March 1st, 4991

If I'd known that Batty and Maggy were going to move in with me so quickly, I would've put more effort in finishing the bathroom, or at the very least expanding the bath and shower to fit three dragons. Instead, after we woke up and snuggled a bit from our late night romp, we had to sneak our way out of the Village just as it was waking up, to bathe in a nearby waterfall-pool that Majestic would frequent. It felt silly, trying to leave the capital and avoid notice, like we were a trio of lovesick teens trying to evade disapproving parents, as if we'd get anything more than cheers and knowing smiles. But that token of embarrassment was more than made up for with the experience of cleaning and getting cleaned by the two most beautiful and amazing Rainwings in the jungle.

"So," Batty said, speaking above the din of the waterfall, "Last night was fun, wasn't it?"

"Very fun." I agreed, using an herbal soap concoction she made with a thick brush on my scales. "What a way to end this week. I mean seriously, think of what we've done in a couple days. We totally wrecked the Nightwings' best soldiers, we've secured their Portal, we've captured Nightshade and Tanwen, and we've proven the Rainforest isn't just some joke!"

"So many firsts, too." Batty agreed, using a rolled-up palm leaf with the same soap on my wings. "First kiss. First dance. First time with a drake... and a dragoness... at the same time..." Her pink scales went from her normal hue to an embarrassed neon.

"And a lot of those firsts are thanks to a very special lady." I leaned over to Maggy, who was almost done cleaning herself, nuzzling her just under her frill. "You're one hell of a bodyguard, Maggy."

"You honor me, Xero." She chuckled, tilting her head to welcome my kiss. "Last night was the most fun I've had in... well, a very long time."

"Why is that?" I asked, getting the last of the suds off me. "If you don't mind me asking, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I'd think that someone as big and strong and beautiful and, uh, talented as you, should have a line of drakes and 'nesses waiting for you."

The large Rainwing flushed an embarrassed pink, tinges of blue-gray along her frill and wingtips. "I've had boyfriends before," She admitted, "Girlfriends too. But things just never really worked out for us."

"Why?"

Her tail swished, as she chuckled. "Well, for one thing, there's a bit of a size difference between me and most male Rainwings. I'll be honest, Xero, you're the first male I've ever met who could measure up to my standards."

"Hmm, that's so?" I smiled, holding myself a little taller. The dragonesses giggled.

"As for the other thing," She continued, "We usually end up separating because I want something most Rainwings nowadays seem afraid of."

"What's that?"

Maggy stepped out of the pool, shaking off excess water. "I've always wanted to be a mother. I don't just mean getting knocked up and popping out an egg for the hatchery every now and then. I want to have a dragonet to raise as my own, a little hatchling I could love and care for and protect, and watch them grow into a wonderful dragon. It's still something I think about, now and then." She shrugged her wings. "It's not an overwhelming desire or anything, just an idle wish. I hope that doesn't bother you two, and I promise it won't interfere with my ability to fight for you, either."

"Well, I think you'd be a great mom someday." Batty assured her, leaving the pool and nuzzling the larger female. "You've already got that team mom energy going on."

"Aww, thanks Batty." Maggy covered the smaller Rainwing with her wing, giving her a side-hug as she kissed her forehead. "I heard about how you handled things back in the Village. You're really coming into your own as a Queen, I can tell."

I frowned, concern brewing. There was an elephant in the room that wasn't being addressed, threatening to send this whole happy fantasy crashing down the longer it wasn't dealt with.

"Maggy, Batty," I said, getting out of the pool, "After last night, what does that make us? I mean, I'd like to think that this makes us more than friends - not that there's anything wrong with friends, um, fooling around, I know that's a thing Rainwings do. I just, I think I love both of you, and this is really new to me, and I don't want things to get weird between us, you know, because last night was the best night of my life and I want to do it again but I don't to be selfish or a bad boyfriend or-" At this point I was starting to get into a rant, pacing nervously along the shore.

"Hey, Xero, it's okay." My bodyguard insisted, resting a wing on me. "Listen, last night was great, and we do love you, and believe me I'd be up to continuing our lessons if you both want. But there's some things you need to understand about Rainwing courtship." She sat us both down underneath a large rosewood tree, a dozen macaws chattering away above us.

