Aureus

Spin wasn't lying when she said a disease would come.

A few days passed after the day that SkyWing doctor was killed. The third day she passed, members of the gang began to come down with an illness. Aureus was one of the lucky ones, since the day he nearly was killed, he had been hiding from everyone.

Eve and Roadrunner, weren't as lucky, however. A day after the doctor came, welts and boils began to pop up along their necks and arms, few along their back as well.

They were large and gross looking, that were tender to the slight of touch. Spider hadn't come down with the disease as of yet, but stayed by his wife to comfort her.

That was something Aureus didn't fully understand. His father acted like he hated them, but when something happened to Eve, he became this totally new dragon. From being grouchy and furious, he began quiet and comforting, never leaving her side.

Roadrunner told him once that when she was expecting his egg, Camel Spider smiled more and payed more attention to his wife rather then his son.

Aureus didn't hold him against by any means, a new life be being brought into Pyhrria, a noble SandWing ready to serve the Kingdom of Sand. Queen Sandstone held nothing to them, they didn't bother her, so she had no interest in stopping them.

Gangs ran rampant is parts of the SandWing Kingdom. The King's Servants were the oldest, created a few years after The Scorching, the event that led to dragons ruling the land.

More and more sprung up. Some fell and became nothing more then a blank memory, while some left a deep mark in history, like the Outclaws.

The leader of the Outclaws, Thorn, eventually became queen of the SandWings, her daughter, Sunny, taking over after she died. The old tales of the Dragonets of Destiny was remembered throughout centuries, as well as the Legend of Kinkajou, the young RainWing who took down the Darkstalker.

All were recorded into history, whether they were true or not. The story of unusual dragons who appeared in Pyhrria stood with them, reseachers finding a few evidence of them being here as well.

They found glowing silk threads, and woven leaf pouches, lost rainbowed scales and strange footprints in cased in mud along the shores of the SandWing kingdom.

Whether they came here was up to the individual of what they thought, really.

Aureus realized he was getting caught up in his thoughts once more, and gave a quick shake of his head. He heard talonsteps coming his way, his dark hazel eyes casting a glance to the dragon in question.

It was another guard, but his jewel embedded brows and wings told him that is was Adobe. Adobe was one of the first dragons there when his father began to take charge of the gang.

He was Spider's right talon dragon and his best friend. Spider and Adobe were both masterminds in controlling a business, and is seemed at times they could read each others minds. The tall and skinny dragon looked down, noticing the smaller SandWing.

"Aureus? I thought you were sick with that disease or whatever?" he mumbled, the smaller looking up at him as he came out from his hiding spot. It was behind the woven banner, the insignia of The Coyote in the middle of it.

The insignia (both branded onto them and woven into the banner) was of a camel spider's head. It's pincers were open, showing the smaller mandibles outstretched, as though it was ready to feast on unfortunate souls.

Unlike the brands on their wings, the banner was colored. The red background gave the impression of blood, while the head of the spider was a shiny golden color. Aureus knew he was named after the color.

His named meant golden in the old version of dragon tongue. He found it a bit strange as his scales weren't actually a golden color. They were more a lighter yellow, while his tiny brown dots seemed a lot like freckles.

The dots covered his snout, neck, forearms, shoulders, and long the ridges of his wings. He remembered how Scorch would say they looked like small specks of dirt on him. He teased and teased about them, and Aureus remembered how hard he would scrub to get the 'dirt spots' off of him in a bath.

"Why are you hiding, gold dust?" Adobe asked, using his regular nickname for the younger. "Me? Er... j-just don't wanna get sick, ya know?"

"Well that's boring," grumbled the taller pinkish dusty brown dragon, "a dragonet your age shouldn't have to worry about that kinda stuff. Don't get me wrong, it's a smart move, but... hey, I gotta an idea. Let's head to the next town over, it may help clear your mind a bit. You've been inside to lot, and need some fresh air."

"Sure, Yucca City, then,"

"No, no, I was actually talking about Snowfox Springs. I need to go there to get a few things settled out with a clint,"

Aureus looked at him with confused eyes, trying to think if there was any IceWing gang leaders. The only one he could think of was Queen Snowstorm, but it was more a of religious thing then them going and causing trouble.

Adobe already started out to the exit, passing by a few sick members, carefully trekking though them. Aureus noticed the sick guards and thief.

The thought of how his father acted towards them came to his mind. He remembered how he would uncoil his tail, holding his stinger up like a scorpion. Everyone would try to stay away from him as he passed.

Carefully, he uncurled his tail. A SandWing dragonet was taught at a young age how to hold their tails, so they couldn't sting anyone. The only cure for a SandWing sting was a Brightsting cactus, which only grew near the queen's stronghold, near the middle of the Kingdom of Sand.

He just closed his eyes and prayed to the moon kings he didn't accidentally stab someone. If he did, he knew he would feel guilty about it.

'What am I talking about, I'm a gangsta'! Aureus, son of Camel Spider and Eve of The Coyotes! I have to show them I can be tough,'

He looked forward, forcing a straight face as he held his head high. His wings were tucked to his sides and he began to make his way though. No one came around him (which was good considering he didn't want to get sick, nor stab someone), and came to Adobe, who stood by the door.

Adobe looked at him, raising an amber crested brow. "Why the look?" he asked, stepping outside.

Aureus tried to puff out his chest. "Just trying to show I'm the boss," answered the other. Adobe let out a small snicker before rolling his black eyes.

"You look like you have a hedgehog shoved up your tail like some kinda contraband," he joked. Aureus felt his scaled heat up.

