Chapter Text
Carnelian’s scales bristled as she stood beside Queen Ruby’s throne, waiting for the IceWing representatives to come through the door. She often stood beside the Queen in moments like these, waiting for meetings as a member of the queen’s council, but today was different. Today, she was going to be representing the SkyWing Healing Center.
She shivered from the breeze, her burn scars prickling from the cool air, but she stood steady and stern. If I can’t be a soldier, I am going to do the best damn job at what I can do. She held her long snout high and proud, steeling her eyes and bracing her jaw sternly.
Prince Winter of the IceWings entered first and she was caught off guard for a second, her mask dropping. A member of the Jade Winglet, she thought, that feels like a lifetime ago. More like a nightmare. She wore the reminder of her time at Jade Mountain completely different than she wore her scars from the War of SandWing Succession.
She could see the way that Winter’s face cracked as well for a second, softening, but then he looked over his icy shoulder and held the door open for a second, slightly larger dragon. The silver-white dragon walked in slowly, his wings tight to his body, staying close to Winter as they entered the throne room. Thin and bony, his sharp IceWing spines stood out more than Winter’s. Three more IceWings followed, staying near the others, glancing around uncertainly.
“Your majesty,” Winter bowed his head, and the other IceWings followed suit, mumbling the same. “Carnelian,” Winter nodded to her. Carnelian nodded slightly, allowing herself to give into her acquaintance since he was the one who did first.
“Prince Winter, Prince Hailstorm,” Queen Ruby nodded back to them, rising from the throne and approaching the dragons, elegant as ever. Carnelian inspected each dragon, none of them appeared to be violent or carrying any weapons. They seemed calm, quieter than the rowdy IceWings at the school tumbling through the hallways, and less snappy than Winter and his sister’s sharp discussions.
“Thank you for welcoming us into your kingdom,” Winter said politely, leading the conversation. He looked more serious and stern than he did four years ago, the last time she saw him. Older, also thinner. Sadder, she could see it in the dark circles under his eyes.
“If I can work towards repairing our tribes’ relationship, I will gladly welcome any IceWing who comes seeking guidance and healing,” Ruby responded.
“Well said,” Winter said. Still the suck-up he was those years ago, Carnelian thought, wanting to keep up impressions. “I am here with my brother, Prince Hailstorm, who I am sure you know, ah, lots about throughout his correspondence with you.”
Hailstorm nodded his head shamefully, and Carnelian peered towards the dragon, trying to put things together. Why would he be writing with the queen? He glanced up, his eyes brightened for a second, almost with recognition, Carnelian thought, before they shot back down to the ground.
“Along with me are Ptarmigan, Slush, and Iceshard, also seeking the expert healing from your renowned centre,” Winter said, eyes darting to Hailstorm quickly before steadily meeting the Queen’s eyes again. “They’re good dragons, and I am hoping your tribe’s help and guidance will be able to do what we were unable to.”
“Thank you Prince Winter,” Ruby was formal, her long neck swaying side to side as she smiled at the four dragons who would be calling the SkyWing Palace home. “Ptarmigan, Slush, Iceshard, Prince Hailstorm,” she addressed each one, her face sincere and kind, “I am so glad to have you in my kingdom. Thank you for coming.”
They left the throne room as Ruby began to lead them through the palace. Carnelian walked slowly behind, staying just out of earshot from them, but close enough to be able to pounce forward in case of any threat to the queen. It wasn’t her job, but the instinct still remained. Winter slowed down, falling into step with Carnelian’s heavy march.
“Hi Carnelian,” Winter said, keeping his eyes forward.
“Hello Prince Winter,” Carnelian replied. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Likewise,” he replied, monotone, before saying. “I’m glad you’re able to help Queen Ruby, I see that you’re in her council.”
Carnelian paused, he was never kind to me at Jade Mountain, even after my injury. What’s changed? Is he weaker than he used to be? What has happened to him since Jade Mountain? “Thank you,” she answered, keeping her curiosity and snappy replies behind her sharp teeth.
They walked in silence, the dragons ahead discussing the Healing Center as they made their way towards it. Winter’s serrated claws clicked on the tile.
“My brother – he really needs to be here,” Winter said finally. Carnelian waited as he took a deep, shaky breath.
“The war did a number on him too? There’s so many soldiers here.”
“It’s not that. It was Queen Scarlet… Look, it’s not my story to tell, but will you please look out for him?” Winter almost seemed desperate. “He needs someone in his corner, he’s not easy to be around all of the time.”
Carnelian paused, staring into Winter’s eyes skeptically, trying to read him. Her tail flicked on the ground as she thought. Queen Scarlet was a nightmare, how did she get her claws on an IceWing prince? What did she do to him that could make this cocky frost-breather say this to me?
