'Osprey' was an elderly male SkyWing who was introduced in The Dragonet Prophecy. He worked as the defense attorney
for SkyWing trials, and died of severe wounds after being dropped from
the sky by Scarlet|Ex-Queen Scarlet.

## Description

Osprey had washed-out red scales, a paralyzed tail, and was almost
blind. His voice was creaky with age, but still loud enough to carry to
the SkyWing palace#SkyWing Arena|SkyWing arena's prisoners.

## Personality

Osprey was a kind, intelligent, and mellow Dragons|dragon compared to
other SkyWings. He chose to befriend Peril, instead of fearing her like
most dragons, teaching her about SkyWing laws, policies, and traditions.
He was also described to be a fair and righteous dragon, pointing out
unfair decisions despite knowing the dreadful consequences.

## Biography

left
Pre-Series
Before moving to the Sky
Kingdom, Osprey was very wealthy. However, during a scavenger's
attempted theft, Osprey's tail was paralyzed before he managed to eat
the scavenger, preventing him from flying. He gave all of his treasure
to Scarlet to live in the Sky Kingdom.

Osprey served as the defendant in Scarlet's trials but usually made poor
arguments to avoid being punished or killed by Scarlet. During Kestrel's
trial, he also mentioned that he had once been a member of the SkyWing
guard.

He became a friend and mentor to Peril. He taught her how to read and
write, and also told her many stories of his youth. It can also be
inferred that he informed Peril on SkyWing politics, as she knew about
the Champion's Shield when she could not read scrolls herself and had no
other friends.

-----

### The Dragonet Prophecy

left The Dragonet Prophecy (book)|The Dragonet
Prophecy

[File:OspreyDeath.png|thumb|Osprey's](File:OspreyDeath.png%7Cthumb%7COsprey's)
Death in the graphic novelOsprey served for the defense during Kestrel's
trial. He explained the circumstances of how Queen Scarlet ordered
Kestrel to kill one of her twin dragonets before changing her mind,
forcing Kestrel to leave her surviving child behind. Scarlet decided to
kill Kestrel, but Peril intervened and called upon the tradition of the
Champion's Shield for her mother. After Scarlet processed that Osprey
had told her about the SkyWing traditions, she grabbed him in her talons
and dropped him out of the sky from high above the arena. Because of his
paralyzed tail, he was completely unable to fly. Peril attempted to grab
him but was forced to let go, as she was burning him. Once he hit the
ground, he broke many of his bones and soon died of his wounds. Despite
still having his wings, he is unable to properly fly. His paralyzed tail
throws his balance, as noted by Clay when he thought about how much
dragons need their tail while flying.

-----

### The Jade Mountain Prophecy

left Escaping Peril

Osprey was mentioned several times by Peril as a friend. She also
mentioned he once tried to teach her how to read and write.

-----

### Legends

left
Dragonslayer
Osprey's corpse was
briefly seen by Leaf when he glanced down from a balcony.

-----

### Field Guides

left
A Guide to the Dragon World
Osprey
was mentioned as one of the dragons Scarlet wanted dead.

## Relationships

### Peril

Osprey was mentioned to be Peril's only friend before meeting Clay.
Osprey taught her how to read and write, even if she could not touch a
scroll without burning it, as well as the history of the SkyWings. Their
friendship was strong, shown when Peril tried to save him from falling
to his death despite knowing she has deadly firescales. Peril felt vast
emptiness opening up inside her when Osprey died.

Tui stated she thinks Osprey knew he would die after defending Kestrel;
he made the sacrifice for Peril's sake — so that she would know the
truth.

### Scarlet

Osprey followed Scarlet as his queen, but was clearly afraid of her,
giving poor defenses during trials or else he would lose his head. She
only let him live because he gave her all his treasure, and ultimately
ended up killing him for teaching Peril too much.

## Quotes

Your Majesty, […] I do have one or two words to say in this
prisoner's defense.
to Queen Scarlet, during Kestrel's trial

The Dragonet Prophecy
178

-----

Consider first the charge of disobedience. Kestrel did not do
as you ordered— but then, didn't you reverse the order after she was
gone?
during Kestrel's trial
The Dragonet Prophecy
178

-----

Forgive me, Your Majesty. […] I must speak. Kestrel was one
of your most loyal soldiers. She was sent through the breeding program,
on your orders, and brought forth one egg. Upon hatching, it turned out
to hold twin dragonets.
during Kestrel's trial
The Dragonet Prophecy
178

-----

You told your guards — I know, for I was one of them — to kill
the other dragonet and take Kestrel back for trial. She tried to grab
her daughter and fly away, but the heat of the dragonet's scales burned
her talons before she was a wingbeat into the sky, and she had to drop
her. She fled, leaving her only living dragonet at your mercy.
during Kestrel's trial The Dragonet Prophecy (book)|The
Dragonet Prophecy
180

-----

When you caught her, the dragonets had hatched. I know. Because
I was one of the guards who was with you. You told her you'd forgive her
and let her live — if she killed one of her dragonets. So she killed
that dragonet with too little fire, right there at the river, with her
own claws. But even though she did what you said, you told us to kill
her other dragonet anyway! She grabbed her daughter. She tried to fly
away — But she was too badly burned and was forced to drop her. So she
fled, leaving her only dragonet at your mercy.
during
Kestrel's trial
The Dragonet Prophecy (graphic novel)

116

## Trivia

  - Despite canonically losing his ability to fly due to tail paralysis,
    the graphic novel changes his injury to wings having been blasted or
    torn off.

## References

in TDP Category:Mentioned in EP Category:Featured in AGttDW