Chapter Text
River never liked the dark. Or at least, that's what he used to say a year and a half ago. Before the bracelet, he would curl up as close to their torchlight as he was allowed. And he would never go out unless the moons were bright and the skies were clear.
Many a night, he wondered, what if clouds covered the moons the night he chased that false animus? Would he still be living as a human? Would he have eventually been picked off by Scarlet?
Would he have never met Winter?
But he couldn't go back to see. Not that he would ever want to. Not now. On that day, everything changed. Some for the worse, some for the better. The guilt would always hang over his head, but if Eagle could see him now, happy as a dragon, with another dragon, he was sure she would understand. He hoped anyway.
River shivered as the rain trailed down his scales. The dark sky and pouring rain hid everything from sight, at least, from every dragon but him. Thanks to night vision, he never had to fear the dark again.
But you should get moving before you get too cold. Iceflow warned.
He was right. Without the Gift of Diplomacy, he was much colder now. But he couldn't risk it falling into the talons of Vulture if he did get captured.
River shook himself, less to get the rain off because it was like trying to swim through air right now, and more to get his head on straight. He was on a mission.
Find Qibli, see where he's being held. If you can get in, do it. If not, find Mangrove or Orchid to get him out. Do not engage alone.
Those were his orders. Though with the rain this bad, he could probably go anywhere without being noticed. He was tempted to wag his tail in the snout of one of the rooftop Sandwing guards, but Iceflow quickly put that thought to rest. Though... there were fewer guards than River would have expected, even with the rain.
Carefully, he crept past a guard towards another fragment of light poking through the rooftops. The cloaked dragon didn’t even look in his direction as River passed a mere tail length away. Peeking into the crack of light, River saw another dull adobe room lit with torchlight. A single Sandwing guard sat inside, watching the doorway intently. A little bucket was under the crack where water was dripping inside, though it was already overflowing.
No prison cells, though, and no Qibli or Foeslayer.
Well, River doubted he’d actually be the one to see either of them. He expected he’d find a prison room or something and signal to Orchid or Mangrove to check inside. Or more likely, he’d find nothing of value, and the Rainwings would get all the glory.
That didn’t stop him from stepping up to the next circle of light, though. This one was a large domed window instead of just a small crack, with two guards facing away from it. That left plenty of room for River to sneak up and peer down.
Just in time to see Qibli dragged into the room below.
The room was large and elegant, more so than the other rooms he’d peered into. Four large columns rose around the circumference of the perfectly circular room. Each had a brazier in front of it, lighting the whole room in early shadows and orange flames. Qibli sat in the center, flanked by two Sandwings a head taller than him. And in front, sitting on a throne plastered in more gold than River had ever seen, was a larger, more menacing Sandwing. Covered head to talon in dragon skull tattoos, as well as several chains of gold around his neck. Along the back of his throne was the symbol of a bird of prey, the same as the cloaks of the guards on either side of the window.
That must be Vulture. Iceflow commented.
Ya think?
The large dragon seemed to say something, his roar muffled by the rain smacking on the glass. River pressed his ear against it, his talon clamped over his other ear to drown out the sound of rain. It was muffled, but he was starting to hear words as he strained his hearing.
“-eady to help us now, Grandson?” Vulture asked.
“I told you, I’m not helping you get to Thorn!” Qibli hissed back. But he didn’t make any movements more threatening than baring his teeth.
“Oh, you misunderstand. I don’t need you to get to Thorn, not anymore,” Vulture said with a grin. “She’s coming here. She’s just outside the compound at this very moment.”
Qibli’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything. He simply clamped his maw shut tightly, as if afraid to show any more of an expression. Vultures' smiles seemed to grow wider.
“And that’s not all. Your little Seawing friend is prancing about our rooftops looking for you now. He and some Rainwing friends and Nightwing allies are planning to free you at this moment.” Vulture’s teeth glinted with gold as the sadistic smile grew even wider, in time with Qibli’s despairing frown. “And the best part? We’re going to let them.”
