Hello again, my friends!
Before we begin this Winglet, I wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Happy New Year's Eve. I hope everyone had a good holiday, and are ready to enter a brand new year.
This Winglet will be my final update of 2019, and its purpose is to explore more of the story of Princess Anaconda and Adder, while laying the foundations for the mythos that Peacemaker will be exploring very soon in Finding Peace.
Now, without further ado: Let's take flight!
Finding Peace: Winglets
The Princess' Shadow
2,993 AS (After Scorching)
Most RainWings disliked leaving the Rainforest. If Anaconda were honest, she could not fault most of her tribemates who disliked the idea of leaving the safety of their homeland.
But for herself, this trip to the Mud Kingdom, just north of the Rainforest, was exciting to her. Not only was her mother letting her get out of the Rainforest for the first time in her life, but she was wanted to introduce Anaconda to the MudWing Queen, Queen Heron! While Anaconda still felt she was too challenge her mother to the throne, she did appreciate that her mother saw Anaconda, not as her little dragonet, but as a successor and wanted to prepare her to rule.
Which is why, as Queen Lavender led her, and their entourage, over the Mud Kingdom and Rainforest border, Anaconda could not help the excitement that burned inside her as she left the Rainforest for the first time in her life. Looking out ahead of her, she saw the flat planes of the MudWing homeland. Unlike the Rainforest Kingdom, the Mud Kingdom was flat and exposed. Perfect for the MudWings who lived here, she supposed.
Most of the entourage showed signs of nervousness, coming into such an exposed area of land that could not provide cover. But Anaconda struggled to hide her excitement, at the idea that she was in a new place to explore. She just hoped her mother would let her explore the surrounding area during this summit.
A half-hour of flying later, the RainWing entourage neared a small MudWing village located around a large lake. As Anaconda, her mother and their entourage began their descent towards the ground, she could see some MudWings splashing along the lake shoreline, sure enough, relaxing in the mud (this made Anaconda smile if she were honest: that looked fun, to play in the mud…though she doubted the rest of her tribe would like the idea.)
Once her talons touched the long grass, Anaconda followed her mother on foot as they approached the boundary of the village. Ahead of them, Anaconda spotted a group of seven MudWings patiently waiting for both Anaconda and her mother. Getting a good look at the dragons, Anaconda noticed that, while six of the seven were all the same age, some differed in height and stature. The seventh dragon, a female MudWing, looked to be about Anaconda's age.
Anaconda stopped as Lavender held up one wing in front of her.
"Wait a moment, darling," Lavender told her daughter as she stepped towards the tallest MudWing, a female. Unlike the others, she wore a necklace of beads. Her scales were also a beautiful combination of red and bronze.
Lavender approached the MudWing, and was suddenly enveloped in the wings of the tall dragon.
"Lavender!" The MudWing said, happily. "It's been too long!"
In response, Anaconda heard her mother laugh and wrap her wings around the MudWing as well.
"Heron," Lavender said. "It is so good to see you," Removing her wings from Heron, Lavender looked up at the MudWing queen. "May my entourage come in?"
"Of course," Heron nodded, looking up at Anaconda and the RainWings. "You know, tradition may require you to ask…but as friends, you do not need my permission."
"That maybe," Lavender nodded, gesturing Anaconda to step forward. "But without traditions and laws, there would be confusion and misunderstanding."
This made Heron frown, but ultimately nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps," Heron said, her gaze turning to Anaconda herself. "And this must be your eldest, Anaconda?"
"I am," Anaconda answered as she walked up beside her mother. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, your Highness."
Heron laughed at Anaconda, and instantly the RainWing Princess thought she had made a fool of herself in her introduction. But then she realized it was a good-natured laugh from the MudWing queen.
"Please, my dear, you do not to be formal with me," Heron said. "Not among each other, as royalty."
"Or even in general," Spoke one of the MudWings, a male who was just a few foot smaller than Heron herself. As he said this, he had a grin over his face as he nudged his wing into her. "Our beloved older sister is not fond of formalities among anyone among the tribe. The only time she lets dragons be formal around her is if it is representatives from the other five tribes…especially the SeaWings."
Hearing this, Heron playfully rolled her eyes at the dragon as he spoke.
"Yes, yes, as always my brother is right," Heron replied, nudging her brother back, causing laughter among, who Anaconda assumed, was the rest of their troop of siblings. "Now, I believe there is much to discuss, Lavender?"
