CounterPart

6 | Squid's cave

More stupid dragons. Whoop-de-doo.

Squid wasn't sure at all how he felt about his roommates. So far, only two of them were there.

One was a dark black, grey, white NightWing - or was it a SilkWing - or both? - with blue streaks running down its back. Great. Another hybrid. Curse inter-tribal romances, what was the point?

The other was a small, yellow and pale SkyWing with glasses, that was perched on a ledge in the very corner. Probably trying to stay away from the others. Squid recognised that stance, because he'd seen it in himself so many times before, when the other Dragonets were being annoying.

Especially Viper. Thank the moons she's dead. He told himself. And yet... was that a LITTLE sadness inside of him? NO, NO IT WASN'T SQUID, YOU HATE VIPER.

Yeah...

"Hey, you." The Blackish hybrid said, fluttering down from the hammock he was lying on. "What's your name?"

"Squid." He muttered, backing up a few steps for no apparent reason.

"Ebony." The Night/SilkWing grunted, then squinted at him. "You look awfully small. Are you that weak? Do you eat at all?"

Squid growled warningly. "Hey! Yes I do! And you SHOULDN'T disrespect me! I'M a prophecy Dragonet!" He declared, although feebler than before in the hall. Something about Ebony set him on edge, and the SkyWing squeak clearly wasn't doing anything to help.

"A prophecy Dragonet, eh?" Ebony chortled. "I don't remember a runty little green fish being part of the grand prophecy - which, by the way, wasn't real, so even if you were in it I don't actually care."

He enunciated the word actually in such a way it made Squid want to tear his tongue out and shove it back down his throat. But - truthfully - he wasn't that strong or confident.

So he just shrugged. Confidently. Ish.

Ebony cocked his head at Squid with a smirk forming on his face. "I know. Squid, yes? Why did the chicken cross the road?"

Squid frowned. "Now? Of all times for a joke?" Then off of Ebony's glare, he quickly added "U-um, I don't know, why did the chicken cross the road?"

"To get to the idiot's house." He said, his lip curling.

Huh?

The pair of them paused, Ebony waiting for effect and Squid just confused.

"Knock knock." He finally said.

"W-who's there...?"

Just then, two dragons burst in through the entrance behind them and cut Ebony off just as he was about to answer.

"He was about to say 'The Chicken'" Flame rolled his eyes with a snort. "But you should've known that, Squid-brain. Or maybe you are as stupid as you look."

Beside the SkyWing, who Squid had spent his entire childhood with, was a light brown MudWing. Ochre.

Curse the moons, trust my rotten luck to be put with THEM. And this EBONY dude. And this SILENT SKYWING WHO I DON'T EVEN KNOW THEIR NAME.

Growling at all of them, Squid sank down onto a hammock in the corner. WHY couldn't they just leave him alone. Or better, treat him as he deserved?

"You, SkyWing, are growing on me." Ebony nodded approvingly at Flame. "But does that MudWing ever stop eating?"

At that, Ochre shoveled another whole roasted bird into his jaws and chewed noisily.