"First, relationships with more than two dragons aren't uncommon here in the Rainforest," She explained, "But they're not too common either. Three or more dragons having some fun for a few weeks happens all the time, but making a polyamorous relationship last takes work. Now, things are a little different between us, because you're King and Queen, and Rainwing Queens had multiple partners all the time, but the main points remain the same. All members, like every couple, must be honest with each other, and respect and trust one another. New dragons can only come in if everyone's in agreement, and if a dragon wants to leave - if the others can't or won't convince them to stay - then they're free to leave with no judgement or guilt. With me so far?" I nodded.

She smiled, taking both of our paws. "Second, I know that between the two of us, you love Batty more." She raised her paws to stop our protest. "I know that might sound bad at first," She continued, "But we Rainwings know that sometimes love forms quickly, and sometimes it takes time. You were attracted to me the moment you saw me, but I've watched the love bloom between you two. I know I'm the plus one here, and that's okay." She turned to face Fruit Bat. "Batty, if it's alright with you, I would very much like to continue being with you and Xero, and to be your protector and lover just as much as his. I shall respect your decision either way, and I promise that none of this will interfere with my ability to perform my duties."

Fruit Bat looked at her, then at me, then back at her. She turned a thoughtful dark blue, then smiled as starbursts of happy yellow and delightful lavender bloomed across her body. "Majestic," She said, "I would be honored if you would stay with us. I do, however, have a few requests to make."

"Of course, My Queen," Maggy said, "Whatever you want."

Batty twirled her tail around her's. "First, I want you to teach me how to fight. If I'm to be a true Queen, I need to know how to defend myself, not just how to hide or spit venom. You're the best fighter we have, and I bet you have all kinds of tricks and moves you can show me."

"But of course. That'll be easy, I'm sure."

"Good." She pulled us closer with her wings, and with a naughty smirk, she continued, "And secondly, I want you to keep teaching us your skills in the bedroom. Xero and I, we have a lot to learn if we're to truly become King and Queen. We need to know how to, um, 'take care' of each other, and you're the one dragon we trust above everyone else in that matter. After all, you were our first." Maggy's frill turned bright pink, and she chuckled.

"Well, who am I to pass up an offer like that?" She teased, her tail curling around Batty's. "Though I must warn you, it won't be easy. There's a lot to learn, and the three of us are going to need a lot of practice."

"Speaking of which," I suggested, smirking naughtily as an idea formed, "If I recall correctly, we don't have anything important to do for another hour or so. Do you two want to squeeze in one of those 'practice sessions' real quick?"

The Rainwing dragonesses looked at each other. Batty nodded her head vigorously, and Maggy snickered. "I think we can work something out." She said, as they turned matching yellow-and-pink colors. "And what better place to train than next to a waterfall?"

We got back to the Village almost an hour later, thoroughly presentable - if a little winded - and ready to get back to business. Flying Fox still had that cocky, knowing grin on his face, but for what I now had, his gloating was a price I was more than willing to pay...


Things changed a lot after the Battle and the Party. Things slowed down, as it felt like we were in a "honeymoon period". I had proven myself to the Tribe, just as they proved themselves to all of Phyrria, and that pressure had been removed. We were no longer under the gun, and we could take our time to enjoy ourselves and figure things out at a leisurely pace. We were taking a much more prominent role in this war, even in secret, which meant we had to consider our decisions that much more carefully.

Things also changed between Batty, Maggy and myself. After we became a throuple, things became a lot more casual and easygoing between us. In private, when it was just the two or three of us, it was like that last little barrier of awkwardness and uncertainty was gone, and we could truly be ourselves.

Which is to say, more often than not, acting like lovesick teenagers.

That's not to say that we ever let our dalliances interfere with our work - that was something we all agreed upon. Out on business and in meetings, everything remained professional and on the up-and-up - we had a kingdom to run and a war to win, after all. We spent so much time with each other on a daily basis, we didn't have to worry about missing each other, and set clear boundaries between work-time and free-time. When we were at meetings, working on projects or out amongst the people, we kept things pretty professional - some gentle flirting, knowing glances, the occasional brushing of wings or tails as we walked; innocent stuff, you know?

But as soon as work was done, and we were by ourselves, things got pretty heated between us, in a good way. This was Batty's and my first relationship, and we had at least ten years of experience to catch up on. We'd spend plenty of time in Batty's sun-time spot, my quarters in the rapidly-expanding Palace, even secluded spots underneath treehouses or out in the jungle itself. There was still plenty of intellectual discussions and work-related projects, but also makeout sessions and other, spicier things couples do. And then of course there was the good old-fashioned cuddling in the afternoon sunlight.