"There is," Lavender nodded. "But some we should discuss, between the two of us."
Hearing this, Heron nodded. Glancing down at the youngest MudWing, the queen spoke. "Crane, will you please show Anaconda and the rest of the RainWings to their shelter?"
"I will, mother," The MudWing answered, confirming to Anaconda that the MudWing was no doubt Heron's heir. Crane looked towards Anaconda, smiled and gestured her and the rest of the entourage to follow her. "This way, please."
Glancing back at her mother, Anaconda noticed that her mother had already begun to walk away with Queen Heron without a farewell to her. This made Anaconda want to mutter angrily about her mother…how, yet again, she placed emphasis on politics over her own daughter. But she stopped herself from becoming too angry, as Crane looked at her with a concerned expression.
Because Crane seemed like a kind dragonet, Anaconda did not want the princess to think she was mad at her. Especially if the two were to work together once both would ascend to their respective thrones.
"What's the Rainforest like?" Crane asked as she led Anaconda and the RainWings to their quarters. The question was sudden, but Anaconda knew that it was the MudWing Princess' way of attempting at opening friendly conversation.
Figuring it was best to be friendly with the MudWing heiress, Anaconda answered. "Very enclosed. Unlike what I've seen here, the trees offer us cover and protection."
"But that also gives others cover as well," Crane pointed out.
"Correct…but we know our forests better than strangers," Anaconda replied. Not arrogantly, just factually. "Plus, we have had centuries to perfect our skill in hiding amongst the trees."
At this, Crane nodded in agreement.
"I suppose that is true," She said. "My people prefer flat, open areas…we know how to hide amongst the mud, giving trespassers a false sense of security and safety."
At this, Anaconda smirked when she realized where Crane was going with this.
"Before you spring a trap and surround them," Anaconda said. After saying this, she saw the MudWing princess glance at her and smirk.
"When the SeaWings attempt their excursions into our land and hope to expand, they never get as far as the beaches." Crane explained. "Because we MudWings know where to lay and wait.
Then because Queen Lagoon was a queen who was obsessed with expanding her kingdom's territory passed the tail island chain of Phyrria, she would likely not care what survivors of her failed excursion parties would say about the MudWings. Like with the RainWings, the MudWings were generally looked down upon by the five other tribes of Phyrria.
This had little to do with them actually being weak, more so that they lived largely isolated from the other tribes, rarely interacting with others. For generations, MudWing and RainWing queens kept locations of their kingdoms secret and trade between the two tribes was heavy. While the IceWings and the NightWings had their war, the SkyWings and SeaWings bickered over territory, and the SandWings profiting from each of those conflicts, the RainWings and MudWings had little interest in those conflicts or fighting each other.
Living in isolation was better for them all, to avoid conflict with the other tribes as much as possible.
However, with the SeaWings turning their attention towards the Rainforest and Mud Kingdom, as well as attempting to prevent RainWing merchants from entering Sea Kingdom villages to trade, Anaconda did have her doubts about whether or not isolation would solve these issues. Not when the troubles came to their borders.
Based on the little information she gleaned from Crane, Anaconda felt like she would get along well with the future MudWing Queen when both ascended to their respective thrones.
When the RainWings arrived at their quarters, Anaconda was quick to enter her room and plop onto the bed that was prepared for her. While she enjoyed the travel and her conversation with Crane, she felt exhaustion when she neared the house.
She hadn't felt tired before, so this fatigue had come sudden, so she knew exactly what this meant. While Crane wanted to speak more, Anaconda politely stated she needed some rest, and that they'd talk more in the community hall.
As she lay on her bed up on the second floor, Anaconda allowed her eyes to slowly close, as her mind drifted to sleep.
Adder? Are you there?
"Have been here for over an hour, actually?" Came a familiar voice that startled Anaconda, instantly making the exhaustion disappear as her heart raced.
Turning to the opposite side of the room, Anaconda saw a dragon appear, leaning with his side against the wall. A RainWing sat down, looking at her with a cocky grin. Instantly, Anaconda recognized the red and brown scale patterns.
"Adder!" Anaconda hissed, trying to act like she was angry, though the fact she slowly grinned betrayed her. Adder laughed at the princess' attempts to appear mad at him. "Wh…why didn't you tell me you were going to…be here?"
