Allie Rose

Author bio

This isn't my real name. Five years ago... What dragon in the right mind would ever leave her home? Apparently, that was Azure. But it was for the right reason... she hoped. It had been love at first sight. Beetle and Azure met in secret for months, but now that her mother found out... It was time to go. Except there was a teeny-tiny problem. The egg that was supposed to hatch in a week? It was hatching now. "Stay inside!" Azure hissed at it, even though that was ridiculous, because it was so young, "STAY!" She pressed the cracks together, trying to send the unspeakable message to STAY INSIDE. "Its not time!" It was not going to listen. She sighed. It was going to hatch while she escaped, then. She went over the plan in her head. Step one: Make a distraction. Azure was confident this wasn't going to be the hardest part, since she luckily had a friend who specialized in this. Ant would take care of that, making sure Beetle and Azure had time to gather to a say a finale goodbye to this place. Step two: Hide their tracks. If they were fleeing Jewel Hive, they couldn't let anybody know where they were going. Beetle and Azure had to sneak out at night, while one of Ant's famous parties were going on. Beetle was a little sad to miss it, Ant had been his best friend since they were little. But they had to go, now. Step three: The hardest one. Traveling the plains between the Hives unnoticed, and now that the Leafwings had small villages set up everywhere, that was even harder. Traveling to Cicada Hive would be the easier part, entering the Hive was harder. "Psst, Azure!" A voice called from her bedroom window, "Come one, its time." Azure saw the familiar eyes of Beetle, her mate. "Beetle! Its early still!" Azure scrambled to hold the egg up. "And look! Its hatching!" "I know, but Ant had to move it up- wait, WHAT?!" Beetle peered at the egg. "No! Its not time-" "I didn't decide this, you know. We're going to have to wait, then leave with the dragonet once its hatched." Azure breathed in deeply. Beetle put a talon on top of Azure's hand, both over the egg. "Its going to be okay. We can still do this." "Maybe Ant can do another one tomorrow-" "Your mother is going to see the dragonet. We can't hide it." "But..." Azure hesitated. "We can't bring with us, not like this!" "We have to." Beetle sighed. Azure nodded, and wrapped the egg in a silk cloth made by herself. Then she packed the particulars and the peculiars. She found herself staring at a picture of her family. Two proud Silkwings both with their talons resting above their grinning daughter, who was holding up a 'perfect attendance' award. Azure felt a tear roll down her cheek, and she brushed it away with a claw-tip. "Ready?" Beetle asked. Azure nodded, and set down the framed picture. Beetle lifted his amber wings and leapt into the sky. Azure spread her purple wings and gently flapped beside Beetle. She could hear the music from the party, smooth jazz, Ant's favorite. Azure felt the egg tremble in her talons. She wondered how the dragonet would look like. Beetle was a Hivewing, and she was a Silkwing. Would the dragonet have a metamorphosis? Would it have silk? Would it have antennas? As if with an answer, the thumping from the egg ceased, as if it was insulted by Azure's thinking. Hybrids weren't as rare as they had been, but they were still scrutinized by their tribes. Azure hoped Cicada Hive would be better for her dragonet. She hoped... END OF PROLOUGE Chapter One Lavendar had always been a little weird. She was odd looking, her Hivewing body sporting lavender scales and amber undertones. Her snout was missing the normal Hivewing curve. And of course, the tiny antennae that curled over her head in an odd, not Hivewing-ish way at all. She had the usual black scales doting her back in a triangle pattern, but they faded into a metallic blue at the end of her tail. She was probably the one of the most brazier dragonets ever. Sometimes she would stare at the tiny mirror in the shop powder room, looking at her odd face and curled antennas. Centipede criticized her for having too much vanity, but it was the opposite. She sighed and stirred the pot of broiling carrots and onions. It boiled, and bubbles popped. The smell of delicious