Hello again, everyone, here's part 2 of the prologue! It's got a bit more happening than part 1 and has a little history on the characters of Dunesweep and Gritclaw. I enjoyed gathering information on the dragon tribes and such so that I could detail events between tribes, their cultures, how they live etc. Some of that is shown in the later part of this chapter; a little tidbit about Queen Scorpion I found helped me shape her character as a Queen who cared for her tribe, albeit being somewhat ruthless and cunning to get her way.
Thanks to LiterallyHasNoIdeaForAOkName, Carmillow and Guest for the reviews and follows, I'm glad you both enjoyed the first chapter! I got to know a little about Whiteout's character through reading Legends: Darkstalker and I was excited to try writing for her. It's a relief to know it turned out alright! In regards to your criticism Literally, I did break up a few of the paragraphs in the previous chapter and this one upon uploading this. I realized that some were a little too big.
Bonus: https*:*/*/*prnt*.*sc*/*ljsirp here's the cover in a better resolution, when I uploaded it here it made several of the details blurry and just didn't come out as well as I liked. Paste the link into your browser and remove the stars to use.
Anyways, without further ado, here's part 2 of the thieving-errr, prologue.
Shortly before the sun began it's ascent on the horizon, Gritclaw turned from watch to wake his mate. He gave a sleepy yawn as he walked towards her, wayward egg held beside his chest safely. Fortunately it hadn't hatched, nor shown signs of it. That was one of several things Gritclaw had been quietly worrying over as he sat on watch. Always he was cautious of the egg stirring, cracking, hatching, right there in the dusty cave. It would make their mission more problematic if they had to deal with a newborn hatchling.
As he nudged Dunesweep awake, Gritclaw smiled as he thought, for a moment, of home. 'Eggs are nice and quiet. They don't need too much tending, either. I may not have to deal with this egg hatching, but our clutch is due soon... I hope I'll be ready. If we make it home, that is.'
After Dunesweep was sufficiently awake the pair took a short break to eat from their supplies for the remaining flight. Dunesweep kept the egg nestled within the coils of her tail to keep it warm, now and then turning to listen to the gentle sounds deep within the shell. She'd heard from broodmothers that the sounds of an egg could be indicative of many things. With her own clutch to tend to she'd taken to listening to their advice more attentively. If what she'd heard was correct, when an egg was very close to hatching there would be a slight tapping sound, accompanied by swishing fluid. This was supposedly the hatchling's first signs of trying to break the shell with their egg-tooth while the fluid sloshed around due to their restless movement. She was relieved that this was not what she heard when she checked. Instead, there was merely a very faint heartbeat, accompanied by the gentle sound of the egg fluid as it floated around inside.
"The egg seems healthy. I doubt it'll be hatching soon. We should be able to make it back to the stronghold today with little trouble if we don't get attacked." Dunesweep said as they finished eating their breakfast of dried cow meat.
"We ought to head out fast, then." her mate replied as he glanced outside uneasily, "We'll be easy to spot when the sun's come up."
Following Gritclaw's advice, they left the cave almost as soon as they'd finished their meager meal. By the time they were within sight of the Sand Stronghold the noon sun blazed down from high in the sky.
Fortunately for the returning spies the weather was, for the moment, calm. Had there been a sandstorm they would likely needed to have taken shelter and waited it out. Gritclaw broke into a grin as his imposing home neared, yellow-orange figures weaving in, out and around it. He took a deep breath of the fresh, dry air and laughed,
"It's great to be home! The Night Kingdom was such a dismal place. We've managed to loot a lot from it, but I'd rather not go back..." a shudder passed through him as he recalled what Dunesweep and himself had seen when they'd been with a looting group several nights ago.
Once a grand city teeming with wealth, knowledge and life, after the advent of Darkstalker it was left but a mere shadow. With it's inhabitants fled to an unknown place so suddenly there were few sounds save those of lingering animals. Some random belongings lay scattered in the streets, abandoned in their owner's haste to get away. The houses were cold and empty. The school was a silent shell with not a dragon to wander it's educated halls save the SandWing looters.