How does he know all of this? River, be careful. Iceflow warned unnecessarily, River thought.
“You see, you are going to kill Thorn for me. With your own claws.” The older dragon leaned down towards Qibli. “For your family. We’ll put Onyx in power, and then we’ll rule from behind. You at my side, as you were always meant to be.”
“Never!” Qibli snapped, loud enough that one of the guards turned to look at the glass.
Uh oh. Iceflow grimaced.
“Hey! Intruder!” the Sandwing shouted, hoisted his spear up, and pointed it at River’s visage by the glass.
Watch this. River thought back with a grin and stepped away from the glass, vanishing into the blackness. The other guard rushed to where he had been moments earlier, waving his spear into the darkness. The first Sandwing kept glancing at the glass, as if expecting him to appear against it once more.
Okay, I’ll admit. Dark scales are useful in some situations.
Seawings are the best. Admit it. River grinned, digging through his pouch from the safety of the inky shadows. The Sandwings seemed too scared to approach. Then he pulled out Arid’s new favorite toy, a blowgun.
You are acceptable at most. Iceflow stated in his mind. River slipped one dart in and pointed the blowgun at the Sandwing, waving his spear around as if he were trying to stab the shadows.
Phwit!
He stopped waving the spear, then fell over, sliding down the domed roof slowly, before landing in a heap on the ground below. River lifted his blowgun again, aiming it at the other Sandwing. This one was ready, though, throwing her spear into the darkness and nearly skewering him. He yelped, glowing lightly in surprise, and revealing his position, while dropping the blowgun. It rolled off the dome, following the unconscious Sandwing, before vanishing into the dark greenery below.
Well, it was about time you messed something up. My turn? Iceflow yawned in his head. Actually yawned, as in made the noise purposefully just to get on River’s nerves. The Seawing twitched his ear in annoyance before taking a ready stance, like the one Winter had taught him.
Shut it, Icecube. Just sit and watch me be awesome.
He shone his scales a little brighter, watching the Sandwing’s pupils shrink in the light. Then he shut them off in an instant, blinding her. At that same moment, River pounced low, ducking under her forelegs. Then he head-butted her in the gut as hard as he could, knocking all the air from her. She slammed into the glass, clutching her chest. River immediately pounced, one talon on her throat, two on her wings, and one pinning her tail barb.
He chanced a glance down into the room.
Four pairs of eyes were all staring up at him.
Moons blasted idiot. Iceflow sighed.
Well, if I’m already seen….. River started.
Don’t you dare. I know what you’re thinking, don’t do it! Iceflow growled immediately.
It’s not like we’re going to die. I thought you wanted to be stabbed. River managed a grin, lifting one talon off his prisoner’s wing to wave down. The bigger male guard waved back before getting elbowed by the female Sandwing.
The guard in his talons started thrashing. His low blow from before having worn off. He dropped his talon back, trying to pin her wing down once more, but she kept smacking him in the snout. River let out a growl, instead using his talon to grab his fishing spear from his back. The look of fear on the dragon guard’s face was mirrored by a look of surprise from Vulture below. River had just enough time to see the Sandwing crimelord snarl in outrage before his fishing spear struck.
Trident.
Straight through her throat, prompting a choked sound of pain with the flash of light, then a loud crack. As if lightning pierced from the sky and raced across the window, the glass pane shattered. The dragon fell from his fishing spear, none the worse for wear. At least until she landed headfirst on the stone below, where she lay in an unconscious pile of yellow scales and black robes.
“What is th-” Vulture shouted.
Fine, go ahead. Iceflow sighed as River dove down, wings flaring out wide to catch him. He flashed the scales on his back three times as he fell, grinning as Qibli saw the signal and closed his eyes tightly. Then he let loose.
“GET RIVER’D!” River shouted as every scale on his body glowed like a miniature sun. The light bleached the stone walls white. It reflected off the falling raindrops, glimmering off the growing puddle and the throne of gold. It glinted in the glass before reaching the clouds in a brilliant show of dazzling bioluminescence. Vulture’s pitch-black pupils narrowed into slits before he let out a yowl of pain, followed by two similar cries behind him.
