Beetle felt like the world was falling. She felt Python stiffen and move his wing off Beetle's back. The scarred dragon smiled in a way that gave Beetle a prickling feeling.
"Hello little, gold dragonet. I'm Scorch, Python's father," He said, his tail moving around in the sand and pulling his talon back. Beetle glanced self-consciously at her sandy gold scales and thought about her weird, green-grey eyes. She really didn't look like a normal Sandwing.
"Hi, I'm Beetle, Thorn's daughter," Beetle replied politely, nodding her head at him in a welcoming way. Scorch seemed surprised by her politeness and squinted at her, before turning to Python.
"Who is she to you?" He asked suspiciously, taking a step towards Python. He looked lost and frozen, his eyes looking down just below his father.
"I-my, um, she-" Python stuttered, pulling his wings closer around him.
"A friend," Beetle cut in, making her smile wider and more friendly.
"Oh," Scorch said, eying Python as if saying, "that better be all you guys are."
"Yup," Beetle said cheerfully, placing a wing around Python and pulling him along as she walked, "Bye."
Scorch cleared his throat, "Python, can I talk to you for a moment? Privately?" Python looked terrified, but stepped forward to Scorch's grim facial expression. Beetle also stepped forward, keeping her wing in position.
"I said privately, little, gold dragonet," He grunted through his teeth. Beetle squared her shoulders.
"My name is Beetle and you already kicked him out of your house, so you lost power over him. Let's go, Python," she said, standing tall and trying not to glance at his glare. She understood why Python was so scared of him.
Beetle pulled Python along with her as they walked away, and looked over her shoulder every so often to check he wasn't following them. He wasn't.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked kindly, pulling him aside and meeting his eyes.
"Why did you do that?" Python asked back. Beetle blinked at him.
"Because you're my friend and I care about you," She replied, taken aback.
"No, I mean, why did you say we are friends?" He pushed on. Beetle gave him an injured look.
"So we aren't friends?" She said quietly, taking a step away from him. Python shuffled his feet awkwardly.
"No, not that. But, um, is that all I am to you?" He questioned, stepping towards her. Beetle couldn't figure out his tone or facial expression.
"Oh, you wanted me to say best friend?" Beetle said grumpily, "Or close friend? Wouldn't that anger him more?" Mainly she was annoyed he got all angry about that instead of being grateful she helped him.
"I-you- hmmm, you are right," He sighed, taking one of her talons with his talon. Beetle gave him a confused look, but shrugged and gave him a relaxed smile. They walked to Thorn's section of the Scorpion Den and to Dune's old home.
"Beetle!" A voice called behind them. Beetle turned to see Qibli, a young Outclaw and friend of hers rushing to her. He was around three or four years old, was very loyal to Thorn and extremely clever.
"Hey Qibli," She smiled, nudging his wing with hers. Python smiled sweetly at Qibli and Qibli smiled back.
"Are you Python?" He asked curiously. Python nodded and gave Beetle an awed and amused look.
"Well, I'm Qibli!" Qibli smiled in a friendly way, offering his talon. Python shook it, a true smile on his face.
"Qibli is probably the smartest and most loyal three year old," Beetle declared.
"Almost four!" He jumped in, but looked as if his chest was about to burst. Beetle knew why. He was brought to them by Thorn not too long ago and lived a hard life, not used to compliments.
"Wow," Python smiled and turned to dune's old home. Or rather, his old tent. It was old, but clean and full of pillows, as Thorn told Beetle he had lots of injuries and needed lots of rest, but almost fully healed up when he was sent out.
"Hey," Thorn said, snapping Beetle out of her thoughts.
"Hi," Beetle said, leaning into Thorn.
"Hello Python. How are you?" She greeted him with a warm smile. He grinned for a moment, but it faded away as he glanced at the tent.
"Mother, Python needs somewhere to stay. He got kicked out of his home. Can he stay in Dune's tent?" Beetle asked quickly, desperation in her voice. Thorn gave them a surprised look and Qibli gasped.
"Oh, of course," Thorn said gently, giving Python a pitying glance.
"Thank you Thorn," Python said.
"And you'll be close to us," Qibli said brightly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah," Beetle grinned, giving Python a smile to bring his back.
"Okay, I'll move in," Python announced, opening his back of invention tools and what not.
"I'll help," Beetle offered.
"Me too!" Qibli cried.
"You guys need to rest. I'll help Python," Thorn ordered, helping Python drag the back inside his new home. Qibli sighed impatiently and Beetle raised her eyebrows at Thorn.
"I need to help," Beetle pushed, opening the tent flap and holding it up with her wing.
"No you don't. You need to sleep," Thorn said sternly, giving Beetle his annoyed, motherly look. She brushed Qibli's wing and he walked off to his little tent. Beetle groaned with frustration, but hugged Thorn and Python goodnight and walked into her tent.
Beetle breathed fire into her lamp and picked a scroll from her scroll shelf. She laid in her pillows for a little bit, trying to read, but gave up and grabbed her blanket.
Beetle snuggled into the blanket and pillows as it was a cold night, putting out her lamp and gazing at the perfect little hole she made in her tent so she could see the beautiful night sky.