Jackal wasn't surprised when he heard his parents voice just outside of the door. He only suggested it in hopes that they would send Spectrum to Thorn, who would then send her back to wherever the NightWings lived or to find her family.
"They're home." Caldera said, a little sadly.
Mallow sighed, then knocked on the door. "It's Mallow."
Jackal's mother was the first head to pop out. She instantly walked outside, wrapped her wings around Jackal, ignoring the other three dragons around him, and guided him inside. She closed the door behind her.
"What were you thinking?" Mother asked. "You leave, and then you only leave a note! 'Dear Mother and Father, if I'm not back before you are, don't worry about me. I'll be back soon. -Jackal.' How in the moons did you even write a letter?"
Jackal broke free from his mother's embrace, and turned back to the door. "Mallow wrote it for me. I asked her to sign it in my name. We didn't go anywhere, just explored the oasis town a little bit. That's it." He lied.
He knew exactly what his parents would say next. Word for word. "Your mother was worried." Father said. "I wasn't; any dragonet of mine can take care of himself."
"Well, we haven't exactly agreed that he's yours." Mother replied coldly. "We didn't become mates until soon before he hatched."
"It's because you refused to!" Father roared.
They wonder why I constantly ask them when they'll be gone, Jackal thought. Mother is the only reason why Father is here, and whenever they go on a mission I know he wishes he could leave. Jackal took his opportunity to take his note from his father's talons and shred it. He opened up the door again, under the cover of his parents yelling about each other and Jackal.
Jackal walked inside, and his parents' screaming could still be heard.
"What just happened?" Mallow asked.
"They'll be done in three, two, one." Jackal looked back to the door on 'one', and his mother's head bopped out.
"..How did you get the door open?" Mother said.
"You didn't close it." Jackal lied again. "Can I please go now? I promise, I'll stay safe."
His mother's gaze drifted to Spectrum, and he smiled inside a little. "How do you know a NightWing?"
"Long story." Caldera replied.
"Well…when will you be back?" Mother asked.
"It shouldn't take more than two weeks." Spectrum said. Jackal mentally face-palmed. Please don't listen to her, Jackal thought. Please, bring her to Thorn. Please. Please. Please!
"You can stay here for a few days, but I'm coming with you." Mother said.
"No!" Jackal screamed. Quickly, he added, "What if Thorn needs you? Or there's an inspection on the town—Burn could be looking for new soldiers. And Father—well, he shouldn't be left alone, should he? You know he only pretends as much as I do, he can't even win a battle against a sheep!" There was a snort from his father after this comment, but Jackal hoped it convinced his mother.
"We'll see." Mother replied. She flicked her tail and walked aside. "There is plenty of room for everyone."
Jackal sighed. He walked inside, and back to pretending he couldn't see. It was a shame he couldn't tell his parents; he just hoped that no one else did.