(The underwater palace)
Turtle paced around his room as he thought of every single worst case scenario that could happen from his mother's dinner plan. Remembering the story Qibli told him about Smolder's first love did not help. After being hit by a small stream of bubbles, he turned to see his little sister flashing her scales.
"Hey, what's with the swimming in circles?" She twirled her claw in a manner trying to copy his movement.
Turtle rolled his eyes and flicked his tail in annoyance. "Oh I don't know, just wondering what will happen when mom learns that two of her kids are dating non Seawings."
Deciding to explore her brother's room without asking, she tossed a shell in his direction. "It will be fine. What's the worst she's going to do? Banish us?" She laughed out bubbles as she saw Turtle look as if one of the moons just broke apart. "She wouldn't banish her favorite son and irreplaceable heir."
"Last I checked, she has two other daughters." Turtle flashed as he started cleaning his room to stop stressing out.
Anemone let herself float in the room. "Oh please, Auklet is a shrimp even for her age and she wouldn't dare challenge me. And Tsunami? Can you imagine her dealing with advisors? Telling you what to do almost every second?"
Turtle couldn't hold back chuckle at the idea of his sister being fine with anyone telling her what to do. "So, we're not eating here? We're eating at the summer palace?"
Anemone nodded. "Tsunami suggested it. I think she stopped learning Aquatic after the school started." It was nice to know that they didn't have to suggest it, the two they were taking wouldn't be able to make it if they stayed here.
Though, Turtle still wondered if this was even a good idea. They hadn't even told Coral about Tamarin and Kinkajou. "So, we're just going to show up with the two and expect nothing from mom?" He flashed with a worried look to which Anemone nodded as if it was completely normal to date someone outside of their tribe.
"Stop worrying. Tsunami's dating mom's most hated dragon's son." Truthfully, Turtle was not sure why she hated Riptide, he was nice to the two and helped Tsunami fit in after not growing up in the sea. Turtle also enjoyed how Tsunami seemed a lot nicer when he was around at the school and handed out less detentions.
Turtle finished cleaning his room and grabbed his bowl before swimming out of his room after Anemone to go pick up the Rainwings. He took a quick look at his room, seeing the scroll about the lost princess, that Coral had all of them read so many times before Anemone grabbed him to leave.
(The Rainforest)
Tamarin took a deep breath and smiled as she grabbed her seashell amulet that Anemone made for her. It was shaped like three diamonds stuck together with a line of small spheres that she could hook around her neck and made light sounds whenever she tapped them together. Kinkajou said Anemone had one just like it but the colors were green and yellow while Tamarin's was Blue and light pink.
"Aren't you excited Tamarin?! We get to go to the summer palace! Imagine how much cool stuff is there that no Rainwing has ever seen!" Kinkajou bubbled about as she tried to find a good looking flower to put behind her ear.
Tamarin handed her a purple flower with green vines sticking out of the center. "Here, Turtle will probably be interested in knowing about it." Feeling her friend's claw as she takes the flower, Tamarin could tell Kinkajou was trying to hide her dissatisfaction. "It may not look pretty, but it's a conversation starter."
Kinkajou nodded and smiled as she put it behind her ear. "Thanks, Tamarin!' She tried to match the flower just for fun. "So, summer palace? Excited? I am and I can't wait! Professor Tsunami is going to be there!"
Tamarin chuckled. "It's still being rebuilt, so don't expect too much from it." Kinkajou remembered Webs' lesson and grimaced.
"I failed that test…"
Tamarin shook her head while laughing even more at her friend's reaction. "It was a weird test." She toyed with the necklace, poking it to make the noise as it reminded her of the beach where Anemone first gave it to her. "Do you think we'll be expected?" She asked, staring in the general direction of where she heard Kinkajou's voice.
The older dragon tilted her head for a second. "Of course! Why wouldn't they? Turtle and Anemone must have told the Queen by now." Of course, Tamarin wasn't so sure. It was the big thing that annoyed her about Anemone was her unwillingness to tell their family about them being together.
Though, Tsunami probably knew about Tamarin and Anemone at least. She always just so happened to be at the EXACT place where the two were trying to hang out and break them up on campus. She always felt like the oldest heir didn't trust her, not with all mixed emotions she sensed from her.
"They should be here soon! Let's go!" Kinkajou said while nudging her friend who snickered and nodded. The two took off towards the beach as the sun began to set on the Rainforest. It took awhile but Tamarin could feel the soft sand as she waited for the seawing duo.
