A New Day, A New Dragon

The NightWing looked around the silent palace, flying swiftly and carefully, seemingly looking for something. There seemed to be no guards guarding the entrance, he thought. But they should be at least a tiny bit more careful after what we did...

Two other NightWings joined him, hovering in the air, looking down at the palace. The NightWing spoke up, his voice cracking a little bit from disuse. "Sir, what are we looking for?"

The lead NightWing spread out his dark green wings, smoke coming out of his nostrils as he spoke. "Do not question orders, Mindchanger. It will get you killed."

Mindchanger scowled, sulking. It would be nice to know what the orders were. He had been summoned a few days ago, and told that he was to be the third member of a mission.

The lead NightWing, Battlefighter, lifted up into the night, the wind from his huge wings pummeling the other two dragons to the ground. Mindchanger nodded to Agileflight, who hovered solemnly in front of him, her pretty dark purple and blue scales shining at him, before he joined Battlefighter up in the air. The three NightWings easily blended into the dark sky as they soared above the palace.

Battlefighter was strong, while Agileflight was fast. Mindchanger could understand why they had been chosen. But why him? He didn't have any skills. 

"Hurry up! You'll be seen!" Battlefighter snapped at him.

"And why is that so bad?" Mindchanger shot back, reluctantly drifting behind a cloud. Irritation grew inside him. The sky was already as black as an onyx stone, why did they have to make an effort to hide? But no, the rules made them hide like scavengers. 

Mindchanger longed to escape the boundaries and restrictions of the New World, a world where NightWings ruled. NightWings were not allowed to be seen. NightWings were not allowed to be heard. NightWings were not allowed to be killed. NightWings were not allowed to interact with other tribes. In Mindchanger's opinion, the rules were stupid.

Queen Bluemoon had led the tribe to victory, forcing the RainWings out of the rainforest and taking it as their own. While Mindchanger had disagreed, he had only been a dragonet; too weak to voice his opinions. His name was a cruel joke; he definitely couldn't change any minds.

Now, Mindchanger gazed down at the new RainWing home. It was a tiny island hidden amongst the dozens of islands near Pyrrhia. Bluemoon had been sending NightWings out to look for it, and finally, they had found it. The almighty home of the RainWings.

It didn't look so legendary and powerful, though, like Bluemoon had claimed. It reminded Mindchanger of his tribe's old home; the volcanic island. It had been horrible, he shuddered, recalling the dark landscape and the molten lava. The volcanic island and this island were both places that the tribes had fled to.

The new RainWing island was quiet, with few dragons out in the open. There weren't any trees or fruit, Mindchanger noticed. A palace sat in the middle of the island, taking up most of the space. Mindchanger could see a few lone RainWings trying to build a house with no success; it kept crumbling down. Once the dust settled, the RainWings exchanged words, their scales fading from bright greens, yellows and pinks to dark blue and gray, before they flew into the palace entrance.

Agileflight seemed to be hesitating as she flew quick loops around Battlefighter. "I don't know...we shouldn't attack them."

"They seem to be struggling just to live," Mindchanger pointed out.

Battlefighter snorted. "They have a palace. They'll be fine," he flicked his tail dismissively.

Mindchanger and Agileflight exchanged looks. "If you say so," Mindchanger unwillingly agreed.

The flapping of wings made all three of them freeze. A slow, menacing growl resonated in the air. "What are you fools doing?!"

Mindchanger's first thought was that it was Bluemoon, and that she wouldn't be happy. But then, as he spun around, he came face to face with a RainWing.

She had a dark green ruff with blue stripes, which was flared out. Her scales flicked from forest green to orange and red, although they mainly stayed red. Her eyes were dark blue and stormy, and her curved horns were covered in dust and dirt. She had some half-healed claw marks on her neck, and she was favoring her left foreleg. If looks could kill, Mindchanger would be dead. 

Anger, Mindchanger realized as he peered at her scales, remembering his training on RainWing scale colors. This RainWing was angry. She also looked like she had been through a fight.

Battlefighter immediately leapt at her without any warning, slashing at the RainWing's underbelly with his large, sharp claws. They glinted silver in the dim moonlight before a cloud covered the moon, leaving them in complete darkness.

It was a quick fight, Mindchanger doing nothing but watching with horror. It wasn't fair; the RainWing hadn't done anything to them. Agileflight hovered nervously around Battlefighter, helping him hold down the RainWing a couple times, ducking and dodging, feinting at the RainWing's head and the vulnerable spot on her tail, but Mindchanger hadn't seen her actually wound the poor dragon.

Battlefighter fought with speed and power, striking her relentlessly. But as Mindchanger looked closer, he realized the RainWing was fighting back. Battlefighter had a wound across his chest that would probably scar. If this RainWing could fight, did that mean other RainWings could fight now? The RainWing suddenly unhinged her jaw, aiming her fangs at Battlefighter.

Mindchanger's heart stopped. He knew she was going to use her venom. He knew that Battlefighter was doing the wrong thing, attacking the RainWing, but he couldn't just let Battlefighter be hit by venom. That would be betrayal to his tribe.

His breathing slowed and his head pounded. He had a choice. He could save Battlefighter and risk being hurt himself. Or, he could leave Battlefighter to his fate. He deserved it, after all, Mindchanger thought bitterly. He couldn't just torture that RainWing.

Time seemed to stand still as Mindchanger made his decision. He bunched his wings, flying forwards at a speed he didn't know he was capable of. He heard Battlefighter's roar, but it was silent. He saw Agileflight glance at him with amusement in her eyes, but he ignored her. All that mattered was what he was about to do.

He flew towards Battlefighter, but at the last minute, changed direction. The speed made him crash into the RainWing, sending her flying. Her venom shot out of her fangs, missing Battlefighter.

The RainWing glared at him, regaining her balance. "You won't find the weapon!"

"I don't even know what I'm looking for!" Mindchanger grumbled in response.

However, Battlefighter was back, shooting at the RainWing with his fire, his claws lashing at her chest. The RainWing, distracted by Mindchanger, plummeted to the ground, unfurling her wings and flailing in the air helplessly. No, Mindchanger realized. Not the ground. The ocean.

She was going to drown, and it would be his fault.

He couldn't let that happen. He had to put his life on the line and betray his tribe. He couldn't allow her die. He made himself drop through the sky and let the weak RainWing land on his back. 

He vowed to himself that he would make an effort, and he would change some minds.

He would change the New World's opinion of RainWings. He would make the world better.

Above him, Agileflight and Battlefighter cast him one last look, Battlefighter's of disgust and betrayal, and Agileflight's of sorrow and a little hope and pride. Then, they flew off.

The RainWing slowly awoke, her scales changing to a pale green color. Her eyes shimmered bright blue as she spoke. "Why did you save me?"

"I want to make a difference," Mindchanger's voice was confident, although his body shook.

"You do know that the RainWings have a weapon though, right?" The RainWing curled her tail in, letting it glow yellow.

Surprise and happiness.

"I don't care," Mindchanger admitted. "I'll help until I die."

"The NightWing Killer can well, kill NightWings," she warned him. "It'll turn their brains to mush and slowly poison you from the inside."

Mindchanger didn't respond, just looked at her, determination in his gold eyes. Behind them, the sun began to rise, lighting them up. The RainWing blinked at him, her scales changing to soft pinks and purples. "Who are you?"

"I'm the dragon who's going to change the tribes. I am Mindchanger." And although it was his real name, he couldn't help but feel pride blossom in him. If he was a RainWing, he knew he would be violet all over. He was finally going to live up to his name.

The time for hiding was over. With a new day came a new dragon.

(1445 words)