[File:SilkTransparent.png|600px|center](File:SilkTransparent.png%7C600px%7Ccenter)
'SilkWings' are one of the three tribes that reside on Pantala, the
other two tribes being HiveWings and LeafWings. The last SilkWing queen
was Queen Monarch at the time of the Tree Wars, and the tribe was ruled
by Queen Wasp after the Tree Wars until the epilogue of The Flames of
Hope, where a group known as the SilkWing Assembly took control. They
currently reside within the LeafSilk Kingdom which they share with the
LeafWings and some HiveWings. They are descended from the BeetleWings.

## Description

<File:Blue> htd.png|thumb|right
1.0|Blue with wingbuds before
his Metamorphosis from How to Draw, by Brianna C. Walsh (edited by )
SilkWings have scales like sliced gems and small spines running down
their back to the tip of their tails. Their scales appear to be somewhat
iridescent, similar to NightWing scales. Like RainWings, they have slim
bodies and curved horns that are almost identical in shape, but much
longer and thinner. They have a pair of long, furling antennae on the
brow above the eyes. A ridge above their eyes runs over their horns,
giving SilkWings a plated appearance.

SilkWings hatch without any wings. When they turn six years old, they
undergo a Metamorphosis where they spin a cocoon and come out five days
later with their wings. When they do this, they enter a trance-like
state shortly before creating their cocoon. SilkWings have two pairs of
wings, one pair smaller than the other, with membranes that have rounded
edges. SilkWings have butterfly-like wings, which appear similar to
butterfly or moth wings in shape. Their wings also can have spots and
other patterns on them. The bigger pair of wings appear to have four
digits that the membrane is stretched between. The smaller pair of wings
are attached slightly below the larger pair and have two digits.
According to Tui on the Wings of Fire Forums, SilkWing wings are just as
strong as any Dragons|dragon's wings, rather than weak like an insect's
wings. In some cases, as shown on the back cover of The Lost Continent, SilkWings can have the "tail-streamers" that
swallowtail butterflies do on their lower, smaller wings.

SilkWings can be any color under the sun except black, such as olive
green, aquamarine, lavender, indigo, amber, orange, dark purple, peach,
gray, and red. They sometimes have darker accent colors on their scales.
The wing's membranes appear to be different colors too, as well as
certain segments between the digits being a different color than the
rest of the wings. Their eyes can be any color.

## Diet

<File:Honey> drops guide.jpg|thumb|Honey drops from A Guide to the
Dragon World, by Joy AngSilkWings are vegetarians. Their diet includes
yams, okra, garbanzo beans, kale, kumquats, fruits, honey, and
persimmons. They also enjoy honey drops, nectar, chocolate, and various
candies.

## Abilities

<File:Tapestry> guide.jpg|thumb|A tapestry made with silk from A Guide
to the Dragon World, by Joy Ang SilkWings can use their antennae to
sense vibrations in the air, and are able to predict the weather and
sense danger. At six years old, SilkWings undergo Metamorphosis. They
enter a cocoon for about five days, emerging with two pairs of wings and
silk glands in their wrists. Metamorphosis is preceded by aching wing
buds, experiencing a nervous and fuzzy feeling, and itchy silk glands.
Swordtail notes that SilkWings are great climbers. They have a precise
internal clock to keep their days on schedule and warn them when the
rainy season is coming. This clock needs a little while to adjust when a
SilkWing travels a long distance.

[File:FlamesilkTFoHCover.png|thumb|left|230x230px|Luna](File:FlamesilkTFoHCover.png%7Cthumb%7Cleft%7C230x230px%7CLuna)
using flamesilk on the cover of The Flames of Hope, by Joy AngSome
SilkWings have the ability to produce flamesilk. Flamesilk is used by
the HiveWings to create glass and illuminate inside of the hives, though
different types can be made for different purposes, including a type
that emits heat and does not burn the holder. Flamesilk dragons cannot
be burned by flamesilk, but they are not immune to regular fire. This
ability is genetic, and if one parent is a flamesilk, their offspring
have a fifty percent chance of being flamesilk as well. Cricket notes
that flamesilk is expensive, and that a single strand can last a whole
Moons|moon cycle.

According to Luna, there are five types of flamesilk.