The years since they had met, Anaconda was forbidden from seeing Adder in person. After all, he was an Outcast. He was not allowed to step foot into the rainforest. Yet, Adder had found an alternative to speaking with Anaconda.
He was, as Anaconda recalled, a "Somnus." Someone who was the master over dreams, and could influence them as he saw fit, almost like how an Animus could command their surroundings. The years they were apart, they would regularly speak through their dreams. It would be like speaking to someone when they were awake.
But this time, Anaconda realized, was different…this was the first time she had seen Adder since they first met in the outskirts of the village, four years ago.
Anaconda could not stop the grin that formed from this realization. Leaping forward, Anaconda embraced Adder with her wings.
"Adder…" Anaconda said, happily. "You're…you're actually here!"
She felt Adder's wings envelop her in a hug.
"I'm here," He confirmed.
Anaconda pulled away for a moment, to get a good look at Adder, raising her talons to touch his cheek. When she felt his scales, saw his smile…she knew this was no dream, no illusion.
"Why didn't you tell me? Where were you for those two nights?" Anaconda asked, remembering how annoyed she had been when Adder had not contacted her for two nights.
Adder gave her an apologetic look, but it was replaced with a smile. "I figured I'd would give you a surprise."
"Well," Anaconda said, pressing the knuckles of her talons into his shoulder, mocking a punch. "This is the best surprise I ever got."
Adder laughed at hearing this.
As Anaconda sat back down by her bed, she motioned Adder to sit beside her. When he did, she rested her head against her neck, just like she would do in the dream world. But this time, she could feel his warmth…it was real.
"Are Oak and Shimmer here?" Anaconda asked, thinking of Adder's parents.
Adder nodded, though she sensed something was wrong when he did not speak. Looking up at him, Anaconda saw a saddened expression.
"Adder?" Anaconda asked, placing her talons over his own. "Oak…is he?"
"My father is still alive," Adder explained, but his expression confirmed not all was well. "But it's getting worse…the medicine isn't working and the disease is making it too painful for him…to do anything."
Anaconda felt her heart fall as she heard this. She knew that Adder's father, Oak's, health had been declining over the years. But in the last few weeks, Adder had decided not to speak about his parents. She had sensed things were bad in their dream conversations. Yet she had not known things were that bad.
"How…how long?" Anaconda asked, sadly.
Adder looked away from her and shook his head. His eyes squeezed shut as he bent his head down.
Gently, Anaconda wrapped a wing around him and twined her tail around his.
"Adder, it will be fine," Anaconda said. "Just…we can think of something."
"There's nothing more we can do," Adder murmured. "We…want to end his suffering, but dad...he doesn't want to go, not yet." Adder looked up at her, his expression painful to look at, he looked so heartbroken that his father, the one who had taught him so much, was dying…painfully. "He wants to return to the rainforest, he wants to die there."
Anaconda's gaze lowered upon hearing this. She wished that she could fulfill that request. But she was not Queen yet, and she was not ready to even be a queen yet. The decision to welcome outcasts back into the rainforest was her mother's right, alone.
She had spoken to her mother about why Adder and his parents were outcasts, but she had not been able to get much out of her. In their conversations, not even Adder knew why his parents were exiled in the first place.
But, even though she knew her mother would reject her request…this time, knowing about Oak's condition, she wanted to help Adder.
As she stood up, Adder looked up at her, surprised.
"I'm going to talk to my mother about this," Anaconda said.
Adder's eyes widened upon hearing this.
"Anaconda, I don't want you getting in trouble over…"
"Over me wanting to help my friend?" Anaconda interrupted. "If mother has any issues over me bringing up her past decisions, then she can voice that to me."
She had waited years for her mother to say something to her, waiting for her mother to trust her with information like the exile of Oak and Shimmer. But she had never once approached her, never once said a word. As always, she had either been too busy or had not trusted Anaconda, or her own sisters. The only way she got answers was from Adder, himself.
This time, with Oak suffering, she was going to demand answers.
As she thought about her mother, she saw that Adder looked away, visibly concerned. Placing a wing over his shoulder, she gave him a grateful smile.
"I'll talk to her during the banquet," Anaconda said. Hoping that this information would calm him down, and show that she was not going to burst out and go immediately to her mother.
Instead, choosing to wait a few hours before the evening banquet Queen Heron and Lavender would host to the town and the visiting RainWings.
At this, Adder nodded, smiling gratefully at her.
"Okay," Adder said. "Since its public, I will be able to attend."