'Don't back down, stand up, come on, stand up!'

"W-well, at least I don't look like bedazzled tumbleweed!" he scoffed. Adobe looked at him, raising a brow at him. "Oh? I do, huh?" he asked, narrowing his eyes suddenly.

Slight anxiety settled in his bones, making Aureus freeze for a moment. He heard his heartbeat begin to pound in his ears.

Adobe burst out into a fit of laughter. "Well what do you know? Gold dust if finally standing up for himself!"

A wave of relief swept over the SandWing, making him give a small sigh. The two then started to head to to the sky, going higher and higher until Gila Town looked like a small oasis town.

Aureus heard about how at one point, it was an oasis town. It eventually grew larger and larger, until now, it could almost be compare to White Sand Valley or Yucca City.

The hot air helped them rest their wings a bit, though Aureus was a bit new to the flying, he knew the basics. Flap to keep in the air, soar on air currents, and how to steer by tilting his wings.

He wasn't the best for his age, but he normally never got a chance to do it often. When he did fly, her felt like he was on top of the world. It all looked so small, and sometimes he would pretend how could hold the different cities in his clawtips.

The sound of wind howling past his ears was comforting, like it was trying to help him silence all of his worries. The air was so much easier to breathe in, though it was dry. SandWings were known for their love for heat, as they were so use to it, being raised in deserts and such.

However, when they came to Snowfox Springs, he wished he was back home. It was a small town just north of the border, but just south of the Great Ice Wall.

IceWings were once known for their magic, a rare ability known as animus powers. An animus dragon were rare, the most well known was Prince Arctic of the IceWings from ancient time, and the Darkstalker. He was the son of Arctic and Foeslayer of the NightWings, and was known to be that strongest animus of all time.

He was the reason NightWings went missing for hundreds of years, all living in fear on a volcanic island, no longer having their powers of foresight and mindreading. Only in the last four hundred years did they gain them back.

They were once under Queen Glory of the RainWings rule for decades, but the dragoness known as Brightstar came and took the NightWing throne.

However, back to the IceWings. Their animus dragons were only allowed to use their magic once, as the price to pay for the spell was a piece of your soul. If Aureus remembered right, anyone that didn't have IceWing in their blood would be killed by the wall.

Snowfox Springs was found right before you crossed it however, so that was good. They began to drive down, Adobe, landing like a champion, while Aureus fumbled a bit.

IceWings looked at them, some growling as they passed by them. A small dragonet looked at them, curiosity in her black eyes as she pointed to them.

"Momma, look, SandWings!" she chirped, only for her to covered by her mother's wing. "Don't talk to them, Snowdraft," hushed the dragoness.

Aureus tilted his head, a bit confused before following Adobe. The IceWings shot them nasty looks, which was a normal thing for them. IceWings said they were always better, which, really, they were wrong. SandWings were much better!

Aureus noticed Adobe actually have his burn on display. Thinking he should too, he opened his wings slightly, the burn standing out immediately from his white wing.

They began to walk in the snow, the white fluffyness bitting at his wrist, ankles, and tail. The air was still slightly dry, but his scales felt like they were in cased in ice. He forced his jaws to stay shut, not wanting to show any weaknesses.

The two eventually came to a large wooden cabin. Adobe headed inside, looking to Aureus. "Stay outside, I'll be back in a moment." He said before closing the door.

Aureus held his wings close to him, turning and sitting in front of the door. IceWings glanced at them, but a few gave him a small wave (which was mostly dragonets).

A strong wind blew, the cold air making him close his eyes tightly. He sat there for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts for a moment, wishing his scales would warm him up.

Though they were just stepping foot into it, it was still undeniably cold. The wind howled louder and louder, the thought of it once helping him came to a halt. It sounded like war cries almost, loud and unclear as to when it would stop.

When he closed his eyes, thoughts of fire came to his mind. Angry, roaring flames that grew higher and higher. Suddenly, a cold talon were put onto his shoulder, making him snap out of everything, looking up.

He noted river blue eyes with a familiar ring of icy blue.

Ivory.

He saw her give him a smile. She get gave a small wave hello before doing her talon gestures again.

'Hello, Aureus, what brings you here to the Ice Kingdom?'

Aureus smiled, trying to get his numb talons to move correctly.

'I came here with,' he suddenly stopped, not sure how to sign for Adobe, 'friend.'

The alphabet was a bit hard for him, but he was able to learn the first seven. Ivory smiled, letting out a strange sounding chuckle. He looked down, noticing she had her guitars strapped on her.

A smile came to his face, his wing twitching excitedly. 'Are you going to the plaza?' he asked. The IceWing nodded, before opening her wing a bit to show them.

Aureus saw the shiny, polished, wooden casing which held the IceWing's instrument.

She started to do a few gestures which he was a bit confused on. 'I'll be playing.... on my.... tonight.... hope to see you there,' she signed before turning and walking away, waving him goodbye.

Aureus sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what she said. Before a definite answer came to his head, Adobe opened the door. Aureus swore he saw dark blue on his talons, the normal color of IceWing blood. He didn't bring it up, but noticed it was also on Adobe's tail barb.

"Business is dealt with, we can go know. Had fun?"

"By fun, you mean standing out in the cold, right?"

"You say ring, I said finger bracelets,"

The two then took off to head home, the hot sun seeming the melt off the frost on their scales and wings. The heir was already trying to come up with a way for him to sneak out to go to the plaza tonight, which was stopped once the hideout came into sight.

There before the entrance was a sight he'd thought he'd never see.

"Why does dad have Ivory?"