《The Delta's Fire》


 Introduction: Had I Known.

    Had he known, perhaps things would''ve been different than they are now. Maybe, just maybe, his sister would get to see his face one last time. Maybe the others would get to hear one more joke of his. Maybe they would share a meal together in the halls of the SkyWing Kingdom. But, Stork never knew, and he would never get to tell the others after him. Instead, the prime MudWing diplomat for SkyWing-MudWing relations was being assassinated on the very peaks of the same mountain where a treaty had been made not two days prior. A treaty for peace, to end this formidable war and give his people a chance to rest. Stork had pushed for this freedom clause ever since Queen Scarlet launched a war of her own, against the SandWings no less. Turns out, Scarlet wanted the mesas over the desert''s outer edges, as ''technically'' those were mountains. However, Stork had opposed this idea, trying to speak on behalf of his own people.


    Naturally, Scarlet resented the MudWing''s ideas, simply because he was nothing more than a moving pawn between mud and rock. His life was replaceable with the five other diplomats from the Kingdom of the Mud. Stork only now wished he could somehow warn them of the enslavement they''d face when shackled to the thrones of two queens. His heart beat faster as he thought of his own kin, Tadpole, a smaller MudWing who just wanted to help her people into a more favorable position within all the kingdoms. Of course, her dreams were enormous, but the SkyWing administration was her hypothetical foot in the door to accomplishing that goal. It was only now that Stork wished he''d killed her dream. But how could he have known that this was the price for playing the messenger.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The sky was perfectly clear above him.. How poetic. It wasn''t raining, there was no audience to witness his death. It was simply him, Queen Scarlet, and the sky above. ''Please.. Tadpole, I''m begging you.. Give up your foolish ambition! She''ll kill you too!Please.. Please Tadpole. Stop.'' His words echoed within his skull, hoping they''d somehow find a way to break through and invade the ears of the young dragonet. No doubt she was laying within the thick reeds of the westbank mud pool. It was where they always stayed.. A gentle tear rolled out from Stork''s eye. Seeing such a beautiful sky made him miss home. He missed his friends, his food. But there was nothing he could do now. Nothing could drag him back home. No dragon was coming to save him. Even the weather seemed to undermine his death. Truly, Scarlet had turned the world''s eyes away from this injustice. At least he wouldn''t be a part of this world anymore, if that was even a bright side.


    With his eyes gazing upwards, Stork felt the open air rush into his neck. No doubt, Scarlet had done it. The world spun some as he felt his legs give way, and his heartbeat quicken. The last person he saw was Tadpole, who was still sleeping peacefully in the mud. He hoped she rested well, and lived a full life.. Even if he wasn''t there. Had he known, perhaps things could''ve been different.

 Chapter 1: Growing Concern

    The day was as clear as one could get, the skies were nothing but vast pools of open azure. The sun shone down warmly, and for those in the Delta, it was clear that it was a good day. A diminutive MudWing by the name of Lichen was on a mission. He had been elected by the Delta to serve as an intermediary between them and the Queen, relaying information from the palace to the Delta. It had been a grueling two days of travel to make it to the city, the gem of the MudWing Kingdom. It had been a while since he''d made a trip to the palace, which had then made his sudden appearance to the courts all the more bizarre.


    The pillars of the building''s interior halls stretched towards the heavens, large tapestries fell down to the floor like elaborate curtains. Lichen was alarmed by the beauty of this place, as it contrasted the mud and clay buildings surrounding it. From what he''d heard, this palace had undergone new renovations, which would explain the new contrast. The SkyWing Queen had ordered for quartz and marble to be shipped to the gem of the Delta as an act of supposed goodwill, but any dragon with half of a brain understood that this was a political move. It had infuriated Queen Moorhen a great deal, as this was Scarlet''s subtle way of telling Moorhen ''your palace is an embarrassment to me''.


    He shook his head. Lichen was not here to sightsee; he was here for answers. More importantly, answers concerning the Delta''s star dragon, Stork. He embodied all it meant to be a true MudWing, and as such, he had gone off to be an ambassador for the MudWings in the SkyWing courts. However, it had been years since anyone had seen him, and it had worried many dragons that he hadn''t sent a word in a year. Lichen held his own beliefs as to what had happened to Stork, but his suspicions were ungrounded and shaky at best. He was basing this theory off Scarlet''s reputation, as it was a rather infallible variable. A part of him wanted to ask outright what had befallen their Bigwings, but Lichen knew better. He would have to ask a series of carefully chosen questions first, subtly working his way to the one he really wanted answered.


    Reaching the end of the hall, Lichen stood in front of two grand wooden doors. They held a very brief synopsis of MudWing history and folklore, all intricately carved out in the wood. The small MudWing pushed past the doors and entered into the Royal Parlor. To be frank, this room was nothing more than a show of wealth to make an alliance with the MudWings seem promising for reasons other than their military might. The many gems embedded in the walls glistened in the light of the sun. A large round table smothered in papers sat in the middle of the parlor. Looking in that direction, Lichen could make out a few maps, some letters containing the SkyWing seal, an odd package or two, and some books. He was too far away to read the book spines for any extra information, but they seemed to be important if they were being housed on this table.


    "Lichen! So you didn''t drown in all that mud from the Delta! Must say, a bit surprised seeing how small you are, but it would be a glorious death to say the least."


    That mid-ranged voice with a slight twang was instantly recognizable. It belonged to an old friend and fellow scholar. As Lichen turned to confirm his suspicions, his snout was buried within the wings of Crocodile. Lichen grumbled to himself as the larger dragons squished him before stepping back and giving that same familiar toothy smile.


    "When I heard that a sickly little dragon with a small limp was seen wandering the palace, I knew that the rumors had to be verified by my own eyes. Sure enough, here is Lichen in the flesh! Three moons above, it has been a while since we walked the capital grounds together." Crocodile mentally calculated a few numbers before nodding, as if satisfied with the conclusion he''d reached. "Two and a half years give or take a month."


