"Happy 8th Hatching Day Cinis," says a rather unremarkable looking Skywing.

"It's the middle of the night," replies a young Skywing with bright scarlet scales before sleepily getting up from his moss patch on the floor of the cave he shares with his father, Ignis.

"Of course," replies Ignis. "The SandWings don't bring out the dancers until all the little dragonets have scampered off to sleep."

"SandWings?" asks Cinis

"There is a Full moon Festival going on in the Scorpions Den, and I thought now that you are a full-grown Dragon, I'd take you to see the dancers. If you pay enough, you can even spend a night with one of your choosing," he hands Cinis a handful of gold coins. "If you need more then you only need to ask."

"The Scorpions Den is an entire continent away from us," starts Cinis as he puts the gold in a medium-sized black leather pouch with a copper fox-head clasp. "How are we going to get there before the moons are no longer full?"

Ignis moves to a circle with numerous SkyWings carved around the edge next to a painted mural of a long-dead female SkyWing.

"With this," he states simply as he presses his hand to the center of the circle before whispering "Scorpions Den."

As if by magic, the SkyWings glowed a fiery orange and started chasing each other around the periphery of the circle before an image of the bright festive streets of the Scorpions Den shimmers into the circle.

"H-how?" asks Cinis, almost shocked into silence.

"I enchanted this wall to form a portal invisible to observers on the other side whenever I put my Claw in the center and speak my destination," explains Ignis.

"Enchanted? SkyWings kill Animus Dragonets as soon as their talent shows itself, don't they?" asks Cinis.

"Fifteen years ago, my mother fled the Sky Kingdom and took my egg with her."

"Why did she leave?" asks Cinis.

"Someone wanted to kill her because they didn't like her opinions. After numerous attempts, she eventually fled."

Wow. That was a lot to process.

"How about we get a few drinks?" comments Ignis, a tear sliding down his cheeks. "It'll help me forget," he whispers.

Once Cinis follows his father through the portal, he is briefly disorientated by the sudden transition from a dark and empty cave into the bright and bustling streets of the Scorpions Den. And when he adapts to the sudden change, Ignis beckons him down the street. "The dancers are this way."

After a while of walking, they arrive at a large roped off field with beautiful SandWings dressed in silky ribbons and strings of bells. They were moving their bodies in nearly hypnotic ways while a band playing matching music was off to the side of the field.

"Looks like they have their best dancers out tonight," comments Ignis, passing Cinis a glass of a dark amber liquid and a basket of bread sticks.

Cinis examines the liquid, "What is it?"

"The finest Ale gold can buy."

Cinis takes a slow tentative sip of the ale nearly gagging at the taste, "Its… strong."

"You'll get used to it," he looks towards the dancers. "Any of them catch your eye?"

Cinis surveys the group and spots a SandWing of a similar age to himself, "She seems nice."

"Ah yes…Yuqhar," says Ignis. "From what I heard, she has a fiery temperament but is a passionate lover. I could arrange a night with her if you like."

"Nah," replies Cinis. "I wouldn't be comfortable with using a dragon like a commodity to be rented out."

"Very noble of you. I'll just start with introductions after the show," approves Ignis.

After a while of watching the dancers, Ignis speaks up. "Do you remember the story of where you came from?"

"If I recall correctly, an anonymous SkyWing met you at a bar and left you after a single night. One year later an egg appeared at your front door," answers Cinis.

"I feel I should tell you the truth," admits Ignis before taking a deep breath. "In fact, you were a scavenger. When I was younger, I used to love experimenting with magic. You are my proudest achievement."

He opens a pouch on his side before placing an assortment of scavenger sized items in front of Cinis. Cinis sees a rather colorful jacket, a leather bag, and a pouch almost identical to the one on his neck.

"These are the possessions you had when I found you," comments Ignis.

Ignis pulls a stack of parchment from the bag. On the parchment are various drawings of every tribe including some rather unsavory SandWing drawings.

"I remember the first time I laid eyes on you," he chuckles and points to an unlit brothel down the street. "I first saw you sneak in with a bag of gold, and an hour later, you came out looking awfully pleased with yourself," he looks at the parchment. "I presume you were studying dragons."

"I don't remember any of this," was Cinis' only reply.

"It was a side-effect of your transformation," Ignis replies dryly.

"I-I need to think this over," stammers Cinis as he leaves.

"Remember: there is a war going on, so stay away from the north."

As Cinis leaves the city, he starts to think, "How much of what makes me 'me' is because of the enchantment? What parts of the curious bread loving Cinis is me? Is my love of exploration fake? I love to read and learn; is that me or an enchantment? Is bread the best; or is it not? I must have had a family; do they think I'm dead, or are they holding on to the faint hope that I may return. Are they dead because their breadwinner is gone? Have they moved on, or are they devastated? I just don't know! Will I ever know? Do I want to know? What if I was a nobody with no friends or family? What if I was on the verge of death and dad saved me? So many questions! Dad will know. Wait…where am I?"

"Halt!" calls a voice.

Cinis turns towards the voice and sees an IceWing and a pair of SandWings, "Um, Hello! How are you?

"What do you think of him?" says the IceWing to the larger SandWing.

"Probably here to try and assassinate Blaze. Guess Scarlet won't give up," he replies.

"Sorry to interrupt," interrupts Cinis. "Could you kindly show me the direction to the Scorpions Den? I got a little lost."

"In order to get this close to Blaze's Fortress you would have to get through two lines of soldiers," growls the SandWing, "It's unlikely you just got lost. Arrest him"

"Yes sir," an Icewing snaps before approaching Cinis, "Under the authority vested in me by Queen Glacier of the IceWings, you are under arrest for attempted regicide. You are hereby sentenced to life in the Rabota Labor Camp."