River finished his roll forward, landing on all fours roughly, but managing to stay standing. His scales stung, and his legs ached, but he didn’t have time to worry about that right now. He smacked the back end of the fishing spear into the female guard’s snout, knocking her away with an angry roar. Then he spun, smacking the larger male guard in the throat with the base of his spear, prompting a choking sound as the Sandwing grabbed his throat.
Those lessons are paying off. Iceflow commented with something that sounded like respect. Almost. Possibly. Maybe. Probably not. Also, it’s a trident.
Fishing spear! River thought back, while at the same time grabbing Qibli’s foreleg. “Come on! We gotta hurry. It’s not going to last long!” He tugged hard, but Qibli didn’t move. He gingerly opened his eyes, giving River a worried look.
“River, you shouldn’t be here! You need to go before he-”
Pale yellow scales tipped with a sharp, poisonous barb slipped under River’s chin. He knew all too well what a Sandwing barb could do by now. The venom wasn’t dangerous when treated quickly, but in the throat? Even with cactus sap, that would at best render him mute for weeks. At worst, kill him.
“Before I what?” Vulture hissed. River didn’t dare turn to look at him, not with the barb pressing into the soft scales of his neck. “How kind of you to drop in, Prince River,” he continued with a snarl, as if the name itself was poison on his tongue.
Switch! Iceflow urged.
If we switch now, we lose our only advantage! He can pop your head as easily as mine right now! River scolded back, trying in vain to keep the fear out of his thoughts.
“Scavenger got your tongue?” Vulture asked, his voice regaining some of his former composure.
“No, no. Just a tailbarb,” River managed with a weak laugh.
“Forgive my tail. It has a mind of its own when trouble is near. I’ve killed many a messenger by pure happenstance,” Vulture said cooly, but he didn’t remove his tail. “Sirocco, Rattlesnake! Stop lounging around and disarm our friend here,” he snapped. River watched the two Sandwings stand up. The female glowered at him, yanking the fishing spear from his talons. The male kept rubbing his eyes with one talon.
“Too bright…” he bemoaned. “It wasn’t supposed to be bright!”
“Shut it, Sirocco!” the female, who must’ve been Rattlesnake, growled, smacking him over the head with his fishing spear. That just caused Sirocco to yelp and rub his head with his other free talon as well now.
“Idiots,” Vulture muttered under his breath, before finally pulling his tail away. Then a sly smile spread across his muzzle. “You weren’t supposed to show yourself.”
“Accidents happen,” River quipped, scooting away from the larger Sandwing to stand next to Qibli. “If you didn’t want your glass broken, you shouldn’t have made it breakable.”
“River! Shut up!” Qibli hissed into his ear, and the Seawing obliged, biting his tongue.
“It seems we will have to change some of our plans. I only prepared one of these, but I’m sure we can make another.” Vulture’s sly voice was thick like syrup, filling the air. River shivered under the tension, wanting to clamp his ears shut to drown him out. “Two pawns are better than one, after all.”
Then Vulture turned his head sharply, back to the Sandwing guards. “Sirocco, take off his earring.”
Sirocco looked between both dragonets for a long moment, as if trying to determine which one had the earring, before finally finding the shiny speck of jewelry hanging from Qibli’s ear. Qibli winced back, trying to avoid the larger dragon, but Sirocco grabbed his neck and yanked the earring free, tearing it out of Qibli’s ear. Qibli, for his part, only whimpered softly, managing not to cry out in pain.
“Geez! Don’t you know how to take those off right? I’m surprised you still have ears!” River scowled, raising a claw to dap at Qibli’s ear. He didn’t have anything to stop the bleeding.
That was his protection earing. I have a bad feeling about this. Iceflow warned.
River tensed up, turning back to Vulture to see he was holding a small golden stud earring, molded with the image of a vulture in flight. River stepped in front of Qibli, growling low with wings wide.