    Looking at Crocodile again, Lichen admitted it had been too long since he''d shared in fellowship with this meat head. A smile finally graced Lichen''s face.


    "Yeah, I may have skipped out on a few check-ins with the registrar''s office since becoming an intermediary. It''s a breath of fresh air to know that this palace hasn''t changed you, Crocodile."


    As sweet as the reunion was, that instant was overshadowed by Stork''s absence. A pained expression desired to fall upon Lichen''s face now, but he retained the smile in order to not worry Crocodile. The anxiety would only be felt ten-fold by the soul in front of him. Stork and Crocodile had been tied together by the hip when they were younger, and the two often wrote to each other in the spare moments they had with their jobs. Truly, these friends were as close as they came.


    "You haven''t heard from Stork, have you? I checked the incoming SkyWing mail only to find nothing from him. It is quite odd that he hasn''t said anything in the past two weeks. I was just curious." Crocodile''s tone cut Lichen''s heart straight through, as his suspicion of Stork''s fate was only growing stronger with this new evidence.


    "I''m sorry, Crocodile. We haven''t seen him in the Delta for three years now. He''s been off making this land a great place in the eyes of the world. And we hope he''ll come back home sooner rather than later. We all know he can''t live without a mud bath for too much longer." Lichen tried to couple this joke with a light laugh. It did not come out that way. Worry quickly tainted his laughing tone, and obviously set Crocodile on edge.


    Lichen backed off slightly, lowering his head in order to cover the pathetic excuse for a laugh as nothing more than a cough. But it was too late. His cover had been blown. Lichen scolded himself as he recalled how perceptive Crocodile really was. Despite his outward appearance, Crocodile had a sharper mind than most, but he was also an emotional dragon. If Crocodile caught even a slight hint of Lichen''s suspicions it would be over. Stork''s best friend would throw the palace into chaos at the mere notion of an attempt on the Delta-dweller''s life. That uproar would mean an even longer wait to meet with the liaisons, a delay that Lichen could not afford. If he wanted to get into the council chambers on time, he would need to head that way now. Covering his suspicions through further conversation with Crocodile was not possible. Instead, Lichen used the excuse of the registrar''s office to escape the growing look of scrutiny within his friend''s eyes. ''Trust me Crocodile, I will learn the truth.'' was the message conveyed within the smaller dragon''s eyes. Crocodile seemed to understand and walked off towards the viewing deck.


    Lichen felt the nerves in his stomach settle a little. It appeared that the palace had changed a few things about Crocodile for the better. Now knowing that his friend wouldn''t go on a tirade, he darted down the corridors of the palace''s east side. It was here where all information was recorded and processed before getting stored within the vaults. It was also here where Lichen had to meet the liaisons for his weekly reports. With that thought, the nerves jumped back to life. He could only imagine the scolding that Communications Major Silt would hand him. In an attempt to collect himself, Lichen again envisioned the visage of Stork flying off towards the SkyWing palace with that goofy smile of his. He tried to remember the rush of pride he felt on that day, knowing one of his friends would make all their lives better one step at a time. Seeing that foolhardy face once again filled Lichen with all the confidence he needed, although he still wished he could muster more as he slid into the Registry Division.


    To his surprise, Lichen made it part-way towards the desks without being noticed. That was, until someone sidestepped in front of him. The freshly polished armor and hulking figure betrayed this dragon''s identity as none other than Silt herself. Lichen only had a brief instant to brace himself before the yelling ensued, and in his attempts to look away from her eyes, he noticed something alarming. Those plates were SkyWing forged, meaning that the local suppliers of armor were being put out of business in the capital. It was just one more way for the SkyWing Queen to dig her talons further into the cracking MudWing core.


    "Intermediary Officer Lichen. What a pleasant surprise. Now, with the formalities out of the way... YOU WANNA TELL ME WHY YOUR PUTRID FACE HAS BEEN PLASTERED ACROSS MY DESK FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS?! NO? WELL THEN LET ME FILL YOU IN ON THE DETAILS! YOU SEEM TO HAVE MISSED A FEW BRIEFINGS!" The hostility in Silt''s voice was like venom running through his veins. Four months without experiencing her flavorful reprimands made this verbal lashing particularly ruthless. Silt took a moment to collect herself, and started again in a calm voice, "The office called for a criminal class report on you when you failed to show up to FIVE consecutive check-ups regarding the Delta. Now, being the merciful dragon I am, I have graced you with a choice. Either you hand in your credentials now and leave for the Delta, or you serve here in the capital for the next three weeks straight. No breaks, no excuses, no leaves. Explaining yourself will change nothing. Pick one now."


    Lichen grimaced. He''d been anticipating comeuppance, but not in such brutal fashion. His commander had just yelled at him, presented him with criminal charges against the crown, and threw an option to either quit immediately or slave away in the capital for the next three weeks into his cowering mug. It was like a nightmare that kept adding on to itself. The intermediary bowed as low as he could. His posture made it seem like he was trying to sink into the floor. Reverence would keep him alive currently, that much he knew.


    "I will stay here for the next three weeks. Thank you Commander for your generosity." Lichen tried to fill his voice with genuine appreciation, but his shocked tone betrayed how he truly felt.


    "Those weren''t my orders, Lichen. The Queen''s council decided those would be the options placed before you. I personally would rather have you kicked out of the Kingdom for treason, but it appears others favor you being around still. Enjoy that while it lasts." Silt was extremely sharp with him today. It could be that he simply hadn''t experienced this in a while now, but she seemed to be even more bothered than normal. He was considering asking what the issue was, but ultimately decided against it. Asking her about this would be tantamount to suicide.