I remember one afternoon - I think it was the Fourteenth or Fifteenth - when I found Batty already on the platform, napping in the sunlight. She must've heard me approach, as one gold eye cracked open, and she smiled as she rolled her back to me. I grinned and climbed on, curling up around her. As I went in and kissed her neck, I noticed something different. Something important.

"No perfume today?" I asked, surprised.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I overslept today." She explained, "Didn't have time to put any on. We've been so busy making aid packages for your homeland that we had to start working before dawn with harvesting. I don't stink, do I?"

"Not at all." I said truthfully. Leaning down to her ear, I teased, "In fact, I love the smell of Rainwing in the afternoon."

She barked a laugh. "Did Fox tell you to say that?" She challenged me playfully. "That sounds like something he'd come up with."

"Doesn't mean it's not true." I assured her.

"Are you saying that because you mean it?" She looked at me, a hint of insecurity leaking into her voice, "Or because I'm your girlfriend?"

"Can't both things be true?" I countered. "Can't I say that I've been blessed to be with the smartest and most beautiful dragoness and the jungle, and they just happen to have a really pleasant scent? You're not a stinky dragon by any means, Batty." Her pink scales of embarrassment turned to a loving rose, and she turned slightly, nuzzling me.

Fruit Bat, even now, has struggled with her self-image, specifically her scent. When she was a dragonet, she and her friends challenged each other to find the largest flower in the entire Rainforest. She succeeded, but only by the misfortune of falling into something called the "Stinking Corpse" Flower - a dragonet-sized flower that emits a foul-smelling odor that lingers for days. The poor thing stank of death for a week, and dragonets teased her over it for months. She got into studying flowers and perfumes in part to try and mask the smell, and there are very few dragons she trusts enough to be around without an artificial scent.

That she went off to work without stopping to spray something just went to show her commitment to running things, and just how busy we'd become those days.

"But you were saying you were making a lot of aid packages?" I asked, gently stroking her sides. "I take it the shipments have been going well?"

"Mmmm, very." Yellow starbursts sparkled across her pink-green body. "We've already sent out enough care packages for a hundred dragons, and we've got another hundred packages almost ready to go."

"Excellent. Any word from our scouts?"

"At least six camps scattered across the Jade Mountains." Her tail brushed idly against mine. "Three hundred or so Sandwings, mostly young families and dragonets. They've been very grateful for our food and protection, though they seemed very surprised when they were told a Sandwing drake rules us."

"I imagine they would." I chuckled. "Hell, if you told me last year that the Rainwings would have a King leading them to victory over the Nightwings, I'd tell them how stupid they sound."

I'd come to love the rainforest those past few weeks, and any desire to go back to the mess of criminal villainy and political intrigue had blown away like dust in the wind. Having said all that, it was still important to me that we tried to do something for my Tribe. The Sand Kingdom was suffering, and everyone was caught between two unforgiving armies, countless dragonets being forced to take up a spear or crossbow to fight for foreign Queens. They needed somewhere to escape, somewhere to wait out the storm brewing around them.

Fortunately, I knew of a few places where they could rest. The Jade Mountains were, for one, a perfect place to wait things out. They weren't controlled or even claimed by any other kingdom in Phyrria, the last stretch of "no-dragon's sky" on the map. Between the many forest-covered mountains and picturesque river valleys, there were plenty of places for dragons and their families to hide out, make camp, and start a new life away from overbearing Queens. More than that, the Rainforest itself was large, vibrant and generous. Even if I didn't give the order, I knew that the Rainwings would gladly welcome any Sandwing refugees and families that made the extra leg of the journey.

Thus, I had our messengers and merchants head out for the Sand Kingdom, bringing many shipments of food and medicine as draconian aid. They were to spread the word that the Jade Mountains and Rainforest Kingdom were safe havens, and anyone who could reach it were welcome and would be protected. They would also bring in extra shipments of food and medicine, to help those that were still there, as well as an incentive to persuade Sandwings to come.

The results were almost immediate, as dozens and dozens of refugees took the chance and flew southeast. Under the watchful eyes of my Rainwing scouts, small outposts of tents and huts were being built along the Jade River, hunting local game and receiving fruit shipments from us. Rainwing merchants coming back and forth from the Sand Kingdom would stop at these little settlements, selling their wares and gathering further information. The Sandwings, not wanting to bite the hand that fed them, were nothing but polite and friendly when the Rainwings were around, thankful for the help and safe harbor. But in private, when our spies were hidden and they thought themselves alone, the Sandwings had a lot of concerns. They still viewed the Rainwings as lazy and incompetent, even with their "fancy new toys" and their "lucky break" against the Nightwings. Furthermore, everyone was fed up with both Nightshade and Hallowglide, supporting neither claimant and overall becoming fed up with the war in general.

