Chapter 14
A chilly breeze caressed Whitespeck's scales. He shivered as the chill crept up his spine, sinking into his back like shards of ice. Wishing he had a cloak, he glanced forward. Why it was so cold in here, he'd never know. Was it a gap in the silk canopy that covered the outdoor part of the Glitterbazaar? Someone flying overhead?

Shaking his tail to warm himself up, Whitespeck continued along his path. He made his way through the narrow, winding streets of the marketplace, dodging a group of rowdy HiveWings that sounded and smelled like they were drunk off their asses. Probably got kicked out of one of the late parties.

Whitespeck snorted. They wouldn't bother him, they'd be arrested for public indecency by sunrise. No, the only dragons he had to avoid were his grandparents. The dragonet had snuck away from them on a dare from his friend, who had accompanied them for his hatching day celebration.

"Whitespeck! Hurry up!"

Nectar's call jolted him from his thoughts.

"Coming!" He shout-whispered.

Whitespeck raced to join Nectar at the end of the path, his honey-coloured tail twitching impatiently. He wore a gold wrapping on the tips of his horns and a silver earring glistened on each ear.

"What took you so long?" Nectar asked.

"I had to ditch my folks first. You know that."

One of Nectar's bejewled ears twitched, and his expression resembled that of an annoyed horse.

"How hard is it to run away from two half-deaf dragons?"

The dragonet received a thwap across the snout for that.

"Nobody insults my family. Not even you."

"Dude, chill," said Nectar, clutching his snout with one talon.

"Sorry," Whitespeck mumbled sheepishly, regretting ever doing that to his friend.

"It's ok. Come on, let's go. Do ya want that smoothie or not?"

-‐-

The Silk District was buzzing with activity by the time the dragonets arrived.

Named for the overwhelming abundance of SilkWing-owned stalls in the area, the plaza looked more like an outdoor art installment than a marketplace. The space was filled with weaver tents and vegetarian eateries and knick knack stores. Metal and glass statues were dotted about, dragons frozen in midflight and crystal blue waves crashing onto sand and a million other things. With the exception of the stalls themselves, the whole place was open to the sky.

It was chaotic, and Whitespeck loved it.

The duo were headed to a smoothie stall called The Smoothie Shack on this particular day (How imaginative, had been Whitespeck's first thought when he heard about it). But apparently these smoothies were the stuff of legends, as legendary as a SilkWing could afford. He'd been anticipating this trip for months, but he knew his grandparents would take forever to get there, so he'd decided to take a shortcut.

Surely that wouldn't hurt?

Whitespeck was trailing after his surprisingly fast companion, watching his horns and antennae glow like gold-tipped blades in the flamesilk light.

They passed a gap in the canopy, and were both briefly illuminated by the sunrise. The friends glowed blue and gold, and then they were bathed in darkness once more.

The stall awaited at the corner of the main street. Silk tapestries hung from the glass floor-to-ceiling windows, and flamesilk lamps shone inside. There was a long counter than ran the length of the shop sitting opposite the entrance, covered in display cases, with the kitchen behind and clusters of tables in front. An enormous chalkboard with the menu scrawled on it covered the back wall, and delicious fruity smells wafted through the front door.

"We're here," Nectar said.

Whitespeck stared, mouth agape, at the sight before him. "In awe" hardly did his expression justice. The shop must've cost a fortune! No wonder it was regarded as the best in Jewel Hive. He even spotted a few HiveWings in the queue, looking very out of place in the SilkWing-owned store.

"We need to go in right now," Whitespeck said once he could form words again.

Nectar chuckled. "Thought so."

They headed towards the entrance when they felt talons close around them.

"Whoa!" Whitespeck yelled muffledly. He stood still until he saw Nectar start thrashing in the other kidnapper's talons.

Whitespeck let out a screech and bit hard into the arm of his captor. A hiss sounded from somewhere above him, then the grip on him tightened.

"Nasty little bastard," groaned his captor. "Your friend'll pay for that, runt."

Waves of panic rose up through Whitespeck as he watched Nectar have a rag pressed onto his face, then go limp.

"Why... are you... doing this?" Whitespeck struggled.

"Why do you think?" Said his kidnapper.

They found it. They found the posters.

I'm dead.

Then darkness clouded his vision and he let it claim him.

I'm soooooo sososo sorry for how long this took! I was binging smut really busy with school and stuff. As always, hope you enjoyed! Next upload will be whenever.