Derp's POV

Derp yawned, waking up from his pleasant slumber, tasting the warm, though slightly clammy air of the cave. The soft, comfy and warm embrace of his adopted family surrounded the little serpent.

The first thing Derp noticed was that all he could was a pearly white that seemed to stain his eyes, which he tried to clean away with his tongue, but to no avail as his tongue felt the smoothness of the eyes' protective scales.

With that the little snake panicked, thinking that perhaps he got poison in his eyes.

With that belief, he nudged who he believed was Dread til he found a small gap to escape through. Slithering in between two of his draconic siblings, pressed by the fluffy slumbering pillows until he felt cool scales of Soul-Reader at which point, he wiggled upwards to the top of the pile. Derp felt the colder air of the sleeping cave as he began his search.

Using his tongue, Derp was able to create a blurry mental map of his surroundings, turning to the right following the scent trail to his oldest sibling and the one who had found his abandoned egg one years earlier; Victory Strike.

Derp slithered over the backs and wings of his slumbering family members towards the unique smell of alcohol, baked goods and smelted metal, several others had those scents but Victory was the only one with that mix.

He felt the cold and rough metal of a patchwork prosthetic limb that clashed with the warm fuzz that indicated his oldest guardian. With relief, the little snake slithered up the arm, until he felt the soft down of the triple-slasher. Which he followed up the shoulder blade to what he perceived to be the head.

Derp whispered into Victory Strike's ear, "Victory, wake up!"

With that, Victory awoke with a quick, gumpy snort as Derp felt a blooding-chilling stare being pointed at him as Victory Strike took in who it was and gave him a warmer look.

With a light sign of relief, Derp felt his brother getting on his haunches, shaking the serpent lightly.

"Ah, Good Morning Derp," Victory Strike greeted with a yawn before pointing with surpise, "Your eyes?!"

"I don't know what happened," Derp explained, gesturing blindly with his claws, "I just woke up like this. Please tell me that you can fix this."

Derp felt the dragon's soft, gentle claws wrap around him and lifted Derp up as the Triple-Slasher examined him, humming a soft tune.

Victory Strike chuckled lightly making Derp slightly relieved with the knowledge that Victory knew what it was.

"It seems that someone is getting bigger," Derp's brother jokes as he set Derp onto the pile of slumbering dragons.

"What do you mean," Derp asked puzzled as he curled on top of one of his fuzzy brethren.

"You see Derp, snakes shed their skin as they get bigger so that their bodies will have the space to grow," Victory Strike explained, "However, a part of the process is when you secrete a milky substance beneath your old skin, including the scales protecting your eyes. Which is why you are currently visually impaired, it allows your body to seperate the two skins and prepare the new skin."

"So, when will I finish shedding," Derp asked impatiently.

"I don't know," Victory said, "While I do know a sizable amount about serpents. I ain't an expert, especially in a field where the wisest are perplexed in, when it comes to Doom Snakes anyway."

"So you are saying," Derp started with frustration seeping into his voice, " that we have no idea when I will shed my skin and that I will be blind for Dodin knows how long!"

"Yes, but look on the bright side. You will be less of a little danger noodle and more of a danger hose," Victory Strike joked as Derp heard someone else waking up with a disgruntled chirp and yawn, "And you will finally get some beautiful spines."

"What is going on," Amber-Eye yawned, having awakened from his night of binge drinking.

"Derp is starting to shed his scales for the first time," Victory Strike said with anticipation in their voice as Derp felt a furry tail poking him gently, making him slightly itchy in the spot.

"Okay," Amber-Eye groaned in indifference from his hangover as the information completely flew over his head, "Where is the salted alimony anyway?"

"Don't ya mean the steamed Icefish," Victory corrected their distressed brother, "In the bottom left side of the fridge and heat it up yourself for Everest's sake. Soul-Reader is tired of being your personal heater!"

"Sure," Amber-Eye signed as he got up with a grunt and a tap of his parrot like hind legs, "But how will I reheat it then?"

"Just use the fire rune for Freyan's sake," Derp retorted at the 'out of it' dragon.

"I don't have time for this," Amber-Eye grunted as Derp heard him walk away towards the pantry.

"Remember, it is the rune cabinet," Victory Strike told the dragon in a motherly tone before remarking, "And if you are going to go drinking again, I better not see you taking anyone else's coins and be back by nightfall. You hear me."

Amber-Eye grunted and continued walking away, seeking food to relieve himself of his pain.