As for me? Most had never heard of me, and thought the idea of one of their own ruling over their new protectors amusing at best, baffling at worst. Those that did know me (and my connections to Burn) were a lot more apprehensious. When asked, "Do you know Xerophilous?", a common response was, "Huh, that guy who cut up bodies for Burn? He's not coming after us next, is he?"

Not exactly a flattering reputation, but, considering my past, not an undeserved one.

"How are Nightshade and Tanwen doing?" Batty asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh, Nightshade's getting ready to head back to the Palace," I answered, "Along with some of the Nightwings who still support him. Tanwen has been writing letters and doing oddjobs here and there." I should've been paying more attention to her, I'm sure - we were enemies much of the time we'd known each other - but considering how loyal all the Rainwings were to me (and the fact that I had bodyguards watching me as I slept), I had no reason to fear Blister's maiden. In truth, I'd become so distracted with other things that I only remembered she was there during our meetings.

"You haven't..." She hesitated, green spreading from her wings and eyes, "You haven't thought of courting them too, have you?"

I craned my neck back, genuinely surprised. "No!" I said, maybe a little louder than necessary, "Why would you think that?"

Her frill turned a brighter, embarrassed pink. "Well..." She tried to explain, "I mean, they're both Sandwings, like you. Nightshade's the Queen through the Eye of Onyx, and Tanwen is related to Oasis. I was just thinking that, from a purely logical and political point of view, it was something you'd look at. After all, you'd become the King of Two Kingdoms. Isn't that something to think about?"

Indeed, it was. I mean, I was already a historic figure, as a scientist and foreign king. Why not take the next logical step and save my homeland, starting an empire of my own? Surely I could do a better job than, well, any of the criminals or warmongers in the running. And all it'd take was adding one of my former enemies into my harem.

Still, I shook my head. "A tempting proposition, to be sure," I said, caressing her cheek, "But one I'm going to decline. For one, I have no interest in marrying Nightshade. Putting aside the whole transformation thing, they still sent their henchmen to mug me in the middle of the Palace. For another, Tanwen and I have a... complicated history. We could've had a thing, once upon a time, but those embers burnt out a long time ago. And finally, I don't need another Kingdom. I have everything I want, right here. I have the strongest Army in the world. I have subjects who hang on my every word. I have the most amazing and beautiful bodyguard in all of Phyrria. And best of all, I have a Queen who's smart, pretty, and loves me as much as I love her." I emphasized the last points with little licks, nibbles and kisses along her delicate neck. She gasped delightfully, waves of magenta and rose rippling across her body.

"Xerophilous," She purred, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Depends," I said, "Is it working?"

"Maybe." She teased, her golden eyes twinkling with excitement, "I think I need a little more convincing. Mind showing me what Maggy's been teaching you lately?"

"But of course." I chuckled, giving her my most charismatic grin. "Nothing I love more than taking care of my Queen."

And indeed, she was...


A few nights later, I was working late into the night in my quarters, when I felt something - or someone - enter my space.

"Is anyone there?" I asked, not looking away from the letter I was writing. "No assassins, I hope."

"Only a silly Rainwing." Maggy replied, nuzzling my neck from behind. "Sparkling and his new trainee have been taking shifts watching the Palace. It's just you, me and Scooter tonight." I glanced up, spotting a furry gray shape holding onto my lady's neck.

"You brought your pet over to my house?" I chuckled. "Wow, we really are getting serious, aren't we?"

"Don't worry, he doesn't snore." She assured me, petting the little creature. "Scooter's very well-behaved."

"Most sloths are." I replied.

"Don't be like that." She chastised, nudging me. "You'd be surprised how rambunctious these little fluffballs can be. MY little cuddlebug's a sweetheart."

I smirked and shrugged. Majestic rolled her eyes, going to put her pet on a fake tree limb that had been added for her pet. When she came back, she rested her head on my shoulder, and asked, "What're you working on?"

"I'm writing letters to Glacier and Moorhen," I told her, "To get them to drop Hallowglide and accept Nightshade. The Icewings want the northern border region, and the Mudwings want protection against the Seawings. I believe that, once Nightshade signals he'll sign onto a deal, we can get them to pull out of the Coalition and return home."

"What about Scarlet?"