    After the commander had stalked away, Lichen quickly submitted his reports from the past months. It took about as long as any other Delta report did, numbering casualties and wiping names off the census. Having done that somber task, Lichen was now free to enter the Information Parlor. In this room, liaisons and scholars all worked together to record reports and pass down information to other parts of the kingdom. Lichen made his way through the sea of dragons, spotting the one he wanted to speak with, Crane. This dragon was solely responsible for sending and receiving updates from ambassadors and diplomats in foreign kingdoms. If Stork had been doing anything in the SkyWing courts, Crane would know.


    Lichen reached the table that housed the dragon''s collection of papers and books. All of them seemed like political publications, something Lichen was not interested in to say the least. Crane was sitting behind a rather large stack of books, which Lichen moved to the side in order to face the dragon. Crane reacted with startled yelp. Clearly, he wasn''t used to being bothered. After squinting for a few seconds, Crane seemed to recognize that it was Lichen.


    "Ah, Lichen. Come to finally check on the reports, eh? It''s been a few months since you graced my desk, meaning that something must really be bothering you. I know how much you hate politics." Crane''s voice did not house any weight of anxiety or concern, which lifted Lichen''s spirits slightly.


    "Your memory serves you well, Crane. How have things been going around here recently? Having not been here myself, I see some pretty obvious changes from eight months ago." Lichen had finally reached the dragon he wanted to speak with. Now came the grueling process of grabbing information as subtly as he could. Raising any alarms that were not meant to be raised could spell disaster for Lichen.


    "Things have been going I suppose. The political scenes have not changed recently. Most kingdoms are still getting used to following a SandWing, so that has been interesting to read reports about." Crane seemed to be lazily filling in the gaps for Lichen, something that was not appreciated. Sadly, it was all he had to work with.


    "Has there been any word from Stork recently? We miss our favorite MudWing. He hasn''t said anything to us in the past year now." Lichen was gambling here. If Stork was a taboo topic here in the capital, he had no doubt he''d be silenced next. Using the fa?ade of generalized concern, Lichen could likely slip past this possible taboo and learn more about what happened to Stork.


    Crane did not seem to tense up at the mention of Stork, nor did he seem to raise his guard. Then again, Crane''s current attitude made it seem as if his mental guard was nowhere in sight.


    "Let me see. We have a basic report about possible payment for MudWing involvement in wartime efforts. It has yet to be passed. Another report detailing Stork''s negotiation of natural resources to be invested back into the Delta, as well as some foreign resources. It too has yet to be passed. Again, a report about an amendment to the wages for MudWings in the wartime effort. Seems he''s lowered the wages slightly, probably trying to find middle ground with Scarlet I reckon. That has yet to be passed as well. Aside from that, it seems that Stork has simply been sitting in the courtrooms all day listening and giving his opinions." Crane closed the book that he was reading from, seemingly content with the answers he''d provided.


    Lichen, on the other talon, was not content at all. Stork was obviously busy. It was evident from the bills he''d been trying to push all this time. What made his scales blaze was the fact that none of the bills had even been passed yet. None. Stork worked days and nights to write these documents, and Lichen knew he tried to make it fair on all sides for both SkyWings and MudWings. Was Scarlet truly that indignant? Why wouldn''t Moorhen just leave Scarlet''s clutches already! It was infuriating that Stork was working towards nothing at the moment. He was serving a Queen that couldn''t care less of his opinions. Lichen just wanted to yell at someone, something. But this was not the place nor was it the time.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Thinking clearly again, Lichen saw the evidence as to why Moorhen wouldn''t leave Scarlet''s side. Stork''s bill about natural resources made it obvious enough. The SkyWings were simultaneously taking what the MudWings had, and replacing it with their own wares and resources. In a way, the SkyWings were terraforming the MudWing kingdom into some interment zone where they would keep their expendable troops. Lichen''s teeth grinded against each other. As he learned more, it only added to his frustrations. The dragon turned to leave, tired of this palace already.


    "Where are you off to Lichen?" Crane''s voice sounded from behind. It held the same dull tone of boredom as before, so Lichen felt no inclination to respond.


    The doors closed behind him, and Lichen was again within the quiet halls of the east wing. His head was spinning with anger. How could his kin have fallen so low? Why were the SkyWings so determined to undermine the legitimacy of the MudWing kingdom? Did the world really see them as some joke of a society? Stork''s reasons for becoming a diplomat were growing clearer. Maybe he stayed in that forsaken SkyWing palace day and night to let the world really see what MudWings were like. This revelation only bolstered Lichen''s resolve to find Stork. His fate was written about somewhere in that parlor, Lichen knew it. He just had to find the right dragons to ask.


    The dragon took a moment to simply laugh at himself, shaking his head. He made it sound so easy to find Stork. The reality was Lichen might never know what happened or is happening to his friend in the mountains. That fact alone created a pit in his stomach. The idea alone that Lichen might never find Stork was sickening. Was he really that powerless here? Was the palace trying to hide Stork away from the Delta? Who was in control here? Lichen''s questions led him down this rabbit hole for what felt like an eternity. It seemed that more had changed in this palace than just the marble walls. Something far more sinister was at play here. Whatever that evil plan was, Stork was somewhere trapped inside of it. Not just Stork... the whole of the MudWing kingdom.


    But the same problem arose once again as Lichen continued to ponder. Who could he talk to about these suspicions, these theories of a SkyWing ruled marshlands? No names had come to mind, well, not helpful ones anyways. The dragons he knew in the Delta could only fight. Their critical thinking skills were... underdeveloped... to say the least. Any dragon he knew in the palace had probably written him off as a criminal now. Lichen grimaced, clutching thin air within his talons. He took another look around the hall with judgmental eyes. Yes, a veil of darkness and mystery was cloaking itself over the marshes. If he didn''t act fast, it would ensnare the Delta as well as it had already done with the palace. The sheer uneasiness he felt was vivid, like a dragon scrapping its talons across his scales.