Dunesweep quietly agreed with her mate's trepidation. Together they had seen perhaps the most grisly sight in that haunted place, the city's single resident that had not fled. The infamous Prince Arctic the IceWing, known to the spies well from their gathered information, had lain dead upon a flat obsidian stage. Though his corpse was well into decomposition it was clear he had died in a most gruesome way. From whispered rumors here and there it was gathered that his own son Darkstalker had used his animus powers to make his father rip out his own tongue and disembowel himself upon the stage.
'And to think, here in my claws I hold the niece or nephew of that monster. I thank the moons it isn't his own child. At least his sister did not hold the same evil within her.' Dunesweep thought to herself, returning to the present time.
As the entrance of the grand Sand Stronghold came into their view, two burly guards flew out to meet them. They were aged, but tough-looking and dangerous. They were adorned in weathered armor of bronze with deadly sharp spears gripped in both foretalons. Many scars scored their pale tawny scales, evidence of victory in numerous harrowing battles. By their similar looks it could be deduced that they were, in fact, brothers. There were few that lived in the Sand Kingdom who did not know of the legendary Snakebite and Stonegrip.
"Gritclaw and Dunesweep. Was your mission a success?" asked one curtly, his face covered in old scars from many past fights. By the deep gash through the left side of his jaw and missing horn it was evident that this was Stonegrip.
In answer Dunesweep briefly held out the small dark egg before quickly tucking it to her chest again. The guard nodded in approval and continued,
"Good. Come, we shall take you to Queen Scorpion."
Flanked by the imposing guards the two spies entered the vast Sand Stronghold. Air rushed past dragons bustling about inside as the quartet made their way to the grand chamber of Queen Scorpion. A few of the civilians muttered to one another about the sight as they went about their daily routines. They knew of Gritclaw and his mate, Dunesweep the SkyWing, formerly known as Cloudsweep. In hushed stories passed from ear to ear the secret history had become rooted in the sands of their home.
It was said that the wayward SkyWing first came to the Sand Kingdom some years ago as an emissary from Queen Carmine of the SkyWings to negotiate relations and trade between the two tribes. As it turned out, Cloudsweep was actually sent to spy on the workings of the Sand Kingdom's military moves. Carmine was attempting to figure out how she could perhaps battle over some land for her own kingdom or defend against any incursions from the SandWings. This was first discovered by Gritclaw, who at the time was an agent of Queen Scorpion that had been trained well in espionage. So that she could have a stake in negotiations, and to keep an eye on the other queen, Scorpion had assigned Gritclaw to work with Cloudsweep and act as an emissary to the SkyWing kingdom.
The pair traveled back and forth from the kingdoms over time as they gathered information. During this period the two had become good friends with one another. Gritclaw was known to be often quiet as his tasks dictated, but he enjoyed how bold and outgoing Cloudsweep could be when they were temporarily free from their duties at parties and other gatherings. She confessed to him over time that she didn't enjoy living and working with her queen as much as she had once thought she would. Cloudsweep found many of the other SkyWings to be rather haughty and too reserved. This was especially true for the higher-ranking ones she would often have to associate with. She had been hatched to a couple of such ranking. Her father Fletcher was a soldier, known for leading a small but effective troop for quick and deadly missions. Her mother Tigerseye was an advisor to the queen, and although somewhat hopeless with tooth-and-claw fighting was well versed in the subtle combat of court life.
Fletcher had taught Cloudsweep his knowledge of combat from an early age, sure she was destined to be a great warrior. Tigerseye meanwhile gave her daughter insight into subtler ways of harming others and drawing information from them. As she approached adulthood she had been honed into a useful weapon indeed, and Queen Carmine took note of this. When Fletcher was killed during an ambush she'd considered replacing him with his daughter. But Carmine was patient. She could see there would be a better and stealthier use for Cloudsweep, who was chosen to be a spy.