"That drunken loon," Victory Strike said under their breath, "He knows that we need as much cash as we can save and he goes burning his share on- of all thing- femented, bitter wheat tea."

"Yep," Derp replied rolling his eyes, "Of all things, beer."

— — — — — — — — — — — — —

Derp laid coiled up on his seat as the sounds of ripping, chewing, munching and talking rang around him as his siblings enjoyed their breakfast, well the ones who had enjoyed their nighttime nap. Heart, Woden's Talon and Fentri had the pleasure of being the nightwatch and were sound asleep. Amber-Eye had left earlier, leaving the remaining dragons to enjoy their rest and meal in relative peace.

Despite being surrounded and seemingly taunted by food, the little doom snake felt no desire to eat.

After a while, someone began to tap the table, which gained the attention of everyone as the chattering subsided.

"Did you guys all enjoyed your breakfast," Victory Strike asked with sincerity in her voice, looking for criticisms

"Ah, yes," Pineapple replied like the answer was obvious, "And seriously Vic & Rattle how did you two absolutely mad gals match your last masterpiece with this delicious meal, especially that pancake, salad and fish."

"Oh, I assure you Pineapple," Rattler 'humbly' replied, "It was a piece of cake."

"I learnt the pancake recipe from a sweet old Bone Robber at the bar," Victory Strike explained as Derp heard a few plates rattling against each other, "I then tried a mixture of Mountain Lemons juice and zest, freshly ground black peppers and turmeric with a pinch of Saffer Cobra venom which I added to normal marinating solution and salad dressing."

"While I managed to get a steal on the meats," Rattler boasted, "I also managed to get some venom and made the glass pudding and-."

"We get the point," Insanity snorted, cutting off Rattler's boast, "Victory, you were going to say something."

"Yes, of course," Victory said before coughing lightly, "As I am sure that everyone knows, Derp is going through his first shedding, which means that our little noodle wouldn't be that little anymore!"

With that, a wave of cheers and congratulations came from Derp's sibling as the little serpent shook his head, a tad flustered.

"Which means that someone will have to look after him while the rest of us work," Dread explained, "Now, we can agree that Heart, Victory and Pineapple will be more fitting then me to care for Derp."

"But as Heart is taking the night watch and is practically a Thunderhorn at this point," Pineapple said cheekly before continuing, "And Vic and I have to perform our jobs at Blackpoint and today will be a rather busy day, so the three of us agreed to having Dread be Derp's personal caretaker. Does anyone have any objections?"

Derp felt a tad bit concerned, one of the few dragons he hadn't the privilege of having personal time with would be the second youngest sibling, the runt of the flock.

"I don't see any problem with that," Soul-Reader replied, "Afterall, we all know that Dread's cave shrimp of a boss doesn't care about whether him and wouldn't notice his absence. I might take a gander at that even his coworkers wouldn't might his temporary lose"

"Thanks, sis," Dread thanked Soul-Reader with a hint of sarcasm, before sipping his drink, "Thanks for boosting my self-esteem."

"Tis is our speciality," Insanity joked, earning a wack from someone.

"Either way, I will care for Derp until Dread gets that cover," Soul-Reader finished.

"So, it settled then," Victory asked, which was answered with chirps of satisfaction.

"If that is all, then let's get ready to go ya lousy lot," Rattler ordered, earning another wack from someone else.

"Time to clean up!"

———————

"Soul-Reader, I have a question," Derp asked his older sister as he took in the fire's heat. The sounds of the nightwing's claws tapping vibrated through the cold stone that made up the floor to the rug that Derp was rested on.

"What is it," Soul-Reader asked, Derp felt her wing covered his coiled form. As he took in the smells of the 'library', of its scrolls, which were either bought, borrowed or grifted to the flock.

"What were your lives before Victory found me," Derp asked curiously, he knew that there was a tale there, "there is more than The Isles of Doom and Ragnorak. And ... well, I know that you all have experience with Pyrrhia and Vernica."

Soul-Reader cleared her throat before speaking in her honey sweet voice, "Well, we were planning on telling you when you are older. But I guess a little wouldn't hurt."

"So, will you," Derp asked hopefully.

Soul-Reader signed to herself before tutting, "Let me tell you a story."

Derp silently gleamed, if there was one thing that he enjoyed more than a good read, it would be a good story, especially from Soul-Reader.

"Where do I start," Soul-Reader pondered before snapping her claws in triumph.

