Castaways.
Several miles away from the continent of Pyrrhia, off to the south at the sea, there was a very large island with a single tall central peak in the middle. If one were to look down at this island they'd see plenty of movement from the nearly two hundred dragons inhabiting it.
The east side of the island catches the eye due to the incredible amount of tree stumps, what once might've held a forest was devoid of any green besides the grass, and near the shoreline there was a big building, or at least what looks like a half finished circular building atop a column platform, what is done of the circular structure from outside it looked like an oversized beehive based on the many hexagonal cells in its design, with some groups of dragons going in and out of it.
The west side was the opposite, there were tall trees giving cover, with them just being cut down at spots to make clearings where huts were built down, rather well made and looking resistant even if they were to face a storm, and at the far end of the west side there was a taller and more elegant looking structure made out of black ebony wood as a stark contrast to the colors surrounding it, and there wasn't much activity here.
Near the peak of the mountain there were wingbeats as dragons would fly through tunnels into the mountains, working on the solid rock with tools to slowly make it give in and break, expanding with talon-crafted pathways alongside its natural caverns and intersections.
And at the south of the island near the beach that way there weren't trees and it was out in the open, but there appeared to be a township with a more typical look with the huts and houses, and a market out in the open with dragons selling what they might find within the confines of the island and the mile of sea around it before reaching the invisible barrier.
And it's there at this township in the middle of the market that suddenly a dragon landed, and many gasped and began to back away while holding their wares.
There was a Skywing with an incredibly long wingspan, and from head to tail she had all deep dark blood red scales, the only thing of another color on her body were her bright yellow eyes and her claws, long and sharp.
Red looked around with a satisfied grin on her face upon seeing the others back away, and then she tapped her talons on the ground impatiently. As always due to her speed, she was the first of the group to arrive, which meant she also was the first to need to wait for some minutes.
So deciding she wouldn't get a single minute of being idle and bored, she began to strut around, feeling a song about to come out.
Ah yes, years ago upon making this prison island, Princess Anemone had chosen to mess with the ones meant to be stuck inside even more by making the population at random times just feel like singing of what they're doing, as if it was one of the stories for young dragonets.
Of course, a big majority of the island's population absolutely loathed it, but some had decided eventually to get into the groove, if it'll be inevitable to end up singing to your heart's content, might as well not absolutely loathe it.
And Red was one of these few.
They say love is one of the greatest things in the world,
yet I consider that thought to just be bold,
because if everyone around loved me,
then nobody would cower and run and hide from me!
Sharp fangs bared she feinted a charge towards a random dragon on the crowd, who screamed and quickly took off while she laughed.
This is what I like, this is what I do,
I cannot be blamed when all I want is some fun,
when we're all stuck, then bet I'll do anything for entertainment!
Anything to make it through this whole containment!
I am the champion here, the strongest, the meanest,
only my mother would have me beat on being the blood-thirstiest,
The few dragons still around at the market were moving around, some of them joining in with a scared tone.
Bewaaaare! Watch out! The gladiator thinks this is an arena and is out for our blood!
Step aside, weave around, don't look at her, or you'll be her target!
She's out for our blood and she wants to paint the ground all…
The Skywing joined them for the very next line.
Red!
She laughed like a maniac and just kept on stomping around, enjoying the scared looks in everyone's faces.
I will always be mean,
of that I will forever be queen,
from the morning 'till the sun goes down!
This is what I like, this is what I do,
I cannot be blamed when all I want is some fun,
when we're all stuck, then bet I'll do anything for entertainment!
Anything to make it through this whole containment!
Red heard a clear laugh as she looked forward to her left, and there she saw a deep yellow Sandwing approaching, his black eyes cold and calculating, always looking at all sides. He had a black tattoo of a dragon skull on the left side of his neck, he was wearing a black cape that covered most of his back up to half of his tail, the other half with the tail barb poking out menacingly.
There's Condor, absolutely brilliant and a jack of all trades in most things, he had sewed the cape himself, in close combat he's one of the few always able to give Red a close match, he nearly always has something on his talons that he'd just grabbed or snatched as if he can't help himself from taking things, and he's even very good at swimming too, the earring on his right ear adorned with a pearl? He once dived underwater, scooped a talonful of oysters and one of them had that shiny pearl, treasure is rare in the island so many were often jealous.
And then he joined into the song with his sultry deep voice.
Whatever it takes I will have what I want to take,
and go on and through with whatever I make,
hey over there be careful I think I see a snake,
The dragon that he said that last line to, yelped and looked behind himself, which gave Condor time to snag a banana near him and just kept walking towards Red while munching on it.
Whatever it takes I'll always win at the end,
while you end with scars you can't mend,
the scorpion's out the nest and that is me,
the one to be the richest and the smartest, oh ye!
Condor reached Red and smirked at her while the Skywing raised her snout, then the Sandwing raised his tail and Red grinned widely, taking that challenge as they do some sparring, lunging, clawing and punching without a care if either got a cut or two.
