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It was a rare treat for the world to turn gold. Just a hint, then it slowly blossomed into radiance. When Sidewinder was a dragonet he would always sleep where the morning sun would shine on his face. Sometimes outdoors, sometimes in a spot under a window, but always where the sun would wake him. That became rare the day his troop became fugitives. It wasn’t very safe to sleep where they could be spotted.

The rarity only made the experience all the sweeter. The richest, warmest gold was all Sidewinder could see. Then a line ran the horizon, splitting the golden world. Sidewinder slowly opened his eyes, the golden filter of his eyelids giving way to a beautiful morning around him. What Sidewinder could see of it, at least. A deep, rich, brown-and-amber body blocked a lot of the view. A small price to pay so he could sleep pressed to his bigwings.

Sidewinder let out a slow, content hiss. He shifted a little and started to stretch his hindlegs. Then promptly stopped. Warm, scaled, and… a snout. Sidewinder’s head turned to spot Woodrot smiling up at him. The runt of Shoebill’s troop. Sidewinder gazed into Woodrot’s eyes, savoring their beauty. The runt’s eyes were green on the outer rim and golden around the pupil. They were so brilliant, so full of mirth and affection. They reminded Sidewinder of Blackgum’s.

Woodrot turned his muzzle and nosed firmly at Sidewinder’s talon. He purred as his tongue dragged along Sidewinder’s sole and up between his claws. Sidewinder spread his claws and rumbled softly in response. That was something Sidewinder hadn’t really experienced before, his hind talons being given such attention. It felt pleasant, if a little weird.

Weird. That word was Woodrot in a shell. It went far beyond his remarkably dark scales. Woodrot’s other oddities became apparent once Kobicha and Shoebill initiated the mating night. Only Kobicha and Blackgum were allowed to participate in breeding. During mating time no proper intercourse was allowed within a troop. That meant Swamp and Woodrot couldn’t participate. Sidewinder had been excluded too. SandWing hybrids weren’t quite what Shoebill or Sinkhole wanted. That was made very clear at the start of the night.

There was plenty of other fun for the three males. Woodrot participated in as much of it as he could. The smallest MudWing had taken so many loads under his tail that Sidewinder was surprised it didn’t pour out his muzzle. Woodrot even took a load from Kobicha. He could only handle a small portion of Kobicha’s shaft but he managed to take a full load of bigwing cum without it gushing back out. After all that Woodrot still showed no desire to get off. The little MudWing seemed surprised when Sidewinder offered his muzzle. Woodrot was quite vocal with how he enjoyed the blowjob. After cumming Woodrot murmured, ‘That was nice. Can I rim you more?” And Sidewinder was left to contemplate the weird little mudwing while savoring his aft slit being worked again.

And Woodrot’s muzzle. His muzzle worked its way into everything. It was up under tails, sucking on shafts, licking and nosing everywhere. Sidewinder had enjoyed several rounds of tonguing under his tail throughout the night. But Woodrot’s muzzle really got into everything. He had lapped at Kobicha’s cock as it pumped in and out of Shoebill. Woodrot fucked Sinkhole with his muzzle. That last bit was after a few rounds of mating. It was a mess. In a way, Sidewinder was jealous his nose horn wouldn’t let his muzzle sink into a dragoness. It looked fun.

That same MudWing muzzle had made its way into Sidewinder’s wing pits, then there was the whole hind talon thing. When Kobicha was taking a break between matings Woodrot had come over and asked Kobicha to open his mouth. Kobicha had given a curious look but complied. Then Woodrot just stuck his head in Kobicha’s mouth, jaw resting on Kobicha’s tongue like it was a pillow. Kobicha looked confused, maybe a touch worried, as he glanced to Shoebill. She just smirked and shrugged her wings. Woodrot pulled his head free, trilled a cute ‘Thank you!’ and then went to Swamp to ride his cock.

All around a very weird little MudWing.

Sidewinder shifted his hind legs, rubbing against Woodrot’s cheek and muzzle with his other talon. Woodrot purred and shifted his attention, lapping at that one. Woodrot was the only one in Shoebill’s troop that had slept with Sidewinder. The rest, and Blackgum, were all on the other side of Kobicha, curled up between the two bigwings. Woodrot was the only member of Shoebill’s troop that didn’t frequently glance at Sidewinder’s tail barb. He didn’t even seem to acknowledge its existence after spending a little time together.

Sidewinder really liked this weird little MudWing.

“What’re these? Saw Kobicha and Blackgum have ‘em too.” Woodrot asked, muffled against Sidewinder’s sole. He lifted a talon and tapped at the anklet Sidewinder wore.

Sidewinder glanced at the brass anklet. A snake wrapped twice around his ankle, the two coils twisting around one another, and the snake’s muzzle tip to its tail tip. The golden shade of brass was only marked by two black, slitted pupils at the snake’s eyes.

“They’re something special for my siblings. My sister, Diamondback, devised them. She made one for me, then I made one for her. Once our troop was reunited,” Sidewinder shivered as Woodrot suckled on his claws, “I made one for Kobicha and Blackgum. Kobicha wears Diamondback’s for her. That’s why he has two. I never had the chance to make one for Landslide.”

“Ah,” Woodrot mouthed around his claws. The little MudWing pulled free of them. “I’m sorry about your sisters.”

Sidewinder’s heart gave a little extra thump. His sisters. And it was sincere. The opposite of how the rest of Woodrot’s siblings reacted.

“Thank you. And it’s okay. It’s been a long time,” Sidewinder cooed comfortingly. He shifted his talons back up and rubbed his soles to Woodrot’s cheek. “You really like talons, huh?”