(Jade mountain)
Clay nodded as Riptide finished his story about a school project he had years ago as the two walked down the hall to reach Tsunami's room. "So you're ready? I thought Queen Coral didn't like you." After a second, Clay realized what he said and gave the Seawing a sorry look. "I didn't mean it like that! I jus-"
"I know what you mean." Riptide chuckled. "And yeah, she still doesn't like me that much, but it's either not like me outwardly or argue with Tsunami and you know how that goes." Clay couldn't help but smile at Riptide walking a bit higher after saying that.
"Well I hope you two have a great time. Geez, now I'm wondering if I should set something like this up with my sibs." Clay wondered aloud. "Do you think they'd like jaguares? Jaguares are super good! Sora might like that."
Riptide tried to look understanding. "I'm not sure what your siblings would like. I like swordfish, but they're harder to catch." The younger but larger Mudwing looked like a foul stench had entered his nostrils. "Though I guess Mudwing diets are different from Seawings."
"I guess, but I really like those large, red fish! They're so juicy and easy on the teeth. I'm trying to get Tsunami to get Sunny to allow me to use them in our lunches, they're full of vitamins that help growing dragons and assist the scales, making them look more shiny." Clay's smile turned to an embarrassed frown as he stared at the ground as they walked. "Just a thought."
Riptide gave Clay a warm smile and nudged his side. "Sorry, just forgot that you know a lot about food." This made the Mudwing smile and the two stopped at Tsunami's cave. "So, who's going in first?"
Before Clay could speak, an ocean blue Seawing stepped out of the cave with an unusually happy look on her face. "Are you finally ready? Let's go!' She demanded as she was about to walk off before Clay stopped her.
"What's the big hurry? I figured we could chat before you left." He said as he shared a skeptical look with Riptide.
Tsunami groaned and flicked her tail for them to talk as they walked out. "What's there to talk about? I'm going to a family dinner with Riptide."
Clay put a wing around her shoulder and gave her a warm smile. "Well, are you excited? Having dinner with your family?" Walking down the long corridor, they passed by multiple classrooms, one of which was Riptide's father's, which he decided to skip tonight.
Tsunami shrugged, prompting the other Seawing to finally speak up. "Well, I for one am super happy to see your family…ok, maybe not, but I'm happy to go with you!"
A small, affectionate jab was what he got in return. "What did I say about mushy stuff?"
He scratched his chin jokingly as he recalled. "Last time you said it, you didn't seem to know what the word meant."
Clay couldn't stop himself from laughing while Riptide hid behind the Mudwing. Almost out of the cave, He turned to the two Seawings. "So, are you excited to go see them?" He asked.
Tsunami looked at Riptide and then down at the ground, Clay turned to Riptide and tilted his head to the left, the Seawing sighed and went to go check out the garden Tamarin asked for the school to get away from the other two.
"What is it? You seem way more stressed about these dinner's than usual."
Tsunami's tail drooped as her eyes stared at the ground as if it was a long lost, treasured item. "Because Tomorrow is GIll's hatching day. I didn't KNOW that until Pike brought it up and tried to act all superior since he knew something 'royalty' didn't know." she growled.
"Oh, sorry, Tsunami." Clay said sadly, suddenly seeing the ground to be more interesting as well. The two sat in silence for a few seconds, Clay trying to think of how to make one of the dragons he saw as his sister happy, or at least in a slightly better mood "You know how happy they are to see you, right?"
The Seawing shook her head trying to get back into reality. "Yeah. Let's just go, it's almost time anyway. Riptide!" She shouted down the hall, to which Clay winced at just how loud she shouted. Tsunam's grim look turned a tad lighter which put a smile on the Mudwings face, but he hoped that Riptide could make this a better experience for her.
Riptide came through one of the classrooms with a poorly written 'art' carved into the top of the entrance. He walked alongside the other two as they made it out of Jade mountain and Clay stopped walking with them as he entered the moonlight. "Good luck you two, I told Starflight I'd help him organize the library...well, he said he needed help and I said whatever he needed."
The two Seawings couldnt help but chuckle as the sad looking Mudwing limped back into the mountain while they turned back to the water. Riptide smiled at Tsunami. "Ready? Cuz if we're late, I'm sure your mom might have me executed for keeping you behind."
The Princess flicked her tail at his side before matching his grin and getting ready to take flight. "She'll have to go through me first." "Squid brain" she flashed. Riptide took off, thinking she'd be right next to him but Tsunami glared at the ground before remembering her first fight in the arena not even three years ago. With a determined and somewhat fearful look, she followed a confused Riptide before matching his pace and diving into the water.