"There was once a mighty megatribe that span from Vernican to the East to The Isles of Doom in the East. This megatribe was govern by a rather mediocre queen who went by the name of Death-Reaker. Like most royality, she had several heirs, all divided by clutches. The first clutch held two eggs, one that held twins both male animuses and the other held a single female they were the heads of the sibling group. The second clutch was a single adopted egg which hatched into a hybrid of sea and rain. The third clutch had four eggs, which held two males and two female. The fourth clutch was a single egg bathed in moonlight and two males . The fifth and final clutch held three eggs; one male, one female and the runt. These dragonets were led by the first batch and were very close. However, Death-Reaker wasn't as all powerful as you would suspect for she was controlled by her mother; Amber-Heart who like amber held a death grip on the family, controlling them and doing as she sees fit. However for all her tyranny, Amber-Heart was a caring grandmother, well for those she favoured, because while Amber-Heart taught and pampered her chosen grandchildren, Death held a twisted motherly love for her remaining spawn. But on one fateful day, Death snapped and in her fury banished her children from the megatribe to the cold, unforgivable lands of Ragnorak. When Amber-Heart found out, she was furious, but before she could act. Death stabbed her with a stinger laced with Riproarrer venom. With that deceptive stab, Death was freed, but her spawn were more resilient that she had anticipated, which will be her undoing. They binded their time in their new home, building allies with the many tribes in the tundra, mountains, seas and forests. Waiting for their time to return and reap their vengeance!"

Derp listened intently before recognising the similarities of the family in the story and his siblings. The two animuses dragons and that dragoness were identical to the heads of the flock; Insanity, Victory Strike and Rattler's Bane. Then the hybrid, Pineapple was the fourth oldest and a seawing-rainwing. Soul-Reader is the fourth youngest member and is a mindreader, bathed in moonlight.

Soul-Reader snorted in approval before speaking, "Indeed Derp, your guess is indeed correct. We are the children of Death-Reaker ."

Derp shook his head, out of all the possibilities royalty was the farthest thing from his mind.

"So, when will you be going back," Derp asked cautiously, hoping to not stoke any bad experiences that Soul-Reader had there.

"9 years," Soul-Reader plainly put in, fury and malice seeping in her tone as Derp picked up a subtle tearing noise, "Death declared that we would be banished for 20 years. Now, we only have 9 years before we take back our birthright and you wouldn't have to see Ragnorak ever again. If you want that is."

"I am coming with you all," Derp exclaimed in awe, the tales that he had read about megatribes had always been met with little enthusiasm from the rest of the flock whenever he brought them up, but to think that he will be seeing a megatribe that wasn't The King's Shield.

The only ones to even bother answering the snake's curiosity had been Victory who spoke with optimism, Insanity in his casual "I don't give a care about your problem , but okay I will help" mood and Pineapple in her "Hey, I don't really don't know a lot myself, but I hope I can help" attitude. Either way, he never really got much and what he did get was "simplified" or "made easier to grasp" because as they said he was literally less than a year old and that he would learn more as he gets olders.

"Why would you think like that," Soul-Reader asked, concern in her voice, before she mind-read Derp and found the answer, "Because you never get to go anything?"

Derp nodded before expanding that point further, "I hate the fact that I can never come or be apart of anything. I despise being here all the time and missing all the action, I want to see more than these caverns and the small stretch of pine forest that I am restricted to."

Soul-Reader signed and took Derp's small hand in her massive claws and gently placed it over what felt like a deep scar between her wing and side.

"You feel that," Soul-Reader asked the little serpent to which he nodded, feeling the scarred flesh.

"I got that a month into our banishment," Soul-Reader began her story with bitter recollection in her voice.

"During this time, we were homeless, moving from small caves to little alcoves to overhanging cliffs, a bunch of nomads really. We were of course looking for a place to settle, but a lot of the places were either too exposed for our liking or just not big enough to set base or occupied by beasts that were rather foreign to us."

"So what did you do?"

"I was getting to that part. But on one peculiarly frosty day, we were hiding out in a cave, waiting out a blizzard when Heart smelt something in the air. Rattler, Victory, Fentri and Heart followed the trail to an unconscious Ragnorakic Triple-Slashers. They took the unfortunate dragoness back to our cave where we observed that she seemed to have been attack by what we known knew were Wunder Wolves."

"And then?"

"When the dragoness woke up, let's just say that we didn't get on the right claw, but after a bit of animus magic we were able to converse with triple-tailed."

"The pills?"

