Some parts of this chapter seem rushed to me, so I apologize for that in advance. I also try to update once a week - but if it is not obvious enough - that will not always happen. I will try to solidify a schedule.

Massive thanks to copperavacado, Claw's best fren, LemonDrops334, RavenoftheStars, and both anonymous readers!

Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire. I also do not own some of the characters that will frequent this story. Within this chapter, I specifically do not own Night.


Dull Red and Subtle Green

The number of dragons itself was astonishing, let alone the fact that they managed to fit into a single cavern. The noise was intimidating, the echoes amplifying every sound.

V…

The walls were lined with vendors and hungry dragons. The distant sounds of a fight bounced off the stone that surrounded them.

ile!

The SandWing looked down at his meal. He was lucky, for he had managed to grab a rabbit off the stands while the vendor was engaged with a difficult customer. He quickly placed the mangled mixture of flesh and fur into a small pouch. He tied it around his leg before pulling it tight with his teeth.

V… Va… Vasile!

"Help!"

The dragonet looked back into the crowd. Everyone continued pushing along, and he soon found himself getting swept along with it. He scanned the area, catching sight of a distressed, red SkyWing dragonet that soon disappeared among the crowd. He turned once more, walking away after he decided he had more important priorities.

Vasile!

A claw had grabbed onto his tail. He whirled around, dull red orbs boring into subtle green ones. The SkyWing dragonet was small and young, or at least, younger than himself. He handled the SandWing's tail with minimal caution, managing to avoid the venomous barb. He opened his mouth to warn the SkyWing dragonet the danger of grabbing a SandWing by the tail when he was abruptly cut off.

"My brother! I can't find my bro-"

A furious roar pierced through the haze.

"VASILE! Wake up now or so help me…"

Vasile slowly opened his eyes and emitted a large yawn. He blinked the sleep away, looking into the eyes of the SkyWing that interrupted his dream.


FIRST PERSON POV | VASILE

"C'mon Alb! I was sleepin'..." I yawned once more for effect, but to my dismay, Albion was not amused.

"I was aware that you were sleeping and that was why I was trying to wake you up, imbecile," Albion huffs, backing away from my face. He lashes his tail and strides away haughtily. Once my personal space was restored, he spoke again. "The day is already half over!"

I roll my eyes, bemused. Slowly, I drag myself to my feet and stretch. With a lash of my own tail, I straighten myself: no reaction from the other party.

The sun peeks through a crack in the hut. My eyes watch as the light plays among the grass that is currently being pushed along by the small breeze that came through. The breeze carries the faint scent of the sea mixed in with the fragrance of flowers, freshly bloomed.

"... ile. Oi! Are you listening to me?"

We both know the answer to that one. I snorted. My thought remained unsaid, but the gesture was interpreted by Albion who returned a small smile in response.

"If I knew tha' you were gonna wake me, I woulda' slept elsewhere," I sigh, walking out the hut and catching up with Albion.

"Oh come on, Vasile. You know as well as I do you like the breezes that pass through Light Tribe at night," Albion snickers, prideful of his tribe's land.

I chuckle slightly, and we both quiet down to a comfortable silence. Although I am not personally apart of Light Tribe, I have to admit, the weather is nice at night compared to the humidity that engulfs the marshlands. It could be a personal preference, or perhaps my body seeks a climate that shares a similarity to the dry, desert air.

The silence soon begins to bore me. I slightly turn my head to observe Albion, who is trying to partially distance himself from me. He holds his head high and his body language screams regality. He emits an air of confidence and certainty, every step he takes complimenting his supposed arrogance. I soon find myself rolling my eyes and looking away, suddenly struck with an idea of absolute brilliance.

I stumble, letting out a bout of raspy coughs. I could already feel Albion's eyes burning into the side of my neck. What emotion they convey, I am uncertain, for after struggling to regain my breath I collapsed to my side. My body writhes on the ground as I clench my eyes shut.

"Vasile?! What's wrong?!" I could feel Albion breathing down my neck as he tries to find the source of my discomfort.

"Albion… I fear… tha' I am dying," I cough, curling into a tight ball. I soon open an eye to look at him and a mischievous grin overtakes my features. "Of boredom!"

All I can hear is the faint wingbeats of distant dragons mixing with the symphony of the wind.

I gasp, a pain overwhelming the side of my body. Choking on my breath, my other eye opens and my full attention returns to Albion. It seems that he had ever-so-graciously decided to slam his front claw into my side. Hard.