“Yes,” she blurted out quickly. “I’ve spent time at the center. He’ll do well, but I’ll watch out for him.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded gruffly.
“I mean it.”
“You’re welcome, Winter.” She kept walking. They were nearing the Healing Center and she would need to catch up to the Queen to help with the tour now. To talk about her experience here and how much it had helped her. “It hasn’t been easy for me either.”
…
“Carnelian?” a dragon called from behind her as she walked away from the healing centre. She whipped her head behind her, ready for anything. Prince Hailstorm was there far down the hallway, peering out of his room.
“Yes?” She called back, standing her ground, staring at the sparkling dragon.
“It was… it was good to meet you.”
“It was nice to meet you too, Prince Hailstorm.”
…
Carnelian awoke in her soldier’s dormitory. Sure, she wasn’t a quite soldier for the Queen, but she was allowed to stay and do ground training with them. No flight training anymore, her wings wouldn’t carry her into the sky for anymore without risking tearing the weakened membranes. She knew that for certain.
She wasn’t technically a soldier, but were any of them anymore? The two dragonesses that she shared a room with didn’t know any other life than being soldiers. Neither did she, until Jade Mountain. They all had something in common, being loyal to Ruby. They had fought in the same battles and protected one another. Now that the war was over, they continued training, and Carnelian was left on the sidelines while her burns were healing. Now, she was back, but in a different role. Her roommates also weren’t soldiers all of the time, the one was going to be moving in with her mate soon and their roasted mountain goat cart was taking up more time than ever, while the other had begun working with dragonets, teaching them carving and pottery lessons.
The clicking of loud clawsteps sounded in the hall. Carnelian laid quietly, curled up under a thin blanked listening. Who is out in the middle of the night? If it’s Flare sneaking around to go sleep with anyone, I swear I am going to claw off his face. Carnelian frowned upon soldiers sneaking around with one another, even though it wasn’t as big of a concern with the war over.
She slipped out of her bed, the blanket draping slightly off the ledge, dragged along by her tail before she shook it off. She peered into the hallway, spotting someone unusual.
Prince Hailstorm was at the end of the hall, looking out the window. His glittering scales shone in the moonlight almost like a moonstone.
“Hello?”
His head whipped around and when he saw her, he crouched down a little, lowering his shoulders and bowing his head to make himself small.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, she almost couldn’t hear him.
“What are you doing over here?” She approached him. “This is really far from your room, are you lost? It’s the middle of the night.”
“I don’t know… I couldn’t sleep and I just wanted to come back over here…”
She was beside him now and could feel the cool radiating from his scales. He was so different from a SkyWing, she realized. She hadn’t spent much time with IceWings, other than fighting them during the war or at Jade Mountain Academy.
“Let me walk you back, if you’d like,” Carnelian said softly.
“Just give me a minute,” he said quietly. “I mean, if that’s okay? I’m sorry for waking you.”
She nodded, and looked out the window with him. He inspected the mountain landscape, taking it all in like he was drinking from an oasis after days in the desert. It was beautiful at nighttime. The stars were so bright and the mountains were a stark contrast against the night sky, grounded and sturdy. Always familiar.
“It’s good to be back here,” Hailstorm said. Why does he look at this place with such longing? Carnelian thought, if he was one of Scarlet’s prisoners, that doesn’t make any sense. He would have been tied down in the arena.
“What did Scarlet do to you?” Carnelian blurted out. “You should hate this place.”
Hailstorm turned to here, his face shifting between expressions – pain, confusion, kindness. Familiarity, almost. The silver dragon took a deep breath, his spines on his back rattled as he looked down to the ground.
“Carnelian, I don’t think you’d believe me,” he said finally, gritting his teeth. “I know you. We fought together, we ate together,” he threw his head over his shoulder, gesturing to the rooms behind him. “We shared that room over there during the war.”
“What?” she said too loudly, then self consciously lowered her voice to a hiss. “What’re you talking about? I’ve never seen you until today. I’d remember you.”
“I’m Pyrite,” he said through his teeth, his expression shifty, like cornered prey. “I was Pyrite, for three years I lived here. That’s why… That’s why I’m here,” he cleared his throat then tightened his wings to his body, “here, at the Healing Centre.”
Carnelian stared at him, mind blank. He’s an IceWing, she was a SkyWing, this is impossible. Then it clicked. Animus. “How?” She barked out loudly, making the IceWing prince jump slightly, she realized suddenly that his mannerism reminded her of Pyrite.
He sighed loudly. “I was wearing an enchanted scroll that I couldn’t take off,” he said meekly. “Look – I did plan on telling you, I just wanted to wait.”