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    Night eventually fell upon the palace. Torches illuminated the interior halls and rooms, casting a new look upon the walls as Lichen wandered. He was still preoccupied with the events from that afternoon, trying to find a way to piece all the information together. Without any additional help, Lichen realized this was a far-fetched goal. Trying to solve this alone was akin attempting a Scavenger hunt without a snout. Weary from the day''s events, Lichen made his way back towards the east wing. His quarters were housed there since he was technically an intelligence personnel. The halls seemed to be much longer than they were before, but that could also be due to the fact that Lichen was running on nothing but a few rabbits from yesterday. He did need to eat soon.


    Passing by the doors to the Communications Plaza, Lichen could hear very faint whispers. It wasn''t that late to be sure, so whatever was being discussed was whispered for the sake of keeping it secret. This is what Lichen needed to hear. He pressed the side of his head against the door gently, focusing on the voices inside.


    "I figured something was going on here, Lichen." Crocodile''s voice invaded Lichen''s other ear. It was so startling that the poor dragon almost fainted, but he kept his footing. Lichen was trying not to alert those inside of his and Crocodile''s presence.


    "Yes Crocodile, something is happening. And I have a feeling that these dragons know something about it.." Lichen whispered, pointing a talon at the door he was up against. Crocodile carefully placed the side of his head against the adjacent door, listening in with Lichen.


    "All I''m saying is this, we cut our losses and burn these papers to ash. They aren''t worth anything anyways!"


    "You''re wrong. Those documents are everything to us. Keeping them locked away is the smarter choice. That way when Scarlet eventually turns on us, we can use this as a means to throw the other tribes at her. Maybe even save the capital from total destruction.."


    "You act like you know Scarlet. That witch is crazier than a SeaWing in the desert. No one knows what she''ll do at any time. Hedging our bets that she will attack us in the first place is idiotic. Have you seen the money she has poured into the palace recently?! We are talking about thousands of gold pieces. Don''t you get it, morons? Scarlet isn''t interested in invading us. She already has. Those documents are nothing more than a hoax for the Delta to escape from this enslavement. I don''t know about you, but those mud lickers down there can stuff it if they think they are getting out unburned."


    The other two dragons seemed to grow silent, as if realizing the validity of this third dragon''s opinion. Well, that confirmed Lichen''s first theory. The palace was being invaded. Scarlet was simply doing so invisibly and under the guise of goodwill. Her political moves on the MudWings had proven to be an effective enough strategy for her to avoid getting her talons dirty; well, dirtier. Lichen gave an inward sigh, realizing the downtrodden state of the capital. Some, such as Silt, seemed unshaken as their duties wouldn''t be hindered either way. These three sounded defeated. Lichen felt that most of the palace personnel had similar mental states.


    "Yeah, if we are going down, we might as well take the Delta with us. They are subjects to the Queen after all."


    "Agreed. We''ll bring it up in court tomorrow. For now, perhaps it is best that we head our separate ways."


    A general consensus was reached between them all and the dragons'' voices slowly faded away. Waiting a few moments, Crocodile and Lichen entered the plaza casually. There were no signs that anyone else was around. They dashed over towards the table the dragons had just been sitting at, searching everywhere for any piece of information. All the while, Crocodile and Lichen were in frantic discussion.


    "Did you not see any of this coming, Crocodile?! You are an intelligence officer for the Queen. And yet you picked up on none of this?" Lichen hissed lightly, siphoning through the shelves around for any out of place books.


    "I had heard rumors, but Queen Moorhen sent me on a mission to gather intelligence on the RainWing borders before all of this really started going down. She gave me the commands to station myself there until something worthy of note occurred. Sure, it was an odd command for a detective, but I simply assumed it was for a good reason. Protecting the borders I suppose.." Crocodile slowed his statement down towards the end, a cross expression covering his face. "Protecting the border from the laziest tribe in existence...- she sent me out there for nothing!"


    The evidence for foul play had long since been confirmed, but this kept adding to the pile. Whatever was happening, Moorhen knew of it. She was playing an active role in the downfall of her own kin. Had their Queen given up hope as well? Was the MudWing kingdom truly lost to the SkyWings already?


    "Any luck finding the papers they were talking about?" Lichen broke the moment of silence, a frustrated tone in the back of his voice.


    "None. They no doubt took them with them. If those papers were worthy enough to be considered for the vault, I doubt they''d simply be left in the Communication Plaza''s ''pristine'' tables. Crafted from only the best timbers in the Claws of the Clouds Mountains." The contempt in Crocodile''s voice was mildly comedic for Lichen, but the situation made that joke a subtle reminder that another tribe had buried itself within the MudWing core.


    This trip to the castle was going to last more than three weeks. Lichen knew that. With everything that was happening, shoes needed to be filled. He assumed that most, if not all the court had given up hope of trying to fight against Scarlet''s oppressive invasion of deodar tables and marble walls. He needed to gain a seat in that courtroom, not just for the Delta''s sake, but for the sake of MudWing civilization. These thoughts were interrupted by Crocodile''s echoing voice. Lichen had been absorbed in his mind for the past few seconds, not realizing that Crocodile was now at a separate table rummaging through another pile.


    "Let''s check through here, just in case." Crocodile began sifting through the stacks of papers, muttering their contents to himself.


    Lichen took it upon himself to investigate the administrator''s desk. This plaza was usually locked at night anyways, with guards around it at all times. Apparently the demoralization of Scarlet had shown the MudWings that they had better things to do rather than watch a stack of papers. As for the doors needing to be locked, Lichen thanked the three dragons who were previously here for not remembering to do that. It was unclear when they would have another chance like this, so taking full advantage seemed optimal.


    Opening the drawers, Lichen saw books and letters all stamped with red marks. No doubt these were letters and books that were scheduled for retirement into the vault or a fire. He quickly fanned through the contents, examining each one as carefully as he could within the span of a few seconds. Then he stopped. Lichen was glad he didn''t have anything to eat today, he would''ve likely thrown it up right there. On the front of this letter was an official SkyWing seal with the name ''Crocodile'' written on the envelope. This.. was a letter from Stork.