"In the meantime, we have a lot to catch up on," Anaconda said, encouraging him to stand up. "Something tells me you have been here before, correct?"
Realizing what she was getting at, Adder grinned.
"Yeah, my parents and I regularly trade here." Adder stood up and glanced at her door. "I…should probable go out the window…not sure what your mother's entourage will think of a stranger coming out of the Princess' ro…" He paused, and suddenly his scales turned a bright shade of yellow in embarrassment, rubbing his talons over his eyes. "Oh, three moons...just like a storybook."
Anaconda laughed at his realization, but slowly got closer.
"Well, I appreciate the brave friend coming into seeing the noble princess," She said, rubbing her wing across her head, dramatically. At this, Adder laughed and gently pressed his talons into her shoulder.
"Will the great, noble, Princess Anaconda join me down the stairs?" Adder replied, with equal dramatic flair.
"Yes, I shall accompany thee!" Anaconda answered, causing the two to laugh harder as they stepped out of her room.
She had spoken to Adder for five years through dreams, so Anaconda had always known him. The dream world they shared was there's to alter and do as they please. The adventures they would have in the altering world every night was a joy to experience, and through these adventures, their friendship had gotten stronger.
But today, spending her time with Adder, in person, walking side by side with him in the market place…
It was the best experience she had ever had with Adder. Personally being beside him, it made her heart feel at ease. Coupled with the years of dreams they shared together, Anaconda did not feel like she was walking beside a stranger. She was walking beside someone she knew.
Spending time with Adder, only reinforced her desire to confront her mother when the evening came around.
As the sun began to set, a horn bugled in the distance, signifying to the town that the banquet was to begin. That was when Anaconda knew it was nearing her chance to speak with her mother.
Luckily, she knew just how to get her mother to confront her.
That was by simply choosing not to sit with her, Queen Heron and Princess Crane. To act un-"royal"-like.
When she and Adder arrived in the middle of the town, they were greeted with the sight of MudWings and RainWings gathering at tables around the area. Servers were getting ready to pass out the food but waited for the queens to deliver their address before the celebrations began.
Glancing around for an open table, Anaconda found one close to the front, which had some MudWings and RainWings sitting there. Quickly, Anaconda nudged Adder, who looked up nervously at the table Anaconda's mother sat at, that gave her, Queen Heron and Crane a good view when the festivities started.
Despite seeming nervous, Adder followed Anaconda in stride, their tails twining around the other. As they walked through the crowd, Anaconda saw the stares the common dragons of the RainWing tribe gave her when they saw her walking with Adder, a dragon they did not recognize.
Approaching their desired table, Adder stepped forward and offered Anaconda a blanket. Smiling, Anaconda accepted the offer and sat down. When Adder sat beside her, she caught the sight of the RainWings looking at her with shocked eyes. Even the MudWings at the table were stunned, knowing that she was sitting with them.
"Your…highness," Spoke one of the RainWings with lime green scales. "Shouldn't you be up with your mother?"
"I should," Anaconda said, before looking at Adder. "But I want to sit with a beloved friend."
Hearing these words, Anaconda saw Adder smile at her.
But his smile faltered as his gaze went passed her…as Queen Lavender approached. Anaconda looked up at her mother and saw the familiar disappointed expression her mother give her when Anaconda did something she disapproved of.
Then her gaze fell on Adder…and instantly, Lavender recognized him.
"What…are…you doing here!" Lavender hissed, her teeth bared.
Adder, to his credit, showed no fear in the face of the queen. Five years ago, Anaconda had seen him cower…Adder had told Anaconda why, she had learned he was afraid that her mother would kill him for coming to the rainforest, as was the punishment for outcasts returning to the rainforest without a pardon.
But this time, Adder showed no fear. Anaconda felt pride swell in her chest that her friend could face the queen that had exiled him, long before his egg had been developed.
"Visiting a friend, Your Majesty." Adder answered, respectively.
"My daughter is not your friend!" Lavender hissed, dangerously. "She is no friend to a dragonet of a murderer!"
Adder's eyes fell to the table, these words the Queen spoke affecting him deeply. But Anaconda twined her tail around his, tightly.
"How would you know?" Anaconda snapped at her mother. "You sent him away before you even got the chance to see our friendship."
Lavender's gaze fell on Anaconda, this time she recognized her gaze all too well: Frustration, that Anaconda was, yet again, challenging her. Anaconda did not always wish her conversations with her mother turned heated, but she could not hide her feelings from her mother.
