Shell

Her royal organgeyness decided since I seemed to know "the black Rainwing" if I assisted in catching him. Honestly I didn't even know what this was all about, for some reason though she had some sort of grudge against Basilisk, my guess was that he somehow disrespectfully met her and ta da an everlasting grudge forever!

Basilisk was always getting into trouble.

The closest answer he ever got was when he mentioned rainwings in general.

Her expression had turned cold and she absentmindedly fiddled with her dark orange talons, "I fail to see how that is relevant. They are worthless slugs of the earth that my Mother likes having around. Silkwings are much prettier anyways."

So no answers there, but if we succeeded she suggested that she may take decades off my prison sentence, perhaps if I simply showed good work ethic she'd take off some still, since I had no interest in actually capturing my friend, so instead I set up camp.

The other Skywings helped, there wasn't much to set up, each dragon pulled everything they owned, I got to carry half of the Princess's stuff…

We situated ourselves by the creek that later ran into a waterfall, and set up a council meeting.

Sunset traced her claw against the map, "So he was last seen here, here, and here?"

She pointed towards the Skywing Palace, a waterfall in the woods, and the cove where I lived offshore. I really hoped that Basilisk wasn't near any of those right now. Ugh, my friend always had a knack for getting into trouble.

Instead of voicing these doubts I merely nodded my head, despite the fear coursing through my veins, "Yes my Queen… he seems to frequent those spots, but he can also camouflage."

"Exactly." she said approvingly, "That's why you're the bait."

I turned my head, bait? "What?"

Sunrise snorted in contempt before explaining as if I was a 2 year old, "Basilisk cares about you right? So you're the bait, or at least the distraction, do well and you will be rewarded and do badly and you won't see the light of day. Do I make myself clear?"

I had the faint urge to throw the muddy water nearby in her face, she'd probably scream like crazy being the princess that she was… such a cushioned life, still she wasn't even an adult yet, another year and she would be.

I hated not being in control of this situation, instead I was defenseless, even though I was out of the palace in a way I wasn't any freer, if not less so, because now I was actually watched, I didn't regret what I had done, it had won me eternal glory… but it had also torn apart a family…

Taking my silence as confirmation Sunrise stalked away, tail swishing lightly, into her personal made tent with the royal symbol of the skywings on it, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a dozen of guards.

I hoped that she wouldn't do anything to Basilisk, but the dozens of guards weren't here for negotiations, they clearly wanted to destroy him,... but for freedom, forgiveness… maybe it was worth the risk, I could get Basilisk out later if they didn't kill him…

When dawn was just peeking through the trees and the stars were still out, Sunrise poked my snout, "Get up, we have a long day to attend to."

In her talons was a rolled up tent, and she shoved it into one of the bags, once again not waiting for a reply and instead barking orders to the other Skywings, I blearily wiped the sleep out of my eyes.

If she wasn't so snooty and entitled and murdery she wouldn't make a half bad ruler. She was smart, and more competent than Queen Kindle…

Still the Queen was still going strong, and I had no idea what the plan was, in a way I deserved what I had coming but so did they.

Princess Sunrise to her credit actually did some of the work, and we were off just after the sun rose over the mountains.

We flew in a V formation, it made sense the guards were all stupid and lousy but somehow knew perfect etiquette, just goes to show that they are just for show, no real training, perhaps they were new…

I suppose I could leave once we got close to the sea, cut the ropes, dive straight in and nobody could catch me, slippery as the seafoam that lined the beaches. I was always a bit of a misfit and a rebel anyways so being on the run didn't phase me much.

Still I needed to ask something and I needed to know what happened to Basilisk.

"Aren't you going to ask about what I've done." I said to the princess on my left leading the group, she definitely lived up to her name, orange scales with a deep pinkish underbelly and bright malevolent yellow eyes.

A surprised expression crossed her face as if she couldn't believe such a lowly peasant would dare speak to her.

"Hm?" she said flying slightly closer to me so we could talk, "No, I already know what you've done. Seemed like overkill to lock you up for the rest of your life."

Her face faded back into indifference, the beach coming into view in the distance, the Skywings were flying at a slower pace than usual so I could keep up, the Skywings were the fastest tribe while the Seawings were the slowest our wings were more curved so they didn't get in the way of our swimming while theirs were wide to catch the air currents of their mountain home, we were the best at diving though!

Sunrise made no move to continue the conversation.

That was odd…

"Don't you want to know about your sister?" I asked once more, she turned again but I couldn't read her expression.

"Honestly not really. I assume your awful organization did away with her… poof," she said flippantly making a 'poof' gesture with her talons, before pausing, her eyes narrowing at me suspicion growing, "Don't think you can get away with doing the same to me."

"No, no," I assured her, being locked up for nearly 10 years definitely did not help my social skills, "I just assumed now that you got to talk to me, you'd be bursting with questions."

"Don't think I'm some needy dragonet just because I'm young. I've done just fine without another sister." she hissed scrunching her nose up and flaring her wings causing the Skywings escorting us to flinch, "I am Princess Sunrise, heir to the Skywing throne, seasoned gladiator and the best treasure finding dragon on this side of the Pyrrhia, and if your so desperate to brag about your accomplishments then just spit it out already."

"Volatile." thought my mind automatically, too used to gathering information, "Probably doesn't fight well in a fit of rage."

"I wasn't doubting your accomplishments. I just figured you would want to know about your sister. Didn't mean to offend you, Princess." I said turning away, hoping she didn't notice the sarcastically mutterered princess part.

No reply.

Nobody made a move to speak for the rest of the trip. Watching the rolling mountains and thick trees fade into a small forest and then a sandy beach.

On the beach was a black figure pacing, I knew Basilisk well enough to know that he was nervous, but about what…

That didn't matter so much as the fact that they had found Basilisk, they found my friend, and now I would have to watch him die…

Our talons hit the sand and Basilisk whorled around, ready for a battle before pausing when he saw me, a hint of confusion and betrayal tracing his face before giving me a small confused wink. He really was too trusting…

I couldn't allow this. Basilisk was practically my younger brother, I'd known him since I was 6, when we'd share lunch together and do nothing but talk all day, my first friend.

That was a decade ago, it would all be a waste, every last bit.

Not for my freedom, I had always wanted to be a noble hero like the fairy-tales but maybe it wasn't in my cards, still I could defend the one dragonet I pledged to protect.