A Past That Can't Be Forgotten

Shut up and fight

Thistle groaned but didn't speak. Mandarin faced him on the other side of the cave.

"Okay," she said, clapping her talons. "Defending yourself is usually the first things you learn as a dragonet. How old are you?" Thistle looked down awkwardly. "Five," he muttered, and Mandarin rolled her eyes. "Good Mother of the Moons," she sighed irritably.

"Okay" she said, spreading her wings and doing a complicated looking thing with her talons. "Put yourself into this position." Thistle tried to imitate it, but he kept toppling over. "Idiot!" Mandarin snapped, grabbing his talons and putting them in the right place.

Finally, He was in the right position. "Now," the rainwing commanded, "leap at me, then roll underneath to rake your talons on the belly". Mandarin suddenly bolted forwards, slipping between Thistle's legs and lightly trailing her claws across his stomach.

"Like so."

Thistle tried the move almost perfecting it in one go. "We can work on that next time," she said, and then did something completely different. "When a dragon tried to attack you, use your size for advantage."

Thistle didn't know how long he was there for, but time flew as he practiced with Mandarin, although when he interrupted for the twenty-first time, she almost had his head off.

"Interrupt me again, and this will turn into a lesson of keeping your mouth SHUT." she warned.

"Sorry!" Thistle said impatiently. 

Every night, he would sneak out to practice with Mandarin. He had been training for a week now, and Mandarin said something one night, that surprised Thistle.

"Alright." she said, "I've taught you everything I know." 

Thistle was taken aback. What? "Really?" he asked doubtfully, "Everything?" Mandarin's expression didn't change.

"Yep," she confirmed, "From now on it will just be fighting sessions." Thistle nodded, then tackled her to the ground. "Got you!" he smirked. Mandarin looked up at him, amused. 

"Not yet." 

She suddenly kicked him off her, and Thistle felt one of his recent wounds reopen. He winced in pain as it erupted through his veins. Mandarin seemed to notice. "What's wrong now?" she sighed, and began circling him, checking his scales and inspecting his talons.

He stiffened as she lifted one of his wings up to look underneath. "Don't touch that!" he snapped and wacked her back with her tail. Mandarin held her ground as he turned to face her. The rainwings eyes were narrowed in suspicion, and Thistle began to feel uncomfortable.

Before he could say anymore, the rainwing tackled him to the ground. despite her small size for a five-year-old, she was way stronger than Thistle. Forcefully, Mandarin opened his wings, and almost gasped.

She's seen it, He thought. The long scar underneath his wing was hard to miss. The rainwing didn't move. Slowly, she got off him. "Where did you get that scar?" she whispered, but Thistle didn't answer. 

Only one dragon could've made that mark.