She hid it well, but Cloudsweep was not as loyal to her queen as she may have seemed. Even as a dragonet she'd held a dislike for the conniving, selfish ruler who seemed to care little about her own subjects. The way her life was restricted by the many rules of her position did not help either. She'd always been a restless sort, and more than once had wanted to yell at the queen's boring council members to just let her have fun and freedom. During her trips to the Sand Kingdom her dislike for the queen and her ways was merely strengthened.
The SandWings seemed a more carefree tribe, though their military was known for it's rigid discipline and uniformity. They seemed to lack the many stifling formalities and procedures Cloudsweep had to endure in the Sky kingdom. She rather enjoyed being able to joke around and fly through the gusts of desert winds as she pleased whenever she visited without being yelled at to stop goofing off and act like her rank decreed. Upon befriending Gritclaw she began to wonder to herself if she really ought to keep working for Queen Carmine. It was this doubt that lead to Gritclaw eventually uncovering her identity as a spy. Unwilling to put his friend in danger, and hearing her confess her diminishing loyalty, Gritclaw instead suggested to Queen Scorpion that she become a double agent working for the benefit of the SandWings.
Scorpion consented after some discussion, but warned Cloudsweep of severe and brutal punishment should she betray them. From this time onwards Cloudsweep's reports to Carmine were mostly inaccurate, lies woven with a few truths. Meanwhile she began assisting Gritclaw in gathering information on the royal SkyWing court. A plot had formed in Queen Scorpion's mind over some time concerning the SkyWing queen. The revelation that Carmine had been spying on her affairs merely strengthened her resolve.
Within Scorpion's royal chamber a plan was woven to assassinate the resplendent and selfish Queen Carmine. The way her death would be delivered was simple enough; a dragonbite viper taken from the Sand Kingdom's own territory. The trouble was finding a way to get it into the queen's chamber at the right time and in the right way. In this Cloudsweep proved immensely useful, for she had much knowledge of the workings within Carmine's court and the layout of her chamber. Over several months the plan was built and a time chosen to strike. After a terrible massacre during a visit to the SeaWing kingdom the SkyWings were primarily focused on the movements of their ocean-dwelling neighbors. It was then that Queen Scorpion gave the order for Cloudsweep to strike and truly test where her loyalties lay.
At first she was to be sent on the mission alone so as not to risk the loss of Gritclaw or the possibility of SkyWing retaliation against the SandWings. Gritclaw convinced his queen otherwise, stating he should be there to keep an eye on Cloudsweep and keep watch for any dragons that could find them before they succeeded.
The SandWing queen agreed thanks to her lingering skepticism of the SkyWing spy in her employ. In truth, Gritclaw had insisted on coming because the bond he and Cloudsweep shared had strengthened into love. Neither of them wanted to be separated from one another in this dangerous task. The mission occurred in the dark of night, with only one of the three moons shining above for light.
All went as planned until the two spies were within the queen's chamber; Cloudsweep had stumbled as she tried to navigate the pile of plundered gold upon which Queen Carmine slept. She almost dropped the box containing the deadly dragonbite viper in the process, but did make a bit of noise as she righted herself. This sound unfortunately alerted a lone guard passing close by the chamber door on his way home from a last-minute shift. He came running to see Cloudsweep beside the slumbering queen, carefully opening a box facing towards her sleeping form. Gritclaw remained hidden behind a nearby pillar and so was not spotted in turn. Realizing that something was wrong the guard gave a mighty yell;
"HELP! SOMEONE IS TRYING TO HURT THE QUEEN!"
This sudden loud noise made Cloudsweep yelp and drop the box, before quickly turning and launching away from the pile of gold. Fortunately for her the agitated snake that slithered out of it's small prison did not target the fleeing spy. Instead, it lunged for the enormous dragoness stirring upon her bed of coins. Queen Carmine gave a terrible thunderous roar of pain as she reared up in shock. She violently shook off the serpent from her foreleg and stomped upon it, but it was too late. It's black venom was spreading like a raging wildfire through her veins. Realizing with outrage she was about to die, Carmine whipped her head around for the culprit. Her sharp amber eyes found the fleeing form of Cloudsweep and she hissed out a single word with her failing breath, full of as much sinister venom as that which had spelled her doom.