broth tickled her nose, and she slid the iron lid over the pot. Instantly her snout became colder from the missing heat. “Lavi, is the soup ready or not?!” An old cranky voice called from a storefront in the small soup shop they lived in together, she and her mentor. Centipede was an old, grey with stripes of muted pink Silkwing who was generally cranky, but lovable and sweet when you got to know her. “Yes, or no? You’re not just going to sit there, are you? We have things to do unless you don’t want to go to the library today for your hatching day!” “Yes, it’s ready! Three moons.” Lavendar rolled her green-gray eyes and hefted the pot onto a wooden tray. She trudged, still holding the tray with the pot on top, from the cellar where they kept the dried food and pans to where Centipede was sitting, in the storefront organizing spices and herbs. “Here it is.” Lavendar almost fell as she hefted the heavy pot onto the table. “Oof.” “Hmm, did you add the parsley?” Centipede lifted a wooden spoon to her mouth. Warm, savory broth dripped down her chin as she liked her lips. “Of course.” Lavender doused her talons in a tub of cold water next to the table. She felt its coolness against her burning claws and sighed contentedly. “It’s missing carrots!” Centipede shook her head and added a pinch of salt. Mixing it, she hummed an old tune about dragonets saving the world or something. “I added carrots!” Lavendar scratched at her wrists absentmindedly. “Not enough!” “You always say that!” “And you always never put enough.” Centipede set the pot back on the tray and busied herself sorting the spices and herbs again. “Aren’t we going to the library?” Lavendar dried her hands off with a rag and switched the closed sign to open. She had been wanting to go for weeks now. “First we have to get through the morning customers, and then we can go, I promise.” Centipede put a hand over her heart and smiled. “Fine. After the customers.” As if on cue, the bell on the door jingled as a lanky Hivewing entered Soups, Teas, and other Delights. His scales were a dark yellow with dabs of black across his arms and tail. He wore a small tail band and a pouch over his chest. He looked around, nodding to himself, then looked at Centipede. “Do you perhaps have some cumin?” He asked. “Oh, yes. Right over here.” Centipede took him to a sector with small bottles of spices and herbs tied in bunches. She shot Lavendar a look. Go to the cellar. Lavendar internally sighed. Centipede always told her to go out back because the customers didn’t like the idea of a shop being run by a weird looking dragon. Even though it was obvious that it was run by Centipede, and Lavendar was her apprentice. She turned around and walked back to the storage room, also called the cellar. Quietly, she organized the shelves, as Centipede was a messy dragon, but kept the front clean and orderly. There were shelves full of spices and herbs, jars with liquids and drinks and medicine, and the shops best dessert, honey drops. Honey drops were Lavender’s favorite thing to make and eat. She grabbed the items necessary to make honey drops. Honey, of course. That was like seventy percent of honey drops. Also palm oil, a delicacy most shops didn’t live up to. Sugar was included because they are meant to be sweet. Dried coconut pieces were smashed to paste to give it a edge. Different citrus fruit jam was mixed in to ad a kick and a fresh feeling. Lavendar poured or scooped everything into a bowl and mashed it up just to be safe. She poured the paste into a cauldron, lit the fire in the corner with a piece of Flamesilk, and set the cauldron on top of the rising flames. Lavendar dusted off her hands and rechecked the contents of the cauldron. She felt it heat up, but it would be a few minutes before it was ready to be poured into containers to be sealed. Her wrist itched, and she scratched it again. Why was it itching so much? She peered at them and noticed tiny specks of glowing embers something. What? She scratched at them with her claw, and it stayed there. That is… weird. She thought, maybe I should tell Centipede. Lavendar peeked through the open doorway and saw Centipede behind the counter alone. Her glasses were perched at the edge of her nose, hanging precariously