Woodrot eagerly nuzzled back into his talon, hungrily eyeing the pale yellow sole. “Mmmhmm,” He eagerly murmured. “I usually sleep against Shoebill’s hind talons. I don’t know why.” He glanced up, “They say most things I like are strange. Most things I do too.”

Sidewinder laughed, “Strange? Maybe. But if you enjoy it, I think it’s nice.” Sidewinder scooted closer, extending his hind leg. The sole of his talon stroked down Woodrot’s belly, then pressed to his male slit. Sidewinder perked his eyeridge, grinning playfully.

Woodrot looked a little bashful but rolled his hips forward. He shivered and moaned as his hips started to slowly thrust and grind. Sidewinder felt the blunt, slimy tip of a MudWing cock rubbing on his sole.

A short while later Sidewinder was unloading into Woodrot’s mouth, MudWing cum shooting along his talon and hind leg, their snarls and groans waking the others.

There was stretching and rumbling, the slow and languid way Kobicha and Blackgum always woke. Shoebill’s troop, on the other talon, was quick to action. They soon flew away after volunteering to gather breakfast.

“Ugh, my cock hasn’t ever ached like this.” Kobicha rumbled, curling down to groom at his slit.

“Poor thing. The price of becoming a father.” Sidewinder teased, his tail stroking along Kobicha’s side.

“Sorry you couldn’t sire a clutch.” Kobicha rumbled between licks, looking at Sidewinder while he did. Sidewinder simply shrugged his wings. He did feel that urge to procreate, growing stronger as he got older. He wondered if that urge had been sated for his brothers, or if it was an ever-lasting thing.

“Do you think Sinkhole will have your eggs? Or mine? Can it be a mix?” Blackgum murmured sleepily, resting against Sidewinder’s side. Shoebill had only taken Kobicha, but Sinkhole had eagerly bred with both Sidewinder’s mates.

“Don’t know.” Kobicha answered after a moment. His bulky form thudded back against the ground. Kobicha rolled to his back, stretching and splaying.

“Okay, they’re out of sight. We should go now,” Sidewinder urged Blackgum. He pushed at his smaller mate.

“Yeah, good idea. Hopefully they don’t notice.”

Sidewinder nodded. He led the way through the hidden entrance to their little den. Blackgum followed closely behind. Each went through their supplies, rummaging through pouches and repacking. Sidewinder had to recalculate the treasure to bring. He knew how much to take into the Scorpion’s Den, but wasn’t sure what they would need now that they were going on this unusual excursion. He added a bit extra into his pouch, slung it over his shoulder and neck, then tucked the bag near his wing pit. He loaded his other pouches with a few supplies. He glanced at Blackgum. His smaller mate seemed to be done packing as well.

“All clear?” Sidewinder called out.

“Yep, come on out,” rumbled his bigwings.

Sidewinder and Blackgum exited the hideaway and rejoined their big brother. The three settled into cuddling and grooming until Shoebill and her troop returned carrying some goats. Kobicha and Shoebill worked out a plan while eating. Sidewinder ended up nestled between Blackgum and Woodrot while eating his cactus, sated with far less food than the MudWings. And then they were off.

***

The flight wasn’t a long one. Sidewinder and his mates had spent the last decade between the Scorpion's Den and the edge of the rainforest, generally somewhere amid the southern Cloud Mountains range. They had seen Jade Mountain on the horizon plenty of times but never gone there. Now Kobicha was leading them straight south, the mountain growing larger and larger as they flew.

It was weird flying near other dragons. Sidewinder was in Kobicha’s left pocket, a bit under and behind his left wing. Blackgum mirrored Sidewinder on the right. Shoebill’s troop flew in a very different formation. Squelch and Swamp flew above Shoebill, to the left and right. Keeping watch, Sidewinder assumed. Sinkhole flew in Shoebill’s slipstream, muzzle a wing’s width behind Shoebill’s tail tip. Woodrot did the same behind Sinkhole, but he tended to slip free to do loops or spirals before catching back up.

Maybe not weird. Uncomfortable. Sidewinder and his brothers had spent the last decade avoiding others. Spare Sidewinder’s yearly excursions into the Scorpion Den, they almost never interacted with dragons outside their troop. The rare instances they did run into other dragons the troop gave them a cold wing, barely speaking and moving on as fast as possible. They didn’t want their desertion to come back and sting them in the tail.

Shoebill’s troop were a respectable distance away, off to Kobicha’s right. Far enough to be out of earshot. Or so Swamp and Squelch thought.

Sidewinder shifted closer to Kobicha, flicking his wing tip to make a ripple of air along Kobicha’s tail. Kobicha twitched his wings twice. All three of them pulled their wings closed and rolled, Sidewinder and Blackgum rolling the opposite direction from their bigwings. Kobicha dropped as he rolled, then all three snapped their wings open and began gliding. Sidewinder and Blackgum settled side-by-side, wingtips overlapping. They were further forward in this formation, muzzles just behind Kobicha’s head, instead of in their pockets behind him. Much easier to talk than roaring across the distance and wind.

Kobicha had been incredibly strict with their troop training. Formations, movements, strategies, signals. Every possibility, ensuring he would never lose another sibling. It used to feel like overkill, but the practice had proved to be quite useful.

“Hah. They liked that one,” Sidewinder snorted. “Guess they don’t have that formation transition. They also don’t seem to know how well us SandWings can hear. Squelch and Swamp are discussing our troop. Shoebill a little, as well. They’re surprised how fluidly we… I work in our troop.” His tail tip curled. “More importantly, they mentioned another mixed troop. Apparently the dragonets of destiny are considered a troop. They have a bigwings. His name is Clay. Apparently, he’s a fireproof MudWing.”