    Lichen only made it about half way to Crocodile before collapsing onto the ground of the plaza. Tears were pouring down the young dragon''s face. No.. no no no. This couldn''t be real. Crocodile''s voice was drowned out by Lichen''s own thoughts as he began sobbing in the middle of the plaza. The older dragon slowly looked towards the letter on the ground, and his wings fell to his side. There was ''Crocodile'' written across the envelope.. with a line drawn across the name. Crocodile crumpled to the ground, his eyes a mix of hatred and distress.


    "STORRRRRRRK!!" Crocodile''s roars shook the pillars of the plaza as he gripped the note, pulling it tightly to his chest. Whatever was in here was all that Lichen and Crocodile needed to know. They were sure of it. But neither could bring themselves to open the letter.


    That line across Crocodile''s name meant that Stork was dead. It was his chosen symbol to let them know when Scarlet had enough of him. They just, never thought it would happen so soon. It had only been three years.., he only had three years of nothing but stress just to die in those mountains. Lichen couldn''t bear it. He couldn''t imagine the agonizing death that befell their best friend, their brother. No doubt, the guards would be coming for them soon. They needed to leave this place. But, Lichen couldn''t bring himself to stand. This was Scarlet''s way of sending a message to the Delta.


    Crocodile smashed his tail into the administrator''s desk, sending the wooden structure flying across the room in little pieces. His pupils had narrowed to thin slivers as anger broiled up within him. Lichen slowly found the strength to stand. His tear stained scales would not bear a happy face for quite some time. After all, he''d lost his best friend. What drove him to stand was not some sense of sheer willpower. It wasn''t because he knew he had to leave. No, Lichen stood because that was the only way Stork''s death would not be in vain. They still had a letter to read, no matter how painful that letter might be.


    "Crocodile, we.., we need to leave. Now.." Lichen''s voice could not match the determination of his spirit.


    "I know. The Delta is a long way off from here, Lichen. We best start flying."


    The younger dragon nodded his head. They no longer needed to know what documents those strangers were talking about. Both Crocodile and Lichen had full faith that Stork would fill them in, one last time. The Delta needed this letter. They needed to hear the sorry state of their capital, and the diabolical plans that were being hatched there. If their tribe was to survive this, they would need to be informed. They would need a reason to fight.


    Thinking of that fact, Lichen half-smiled to himself. "Seems like his work isn''t over yet, Crocodile.. Turns out our BigWings needs our help, for once."


    That statement alone was equal parts painful and encouraging for the both of them. Finding the will to fight currently was an enormous task. The Delta would rejuvenate their spirits. This palace''s dark shroud was becoming too much to handle as the two threw open the plaza''s south-facing window with a grunt. The winds met them immediately, blowing a fresh sense of life along their scales. Stepping through this window would make them both fugitives from the MudWing authorities, and they both jumped without hesitation. Lichen gave up on his dreams to find a seat in the MudWing council that instant. The palace was incapable of saving itself from within, so Lichen and Crocodile would have to find another way to save their homeland. Flying up into the sky, the two could see the Claws of the Clouds mountains, covered in the night sky''s darkness. With a somber tone, the two banked to the left slightly, starting their two day trip towards the west banks. There, they would read the letter in the presence of a large assembly, and send messengers throughout the Delta to proclaim whatever it was that Stork wanted to tell them before he died.

 Chapter 2: Rising Tensions

    Candles illuminated the bunkhouse, casting shadows across the mud walls. Four dragons sat around the makeshift table that acted as a possible excuse for decoration. Lichen and Crocodile had just made it back to the Delta and were quickly ushered to this structure, knowing the occasion for such an abrupt meeting. Tadpole gazed towards them both, her bubbly persona now buried beneath her darkened eyes. Blitzkrieg stood to the side, keeping an eye out from the entrance. Making sure no one else heard this currently was paramount. Even with it being the dead of night, Tadpole would not take any chances.


    "Don''t look so puzzled, Lichen. The second I heard you were spotted back in the Delta, I knew you found something. It isn''t likely that Silt would let you just come back home so soon." Tadpole''s voice was quiet, making it evident that she knew. Currently, she was trying to fight back tears as she looked towards Lichen.


    Lichen''s head slowly bowed and his wings sagged. His voice failed him. He hadn''t wanted her to find out so soon, at least not until he''d found a way to ease the pain of this on her. All that came out was a brief whisper of a name, a measly word. With that, she was sent into a deluge of sorrow. The three sat there together, gentle streams of tears running down their scales. They had lost a member of their squad; but for that member to be their BigWings, no less the Delta''s, made the pain all the more unbearable. She could only imagine the loneliness her brother felt dying within the halls of the SkyWings. The jovial mocking of Queen Scarlet flooded her ears. Her brother''s life had been thrown away, his existence buried between the jagged peaks of The Claws of the Clouds mountains.


    "Tadpole, your brother did leave us with one last word. At least he didn''t die silenced.." Crocodile tried to speak on behalf of Lichen, who was periodically sobbing next to him. "We didn''t open the letter at first due to circumstances, but thinking back, I''m glad we waited. It should be you who reads his last words first. It, it would be wrong for anyone else to do so." The darker MudWing fumbled with his words towards the end, almost choking on them as they were spoken. Tadpole slowly nodded her head, letting him know he said all that needed to be said.


    Her talons slowly wrapped around the fragile envelope. She examined the scratched out ''Crocodile'' as the weight of her brother''s death only grew heavier upon her wings. He really was gone then. Part of her had hoped that the two were jumping to conclusions merely due to his prolonged absence, but presented with this evidence, she had no other option than to accept the truth. Gazing towards the letter, she felt almost every part of her scream out in anguish. Her talons shook softly. Would she even be able to open this letter? Could she stand to read what was inside, knowing that these were the last words of her brother? She whimpered softly, thinking of all the stupid sayings he repeated to her day to day. How many dumb jokes would he squeeze into this frail paper? Would he have any jokes this time? Hopefully, and hopefully not. Within the sea of emotions, Tadpole willed herself to softly open the envelope.