over the edge. Her gaze was calm, as she sorted the herbs. “Centipede, somethings wrong with my wrists…” Lavendar approached cautiously. “Let me see.” She took Lavender’s talons in her talons, staring at them. A look crossed her face but was rubbed away hurriedly. “Hmm, let me put some salve on that burn.” Centipede looked away and went into the cellar. Lavendar stayed put and waited for her to come back. This was probably nothing. Lavendar refused to look at her wrists. When Centipede came back, she was holding several bottles of a green salve, a dabbing cloth, and a moisturizer. Lavendar stared at her. “Really? Is this necessary?” Centipede stared at the bottles. “Okay, maybe just a salve and the moisturizer?” “Okay, but… why?” Lavendar gestured to everything. “Oh, its nothing Lavi.” Centipede hurriedly put away most of the bottles and the dabbing cloth. “Okay, hold still.” Lavendar rolled her eyes, but she held out her arms at Centipede. Centipede gently sprayed some water from the moisturizer, then poured some salve, and wrapped everything in a cloth. “Really?” Lavendar poked at the cloth. “Yes. Now come on, we’re going to the library.” Centipede took her satchel and flipped the Open sign. “Okay!” Lavendar also took her small pouch and walked out the door. The busy thrum of Hivewing, Silkwing, and Leafwing bodies mingling about was a roar in Lavendar's ears. Wings buzzed and voice howled, the sound of the Hive was maximum. She knew why. Today was the day of the metamorphosis for the queen's son, Weaver, who was also hatched the same day as her. Lots of dragons were going to watch. Lavendar was going to see, too. Everyone was. Weaver lived in Cicada Hive, but he had his own tutors and teachers, and didn't go to the Cicada School, where Hivewings, Silkwings, and Leafwings attended. This would be the second time most of Cicada Hive saw him. He was rarely seen, and it was always at a distance. Everyone was surprised when it was announced that Weaver would have a public Metamorphosis. "Three Moons, watch out!" a Leafwing shoved Lavendar. She had almost walked into him. "Sorry! Sorry sorry sorry." Lavendar apologized. "Sorry, again!" The Leafwing huffed and walked away. Lavendar breathed out. "What happened there?" Centipede asked. "Sorry, I just stumbled into this Leafwing and--" "Oh, of course. Come now." Centipede spread her wings and launched herself over the edge of the small walkway lining the walls of the Hive, connecting all the shops. Lavendar followed, clutching her pouch as she soared next to Centipede, dodging flying dragons. They turned a corner, and the library doors came into view. Centipede and Lavendar touched down on the walkway, and pushed the doors open wide. "Meet me in and hour back near the cafe, okay?" Centipede told her, waited her to nod, then walked in that direction. Lavendar smiled. The library was her favorite place to be. Its high walls stocked with books in every corner, ladders for the wingless Silkwing dragonets, soft glowing lamps and a fresh smell of books. It was just awesome. Lavendar flew to her favorite place in the library, a tiny corner up near the roof that used to be a storage area but was now used as a tiny books-reading corner. Almost nobody knew about it, since the arcs holding up the wall blocked most of the small entrance. As she approached she noticed the lamp light was on, but it was rarely on, unless... Lavendar peeked inside. There was a shadowy figure, only his face outlined by the flame light. Sitting in her chair, reading. WHY? It wasn't illegal, but the place was a secure spot and it was mostly used by her. Who was this dragon. She squinted, and realized it was a Silkwing, without wings yet. He was a dappled pattern of white, orange, and blue color, with long curling antennas and a calm face. "Um, hello!" Lavendar said. The dragon scrambled back, almost nocking a stand of books over. "Wha- oh, um! Uh..." Lavendar held in a laugh. This dragon was so... peculiar. "Uh, hi. What's your name? I'm Lavendar, Lavi for short." "Hi, Lavi." The dragon looked down. He didn't seem to want to answer her question. But eventually, he responded. "I'm... Weaver. My- my mother is queen Luna." END OF CHAPTER ONE! Chapter Two (WIP): Lavendar staggered back in