Kobicha and Blackgum both glanced over.

“That’s interesting. I thought that bit was just a story,” Kobicha rumbled. “I wonder if their troop will make it easier for others to accept our troop.”

A roar pulled their attention. Shoebill shot a gout of fire upward. Squelch had to roll out of the way to avoid it, but it clearly wasn’t meant to hit her. A warning shot. Kobicha and Blackgum politely looked forward right away, but Sidewinder let his gaze linger.

“... So?” Blackgum murmured.

“Squelch has regularly hinted at her disappointment with Shoebill and Sinkhole’s choice.”

“You mean she’s disgusted that Shoebill and Sinkhole would breed with such lowborn drakes.” Kobicha puffed smoke from his nostrils.

“Mm. Maybe she would lighten up if she actually got anything,” Sidewinder mused. “She even chased Woodrot off from giving her some tongue last night.”

“Neat troop. Each of the siblings are so different. At least, compared to us.” Blackgum chimed. That amused Sidewinder. The MudWing-SandWing troop was more homogenous than the MudWing-only troop. “Woodrot sure was something else,” Blackgum laughed.

“Agreed. I half thought he was hoping I’d bite down,” Kobicha chuckled. “Amazing endurance too. Did you see how many times he lifted tail between all of us? I half expect him to have a clutch too. Quite a weird dragon.”

“We’re weird,” Sidewinder countered. He glanced over to see Woodrot doing loops again. “I like him. He’s sweet.”

“Oh, I do too. Shoebill is wonderful, but Woodrot is by far my favorite in their troop,” Kobicha echoed. Sidewinder raised an eyeridge curiously. Kobicha had spent so little time with Woodrot. When Sidewinder looked down he saw Kobicha gazing at him. A warmth filled Sidewinder’s body. It always did when gazing into Kobicha’s deep, amber-brown eyes. “He treated you like we do. Of course he’s my favorite.”

Sidewinder felt his talons tighten against his chest. It was ridiculous how, after a decade together, Kobicha could still charm him with a gaze and so few words.

“You soggy salamander,” Sidewinder puffed.

“So it’s agreed then. We’re stealing Woodrot?” Blackgum had a grin ear to ear.

Kobicha’s deep laughter boomed out. “Let’s not add another crime to our list. Amnesty for desertion first, then we can go steal a member of a high born troop.” He snorted and chuckled, turning forward. Sidewinder and Blackgum slipped back into their respective pockets.

Jade mountain loomed tall ahead of them.

***

Their arrival was a bit of a whirlwind. They were greeted by a terse SeaWing. She had little to say to Kobicha’s troop. Just a quick greeting before she swept Shoebill and her siblings away for important discussions. The three brothers were left at the entrance, awkwardly waiting and unsure what to do. The place wasn’t crowded by any means, but a few dragons passed through now and then. Rainwings carrying large leaves, a couple seawings murmuring about mapping the waterways and something about a princess.

Sidewinder nestled into his spot at Kobicha’s left. His bigwing’s wing draped around him. Sidewinder had long ago lost the claustrophobia characteristic of SandWings. It wasn’t the cave that bothered him. It was being around so many random dragons. Tribes other than MudWings and SandWings. It left him feeling exposed, vulnerable. Sidewinder’s tail curled and tucked closer. He knew they were safe. Kobicha could protect him from anything, and Sidewinder was far from helpless himself. Far more dangerous than Kobicha, if he admitted it to himself.

“I’m so sorry we kept you waiting!” The voice was chipper, energetic.

“Yeah, sorry about that. We were in the middle of-”

A MudWing and SandWing came around from Kobicha’s right side. The limping MudWing stopped short and leaped backwards a few tail lengths, his claws dragging him to a skidding stop. His eyes stared intently at Sidewinder.

“Oh… oh, sorry. I thought I saw a viper.” He sat his haunches down and waved his talon, “Sorry.”

Sidewinder straightened himself up. He hadn’t realized he had been coiling. The term Diamondback had come up with. When they would sink in on themselves and tuck their wings at their side, drawn in like a snake ready to strike.

“Clay, don't be rude to our guests.” It was that chipper voice. A SandWing. Or, sort of SandWing. Sidewinder was careful to glance over her without his gaze lingering on her lack of a tail barb. Her coloration was strange too.

Sidewinder looked back to the MudWing. Clay. The fireproof bigwings. “No, no need to be sorry. It happens more often than you might think.” he chuckled, trying his best to appear friendly about it.

“I’m Sunny,” the odd one chirped, “And this is Clay.”

Introductions took a while. They had to explain themselves again, just as they had with Shoebill. Sunny and Clay were much more receptive to their history as a troop and held no spite towards their desertion. If anything, they were sympathetic. Both were very sweet dragonets. Sidewinder struggled to see them as the powerful ‘dragonets of destiny’.

Eventually they migrated to the library, where Clay was needed. There they met a NightWing with his eyes covered- Starflight. That led to more introductions. Then, finally, Sidewinder could get to work. Starflight had helped him with a selection of news and succession war scrolls to read. Sidewinder took them into one of the lofts. Sunny had followed to continue their conversation, the two lounging on the cushions.

“I’m the healer and scout, and Sidewinder’s our treasurer and communicator.” Sidewinder rolled the scroll forward as his eyes scanned quickly over the text. “Oh? Does Kobicha have a job as well?” “Well, he’s our bigwings. He’s also our strength. He does a lot of extra heavy duty exercise. He’s absurdly strong.” “I see,” - ironic for the blind dragon to say- “how interesting…” Blackgum and Starflight conversed, the NightWing insatiable with his questions.