“I can’t believe this,” she brought her talons up to her face and rubbed her sleepy eyes. “I thought you would’ve fought in the arena and that was why you were here…”
“That would have been better.”
“You would have died if you had faced Peril.”
“I know,” Hailstorm sighed softly. Carnelian stood facing the window, no longer wanting to look at the IceWing.
It just doesn’t make any sense. This changes everything I thought I knew about Pyrite. Pyrite, the bumbling fool, stumbling over her talons. Pyrite, completely obsessed with Queen Scarlet to the point that we would talk behind her back. Pyrite who would get lost while hunting so that we’d have to search for her at least twice a month.
None of that was real?
She was a glittering male IceWing underneath the whole time?
Carnelian remembered Pyrite sheepishly flirting with Flare, scoffing at her as she followed him to his bunk. That was all Hailstorm? She remembered sharing the spices she used to cook her roasted cow with Pyrite. Would Hailstorm still like that? Or was that all Pyrite?
“I… I need to go back to bed,” Carnelian said finally, turning away quickly, feeling confused and too tired. Animus magic was real, she’d already faced that realization four years ago with difficulty and days of feeling sick to her stomach – this was her first encounter with it first hand.
“Wait,” Prince Hailstorm said quickly, then ducked his head low as he stepped towards her. “Please don’t ignore me after this. I wanted to come back here, I missed the closeness of being a SkyWing. The camaraderie. The friendships.”
Carnelian twisted her neck back to look at him as he threw his wings up then wrapped them around his icy body.
“I just don’t know what’s going on anymore!”
She walked back towards him and threw her red wing over his body – the one that wasn’t so badly burned – and stood there silently beside him for a moment. He wasn’t small and thin
“I’ll walk you back to your room,” she said finally.
“I’d like that.”
…
It was three days before Carnelian saw Hailstorm again. She kept busy with her duties around the palace. She attended meetings with Queen Ruby about improving the working conditions of the Sky Kingdom’s mines. She spent time with some SkyWings from the Healing Center.
Once again, Hailstorm appeared somewhere unexpected. Carnelian was in an office within the healing center, talking with one of the workers, Warbler.
“Carnelian, you’d love working here,” said Warbler, one of the councillors, a former soldier as well, and a the older sister of one of her friends.
“I’m really not sure,” she replied, digging one of her claws into a crack between two stone bricks. “I’m still waiting to be offered a bigger position in Queen Ruby’s army. I’ve talked to her about defense and rebuilding the army in a way that makes more sense post war…”
“You’d be good here, I mean, look what it did for you. Think about all of the dragons you could help,” Warbler said, gesturing around the building. “I think it suits you, in an unexpected way. You’ve grown into it.”
Carnelian snorted out a small puff of smoke, “Unexpected is right,” she said with a scoff. I remember arguing and arguing, trying to get my way out of here. Trying to prove it wouldn’t work or that I didn’t need it. “Maybe I will talk to Queen Ruby about it.”
Warbler smiled, and one slowly crept onto Carnelian’s face. Maybe it is time for a change, it’s not what I expected, but it’s important work.
Just then, loud flapping sounded from a couple floors below, and she glanced out the window to see Hailstorm flying frantically out from the palace. He curved and dodged around the building in a very un-SkyWing like way, the sound of his wingbeats loud. She could almost hear his hard breathing from here.
“Looks like we’ve got a runaway,” Warbler sighed, then started towards the window.
“That’s Hailstorm,” Carnelian blurted out. “Where is he going?” Her own wings tingled with anticipation.
“The new IceWing Prince?” Warbler met her at the window, “He’s been antsy and on edge, he probably needed to get out of the palace. I should go check on him.” She began to open her dark yellow wings, but Carnelian tapped her own against hers to stop her.
“I’ll go follow him,” she replied, tracking him in the sky, shining and beautiful and mirror-like in the sunlight. He dove down into the forest just barely outside the palace, where she knew a popular fishing lake was. “I’ll talk to you later, Warbler.”
“Good luck, Carnelian,” Warbler said with a small smile.
Carnelian left the room in a breeze, moving lightly on her talons and opening her wings a bit so she could move quicker. She’d really perfected the technique of a faster, lighter run, which was something most dragons gave up on after dragonethood. Her claws brushed against the floor, and she almost smiled. She’d come a long way. But right now she was on a mission, she needed to find Hailstorm and make sure nothing was wrong.
Why am I doing this? She wondered as she zoomed through the halls. Is it because he was Pyrite? Is it because Winter told me to? A voice in the back of her mind whispered, it’s because you like helping other dragons, but she didn’t fully believe it.