"You absolute-" Albion cutoff, at a complete loss for words. Smoke flows steadily from his nostrils, casually filling the once clear air with the smell of burning. Much to my surprise - and to both of our luck - he turns and walks away, his tail, once again, lashing behind him.

I snort, rolling onto my stomach and standing up.

"Next time, I recommend not wakin' me up!"


THIRD PERSON POV

The SandWing and SkyWing stayed there for a brief moment, their eyes locked in a silent feud.

"Please, you have to help m-"

"Have ye' seen the amount o' dragons down 'ere? Are you insane?" He ripped his tailed from the SkyWing's grasp and snorted.

"Find a new one."

The sand dragon turned and walked away, his tail curled neatly and out of SkyWing's range. The SkyWing, who was previously stunned in absolute shock, suddenly became filled with determination. The sky dragon ran to catch up with them.

"What is your name?"

"How's tha' relevant?"

"I need something to call you by."

"Then call me Red."

"Oh… because of your eyes?"

"Yeah."

"Is that your real name?"

"No."

A brief silence.

"Why not tell me your real name?"

"Not important."

"Why?"

The SandWing groaned.

"You won' know me for too long. Down 'ere you call dragons by the first thing ye' notice about em'."

"Then why not Red-Eyes?"

"Too long."

Another short pause.

"What would my nickname be?"

"Red."

"But… isn't your nickname Red?"

"Dragons share names all the time."

"Bu-"

The SandWing turned, looking down at the dragonet. In return, the younger dragonet emitted a sharp yelp.

"When dragons first see me, they see my eyes, which are red. When I first saw you, I saw your scales, which are red. Therefore you are Red."

Much to the sand dragon's surprise, the SkyWing glared back up at him.

"Well, my name is not 'Red'. My name is-"


FIRST PERSON POV | VASILE

"Oof!" A large force rams into my side, causing me to lose my previously regained breath.

"Three moons! Vasile, I am so, so sorry! Ollie and I are playing chase and-"

"Night!~"

"He's catching up!" Night yelped, curling in her wings in alarm. With the area seemingly engulfed in a constant shadow, her wings seemed to emit a light of their own as they imitated the night sky. The NightWing shook her head, regaining focus. "Anyways, Vas, I'll pay you back later!"

And with that, her form sped off with a lean, pale SkyWing trailing close behind.

I blinked, wrapping my head around what just happened. I then chuckled and at their childishness as I watched the sun start to reappear over the edge of the stone overhanging.

"Oi, Vasile," a whisper sounded from behind me. I turned my head, finding my IceWing companion: Sigurd.

"Hello, Si-!" Although his voice challenged the definition of the word 'quiet' itself, he still managed to cut me off.

"Have you apologized to Albion, yet?" The ice dragon's head tilts slightly, looking in my direction. Ice slowly seeps from his claws and tail, contrasting with the vibrant green of the area around him. He also reeks of Mountain Tribe.

"Nope!" I chirp, smirking slightly.

Sigurd huffs in response, a cloud of frost making its debut in front of his snout. Sigurd's eyes then meet mine. They hold a sort of coldness to them, their uncaring sheen easily complementing the temperature around him.

"Anyways, what's Alb's problem? I mean, like, this isn't exactly the first time I've done it…" I add, a tad uncertain.

My response was met with a blank stare.

"Yes," Sigurd responds. "You do it to a lot to other dragons, but Albion responds like this every time."

A momentary silence.

"Are you telling me you have never apologized to Albion?"

Although his voice is quiet and calm, I can not help but flinch at his words. My heart sinks, and a wave of guilt washes over me. My eyes or my expression must have given me away, for Sigurd does not speak another word.

"No, I haven't," I finally respond with a sigh.

"You really are an idiot," Sigurd replies, a bit of exasperation seeping into his monotone voice. "I don't know what's more pathetic: the fact that he actually worries about you or the fact that he treats you like a younger brother when you, in fact, are older and therefore should be more mature."

"It wasn't always that way…"

"I am aware."

"I wonder when our roles switched?"

"Probably when Albion realized that he was following an idiot."

"Be more degrading, why don't ya?"

"Unlike you, I don't run from the truth."

"Don't you dare act like you're not apart of this dysfunctional family, Sig," I chuckle and Sigurd returns a small smile.

"Anyways, stop speaking with me and go find Albion," Sigurd says, looking away and regaining his composure.

