Olympus woke with a start; groaning with pain as he got to his paws; his head pounding. The trees around him seemed to vibrate; and he felt off balance; tripping over his own paws, he froze; ears twitching as something crackled.

In his peripherals, a white blur slipping from his left side. He spun, electricity crackling around his paws. The figure stepped out, her white base gleaming. Several ginger/brown—brindled markings accompanied a brown and tan mask; two pale blue eyes peering at him.

Her feathered nubs perked as she gazed at him calmly. Backing against a large tree, he gathered a blast in his throat; narrowing his eyes. The female lifted a paw; whipping her tail as several spines shot towards him.

He sidestepped; barreling toward them.
The dragons eyes widened in surprise; and she ducked, his bright yellow blast disintegrating, knocking an unlucky tree from its root system. Not as easy as you look, huh dragon? He sneered silently; although in reality, he wanted to get to Pevvele.

His claws dug into the dirt; bracing against his weight. Lightning crackled along his forelimbs, and he stood on his hind legs, spreading his wings as he brought his weight down, taking bounding strides as he seemingly disappeared and reappeared, appearing behind her.

She froze, looking over her shoulder as he leapt towards her. "Nice try," she flipped around, kicking his stomach and sending him over her head, hitting the dust. He lay there, winded.

No, no, come on...Come on!

He willed his limbs to move, yet couldn't. A weight on his back drew his attention. He was pinned! He couldn't escape! The dragon rolled him onto his back, her sides heaving as she glared at him spitefully. "What is wrong with you?!" She snarled, her feathered tail lashing behind her. He glared back, his lips peeling from his teeth, glinting in the late afternoon light.

"Let go of me!" Olympus snapped back; pressing against her chest in an attempt to get her off of him, it was useless, he was exhausted, worried, and for the first time he could remember, scared.

"Stop struggling first! Answer two questions!" She loosened her grip slightly. Olympus closed his eyes as lightning crackled, striking in rings around them. Her blue eyes narrowed as she flipped back, pinning him once more.

"STOP!"
He panted, limbs shaking as he fell.
"Fine...I-I give in." He grimaced. Her ice blue gaze softened slightly; and she sat before him.
"First: why did you attack me?" He breathed out, gathering his thoughts.

"I was, and still am, in quite a bit of distress. My daughter, s-she was swept away..." the feathered dragon nodded in understanding, speaking again.

"What's your name? How did you learn to fight like that?"

Olympus chuckled; his amber gaze warming.
"You asked three questions, you were supposed to ask two."

* * *

Pevvele stared from the entrance of the cave, eagerly awaiting Vallaire's arrival. The light tapping of talons on stone made her aware of his approach.

Her eyes lit up as his pale-ish red scales gleamed in the sunlight, in his jaws he carried two salmon, his personal favorite, of course. Pevvele still preferred Mountain Goat over salmon, but she was too hungry to care what she ate. She reached forward; and he shoved his wing in her way. "Wait." She glared at him, hunching her shoulders as she opened her jaws. "Can I have a salmon?" He snorted in disapproval. "Say: please?" He prompted.

She sighed; forcing a quiet please. "Good. Now you can have a salmon!" She rolled her eyes, snatching a salmon as if she hadn't eaten in moons.  All in due time, child; you shall learn the truth, and meet your true father...Vallaire attempted to ignore the small voice in his head, repeating that he "didn't have to do this"  and "there is another way". Vallaire believed the only other option was death, excruciating, inhuman, death. Skaaari could kill him with little to no reason; and Vipirus loved it. In fact, he loved it so much, that both Vallaire, and Olympus' parents were executed infront of them at the young age of two.
Then they were forced to watch their parents bodies be pulled apart, and eaten.
Sometimes; they both had had no choice, and even eaten their own kind.

They had grown up only knowing one rule: kill, or be killed. With Skaaari and Vipirus, the whole archipelago was falling into anarchy, with no real ranks. It was a shame, really...But they had grown up  this way. How could they change?

* * *

"Fight!" Silas' green eyes shot open, wings tucked against his back as he ran hard; he was barely aware of his heart racing and the jolt from his paws smacking the ground. He was locked on his target; who happened to be an older dragonet; several inches taller than himself. Skidding to a halt, he circled, the other dragon matched him step for step; focus latched intently on eachother. Neither blinked.

