Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a rainy day. It seemed that Clay was not alone in grieving. He stood over the freshly dug and covered graves. He placed rocks on each of them, as the downpour washed away the marks of his claws digging. It had been a particularly bloody battle, and Clay was not alone in mourning, many other soldiers had been buried alongside his sibs. He raised his head and scanned the impromptu cemetery. Many other troops were in mourning as well standing over a grave of one of their own, but Clay was the only one standing alone. He was the only Bigwings that had lost all of his sibs. 

Crane had gone down first, an Icewing tore her apart with their talons alone. Clay couldn't reach her in time. He had lunged at the Icewing, but she disappeared in a flash of snow as she teleported away and attacked elsewhere.

Marsh had gone down next, both a venom barb and a spear were driven into his chest. Clay had left his side to save Crane and had lost two siblings in the same moment.

Reed had gone down third, taking a blow from a spell for Clay when he lost in his stupor. He hadn’t even noticed until his body hit the ground next to Clay, an Ice Knife impaling Reed’s chest as Clay got hit by the other.

Pheasant had gone down fourth, using her Wings of Fire to take the brunt of Clay's spell injury. As the Flame of The Brightest Night flickered between them, she took on a wound meant for Clay, making her fall before her enemy even slashed at her. The Wings of Fire, the power that allowed him to steal pain from his siblings, was used in that moment to save his life and took hers instead.

Sora and Umber went down last, a misfired spell from their own side had crushed them in a rupture of the earth. That idiot spellcaster had caused more harm to their own side than the opponents before he had been taken out by the same dragon that killed Crane. It was a cruel joke, that the one that killed his sister had been the same one to avenge his other siblings. He couldn’t even do them the honor of a proper soldier burial because he couldn’t find their corpses.

“He was a noble.” Asha explained, placing a claw on Clay’s shoulder. “The idiot occultist was born in the lap of luxury and had no real battle experience.”

Clay turned his head towards his aunt and buried himself in her embrace. “I failed, I broke my oath to the Soil-Mother before I even got to take it. I’m an orphan.”

“It’s not your fault.” She comforted, petting the back of his neck with her claws. “Place the blame on the war, or the nobles. You shouldn’t blame yourself, because in a peaceful world you could’ve been a farmer maintaining your crops with them at your side.”

“Well that doesn’t matter now.” He spat, pulling away from Asha as tears ran down his face. “An orphan has no place on the battlefield, they’ll retire me to the farms anyway.”

“That would be cushy.” Asha hummed, taking her claws to Clay's face and making him face her again. “It would be nice, wouldn’t it? To abandon the fight with an honorable discharge and go to work on the fields and enjoy the peace of it.”

“I don’t know…” He muttered. “That would be nice I guess…”

Asha sighed deeply, before she took her claw that rested on his face and slapped Clay. “You foolish boy. The Soil-Mother made you a Miracle-Worker, and you dare to consider retiring from battle? How many more dragons exist out there like your siblings that need your help that won’t receive it because you retired to a farm.”

Clay felt the sting on his cheek, he was big, (Wisdom Save DC:10 Result:11) but Asha was bigger. He couldn’t fight back against her successfully. The rage that had built up in his throat had cooled back down to a whimper. “What would you have me do?” He asked, biting his tongue to prevent and outburst.

“What do you think?” She questioned, her tone deviating from her usual nice demeanor. “What purpose do orphans serve other than farmers?” (History Check DC:15 Result:17)

“The Talons.” Clay realized out loud. “You want me to join The Talons of Peace.”

“I don’t expect an answer immediately, I’m leaving for their outpost tomorrow.” She said, turning away from. “Complete your burial rights and rest. If you come to the right decision, I’ll see you here tomorrow morning.” She turned away and left Clay to his siblings.

