It was an all-around miserable day in the Sky Kingdom. For everyone. It was stormy, so flying around would be a very dumb idea. That was for the dragons who could fly.
Caldera didn't like the rain because it flooded her home—well, what had been her home. What had once been a whole dug into the ground was now a muddy puddle. It basically summed up her mood—sad and pathetic.
She didn't like days like this. She thought of the prisoners up there, above the arena, so close to the thunder…Caldera didn't like being outside during a storm, much less in high places. Her mind wondered how much dragons were hit by lightning—until she shook her head to clear it and went to find a roof to stay under.
As you can imagine, Caldera didn't really like others. They never judged her, despite her obvious defection. Other dragons usually avoided her; she did the same. Her missing wings—they were only wing buds, really—where either the center of attention or the reason she lacked it. Caldera wanted to know dragons who didn't judge her, didn't mind her defection—friends, through and through.
Caldera eventually found a group of rocks that her small form could fit underneath.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Caldera whimpered, sounding more like a trapped animal than a SkyWing. "Alright, Caldera…let's play a game," Caldera said shakily. "Let's look at the places that the storm has already moved past…yes, that sounds like a good idea." She looked out to the Kingdom of Sea. It looked like the storm was heading in that direction—Poor SeaWings, Caldera thought sympathetically, despite knowing that they were at war. Any other SkyWing would wish for their enemies' doom; Caldera couldn't bring herself to think of harming others.
Caldera looked out towards the Kingdom of Sand. The desert was probably one of the worst places to be; it was hot, wasn't it?
She looked over at the Mud Kingdom. The storm must've just come from there. It looked nice. Warm but not unbearable. She could probably deal with the mud. Maybe the MudWings would be less..stare-y when it came to her wings—or lack thereof. When Caldera thought of MudWings, she thought of sibs, which she normally just associated with lifelong friends that occasionally annoy you to the ends of Pyrrhia. Maybe…maybe she could find a friend there?
Caldera continued looking out at the Mud Kingdom. Eventually the storm rolled out and over the ocean, and she was able to head back to the remains of her home
It, needless to say, was barely a home anymore. The storm had been shorter than some, but it had rained heavier. Caldera dug her claw into the muddy water until she found what she had been looking for; a present from one of her only friends, a SeaWing prisoner who had snuck in a conversation with her before an arena fight. No one thought much of it; who pays attention to the wingless dragonet? It was one of her fondest memories—until it turned into her worst when she remembered he died, having been nearly dead when Queen Scarlet decided it would be 'fun' to have him go against a dragon more than twice his age.
Caldera held the bracelet in her talon. It wasn't anything much, just a simple brown-and-gray adornment. She slipped it on, taken back to a time when she was actually happy. She was only three, but growing up during a war, watching arena battles, drilled certain facts into one's mind.
She knew what tribes were enemies, which one were friends—she pitied them all. Caldera couldn't bring herself to hate anyone who was swept up in this eighteen-year-old war. And it wouldn't end for another two years; how much lives will be lost by then? Caldera wasn't sure if she wouldn't be one of them. Sooner her later her tribe will realize she's…herself, the wingless dragonet.
Caldera shook her head to try to clear it, but the attempt was in vain. She looked back at the Mud Kingdom. Maybe she needed to get away, for a little bit. It wasn't like she was a firescales; she could be around normal dragons if she wanted to. Maybe the MudWings would be more accepting of little oddities like her.
With these thoughts in mind, she started walking in that direction. Maybe she could finally meet some friends…