I shook my head. "She's only in it for the blood and glory. She's wanted to go slaying and looting for a long time, and now she's been given carte blanche to come to the Sand Kingdom and do whatever she wants to whoever she wants. I'm hopeful that we can convince the Icewings and Mudwings to go home, but I fear the Skywings will need something more convincing than words. I'm not looking forward to having to deal with her."

I felt a tail lightly stroking mine. "How much longer are you going to stay up?" Maggy asked.

I considered my ink-stained paw, stopped mid-sentence. Suddenly, the letters in question didn't seem so pressing. I could always finish them in the morning, after all.

"Not much longer," I said, grabbing a leaf to clean my paws, "Why? Have something in mind?"

That tail climbed upwards, past my flank, up along my side. "I might have a few ideas," She murmured, nuzzling my cheek, "But first, close your eyes." I complied. I felt her tail climb up my belly, up my chest, gently caressing my shoulders and neck. I sighed, leaning into the gentle, soothing touch. Oh, I'd been learning about all the things that tail could do, those days and nights. It's enough to make a Sandwing jealous.

"Okay," She said, her tail tapping my nose, "Now open." I looked, and I tilted my head in confusion. In front of me, lying on my bed like some artist's model, was a smaller yet almost identical duplicate of Burn. Sure, Majestic was smaller than the Princess, and her spines couldn't replicate a Sandwing's fin, but damn her impression was spot-on otherwise. The scars were all there, the tip of her tail could've passed for a stinger, even the scales around her eyes had darkened to resemble her black eyes.

"Xerophilous," The dragoness cooed, not at all sounding like Burn so much as Maggy in a deeper voice, "I had no idea how powerful and handsome you could be. Look at you now, King of the Rainforest. Perhaps now you're finally worthy of me."

"What're you doing?" I asked, unsure how to feel about this. "How did you even know what Burn looked like, anyway?"

"What?" She asked, returning to her normal voice. "Don't tell me you haven't thought about this! You know I can look like anyone you want, right? I grabbed a scroll showing the Royal Family from one of our traders, and I thought we could have some fun. I thought you'd like to try something a little different, and I know you used to have a thing for her."

"Yeah, but you didn't have to do this for me." I insisted. "I love you for you, not for who you can be. Besides, Burn's old news. You and Batty are all I could want or need."

"I know that," She agreed, "But that doesn't mean we can't spice things up now and again." She smirked, sliding off the bed, getting close enough to place a paw on my chest.

"Think of it this way," She explained, her tender voice and expression at odds with the dragoness she was impersonating, "Each of us brings something special to the table. You, for example, are the warmest dragon I've ever felt. Touching you, having sun-time, it's like cuddling with the sun itself. A benefit of being a Sandwing, I'm sure. Us Rainwings, we can alter our appearance to look like anyone. Batty's never been much for disguises, but I like to think I'm pretty good at it. And if roleplaying as someone from your past allows me to learn more about my King and mate, while also having fun, that's a pretty good deal, right?"

I mulled it over for a moment or two, and sighed. "Well then," I said, shooting her a mischievous grin, "I hope you've prepared yourself. I always imagined Burn would've liked it on the rougher side."

"I was hoping you'd say that." She purred, switching back to her Burn-voice before bumping me onto the bed hard enough for it to start swinging. Before I knew it, she'd climbed atop me, straddling my waist and eyeing me hungrily. "I like a drake who can play rough..."

The following morning, I opted to stay in my workshop and tinker for the day. The last thing I wanted to hear were my subjects asking how I got all the scratches and bite-marks...


So, as you can see, I was riding pretty high in March. I was a King. I had turned a joke of a Tribe into a disciplined, modern fighting force. My fighters took on the greatest fighting force in all Phyrria, and we captured them without losing a single soul. I had captured my two greatest political rivals, and made them work for me. And yes, I had two girlfriends that I was hooking up with at least once or twice a day.

I was buying my own hype. I was starting to think my shit didn't stink, as the kids say. I had everything that could go right going right. I would describe it like being in a "heater" while gambling; a winning streak. You just keep winning and winning and winning, and soon caution is replaced with confidence. But therein lies the danger, as confidence often leads to boldness and arrogance. If you aren't wise enough to know when to stop, you'll become careless, making an obvious mistake that (more often than not) will lead to the whole thing crashing down.

And indeed, it was in this mindset that I made one of the most dangerous decisions in the entirety of my early reign...