Clay stood there for a long time over the final resting place of his troop. Eventually the rain stopped and nothing could wash away his tears. The droplets of water from his face hit the ground and flowers and grass grew where they landed. A blooming abundance of plants slowly overtaking the graves of his siblings. “May you return to the Soil-Mother.” He choked out, watching the miracle he had caused. “One last spell from your Bigwings to you. It never did you any good in life, but hopefully it makes your time with the goddess sweeter.” He finally tore himself away, beginning his journey back towards their camp. The others whispered about him, saying he was shameful, a survivor, he didn’t do his best, or his best wasn’t enough. Words of encouragement and insult. Eventually he arrived at his troops' place in camp, a space was cleared for a group, but only one dragon would rest in it that night. Clay laid down without his siblings for the first time. The space was cold without the pile that they used to sleep in. But he’d rest in the cold, it was his punishment. In the morning he’d return to their graves, say goodbye, and join Asha in the Talons.

Chapter Text

Tsunami was raised in secret. No dragon was to know about her besides members of the royal family. When she was still an egg she was taken from the royal hatchery. He never made it far with her before she hatched. She had attacked him and he dropped her. Her mother and father had decided to have her raised by her uncle Shark, as they had not yet found the culprit of the assassinations of her siblings. Shark trained her to be a warrior and someone who wouldn’t back down. Which is why she was so disappointed that her family would not let her join the military effort or the guard.

Which is why she was so excited when her uncle finally agreed to adding her to her father’s guard. The King was perplexed by her presence among the guards and gave Shark a confused look. Shark whispered something in his ear which got Tsunami a smile from her father before he entered the meeting with Blister’s lieutenant. Everything was going well, until the Skywing’s attacked.

It was chaos when it happened. She had been taught about the Skywing’s affinity for fire, but the swiftness in which it surrounded her was immense. The enemy Occultists could conjure it without incantation. But, they were sloppy and exposed that she had taken one out of the sky herself herself, exploiting the sorceresses’ weak stature. Pinning her down, Tsunami made sure she couldn’t move her claws to cast. But she began to speak the words of a spell. Tsunami leaned down quickly and brought her mouth over the Skywing’s to silence her, before biting her tongue off and spitting it out. While the mage reeled back in pain, Tsunami quickly sliced her claws through their neck. She stood up and looked around herself, most of the Skywing’s had fled, but the damage was done, the embassy was destroyed and whatever planning they were going to do with Blister’s people was ruined. Guards ran past her pulling survivors out of the wreckage and she joined as well. (Perception Check DC:10 Result:21)

“I found someone!” She called out across the burnt embassy. She had hoisted an injured Seawing up and began to help him walk. “He needs medical attention! What’s your name?” She asked the bleeding guard.

“Riptide…” He coughed, a little bit of blood dripping out of his mouth. “Is the King okay? I saw him surrounded, they had ropes…”

She grimaced. She has finally been allowed on an assignment, and now her father’s missing. By The Painter, she’d never be allowed out of the palace again. “The Skywing’s attacked but I don’t know where he is, I don’t know if he’s still alive, but I doubt they’d kill him. He’s much better as a hostage.” She choked out, trying to hide her personal feelings. A couple nurses came to her side and brought a stretcher for Riptide and took him away. She looked down at her talons, she could no longer tell what blood was hers, what blood was Riptide’s, and what blood was the Skywing she tore through. She wandered towards the shore of the island and waded inside, letting the water clean her of the red covering her deep blue scales. She examined herself in the warped reflection of the water. There was a burn on her neck she hadn’t noticed she’d gotten. The adrenaline had numbed it, but it began to sting. She didn’t know when she got it. Maybe that sorceress did cast some of her spell after all, I need to get better at tongue rippings.

“Does it hurt?” Said a voice behind Tsunami. She turned around to find her uncle standing on the shore.

“Only a little.” Shark took a canister off of his belt and knocked it back for a swing. 

“I’ve gotten a couple of those myself.” He empathized, closing the canister before tossing it to her. It landed in the water with a splash and floated towards her. “Only take a sip or two, to numb the pain.” Tsunami took his advice and sipped from it herself. It was just water. She scowled as he chuckled lightly before his face straightened. “You're going to go after your dad, aren’t you?”