[Red]
It's just funny how you came all this way just to get a beating,
though that is what I call the best sort of greeting,
[Condor]
You're serious? Oh you're joking,
or maybe just doing some ego-stroking,
we're even and my hits are flowing,
and we'll end this with you roaring!
Condor landed a good cut on Red's side with his talons, some blood dripping from it as she roared in pain but at the same time had a wide grin from the fight.
Then they heard the buzzing of wings and didn't even need to look to know who's the Hivewing approaching.
Dauber arrived, at first glance normally she'd look like the striking resemblance of her mother, if she wasn't so thin, coupled alongside some unusual splashes of green scales around her body and her eyes were a pale green, and despite her thin body, she was fast, but Red simply pinpointed it on the extra pair of wings to excuse the few times she lost a race.
There's only about two dozen Hivewings in the isle, but from what her group gathered from them, Dauber had really won at genetics, she had a stinger on her wrists, sometimes showed a retractable stinger on her tail, and when she got nervous like if they asked her about how she's doing at home, she was able to release the worst, most horrid smell ever.
And her voice was naturally soft yet kinda raspy, and she very obviously tried hard to make it raspier and louder when she was with them.
[Dauber]
You two are fighting again? Please,
do Shadow and I need to get you a leash?
Why won't you just be at ease?
Order is something that we must seize,
disorder we must treat like a disease,
it's important that we stick together,
so why does it seem only I realize?
Red looked at Condor and he shook his head, typical Dauber, they only get to see her half of the time but she often tries to be the one "leading" the group and saying what's best, if control freak or caring too much? They don't know, but it always looks like she thinks they'll just get too into their constant matches and end with one of them dead.
[Condor]
Oh trust us, we know, control's a great tool,
there always needs to be some sort of rule,
but…
[Red & Condor]
We don't really care!
Chaos is what makes this life fun,
to walk the path home and see everyone run!
[Dauber]
But you don't need chaos for that,
from mere sight they all already fall flat,
and besides, not the point, don't change topic,
just stop killing each other!
And that's when the three of them stopped, hearing loud and powerful wingbeats, Red rolled her eyes, there's the dramatic entrance…
A tall Nightwing swooped down in the middle of them, his black scales shiny and radiant as if he'd just cleaned them, the silver scales on his wings glistening a lot, same with the teardrop shaped ones near his eyes.
Shadowhunter, or either Shadow or Hunter as they call him to shorten it, was here, he's the oldest of the group, being actually 8 years old compared to Red's 7 and a half, Condor turning 7 recently, and Dauber being some months away from turning 6., but his size made him look a few years older. But despite his size he's always very carefree and his vibrant voice and the tone he uses most of the time sound as if he's often feeling amused by everything.
And his expression was surely looking very amused right now, joining along with theatrical flair.
[Shadowhunter]
Oh what is this? A prediction,
I see us all running without restriction,
He looked at Dauber upon saying that, who huffed slightly.
So stop with the friction, I say it with conviction!
I agree that we should stick together, but we can still have our fun!
Even in this enclosed space, there's plenty that we can do,
you just have to think and look through, see that arguing we're not better off,
we all can carry on our own, when the freedom is limited, then why limit it more?
Freedom of thought and to do what I want, that will always be my core.
[Red, Condor & Shadowhunter]
This is what we like, this is what we do,
we cannot be blamed when all we want is some fun,
when we're all stuck, then bet I'll do anything for entertainment!
Whatever it takes to make it through this whole containment!
Dauber sighed and gave a short shrug, giving up on this for now, so Red and Condor grinned at each other and kept on having their scuffle.
Meanwhile, Shadowhunter had approached Dauber, who had sat down and watched in a not very amused way.
"Hey, lighten up, you know they always do this and they'll just keep at it," he said.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I know but I still don't like it, I'm all in for violence but I'd rather not have the two best fighters I know to brawl it out when there's always the chance of one ending maimed," she replied, closing her many wings around herself and shaking her head.
"Well, perhaps things are going to change quite soon enough," Shadow said in a vague and mysterious manner, which made Dauber roll her eyes.
"As if you'd actually know that," she said deadpan, knowing that there's two things in particular blocked off while in this isle, Animus magic, and Foresight, with Shadowhunter happening to have both of these, coupled with mind reading which is sadly not blocked.
But Shadow had just started to smile very amused at that response.
"Are you sure about that?" He asked and then laughed for some seconds." I need to show the three of you something, or rather, someone. It's the reason why I took this long to arrive, just seeing this dragon."
"Someone very interesting just arrived at our little confined island."
Author's Note: Well, finally, the ACTUAL first chapter, and here's the obvious reason why this fic won't be as consistent as my other one: SONGS, for the first time I am dabbling into songwriting here, and I KNOW results are gonna be very variable and not all will be same quality, but I'll try.
So, the core 4 is here, interested to hear if any of them picked someone's interest.