“Rattlesnake,” Vulture spoke, still gazing at the earring. “Move our guest aside.”
River spun around just in time to duck under the fishing spear's prongs. A lash from her tail backed River against the wall, in danger of being impaled. His snarl of retort was cut off as Rattlesnake shoved the fishing spear at his muzzle again, impaling it in the wall above his head. River grabbed it, using the stiff weapon as leverage to kick out at the Sandwing, then followed it up with a tail smack to the snout.
A small crack was heard, and blood trickled from her nose. She slowly lifted her head, smoke billowing from her muzzle. “You are dead meat for that, fish eater,” Rattlesnake hissed low and angrily, like a snake coiled and ready to strike. River gulped and yanked on the fishing spear to pull it free, but it was stuck fast.
We should swap. Iceflow growled low, feeling River’s anxiety while itching for a fight.
Can you honestly say you can beat all three at once? River asked, already knowing the answer. We survive this, keep you a secret, theeeeen you can come back and beat her up.
Iceflow sighed in his mind. Just don’t die.
“Rattlesnake, you may let our guest go,” Vulture’s voice said from behind her.
“But h-”
“Did I stutter?” he said sharply. Rattlesnake immediately bowed her head and stepped away, the smoke slowing to a stop.
“Of course, grandfather.”
Behind her, River saw Vulture with a wing around Qibli; the smaller Sandwing had his head bowed and wouldn’t meet River’s eyes. The small stud now hung in his uninjured ear.
“Qibli, my grandson. Be a dear and take all of your friends’ gear.”
His movements were stiff at first, as if the muscles were doing their best to fight back, and yet, he moved forward. Qibli’s eyes widened in fear as he met River’s own finally. First, he grabbed the fishing spear, yanking it out of the wall and dropping it on the ground. Then he grabbed the pouch from River’s neck, snapping the cord.
The Seawing didn’t know what to do. Qibli was… he was…what? But then he reached for Iceflow’s band.
No! Iceflow shouted in fear.
No, I’ll die! River thought frantically. The fear was real, even if he knew it was a spell. His talons clamped on the band, and he instinctively hissed at Qibli.
“Oh, something you want to keep?”
Don’t let them take me! Iceflow cried, more fear in his voice than before. White scales tried to rise on his arm, wanting to fight back.
“Rattlesnake, Sirocco, hold him down,” Vulture commanded with a flick of his tail. Two pairs of heavy talons gripped his shoulders, slamming him into the ground. The shoulder Rattlesnake held had twisted, popping out of its socket with a yowl of pain, causinga satisfied smirk on her snout.
“I’m sorry,” Qibli said, tears streaming from his eyes as he once again reached for Iceflow’s band. White scales were traveling up his arm faster, and River did his best to pull away, but with his front leg dislocated and two dragons on his back, he couldn’t stop it.
No, no no no! Not again! River! Iceflow shouted in his head.
Qibli’s claws slipped under the white leather and started pulling it free, the white scales receding. Iceflow’s shouts are getting quieter. Tears dripped from River’s eyes, and he roared in distress, matching Qibli’s own as his talons betrayed him.
RIVER!
ICEFLOW!
With a sound like a scroll being torn in half, Iceflow was cut off. And his mind was… clear. Empty. He was missing something. He was missing everything. River felt hollow, incomplete. He’s tear-streaked eyes following the dangling limp band, following Iceflow, as Qibli handed him to Vulture.
“G-give h-”
Qibli’s talons slapped over River’s muzzle, silencing him. The Sandwing gave a small shake of his head, almost unnoticed, but the message was clear. Don't say anything.
“Hmmm. The white stripes are gone…. Qibli, what is the enchantment on this band?” Vulture asked, holding it out.
“It was made to allow River access to the Icekingdom,” Qibli said, head bowed.
“Hmmmm.” Vulture eyed the two dragonets, both shedding tears over his stone floor. “You seem very….attached.”
“It was a gift, and proof he’s of the Icewing circles,” Qibli added quickly, still not looking up.