Clay and Kobicha made grunts and puffs as they moved shelves and items around, helping arrange and build the library. Clay had lucked out. He had been reluctant, but at Kobicha’s insistence, the much larger and stronger MudWing was helping. Sidewinder imagined it would cut the work down to a quarter the time, and save a lot of strain for Clay.

“I assure you, I am listening.” Sidewinder encouraged, glancing up to Sunny. He was always listening, always hearing everything, whether he wanted to or not. “It’s kind of Queen Thorn to allow Blaze to live in the stronghold after all that. I’m quite thankful for your mother.” He returned to reading the scroll, rolling it further, as he spoke. “I didn’t care for any of the sisters. Especially Burn.” His talons tensed briefly. “I hope that the viper bite was painful. Excruciating. She deserved it.”

Blackgum was now getting an account of NightWings and their move to the rainforest. Apparently NightWings had lost their powers- if they ever had them, Sidewinder mused to himself. He rolled the scroll a little further. Sunny hadn’t responded. He glanced up to find her staring at him. The expression was somewhere between hurt, sorrow, disgust…

“I’m sorry. That sounds terrible, but… Diamondback and I were personally involved with Burn. Reported directly to her…” he shook his head as though it could chase away the memories. He looked back down to the scroll. “Sorry. You were saying… Now Thorn is queen. What does that mean for the Scorpion’s Den?”

Sunny continued, the tension of Sidewinder’s statement fading as she spoke. Sidewinder rested in the cushions, hearing everything and reading, for a good while. Sidewinder lifted his head when Sunny finished telling him how the NightWings now lived in the rainforest, ignorant he had heard Starflight’s account. He glanced over to Clay, Starflight, and his mates. They were conversing about what the school could become. A beautiful dream that might actually come true.

“I can hear your stomach growling from here. Go eat. You know I don’t need anything.” Sidewinder encouraged his mates, shooing them with his wing. “I’ll be fine. Sunny seems far too kind to attack me.”

Sunny’s laughter was bright and lovely.

“Alright, fine… Do all SandWings eat so little?” Kobicha half-grumbled as they stood and exited the library.

“They do, water as well. It’s really interesting…” Starflight began what was sure to be a long diatribe as he was guided out by Clay.

Sidewinder rolled up his scroll and set his talons atop it. He met Sunny’s eyes. He shifted his tail, curling it tighter, his barb tucked away to project how harmless he was to Sunny.

“I cannot thank you enough for all of this. It’s incredible to be a part of the world again, and to know what has been happening while we hid away. I am very thankful, and that makes it all the harder to put this upon you- but would you allow me to ask something quite rude?”

The yellow dragon tilted her head, the friendly excitement briefly flickering. Her wings shrugged as she nodded.

“Do you mind being a hybrid? I am assuming that’s the case.”

Sunny’s eyes widened. Her muzzle opened a little, but no words came out.

“I entirely understand if you don’t want to answer.” Sidewinder tapped his claws atop the scroll. “My brothers will be fathers soon.” He looked at his claws atop the scroll. “I’m a SandWing, but my life is MudWings at this point. I’ve gotten the impression you know MudWing culture, how troops are independent. Us SandWings pair as mates… I don’t think there is really a chance of me finding another SandWing who would be comfortable with my life. Or that I have two mates. Who are also my brothers.” He finally lifted his head to meet Sunny’s gray-green eyes. “I suppose, I am curious if I had hybrid dragonets some day, if they would be upset at being MudWing-SandWing hybrids. If it would be better to never have a clutch.” He sighed out his nostrils. “Sorry to put that on you, but… I’ve never met another hybrid I could ask.”

There was a lingering silence before Sunny responded.

“I haven’t either, actually. I didn’t even know I was a hybrid for most of my life. Everyone thought I was just a weird SandWing.” Her talon idly toyed at one of the scrolls, rolling it forward and back. “It’s really beautiful that you’re thinking about your dragonet’s future. I don’t mind it. It’s just part of what makes me ‘me’.” Her smile was wonderfully warm and kind. “I don’t mind. I think having wonderful parents outweighs being a hybrid any day.”

Sidewinder returned the smile, bowing his head a little. “Thank you for being so candid, and not shoving me off the loft for being rude,” he laughed.

Their discussion turned to SandWings from there. Both were sort of ‘outsiders’ from their tribe, given Sunny’s history and Sidewinder’s last decade away from other SandWings. They continued until the sated MudWings returned, which prompted Sunny and Clay to move on to other duties. A whole school to set up and all.

***

Kobicha helped with the heavy lifting for the couple days they stayed at Jade Mountain. Sidewinder and Blackgum studied, Sidewinder focusing on the last ten years and Blackgum on recent treatments and medicines. Shoebill’s troop had left the same day they arrived. Shoebill had been charged with the armistice information and the news that a troop of deserters would be two days behind them. Deserters with a SandWing.

Then Kobicha was guiding them toward the Mud Kingdom. They turned further south than the troop’s original home in the Diamond Spray Delta. They aimed right for the heart of the MudWing Kingdom, where the high born MudWings lived and Queen Moorhen’s palace resided. There they would meet with some officials and determine their fate for desertion. Amnesty for everyone, even the Talons of Fate, Shoebill had encouraged.

Sidewinder still felt his chest tighten as they flew in. His troop, but not his kingdom.

They approached cautiously, slowly, since Sidewinder was with them. Guards were quick to meet them near the outskirts of the first large MudWing village. Still quite far from Queen Moorhen’s castle, but they could see it in the distance.