1.  'Gold Silk:' Gold Silk is just like regular silk, only it shimmers
    with a golden color. It does not glow or burn.
2.  'Firefly Silk:' Firefly Silk gives off a little bit of light, "like
    holding a firefly in your talons", but it does not burn.
3.  'Glow Silk:' Glow Silk feels a little warm and glows brighter,
    closer to normal fire, but it does not hurt.
4.  'Blaze Silk:' Blaze Silk can burn and hurt non-flamesilk dragons.
    Luna thinks that blaze silk is the kind found in most lanterns.
5.  'Sun Silk:' It is extremely bright and so hot it can burn through
    stone. Luna says to put it out, you must drown it in water. Luna can
    only make a little bit at a time. It will also burn non-flamesilks.

Click :Category:Flamesilks|here for a list of all known flamesilks.

## Society

### Pre-Tree Wars

Before the Tree Wars, SilkWings were tree dwellers who lived in the
forests of Pantala. It was common for SilkWings fresh out of the cocoon
to take time off of school to explore the continent and decide on a job
they wanted to do. Flamesilks lived like normal dragons and traded their
flamesilk.

SilkWings queens used to pick their successors from their daughters. The
queen would meet with the HiveWing and LeafWing queens every few moons
to smooth out disputes.

### Post-Tree Wars

When Wasp took control of the tribe, SilkWings were separated from the
HiveWings. They did not have a voice in the Hives' government system,
and under Wasp's rule, SilkWings were second class citizens and servants
who have almost no rights compared to HiveWings. They had strict rules
they had to follow and their school curriculum was used to try and make
them feel inferior, scare them away from leaving the Hives, and teach
them things that were essential to their limited option of future
professions. They also practiced emergency drills to protect themselves
in case a web was falling or if they had to get to a Hive quickly for
safety. They also learned about silk weaving, web structure, the history
of the Tree Wars, and especially following directions.

SilkWings had no control over the job that was assigned to them as they
were picked by the HiveWings because they thought that the SilkWings
were "overly sensitive" and "prone to fits of fancy". Common professions
included construction worker, web worker, spinners, weavers, servant
workers, performers, and other low-ranked jobs like stall owner. It has
been mentioned that the most disobedient SilkWings were typically
assigned construction work given that it is considered to be very
unpleasant.

SilkWings were not allowed to divorce, and were assigned partners by
Wasp and her sisters, rather than having an ability to choose their own.

SilkWings were branded on their right palm at a very young age. The
SilkWing's initial on their palm is a big letter, while their parent's
initials are smaller letters, forming a triangle shape. The SilkWing's
initial is at the top, while the parents' are at the right and left
bottom corners.

SilkWings were also cuffed at a young age. These bronze wrist cuffs had
their school and other personal information inscribed on it so they
could be identified at checkpoints. All cuffs could inject toxin into
the wrist to make dragons lose consciousness. Bands could be cut off by
using flamesilk.

After the events of The Flames of Hope, the SilkWings allied with the
LeafWings to create the LeafSilk Kingdom. This kingdom is ruled by the
SilkWing Assembly, a council of two hundred dragons.

## Names

SilkWings are named after different species of butterfly, such as Blue
or Swordtail, or different species of moth, such as Luna or Io.

Click :Category:SilkWings|here for a list of known SilkWings.

## Trivia

  - According to the Dragon guides/Third arc|Pantalan Dragon Guide,
    SilkWings are stereotyped as being beautiful, passive, and gentle.
  - It was hinted that the LeafWings and SilkWings who fled from Pantala
    were not the first to arrive on Pyrrhia, as half of a SilkWing's
    wing was displayed in the SandWing stronghold#Weirdling
    Tower|Weirdling Tower.
  - After the events of The Flames of Hope, the SilkWings are the only
    tribe in both Pyrrhia and Pantala that are not ruled by any queen,
    but rather a governing body of multiple SilkWings.
  - Due to their vegetarianism, SilkWings have no difficulty accepting
    that creatures like humans are clever and should not be eaten. They
    feel similarly about other animals such as zebras, wildebeests,
    lobsters, and meerkats.
  - In The Hive Queen, Cricket explained that there was an ongoing
    competition in Jewel Hive where HiveWings attempted to hire the
    prettiest SilkWing to "sit there and look pretty."

## References