Before I can come up with something witty, Sigurd walks away. I stand there for a moment, pondering over what he had said. I do miss the time when Albion looked up to me, but there is no denying that he is a good friend and leader. I allow myself to succumb to a brief moment of self-pity.

I hear a few birds chirping farther off. The sun is now completely visible from my position, and mothers around me usher their dragonets to rest. Their whines and complaints are quickly silenced as they proceed to find comfortable places to sleep. All that is left is the quiet mutterings of a few conversational dragons. I stride closer to the edge of a small cliff, listening to the water gently roll against the stone. Some find the sound calming, but I have come to despise the sound of water.

I lean slightly over the edge, watching my reflection. I could make out my general shape before it distorted with the water's movement. I decide to relish the entertainment of watching my reflection grow and recede with the waves, at least, until nightfall.

As a majestic purple paints the sky, I watch my reflection recede for a final time. I am aware that my actions epitomize procrastination. To be fair, I could care less. It is pathetic, really. I am aware that I need to apologize at some point, and yet, my body refuses to move. It stays planted on the grass like a rooted tree. My reflection had long since left, but I find myself staring at the spot where it had existed, willing it to reappear. I close my eyes.

Perhaps I should rest, I think to myself. I've never apologized in the past, so what difference does it make now?

There are faint footsteps behind me. Too faint. Too practiced.

"Oliver," I greet.

"Vasile~" Oliver sings with his usual cheer.

"Have you spoken with your brother?"

"No. Why?" Although my back is to him, I picture him tilting his head. He soon sits down by me, smiling happily as he did.

"I upset 'im. Tha's why," I huff.

"So why don't y-"

"I don't wanna talk with em'."

I feel like a dragonet talking back to its mother as I hang my head in partial shame. Oliver lets out a slight giggle, apparently amused.

"So, you want me to apologize for you?" Oliver questions with his usual cheer.

"I didn't say tha'..." I trail off.

Oliver hummed in response. He pauses for a moment before he decides to continue humming a small tune. I chuckled.

I turn my head to look at Oliver only to find his eyes staring directly back.

"He's down by the waterfall, resting on the beach," Oliver stated with a gesture towards the general direction.

"Oh, uhm, thanks Ollie."

"No problem!~" Oliver stood up and turned away. "I best be off. Good luck with my brother!" I listened to his soft footsteps fade as the distance between us grew. I was hit with a sudden realization. He knew Albion's location, and in order to know that...

"You did speak with your brother you liar!"

All I received in response was a light giggle.


I soon land, my eyes locked onto the red figure in front of me. It would be a lie to say I rushed to Albion when my conversation with Oliver ended. Instead, I took a short nap before flying to the waterfall. At this point, the night had almost faded, and the sun was rising once more.

My claws dragged against the sand as I walked, sounding as if a snake was slithering across the beach. Albion did not react as he continued to stare at the sky, motionless. I could not hear his breath over the sound of the thunderous waterfall and soft splashing of waves. I continue to approach, stopping directly behind him. To anyone else, it might seem as if Albion was lost in thought, unaware of my approach. In truth, his focus was on me: waiting, watching, anticipating for my next move.

I decide to move from behind him, walking to his side. I turn my attention to the sunrise, the sun peaking over the edge of the water. The waves dance as they reflect vivid colors back into the morning sky. I relax as the wind gently waltzes around us, carrying the scent of the sea.

He doesn't turn to look at me as he speaks.

"You don't have to apologize. You never do."

Instead, he drops his head slightly, smiling at something nonexistent on the ground.

"Who says I came to apologize?"

All I receive is a scoff followed by a soft chuckle.

"Nothing."

The wind carries my words along the beach. The sound of the waterfall seemed to fade within the relaxing atmosphere.

"I believe the apology can remain unsaid," I add.

"I know, but hearing the words are nice."

"Words are words."

"And opinions are opinions."

I smile before the sound of the ocean engulfs us once more.

"Y'know, I was wonderin'."

"Go on…"

"When did you start carin' 'bout wha' happens to me?"

"Since I've gotten to know you, Vasile."

I let out a small sigh. An upset expression flickers across Albion's face.

"Do you not care for if something happens to me?"

I turned to Albion, my dull red orbs boring into his subtle green ones.

"Of course I do-"

"Well, my name is not 'Red'. My name is-"

"Albion."


I am aware that SandWings do not have red eyes, but there is a logical explanation for it that you will not be receiving this chapter. Thanks for reading!