(Clay)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clay lay on his Platform, staring up at the stary sky. The sun had set, and the role of giving light had been given to the three moons, which shone brightly. It was beautiful. Clay had only been out of the mountain for a few days, but it still never grew old. However, he wasn't relaxed. His mind continued to replay the horror that had played out that day. Clay knew the world outside of the mountain cave from which he and his friends were raised in was full of death and violence. Especially with the war dragging on, but what he had witnessed in Scarlet's Arena was beyond brutal.  

He had never seen a Dragon die before in such a horrendous way, (apart from Dune), and he never wished to see it again. Peril, a Dragon whom he had met earlier, before the arena battle. That was when he wasn't afraid of her. Well... at least until she murdered another Dragon in cold blood, which was ironic considering she literally had fire in her scales!

A sudden flapping startled him which would probably have made him jump as a reflex, but that would probably have ended with him tumbling off the platform. At least his chains would stop him from going too far. 

He looked up, seeing Peril flying above him, only to nearly get hit in the snout by something smoking, that looked burnt, but also smelled of meat.

Food! He thought, feeling immense relief, as he immediately dug in. 

"Whoa! You're Hungry, aren't you? Don't the guards feed you enough?" She asked. Clay shook his head. He looked over, to see Peril land on his Pillar, but at of opposite end. The stone platform wasn't very big, and the concern in Clay's expression was obvious. 

"It's alright. I'll stay really still. I won't come any closer." Peril said, trying to sound reassuring. 

Clay felt a bit better, knowing that she wasn't planning to cause trouble, but he still felt a bit uneasy. There was a long silence as Clay quickly gulped down his meal, before turning his full attention to Peril. 

"Do you want another one?" She asked.

"Um, no thanks."

"D-Do you want me to go away?"

Clay thought for a second, before replying. 

"No, please stay here and talk to me." He said. The truth was that he missed his friends, and desperately needed someone to talk to. Clay was lonely and decided that maybe he should give Peril a second chance. 

Peril looked suprised at his reply, tilting her head. Even in the moonlight her scales shone dimly, like a small fire. 

"Aren't you afraid of me?" She asked. Clay nodded. "Of course, I am, but I kind of guessed you would show up. Also, not to mention you're still better company than the pigeons. All they ever talk about is who to poop on."

Peril giggled, before it turned into a muffled laughter, as she covered her mouth with her wings.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

Peril looked at Clay but seemed to refuse to make direct eye contact. 

"I-I, um, I... I guess I haven't laughed. You know, properly... for a long time." She said, her wings drooping slightly. Clay felt a pang of sympathy. Before he could say anything, Peril suddenly interrupted. 

"The Sandwing, Horizon, why did he just... give up like that? Her majesty was really angry." 

"Angry? At you? That hardly seems fair!" Clay said. It was his turn to be suprised. 

"Well, I feel like you're right, but then again, it's my job. I'm Queen Scarlet's Champion. It's my responsibly to make the fights exciting." She said, before she suddenly looked back at Clay. 

"I like fighting... all right. I was hatched to do this. To kill. Scarlet's my Queen. I'm her champion. I do what she says. Everyone does. Nobody dares disobey her." Peril said, however, her voice sounded a bit strained. 

Clay paused. He felt like he had crossed a line. He didn't want to force her to say anything she didn't want to say, but there was still something he had to know.

"Then, why are you still working for her though. Your stronger than her. You have fire in your claws! Why can't you just... stop her?" He asked. 

Peril sighed. Her wings drooped further.

"Queen Scarlet, actually saved my life... when I was still a very young Dragonet. You see, apparently Dragons like me, with firescales, are very rare, and considered very dangerous.'

I can understand that... Clay thought.

'Usually, they kill Dragons like me, and that was exactly what my mother was about to do. If you really want to know... I-I, killed my twin, when we were still inside our egg. I burned him to a crisp. My mother was just about to snap my neck when Scarlet killed her."

"Uh, wow. That's, um, violent." Clay remarked. 

He had listened carefully to Peril. It reminded him of how he had apparently tried to kill his friends, while they were still inside their eggs. When he had only just hatched.

Clay told Peril about this, and when he finished, she only looked up at the three moons, far above them.

"So, we were both hatched as Killers." She spoke. Clay wasn't sure what to say, before he looked at her. 

"No." 

Peril looked at him. 

"What do you mean 'no'?" She asked, surprised. 

"I-I mean, that not who I want to be. Maybe I was born a monster. A killer. But I don't want to be that kind of Dragon. I want to be the Dragon that helps others. I want to choose my own destiny. Decide who I am."

