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“Thorn. Why did you call for us?” Six-Claws says in a soft manner as he and Dune enter the room. A small sandwing stands in the middle of a room. Although she’s trying to keep up her appearance, she is shaking visibly. Thorn slowly moves her head towards them, her eyes burning red.
“Thorn? Thorn what happened?!” Six-Claws says and runs into the room to comfort her. She hisses in response, but let’s up and lets Six-Claws hug her. Dune walks in as well.
“It's about Stonemover, isn't it?” Dune asks, as the two separate.
“Yes… he’s gone… missing.” Thorn sighs, “Nobody as the Scorpion Den has seen him for a few days now… And I think… I know why.” She growls at the last word.
Immediately, Dune gets who she’s talking about. It’s about that prophetic nightwing named Morrowseer that came to them a week ago along with a seawing named Pacific. They were looking for members for a group named, ‘Talons of Peace’, who are working towards ending the war. They spoke so sweetly and hopeful about it, especially with their dragonet prophecy. Saying that the nightmare that is the war will end in 20 years.
However, Thorn and Six-Claws soon point out how suspicious these newcomers were, while Dune believes they are just trying to be pessimistic. Thorn says it’s the oldest trick in the book to get someone to do something for them, and even points out how they’re trying to find these dragon eggs to protect and raise them in a secret hideout. Still, it still seems they are being way too pessimistic.
Then soon after her suspicions seem to be confirmed when Morrowseer yells at Stonemover about his relationship with Thorn. Then Six-Claws spots Pacific arguing with Morrowseer about it. The next day, Pacific is found dead and Stonemover is missing.
“Don’t worry, we’ll save him! You two will reunite, I promise that!” Six-Claws says.
Thorn smiles for a second, but it soon leaves.
“That’s… that’s not what I’m worried about,” Thorn says and looks to her belly. Immediately, Dune sees what the problem is.
“You’re egg bound?!”
Thorn nods, “And if Morrowseer was that upset with Stone about his relationship with me, and the fact he’s willing to kidnap dragon eggs,” She looks at Dune when she says this. He rolls his eyes. Thorn continues, “Then I don’t think Beetle will be safe…”
“…Agreed,” Six-Claws says nodding, “So, do you have a plan to keep your egg?”
“Of course. Until I know for fact Morrowseer is gone along with his little cult, I want my egg hidden in the desert.”
“And hidden alone from the rival queens / the Sandwing egg awaits unseen.”
That specific line from the prophecy echoes threw Dune’s head once he hears that.
“Dune? Dune!” Thorn snaps.
Dune shakes his head vigorously to get back to reality, “Sorry, your plan reminded me of something.”
“Something?”
“…What if it gets found by a cobra or a dragon viper? Doesn’t seem very safe…”
“It won’t, because we’ll hide it well!” Six-Claws says and elbows Dune’s shoulder affectionately. He huffs in annoyance by it.
“So, I take it you’re going to help me?” Thorn asks.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Six-Claws says.
“Of course,” Dune says.
“Good, and I almost forgot,” Thorn says and then raises her barbed tail like she’s ready to strike, “Not a word outside of this room. This must stay a secret.”
Even though both know Thorn wouldn’t hurt them, Dune can’t help but flinch.
“Understood,” the two male Sandwings say.
That night after Thorn laid her egg, Dune lays in his bed staring at the celling. Why? It’s obvious! He did the math. Thorn’s egg will hatch on the brightest night like all the other prophesized dragonets. Plus, Morrowseer says that one of the eggs that they are missing is the Sandwing egg. No doubt about it, Thorn is the mother of the Sandwing dragonet.
That poses a problem though, that dragonet needs to be with the other dragonets, because they need to be protected and raised under one roof, or else they won’t be able to fulfill the prophecy! However, he can’t just betray Thorn and Six-Claws! Can he?
Dune gets up and looks at his tattered wing. A growl escapes his lips looking at it. He looks up at his roommate and best friend Six-Claws. Seems he didn’t put the pieces together (or frankly doesn’t care, jerk) and is sleeping soundly.
He glares at the Sandwing with built up resentment. If it wasn’t for him not following Burn’s orders, he wouldn’t be in the mess. He wouldn’t be here among the criminals and lowlifes of his tribe, following the beck and call of a vicious mob boss who likes nightwings. He would’ve stayed as a valiant soldier, fighting among his brothers and sisters for his queen. He would’ve been still able to fly.
But no- Six-Claws just had to question Burn’s authority, costing his wings. Then he just had to drag him to the Scorpion Den and serve under Thorn. Worst Six-Claws plays the part of Thorn’s right-talon dragon and has already have googly eyes with another dragon, while their own tribe dies in a bloody war.
Maybe, it’s about time Dune makes his own decisions instead of following unloyal dragon. Even if that unloyal dragon has been nothing but kind and loyal to him.
Dune sneaks out of the room, only stopping when he hears Six-Claws stir. Once the Sandwing goes back to sleep, Dune continues his track.
He sneaks out of their hut and out onto the streets. To eventually outside of the Scorpion Den.
As Dune walks he can’t stop thinking about Thorn and Six-Claws to what he’s doing. Despite being a criminal and having moments where she shows it off, Thorn is a great leader and a surprisingly good dragon when she doesn’t have to act like a mob boss. She let them stay with her when Dune and Six-Claws had nowhere to go, and helped them adjust to their new life. It makes Dune almost consider her a- friend.
He stops in his tracks. If he continues, Thorn… won’t ever be able to watch her kin grow up. Won’t ever be able to hold her little dragonet in her talons. Won’t ever see her child's smile.
He begins to reconsider until he spots where they hid her egg. He grips the sand and continues his march. It doesn’t matter if Thorn won’t ever experience motherhood. It doesn’t matter if Six-Claws has been nothing but loyal to him. It doesn’t matter if Dune will lose his closest friends because of this.
Because the happiness of the two dragons is small in comparison to the wellbeing and happiness of their tribe that they betrayed.
So, he uncovers the dragonet egg. He then begins to carry it to a nearby Talons of Peace camp, while fighting the overwhelming guilt plaguing in his mind.
Once he gets there, he spots Morrowseer in a crowd of dragons of different tribes. He’s currently talking to another seawing. Dune clears his throat to get the dragon’s attention.
They all turn to look at him. The Sandwing hesitates for a bit, but sighs and says, “I got your Sandwing dragonet. Found exactly where the prophecy said it would be.”