Shifting Sands (A WOF Fanfiction)

Chapter Three- Recon

    The Solstice Festival was a gigantic two-day market mixed with a carnival that many of the dragons from the surrounding area flocked to appear at, whether for popularity, to meet others, or to take advantage of the many bargains and deals that only came twice a year. There were sword-swallowers surrounded by gasping crowds, merchants parading their wares, and gawking dragonets being shuffled in between the tails and talons, held tight by their mothers and fathers. 

The warm air was infused with an aura of excitement and the tang of fresh spices, occasionally producing whiffs of parchment or roasting snake meat. When the sky was turning vibrant reds, oranges, pinks and yellows some of the fire breathing dragons would light a large bonfire in the middle of the main square, away from the tents. Then everyone who had stayed until dusk would sit in the sand and dirt, equally, and join in a giant song, some playing beautiful, unique instruments, and some just singing. The younger dragonets would just watch, or dance together, their giggles echoing around as the adults smiled.

    Scorpion hated the crowds and the ever-watching eyes, but even she had to admit that the Festival could be a lot of fun. It was also a useful time to stake out her target. Oryx had just escaped the Talons of Power a short time ago, but she was willing to bet that the fun and excitement of the carnival would draw him out, not to mention that it was a great place to get information and to learn if anyone was looking for him. If he was smart, and she had a feeling he was, he would have allies and contacts here. 

This year the huge circle was filled with unique dragons of all shapes and sizes. Scorpion could see great, towering Mudwings and Hivewings, tiny Swiftscale dragonets playing flutes, elegant Rainwings and Silkwings with alluring colors, and grinning Sandwings chatting with mysterious Moonwings. There was a background hum of instruments as dragons practiced for the songs that would come later, once everyone had eaten and had gathered together.

Huh. Is that a harp? That's... unusual. Who's playing i-  Wait. The harp player was a Nightwing-Sandwing hybrid. That might be him. Scorpion rose to her feet, reminding herself of the lessons that Jackal had taught her. Slowly, relaxed pace... don't  stare.. And then she paused. An idea was slowly forming, creeping up and laughing at Scorpion, daring her to use it. She plucked a small violet flower from a nearby bush and placed it behind her ear, sauntering towards the dragon who she was hoping was Oryx, trying to get into character so that he wouldn't suspect her. Why am I nervous?  Deep breaths. In, out. In, out. 

    "Hi there." He jumped slightly at Scorpions' voice, and claws accidentally sliced through one of the harp strings as he turned around to face her. Immediately a wave of distrust washed over his features and he stiffened slightly, taking in her hybrid features, the knife strapped to her arm that she allowed to be visible, unlike the three others that were hidden in various spots, and the deadly curve of her barbed tail. 

"Um, hi. Who are you?" 

"Someone you should get to know." Eyelash bat. Tongue flicker. "Who are you?"  He wasn't sure how to respond to that, it looked like, and Scorpion had put him in a spot he wanted to be out of.  A moment's pause as he thought about how to respond. Finally he narrowed his eyes and smirked slightly.

"Nunya." Scorpion narrowed her eyes at the sarcasm in his voice and opened her mouth. 

"Really?  You couldn't come up with anything better than that?" Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a loud cough from the dragon beside the hybrid, who was now looking indignant. A wiry Rainwing, with an interesting leopard rosette pattern on his scales and an obsidian stud in his ear. The Rainwing was grinning slyly, and he turned to her target, waggling his eyebrows in a suggestive way. Then he turned to Scorpion.

"I think what my friend here is trying to say is, 'Hi, my name's Oryx and I'm single."  Yes! It is him!  Scorpion shot them a coy smirk and ambled away, feeling Oryx's eyes drilling into her back, and his Rainwing friend watching them both, amused. She smiled as she disappeared behind the corner of a building. I have some scouting to do.

------------------------------------------------------

    Scorpion had situated herself on top of a roof a short distance away from the target, where she could sit, observe, and still listen to the music from the circle. The assassin had also gotten hungry, so a bag of roasted, glazed and salted almonds was at her side, and she was munching on them. Currently the group down below her was playing a catchy melody with the woodwinds in lead. Scorpion was enjoying it, although Oryx hadn't done anything interesting yet. She was waiting for him to head home so that she could follow him from a distance and see where he lived. It was going to make it a lot easier to assassinate him, seeing as she couldn't ask around town about him. It would draw suspicion, and his informants would probably let Oryx know, at which point he would flee, and her mission would be compromised.

"Hello." A pleasant, elegant sounding voice, with a light accent directly behind Scorpion instinctively made her body jump, although she wasn't actually scared, reminding her of Oryx, who had done the same thing. Scorpion whirled her head around and came face to face with a Moonwing. A periwinkle blue, muscular Moonwing with dapples of navy and admiral blue along his spines, horns, wings and sail. His wings had the pattern of water droplets on a windowpane in a thunderstorm, the droplets being various shades of light and dark blues alongside speckles of white.

    "Sorry, this spot is taken. Go somewhere else. Thank you." He smirked and sauntered over beside her, then plopped down and took a talonful of her almonds, all while watching Scorpion to see how she would react. She was not comfortable with this dragon, at all. He had intelligent eyes. Deep, so brown they were almost black eyes, rimmed with a ring of gold... He was trying to distract her. Why?

Scorpion whipped her head back around, but Oryx was still there. This Moonwing wasn't working with him... so why was he here?

    "Since you so politely asked what my name was, I guess I'll just tell you. I'm Orion, and you are...?"

"Scorpion." She blurted out. Stupid, stupid! Why would you tell him?  Orion raised his eyebrows. 

    "Ooh, like the Scorpion? The mysterious, distrusting assassin who could kill a dragon while he was looking right at her?" Enough chit-chat.

"Why are you here? Did Rattlesnake send you to do recon?" Scorpion tested. If he was there to spy on her, he would most likely react in some way that would give himself away. Orion smiled and took another talonful of almonds. 

"Who's Rattlesnake? Someone I should know about?" Scorpion glanced back at Oryx, the music down there had stopped, and she saw him and his Rainwing friend flying away in the direction of of the forest, harp in tow. 

"Oh no. I need to go. And stop stealing my almonds!" Scorpion lifted off and glided away from the roof and Orion, stuffing the bag of almonds in her satchel. I have a runaway to kill.