“I wasn’t.” She started, defending herself. (Deception Check DC:20 Result:3)

“Don’t lie to me.” Shark snapped, his tail flicking sand as it lashed. “I may not be your father, but I did raise you, I know you want to go to save the king. I also know if I do anything short of locking you in a cell you’ll go with or without anyone’s permission. So I give you my permission, take what you need from the armory and rations, and be on your way.”

“That’s it?” She questioned, stepping out of the water and onto the beach. “You’re just letting me go?”

“What else am I supposed to do?” He said, avoiding eye contact with Tsunami. “I’m stronger than you, but I’m old and slow. I couldn’t stop you. I can’t order guards to chase you, they’re all injured. If I wait to get soldiers, you’ll be too far away and they won’t be able to track you. I’d rather you go prepared, then if you ran away from home with no supplies.”

“Shark I…” 

“Go.” Her uncle said. “Please, before I change my mind.” He said, throwing her his emblem. “Leave it on my desk please.” Tsunami swam as quickly as she could. The closest outpost wasn’t far away and Tsunami reached it in no time. They knew her and General Shark’s emblem gave her full access. She took what she needed and what would travel well. Rations, smaller weapons, and light armor. The only weapon she’d need was herself, but it didn’t hurt to have alternatives or something she could throw. She was in and out of the building in twenty minutes, wasting no time she took to the skies. Making her way towards the Sky Kingdom.

Chapter Text

Glory was being chased through the forest by her older brother dodging branches and vines as they moved. She was giggling madly as she ran, barely even thinking about her destination. (Constitution Save DC:10 Result:6, Survival Check DC:20 Result:17)

Eventually she lost breath and came to a stop, scanning her surroundings to try and spot her brother before he inevitably pounced on her. But as she looked around she realized she did not recognize her surroundings. She did as she was taught and stayed put for a while, but she was hungry and that became more relevant than being found. She walked out of the forest and wandered, looking for any kind of fruit or vegetables. 

She had not found any berry bushes or any notable plants, but she had found a well paved path, which she began to walk down. It hadn’t been long before she came upon a settlement of non-Rainwing dragons. They were all hard at work packing several carriages with shiny objects and other trinkets. She debated taking a closer look, but her stomach won out against any curiosity as she camouflaged her scales and began to shift through the town. (Stealth Check w/Advantage DC:15 Result:18)

She invisibly shuffled through the town watching warm colored dragons move cargo from and a bigger orange dragon who was yelling at them. “Can’t you imbeciles move any faster. If I’m late to the queen's party I will have your heads!” He threatened. Glory snuck past all the fanfare and walked to the other side of the village. She was suddenly struck with a sweet scent coming from a building. She walked up to a building with strange brown shapes on display behind the window. Her nose was assaulted by the sudden sweet smell that was much stronger in the building than outside. Her nose guided her to a strange lump left on the counter. (Stealth Check w/Advantage DC:20 Result:13)

She tried to take the lump of the counter and sneak back out through the door, but she only made it halfway. “What in the Heavens!?” Called out an older yellow dragon. She startled Glory so much that her camouflage dropped. Glory was frozen in fear as she made eye contact with the elder. “Well I see the ghosts of those I have slain in battle haven’t come back to haunt me just yet.” She sighed, before approaching Glory and holding a talon out. “Well hello little miss.” She greeted the dragonet. “What’s a Rainwing dragonet doing so far from the Rainforest?”

“I got lost.” She explained, taking her giant claw. Her stomach grumbled. “Then I got hungry.” 

“Well I suppose you can have just that loaf.” She acquiesced, shaking Glory’s talons excitedly. “My name’s Cloud, what’s yours?”

“My name’s Morning-Glory, but everyone calls me Glory.” She introduced herself, colors fluttering through her scales in pride of her own name. “I’m two.”