"Yes. But as I was saying, the Triple-Slasher; Fox Claws, explained to us that she was separated from her hunting group when they were ambushed by Wunder Wolves and she got caught up by the blizzard. We agreed to help her get back to her flock with the catch that she will try to convince them to let us join them."

"We left once the blizzard subsided and followed her back to where her group was ambushed by the wolves, where we noticed faint blood trails and half covered paw prints that protected the site. Victory led us including Fox-Claws to the wolves' lair. Once we arrived, we made sure that we were camouflaged before entering the den. And after a bit of wandering we reached the wolves's cache which was where Fox-Claws went into a rage when she found her friends' remains. That was when we decided to exterminate the wolves. So, we retreated and waited for when Fox Claw said Wunder-Wolves usually slept, but studied them in the meanwhile. So, we waited until midday and snuck in. Victory and Rattler took care of the their lookouts while we headed to the sleeping quarters of the foul beasts.:

"And then?"

Soul-Reader signed and spoke in a slightly shook voice, "We started to kill them in their sleep, there were about 20 to 25 of the buggers and after we killed the first 5, the rest awoke to the dying cries and snapping of necks of their brethren and we fought them to the death, during the fighting Victory and Rattler burst in with a hunting part of Ragnorakic Triple-Slashers and lets just say we slaughtered them all. But we were left with some remainders, several tonnes of wolf meat and pelt."

"The scar!"

"Exactly, we were all rather scarred from the encounter, with Tyrant suffering some of the worst wounds. But on the plus side, after Fox Claws explained everything from her experience with us to the party who had came to kill the wolves and get their remains, they let us keep the cavern. We then named it the Diamond Caverns. Vic, Insane, Rattle and Pineple got the forest for helping that flock of Three-Tails."

"So that was how you all came to our home," Derp said with awe and nervousness in his voice as he realised that this place was once home to dragon-eating wolves and a large pack at that.

"Yes, but what I am trying to say is that this entire cavern was earned with blood, Derp. Blood. Everything we ever did in Ragnorak has its consequences and its vices. We just don't want you to get hurt because of our drive for power and we certainly don't want you to get into the danger we get into whenever we leave the forest."

"Oh."

Derp felt a low rumble from the ground, it was the sound of a triple-slasher calling out. Then Derp felt a series of soft purrs.

"Dread's back," Derp said, slithering out of his rug before bumping blindly into Soul-Reader.

"Why don't I carry you there," She said as Derp was lifted up from the ground.

————————————————

"You feel better," Dread asked a currently submerged Drep in a bath of warm water.

"Yeah," Derp chirped, bumping into the side of the pot. The warm water was surprisingly very comforting to little serpent, plus the smell of lavender in the room helped.

"Good," Dread said with finality in his voice, "I got the tip that it could be helpful to aid any sort of discomfort you may be experiencing."

"Like what?"

"Itchiness, general discomfort and I guess it helps with loosening your scales when you do shed," Dread explained abit absentmindedly as though he didn't expect the ever curious snake to ask, before quietly grumbling to himself about mines and olives.

"Well, I do feel a lot better," Derp replied honestly, trying to make the generally down dragon feel a bit better.

"You're welcome," Dread said plainly before Derp heard the sounds of rustling papers and the tip tapping of a barb.

"Dread," Derp started which made the three tail squeak in surprise.

"Yes," Dread responded with annoyance in his voice, "What is it Derp?"

"Why are you always so sad, Dread?"

"Why am I..."

"Why do you always act so down whenever I see you," Derp explained further, "and distant."

"Well...you are too young -," Dread tried to talk his way out but Derp cut him off.

"Just like Soul-Reader said," Derp answered back.

"Yes."

"That has been your excuse this entire time, if I am gonna be in this family, I need to understand things!"

"And you are a one year old."

"So."

"So, you will just have to wait."

"What if I-," Derp began his rant before he heard crackling as his whole body suddenly seized up. Derp felt as though his scales had became a stoney cocoon, encasing him in a prison that he may not escape from.

He could hear Dread concerned squeaks and the clanking of scuttling claws as Dread scrambled, probably to get Heart and Fentri.

Then silence, Derp began to furiously wiggle his body in hope to crack his prison open, after several hope-sapping shakes of his head, Drep saw a rays of light seeping through the cracks in his scales. This made the little Doom Snake struggle more and more, completely oblivious to the arrival of his siblings.

Derp stopped when he felt a pair of talons clasp his cheeks and with surprising gentleness and force, shattered the scales that were covering his eyes, Derp watched as Heart carefully brushed aside the shards, allowing him to see his concerned brother's face.