"As Queen, I was within my right!" Her mother snapped.
"No," Anaconda said, lowly. "You were vindictive and you wanted to make sure they all suffered for the crimes you thought they committed!" This time, she was not just talking about Adder. She was talking about Oak and Shimmer, as well.
Upon realizing who 'they' were, Lavender's eyes hardened, glaring down at her daughter, dangerously. She heard the RainWings shift at seeing their Queen looking down at Anaconda with such anger.
"You dare defend an outcast?" Lavender growled.
"If defending an outcast," Anaconda paused as she looked at Adder, who stared back at her. Her resolve steeled when she saw her friend stare at her. Looking back at her mother, she continued. "Means defending someone who has been my friend for years, while you were to busy for my sisters and I, then I am!"
After saying this, Lavender glared at her. But this time, Anaconda would not back down, she would not walk away. This time, she was standing her ground. This was not a petty argument. This was about her right to have friends of her own.
Though Lavender wanted to say more, she saw that many MudWings and RainWings looked up at her…confused at what was happening. Lavender looked back down at Anaconda, briefly at Adder before looking back at Anaconda, and gave her stare as if to say 'we will continue this later.' Turning around, Lavender walked back to the table she shared with Queen Heron and Princess Crane, both of whom looked at Anaconda and her mother with concern.
As Lavender took her seat beside Crane, lounging back on the cushion, the RainWing queen took a few moments to visibly fight back the anger from the argument between both her and Anaconda. When her mother had visibly calmed down, Anaconda saw Queen Heron gently nudge her wing into Lavender, muttering something to her.
Lavender looked at her MudWing counterpart and smiled softly to her. Together, both Queens stood up and proceeded to give their speech.
The speech itself was about the friendship of the RainWing and MudWing tribes. About how, for centuries, both tribes had weathered many storms together. From the aftermath of the undocumented era after The Scorching to the war with the SkyWings a hundred years prior to the modern era.
They spoke of how the tribes would continue to face challenges together.
Anaconda admitted, she enjoyed hearing these words. Knowing that the two tribes were strong together.
But halfway through the speech, she heard Adder breath heavily. Glancing back at her friend, Anaconda saw Adder place his talons over his head…he seemed tired.
"Sirius…" Adder muttered tiredly. "…Where?"
"Adder?" Anaconda asked, confused and concerned.
"Where?!" Adder groaned. "Sirius, just tell me…"
Who was he talking to?
Suddenly, Adder's eyes snapped open and stared at Anaconda's, before looking up at her mother and Queen Heron. Jumping out of his seat, Adder raced towards the queens' table.
"Adder!" Anaconda screamed.
The RainWing and MudWing guards, and some guests, quickly stood up to try and intercept Adder as he raced towards the Queens' table. Two of Queen Heron's brothers tried to intercept Adder, but he easily evaded them, and jumped towards the table, right at Lavender.
…Only to use the table itself as a springboard.
To jump at a shadowy figure that came out of the dark sky, attempting to pounce at Lavender from behind.
Adder quickly intercepted the dark dragon. Because the dragon was taller, he pushed against Adder easily, however both Adder and the dragon fell in front of the queen's table, with the unknown dragon caught in the open with RainWing and MudWing guards surrounding him.
All attention was now turned to the mysterious dragon. The armor he wore was ebony in color, his snout covered with a scarf. It became obvious that the dragon was a NightWing, based on the black scales and white star-like patterns on his wing membranes. But anything else, Anaconda could not tell. He bore no Night Kingdom insignia…
In his talons, the dragon held razor disc-like objects as he scanned the area.
The guards were the first to make the first move, a RainWing pounced at the NightWing, only for the intruder to evade the guard and smack him in the back of the head with his tail. The rest of the guards tried to restrain the NightWing but were easily incapacitated.
Before more guards could arrive, the NightWing tossed one of the discs at Lavender.
"Mother!" Anaconda screamed as she lunged at the NightWing in fury, spitting venom at the dragon.
The NightWing roared as her venom sprayed his shoulder. He quickly spun around to attack Anaconda, but she clambered on top of him, wrapped her tail around his neck as she threatened to bite his face. But the NightWing, being larger and stronger, pried her off of him and uncovered the scarf from his face, opening his mouth…in his throat, Anaconda saw flames start to emerge.
