Rattlesnake sat on a rooftop, looking up at the one of the moons, full and shining, and another one, which was very thin. The third was nowhere to be seen. It had been her hatching day today. She had turned five, and everything was so much different since the day Sixclaws found her in the alley.
She had joined The Outclaws, a group led by a dragon named Thorn. She dreamed of peace for the Scorpion Den, a gang that helped the helpless that this city had so many of. The smartest, non-evil dragons joined this group. Thorn also had a personal vendetta against three dragons named Dune, Morrowseer, and Stonemover, but they were more personal than anything.
Ever since joining The Outclaws, Vulture's enclave had been less of a threat to her. Her father had been granted safety by The Outclaws, after Rattlesnake told Sixclaws the story of her mother. Rattlesnake herself had also been helping the orphans again. She supplied them with food and water. She remembered one time, Thorn herself had once asked her why she likes doing that. "You don't get anything personally out of doing it. I grant you safety, but you have no reason to go out of your way and help these dragons." And Rattlesnake had replied, "When they look up at me with hope and thanks in their eyes. I know I'm helping those in situations akin to a one I used to be in, only they're even younger and… that can be difficult." Thorn nodded with a smile. "I'm glad Sixclaws found you and your boyfriend. You are as caring as he is resourceful." Rattlesnake looked away, embarrassed. "He's not my boyfriend." She mumbled. "Whatever." Thorn had said knowingly, and then walked away.
But now, Rattlesnake looked up at the moons, and sighed. Savanna had promised to meet her here, the spot that had become their secret meeting spot ever since joining the Outclaws. It was above a bakery, and the smells of the poorly made bread was somehow comforting. Rattlesnake looked around, wondering where he was. It had passed sunset a while ago, the time they had promised to meet at, and he was not here.
But Rattlesnake snapped out of her funk when she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Surprise." Savanna said. She turned around and brushed wings with him. "You scared me!" She said jokingly. Savanna suddenly paused, and looked up at the moons. "Wow." He whispered. "They're beautiful tonight." Rattlesnake sat back down, and he did too next to her.
"So… where were you?" Rattlesnake said. Savanna sighed. "I was down at the market when some thugs started harassing this little dragonet." Rattlesnake flashed back to when one of Vulture's thugs had her cornered in the alley. "I tried to ignore it at first, but they wouldn't leave him alone. They wanted the food he had bought. He kept resistin', then they struck him."
Rattlesnake gasped. "How could they hurt a little dragonet like that?" "I don't know." Savanna replied sadly. "I wanted to help… but they were stronger than me, and I was outnumbered." Savanna sighed. "If only there weren't dragons like that. This city would be so much better." Rattlesnake looked back up at the moons. "It's dragon nature, war. It's in our blood." She sighed.
Then, Savanna got angry. "If only it wasn't! If only there was somethin' that… made them be good dragons!" "Well, nothing like that exists." Rattlesnake said in response. Savanna turned to her, and she could see the passion he had about this in his eyes. His black Sandwing eyes reflecting the moonlight.
"Hey." He said, his expression softening. "I brought you this." He produced a small, golden earring. It had two, snake-like dragons twisting around each other. There were intricate designs on both of the dragons. "Can you believe I just found it on the street?" Savanna said. "Like it was just sitting there waiting for me." "I love it." Rattlesnake said, and slipped it onto her ear. The earring was made of pure metal. It was truly valuable.
Rattlesnake and Savanna began to look at the moons once more.
"I love it."