    It was just like any other letter they received from Stork.


    "Greetings from the SkyWing courts. I appreciate your last letter, Crocodile. You really gave me the encouragement I needed to continue on in those stuffy halls. I tell you what, going this long without a mud bath has really brought me down. Thankfully, each letter you send me is a suitable replacement for that. I figured that this letter should start on a happier note, so that I could have you all smile at least one more time."


    Tadpole looked up from the letter, noticing now that Crocodile had silently withered into the floor, streams of tears now pushing their way through the scaly patterns of his face. His body shook lightly, leaving Tadpole to assume that he was holding back everything within him so as to not wake the other MudWings in dens nearby.


    "As you might have guessed by the marked through name, I will not be coming back home. I''m sorry that I broke my promise to see you all again, but I promise you that it is worth it. Tadpole, Crocodile, Lichen, Blitzkrieg; I finally did it. War has been all we''ve known now for years. Scarlet crossed the line long ago, but recently she has gone even further involving you all in her ''little war'' with the SandWings over the mesas. I''m sure you''ve heard, Burn is backing her with this move since Blister is the current owner of those desert mountains. Dear friends, yesterday I had both Queens sign a treaty to remove the Delta forces from this war. We are no longer obligated to fight for those forsaken mountains."


    The room grew quieter with this news, their despair mingling slightly with new hope.


    "Getting this passed required many connections within the courts, many promises, and many more compromises. I have also learned today that this will cost me my life. I know, I should run and come back to you all before I am captured and executed. I should honor my promises. Sadly, your BigWings is going to have to go back on his word just this once. I won''t give Scarlet the satisfaction of hunting me. Instead, I will stand up for what I believe in and show that snake what it is like to face a real MudWing. I know you all will do likewise. I do not intend on fighting her, unlike many of you. My part has been played. Struggling against her would undermine my entire reason for not coming home. She will not get what she wants out of me. I want my death to taste bitter to that fiend so that she will remember it when it comes her time to meet a similar fate. I have no doubt that Queen Moorhen and Queen Scarlet are trying to cover this treaty up, as it interferes with both of the Queens'' operations. I know it is much to process, but our Queen needs to keep Scarlet''s favor unless she wants SandWings and SkyWings alike overthrowing her. My simple hope is that this letter finds you, and the fight for a freedom you now have might be possible. It is a tall order, but the Delta is our kingdom''s last defense against the SkyWings. You are charged with being the saviors of our home. Do not let anything happen to that treaty, or else your alibi for defending yourselves will be negated. I believe in you, all of you. And I can''t wait to hear all of your stories when we meet again."


    The letter was messy with its contents, and often seemed to ramble. Typical Stork. He really was a terrible writer. When conveying his message to the Delta, Tadpole knew she''d need to do a little rewriting for him. The vagueness of a smile crossed her face. Simply knowing that he''d written these words to them made it a little easier to accept his passing. Looking towards Lichen and Crocodile, it was clear that they too had benefited from hearing his words.


    A direction for them to head in was clear. Stork had laid out the foundations for their fight against Scarlet, but that foundation would only hold true if they held the papers of proof within their talons. The Delta needed that treaty. Without it, no one would ever believe them.


    "We know where that treaty might be, Tadpole. Crocodile and I overheard people within the capital talking about documents being vaulted or burned. I have a feeling Stork''s treaty would be the primary target of these actions." Lichen''s voice sounded stable for the time being, giving assurance to Tadpole that reading this letter out loud had been for the best.


    "Only problem there is that we don''t know who those dragons are. We never saw them, just heard them. Voice leads aren''t typically easy to follow." Crocodile grunted, peeved at this. Their only chance to fight for their freedom was in the talons of some cowardly dragon hiding behind the palace walls. This problem was coupled with the fact that Lichen and Crocodile were both likely wanted for abandoning their posts. "To add to that, I don''t imagine the palace being huge fans of ours anymore."


    Tadpole took these words into consideration, tapping the wooden table in front of her. Everywhere they turned, the opposition seemed to hold some power over them. She knew that this theme would become recurrent, and took a brief moment to accept the fact. With expectations of success healthily humbled, her will to overcome these obstacles increased ten-fold. From what she''d been told, Crocodile and Lichen would have the least probability of pulling this mission off. They were both wanted palace affiliates, not the kind of dragons fit for palace intrusion. She stopped this train of thought, reconsidering this option. Maybe, because they were wanted, these two would be best suited for the job. They had nothing to lose going back, aside from being arrested. Then again, anyone trying to steal the treaty would likely be arrested. It was better to use two wanted dragons rather than create a new wanted dragon to steal something. Simply put, the fewer Delta dragons were wanted by the palace, the better.


    "They may not be your biggest fans, but you two are all we''ve got. Crocodile, you and Lichen heard the voices of those individuals. No one else could find someone just based off of a description you gave them of the target''s voice. Furthermore, since you are both criminals now, stealing a treaty will only make you more wanted. I''d rather make criminals do crime than force innocent claws to get dirty." Tadpole paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "We can''t let the Delta know. Not yet anyways. Without that treaty secured, whatever speech we give them might be riddled with doubts. I know our people are loyal to Stork, and to each other. While I am sure they will listen to us without a treaty, they are tired of fighting for things that won''t help them. We need to give these people solid proof that what we are fighting for is real."


    The room fell into silence again as the two dragons in front of Tadpole contemplated her points. She gripped the edges of the table with baited breath. Her faith in these two was strong; it was a tall order to ask people to risk their lives for this, however. Little did she know, but this was only the beginning of such requests. Tadpole was seeking to protect her tribe''s freedoms from a Queen who couldn''t afford to lose such a powerful force. She was trying to stand up to someone who always got what they wanted, no matter the cost.


