Pumpkin's Rein

Path Of Discovery

Pumpkin's POV:
I hated that i had to stand there watching Emerald limp away for a full twenty minutes, to make sure she was leaving this time, without wings i had took away most her abilities but most importantly her ego and confidence, she needs humbling, she is super manipulative though so i hope she twists the story on the missing wing to make her sound cooler rather than making everyone turn on me. That was twenty minutes i could have used to run home and keep an eye on Vanilla. She looked so confused when she saw me, like she didn't know who i was. I hope she believes me when i return after all Emerald was clearly the liar considering she destroyed her. Emerald was out of sight now, "Please keep it that way." I mumbled to myself and took a chance and ran back. The palace was going to be an even worst reminder to be in now, first my father turned his back on me and now Emerald had backstabbed me, i had no friends left and no one to confide in. At least i could learn, hopefully, about my species. An ambulance was already outside, she should be okay. Although we didn't have our own private nurse, we were an emergency contact for the hospital. I wasn't gonna take away aid from my subjects that i don't really need. Oh! Bambi! Any concern about Vanilla living evaporated, Bambi was the best, friendliest and most experienced nurse around, every patient shes tended to have made it out alive. "Bambi! Thank heavens it's you! How is she holding up?" I stayed lingering in the doorway to the guest bedroom, no matter how much i wanted to leap in and check i couldn't disturb her. "She's okay, she's lost a lot of blood but i got here just in time, plenty of meals and rest should do the trick, and constant wound cleaning and bandage changing, i can take her to the hospital if that's too much hassle."
"No! It's okay, i can handle it and i'm sure some of the guards who have little duties will be able to tend to her too, I need to keep her here."
"I understand, a white tiger is unusual but ive seen them before."
"Wow! Even you knew they existed, thank you so much for saving her." Bambi turned around, a big smile plastered on her face, per usual. "It's my job, i'm happy to help, i'll leave in a minute if your sure you don't want me to take her."
"I'm sure, i will ring if anything goes wrong, i need to speak with her."
"You really care about her dont you." Was i imagining stuff or was she suggesting something, "I care about all my subjects health and safety." She giggled. "Sure you keep telling yourself that, I'll leave you two to it." She hopped past me, not even a goodbye, Bambi was strange like that never started with a hello and never ended with a goodbye. I walked in carefully, not wanting to wake her. "I'm already awake, I heard everything, i'm not a glass, i'll be on my way, i can take care of myself from here." I gasped, i forgot she probably still thought i wanted her gone, if she even knew i was the queen. "I'm the queen Vanilla."

Vanilla's POV;
Wow, i did not even slightly guess that, i knew our previous king had fleed but i didnt realise his daughter took over, another tiger, shes tiny! "None of this makes sense, i mean cmon you say you don't want to take me on, which okay i get i dont understand social queues but if you were that desperate for guards surely you'd still take me on, then this massive dragon comes out and feels sorry for me then the next second your chasing me for whatever reason and she swoops down and tries killing me for goodness sakes! OW!" I wince, i should not have tried standing just yet, my legs already collapsed under me but a second later i'm leaning on her shoulder, how am i not crushing her? "No please sit back down, i get this is all confusing and upsetting, may i sit with you?" This day just gets crazier, the queen is practically pressed up against me whilst i'm sat here like a vulnerable child. "That dragon is Emerald, my second in command, she has been for years and my closest friend but ive only just found out, i'm so stupid, that she's the reason half my staff are gone, her jealousy got in the way and i'm assuming she felt threatened by you, i was willing to take you on." OHHHHH. That makes so much sense now. Kinda. That situation makes sense, but the whole orange tiger thing does not. "Ouch that must've stung, so you came after me because you found out i'm guessing but why did she attack me like that? What was that achieving?" I felt her shake beside me, was she laughing? "Now that I think about it, her plan was really stupid, i'd already kicked her out i don't see how she thought attacking you would help anything, she wanted to see me suffer i guess and regret kicking her out." I cant help but laugh too until i realise something. "Why would hurting me affect you?"
"Well because she knows how desperate I was to know more about my species especially a peculiar white tiger!" Huh?
"But ive never seen an orange one either, i knew about the king, me and my mum assumed he was a white tiger like us and his daughter too, i didn't even realise his daughter became queen after him, your crowning wasn't announced."
"So we both think each other's colour is strange, hm interesting, i didn't have a public crowning but most knew i took over." I feel really stupid, i wanted to be a guard yet i didnt even know who the queen was.
"Dont get me wrong your colour is beautiful i'm so jealous of it!" Her mouth falls open.
"What really? I think mines so basic, you're beautiful!" I've never been called beautiful before. "Wait i meant your colour!" Oh. Someone like me couldn't be described as beautiful anyways. "Well looks like we both know nothing about our species."
"Welcome to the team Vanilla, when you've recovered you will instantly be joining the royal guards." I smile.

Emerald's POV:
I dont know how long i have been limping along. I'm not used to walking in general but now i have to get used to feeling unbalanced, my wings were heavy but both of them balanced me out, now i find i'm struggling to put one foot infront the other, she knew what she was doing when she took one, more punishment then both because now it's a sad reminder of my lost trophy. I can't even return to home because i can't fly there and my parents would disown me. Finally! A lake! Even if i am to find a new place to settle i need to sort my situation out or i'll look like a murderer. No one should recognise me from this point. I canon ball into the huge bath. This is luxury seeing and feeling all the blood wash off. I can't bare to look at my reflection still. I look crazy i know that, one wing, a chunk out my tail and scars all across my face. Houses! I see houses ahead and a bustling town, i must be on the western side, there's lots of sand and everything seems to be brown and old looking. Perfect, this will work. I've always been a good actor, time to play the sad girl who's been kicked out her home. I let my wing droop to the ground and make myself start tearing up to really pull it off with a bit of lip quivering and shaking and i limp sadly into this unfamiliar town. Everyone instantly notices me, either because i'm a huge dragon or because of my battle scars or because of my sadness. Or maybe all of the above. They all whisper among themselves, unsure of what to do. The only one brave enough to approach me is an eye blindingly, barbie pink husky. "Hey new friend!"