively. ''So, what happened next?''
''They started the Sky Savers,'' Auklet replied. ''We call our organization that because it aims to save the SkyWings, and eventually the whole of Pyrrhia from Scarlet's cruel reign. Most of us are friends and family of dragons Scarlet killed, so we have personal reasons to pursue this goal.'' She took a deep breath. ''We were wondering if you'd like to join us.''
''Why...? What could I ever do for you?'' Cliff spluttered. ''And why would I want to join?''
Auklet looked confused. ''Don't you want to avenge Ruby's death? I know I want to avenge Gill. I want to get at the dragon who had him killed.''
''No.'' The word came out so quietly Cliff could barely hear it himself. Then, louder, ''NO! YOU'RE WRONG! I DON'T WANT TO AVENGE RUBY! I DON'T WANT SCARLET TO HURT ANYONE ELSE! YOU'LL GET YOURSELF KILLED, AUKLET, YOU AND ALL THE SKY SAVERS! AND IF YOU STILL WANT TO CONTINUE, THEN, THEN....YOU'RE THE MOST FOOLISH DRAGON I EVER MET!''
Cliff tore his gaze away from her and began to run, back in the opposite direction from which he had come. He didn't care that she was staring back at him, hurt in her eyes. He didn't care that she could see the tears rushing down his face. He didn't even care that he didn't know these tunnels and that he could get lost. All he cared about was the writhing, pulsing grief in his heart and how much he wanted to just get it out. Why does it have to be this way? He thought. I could have had a normal life. I want to have a normal life, and the moments at Jade Mountain are moments that I can fake that I'm just one of the crowd, happy and content. Can't Auklet see that she's remixing my grief back to the surface, like you remix the hottest parts of cooling soup?
He suddenly felt cool talons grasp his wing, and pushed them away. ''Leave me alone,'' he gasped.
''Cliff---'' Auklet said. ''Are you okay?''
''Yes, I'm fine!'' Cliff shouted. Then he looked into her jade green eyes, so intent and understanding, and he stopped running. His resolve crumbled. ''I'm fine,'' he repeated, but it somehow felt much less true.
''Cliff,'' Auklet murmured. ''It's going to be okay.''
No, it's not.
''Auklet?'' said a voice behind them. ''What are you two doing?''
The SeaWing made a shushing gesture with her talons. ''Cliff just got a little emotional, that's all.'' She looked at him, then at the dragon behind them. Cliff turned and saw a SandWing gazing at them with a puzzled expression. ''Cliff, this is Horizon. He's a Sky Saver. We take the names of the deceased accquaintance that Scarlet killed to hide our real identities and remind us who we're fighting for, so I'm Gill.'' She glanced guiltily at him. ''So you're going to have to be Ruby. Is that fine with you?''
''You're talking to me as if I'm going to join you,'' Cliff said blankly.
''Well, it's your choice. But we'd really appreciate it. We're kind of pressed for new members, and if you have any inside information---''
''I don't.''
''Well. Are you going to join anyway? Honestly...'' Auklet trailed off, then lifted her gaze and continued. ''What you said. That's true. You can never start a rebellion without a few casualites. But we're talking at most fifty lives against many thousands if we give up. It sounds like a fair risk to me, and I'd be more than willing to give my life to avenge my father. Most of all, I feel so exhilarated when I think about how important what we're doing is. I want you to feel the same way.''
''Maybe I'll think about it,'' Cliff muttered, and Auklet smiled encouragingly. Then she called over her shoulder: ''Okay, everybody, it's safe to come out now!''
Dragons poured out from behind the stalagmites, so many of them that Cliff's head spun. MudWings and SeaWings and IceWings and SandWings and of course SkyWings stepped out from the shadows, some grinning, some with solemn and stern expressions. Knowing that he wasn't alone should've been reassuring to Cliff, but he instead felt a little sick. Auklet's words echoed in his head. Most of us are friends and family of dragons Scarlet killed, so we have personal reasons to pursue this goal. Had Scarlet really claimed so many lives?
''Are you the founder of the Sky Savers?'' Cliff asked, trying to distract himself from that train of thought.
''Oh, dear me, no,'' she laughed. ''Trust me, I would enjoy the honor. But I'm just a co-leader.''
