Original idea spawned on Briar's wall as part of a comic collab!
Updates sporadically whenever I get the motivation to write
Set in a distant future, no Arc 3
See the Deriverse for more notes on how tribes are distinguished.
Cast of Characters[]
Tantalite
Verre
Agave
Queen Amaranth
Queen Candidus
Queen Coati
Flicker
Yucca
Prologue[]
Why? The single thought echoed on repeat through his head, a broken track record like it had been since that moment. Why? It had been all he had thought about since the soldiers had found out, found out about him, about the magic. They had burst into his home, Mother only managing to get him out through the smoke-opening in the kitchen. She had pressed into his talon one of her earrings, from the set Father had given her on their anniversary.
Why would she give it to me? Did she know- his train of thought was abruptly shut off by a spear hurtling past him, narrowly missing his wing membrane. They caught up. Daring to twist his head around, Tantalite saw the soldiers following a single unmistakable dragon leading his pursuit. Queen Amaranth. Rising to her position nine years ago, she had immediately killed the previous queen’s animus, barring it from the kingdom.
Shaking his head and clearing it of any thoughts, Tantalite dived downwards sharply, as a plume of fire burst above where he had just been. Too close, how’d they get this close that quickly? Twisting upwards once again, he flapped his wings laboriously, trying to gain altitude against his pursuers. I’m tiring- it’s not enough, it’ll never be enough- and in that second, he did something that would haunt him for the rest of his days; he wished for them to- "Fall."
Behind Tantalite, the soldiers plummeted, caught irrevocably in the effects of his wish. Why? The same thought from before came back to follow him, Why did they fall? I didn’t say anything- nothing should have happened, so why?
Landing amongst the trees that marked the edges of the Skywing Queendom, Tantalite looked back at where he had been flying, only to see a field of carnage awaiting him. The dragons had all fallen mid-flight, many laying crumpled and still, bone shattered and various parts stabbing through skin and scales where they’d landed badly. Blood had spilled across the field, the ruby droplets merging too seamlessly with the scales of the soldiers, painting them in vibrant color. Did I do that? I told them to fall, not to- I’m a monster. I killed them. I could have told them to stop- to go away- not to fall!
Lost in his thoughts, Tantalite slowly backed up, deeper into the forest before bursting into a run. Crashing through the branches, he ignored the lowest ones whipping across his scales, lost. Seeing an opening to the side, Tantalite threw himself into the cave, not bothering with silence or stealth.
Collapsing on the floor of the cave, Tantalite let himself go, sobbing for his mother, who had pushed him to the side when the soldiers came, for his father, who had hid him the best he could, and paid the price. He cried for the soldiers he had left behind, knowing they were just doing what they were told.
As he calmed down, Tantalite noticed discomfort coming from his left talon, and saw that laying there unharmed was the earring. Oh, I kept it. I thought I’d lost it back there, flying like that. He curled up in a corner of the cave, making his presence as small as possible. I miss Mother, I wish she was still here, I wish that I could be back there, before everything. Everyone will hate me now, they’ll look at me and see I’m a monster, I killed those dragons.
Relaxing slightly now that he could no longer hear the cries of the soldiers still searching for him, Tantalite slowly unclenched his talons from the earring, running his claws over the inlaid emerald Mother had loved. Oh, how he wished he could go back and stay with her, to hide away from the faces of others. She would never have allowed it though, Mother loved others, loved the interaction with them, and they loved her back in response. All the other dragons on their mountainside adored Mother and how she’d help everyone out, if she had been the one pursued, Tantalite knew that the other dragons would have stood up for her without hesitation. If I were as liked as Mother was, maybe it won’t happen again, I could live alone and nobody would know, nobody would ask.
Looking at the sole earring laying in his claws, Tantalite took a deep breath, and gave his response to himself.
Alright, that should be good enough, and if I don’t like it, I can just take it off. He slowly clipped on the earring, then broke into a small grin. I’m free now. Nobody will know, and I'll be safe.
Part One: Meeting[]
Chapter One[]
Scorpion Den, Kingdom of Sand
The mid-morning sun beat harshly down on the desert, the heat pouring down on all those who wandered. Inside the Scorpion Den, countless dragons bustle through the market, many clamoring for prices and haggling with the stall owners. A lone dragonet rushed between the streets, searching for someone. “Agave? Agave- drat, xe’s probably at the gates again.”
The dragon in question was, in fact, at the gates watering a planter filled with flowers. Lost in xer thoughts, Agave was startled when xe heard a sharp voice pierce through the commotion from the market, followed by an exasperated tone from one of the guards. That’s another one, refusing to pay the entry fee. Xer train of thought was soon cut off by the next line, “Your Majesty, please reconsider the fee. After all, it can be quite difficult for any dragon to catch a thief in our morning markets, let alone a half-blinded one such as yourself.”
“Are you doubting me? I can handle a simple pickpocket, eye or no eye…” The conversation faded into the background as Agave fell into thought. One of the queens has been blinded? Last I heard, all of them were in perfect condition… Xe pondered over the question, shugging it off as xe heard xer name being called. “Agave! There you are! I’ve been looking for you for forever. Yucca sent me, 'told me to tell you to pick up some apricots on your way back, if they’re there.”
"Alright, tell him I'll be back by noon," Agave replied, mind wandering over the sentence as xe looked up at the sky. Noon... I have a few more hours.
A while later, Agave had finished xer walk, heading back to the fortress. Xe entered the palace, heading straight to the throne room as the bells outside chimed twelve. Agave bowed xer head, not daring to lift it until a voice rang out in the chamber, clear and resonant. “Rise. There is nothing of concern.” As xe lifted xer head, Agave caught sight of a group of SkyWings, wearing the garish orange bands that signified paid protection from petty theft in the streets, since even the sharpest of warriors could easily become lost in the winding alleys. Realizing xe was staring, Agave quickly bowed xer head once again, wings slumping slightly, “Apologies, your majesty. Is there something I was called for?”
“There is nothing to apologize for. I should have warned you about the nature of our visitors,” the SandWing queen rose from her throne, stepping over to the SkyWings as she gestured to the older dragoness. “Queen Amaranth of the SkyWings, currently with one suitable heir, the granddaughter of her paternal aunt.”
“As always, your information is impeccable, Coati. It astounds me how you’ve managed all this, on top of ascending at such a young age.” Amaranth’s voice was condescending, and Agave bristled at the words, but made no further move, seeing a shadow slip into the room just behind one of the SkyWings accompanying the queen. Ah, there’s Yucca. I was wondering where he’d gone. It isn’t like him to miss out on a meeting such as this.