“Sirocco. Put this on.” Vulture tossed the band to the Sandwing, who jumped to catch it, giving River a little more room to breathe.
It took the dragon a few moments to figure out how to slip it over his arm, and it only made it a fraction of the way up that it had on River, but white scales striped his foreleg quickly enough.
Why were his scales on that dragon? Those were his and Iceflow’s.
River bared his teeth in a low growl.
“I feel…colder,” Sirocco said after a bit. “Cool tattoo though! Better as skulls. Can you make these skulls?” the dragon asked, leaning down to River.
“Just colder? Nothing else?” Vulture interrupted.
“Hmmm….” Sirocco thought for a bit….then a bit longer…..then even longer.
“SIROCCO!” Vulture snapped, causing the Sandwing to jump.
“Nope! Normal! Just cold!” he said quickly.
“Hmmm…..Qibli, take that last band off your friend.”
Even as Qibli’s talons grabbed the bracelet and unsuccessfully tried to pull it off, Qibli started speaking. “I cannot. It’s enchanted to never be removed unwillingly.”
Vulture paused, watching his grandson try and fail to even move the band an inch. “I see… You may stop. Any other enchantments I should know about?”
“Fireproof,” Qibli answered curtly. Vulture frowned.
“All of the enchantments,” he growled.
“Fireproof, can’t be removed, adds the patterns of the royal family, and….and….” Qibli tried to clamp his muzzle shut with his talons, but he couldn’t stop himself from speaking the last enchantment. “And makes him a Seawing.”
Vulture’s ears perked up, and his grin grew wider, showing way too many teeth. “So this is your little scavenger friend. Good. Goooooood. I can use this.” He prattled on to himself. “Adopted prince of the Seawings, and a high-ranking Icewing now as well. You’ll do nicely to set the stage for my plans.”
River hissed, baring his teeth through tears and hollowness. “I’ll never help you!” He growled, only to be interrupted with another yelp of pain when Rattlesnake twisted his dislocated foreleg.
“We’ll see about that, false dragon,” Vulture waved a talon at Rattlesnake, and she tossed the fishing spear to him with his tail, keeping both talons on River. “Qibli, tell me what enchantment is on this.”
Qibli let out a small sigh of relief, pulling himself away from River, before bowing his head. “I do not know.”
That seemed to confuse Vulture; his ears perked, and his eyes narrowed. “Tell me the truth, grandson.”
“I do not know,” Qibli repeated. He raised his head, tear-streaked scales shining in the brazier flames, but his eyes were hard, focused. “The enchantment Kinkajou wrote was made so that only she and the dragon supposed to wield it could know its use. Even mind-reading can’t pull that secret free. It was necessary to defeat Scarlet.”
“Yes, that sounds like something you would do,” Vulture scowled, turning to River. “You were the wielder. What is this for?”
River bit back a growl. His eyes glanced back at the white scales crawling up Sirocco’s leg, and he managed a small grin. “It’s Pyrrhia’s largest fork.”
Sirocco let out a short ‘ha!' of laughter, which got River to grin a bit wider. Rattlesnake yanked his foreleg, cutting that grin short with a yowl of pain.
“The enchantments, you oversized porpoise,” she growled in River’s ear.
“Ooh, big word. Try not to hurt yourself,” the Seawing snapped back, this time ready for the spike of pain as she twisted once more, letting out only a grunt of pain. His foreleg was now pointing in the completely wrong direction, a fact that made River a bit sick to his stomach. He looked back at Qibli, seeing the Sandwing wince and look away as well.
“One more chance,” Vulture tutted, slapping one end of the trident over and over in his talon. “Tell me what it does.”
River took a deep breath, straining his head to look up at Vulture, the movement sending shockwaves of pain down his twisted leg. After a few shuddering breaths, he grinned. “It’s enchanted to only be held by fish-brained morons.” He managed a soft laugh before cutting himself off. “Wait…I think I said that wron-AAAAAAAGH!”