''Than who's the founder?'' He asked, confused.
''She should be coming this way right about now,'' Auklet said, then broke off. ''There she is!''
Slowly, the members of the Sky Savers bowed down their heads respectfully as a dragoness rounded the bend in the tunnel. Only a few dragons remained upright, including Auklet. Probably the co-leaders, Cliff thought.
''Bow your head!'' Auklet hissed through clenched teeth.
''It's okay, Gill,'' the dragoness said. ''I already know Cliff, or should I say Ruby?''
Cliff was already too busy gaping at the founder. She was right. He did know her. A thousand questions spun through his mind, and he only came to his senses when a co-leader addressed the founder. ''Kestrel,'' he said in a low voice.
The founder of the Sky Savers was Peril.
=== Chapter Five ===
''How-- why-- what--'' Cliff gasped, staring at Peril.
''Kestrel was my mother,'' she explained. ''She was a member of the Talons of Peace --- a group working to put an end to the Great War. Scarlet didn't kill her, at least not that I know of, but she ruined Kestrel's future, as well as my life and Sky's. Though the latter seems pretty happy, he still got cheated out of what he could have had.''
I've heard of the Talons of Peace, an IceWing interjected. My uncle was a member. That's why we're here now, isn't it? Groups have always proved influential to stop injustice, like the Talons of Peace and the Chrysalis.
Exactly, Hvitur, Peril approved. I just couldn't take any more of Scarlet's gloating. I lost a lot to her cruel reign, and I'm not going to let her do any more damage.
Cries of ''Yes!'' and ''No more brutality!'' rang out among the crowd. Auklet nudged Cliff and grinned.
Cliff wasn't sure how he felt about this. On one talon, he would be happy to see the end of Scarlet, just as they were. But on the other, it felt wrong to be wishing death on his own grandmother, even though Scarlet was a horrible queen and had killed her own daughter to reclaim her throne.
If he was going to be honest with himself, Cliff would rather see Ruby alive than Scarlet killed. He wasn't a very violent dragon, and he wasn't cruel at all, except maybe to himself sometimes. No, he assured. All my worries about myself are perfectly reasonable.
This is all happening so fast, he thought, feeling a bit dizzy, which was only made worse when Peril paused in leading the rising chant of protesters and glanced at him expectantly, as if she wanted him to join her in center stage.
Can't you see I'm not fit to lead this thing? He thought desprately. I haven't even decided whether I'm going to join yet!
''Why are you meeting here?'' Cliff asked. ''If this is a group fighting for the good of everyone, why do you have to hide?''
''One, because word spreads easily around here and we can't risk Scarlet catching wind of our plan.'' Peril said. ''Second, because cave floors can't burn and if anyone followed in our talonsteps, I thought this would make it a bit harder to realize who our leader is.''
''Us?'' Cliff questioned.
''Well, not including you. Yet.'' Peril intoned.
A MudWing frowned and ran up to Peril. ''Can't we force him to join?'' He asked, casting a dirty look at Cliff that made him want to shrink back into his scales. ''We need every new member.''
''No, Asha,'' Peril glared. ''It's his own choice. It takes courage to stand up to Scarlet, and I'm not going to force anyone to do anything.''
Grumbling, Asha slipped back among the others.
''I meant what I said, you know,'' Peril said to Cliff kindly. ''You don't need to join us, it would just be helpful if you did.''
''What if Scarlet finds me and kills me?'' Cliff asked. It was a lie, sort of. It was possible, but it wasn't what was stopping him from stepping up to Peril and declaring his membership. It was a different type of fear that was holding him back --- fear that he'd eventually be reclaimed as leader of the Sky Savers if Peril stepped down because of his special relationship with Ruby, and that he'd make a fatal mistake. A mistake that could cost him all his friends' lives. I can't lose anyone else. I already lost Ruby...if something happened to Auklet or Peril or even Lustfinder, I'd break. I'd just break. I can't get myself involved, or I'd never be able to forgive myself.
''I'm sorry, but I can't join you. I can't.'' Cliff took a step back.
A growl rumbled in Asha's throat. ''Can't, or won't?''