"Traitor..."
At this point there was much yelling coming from outside accompanied by flapping wings and clinking weaponry. The guard who had come upon the scene recognized Cloudsweep as she slipped out one of the narrow windows on the chamber's side wall, having smashed the painted glass to get through. Gritclaw had exited before her from the skylight when he heard the guard running, aware that if he was seen it could spell disaster for his tribe. He'd given a warning look to Cloudsweep, but she'd shaken her head and remained. She would not give up her chance to kill the spiteful dragoness who had ruled her tribe for far too long.
In the present chaos the guard rushed up to check his queen, who lay sagging upon her treasure. Her breath became weak very rapidly. By the time the guard had reached her, Queen Carmine was dead. At this point a large group of SkyWing soldiers had come swooping into the chamber to protect their queen. There was a quiet gasp as they focused on her still form.
"Who... who did this?" asked one voice hesitantly, curling into outrage.
The guard beside the queen's body turned his head to peer through the smashed window. Shards of it's colorful pane lay on the stone floor, some stained crimson. Bloody talonprints were evident on the windowsill. His talons clenched the coins beneath him as he began to seethe in anger at his failure. He turned to the momentarily flabbergasted crowd before him and boomed:
"CLOUDSWEEP HAS KILLED THE QUEEN WITH A TREACHEROUS POISON!," he paused and pointed to the smashed window for evidence.
Following his directions, half of the group split off in the window's exiting direction to search for the traitorous Cloudsweep. Many of them would recognize her on sight, given her position and workings for the tribe. Though the soldiers were fast flyers their delay had cost them their target. Gritclaw and Cloudsweep were extremely quick through the air when they needed to be, and at that moment they were pushing their wings to the brink as they made their escape.
Eventually, after flying for almost a full day the pair of spies arrived safely back at the SandWing Stronghold to report the outcome of their mission. Queen Scorpion was most pleased indeed, for not only had they succeeded in their assassination, but the SkyWings for now would not suspect the SandWings had a talon in it. There remained a lingering problem to be solved however. Word spread rapidly among the Sky Kingdom that Cloudsweep had betrayed her tribe and killed the queen. She'd been branded as an exile, to be killed on sight if she entered the Sky Kingdom's borders. She could never return to her home.
As a reward for her proven loyalty to the SandWings Queen Scorpion gave the SkyWing residence within her kingdom as a member of her tribe. Cloudsweep was content with this, though somewhat sad that she'd never be able to see her family members again. It stung her to think how ashamed of her they must be, but she shook it off. The next day she changed her name to Dunesweep both to lower rumors and as a final marking of her cutting ties with her old tribe. Scorpion announced her inclusion to the SandWing tribe the same day, cementing her decision.
Though it took time, eventually some of the other members of the tribe acknowledged Dunesweep with a begrudging respect. They knew she had done much and given much for a tribe that was not originally her own. Others remained adverse to her presence, murmuring that no dragon who'd betrayed their own tribe could be trusted. This diminished somewhat after the wedding of Gritclaw and Dunesweep. The ceremony that sealed their love also bound her more closely to the SandWing tribe.
For some months after the assassination the spies were permitted to deal with tasks only within the SandWing kingdom. Queen Scorpion did not want to risk anything while the SkyWings remained embroiled in chaos as they tried to appoint a new queen. Some time after their new queen, Queen Saffron, took the SkyWing throne negotiations once again opened between the SandWings and SkyWings. Though their new political alliance was a cautious one, Scorpion was satisfied that it was now safe to send her two spies back into the fray. Saffron herself was smart, but hesitant. Her lack of decisiveness reassured Scorpion that she would not be a threat for the time being.