He looked at Peril, who had a stunned expression, as if she had never thought of it that way before. 

"Maybe you can be different too?" Clay asked, trying to sound gentle. He felt bad for Peril. Everyone seemed to hate her. See her as a monster. He was sure there was some good in her. He just had to find it.

Peril looked doubtful.

 "Maybe... Oh, and one more thing. When I end up fighting you in the arena, are you going to give up? Like Horizon did?" She asked, getting up. 

Clay immediately felt unsettled once more.

"Um, I don't think so-"

"Good. I want our fight to be fair. I like you. I don't want you to just accept it like Horizon did. " she said, sounding satisfied. 

"Also, about you saying that I can be different... I'm sorry. It's who I am." She said, as she flapped her wings, and began gliding down from the platform. 

Suddenly, something shot across Clay's mind.

"W-Wait! There's one more thing I want to ask you!" 

Peril stopped, and hovered in the air, a few meters from the platform. 

"Yeah?"

"J-Just... I know this will sound crazy, but do you know anything about Scarlet having a talking Scavenger?"

Peril's expression changed to a bewildered, confused one. 

"Excuse me? Did you say talking Scavenger?" She asked. 

"Yes. I saw one, when Scarlet brought us to her throne room. It spoke, it spoke perfectly in front of everyone. The weirdest bit was, was that Tsunami seemed to know it. She kept shouting... Y/N? Could that be the Scavenger's name?" 

Peril just shook her head. 

"I haven't heard anything about a talking Scavenger. Probably because that's impossible..." Clay heard her mutter under her breath, before she looked back to Clay. 

"Just... Maybe ask Tsunami? Please? If you can find her platform? I-I really want to know."

'Um, if you say so! See you tomorrow! If you don't end up dying!" Peril called, before she soared off, flying down to the palace below. 

For the rest of the night Clay slept terribly. He was dreaming that he was back under the mountain, with his friends and his guardians. However, in this dream he found himself back in the training cave, where Kestrel would train him to fight. 

"Dodge! Roll! Come on! Use your fire! Where is that inner monster? Useless! Useless!" She roared at him, glaring down at him. Clay felt smaller than he had ever felt before. The thoughts from his conversation with Peril echoed through his subconscious. 

What if she's right? What if I am a monster inside? But... That's still not who I want to be...

(Y/N)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You gasped as you sat up quickly, panting. You blinked, looking at your surroundings. You sighed in relief. You were still breathing quickly, but as you woke up more, beating heart slowed back to a resting pace. 

You were still on the platform, which wasn't good, but it was still better then waking up back in Scarlet's palace, with the horrible queen herself. Like you had done in your nightmare. 

And to think I had once liked her character. She was much less terrifying when she was just words on a page. You thought, trying to clear your head.

"W-Wha? What's happening?" Said a voice from very close by.

"Oh, sorry to wake you, Tsunami. I just had a nightmare. That's all." You said, trying to act dismissive about it. 

You suddenly felt movement behind you, Tsunami's head came into view. 

"Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, before you quickly shook your head in response. 

"No, I'm good- wait, was I sleeping with you again?" 

Tsunami stared at you. 

"Honesty, I'm not so sure why your acting sour about it. I've told you. I don't need a dead, frozen Scavenger on the same pillar as me for the next who knows how long! And besides, I care about you, you know." She said, looking away at that last part. 

"Geesh, sorry. I understand your trying to help. I guess it's just a bit embarrassing. Thats all."

Tsunami looked back at you, a bit confused. 

"How come? Dragons do it all the time. It's a sign of affection. Is it different with Scavengers?"

"Uh..." You said, feeling even more embarrassed, as you tried to think of a way to explain to Tsunami, that for Humans to cuddle while sleeping with each other, was usually an act that was more than just friendship.

Luckly, you were suddenly interrupted from a potentially awkward conversation, by a low growling sound.

"Wow, I am hungry. The guards should be arriving with breakfast soon. I swear to the three moons that if it's not something good I will-"

"Throw the biggest temper tantrum in history?" You asked, wanting to lighten the mood slightly, and besides, you were also feeling pretty hungry. You hoped that you would be given something you could eat. Tsunami laughed. "Alright, yes. Let's put it that way. Although, I guess I already decided to not eat you, so, you best be careful." She teased. 

"Uh, haha?" You asked, knowing she was joking. At least you hoped she was joking. 

"Relax. I was just joking." She said before her eyes focused on something. 

"Hold on. What's going on over there?" She said, you looked to where she had focused on. It was guards, flying up and grabbing a prisoner from one of the platforms. However, it wasn't just any Dragon. They looked familiar. 

