The Dark Mother. A Wings Of Fire Fanfiction.

Clashing Loyalties.

"Flower!"

Patch blinked and forced himself to stop. Recognizing that name right away as Sunny cried happily.

A Scavenger ran into Sunny's claws and climbed up onto the back of her neck. Throwing its paws around her neck and giving her a hug.

Scavengers were these strange creatures without scales, or tails, or wings, or anything that resembled a dragon. They lived out in the wilds and were the ones that killed Queen Oasis and started the whole war of Sandwing Succession. Well not deliberately, technically that was the three daughters faults, but still they killed the queen!

Sunny smiled to Patch with the Scavenger that belonged to Prince Smolder on the back of her neck. "Flower I'm so happy you recognize me."

"Eh," Patch made a worried sound in his throat. Sunny looked at him funny and walked closer.

Patch immediately leaped back as far away from Sunny as he could. "Keep that thing away from me!" He tried to sound brave, but he would need about five more cups of that special drink before he would feel that. Instead of sounding like a soldier, he squealed like a dragonet whimpering for its mother.

"Wha-" Sunny tilted her head and noticed he was pointing at the Scavenger. "It's just Flower, she wont hurt you." She said with a beaming smile.

"Flower," a calm voice came scolding from down the hall. "What have I told you about running off like that."

Prince Smolder emerged beside Patch. He was the only currently surviving Prince of the royal family. He was a very good, if troublesome leader at times. Apparently, Thorn was keeping him around as an adviser, despite not liking him all that much.

"Oh, hello Sunny. I didn't know you were here. Of course I'm not disappointed, actually quite happy." He said with a rather neutral tone, that held a slight charm and amused note to it. It was always difficult to tell his mood and what was going on in his mind.

"Prince Smolder. Sir!" Patch saluted the prince. A slight hint to his shakes in his voice.

"Oh, Corporal Patch, Queen Thorn is wanting to see you."

"Yes, I know, sir. I was just on my way to see her now."

Sunny approached Smolder and handed him Flower. "Patch are you scared of Flower?"

"NO!" He said rather quickly.

The golden dragon giggled and smiled. "If you have some important business with mother, I can hang out with Smolder until then."

"Oh, I would like that. Let's amend our broken friendship. Promise I wont lock you in any towers or office rooms this time. Ooo, here you can have the keys, just don't lock me in a room please. See, friends already." Smolder gave one of his smiles that looked like he was unsure, but maybe this was his "I'm being funny" smiles. It was hard to tell.

"Well, that keeps me away from It, and I will try not to take her time on your behalf." He pointed at the Scavenger, giving his best upset face he could.

"Your being silly, Patch. It's just Flower, she wont hurt you." Sunny gave him a concerned look.

"I don't like Scavengers, okay. They're always... thinking." He did his best to not sound paranoid or worried. Most of the others who heard his ideas about Scavengers usually made people question him. Though, Sunny seemed to tilt her head and act as though she was open to listening to him.

However, Smolder seemed insistent on talking with the new princess and he lead her away. Already talking a storm with her.

As they walked away. Patch noticed the Scavenger, Flower, watching him. He felt all his scales start to crawl as a look of wonder or maybe mystique was written on her tiny face.