“Well you’re a youngin’ alright.” Cloud chuckled. “Just a loaf of bread is nowhere near an adequate meal for someone in their growing stages. If you give me the loaf back I’ll make you a sandwich with some meat I have saved in the back.” 

Glory stuck her tongue out at the idea. “Grandma says meat is the food of savages and to consume the flesh of another living breathing creature is a shame in the eyes of The Radiances or something.” She preached.

“Well I think your grandmother’s incorrect, but it’s improper to try and manipulate another’s diet. Across the street there’s the community garden. If you grab some fruits and vegetables from there, I’ll put those on a sandwich instead. But make sure you don’t wander too far, because you’ll end up in the Lord’s vineyard.” Glory nodded her head and handed Cloud the loaf, before shuffling out the door and camouflaging again. She wandered across the street, before realizing she had no idea what a garden or a vineyard was. She shrugged before heading towards the tall green rows. She began picking the strange oval shaped purple fruits. She popped one in her mouth and it was crispy and sweet. (Stealth Check DC:22 Result: Critical Failure) Her camouflage must’ve failed as a red dragon with iron armor snuck up behind her and picked her up by the nape.

He carried her out of the vineyard and back towards where the dragons were loading wagons. She was tossed in front of the dragon who was yelling earlier. “My lord, I  caught her in your vineyard, what do you want to do with her?” 

The Lord examined her, grabbing her face with his talons and examining her. She was white with fear. “Rainwing!” He barked. “Do you change colors?” She attempted to turn invisible and pull away from his grasp, but his grip stayed firm as she shifted. “I suppose that answers that question.” He muttered, his face was generally uninterested until it suddenly lit up. “Put the treasures back. I have a much better birthday present in mind.” He snapped his claws, and two guards grabbed Glory and she was dragged and tossed into a cage they had prepared. The sudden travel by wagon was exhausting and allowed for little sleep, but eventually she fell to slumber and to hunger. By the time she awoke a cloth had covered the cage and she was clearly no longer in the wagon and many dragons surrounded the cage with murmurs.

“Your Majesty.” The Lord’s voice announced and Glory camouflaged again. (Stealth Check w/Advantage DC:10 Result:21) The sheet was pulled off of the cage and the door was opened. “I have prepared quite the thrilling present—” He didn’t get to finish before two droplets of venom were sprayed into his eyes. (Armor Class:10 To Hit: Critical Success Damage:30) He screamed and dropped to the ground as the venom killed him from the inside out.

“Something quite thrilling has been given.” The Queen clapped.

Chapter Text

He banged tiny talons against the walls of his cage creating cracks that allowed small rays of silver light to leak through. His egg was placed against the ground by a presence he didn’t know was there until it was gone. He continued his assault against the shell creating a hole big enough that he could crawl through. He had barely made it outside onto the cold sand before he was scooped up by a pair of talons that swiftly bundled him in a warm blanket.

“Hello my little comet.” She cooed. He looked up past his mother, towards the bright Three Moons and the shooting stars that were falling from the heavens. “They came to greet you.” She hummed, rocking him in her arms gently. “And they came to bid me farewell. We must make haste, I used a lot of magic merely to get here and we still have quite a distance until you're safe.” His mother placed him in a sling around her chest and began to walk. Making her way across the long spans of sand. He moved his attention away from the sky and began to focus on the bundle he’d been trapped in. His little talons encaged by mere cloth. There were strange shapes covering the blanket. (Eyes of the Rune Keeper) No… language covered the blanket. The symbols had meaning, the meaning was determined by order.

Heat

It was a strange word. It meant the feeling he had within the blanket compared to without it. But it also refers to the power that rested in his throat. He opened his mouth and let it roil, little sparks flickered out of his mouth into the air. “You're far too young to successfully exhale fire.” His mother informed, poking him on the snout. His face contorted in response and she giggled. Suddenly she stopped and undid the bundle trapping him, before setting him down on the cold sand and draped the blanket around him, the warmth once again filling him. She muttered something under her breath and the word that covered it changed.

