Chapter Text
Goshawk's pov
Colors of the cow skinned tents, to colors of sand wings, and a few other tribes blurred into one mess, and chatter became one. Goshawk felt scale against scale, dragon against dragon.
"I'd advise against drinking on the job." A blur of gray said.
" In my line of work, " Sidewinder face came into focus. "I'd advise you not to tell me how to do my job." Goshawk snarled.
He got up, almost crashed into the dragon that sat behind him.
"Double headed snake, don't you know who I am?" The sand wing yelled. He could've been a hole head bigger than Goshawk, even from his angle, Goshawk saw the missing chunk from lip that he gave him a couple months back, and the tattoo on underside his right, folded wing. He almost got away with trying to steal Viper's treasure. Almost meaning Viper knew before they even tried and set up traps all over the House.
"I don't know, some idiot is my guess." Goshawk smirked, which wasn't a lie, the guy had a big mouth.
"Some idiot, I am a top shop keeper around here." The sand wing yelled.
"This makes it even more embarrassing for you because I know exactly who you are, I can't believe to didn't see you before." Goshawk looked him up and down, letting go of the smirk, he said. "I'm the one who gave you that scar." Goshawk latched his claws into the sand wing's neck. His thumbs pressing deep, thick, red blood poured out, and his airway closed shut. Gasping for air, as the crowd behind him cleared as he waved his tail around. A younger looking mud wing ducked behind the bar, and a few took to the skies, but for knock down by the hides. Life faded from the sand wing's black eyes, and his body fell limp into the sand floor.
"How did he get in?" Goshawk demanded.
Dragons cleared the path that he, and Sidewinder tread. Whispers echoed as they turned down another road.
Sidewinder kept quiet, his head straight, but eyes the shadows. He took a bigger step, relieved to feel a small bounce on his shoulders.
There was no room to spread your wings, and fly in these allies. The gaps in the fabric, and hides were to small for a full grown dragon to fit through. Especially with Goshawk's big wings.
All drunkenness left Goshawk with each step, the closer he got to the viper's den. Purple fabric hung over poles to act as doors came to view. Two sand wings stood guard on the sides. "Move." Goshawk said. He cowered over them.
"He doesn't want to be disturbed." one of them gulped.
Viper never wanted to be disturbed in this hour of the morning, or any hour. Frankly, Goshawk didn't want to disturb him either, but it was a matter of security. Goshawk ignored the dragons, and yanked the flap open.
"Commander!" They yelped.
The room was lit only by candles, there was a pool, and large bed in the middle. Stacks of paper liked high into a pine desk. The tent had a high ceiling, but no natural light in sight.
Out of corner of a mostly circular tent, a snout with two spikes similar to a gaboon viper emerged from the shadows. "What have I told you?" The spikes opened to look like fangs.
Goshawk took a moment, "I remember what you have told me, but we have a problem."
Problem. Always gets Viper's worry.
"What problem?" Viper shot with white hot anger. He fully emerged from the shadows. Revealing his golden, cracked scales, pure black eyes, and permanent scowl. The only visual thing that rubbed off on Goshawk.
Goshawk took a deep breath, standing tall he announced, "a sand wing has broken into the house."
Viper slammed his talons on the desk, his nostrils flared. Viper whipped his head around, "who?"
"A Sand Reaper."
"A Sand Reaper?" Viper spun on his heel, "you said they all died."
"Well technically, they are now." Sidewinder spoke up.
"You lied."
"we thought it was true, I gave him a pretty nasty scar when he ran." Goshawk said. "We didn't think to send a search party, he was the last, there's nothing for miles. It was a miracle for him to have survived that."
"Goshawk, Sidewinder, you let the deadliest gang in over a hundred years survive." Viper 's words hissed off of his tongue. "Goshawk, you first."
Goshawk followed Viper to his desk. He held out his arm, and winced as sharp pain extruded through Goshawk's arm. The embered stick hit Goshawk thrice, yet he didn't show any pain.
Sidewinder was next, Goshawk stepped outside. No dragon looked at him, no guard, no passerby. They used to, when Goshawk would cry out the the shifts, the mountains, even the moon. But none answered his calls, only Viper.
Viper stepped out of the tent. The sun landed on his scar on ran down Viper's face. "I need to see the body."
The three walked back to the bar. The bar keep pushed people out. "Nothing to see here folks." He yelled. "Just go along with your day."
The bar keep yelled when Viper walked up. "Sir, welcome." He said, "welcome sir, I assume your here to see the body?"
Viper nodded.
The sand wing lifted the flap. Stools, and tables flipped on their sides. Glass shattered against the wood back, and hides. In the center of it all, a mangled body lied still against the sand. Viper lifted the head up, limp in his hands, he saw the scar.
"Anyone could survive this, maybe not eat solids for a couple of weeks, but who couldn't go weeks without food."
"Sidewinder." Viper said. "Grab Kelinci, tell him to clean up this mess, and you come with me."
"right sir."
"Right away."