Rattlesnake yanked his arm with a loud crack before letting it fall limp to the ground. River couldn’t move it at all now, just trying caused so much pain, and the tears were returning. He had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from crying every time he took in a breath. Vulture leaned down with a bemused expression, and try as he might, River couldn’t stop himself from pulling his head away from that rotted camel breath.
“You think you’re funny. I think you’ve spent a bit too much time with my grandson. He, too, thought he was funny when he first got here, but now he’s my obedient prodigy, aren’t you Qibli?” Vulture turned back to the Sandwing, who didn’t answer, and simply turned away.
“Aw, don’t be shy. Why don’t you show your friend exactly what happens when you think you can make me the punchline?” The older Sandwing took a step back and flicked his talon. Rattlesnake pulled away immediately, and Sirocco took a step back, closer to his grandfather. “Qibli, stomp on Prince River’s broken foreleg.”
Qibli’s eyes widened as he marched over to River and raised a talon high. Then he slammed it down on the Seawing’s leg before River had a chance to react. River screamed out in pain, his vision going white for several moments before dimming back to the browns and golds of the walls. Slowly, the hundreds of black, beady eyes of the skulls on Vulture’s scales came back into focus. Each one seemed to share that same gleeful grin the crimelord wore. A grin that said ‘I have everything I need to break you.’
“Still think you’re funny?” Vulture asked, tilting his head slightly.
River breathed through his teeth, trying to get the air to respond. He tried to rise with his good leg, but couldn’t manage more than a few inches up before the pain sent him crashing down. Instead, he contented himself with glaring at the Sandwing from the floor.
“I don’t know. Still think you’re menacing?” River growled.
“River, please!” Qibli begged. “Don’t egg him o-”
“Silence,” Vulture interrupted his grandson. Qibli’s voice immediately cut out, even as his mouth moved. “Grandson, break one of his talons. On the bad leg.”
Once again, Qibli’s talons moved, gripping River’s broken foreleg. Just the motion sent white-hot pain through his limb, and he let out a small whimper, closing his eyes tightly.
SNAP!
River roared in pain, one of his talons hanging as limp as his leg. He kept his eyes squeezed shut, afraid that if he opened them, Vulture would see him crying, or worse, he’d see Qibli crying.
“The enchantments!” Rattlesnake hissed.
“Don’t bother,” Vulture replied with a sigh. Not a sound of defeat, but of having done this many times before. “If a dragon doesn’t crack to the first broken bone, they’ll never crack. That was just for annoying me.” He paused, and River heard him lean close, his breath on his ear. “I’ll get everything I want soon enough, false dragon. And you’ll give it to me yourself.”
Then he pulled away, the stink of his breath lingering for a few seconds. “Sirocco, take that band and Qibli’s earring to my treasury. Rattlesnake, take this trident to the armory, then fetch me Chameleon. Qibli...”
Vulture stopped, and River chanced opening an eye, just in time to see that camel turd grin. “You will take River to the observatory. Make sure you’re both visible. If Thorn comes to save you both before I get back, let her. And when you’re alone with her, kill her. If your friend tries to escape or stop you, kill him. If he tries to take out the earring I generously gave you, kill him. Oh, and you may speak.”
“Go…..suck a…..cactus,” River panted out. Vulture paused, then turned to him with that same grin.
“You really are a glutton for punishment, aren’t you?”
“You can….break me….all you….want,” River forced out through the pain. He let out a small whimper as Qibli draped the Seawing’s wing over his back to take the weight off his bad leg.
“River…ple-” Qibli started to say, but River pressed on.
“But you’ll….never win….” River managed a smile. “Just wait….till Winter…..sees what….you did… You are….so dead,” he said with a small chuckle that faded into a pained cough as Qibli started moving him forward. Even with the weight off his leg, the pain was excruciating.
“We’ll see, little Seawing. Maybe I’ll let you be the one to kill him with your own talons. That’ll surely spark a new war,” Vulture’s smile never ceased as River was led down one of the tunnels, and away from the rain pattering down in the throneroom.