    Crocodile and Lichen looked as though they understood the perils of going through with this mission. It relieved Tadpole to an extent. She would not be sending her friends into enemy territory without understanding the possible ramifications. Thankfully, there would be no need for such discussion.


    Both of the MudWings nodded towards each other. Their heads then swiveled to face Tadpole, a confident smirk gracing the corners of the dragons'' mouths. "We will do it. If he was willing to sacrifice everything for his people," Crocodile pointed towards the letter still resting against the table, "then we are too. That treaty belongs to us. We will risk our lives to get it back if it means that our people will be free from those desert mountains."


    Tadpole felt the butterflies that had been resting in her stomach erupt forth. She was exhilarated, excited for a chance to finally prove to the world who the MudWings really were. She was nervous, knowing that she and the three others present would be the faces of this new war. She was terrified of the many ways this could end. Tadpole could never express every emotion she felt in that moment, but she could choose which one she would let run free. Raising her head to the sky-hole in the roof of the den, the young dragonet chose to follow the feeling of freedom. With talons clenched in the dirt and close eyes, she vowed never to follow another feeling than this one. Whatever would bring her people this, that was her path. It was decided.


    "May the Delta be graced with your presence again.." Tadpole spoke softly, smiling towards Crocodile and Lichen as the two bowed lowly before heading towards the exit.


    "Nice line there Tadpole. Make sure to keep that one around next time you send us off." Crocodile chuckled, leaping out of the hut and into the brilliant night sky.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "We will get the treaty back, I promise." Lichen then vanished into the night as well, flying after the shrinking silhouette of the other dragon.


    With both of her MudWing companions gone, Tadpole sighed to herself. She gently picked up the letter from Stork. This would need some rewriting for sure. When they presented this to the Delta, it demanded to be the letter that ignited their people for war. Her speech had to set ablaze the dormant and bleak spirits of her brothers and sisters. The Delta needed to catch fire. She laughed under her breath as she compared her brother''s sloppy writing to that of a professional declaration.


    "Something amusing, Tadpole?" A burgundy SkyWing slipped back into the den. He wore a sincere smile as his eyes locked with Tadpole''s. "I didn''t hear many jokes from your brother in that letter, so naturally I had to see what brought about that smile."


    "Well, pretty sure it wasn''t you this time Blitzkrieg. Seeing as you were off standing in the doorway for the whole meeting." Tadpole turned her body from the letter, now fully facing him.


    The SkyWing in front of her put on a semi-shocked expression, as if deeply wounded by this realization. Tadpole rolled her eyes lightly, happy to be in the company of this SkyWing. Having a small break from the seriousness of this situation was nice, but she realized she didn''t need to distract herself from reality too long. Nevertheless, she walked away from the table, coming to sit next to Blitzkrieg for a moment. The SkyWing wrapped a wing around her, closing his eyes as the two sat there briefly. Crickets made melodies outside the walls of the mud house, giving the two more than pure silence to surround them. Blitzkrieg would now serve an even larger role in her life than she previously realized. Having her favorite dragon''s unwavering support would no doubt motivate her in the hard parts of this war. For now, she would enjoy his presence as simply her mate, not some glorified mentor.


    "Perhaps someday the Delta might accept us, yeah?" Blitzkrieg chuckled under his breath, but a tinge of hurt momentarily crossed his voice. It made Tadpole frown.


    MudWing culture did not consist of ''mates''. There was a mating night every so often, but familial attachments didn''t exist apart from siblings. Families were not a thing, much less couples. This fact alone made things difficult enough for the two, but Blitzkrieg was a SkyWing as well. If word ever got out about this, Tadpole knew that her hopes of leading her people would be torn in half. In her eyes, it was not fair. She wished that these dragons would accept her love for Blitzkrieg, that they might welcome such a different idea of ''family''. For now, she could only silently love her dragon.


    "I know that someday they will. Hopefully someday soon.."


    Silence fell upon the den once more before she left the embrace of his wing. Blitzkrieg stretched out, his lower jaw practically unhinging as he yawned. The two coiled tails briefly before the SkyWing made his way back to his den. Alone once more, Tadpole bent over the table and began examining the letter more thoroughly.


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    Her eyes slowly flickered open as tiny beams of sun pierced through the holes in the den''s loosely packed walls. Tadpole picked her head up from the table, looking down at the drool-soaked parchment beneath her. Apparently she needed to rewrite her speech. Tossing the soggy paper aside, she slowly made her way towards the entrance of the hut and poked her head out. Tadpole was blinded momentarily by the brilliance of the sun as her day officially began. She saw that other MudWings were already going about their business. Jobs were scarce aside from fighting, so many had time to waste when a battle wasn''t raging.


    The capital housed almost two-thirds of the professional labor markets in the MudWing kingdom, meaning most jobs found in the Delta were simple manual labor tasks. It was either that, or trying to get into the capital; and with recent overcrowding rumors spreading Tadpole doubted that the latter would be a viable option for quite some time. Nevertheless, it seemed that the Delta made things work despite the glaring insufficiencies and heavily crippled economic status. She hoped that these issues would find their resolutions as a result of the declaration that she would be making to the public. For now, she hoped that would be the outcome, and worked to fix what she could until that time came.


    She went about her day, checking in on various huts to make sure that siblings were getting along. Tadpole also busied herself fetching items and ingredients around the market on the behalf of others. The morning quickly rolled into the afternoon, meaning it was finally time for a mud bath. She explored briefly, trying to find a mud hole that didn''t house any other dragons. Realizing that this objective was impossible, Tadpole settled for a spot that one of her friends was currently occupying.


    "Hey, uh, do you mind if I join you Moccasin?"


    A simple flick of the dragon''s ear let Tadpole know she was accepted. Slowly, her golden-brown scales sank beneath the thick sludge. The stresses of last night evaporated once more as the mud allowed Tadpole a brief slice of paradise. Lichen and Crocodile were heading towards the palace to get the treaty back; Blitzkrieg was off doing.., well, what was that SkyWing doing today? She only remembered him leaving last night and didn''t recall seeing him at any point this morning. It was odd behavior for him.


