The sky was dark. Shimmering blues mixed with sparkling teals as the stars shone and twinkled, dancing within the sky that stretched from horizon to horizon like a tapestry. The three moons shone brightly, almost proudly alongside the stars, illuminating all of Pyrrhia in gleaming moonlight, turning the once golden sea of sand silver. The leaves and vegetation of the lush oasis hissed quietly in the IceWing's ears, rustled by the wind that nipped between his spines. It wasn't nearly as cold as the sharp gusts that roared across the tundra, but cold enough to make his scales prickle from the sudden drop.

   Even under the cover of the palms and thick bushes, he couldn't help the feeling of eyes that crawled up along his back. Someone was bound to have seen them traversing the desert, a pair of IceWings was odd enough out in the dunes, but in a kingdom that despised them raised even more alarm that made his spines rattle, the sound carried off by the wind. A sharp cry of a jackal split through the air, making him freeze, head snapping towards the sound and glaring through the dense verdure.

   "For a barren place, it's lively tonight."

   Blur stopped up ahead, glancing back over his shoulder with his good eye- his other nothing more than a sealed socket where his other eye used to be- brow pinched in a permanent scowl. "We're almost there," hissed the older IceWing before trekking on, the order left unspoken: be quiet.

   Shudder shot another glance into the greenery before slipping after the other, stepping lightly across the ground that felt damp beneath his serrated talons, making them itch as grains of sand stuck between his claws and wedged between the scales around his wrists. Quietly shouldering through a dense clump of leaves- the ferns shriveled back at the icy touch of his scales- he quickened his pace as much as he dared, catching up to Blur who continued to stalk up ahead, now only a tail-length separating the pair.

   His gaze shot skyward as a flurry of feathers shot off from the trunk of a nearby palm that hung overhead, a small owl snatching something else out of the air. Forcing his spines to flatten, Shudder pressed onwards through the tense air that made his spines want to click and rattle. Keeping his tail off the oasis floor, Shudder picked his way through the parted greenery moved by the older IceWings body that stalked ahead, picking his steps carefully.

   Blur came to a stop, the fronds stilling around them. Shudder froze, talons raised mid-step as his ears pricked. He could hear it now, the gentle lapping of water that made his throat feel parched. But they weren't here to stop for a drink. Shudder scowled. They'd steered clear of the Kingdom of Sand ever since they left the tundra they once called home, so why was Blur so keen on accepting this offer now? From a SandWing of all dragons.

   They were almost as untrustworthy as a NightWing, twice as likely to betray you for treasure and gold, or a pile of shiny jewels. And the last SandWing they dealt with fit that category perfectly. Ratted out for a pile of pretty stones, he scoffed.

   Shudder stole a glance at Blur's shoulder, the scales still marking a nasty bruise that lined the torn membrane of his leading-edge flap. It had been a pain to fix the desolate shoulder, and Shudder had sworn it was broken if not for the older IceWings recovery. They were lucky it was the worst of the wounds they had to nurse after the ambush, but Shudder didn't think he'd ever forget the pained snarl on his uncle's face and the deafening pop that seemed to ring in his ears.

   The pair stood between an intertwining palm tree, its bark twisted as its long shoots stretched up high above them, helping to cast them in a thick shadow where the moonlight couldn't reflect off their pearly scales. Shudder picked his way closer to the edge, sanding shoulder to shoulder with Blur who peered out through the dense greenery. The olde-eyed dragon's gaze narrowed, lips curled in a twitching snarl.

   "She's here."

   Shudder's ears pricked higher, and he stepped over the palm tree's base, his claws hooking into the rough bark. He could see the oasis' shimmering surface, water gently lapping at the shore as it reflected the moonlight blindingly. It looked like a tiny pocket of the dancing night sky. Pacing up along the water's edge, a cloaked figure stalked back and forth, their barbed tail lashing across the sand, leaving a snake trail that was quickly erased and they twisted around, retracing their steps.

   Prying his eyes away, Shudder glanced skywards, sharp blue eyes trailing the treeline for anything, the itch underneath his scales growing. Nothing, his own frown twitched.

