Pearl sighed and glanced up at the sun. It beat down on her back, making the sand buried in her scales itch with displeasure. Grumbling, Pearl scooped up her basket of coconuts and trudged through the sand until she reached another palm tree. Setting the basket down, she flew up and grabbed hold of a few more coconuts, struggling to hold on to them while plucking more off. Pearl heard snickering down below and glanced down in time to see Olive and her two cronies tip over her basket and chuck the coconuts in random directions, while snagging some for themselves.

"Hey!" Pearl yelled, though she knew it was useless.

The trio of trouble makers shrieked with laughter and ran with Pearl's coconuts clutched in their arms. Tears welled up in Pearl's eyes, but she quickly brushed them away, and set down the coconuts she just gathered into her now empty basket. She then went around and scooped up any coconuts that had fallen out. The sun slowly slid down the sky.

"Ugh! I have to get back, or else Mistress will surely whip me." Pearl moaned. Olive always ruined things for her. Snatching Pearl's food and messing up her tasks. She always hated seeing her dark green scales and smug smile. Olive's two cronies, Jewel and Shell weren't much better. Though they picked on other girls in the orphanage, Pearl was their main target.

Pearl couldn't blame them though, she had always looked weird and out of place among the other SeaWings. Her scales were more of an IceWing blue, and her eyes were white enough that other dragons often mistook her as blind. Pearl strapped on a net over her basket of coconuts, so they wouldn't float away when she dove. She waded into the sea, relishing the feeling of the waves lapping over her. Pearl dove down, dragging the basket along with her. She loved the coral and all of the colorful fish darting in and out. Pearl smiled, and couldn't help but enjoy the exotic life that went on below the surface. Her smile quickly faded as she neared the building she dreaded. A sign flashed by as she swam through the gates. "Orphanage for young, female SeaWings" it read. The building itself was old and falling apart. Grime seeped through every crack and vines draped themselves across the many cracks, waving gently in the current. Pearl pushed through the front door, and swam into the kitchen, where Mistress was waiting, a scowl on her face like she always had. Mistress was the head of this hell-hole Pearl called home.

Your coconuts, Mistress. Pearl flashed at her, using her glowing scales.

Mistress' frown only deepened. That basket is practically empty, and the coconuts are dented and bruised.

Pearl wanted to tell Mistress that it was Olive who did that, but Mistress would never believe her and Olive would become angry and retaliate back in her crooked ways. Instead she only flashed back, I'm sorry Mistress. I will do better next time.

You better. Mistress then proceeded to pull out her whip, made of a rope of strong seaweed twisted together, and shark teeth embedded periodically throughout.

Pearl held out her arms. She had done wrong, again. Pearl had permanent marks on her arms from previous whippings. The shark teeth dug into her scales, followed by the sharp sting of the sea weed rope. Again, and again, and again. After four whips, Pearl's arms were slowly oozing blood, which drifted away in the water.

Now be gone with you! Mistress growled, whipping her tail back and forth.

Pearl was gone in a heartbeat. She swam to the sleeping chambers and sank onto her bed, arms aching. Her bed wasn't much. Just one of the 20 or so rock ledges that lined the sleeping chamber. Pearl attempted to make her bed comfy by lining it with seaweed, but the other girls often stole it, so after a while, she just gave up. She flopped down and clutched her necklace, a moon shell, painted a dark blue, on a string of small turquoise beads. It was her only possession. When Pearl was just an hour old hatchling, she was abandoned on the steps of the orphanage with this necklace. Nothing else. She could not remember anything before that.

The dinner bell chimed, loud and clear. It was designed to be heard in even the deepest parts of the ocean. Pearl hauled herself up and swam among the horde of hungry dragonets. Ages ranged from eggs to 10 years old. After 10 years, they were sold off to wealthy families to become butlers or maids. In other words, slaves. Pearl was 7. She had 3 more years in this insufferable place. Not that she was excited to become a slave somewhere else.

The dinner hall teemed with dragonets, flashing at each other and jostling around. Pearl joined the long line of orphans, and grabbed a tray. Old fish, moldy urchins, and over salted shrimp was piled in meager amounts on her tray. She slid into a deserted table and started eating. A lot of the newer dragonets still gagged on the horrible food, but Pearl was used to it by now. Pearl saw a flash of dark green out of the corner of her eye and groaned.

Hey loser. Olive sneered. I'm surprised that you actually found a friend.

Pearl glanced at her in confusion.

Olive's wicked grin only deepened. Too bad it's only your imagination.

The dragonets close by who were watching burst out laughing, bubbles streaming from their mouths. Pearls face burned.

Oh did I make little Pearly cry? Olive giggled.

Olive's crony, Jewel piped in. I thought blind dragons couldn't cry?

That did it. Pearl stormed from the dining hall, everyone hooting with laughter. Her face burned in shame. She would never fit in.

Pearl wondered if her whole life would always be miserable. She decided that she was done with it.