Their troop were expected, at least. Shoebill had done as she promised. Despite that, the greeting was not encouraging. The MudWing guards were quick to inform the troop they were to be seen right away, and would be escorted there by said guards.

Straight to Queen Moorhen herself.

The tightness in Sidewinder’s chest lingered.

The guards led them over a lake beside the MudWing palace. It was nothing like the mud structures Sidewinder’s siblings had grown up in. It looked to be built of clay, baked stiff and formed into smooth walls. It was huge, towering into the sky. The majesty of the structure belied all the stereotypes of MudWings Sidewinder had heard when growing up. Not that he believed any of them. At least, not after he met his brothers.

They were guided to a wetland near the palace. A guard explained that this was where Moorhen would meet with citizens, envoys, and hold court when not in the throne room. It was a beautiful area, lush with swamp grasses and lilypads. Queen Moorhen and her troop rested atop a large, raised platform of woven driftwood that occupied the center of the area. More- shorter- wooden platforms, logs, stumps, and large rocks studding the mud and shallow water surrounding the raised platform; seating tribes not wanting to wallow.

Sidewinder couldn’t help but think they had flown past the castle to show the MudWing’s power, to intimidate them. And they were meeting at the outdoor courtyard to keep a SandWing from entering the throne room.

On the other talon, it was a gorgeous day worth being outside for.

They glided down in slipstream formation, Kobicha leading, then Sidewinder, and Blackgum taking the rear position. Kobicha landed softly on the platform a guard indicated. It was the closest in front of Queen Moorhen’s platform. Sidewinder landed in his spot to Kobicha’s left, and Blackgum to Kobicha’s right. All three bowed deeply, lower jaw touching the wood beneath them.

Moorhen nodded, “You may rise.” She smiled as they met her gaze. “Welcome back, Kobicha and Blackgum,” she crooned affectionately. Her smile was warm, beautiful. Moorhen regarded Sidewinder, “And welcome to the Mud Kingdom, Sidewinder. I am told it is your first time in our kingdom?”

‘Our’, Kobicha and Blackgums? Or was Sidewinder part of ‘our’?

“That is correct, your majesty. I have skirted its edges, but this is my first proper visit.”

Kobicha’s wings relaxed and dropped just enough to touch each of his brothers’ sides.

“It’s a pleasure to have you.” Morehen was sitting properly, towering over everything. Behind and to the right of her was another female MudWing that looked nearly identical to Moorhen, just smaller. Three male MudWings also resided closely; one still on the stadium, one having moved to a rock next to the stage, the final now resting half sunk into mud to the left of the stage. “And thank you for joining me on such notice. When Shoebill returned with news of you it quickly rose to my attention. I have heard what she had to share,” her focus centered on Kobicha, “But I wished to hear the complete story from you.”

Bigwings spoke to bigwings. Sidewinder held his pose, careful not to start coiling or to let his attention linger on the guards. Sidewinder studied Moorhen while Kobicha told the story of Landslide, Blackgum, and his youth. Moorhen was gorgeously decorated, jewels on her head sparkling in the sunlight, matched by jeweled anklets on her hind talons. Sidewinder savored the comfort of his warm, brass anklet against his left hind talon. A visible representation of his bond to his siblings.

The troop’s recruitment. Their role in the war.

That is what Shoebill and her sisters had been mimicking, after all. Moorhen set the trend. The jewels sparkling a brilliant blue on her russet brown scales. At first Sidewinder had thought that Shoebill, Squelch and Sinkhole had each painted a few scales blue to mimic it. Throughout the evening he had noticed they were actually chips of stone. Of gems? Probably sapphire, if they were as high born as Sidewinder imagined. Chips of gems wedged between scales, sparkling like oases among a warm brown landscape.

The assignment. The orders, each word exact to the day they had been assigned. The seawing’s foolish pride. That battle.

The guards murmured about the SandWing. Moorhen’s brothers were lounging.They all appeared relaxed, but Moorhen’s sister was ready to defend her bigwings the second anything happened. It was in the stillness of her body, the way she appeared to gaze into space, looking around boredly. All a facade. Sidewinder had to lower his gaze. He stared into the shallow water in front of their platform. The cattails swayed slowly with the languid current.

Kobicha spoke clear and true, not a single fault in his beautiful, deep voice. He relaid each fact of the battle as though it had happened yesterday. The foolish SkyWing going for Blackgum. The SeaWing receiving justice for his shortcomings. The heat of the SkyWing’s fire yanking his wing and saving his life. Saving his life from Diamondback, his own sister. The details became sparser as Landslide and Diamondback went for one another.

Sidewinder’s tail gently squeezed on Blackgum’s. They had entwined atop Kobicha’s tail. That is where they could each feel the sorrow, the tension, the ache the three shared together. The air took such a somber feel. Every dragon present knew what was coming. The guards, and Moorhen’s siblings, even lowered their heads.

They fell together. The battle ended then. As they mourned their sisters, together, they felt their connection. That they were a troop, born apart, split across a war. And after the loss of their sisters, they couldn’t.

The sentence ended there. They couldn’t. Kobicha took a brief respite to nuzzle Sidewinder’s muzzle, then Blackgum’s. Moorhen allowed a long moment of silence for their lost MudWing. Maybe even for Diamondback, Sidewinder hoped.

Kobicha continued. How they had chosen to exile themselves. How they had gotten away with it. He detailed how they would migrate and interact with the few other dragons as needed for supplies.