"Stop!" She heard Adder's voice behind her.
Adder suddenly appeared over the NightWing, yanking on his horns, aiming the NightWing's oncoming flames away from Anaconda. With a roar of annoyance, the NightWing threw Adder off and tossed Anaconda away.
Rolling back to her feet, Anaconda saw the NightWing turn his attention back to the Queen's table…Anaconda looked, anticipating there to be the blood of her mother.
But instead, she saw her mother, Queen Heron and Princess Crane slowly…wake up, as if she had fallen asleep.
Looking at Adder, who got back to his feet, Anaconda realized what had happened. Adder, he had placed all three of them asleep, saving her mother from the disc that was aimed for her throat. She had dropped to sleep just in time.
But the NightWing assassin was not relieved, he lunged at the recovering queens and princess.
Before Anaconda could rush to her mother's aid, she saw Adder rush at the assassin. Tackling the assassin, Adder rolled back to his feet and pounced on top of the NightWing, who attempted to slash at Adder with his claws.
Adder swiftly placed his talons on the NightWing's head.
Then, he uttered one word: "Sleep."
Just like that, the NightWing's body stopped resisting and collapsed onto the ground, motionless. Adder slowly stepped off of the NightWing, just as the guards approached the two queens' would-be assailant and bound him. Many of the onlookers, having come out of hiding, shifted their gazes between the NightWing, Adder and back to the NightWing.
Anaconda saw her mother and Queen Heron approach the unconscious body of the NightWing, with guards flanking them.
"Interrogate him when he's woken up!" Queen Heron ordered her guards. Her normally calm and cheerful voice now firm and angry. "I want to know who sent him! Does not matter whether it was Vigilance or not!"
The MudWing guards did as they were told as they dragged the unconscious away to interrogation. With the NightWing gone, all eyes fell on Adder, the one who had first fought the assassin. When Lavender stared down at him, Anaconda quickly walked up and stood beside Adder, twining her tail around his.
Lavender's expression was difficult to read as she stared at both Anaconda and Adder. Anaconda could not tell if she was grateful, or still held resentment towards Adder.
The RainWing queen looked out to the crowd of civilians that were now gathering.
Queen Heron nudged Lavender with her big wings.
"We should take this conversation somewhere else," The MudWing queen urged. With that, Lavender nodded as she gestured Adder and Anaconda to follow them.
As Anaconda walked with Adder, her mother, Queen Heron, and Princess Crane, she heard the guards telling the civilians to mind their business as the queens spoke. Anaconda had a feeling that it was going to be a sleepless night in the town, and not because of the celebration.
The queens guided the dragonets to Queen Heron's estate in the town, which looked like any other building in the MudWing settlement. Inside, the building was just as humble. While it had more decorations than most buildings, one would not expect that the Queen of the MudWings lived here…something told Anaconda that Queen Heron was very much a humble Queen, not requiring gold and jewelry to keep her happy, unlike the other Queens.
Queen Heron guided them to the living room and gestured to the dragonets to sit. When Anaconda, Adder and Crane had done so, both Queens remained standing, looking at Adder with curiosity.
"Before we begin," Queen Heron said, gesturing to Adder. "I wanted to thank you, for taking action against the NightWing."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Adder replied, with a bow of his head.
Queen Heron looked back at Lavender, Anaconda's mother still had that unreadable expression.
"Lavender, I do not know what your history is with this dragonet," Queen Heron said, walking to the RainWing queen's side. "But he risked his life to save us, and my daughter."
"I know that," Lavender said, her voice barely audible. Her eyes still staring at Adder. "I do not know how you stopped the NightWing. Right now, nor do I care. But I do need you to answer this: Why?"
Anaconda looked at Adder, who stared at her mother calmly. She saw no hostility in her friend's eyes. Just uncertainty of what was going to happen next.
"Because no one else saw him coming," Adder answered. "If I just sat there, let him kill you, Queen Heron and Princess Crane, I would truly be a traitor to the RainWings and MudWings."
Lavender's eyes softened when he said this.
"Even after what I did to your parents, you still ensured I survived?"
"They don't hate you, they never did." Adder answered. "Mother and father always told me you were within your right, when you banished them after they killed your sister while she was incarcerated."
Hearing this, Lavender's eyes stared at the ground, sadly. For the first time in Anaconda's life…she saw genuine regret in her mother's eyes about a decision she stood by proudly. Hearing that Adder's parents were still loyal to her, five years later, Anaconda could only imagine what her mother was thinking.