For a few years afterwards things were quiet for the SandWing tribe barring minor border skirmishes. Despite the IceWing-NightWing war that continued to rage nearby it caused them no trouble. Queen Scorpion even profited from it; she allowed them to battle within her territory in exchange for treasure and supplies, so long as they stayed away from populated areas. Just in case, she made sure that her two spies kept an ear out for any danger that could come their way.
It was through Dunesweep and Gritclaw that she first learned of the stirrings of power within the Night Kingdom. The son of the infamous couple who had begun the IceWing-NightWing war had been revealed as an animus. To add to this he could supposedly read minds and see into the future. Scorpion had been considering making a pass at the NightWing queen at this time; she was aged, and her growing paranoia made her weak in Scorpion's eyes. But the news of Darkstalker made her wary. She learned too of his sister, Whiteout, but she apparently did not possess any powers and was considered a harmless oddity. Darkstalker on the other talon could prove to be a very real threat indeed.
Time continued to pass like this for a while. The war went on, and the SeaWing animus known as Fathom had come to the Night Kingdom to teach Darkstalker to be careful with his powers. Now and then the two animus dragons made Scorpion think of the animus her own tribe had once had, many years ago. Jerboa had made several useful things with her magic without showing signs of turning evil. In fact, Scorpion thought she'd been a bit soft. But she'd run away and likely died out in the desert.
Whenever Scorpion heard word concerning animus dragons since the SeaWing Massacre they always seemed to be spoken of with slight fear. She acknowledged this fear to be justified in the case of Darkstalker. He used his powers for many things, somewhat frivolously and without caution. He began working for Queen Vigilance, using his magic in the war to terrible effect. As time went on it was even rumored he enchanted things to manipulate his friends and enemies. When information concerning him took a turn for the grim Scorpion pulled out her spies from the Night Kingdom. Something terrible was going to happen there soon. From all she'd gathered about Darkstalker, she was sure. A dragon with so much power at their clawtips combined with a personality like his could spell only doom in the end.
The SandWing queen's suspicions were proven correct in the events of one terrible night. Word spread rapidly that Darkstalker had lost his mind, making his father kill himself as a grand demonstration for his plans to kill the NighWing queen and become king of the NightWings. This display of such terrible power and insanity had frightened the NightWings so badly that they had fled their own ancient city in droves to places unknown. For a few months the rest of Pyrrhia was in a state of fearful vigilance, waiting to defend themselves should Darkstalker turn on their kingdom next. But fortunately for them all he seemed to have somehow vanished shortly after the NightWing exodus.
When they were comfortable that the animus was no longer around to hunt them down the IceWings declared the war between their tribes to be over in their favor. Queen Diamond decreed that as a result of their victory, any NightWing seen near or within the Ice Kingdom would be killed on sight. Unfortunately the hatred fed by the long war would continue to linger for many decades after it's conclusion.
Meanwhile Queen Scorpion, ever shrewd, took advantage of the fear surrounding the abandoned Night Kingdom. She gradually sent in groups of soldiers to loot what valuables they could and add them to her own royal treasury. As they were nearest to the Night City and the IceWings were blocked from entering by Darkstalker's lingering magic barrier the SandWings had virtually no competition as they stole without pause for weeks.
As her wealth grew Scorpion began to think on adding to the might of her tribe. It was through all she had learned through the past years of the NightWings and their terrible animus that she formed a grand plan. A mission, for two of her best spies, to steal a dragon egg and bring animus blood to serve the SandWing Tribe once more.
So it went that the offspring of exiled artists was spirited away to distant deserts in the break of dawn, and a forgotten chapter of Pyrrhia's history began to unfold...
That's the end of the prologue, folks! It gave a little background of some of the characters in this story and set it up for the debut of the main cast. Apologies if it seemed a bit long, but I wanted to have a bit of history behind the stealing of Marble's egg and vice-versa. Fortunately in the next chapter you'll be meeting the main character properly, along with two others important to the story. Thanks for reading so far, and leave a review with any comments/criticism if you wish. It makes me glad to know people like this story so far and want to see more, I have a lot planned.