Winglets: Vision

Most dragons think animus magic is a gift. Opal is one of them. And it's true. But only in the right hands.

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Opal learns this when her perfect but old queen dies, and her horrid daughter takes over, all WEEKS before Opal's gifting day. The new queen wants something terrible, and Opal has to give a gift,

Or die.

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"No, no," I gasped, as my queen lay before me, life slipping out of her like sand through my talons. "I can save you, your majesty, it can be my gift to the tribe. I'll make the sickness go away."
I'll make the life come back, she thinks, so that your horrid daughter NEVER becomes queen, so that she can grow up a bit more. She knows that if Sapphire becomes queen now, it won't be good. She'd to young, to scared. She would tear this kingdom apart.
"No," rasps the queen, clutching Opal's talons. "I forbid you. You have a gift, and I need you to watch over Sapphire. Promise me you'll care for this kingdom.".
Opal can hear the life draining from her, and she knows that the queen will not speak again. She can't refuse the wish of a dying queen.
"I promise," she whispers, tears openly flowing from her face.
The queen smiles at her, the last thing she will ever do.

And the she is gone.

Not even magic can bring her back now.

(Very slow updates)
#1 in animus April 1, 2022