Chapter Two: Daughter of Ice

A shimmering white ice dragonet followed the others in silence. The only noise she made was that of her talons thumping on the snow-covered ground, despite the shouts coming from the others behind and in front of her. Tail rippling and snapping as she ran, the dragonet grinned in silent delight and flapped her wings hard to give herself a short burst of speed.

Flapping her wings again, the dragonet quickly overcame the two in front of her, and her claws thumped over a blue ribbon that had been laid on the ground. She flared her wings and dug her hind legs into the snow, skidding to a stop. Snow sprayed everywhere as the other two dragonets did the same. 

The first dragonet turned, pink and blue ruff flicking upwards in delight as she padded nimbly back towards the ribbon. Lowering her neck, she picked it up and carefully placed it on her back. Turning back to the others, she smiled, and flicked the tip of her wings outwards slightly before folding them back against her sides.

 

“Come on Crystal.” One of the others whined “You’ve gotta let us win sometimes!” Crystal frowned, tilting her head, and flicking her ruff slightly. The other dragonet huffed. “Because you’re gonna have to leave, and then we won’t be able to race you anymore. Someone’s gotta be able to say they beat you!”

Crystal snorted and flicked the tips of her wings outwards. Some of the others shifted on their paws, but the dragonet who had spoken, dark raven black with white feathers snapped his tail and said, “I don’t care what you think, you’re gonna let some of us win.” He took a threatening step forwards, low growl rumbling up from his throat.

“Alright that’s enough!” a raspy voice shouted a long white neck reached down, and a white muzzle wrapped around the black-scaled dragonet’s sides, pinning his wings to his body as he was lifted into the air.

The other dragonets quickly dispersed, white and gray scales blending into the frost covered buildings. Soon, Crystal, the older dragon, and the squirming black dragonet were the only ones left. Setting the black dragonet back down, the adult looked down at him with stern blue eyes. “Sleet, you hold no authority over Selected. You hold no authority over anyone for that matter, you have yet to earn your place.”

Sleet’s neck jerked away from the older dragon, but he held his ground, ruff trembling. His jaws parted slightly, but before he could make a sound the older dragon continued “This is not your first time either, as such action must be taken. The Elders will determine your punishment in the morning. Until then go to your home and do not exit until an Elder or an Elder’s representative arrives to speak with you.”

Sleet spread his wings into a bow, although it was clear he didn’t want to, and slowly he turned. Snarling at Crystal as he passed, Sleet made his way towards his house. Once the black scaled dragon was out of earshot, the older dragon turned her attention to Crystal. “I am sorry about Sleet young one, we do our best to teach that Selected are to be honored, but there are those that feel…otherwise.”

Crystal shrugged her shoulders, half splaying her feathered wings. The older dragon nodded and replied “I am glad to hear you are not concerned by this. Continue to be at ease, all shall be set in its proper place soon enough.”

The older dragon nodded, and then turned away. She took long steps, and Crystal was alone soon enough. Flicking her tail forwards to wrap around her paws, Crystal sat in the snow and tilted her head back slightly. From where she sat, the top of the Forevergreen tree was just barely visible. 

The Forevergreen was a rare tree that had been in the center of Wynter’s Grove for as long as anyone could remember. Whenever an Elder or a Selected died, their body was buried underneath the roots of the massive tree, to help keep it alive. It was kind of disgusting, but at the same time it was tradition, just like the Silencing.

One of Crystal’s paws lifted and traced the diamond-shaped scar on her neck. 

When she had been newly-hatched, the Fire Dragons had come, and for whatever reason deemed her worthy to serve the castle. For that reason, they’d cut her vocal chords, the diamond pattern ensuring she’d keep her ice ability, and the ability to make soft noises like grunts and low growls or purrs, but no further speech.

Slowly, Crystal got to her paws. Her home was on the opposite end of the town, the sun was starting to fade into the horizon, and the only thing she wanted to do now was crawl into her nest and go to sleep.

As she walked away, Crystal thought about Sleet’s words. She had to be the best, but she lacked the signs to tell him that. Pausing, Crystal turned her head back to glance at the Forevergreen and remembered her vow. To work as hard as she could to learn, train, and rise the ranks. She had to be the best, she had to return home, she had to protect those that could not protect themselves. 

She had to keep her kind safe.