Wings of Fire - Court of Lies

36 - Clay's Family

The painful wailing of Cattail and her siblings was distant, "Bog" and the dragonets got far enough before sitting down to rest and let Clay elaborate on what had just happened moments prior.
His friends were trying to comfort him, he knew he shouldn't have left Cattail's words get to him, but the thought of the parents he had wanted to know for so long not caring about him was still painful, it was natural to feel like that after something like that.

<< What do you want to do now? >>

Asked "Bog", his voice showing an hint of uncertainty for the first time.
He knew from experience the pain of being rejected by the family that should have loved its dragonets, even after all those years, the memories still made him uncomfortable and if he hadn't been in control, he would have probably struck Cattail right on the snout.
But before he could voice his opinion and try to cheer Clay up, a troop of five young MudWing came up to them.

<< Excuse-me, but are you the dragons that were asking Cattail about her missing egg? >>

Asked their BigWings.

<< We were. Who are you? >>

Asked back Clay while trying to compose himself and to not look like he had been fighting to instinct to cry in both anger and sadness.

<< I'm Reed... >>

Said the other dragon, then he pointed at his siblings with a wing.

<< ... they're Sora, Pheasant, Marsh and Umber and whoever was in that red egg, is our missing sib. >>

Clay's eyes widened with surprise.
He met his mother just a few moments before and now his biological siblings were in front of him?

<< You... you're really my siblings? >>

Asked him as the other dragonets got at his side, still keeping an eye on him and the others.

<< I knew it! >>

Exclaimed Umber as he flew around Clay's head with excitement and landed on his shoulder.

<< I kew he felt familiar! I told you! >>
<< You're our brother, you should have been with us all along. >>

Said Reed smiling widely while Pheasant went right in front of Clay to measure their height difference with a paw before jumping with joy.

<< He's not just our brother! Look at his size! He's our BigWings! >>

The troop started to cheer and got closer to Clay as the other dragonets stopped themselves from going between the reddish MudWing and his biological siblings.
They could feel jealousy stinging at their chests at the sudden thought of those strangers acting so familiar with Clay and not even caring to say "hi" to them.

<< Oh... that's right... >>

Clay's initial confusion at the lack of enthusiasm in Reed's tone quickly disappeared as he noticed that his brother was the biggest among the others, just slightly smaller than himself.
"So, he has been their BigWings..."
He could only imagine what it meant to be responsible for his siblings safety and be one to care and look after them, only to meet a dragon that could take his place all of sudden.

<< We can finally do everything siblings do together! >>

Said Umber.

<< Play togheter, eat togheter, sleep togheter, fight to... oh... >>

Umber's sudden words casted a shadow over the troop's eyes, every single MudWing stared at their paws with sudden sorrow on their faces.

<< What... what's up? >>