She made it out of the palace and to the streets of the city surrounding it. The streets were quiet, it was midday and hot. Some dragons sat in the doorways of their shops in the shade, their long red or orange tails reaching out onto the streets, out of the shadows and into the sunlight. Others briskly flew through the bright blue sky, carrying different items needed for their workdays.
Did he run away? Carnelian began to worry, feeling a twinge of fear in her chest. She didn’t want to fail Winter, but then her mind shot back, he failed you. He wasn’t at your side when you were at your worst.
Don’t think that, she shot back harder at the thought as she reached the edge of the city. I’m better now, I’m stronger than ever. I’m worthy and I am lovable. Before, she almost scoffed when she repeated the words that she had been taught at the healing center. I am not defined by my past and neither is Winter. Neither is Hailstorm.
The boreal forest that lined the edge of the city was clearer than it had been when she was young. The dead pine and birch and poplar had been cleared out by dragons who finally had more time for leisure after the war. She could see the edge of the lake from here, and many SkyWings lounging at the grassy edges.
“Hailstorm?” she called out hesitantly as she walked up the soft grass and fallen leaves towards the shining lake. She didn’t want him to think she was following him, or that she was worried about him. We barely knew each other, she thought. Well… Okay, that thought was a bit much for Carnelian right now, she shook her head and scanned the clearing.
“Carnelian!” she heard him yell, and she spotted him, far into the center of the lake, so hard to see in the shining reflections that she had to squint. She watched him splash towards the shore until he was shallow enough that his belly was just hovering above the water. “Are you here to enjoy the water?”
She almost didn’t recognize him from the last time she saw him. That haunted look in his eyes was gone, replaced instead by shining sunlight and warmth that she had never expected to see in an IceWing.
“I saw you leave the palace,” she replied, “Are you okay?” She glanced around the lake, noticing the other dragons watching her. SkyWings only, Hailstorm was the sole IceWing.
“Yes, I’m actually doing a lot better I think,” he replied, shaking his body so that his spikes clattered against one another, splashing cold droplets of water. He sighed, a soft smile on his face. “Don’t you just love it here?”
Carnelian sighed, shaking out the energy in her wings. “Yeah, it’s really nice.”
“I remember coming here as a dragonet, my father taught me to sw–” he cut himself off suddenly. “Ah, my bad. It’s not quite as cold as the Ice Kingdom, but it’s good. Gotta shine up the old scales, right?” She could tell he was forcing the grin on his face, she could see the guilt and shame slipping through.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” she smiled a little. Don’t make him feel worse, Carnelian, she thought to herself. She stepped into the water, the other SkyWings eyes on her as she approached the IceWing. “Let's swim.”
To be completely honest, Carnelian did not like the water that much. She learned to like it shortly after the dragonflame incident at Jade Mountain Academy, and spent hours in the water, cooling her scales. But that didn’t mean she actually enjoyed it.
She waded into the water a bit deeper, standing on her back legs and keeping her head out of the water. “Are you liking the healing center?” Don’t be awkward. Don’t think about him as Pyrite.
“Yeah, it’s good,” Hailstorm replied in a very-not-Pyrite way. “I don’t feel like talking about that now though.”
Carnelian looked away and began cupping water in her palms and lifting it to her face, letting the chilly water rush over her. “Okay,” she replied. “What do you do in the Ice Kingdom?”
“Ah,” he said, turning away from her in quite a Pyrite fashion, “bum around, get myself into trouble” he replied, sighing. “Queen Snowfall pities me, so nothing important.”
She reached out her wing and bumped his with hers. “It’s okay. I feel that way too, sometimes.”
He looked at her damaged wings, the scarred wing membranes made many SkyWings uncomfortable. They were scared of that happening to themselves. She was a SkyWing’s worst nightmare.
“You’re important,” he replied. “I can tell. You were always one of the strongest soldiers. Smart and cunning, always understood the flying formations. Nothing like me.”
“Not anymore,” she almost laughed, surprised by him talking about the war. Like they fought in it together, on the same side and not as enemies. Except they did. “I’m working on finding a new place for myself in the palace though,” she took a deep breath. “Maybe not trying so hard to be a soldier anymore.”
Hailstorm looked back at her, grin returning to his shining face. “I missed you, Carnelian.”
She looked down at the water, trying not to see Pyrite in his face. “I missed you too.” She missed Pyrite like the other soldiers who had changed after the war, or the ones who didn’t return. It’s not like they were close, but did Pyrite think they were? More importantly, what did Hailstorm think?
“Hey…” he leaned towards her and bumped her chest with his spiny tail, “this isn’t weird. We can start over, we can be friends. Me, Hailstorm.”
“Okay,” she smiled a little, feeling self conscious in the lake, the only SkyWing talking to an IceWing. It didn’t matter though, and she brushed her tail against his.