Webs crashed through the trees, cursing under his breath. He suggested something, and immediately Dune, Asha, and Kestrel send him to do it. Why did he have to do it?
"Three moons above, I hope that none of the Talons of Peace see me here," he muttered, shivering as a long vine tickled his neck. The Seawing shook himself, and resolved to just pick up the nearest egg he could find. The moons would set soon, and if he did not return with the egg, Kestrel would rip his head off. It was bad enough they did not have the Skywing. And rumor from Arya said that the Mudwing was a feisty one, already jumping around. Also, The Seawing was keeping them very busy the amount of times it's egg rolled from the nest.
Focus! Webs scolded himself. He searched around the dark forest. It didn't matter what the Rainwings thought anyway, they didn't even count the eggs. He saw an opening ahead, and thought to search it for eggs. They could be anywhere, for moon's sake.
He stopped at the edge of the clearing, looking around. No one.
He continued on, stepping on sharp spines and hissing in protest. The Seawing kingdom or even the Skywing kingdom was not this bad! You have to look out for everything!
He saw another clearing ahead. When he checked it, there was nothing there except a few silvery flowers growing in the moonlight.
Third time's the charm, Webs thought. He brushed a few hanging vines out of the way, and looked for the next clearing.
This time, it was occupied. A Rainwing, a male no less, was standing close to a large egg. It was silvery, like the flowers Webs had seen farther back. However, on the top there was a light yet rich green star shaped pattern on the top. The Seawing shifted his weight, and the Rainwing stopped.
He seemed to be almost fully grey, except for a section on his wings. Even the wings looked torn up, like a wild boar attacked him.
The Rainwing stared into the shadows where Webs was hiding. His orange eyes were vibrant, like the color Kestrel's fire made when she was angry.
His wings were bright orange, similar to his eyes. The color of danger, Webs realized.
The Seawing stopped, standing motionlessly in the prickly bush he was in. A mosquito bit his arm, and he winced. The rustling he made shook the bush, and the Rainwing stared at the spot he was standing.
"Hello?" The grey dragon called. His voice was older sounding than his stature suggested.
Webs stopped, and to his relief the Rainwing turned back to the egg. It was jumping slightly. Just like the dragonets! Webs realized. This egg was hatching soon, if not tonight! This was what he was looking for.
He shifted his weight so he could see it better. He had to be sure.
The Rainwing noticed, and swung back around.
"Come out!" He shouted, walking towards Webs. Even though the undergrowth was thick, and the trees cast a dark shade, the dragon was almost spot on with his sensing.
Webs stared at him for a minute, his gaze boring into the dragon's orange eyes. Then he looked at the egg. Father, maybe? He thought.
"The eggs born on the brightest night," he muttered, looking up at the sky. If this dragonet was anything like his father, then maybe they had the chance. He certainly had the air of danger around him, like a viper about to strike.
"Ummm... Who are you?" The dragon demanded. He stepped a bit closer, and Webs made his decision. Take the egg.
He launched himself over the small dragon, hitting him in the side of the face with his tail. The dragon immediately crumpled, but his eyes were still open. Still conscience after a hit from a Seawing, impressive, Webs thought and ran over to the egg. He held it up to the light. The dragonet was fully grown, and the shell was thin. Lets get out of here, you have a destiny now. Webs smiled, then looked sadly back at the dragon. His eyes were closed now, and a single teardrop leaked from one of them.
Ah well, it's just a lazy Rainwing. Webs knew that he was definitely more, but he had to comfort himself with lies for now. The egg sparkled in the moonlight, glowing pale purple like a Seawing pearl.
As if it was expecting him.
Well, this is it. Webs flicked open his pea green wings. Now or never.
He lifted off the ground, grasping the egg. The two flew through the moist, cool air.
When he finally landed back in the caves, let in by Dune, the egg was jumping around, and streaks of red were dripping down it's sides. "Is the dragonet bleeding?" The injured Sandwing warrior grumbled. "I wouldn't be surprised, given how stupid Rainwings are."
"But... Um... The egg..." Webs stumbled.
"Shut up," snapped the blood red Skywing. "It's bad enough we lost our Skywing, Icewing, and Mudwing. Now it's just the three of us, and I don't want you, of all dragons, to feel for this Rainwing." Kestrel poked a claw at Webs. Se rustled her overgrown wings, and turned towards the back of the cave systems. "They are hatching," she finally said.
"Then hurry up and get her with them!" By some unknown instinct, maybe because he had eggs at one point, Webs knew the Rainwing was a she.
Dune sighed, picking up the Rainwing egg. It turned deserts yellow under his touch, and shaded back to the pearly luster.
The Mudwing was cracking first, and a brown dragonet emerged from the blood red egg. Kestrel sighed, and left the room. It must be too much for her, since she already had dragonets who were lost to Scarlet.
Suddenly, the Mudwing lunged for the others. Webs screeched as the large dragonet pressed his stubby claws down on the Seawing's deep blue egg. Kestrel caught him, growling under her breath. Somewhere in her eye, however, a flame lit. "Maybe we have a fighter here." When the dragonet managed to struggle out of her grasp and back towards the hatching eggs, that's when Kestrel snapped. She swiped the Mudwing up, and threw him into the shallow stream that trickled nearby.
Webs winced. That had to hurt.
When the others finally started hatching, the Seawing first, then the Nightwing, then the Rainwing, and finally the Sandwing, Webs stared at the Rainwing for a long time. Her scales were a flat grey. No... She's going to be like him... Then she opened her eyes, a bright and vibrant green, and immediately turned the color of the Seawing staring at her.
"What shall we name them?" He asked the others.
"What should I know? Just give them something that fits." Dune growled, but he looked at the tiny Sandwing with a hint of affection. The first time in almost ten years.
"Fine." Kestrel looked at the Seawing, which was flicking it's tail and growling in an almost dangerous sort of way. As dangerous as you can get from a dragonet that just hatched. "Tsunami," She muttered, remembering one fearful day that the land went sodding wet, and most of the Skywing coasts were covered.
"Clay," Dune pointed to the similarity that the Mudwing looked like clay in the river, along the banks.
"Sunny." Kestrel snorted a breath of fire at the Sandwing's suggestion, but did not speak up. After all, the sandwing's scales did suggest the light of the sun.
"Morrowseer already told us this one." Kestrel announced. "Starflight," all of them muttered.
Now the only one left was the Rainwing.
"Well? You brought her." Kestrel tapped an impatient claw on the stone.
"A Rainwing name... A Rainwing name..." Webs whispered, trying to think of something.
"Aren't Rainwing names all glorious and amazing and all that?" Dune muttered. Webs' head stuck to the first one.
"Glory." He looked at the Rainwing, which was now turning vibrant shades of blue, like the shell of the Seawing Tsunami's egg.
"Glory," the other two echoed. Even the Nightwing stuck his head up and attempted to say it.
Webs could only forsee what this Rainwing will have to endure.
This is your destiny... As a backup. He thought. Welcome to the world, Glory. Too bad most of it doesn't want you. He remembered the Rainwing, looking lovingly at the egg, like it was his life. ...expect for one.
The Rainwing looked up at him, her bright green eyes almost glowing in the torch light.
Welcome, Glory.