''Can't!'' Cliff wailed. ''I'm so sorry, but I have to refuse. I'm useless in a crisis. I'll only put all of you in danger!''
''You're not useless.'' Auklet's brow furrowed. ''Who put that notion into your head?''
''Myself. I couldn't do anything about Ruby dying! It's all my fault...''
''Listen.'' Peril said sternly. But Cliff's vision was blurring again, and he barely heard her.
''LISTEN!'' She screamed, and Cliff snapped back to reality. ''It's NOT your fault, okay? You were a little kid when she died, and you did your best. Honestly, I'm impressed with what you managed to do already. If anything, it's my fault for not listening to you.''
She lost much more than I did, Cliff thought quietly. She also lost her dragonethood, not only her mother, and she thought her brother was dead. I can't add to her burden by complaining. I have to help her do what's right. And there's only one way to do that.
He did his best to look Peril in the eyes and said, with a voice still shaky with nervousness: ''I've decided to join the Sky Savers.''
The crowd looked at each other for a few moments. Then they called out Cliff's Sky Saver code name.
''Ruby!''
''Ruby!''
''Long live Ruby!''
''Ruby,'' Auklet said approvingly, patting him on the back. ''Good for you, Ruby. But I hope my words that joining is optional didn't go in one ear and out the other.''
''No,'' Cliff said firmly. ''This is what I should do.''
''You came just in time,'' Peril noted, then looked at Horizon, the SandWing Cliff had met earlier. ''Tell him all about it.''
Horizon glared at Peril, which Cliff thought was a little strange --- didn't he trust his own leader? --- then explained why new arrivals were so needed. ''We've been reaching a new level in our plan,'' he began. ''So far the only thing we've been doing is picking off Scarlet supporters and trying to squeeze info out of them. Something, anything, that might help us beat her. But they don't know much of anything, at least not anything that we don't know already. It looks like Scarlet hasn't been divulging in anyone except those who are very close to her.''
''Like that rotten Chameleon,'' Auklet growled. ''But we can't capture anyone who actually might know something juicy without attracting attention, and that's what's frustrating about it.''
''In fact, the only new thing we know since we joined together is that apparently Scarlet has got a new friend,'' Peril added. ''We got a report last night from one of our spies in the Sky Kingdom that a strange MudWing has been spotted hanging around her at all times. None of our MudWing agents, even those who are old enough to remember times before the Great War, recogonize them.''
''And the MudWings pretty much ghosted the SkyWings politically after the war ended,'' Auklet put in. ''So there's logically no reason for them to be in the heart of the palace, especially since they aren't a high official or anything. It's still too early to come to any conclusions, but if they stay there for more than a week, we can assume that they have something our dear queen wants, and that'll be worth looking into.''
''It doesn't seem fair,'' Cliff said quietly. ''She already has so much power, and we have nothing. It's not fair that she could be within reach of more.''
''Look, if there's one thing we've learned, kid,'' Horizon said brusquely, ''it's that Scarlet doesn't play fair. She had my brother and namesake captured and killed just because he wasn't careful enough during a simple border battle. But we aren't powerless either, mind you. We've got associates peppered across the Sky Kingdom, and we reached this information before anyone else. If Scarlet tries anything new, we'll be ready to meet it.''
''I can't agree with him more,'' Peril said firmly. ''We're not as weak as you think. Many are deeply unhappy with the way dragons are treated in the Sky Kingdom, and it normally just takes some careful questioning to find new recruits. Scarlet has more soldiers than we do, but unlike them, we never abandon our own. And no matter where a Sky Saver is, they're never truely alone. We've got each other's backs, and we trust each other.''
Trust. Not being alone. Safety. Cliff's mind whirled. That was all he'd wanted, from the moment the light of life died in Ruby's eyes. To have someone who cared about him.
What can I do to help? He asked.
== Chapter Six ==
Cliff trudged down the hallways of Jade Mountain. Peril's words still echoed in his ears.
You can go find new recruits. That's the best way new blood can help us. Talk to them the way you please, but if you can't convince them, make sure they keep quiet. We don't want word getting back to Scarlet, do we?
Cliff's bones ached. His mouth felt sandpaper dry, and his stomach growled as he remembered eating the mountain goat --- it seemed like forever ago now.