"Wait, that's Clay!" Tsunami said, the concern in her voice prominent. You looked closer. Tsunami's vision was better than yours, however, upon straining your eyes, you could make out the familiar Dragonet of Destiny, being unchained and flown down from the platform. 

There was no doubting it. It was definitely Clay. 

"Where are they taking him?" You asked, feeling just a worried as Tsunami. However, you already had a very bad feeling.

(Tsunami)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several hours later...

Hours had passed, and she was still bored. There was absolutely nothing to do, but either relax and listen to the wind, think of creative curses to say to Queen Scarlet next time she saw her, or simply just enjoy small talk with her Scavenger companion. (Which she did spend most of her time doing, considering there wasn't really much else to do). She felt satisfied, at least in terms of hunger, as the guards had flown up and dropped down breakfast later that morning, but it was Y/N she was worried about. 

He hadn't eaten anything. She had taken off a chunk of meat from her own food, but he hadn't touched it. Was something wrong? 

She hadn't asked him about it, as she couldn't really understand why he wouldn't eat what was put in front of him. Especially considering it was perfectly good meat.

Tsunami had just assumed that he wasn't feeling hungry, but he had such a small body. Like other Scavengers he looked easily breakable, and rather small. He needed to eat at some point. Right? To be fair though, she knew little-to nothing about Scavengers apart from that they like and steal treasure, and that they were often seen as pests, or food. Maybe they didn't need to eat as often? 

She hadn't really been able to get much out of Y/N. Especially about his origins, but he would only give cryptic answers, which only annoyed her, as her curiosity constantly nagged her, and Y/N seemed to be determined to reveal nothing. This had only made her more curious, however, she held in her annoyance. She would never hurt a Scavenger. 

At least not Y/N though. He's different. He's a friend. 

Speaking of which, she had captured other Dragons from nearby pillars looking at Y/N. Many of them with hunger, while others just had confused expressions, as if they were wondering:

Why is there a Scavenger on that platform with that Seawing, and why hasn't it been eaten yet?

However, Tsunami had simply wrapped her talon around Y/Ns' body protectively, and given the other Dragons a death glare, which made many of them look away quickly. Although, she admitted to herself, she did enjoy being close to Y/N. She felt a need to protect him. To keep him from getting hurt. 

In fact, she had Y/N, curled up against her that very minute. Sleeping. 

Poor Y/N. He must not have got a lot of sleep last night. At least he's got me to keep him warm. She thought happily. By this point, she had started to become used to her strange feelings towards Y/N. It felt like love, but more protective, and defensive. 

I won't let anyone hurt him again. Not Scarlet. Not anyone. I bet I'm the only one that can truly keep him safe in this world. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. 

She thought, feeling determined, before a loud roar pulled her out of her thoughts. The noises below grew louder and louder before she leaned her head over the edge of the platform to get a view of the spectacle below.  Dragons, particularly Skywings, but also quite a few Mudwings and Sandwings were all flowing into the arena stands. Only this time, the crowds looked even bigger than during the fight in the arena yesterday.

"Ugh, what's happening?" Y/N asked, trying to get up, only to groggily trip and fall back over, but Tsunami managed to catch him. 

"I think there's about to be another arena battle." Tsunami said. 

"Man, Scarlet really can't get enough of those fights- Whoa! Thats a big crowd down there!" Y/N gasped, staring at the masses of Dragons below, before he shrank back suddenly, as Queen Scarlet strolled out, before taking a seat at the Royal platform. Next to her, the marble tree, which contained the still sleeping Glory, was carried out, before being placed not far from the edge of the overhanging platform. 

"Well, whatever happens down there. At least I don't have to watch it by Scarlet's side." Y/N said, giving Tsunami a small nudge. 

"Greetings! My subjects, fellow Skywings! I welcome you all to today's arena battle! However, today's battle will not be a normal one! No! This time, we happen to have a very special Dragon fighting for my entertainment today. A particular... Mudwing Dragonet?"

Tsunami's attention instantly peaked. 

"W-Wait. What!?" She cried. Y/N peaked back over the edge, staring down. 

This can't be happening. Not Clay. Not Clay. Please don't let it be Clay. She thought. Pleading.

"I give you all: One of the famous Dragonets of Destiny: Clay! The Mudwing!"

"Uh oh." Y/N murmured to himself, sounding worried, as Tsunami stared down with fear for her friend, as he strode out nervously into the arena from underneath the platform. The crowd cheered and roared in excitement upon seeing him. 

Finally, everything made sense. Why Clay had been taken down from his platform. Clay was going to fight in the arena. Scarlet was going to make Clay fight to the death, in her arena...