This intense stare went on for several heartbeats; before Silas sprang, claws outstretched as he flew towards the other dragon. They blocked, Silas' jaw connected painfully with their back; and his hind limbs scrambled for a foothold; an ugly gash decorated Silas' forehead. He brought his tail around; several spines exposed. Unfortunately; he didn't get the chance; the fellow dragons teeth clamped onto the end of his tail; just behind his tail- fins. A snarl of pain erupted from Silas' maw; and he snaked his head around to latch onto their ear.

No. No you don't...! He dug his claws in deeper; ripping through flesh and muscles; still gripping his ear, his lips rose into a smile. A feeling of satisfaction and belonging filling his soul. He pressed harder; claws crashing against bone with great strength; suddenly, they fell apart; spitting and snarling hateful insults. His opponent was limping horribly; his limbs shaking like rusted support beams. Silas lifted one talon, examining the maroon blood that coated its surface. "Give in?" He challenged. The other dragon shook his head; licking his lips. "Never!"

You had your chance, Silas hummed inwardly; taking quickly paced strides towards his wounded opponent; if he could get a clear path to the dragons throat; this would be over. His opponent was weakening, he could feel it. The stench of blood didn't bother him now; he was filled with the fierce desire for his father's love. For acceptance, to be feared. And now, he finally had that power. He would do anything to keep his father's approval.

Even if it meant killing his sister.

* * *

Olympus had spoken to the feathered dragon for quite a while; a weight taken off his chest as she vowed to help him. Perhaps finally, he could bring Pevvele home.

"So, what are you anyway?" Olympus asked; staring pointedly at her feathered wings, she shuffled them; her attention fixed firmly on the terrain ahead. "I'm a Feather Fury," she chipped, that happened to be the end of that conversation, he supposed. Way to pass the time, yay. Him. He messed up, he really messed up, didn't he?

"A "Feather Fury" eh? That's why you're so nimble?" He prompted; she scoffed; rolling her eyes. "Was that an attempt to flatter me, Lightning Thief?" She shot back; turning away as she watched a squirrel; nibbling on a seed with a seemingly knowledgeable expression. Great—now even the squirrels pay attention to us...

It was nearing dusk, the sun hovering over the expanse of mountains in the distance, seemingly teasing them. Late afternoon shadows danced around trees as the breeze tickled the rich green leaves above, they seemingly whistled a tune only the  trees knew; as their branches began to sway, clacking against one another. Soon, the forest broke into song, filling the passive silence with the natural melody. She couldn't help but hum herself. Such a beautiful voice... he thought; shutting his eyes. He stumbled over a root; embarrassed as Herialea laughed. He scrambled to his feet clumsily; a nervous chuckle bursting from his lungs. He too, burst into laughter; after all, if they were laughing at you; laugh at yourself.

* * *

"Can you stop talking for five minutes? Please?" Vallaire groaned inwardly as the dragonet chattered non-stop; he hadn't given her anything to excite her, right? He searched through his thoughts, deciding she was just overly excited for no apparent reason. It annoyed the crap out of him. No wonder she was abandoned. Bloody hell, she was annoying! He couldn't say that to a child, though.

"Vallaire?" Pevvele asked; he turned, his black gaze questioning.

"Yes?"

"Where do you think my father is, now?"
He was silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"I—I...I don't know." He admitted; he hadn't seen Lord Skaaari in ages.

"Do you ever wonder what your purpose in life is?" He blinked at her words. He hadn't ever thought that! Why such deep thinking?
"Erm—no? I just—uh—followed orders my entire life...?" "Beware...Share too much, everything will be ruined..." how fun, now Skaaari decided to check in. Not a great time! He replied.

Skaaari's scoff sounded in his head, and he left. Hopefully not to probe through his thoughts. Since he and Vipirus were connected, or, mind linked, Skaaari was able to read anyone but Vipirus' thoughts, they just had to be in close range.

Mind linking worked no matter the distance; but only if you had met that dragon, or person, before. Lord Skaaari was determined to get revenge on the dragon who scarred him; Areelias of the Storm Furies; while Vipirus was more interested in power, controlling each dragon by fear. Skaaari was the one to carry out executions, bloody ones at that. Even the youngest of his tribe were forced to watch them stand trial; and the accused always lost. But why?

Why was he so cruel?

No one knew.

And perhaps, no one would ever know the truth.

Yet...