Beetle spread her wings, feeling the warm sun. She loved the mornings, unlike most Sandwings she knew. They were big sleepers. Beetle stretched her wings and walked out her tent, spotting her protective, leading mother talking to Six Claws and some other Sandwings.
Beetle had been working with her mother so she hadn't visited him in a while. She walked to Thorn and snuggled under her wing. When Beetle was younger, she was always embarrassed by her mother. But Beetle didn't mind Thorn anymore.
"Hi Mother," Beetle smiled, looking up at Thorn. Thorn smiled back.
"Hello Beet. You don't have to do this work anymore," Thorn offered. Beetle grinned and relaxed. She turned her head to inspect Thorn's wing. Beetle didn't know why, but always awed wings. They could do so much.
"I'm gonna visit Python then," Beetle said, climbing out of Thorn's wings and walking through the hallways of the Scorpion Den. She walked past all sorts of dragons, before finally walking into a fortune teller's tent and meeting with Fang. Fang had all these glass animals and animals made of meat that aren't alive. It was quite amazing.
"Hello Fang," Beetle smiled, brushing Fang's wing. She felt bad for Fang, as her name made dragons think she was a rude, angry and dangerous Sandwing, when really, Fang was the sweetest thing.
"Hello Beetle! Are you here for Python?" Fang asked politely. Beetle nodded and walked past Fang into the back of the shop, where a smaller tent was connected to the shop.
"Python?" Beetle asked, entering the tent. It was darker than usual and very… quiet. Usually Python could be heard tinkering with his favourite inventions. Beetle ducked her head to enter the tent. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
The room seemed empty. Beetle felt guilt wash all over her. She hadn't visited him in a week or two. Maybe he gave up…
"Boo!" A voice laughed. A dragon-shaped shadow suddenly jumped in front of Beetle. Beetle screamed in fear and pushed her tail forward to attack the figure.
"Hey, it's me!" The shadow jumped into the light and a light, sandy, beige-coloured dragon gripped Beetle's talons.
"Python!" She cried excitedly and dove into his wings. His head lowered so he could look into Beetle's eyes.
"Hey there. It is good you didn't get me with your tail," Python grinned. Beetle laughed and leant into him.
"I'm sorry I didn't meet you. I was busy with my mother," Beetle said, lowering her head and curling her tail. Python squeezed her talons and smiled understandingly.
"I don't mind," he replied, passing Beetle a lizard tail which she ate. Beetle glanced down at her tail. Python invented this sort of barb tail thingy, as Beetle didn't have a real barbed tail. It could be tightened and loosened, even store venom to use and if it ever got stuck, flames could make it fall off.
"Let's go walk around," Beetle suggested, reluctantly climbing out of his wings and walking out the tent. Python followed her tent. Fang waved to them and they walked off to the more interesting parts of the Scorpion Den. The Scorpion Den kinda split into two sections. The safer part was led by her hardworking, kind and clever mother, Thorn, and the more dangerous, poor and quiet part where Python lived.
They both walked around the quiet part in silence.
"Where's your family?" Beetle asked as they walked past his small, brick house. Python raised his eyebrows at Beetle and she knew why. She knew his parents were always betting, fighting and being assigned tasks like assassinating certain dragons. His brother always ran off, doing unknown things. Beetle was just trying to make conversation as Python seemed really quiet.
"Are you okay?" Beetle tried again. Python didn't reply. His eyes were looking down at the sandy floor. Beetle felt a sudden rush of anger. She hated being ignored. Beetle huffed and took a step away from Python. Python looked up, surprised. He stared at Beetle as she glared at him.
"Well, when you can actually speak, come talk to me, 'cause I'm not gonna waste my time trying to talk to someone who expects me to read minds," Beetle snapped, stomping off towards the start of the part of the den Thorn ruled.
She heard Python calling her, but ignored it. Beetle felt a little bad, but shook it off as she speed-walked along the sand. A talon suddenly grabbed her shoulder. She screamed in surprise and turned to see Python, looking tired.
"Hey, I'm sorry," He said, brushing Beetle's wing with his. Beetle looked at him.
"What's wrong?" She finally asked, standing up. Python shuffled his talons and looked down.
"I-my," He started, before he cleared his throat and started again, "My father kicked me out of home." Beetle felt a strong rush of guilt. She got all angry when really, he was a poor, homeless dragonet.
"I'm so sorry," Beetle said, her voice full of sadness. She placed a wing around him and met his eyes.
"It's okay. You didn't know," Python replied softly. He smiled weakly at Beetle. Honestly, she wasn't surprised. Python's family wasn't very caring or good, even. Beetle always had worried about Python.
"I can ask my mother to find you a home," Beetle suggested, pacing around Python, her mind racing and full of calculations. What sort of homes would Thorn have? Any?
"Come on, I'll be fine," Python said, finally giving Beetle his familiar, happy grin, "I'd love to live everywhere." Beetle smiled back, but didn't stop pacing.
Could Python live with me? Hmm or maybe I should go ask Thorn if she has any homes for him. Or does Python wanna live on the streets? But where'd he store all his invention tools?
"Hmmm, I think maybe you should live in Dune's old home," Beetle suggested, nudging Python's wings. Python grinned back, but tilted his head at her.
"Who is Dune again?" Python asked, sliding closer to Beetle and placing a wing around her as Beetle's face fell.
"He-he was a dragon w-who, um, protected my egg and um, d-" Beetle trailed off at his understanding.
"Right," He said, smiling sadly at Beetle. She leant into Python as they watched the sun through a little crack in the wall. She smiled at the setting sun when she felt a talon rest on her shoulder.
Beetle turned to see a scarred, frowning Sandwing who coiled her tail and glared daggers at Beetle.
"Excuse me, who are you and what are you doing with my son?"