"How…are they?" Lavender asked.
The question made Adder's scales start to lose their color, as he stared at the ground, sadly.
"Father is ill…" Adder revealed his father's condition. "He isn't going to make it."
Lavender looked away when she heard this, her scales turning a light blue when she heard the news.
Adder, after moment of thought, continued.
"Your Highness…I know it is not my place," Adder began, standing up from where he sat, and proceeded to bow to Anaconda's mother. "But I beg you…please allow my father to return home, to the Rainforest. Let him die in his homeland."
Lavender stared at Adder as he made his request, and doing so with him laying down his pride. Slowly, the RainWing queen walked up to him, and draped a wing over his shoulder.
"I will rescind the banishment, for Shimmer, Oak and for you, Adder," Lavender said. Hearing this, Anaconda felt her heart jump with joy, knowing her friend's family would be able to return home. "On one condition."
Hearing her mother add a condition, made her want to glare at her mother for doing this, she even saw Queen Heron and Crane looking at Lavender with a disappointed stare. However, when Lavender revealed her condition, Anaconda felt the mood brighten.
"I want you to become my daughter's Shadow," Lavender spoke. Her request caused Adder to raise his head, in surprise at the request. This made Anaconda's eyes widen as well.
The Queen's Shadow, the dragon who protected the RainWing Queen, or heiress, from threats, whether they were foreign or domestic. These protectors remained by the Queen's almost at all times, almost becoming the Queen's literal shadow itself.
It was the same position that Shimmer and Oak, Adder's parents, had held themselves before their exile.
Adder looked at Anaconda and smiled at her.
"If she will let me," Adder said, at the same time asking for her input.
Anaconda walked up beside him and smiled.
"I would want no other dragon," Anaconda answered.
Adder smiled at her answer. It looked like he wanted to hug her, but stopped himself, most likely not wanting to over step boundaries he perceived. Instead, she hugged a wing around him, not caring what her mother thought.
After a moment of the two hugging, it was Adder who broke it. Glancing back at her mother, Adder said. "I know you have questions, Your Majesty, about what I did. I will tell you everything when I come back. First, I need to get to my mother and father…"
Lavender nodded, understandingly.
"Of course," She said, the smallest hint of a smile crossed her lips. "Go to your parents, do not worry about your explanations until you come…no…return, to the Rainforest."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Adder said as he prepared to walk out of the house.
However, Anaconda quickly followed after him. Surprising Adder, and her mother.
"Well, I can't go anywhere without my Shadow, can I?" Anaconda asked Adder. Hesitantly, Adder looked passed her, and back at Lavender.
Glancing back at her mother, Anaconda saw that Lavender looked at her with hurt eyes. That she was going to leave without a word to her.
Even though she had begun to set things right, Anaconda still felt anger towards her mother from before. For saying who her friends were. She wanted to calm things between the two of them. But now, she felt like she was not ready to do so.
Looking at Adder, Lavender nodded, knowing she could not stop Anaconda.
"After you, Your Highness," Adder said, gesturing to Anaconda to walk with him out of the door.
As the two left Queen Heron's home, Anaconda followed Adder as they made their way to leave the town and travel to Adder's home, only a half-hour flight from the town.
"How are you feeling?" Anaconda asked Adder as they neared the town border.
"I…" Adder began but paused as he struggled to think of the words he wanted to say. Finally, he smiled and said. "Happy and proud."
"You should be," Anaconda said, touching her wing against his own.
"I know my father will die," Adder said, his expression falling as he mentioned Oak. "But, I know he can find peace with being in his homeland."
She wanted to say something to make Adder feel better. But she could not find the words. Even when Oak returned to the rainforest, his passing would be fact. She just wished there was a way to save him. But, if him returning home would offer Oak, Adder and Shimmer peace, then it would be enough, in Anaconda's mind.
Slowly, her mind shifted to happier thoughts. Her friend would finally be able to make his home in the rainforest, no longer would they solely have to speak via Adder's abilities.
There were indeed going to be troubles ahead, she knew that. But for now, she was happy with the knowledge her friend would be with her.
As the two reached the border of the town, the two RainWings looked at each other for a moment. Anaconda nodded to her friend, urging him to take the lead. Opening his wings, Adder took to the air, with Anaconda following behind him.
Together, the two dragonets flew into the night sky.