(Old) Ice and Fire (Wings of Fire fan story)

The Back Alley: Robin

Robin had had fun in the city. She had gotten the grand tour, had got to do every fun activity imaginable, and had met a bunch of SkyWings her own age. But today was her last day.

"Robin, what would you like to do today?" Her mom asked her, a cup of tea in her talons. 

"Can we go back to the park," Robin asked, smiling.l

"Of course," Carmine exclaimed. "We can do that, but we have to come back in the evening for the big surprise!" 

Robin's family had been talking about a big surprise since last week, and Robin was excited to see what it was. She thought of all the different things it could be as she flew with her mom and aunt to the park. Once there, she headed straight to the playground. All different dragonet, all red and orange, except for a light blue SeaWing, were playing together. It took a minute to find the one she was looking for. 

"Nimbus, go have fun," his mother told him, lightly pushing a bright red dragonet Robin's age toward the playground.

"Hey, Basalt!" Carmine said, walking over to them. Robin's mother had told Robin that her and Basalt had been friends since they were Robin's age. 

"Mom, I don't wanna! I'm too old now," Nimbus whined, right before Robin tackled him, sending them both tumbling on the grass. "ROBIN!" He yelled, getting up. He lightly tapped her shoulder. "Tag! You're it," he raced into the mini forest beside the park, Robin by his side. Nimbus was fun. They played for hours, building forts and hide and seek and all those other games young dragonets like to play.

"You wanna go into the city?" Nimbus asked Robin, once the sun was high up in the sky.

"Sure,'' Robin gave him a playful look. "Race you!"

"I know someone you might want to meet," Nimbus turned his head to face her as they landed quite a few blocks away from the park. 

This particular part of town, closer to the mountains, looks somewhat run down. The buildings looked damaged, most of the lanterns had been broken or stolen, so it was darker here, and it just had a feeling of all around abandonedness. An orange dragon wearing a black hood turned his head to stare at them as he passed by. 

"Follow me," Nimbus looked both ways, as if to make sure they weren't being followed, then scampered off into an alleyway, Robin in tow.

"Who's there," a voice echoed from somewhere above them, trying to sound deep and menacing.

"Hey Falcon, it's me, Nimbus," Nimbus looked up, at what appeared to be a stairwell, with the stairs broken, where Robin could make out the shape of a  dark red dragonet.

"And who's this?" Falcon boomed.

"She's with me. Her name's Robin," Nimbus nudged her.

"Today's password is goldfish," Falcon's voice got quieter as he said this. "You may pass."

"Thanks," Nimbus and Robin walked on. 

The alleyway seemed to lead to a small, but roomy open area, that looked a bit like a clubhouse, with some furniture (broken) and some game boards (also broken) and lots of other things you would find in a  dragonet's club. A few dragonets who, by the looks of them, looked to be between the ages of one and five, were milling around the place. It was dark in here too, with only a few of the stolen lanterns illuminating the area. The buildings were high, like most of the city, but what would have been the sky was covered with a grey cloth halfway to it.

"Who's the new blood?" Someone asked from above. "Got a girlfriend, Nimbus?" Everyone seemed to peer at Robin at those words.

"Why don't you get down here and find out?" Nimbus called.

Grumbling, a yellowish orange SkyWing  lept of a balcony above them, gliding down to them. She appeared to be about three or four, with pretty orange eyes. She wore a necklace with a few emeralds and sapphires teardrop shapes hanging off it. 

"So, Robin, Hurricane. Hurricane, Robin," Nimbus stated.

"So Robin," Hurricane sneered. "Welcome to the Back Alley."