WoF Shorts: Stolen Sapphires

Chapter 1 ~ (#4) Stupid Questions

Ultramarine froze in place, hastily taking a step back. He really wasn't mentally prepared to face the ire of his brother, he's positively certain he never will be. Ultra lowers his head, avoiding the bigger dragon's gaze.
No matter what, no matter how polite, he could never satisfy Surge. His brother's scowl and rancor swamped any and all of his attempts for peace.

Surge has always hated him, but even then Ultra wanted to make his big brother proud. He wasn't sure why, Surge was a total jerk. Maybe it was because of how scarily brawny he was, and it intimidated him. Or maybe it was because he was perfect at everything, just like Dottyback. Even if everyday he does his best to be mediocre in battle, a part of him couldn't help but admire his skilled siblings.

Surge was perfect enough to get a heirloom of his own at the age of five, another thing he and Dot had in common. Instead of a brilliant sapphire necklace, it was a humble gold and ruby ring around one of his claws. The red jewel glowed faintly like Dotty's impressive sapphire, he found it equally off putting. 

His brother never took it off. Only time Ultra did see him with the ring off, it was from afar and Surge was whispering things at it. Ultramarine does his best not to think about that.

Dottyback raised her head and pushed back her shoulders, steeling herself in the presence of the eldest.

Oh moons, now they're both making their violent-rage faces.

Ultra really wished he could sink into the beach right now, or maybe sprint off into the sea behind them. The peaceful sound of the ocean waves and the occasional cawing of seagulls was incredibly inappropriate for the tense situation he's awkwardly caught in. Dotty and Surge had this rivalry going on that he consistently tried to avoid and his parents eagerly encouraged. He was always there to just watch in awe and horror at the two attempting to outcompete one another.

"What are you doing here?" Dottyback was first to speak after a minute of uncomfortable silence.

Surge was obviously getting more and more annoyed by the second. But suddenly, a wave of calm washed over his brother's features. Surge offered a friendly smile and his voice was as smooth as a pearl, "You two were having such a fun time talking about me, I only felt entitled to join," He explained.

Surge's facade, as it always does, dropped instantly as rage rushed back into his eyes "BECAUSE you don't OWN the ocean, you eel," he spat, the words dripping from his teeth like poison. Dottyback's lip curled and Ultra saw fury sizzle within her, she was about to retort but Surge interrupted her.

"I can be on ANY island I want. What a stupid question," Surge steps forward and lowers his head to her level, only inches away from Dottyback's face.

" 'What are you doing here?' " Surge mocked Dot's words, letting out a scoff "I'm saving you two from mother's wrath, since you appear to be unable to help yourselves."

Surge studied them, pulling his head back with a huff of his nostrils "It's my curse to watch over you ridiculous lizards, I don't want you getting punished again. It's always pathetic to witness," Surge tutted, Dottyback only rolled her eyes and shot a glance at him.

Yeah, no worries Dot, I get it. Ultra sighed through his nose, Surge strutted past him and Dotty towards the sea.

"You know we still have time, right? Like, a lot of it," Dottyback turned around to growl at the eldest, grabbing a handful of sand and chucking it at him. Ultra never noticed how much his sister liked to throw things until now. Ultramarine was planning on staying silent, but Surge stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at him. Like he assumed he threw the sand.

"Oh, no— that was- um," He points at Dottyback, she didn't even register it. Surge raised a brow, like this conversation was below him.

I do think we should leave. But Dot is right, we still have some time left. She'll get upset with me it I don't support her.

Ultra took a deep breath and put on his 'elegant-and-respectful' face.

"We have at least twenty minutes, Surge. Give with— how- uh. High the tide is- and how it'll be-" He lost what little confidence he had as Surge's green eyes bore through him.

"Yeah! What he said! So shut up and get off my island!" Dotty grabbed one of the fallen coconuts and throws it at Surge, it just bounces off his scales. She grabs and tosses another, this one Surge batted away impatiently.

"Stop that!!" Surge demanded, stamping a talon down.

"NO!" She's now throwing rocks.

Surge used one of his wings as cover, "This is so immature- oh by the moons, STOP!" a pebble hit him in the eye, "Okay, that's it," Surge crouched down and reeled back, preparing to pounce.

Uh oh.

Surge sprang into the air and tackled Dottyback. Ultra managed to roll away in time, taking cautious steps back and shaking the sand off him. His sister and brother became a tangled hurricane of claws and malice, hissing and spitting at each other. Dotty pushed her back legs against Surge's stomach, preventing the larger dragon from getting too close. Her talons grasping his wrists as he attempts to claw at her. The sky blue dragon's limbs shook as they struggled against Surge's power.

He had to do something, Surge was only a year older than Dotty but was bigger and stronger than her. Stronger than her in regards of brute strength, at least.

Ultra huffs and grabs ahold of Surge with his talons, tugging on his arm "Stop fighting—" his brother elbows him, sending him flying backwards a good few yards. Ow ow ow. Ultra managed to quickly get back onto his feet, cradling his partly stinging ribs. I'm sure it's fine. This is what he meant by brute strength, it was ridiculous.

Ultramarine shakes his head, rattling all the fear out of it"STOP IT! " His voice boomed, the other two dragons froze in place and looked at him with startled expressions.

Am I really that loud? Wow.

He had to say something that both of them would like, or at least compromise with.
"You two can bite each other later," he held his head high, a trick he learnt from father to look more commanding, "All three of us will be late if you two keep flailing like newborn dragonets!"

Surge and Dottyback exchange glances, and then they groaned. They always do that when they realized he was right. Pride blossomed in his chest. His siblings slipped off each other, murmuring bitter words.

Dotty angrily stomped off into the ocean, vanishing into the tides. Surge was about to join her, but leaned down to softly hiss in Ultra's ear "Watch it." 

Ultramarine managed to stop himself from shivering as his brother walked past him. He took a moment to calm his nerves, listening to the peaceful song of the small island. He'll have to look presentable for the meeting.