    Tadpole''s train of thought was disrupted by the sloshing of mud to her left, and a low voice following up. "Suppose we haven''t heard from Lichen yet then?"


    She was taken aback by Moccasin''s sudden question. It was odd for her reclusive friend to ever start a conversation.


    "I haven''t heard anything from him since he left five days ago. I assume he has some catching up to do with his palace friends." Tadpole chuckled lightly, keeping a positive attitude about her. No one knew that Lichen came back last night, or that he went back again to the palace, so in a way Tadpole convinced herself it wasn''t lying.


    "That would make sense. Maybe he won''t be back for a while.." Tadpole couldn''t decide if she heard a hint of joy or sorrow in Moccasin''s comment.


    Personally she hoped for Lichen''s return soon. That treaty was crucial to their freedom and without it the MudWings would have no grounds for ignoring Scarlet''s mesa war. It was aggravating her that she could not go on the mission herself. Tadpole had a difficult time trusting others to get things done, especially when it was something important. It was not that Crocodile and Lichen were unreliable dragons, she had full faith in them; she was a control freak. The dragonet took a moment to breathe, letting her anxieties wash away once more. If she did have full faith in them, then there was no reason to worry. They would get the treaty back, Tadpole was sure of it. With that, she dozed off.


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    As night deepened, something poked the dragonet''s snout, causing her to grumble in her sleep. As the poking persisted, Tadpole was taken from her fantasy world and dropped back into reality. She turned around but quickly realized she couldn''t see. Her eyes took a few moments to adjust to the lack of sunlight as she realized she''d slept the afternoon away. Blitzkrieg stood on the banks of the mud hole, smiling down towards her.


    "I wondered where you were. Everyone else has gone to some sort of town meeting, and I didn''t see you among the crowd heading that way, so I assumed you were still asleep. And you were! I believe a ''Thank you Blitzkrieg'' is in order?" The SkyWing smirked, gloating over this ''victory'' of his.


    Tadpole was slightly peeved that Moccasin hadn''t woken her up for this meeting, but was grateful as it gave Blitz a chance to enjoy some time with her. She took hold of the talon he offered and she was aided out of the mud. The two leaned into one another briefly. It had been a slow day. Nothing had happened; then again, that was not an uncommon occurrence. Tadpole assumed the reason it felt weird was because she knew things were now wrong. Stork; Lichen and Crocodile, all of these issues made everyday life almost painful to continue with. She wanted things to change now, not wait to change them later.


    Her frustrations continued piling on top of her. She decided that sitting would only allow the weight to feel heavier, so with a flick of her tail she signaled Blitzkrieg to come with her to the meeting. It was a decent way off, so she could spend a little time with him before the two had to return to professionalism.


    "How were things today? I didn''t see you at all this morning."


    "Not bad, not bad. As always a few children made fun of my wingspan, saying I could shade the entire village if I really tried. I know they are just jealous of my superior flying." Blitz chuckled.


    Tadpole arched a brow, a skeptical look falling across her face. "You make it sound as if they aren''t simply commenting on the performances you give them everyday. Blitz, you can''t make fun of your fans! They are your livelihood, and I know that you love their teasing since it just means that they were watching you. Showoff.."


    "Hey now, don''t kid yourself Tadpole. I mean, you are a fan of mine too after all. So really if my fanbase is composed of children," He''d interject a sarcastic cough, "then you my dear are as childish as they come."


    Tadpole shot him a sharp look before cracking a smile. What a lizard brain. She smacked his pointed snout with the tip of her wing, taking on the persona of a child.


    "Oh! Mr. Blitzkrieg I''m so sowwy! Wow! Look at those huge wings! You could fly anywhe'' you wann''ed! Can you teach me to fwy like you!" She trotted around Blitzkrieg in a bouncy manner, laughing to herself as she reenacted what she''d seen younger dragonets do time and time again.


    "Hm? Oh yes of course young one! I am the most humble and amazing dragon known to the Delta! I shall teach you all I know about flying. One day, if you train hard enough, you shall be just like me! Well, maybe a little worse than me but better than everyone else!" Blitzkrieg laughed lightly with Tadpole, sticking out his wing suddenly as she made her way around him. She crashed into his wing, giving a squawking noise in response.


    "Blitz! That could''ve hurt your impressionable audience! You just crushed a child''s dream right there with that move." Tadpole straightened herself up, walking ahead of Blitzkrieg with her head held high in an obstinate fashion.


    Blitzkrieg followed after Tadpole with a grunt, grabbing her tail lightly to stop her. The SkyWing turned the smaller MudWing around, noticing that the two were almost to the meeting area. He curled his tail around her''s with a frown, sad that this jovialness had to come to an end. There were so many times he wanted to be this goofy with her in public. Tadpole looked up into Blitz''s eyes, giving a weak smile towards him.


    Many times he''d vented his frustrations to her. The MudWings saw him as a respectable, level-headed dragon with a soft spot for children. It was funny how little her people really knew this SkyWing; yet it was sad how little he got to show himself to others. They ran risks every time they met in these sorts of fashions, making most of their interactions together painfully rigid if not scripted. She felt his hurt in this way. Tadpole desperately wished things were different for them both, but knew this wish was even farther out than the treaty.


    "Come on Blitz, we have a meeting to attend." Tadpole strengthened her smile towards him, attempting to lift his spirits. It seemed to help slightly, but she recognized a gloomy Blitzkrieg when she saw one. Despite wanting to comfort him more than attending the meeting, they both knew that their attendance was necessary to keep things looking normal for the public.


    "Yes yes, wouldn''t want to keep my little fans waiting." His attempt at a joke helped ever so slightly, giving them both that extra boost of encouragement to walk through the reeds and into the meeting square.