surprise. What? she thought, Weaver-- the prince! Weaver-- the prince, the son of queen Luna-- was HERE. In Cicada Hive's library. Where Lavendar went to read. And in her favorite nook. What were the odds? Weaver had, well, not that she knew personally, his own library, or so the rumors went. But again, the rumors also said that Weaver was secretly a Hivewing, had a hundred servants, and actually lived in Pyrrhia. So, maybe not so accurate. But still. Wasn't he supposed to be accompanied by a guard at all times? Just in case? "You're not going to hate me, are you?" Weaver looked up, his gaze sad and lonely. "What? No!" Lavendar shook her head. "No no no. Why would you think that?" "Well, normally all the other dragonets do, so I kinda assumed..." He shut the book, setting it on the shelf. "Well-- all the other dragonets don't know." Lavendar said suddenly, feeling a little protective over Weaver. "Hmm." Weaver actually thought about what she said. "Thanks, I guess." They were both quiet for a moment. Lavendar rubbed her wrists, again. Weaver looked nervous, but it could just be the shadows an his face. Then Lavendar remembered what today was. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be getting prepared for your metamorphosis?" Lavendar cocked her head. "Yeah, well..." Weaver's cheeks turned bright red. "I'm not really supposed to be here... but don't tell anyone, okay?" "Oh... okay. I guess." Lavendar was wide eyed. A prince not doing what he was supposed to do? Unheard of. She blinked, confused. "But, why don't you want to...?" Weaver wringed his talons together, and was quiet for a moment. Finally he spoke, in a quiet voice. "I just... I don't want to do my metamorphosis in front of everyone. It just... feels weird." Lavendar could feel like he was keeping back something, but she decided not to bother him about it. "Well... okay." Quietly she nestled herself into one of the open chairs, bringing her wings closer to her back and wrapping her tail around her legs. She selected her favorite book, the one about Cricket's Great Destiny. She resided in the LeafSilk Kingdom, and one day Lavendar hoped to visit her. Cricket was her personal hero. Everything about her, the fact that she couldn't be controlled by Queen Wasp, her intelligence, the way that she loved to ask interesting questions that Lavendar would have never have thought of. And maybe another day, she would be just like her. Save the world? In a heart beat! Love your friends? Lavendar didn't really have any... Be totally heroic and awesome? THREE MOONS YES! But Lavendar wasn't any of those things, just a small weird looking Hivewing dragonet... A loud bang sounded from down below, where a crowd of dragons -well, crowded- a figure. Lavendar could faintly hear what they were saying, across the din. "Could you answer a question for me?" "Hey, is that THE CROWN?" "Please please pleaseeeee can you sign this paper? PLEASE?" "Stop crowding!" "You stop pushing!" "Woah, look at that!" "Hey! Watch out!" "I wanna see!" "MOVE!" Lavendar covered her ears. "They're sooo loud!" She shouted at Weaver, who was pale as a ghost. "Oh no, that's.... that's my mother. She's come to get me." He hid behind the chair. "Don't tell her I'm here!" Lavendar was startled, and also torn. Weaver, the prince, his dragonets heir to the Silkwing throne, or her Queen, Queen Luna, who commanded all Silkwings? She glanced down at the mob, then at the Silkwing behind the chair, then down again. "Why... why do you need to hide?" Weaver peeked out. "I don't know... I just have to." "But- your metamorphosis. Its going to be soon!" Lavendar reminded him, pointing at his wrists, which were glowing softly. He sighed, rubbing then. "I know... eventually I'll have to go. But not now." Lavendar understood him. Centipede always forced her to do things, and even though she didn't like them, she knew that Centipede was helping her, or trying to anyway. Queen Luna was trying to help her son. Her son disagreed with her. It was the way of life. Lavendar waited a moment, looking at the queen search the isles below, a group of dragons tailing her. "Should you go now?" Weaver looked over, then shook his head. He proceeded to read. Lavendar scratched her wrists. They were itchy, for some reason.