The guards were talking now. Those out of Moorhen's direct sight leaned toward one another, speaking in hushed tones. They thought they couldn’t be heard. They likely couldn’t. Not by MudWing ears. A mix of curiosity, confusion. Disgust at Diamondback being called a sister. Sidewinder remained still, despite his insides roiling with sorrow and hurt at their words.

Sidewinder’s excursions into the Scorpion’s den. More supplies, the only place they could get accurate news on the war. How they worked to ensure they didn’t hurt their tribe’s side of the war in any way. So far as the world was concerned, they died in that battle with their sisters.

Again, there was a wave of pity, some visible sorrow. Losing a sibling- the worst thing that could ever happen to a MudWing. Perhaps some of them included Diamondback in that sorrow. It was easy to assume that most mourned only for the troop’s loss of Landslide. Maybe even hate towards Diamondback for taking a MudWing from them. He felt so cold inside. Every muscle was kept still.

Moorhen had listened intently the entire time. Sidewinder couldn’t get a fix on her feelings toward Kobicha’s life story. She didn’t react to it in any way Sidewinder could tell, spare the brief regret for the troop’s loss. The loss of Landslide. Maybe Diamondback too. Probably Landslide. Sidewinder imagined this stoicism was trained into her, to act properly as a queen. Or maybe she had always been that way.

“Your perseverance is admirable, and to thrive after such a tragedy. You have truly embodied what it means to be a bigwings, Kobicha.” Kobicha lowered his head in thanks. Sidewinder could feel the swell of emotions in his larger mate. Moorhen continued when he raised his head again, “I am so sorry for what the war has done to your troop.” She looked from Kobicha to Blackgum.

Then to Sidewinder.

“All three of you have shown strength many do not have.”

All three.

“I’m so sorry for the loss of your sisters.”

Sisters.

The world was quiet for once.

No guards.

No studying details.

Quiet.

Sisters. Diamondback was one of the troop in Moorhen’s eyes.

Sidewinder is a part of their troop.

The queen of MudWings acknowledged that two Sandwings were a part of a troop.

Siblings to their MudWings.

Sidewinder kept himself still but he couldn’t stop the tears. They rolled down the sides of his muzzle, unacknowledged.

He was where he belonged. He was truly one with his brothers.

Sidewinder could feel Blackgum’s tail squeeze against his own. Sidewinder returned it.

It all faded back in.

“Kobicha, I would like to speak to your sibling one on one. Would you and Blackgum mind joining my brothers? I’m sure they have questions about your experiences.” Moorhen’s soft voice was friendly, maternal. Still, it wasn’t a request.

Kobicha and Blackgum bowed their heads, “Of course, your majesty,” Kobicha obediently responded. The brothers on the stage and rock took off, flying over Kobicha and his brothers. Kobicha and Blackgum turned, leaped, and followed them. The final brother propelled himself through the mud with his tail, lazily following.

Moorhen and her sister remained on the raised platform. Moorhen’s sister watched Sidewinder’s and her brothers glide away, feigning to ignore the SandWing before her. She was still ready to pounce if needed.

“Sidewinder, I do not want to keep you from your brothers for long. I imagine you know why, so I will be straightforward.” Moorhen lowered herself to lay on the platform, her forelegs crossed in front of her. “I also do not mean to cause hurt or offense in any way. I simply wish to understand. Do you consider yourself a MudWing?”

“I do not, your majesty,” Sidewinder replied without taking a moment to consider it. “I am a SandWing.” He turned to look down along his body. “My scales are the right color. Mud makes them itch. My barb feels right.” He turned forward again, sitting with his head raised. “I am a SandWing from horn to talon.”

Moorhen nodded, considering a moment. “And yet you are a part of a MudWing troop.”

“I am.” He rumbled, nodding in return. When Moorhen didn’t respond, Sidewinder continued, “I consider it like the story Kobicha shared with me; The nest parted. A troop’s eggs separated in half during a flood. When they found one another, they simply knew.” He looked down to his talons. “I believe Landslide and Diamondback knew as well. I could see it in their eyes as they fell.” Sidewinder’s tail tightened. “We were born apart,” he rumbled, “And I am a SandWing. My body is. But my soul belongs with my brothers’ and sisters’.”

“That’s kind of beautiful,” Moorhen’s sister spoke for the first time. Her voice was similar to Moorhen’s, but higher.

“Very much so,” Moorhen agreed. “I am curious, though. Your appearance makes me think you are older than Kobicha, yet Kobicha is your bigwings?”

“Just as a clutch can be separated by distance, I think it can be separated by time. I believe I was hatched first for a reason. If I were the same age as Kobicha and Blackgum, … Well, I am a SandWing. We are not as sturdy as MudWings. Ten years ago, being older kept me from being crushed.”

Moorhen’s laughter was musical. A genuine laugh, too.

“That is a great point. Us MudWings are certainly bigger and heavier compared to the other tribes.” She drummed her claws atop the platform. “There’s a good bit Kobicha did not share about your life prior to finding your troop.”

Finding his troop. She truly believed them. Others did not. He heard the guards. Some aghast that their queen would acknowledge such an affront to their tribe. But some curious voices. Not all of it was negative. Even Moorhen’s sister looked focused and interested, her indifference and fear for her sister ebbing away.

“Unlike our story, you and your brothers have different parents. I believe Landslide was from the same clutch as Kobicha and Blackgum. Were you and Diamondback laid in the same clutch?”

Sidewinder nodded. “As far as I know, we were. Our eggs were brought to Burn as gifts. Our parents are unknown. We hatched at the same time, and shared our unique markings.” Sidewinder gestured to an armpit, and the black marquis markings in it. Safer than gesturing to his groin or shifting his tail to show the markings along the tail’s belly. “I have no doubt we were laid together.”

