One year after Crag fled the Academy 

She forgave herself. For everything

Crag's scales shimmered like an orange sunset as she burst through the clouds. Seagulls flew between her talons and under her wings. The salty air of the ocean wove it's way into her scales.

Crag loved it by the sea. She was insane, completely mad, but she still loved the feeling of slicing her wings through the sky.

It had been one year since she had hurt Peril. One year since she had fled Jade Mountain, grabbed her grandmother and rushed to the safety of the Kingdom of the Sea.

One year since she had fallen in love with the monster who had killed her family.

Yes. She had been in love with Peril. Despite the way Peril had dragged her jaws across the flesh of Crag's father, clasped her claws across her mother's snout, and smothered her brother with a single talon. Despite that Peril, the dragon of flames, had watched them burn.
It had been just a little prickle at first. When Crag had first entered Jade Mountain, her goal only to avenge the death Peril had caused, she hadn't realised that Peril was possibly the most beautiful dragon on the face of Pyrrhia. Her eyes electric blue, her wings tinted gold, her scales like molten lava. And her laugh - everything about her made something in Crag's heart flutter. And then Crag realised she was in love... and that's when it started. She went insane. And frankly, Crag didn't really care. She liked it. She loved the burns on her flesh. She loved being called a monster. She loved the way she had ruthlessly slaughtered the SeaWing that had once owned this home.

Crag had become the very thing she hated most. A killer.

Did she really care anymore? No.

When Clay had expelled Crag from Jade Mountain, she had felt a hint of remorse. In another universe, maybe Peril and Crag could have been friends. Maybe even lovers. But Peril's heart was forever Clay's.
Crag had lay awake sobbing at night.

So now the SkyWing lived here, all alone, waiting for death. Her grandmother had died a few days ago. Crag was running out of food but had no desire to hunt. Just to slowly succumb to death, like Peril should have all those months ago.

Crag had been mad since the start, when her parents were first killed. Then her brother was killed a few days later and Crag just plummeted off the edge, right to insanity. She had lost the will to carry on. Her grandmother had kept her alive, but had sent her away to Jade Mountain the first chance she got. That's when everything her grandmother had repaired unravelled again.

Tilting her wings, Crag soared back down to the beach, snaking through the crowds of birds. Landing, she hurried into her hut, walking all over her grandmother's grave.

She had to finish her letter to Peril before she died. Which she would, in a matter of days.

Dear Peril.

I hope things are going well with you and Clay. I've caught wind that your dragonet, Bronze, is doing well.

Crag tapped her ink-stained claw against her chin in thought.

I've also heard that Turtle has fallen ill - I wish his speedy recovery. And some claim that Tsunami is with egg! I hope her dragonet is healthy.

If you are wondering why I wrote this letter... well, I'm not too sure myself. What I did to you is something of the past, and I honestly don't care if you forgive me or not. But you're the only person I know, and I didn't know who else to write to before I died, which I will in a couple of days. How exciting! I'm just letting you know I'm not gonna be around. So you needn't worry about Bronze, or Clay, or yourself.
Do take note that a storm is arriving. I think it's going to be bad if I can tell anything by the clouds.

If you wish to find me, I live not far from the Scavenger den on the tail of Pyrrhia. I'll be dead if you find me, but I'm just letting you know.
I love you, Peril.

Crag let the ink dry and then rolled up the scroll. She needed to make one more trip before she died.

When Crag came home, it was dark. The musty scent of her cabin smelled like just the perfect place to die. She had made all the preparations - all her special possessions were on display for Peril to take if she came, each with little notes explaining their importance. She had written her own obituary, and it was smack in the middle of her table.

Crag, the monster. Crag, the sociopath. Crag, the killer. She liked all those names. They suited her well.

She wondered, as she drifted off to sleep, what Peril would think of her. Maybe she would love Crag back, or maybe she would hate Crag more. Crag didn't really care.

And so Crag smiled. Waiting only to die.

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I just felt like writing this rn.

Maybe I'll do one for Peril and Clay and Moon, too.

Anyways, I know it's been a long time since I wrote anything in this book, but I hope at least a few of y'all read this!