   "Calm yourself," Blur warned quietly under his breath, eyes trained on the SandWing, "I know what you're thinking."

   Then why did you agree to meet up with them? "Do we still take the commission?"

   Blur paused, and Shudder watched his eye flicker around the clearing. "Keep your eyes on the trees," he pushed himself up from his crouched position, "I'll talk."

   He didn't need to be told twice.

    Shudder watched Blur step out into the clearing, the cloaked SandWing's head snapping in their direction, their dark forked tongue flicking the air. He couldn't make out their face, but he could feel her beady black eyes wash over him before stilling on Blur, a grin splitting her snout from ear to ear.

   "So lovely of you to make it, I almost thought you wouldn't show." Her smile dropped to an unimpressed snarl, "it's late."

   "I know," Blur hummed.

  "What took you so long? And where's the other one," Shudder felt her eyes wash over him again as she scanned the treeline, but he kept still, his own eyes narrowing as it danced between her and the rest of the oasis around them. "I was told there were supposed to be two IceWings coming tonight."

   "Keeping an eye on things."

   Her scowl deepend and Shudder tensed, claws sinking into the bark beneath him. He relaxed once she lifted one of her talons, looking over her claws.

   "I assume you know what I'm looking for?" She asked.

   "Peces gave a rundown version of things, yes."

   "Good, I won't repeat myself." She reached under her cloak and pulled out a folded piece of scroll, wedged between two of her claws. "He already made me wait long enough, and I want this done fast. He said you'd be worth the wait."

   Blur snatched the piece of scroll from between her talons, flicking it open with a claw as his eye skimmed what was written inside. Shudder had to admit he was curious as to what the full job entailed, what could possibly throw Peces of all dragons off the job? The SeaWing was always eager and willing to do any job handed to him, for the right price. But when he sought out Shudder and Blur along the Diamond Spray Delta, their interest had been piqued.

   The only thing he would refuse is something that smelled of a trap. Shudder's eyes scanned the clearing again, watching every shadow. Still nothing, he ground his teeth, turning back to Blur and the SandWing.

   "What's the offer?"

   "Three percent of the royal treasury."

   Blur and Shudder froze. They couldn't have heard that right. Three percent of the SandWing royal treasury?

   She went on, dark eyes gleaming, "all I need you to do is get rid of a few things standing in our way, and it'll be yours."

-~-~-~-{𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊}-~-~-~-

   Shadowsplitter jolted awake with a gasp, wings shaking and his talons digging into the soft hammock that rocked from his sudden jerking. No matter how much he blinked or rubbed at his golden yellow eyes, he couldn't stop seeing the silhouette illuminated by flames the size of mountains that now burned behind his eyes. The large dragon- a SandWing- standing there and watching the heart of the desert burn. Flames climbing huts, roaring into the sky as it claimed the stronghold like a flaming mound of nothing more than fuel to feed its greedy hunger.

   Dragons rushing past him, screaming in terror, their words lost on ringing ears and pounding hearts. The sky snuffed out by thick smog and suffocating smoke, soot turning the sand an ashy black. He could still hear the screaming, their voices ringing like a shrill echo in the back of his mind, slowly fading and being replaced by heavy panting and the heavy patter of his startled heart.

   Panting, Shadowsplitter glanced towards his window, moonlight filtering through thin curtains used to keep the mosquitoes out. The three moons shone brightly. They weren't full yet, but the brightest night was approaching, the first time in a century the three moons' cycles all aligned for them to be full at the same time. Blinking sharply, he tried rubbing at his eyes with his palms, pressing into his face as he took in a deep breath that felt like ice in the back of his throat.

   It was just a dream.

   The NightWing's thoughts felt empty, deep down he knew it wasn't just a dream, no matter how much he tried to believe it.

   Shadowsplitter stiffened as the blazing fire flashed behind his eyes once more, and he swore he could feel the flames licking his scales, making them burn. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone again, in a flash.

   Just a dream.

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- MindlessTyper