Yet he had never felt so alive, so content when he was full and rested and hydrated.
It wasn't as if he was over-the-moon, bouncing-off-the-walls joyous. No, that would have been a complete exaggeration. Instead he felt...Determined? Confident? Reassured? Whatever the word was for it, he felt as if he finally had a purpose in life, as if he could finally begin working his way toward a goal he didn't even know he had.
Ah, there it was --- purposeful.
Feeling purposeful was probably the best Cliff could do nowadays, since every last atom of true happiness had run away from his mind bit by bit. But now even though he wasn't happy, it was a possibility once more, because he had found the perfect way to make Ruby proud: restoring her kingdom.
Peril had given him the chance to choose who he wanted to approach, and he'd picked Lustfinder, his annoying clawmate. Because even though Lustfinder got on his nerves, the NightWing offered him a break from his average, less postive thoughts by doing so. And admittively, he was smart. He'd be a great addition.
Cliff turned a corner, finally recognizing the signs on the walls and realizing that the cave where he and part of his winglet --- Lustfinder, the NightWing, Mink, the IceWing, and Sidewinder, the SandWing --- slept. Mink and Sidewinder would be gone at this time, he knew. They were very sociable and loved talking with dragonets from all the winglets. Cliff had thought that Lustfinder had mentioned Professor Lynx holding him back after class yesterday to tell him to catch up on his studies. Chances were he'd be in the room right now, and they could talk.
Cliff peered around the wall into the cavern, and saw with a jolt that his friend, or at least his distraction from his unpleasant thoughts, was gone. Missing.
Cliff strode across the length of the room and sprawled onto the ledge that was his bed. So Lustfinder was gone. Okay. No problem. He'd probably just gone to get something to eat from the prey center. Cliff would just wait here patiently until he came back. He could be patient, right?
Except I can't afford to be patient. The memories, the tidal wave of emptiness, they always seem to pounce on me as soon as I lag, like a tiger chasing a deer until it tires and collapses.
Cliff, in this deer comparison, knew what the answer would be. He had to keep moving.
With a sigh, trying his best to push away the exhausted sort of sadness lingering inside him, he stood up, glided off the ledge, and raced back into the winding mass of tunnels that was Jade Mountain. His strides lengthened as he began to push his thoughts behind him, and as he eventually reached the more populated parts of the academy. Cliff heard an IceWing hiss in annoyance as he accidentally stepped on her icy cold foot. He saw a MudWing drag a turkey back from the prey center, trying and failing to kill it quickly in a mass of feathers, and he felt a SeaWing shake the water droplets off her scales after a dip in the underground river, soaking Cliff. He sensed all that, but he didn't think about it. He didn't apologize to the IceWing, didn't help the MudWing kill his prey, didn't even glare at the SeaWing for drenching him. His mind wasn't really fixed on anything in particular, and that was for the better.
At least, not until he ran smack into Lustfinder, the dragon he wanted to talk to in the first place. Wow, the NightWing said simply, holding him at arm's length. Why are you running around here like a scavenger with its head cut off? He screwed up his face. Or is that term offensive now that we live with actual scavengers? Sparrow? Fly?
Cliff wished the things he had to worry about were as small as misuse of terms. For now, he was just grateful he'd went from his run right into talking with Lustfinder. I didn't have time to dwell on anything, he thought.
Come with me, he said simply, leading the way back towards the cave.
As Lustfinder trailed after him, Cliff's thoughts began to turn in frantic circles. What if Mink or Sidewinder have come back? He fretted. I'll have missed the one chance I had today to talk to Lustfinder alone. If I'd stayed instead of selfishly running away, I could have made an excuse and sent them away, but instead I left the cave unguarded! His breath quickened. Every minute might count for the Sky Savers. They can't wait longer for recruits just because I messed up! What if Peril decides to kick me out because I'm too useless?
== AU Lore (SPOILERS) ==
* cliff x auklet turns from bebe cute to romantic cute, hopefully
* chameleon has second thoughts about allying with scarlet
* duckweed is a feisty kid but still good at heart *shrug* i'm trying to make faer the 'ferocious but likeable' type
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)
Category:Content (~warmbluevanilla~)