"You did WHAT?!" Fruit Bat demanded, her usually pink and green scales now an angry red and confused orange-purple. The rest of the Council looked equally confused and annoyed, as I made my announcement.

"Look, I know this might seem bad," I admitted, "But I assure you that this is all standard practice among the other kingdoms."

"Demanding a Princess's hand in marriage is considered standard practice in the Sand Kingdom?!" She hissed.

"Batty, please." I huffed in annoyance, having to explain myself again. "It's a negotiating tactic. I don't actually want to marry a Princess I've never met. Furthermore, Battlewinner's not going to want to hand off her daughter to me, either. But she's also going to be very reluctant to just let me have her Animus enchant something for me. But if given the choice between taking her daughter or just one single enchantment, I have to believe she's going to be much more open to the latter. And besides, this is only if we can't convince her to recommit to Nightshade, and as payment for continuing to travel through our lands through the portals."

"We understand what you're getting at, Xero," Maggy interjected, "But this is an awfully big risk, and this is something you should've talked to us about doing. This is a decision that should be made as a group." The way she emphasized certain things made it clear she wasn't just talking about the Council itself, but her and Batty specifically.

"I understand that," I explained, "But I, as King, can make decisions unilaterally without consulting with the Council if it benefits the Kingdom. In this instance, I had to move quickly before Battlewinner has her army called back. I made her a proposition: Stop fighting us and support Nightshade, and we'll allow them to use the portals again. We'd even start selling our 'bows to them. If she decides to remain neutral and end her commitment to Nightshade, then this war is over, and the Coalition wins. And if that's the case, the Kingdom of the Rainforest should have compensation for the privilege to use our land to travel across Phyrria. We have their portals secured, after all - they can't come and go without our say-so. Hell, if they really pissed us off, we could just bury their portal and trap them wherever they are. Either way, Battlewinner needs to understand that she doesn't hold all the cards anymore."

"What could an Animus make you that you can't make yourself?" Flying Fox asked incredulously.

For the first time in that meeting, I felt myself shrink inwards with a touch of embarrassment. "Well," I admitted, "I had this idea for a magic mirror-"

"Oh for Spirits' sake!" Grandeur groaned, burying her muzzle in her paws.

"No, really!" I insisted. "See, an Animus can enchant any object to do anything, right? I wanted to enchant a mirror that could answer any question asked. Not only that, but it would provide paperwork, evidence, experiments that could back up and verify that what it said was true. Think of how much we could advance science and knowledge, if we had the right guidance and knew how to ask the right questions!"

"Isn't that, I dunno, cheating?" Flying Fox countered. "I thought Science was supposed to be a process or something. Isn't having the answers handed to you only hurting yourself?"

"I prefer to think of it as being pointed in the right direction. Plus, it could provide us alternatives, other options for things we do that we hadn't considered before. Think of-"

Before I could continue explaining my reasoning, a messenger stuck their head in the room.

"Your Majesties!" He declared, "Your Majesties, I- Oh, wait, my bad! Hold on." He pulled back, knocking quickly on the outside wall.

"Yes, come in." I sighed. I'd been working on teaching my subjects things like boundaries and courtesy, like knocking before entering a Council Meeting. I was still working on putting actual doors up in my new Palace and other government buildings.

"Your Majesties," The messenger repeated, "I've just returned from the Night Kingdom. I bring news from Queen Battlewinner!" We all glanced at each other, some nervously, others excitedly.

"Well," I prompted, "What did she say?"

The Rainwing suddenly looked very nervous, making an effort to avoid looking at me. "Uhhh... Well," He began, "I told her your conditions and demands, just like you said. Then she got really mad, saying 'Xero must've been dropped as an egg if he thinks I'll give away my daughter or my animus for the right to use our own portals!' Then she said, 'I'll only accept peace with your stupid Tribe if you give me that sand-snorter's head on a platter!' And then she said 'I don't care about that traitor Nightshade, or the giant litterbox they call the Sand Kingdom anymore! They deserve what they get!' And THEN-"

"Alright I get it!" I snapped, slamming my tail onto the table. My claws dug into now familiar grooves in the table. Smoke was starting to leak out the sides of my mouth, as the fire in my belly rumbled and fumed. Anger filled me like an overwhelming sandstorm, but so did sorrow. Again, my attempts at working with the Nightwings had been for naught. Whether it'd be Battlewinner's stubborness or my arrogance, peaceful resolution was no longer on the table. Which meant I had only one choice.

We had to invade the Night Kingdom before they attacked...