See Through

He only had a moment to read it before the blanket disappeared, it took him a second of confusion to realize he had also disappeared. His mother brought a single talon to her lips, then turned around and two dragons appeared in front of her, the moonlight strangely avoiding them. 

One of the dragons sighed, before conjuring a blade of shadow. The dragon beside them mimicked their action, similarly conjuring a weapon. They slashed at Farsight and she murmured something in response, raising a barrier made of moonlight against the weapons. One of them stayed trying to break the barrier, swinging their blade against it a couple more times while another tried to flank around. His mother waved her talons and let out six motes of flame that chased after the would-be back-stabber before hitting their target and lighting them up a little. He saw past the shroud of darkness for only a second, revealing a dragon with the same color scales as his mother and him, before the darkness covered their form again and she collapsed to the ground. His mother kept clashing with her other assailant spells that were met with spells and blades that were met with shields. This was a battle of attrition, and his mother wasn’t going to lose. She uttered a phrase he couldn’t translate and her opponent froze in place. She walked forwards and took his weapon out of his talons and impaled him with it. Causing it to disappear as his life was extinguished. Farsight watched as the darkness around her assailant disappeared and he turned to dust in the moonlight. She turned back to where he was hidden and reached out for him, picking him up off the desert ground as the invisibility spell wore off and began cradling him. 

“I’m sorry you had to see that.” She sighed, holding him close. He looked over her shoulder as she continued to walk. One of the attackers was still alive and was slinking up behind Farsight with a weapon raised. He couldn’t form words yet and he didn’t know how to warn his mother, so communicated in the only way he knew how. He raised a talon, pointing towards the assassin. 

Heat was the closest thing to what he could describe his mother doing, but within that dancing orange light was another word he could learn.

(Arcana Check DC:15 Result:21)

Fire

A flame appeared at his clawtip. (Armor Class:14 To Hit:19 Damage:6) It shot out hitting her in the chest and she yelped in pain a little, but was mostly unharmed. The real danger to her life was Farsight, who had now heard her and whipped around with her own burst of flame, blasting a hole through the darkness enveloping her, leaving her to burn under the moonlight. Farsight picked up her pace and together they eventually arrived at a building. Farsight knocked on the door and a heavily scarred dragon opened the door.

“It’s too early for visitors.” He grumbled, lifting a lantern to try and peer under Farsight’s cloak. “Come back later.” Before moving to close the door.

“Please Father Dune.” His mother pleaded, grabbing the yellow dragon's wrist, revealing her ebony scales to him. “We won’t make it to morning.”

“A Nightwing…” He realized out loud. “Come in, quick.” His mother stepped inside, flinching in pain as she stepped from the sand into the temple. “Are you okay?” He asked, concern filling his once empty voice.

“I’m afraid I can’t stand on hallowed ground for long. I need you to deliver my child to the orphanage, or take care of him yourself, it doesn’t matter as long as you can guarantee his safety. His name is Starflight and…” She requested, passing him to Dune. “Once the night is over, the moons won’t be able to protect me anymore and the gods will kill me.”

Chapter Text

“It’s too dangerous outside the Scorpion Den.” Thorn, her mother scolded. “You can’t just sneak out just because you’re bored.”

“I’m trying to go help people.” She argued back. Her tail barb dragging against the floor as her tail lashed irritated behind her. “I’m a Miracle-Worker of The Wild Winds. I should be out there helping instead of being cooped up like a fairytale princess. I could be out there healing people, or guiding refugees, or…” She paused, before finishing. “Fulfilling the prophecy.”

“Absolutely not.” The leader of the Outclaws hissed. “Is that why you’ve been sneaking out, for a fake prophecy? The Nightwings are gone, and I will not have my daughter risk her life for rumored nonsense. If you try to sneak out one more time, I really will lock you up like a fairytale princess. Dismissed.” She growled. Beetle stormed out of the room and left the Outclaws building. 