“I see. Two sets of parents to one troop. I wonder if that has ever happened among us MudWings. I suppose we couldn’t tell if two clutches found themselves as a single troop.” She paused for a moment, considering the idea. “You were gifts to Burn, and you served her directly, I believe. Would you please elaborate? Your life before finding your troop, really.”

That had brought more discussion. The guards were getting careless, speaking louder. The lack of action had caused them to grow lax. There were certainly more guards than usual. At least, Sidewinder assumed this number was overkill. Moorhen was a huge dragon. He couldn’t imagine she was ever in much danger. A tail barb could surely do it if he got her chest, but she could swat him away with a talon before he could get in range for a serious strike. He was helpless against her. Perhaps the abundance of guards were here to listen, to learn. He wished he could hear what his and Moorhen’s siblings were discussing. They were far enough that Sidewinder only got the faintest of murmurs, unintelligible.

Sidewinder nodded, “Of course, your majesty.” For years they were a mark of Sidewinder’s deadliness. Then of his regret and sorrow. But now, as an acknowledged member of his troop, as a true SandWing in his troop, they were a mark of pride.

“When Diamondback and I were hatched,” Sidewinder spoke with his head raised. He spread his wings, exposing the markings on his inner wings, to either side of his torso. Two horizontal, diamond-shaped patches where his scales were a deeper yellow. In the middle of each were the only marquis on his body that were vertical. It was satisfying to see some of the guards flinch as his snake eyes glared forward. “We were vipers.”

***

Diamondback and Sidewinder walked side-by-side, their tails curled over one another’s. Even as wyrmlings they could tell the way others looked at them was different. Older, larger dragons stepped out of their way. Gossip of them was abundant in the stronghold.

They followed Adenium, the dragon who had brought their eggs to the stronghold. Sidewinder wasn’t sure how she had gotten her talons on their eggs, but he knew she was not their parent. He could sense it. She didn’t look right, smell right. They were trinkets to her, not her offspring.

They entered an ornate chamber. On a large throne towered a huge female SandWing. She was evil. It was a miasma around her. It dribbled off her and puddled on the floor. It made Sidewinder’s talons feel cold despite the heat of the stone beneath them.

“Go on,” Adenium gestured them forward. Sidewinder and Diamondback moved forward together, then sat side-by-side, Sidewinder on the left and Diamondback on the right. Their wings gently brushed against one another.

“Thank you for your time, Queen Burn,” Adenium lowered herself in a bow. The wyrmlings glanced at one another, then followed a moment later. They rose from the bow together, looking up at the queen before them. “I am so happy you’ve returned. I am sorry it took so long for you to be free to meet with me, but I think that time has only improved your gifts,” Adenium continued. Gifts. Diamondback and Sidewinder were gifts. Adenium’s talon gestured to the two wyrmlings. “I have brought you your next generation of assassins. I believe they will be even deadlier than I am. With proper training, of course.”

The queen’s dark eyes looked over each of the siblings. They stared back at her, refusing to lower their eyes. All SandWings had dark, onyx eyes- but hers had a different darkness beyond that.

“What odd little creatures. I’ve never seen markings like that before. And their barbs are fully developed? How old are they?” Burn’s voice was just as awful as her eyes.

“Yes! They are strange little wyrmlings. I thought of you the instant I saw their eggs. Their eggs were side by-side. Each had a black slit on the top. It looked like a dragonbite viper staring at me. I gathered them and brought them straight here. We’ve saved the shells for your tower, of course.” Adenium spoke with such pride. And greed. She was hungry for what trading Diamondback’s and Sidewinder’s small lives would earn her.

“Any idea why they look like that? And how do you know they will be deadly?” Burn asked, shifting to one side as though she were bored. To seem less interested. Her voice had heightened just a little, a tremor of excitement just under its tone. Sidewinder tilted his head a little, staring intently.

“I am not sure about their appearance. I have no idea who sired or laid them.” Adenium’s wing extended, the tip gesturing along Diamondback’s throat.

Sidewinder did not like that.

“I’ve never seen markings like this before either.” Her wing retracted. Sidewinder’s tail relaxed. “And, as you noted, their tail barbs are fully developed. They hatched that way. I am hesitant to venture this, but I have considered they might be animus touched. And yes, certainly deadly.” Adenium raised her talon, the sides of which still had some black-tinted scales. “When they hatched they were hesitant to leave the shell. I could see them staring out at me from within. I half thought they truly were viper eggs. When I reached toward the eggs to help, they each struck me. It hurt worse than any sting I’ve taken. It’s taken months to heal, even with brightsting cactus treatments.”

Burn’s dark eyes glanced between the two wyrmlings, considering them without hiding her excitement or delight. She shifted her weight forward, staring at them.

“Kill her.” She gestured to Adenium.

“What?” was all Adenium could say before the wyrmlings stabbed their tail barbs into either side of her chest. They both knew their survival was with appeasing this big, evil dragon. Adenium lay dead before she could scream.

“Oh yes. I am going to adore you two little abominations.”

***

Moorhen listened without judgment, maintaining composure as she had the entire time. Sidewinder was sparse on details when sharing the role Diamondback and he played for Burn. Some of their missions, bits of their lives in the stronghold, and enough to lead up to finding his troop. Many MudWings present looked distinctly uncomfortable and he didn’t want to push that further. More importantly, there were details about Sidewinder and his sister, and some of the work they had done, that was only to be known by his siblings. Even his queen wasn’t privy to everything.

