Ryns.
The soldier caste of dragonlings, a particularly vicious species of shapeshifters.
Dragonlings are dangerous.
Ryns are deadly.
Born and raised to be a bloodthirsty soldier, Anita's life has never been her own. She always knew her fa...
Though we must rely on Ryns for our protection, we must never forget that every dragonling has the right and the ability to defend themselves. We must not grow lazy or weak.
This is Our Law.
~ From the Dragonling Grimoire
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"How long did you two know?" The night had passed quietly, with Gvrilla bringing food as she had promised. Mako had yet to make a reappearance and so I was left with Dmitri and Alek to stew over everything. Morning had come, and I was curled up with Dmitri on the pile of furs while Alek was seated at the desk, going over the records from yesterday.
"I've suspected for a long time." Alek replied, pushing up his glasses as they started to slide off his nose. "Cedric only confirmed it for me. Don't," he added, glancing over at me, "give me that look. Should I have gotten your hopes up for something that I didn't even know was true?"
"Yes!" I replied vehemently. "I would have wanted to know something that important so-"
"So that you could do something incredibly rash that could have landed all of us either dead or in exile?" Alek asked with a hard edge to his voice.
I opened my mouth, but shut it again sullenly. Alek was right. I probably would have tried to start a fight. And after all that effort in trying to fit in too... well, at least up until I attacked Lilith. I should probably apologize for that.
"As it stands," Dmitri continued on, "it doesn't matter. We need to figure out where to go from here."
Fear twisted in my chest as I thought about going back. Now that I knew what was happening to other Ryns like me... how lucky was I to escape? Was the queen hoping I'd die on the front lines? Who was watching me while we were fighting? Could one of my squadron members have been on her side the entire time?
"Anita?" Dmitri gently shook me and I realized I must have missed what he said next. He sighed and repeated it slowly. "Do you think your sister knows? Could she be in danger?"
Sister? I stared at Dmitri blankly. I had always been an only draggy. No clutchmates or- Clara!
My heart seized as I thought of Clara. I hadn't even bothered to write her the entire time I was gone... and now she might have strayed into the line of fire because of me. No, we weren't close, not by a long shot. I hadn't liked her enthusiasm or her excitability, but, now that I was looking back, I missed it.
"I don't know." I finally choked out. "Could... could I write to her? The mail Inas arrive daily."
"You have plenty of paper." Alek said, regarding me with curiosity. "But I thought you didn't-"
"I miss her." I blurted out suddenly, not quite sure where the sentiment came from. Yet, yes, I did know. Her chattiness and optimism, even after my eggs had been shattered, I had found it annoying. But now? I needed that in my life. I needed someone to tell me that everything would be alright. I needed someone to comfort me and keep the silence away with idle chatter. I needed... family.