The Scorpion Den didn’t have a quest board, any kind of mercenary work was outlawed here, but it had something close, and that was Beetle’s happy place. Bounties were placed all over the Den, but there is one place where they were more abundant, in the dead center of town. She sat down and just stared at one of the walls covered in posters, imagining they were quests.

“I knew I’d find you here.” Said a dragon suddenly appearing beside Beetle. She turned to find Qibli suddenly beside her.

“Did Thorn send you?” She asked. Qibli nodded in response, setting down his drums as he sat down next to Beetle.

“What’s troubling you, Sun?” The bard asked, tapping his talons against his drums half-mindedly in a simple rhythm. 

“Well I’m an adult and my dictator mother won’t let me leave.” She spat. “I think she’s a coward.”

He hummed, picking up the tempo in the rhythm. “Thorn conquered the Den when she had your egg and made it a safe haven. She just doesn’t think you’re ready.”

“I understand my mother has done a lot for me, but I’ll never be ready unless I’m actually allowed to help people. I’m a Miracle-Worker, that’s how I get stronger, but I’m not allowed to help people!” She shouted, snatching his drums from him and holding it above her head so he couldn’t reach it. She might’ve been small, but Qibli was three. After he jumped at her a couple times she handed him his drums back. “I’m leaving tonight. You don’t have to help me, but if you tell my mother, I will tell that boy down the block that you like him (Intimidation Check DC:10 Result: Critical Success)

Qibli mimed zipping his lips before scurrying out of the alleyway. Beetle sighed as she stood up and she returned to her house. She began to pack her bag with supplies and money. She grabbed an old onyx amulet as well in case she needed to pawn it off. She glanced around her room, her eyes landed on her shelf of scrolls, but her mind thought of the secret she kept there.

It’d been two years since it happened. Her mother had received a letter, one that Beetle never knew the contents of, but what was written in there had shaken her mother. It was the most upset Beetle had ever seen her. There used to be missing posters of a Sandwing Beetle didn’t know all over The Scorpion Den, but they were removed that day. The posters had no name, but everyone knew who it was. Thorn’s lover and Beetle’s father. She reached behind the shelf and pulled out the one poster of her father left. Missing was written in large bold letters at the top of the paper and the portrait was of a Sandwing adorned in jewelry with a deep intelligence in his black eyes. Beetle considered it for a moment before quickly rolling it up and shoving it in her bag as well.

The sun would set soon and with it Thorn would return. Beetle returned to her room and shut and locked the door. She opened the window and slipped out onto the roof. (Stealth Check DC:15 Result:22)

She slinked between rooftops, her clawsteps falling silent against the sandstone buildings drowned out by the raucous noises of the night market rising as the sun set. The Three Moons silhouetted her escape as she reached the wall and slipped past patrolling guards after they walked by. Sand crunched under her talons as she ran deeper into the desert. She’d need to reach The House of Tempests before sunrise. They take in any dragon fleeing entrapment and hide them. If need be she could offer to do healing work for them as a miracle worker. How would she even go about fulfilling the prophecy? Clearly she’d need a dragon from each tribe born on The Brightest Night, but that was easier said than done. 

At least they’ll be easy to identify once I find them. She comforted herself. All dragons born according to the Prophecy had the Wings of Fire. She hadn’t ever felt it herself, but apparently whenever two dragons come into contact with each other that both possess it, a spark is lit between them. It was a concept she’d mulled over before, but it’d be her saving grace. She arrived at The House of Tempests the next day. It was grand and it served as a hub for all followers of The Wild Winds. Many Sandwings and other dragons filled the space. Some were trading supplies and telling stories to each other. She made her way to the office at the end of the cathedral. She'd have to make a request for refuge from the Head Priest. She lagged in front of the door hesitating before knocking. She didn’t get the chance however as the door suddenly swung open and hit her.

“I’m so sorry!” Said a hooded figure, before a spark lit between them revealing a Nightwing beneath the hood.

Jackpot