His queen. That was a new thought.

“That is quite remarkable, and I appreciate you sharing,” Moorhen said in her motherly, sweet voice. “Did you and Diamondback ever find out why you are unique among SandWings?”

Sidewinder shook his head. “We did not, your majesty. I still do not know who our parents are, how we received our markings, or why our barbs are unusual.” Not exceptionally deadly; unusual, a term present company were likely to be far more receptive to. “We may be animus touched, our parents may have been oddities too… I cannot say. I like to think that our uniqueness was a gift to survive; without it, I doubt we would have lasted long in the stronghold. And now that I have found my troop, my barb exists to protect my siblings.”

Moorhen smiled. She liked that answer, to Sidewinder’s delight.

Then her expression grew serious. That was less pleasant.

“I treasure your time here, and your troop’s unique nature is fascinating. I’ve come to appreciate that I still have much to learn about our tribe. But, as queen, there are certain topics I need to discuss with you. First and foremost, as a member of our tribe, are you loyal to me?”

Sidewinder had to consider the question for a moment. He responded carefully, “I am loyal to my bigwings, your majesty. And Kobicha has always been loyal to you, even in our desertion.”

Moorhen nodded. Her gaze moved up, past Sidewinder, in the direction their brothers had flown. As if she was studying Sidewing’s brothers. “And how loyal is Kobicha to me? He chose desertion for his troop, which I cannot say is exactly loyal.”

Our tribe. Sidewinder’s queen. Those suddenly felt a lot less secure.

“I want to make it clear that I am in no way being critical of you, or our tribe.” Moorhen nodded. Yes, our tribe. Sidewinder was still a part of that. “But I wish to be as honest and transparent as possible. I would like to note that I have grown to admire you more than the other queens. I have never had a true SandWing queen, to be fair. However, Sunny shared that you care more for your tribe than anything else, and you care for each MudWing as you would your own dragonets. With what I have heard of Queen Thorn and Queen Glory, I can finally see a future for Pyrrhia worth living in. I have faith the three of you will bring about change that every dragon will benefit from. A peaceful existence for every tribe.

“With that said, with every tribe, there are those who have and those who do not. Among the high born I imagine every dragon is loyal to you over anything else, even their siblings. But among the low born, and the very lowest like Kobicha, they do not know the beauty of the capital, the pleasure of the tribe’s fortunes, or the grace of your love. They know the comfort of their siblings’ embrace. It must be difficult to balance their loyalty to their troop and their loyalty to you.

“That said,” Sidewinder gestured with his right wing, pointing to where his and Moorhen’s brothers were actually situated. Moorhen lowered her gaze to Sidewinder, left to their siblings, then back to Sidewinder. He wasn’t sure if she appreciated or was impressed that he knew their siblings had migrated, or if he had just ruined something important she had set up. “Kobicha has always struggled with his decision. He is loyal to you, but also loyal to his troop. If he had thought his troop played any significant role in the war, he couldn’t have made the choice he did.”

The troop’s communicator. Sidewinder hoped he was fulfilling his role to his brothers.

“On the contrary, Sidewinder.” Moorhen looked into his eyes. “The battle of your troop was anything but insignificant. Our SandWing spies in Burn’s army were found. We were fed false information. Many MudWing and SandWing lives were lost as a result of your battle.”

Moorhen’s eyes were still so warm, so loving. But all the warmth that had been building within Sidewinder vanished. All the warmth of his troop, of his new tribe, his new queen, gone. The fire inside him had extinguished.

“I am beholden to our tribe, Sidewinder. As every member of our tribe is. Would Kobicha be loyal to me, if I required your life for all those still mourning their siblings, due to your battle?”

Sidewinder had considered his death many times before. Near constantly under Burn’s rule. Sometimes he wished he had Diamondback’s role in their battle. That he could watch over his siblings with Landslide. So Diamondback could be free of the pain of taking her sister’s life. But he couldn’t die. He had to live for his brothers.

At the same time, there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He would die no matter how hard he fought, in the middle of the MudWing capital, with so many guards around. The guards that were murmuring, tensing at the potential for action. Moorhen’s sister’s eyes bore into Sidewinder. It seemed likely none of them were prepared for Moorhen to ask him this.

That wasn’t true. Sidewinder knew he could prevent it.

Or he could allow himself to become a sacrifice to his tribe, ordered by his queen.

He had to live for his brothers.

“I do not think so, your majesty. Kobicha and Blackgum would not betray you, fight, or take their pain out on the tribe. Our tribe. But if I were to die, I believe they would take their own lives the first opportunity they were able.”

Moorhen nodded solemnly. “I considered that a possibility. Likely, even. And I believe you are far more valuable to our tribe, even to those who lost their siblings, alive and active in our tribe. An incredible asset to further our tribe, to further peace among all tribes. Your desertion to Burn is of no concern to me. Admirable, even. But the deaths from that battle, and for desertion of their own tribe-”

Sidewinder’s tail stuck. His bulb pressed to his chest. He could feel his own heartbeat through the tip of his barb.

He could not live without his brothers.

“I assure you, that goes both ways, your highness. No matter how valuable an asset I am to anyone. Our sisters are waiting for us. We have no qualms finally being with them again.”

Moorhen stared into his eyes, a foretalon half raised. Was it fear? Anger? Hatred? that Sidewinder saw in them?

Sidewinder pressed harder. He could feel his scales strain. Black-green venom oozed from the tip of his barb, slowly trailing down his front.

“Tell your brothers to release them. Or lose us all.” He hissed.

A high-pitched roar of fury erupted off to Sidewinder’s right.