"Are you okay," Heart asked, eyeing Derp up and down.

Derp nodded with his eyes as he analysed his situation.

Dread was behind Heart with relief plastered on his face. Derp noticed that his snout was stone grey with small cracks and from what he could see, his talons were gripped firmly on the rim of the bowl.

Derp wiggled his snout and watched as the cracks began to widen and increase in size before -crack- it crumbled away to reveal Derp's dark purple and grey-lilac snout, which was more brightly coloured than normal.

Heart muttered something inaudible and began brush off any of the remaining shredded scales.

Derp proceeded to shake his head, his neck still felt constricted by the rocky scales as the little snake twisted and shook.

Heart grasped Derp's talons and with a grunt, cracked their casing, which Derp finished off with a few flexs of the shoulders and wrists. The scales crumbled away to reveal deep eggplant purple scales.

"What happened," a voice echoed, heavy with concern, through the hallway as the sound of clacking intensified.

Within a blink of an eye, Victory was there, skidding across the room before she gripped the wall. She was a dazzling mix of miserable blue, pale green and icy white. Drep turned around to see Fentri bounding in.

"Um, well Derp is currently shedding, it was a false alarm," Dread answered his oldest sister with an awkward chuckle.

"Are you okay," Victory Strike asked Derp eyeing him up and down, completely avoiding Dread's response.

"Yes, just a tad bit stuck," the serpent reassured his sister as he raked his talons across his stony scales as the scales that held his neck in place clattered and crumbled into the bowl, sinking to the bottom.

It was then that Victory seemed to had come to terms with what was happening as she let out a joy-filled squeak.

"Ya shedding, you little danger noodle," Victory gushed, her floof returned back to their normal shades of red as with a quick hop, their back glowed with a familiar sea blue marking of waves as water seeped into the remaining casing.

Derp felt the warm water running through his scaly casing as with a sharp prick, the remaining scales crumbled away into the water to reveal Derp's wine purple back and stoney grey underbelly as he wriggled his tail, noticing the four new axe-like spikes at the tip.

"Aww, look at those itty bitty spikes," Victory cooed as she gently scooped her littlest brother up for everyone else to see something on his back, Victory gently caressed his head.

"What do you-," Derp started before he saw himself in the small pocket mirror Fentri held in her claws. On his few were two rows of small axe shaped spines that held a striking resemblance to the spines of the Doom Snake he saw in that one scroll about his tribe.

"You are growing your spines," Heart said with a warm smile on his face, "Imagine how big you will be when they properly come in?"

Derp could pictured himself, a massive serpent with rows upon rows of sharp jagged spikes, a prickly wide jawline, elephant sized claws that tore rocks asunder. His eyes would pierce straight any pompous World-Ender who would dare challenge his might with victrial and venom.

"I would place my bet at Rattler's ego," Victory Strike boasted, "After I crush it of course."

"Hey, that's not fair," Fentri retorted, "If anyone is gonna ruin that mountain climber's pride tis I who shall do so!"

"Nah," Victory joked, "She would spilt ya in half."

"If that sluggish lard-head can catch her that is," Dread quietly joked, which made Victory screech in laughter, rocking Derp wildly as the dragoness tried to calm herself down.

"Funny that you say that," said an amused Rattler as she slinked in before noticing, "Great to see that you change attire, Derp. Now, Fentri about that pride crushing plan of yours."

Fentri nervously gulped as Dread turned invisible and Heart quickly edged away. Derp had a bad feeling in his gut.

In the blink of an eye, the little serpent was tossed up as Victory Strike swang the bowl at Rattler.

The bowl landed on the surprised dragoness and covered her face, making her stumble blindly swinging her tails to maintain balance.

Victory slashed at the air next to her, her claws were a brilliant sky blue as a portal opened. Fentri wasted no time and jumped through the portal which Victory closed.

Victory then caught Derp with her wing claws and tackled Rattler to the ground, before chirping, "I don't think so."

"Get off me, ya traitor," Rattler shrieked as Victory applied a bit more pressure to the downed dragoness's back, making her pipe down.

"How about you tell me, why you left your post," Victory asked a bit of playful malice, "It doesn't sound like my ever arrogant little sis to up and abandon her comrades like that."

"Just shut up and let me rot in this bowl," Rattler hissed in defeat.

"Now, that definitely doesn't sound like you."

"Ya think?"

"No, I know."

Derp watched his two oldest sisters go back and forth and he silthered down Victory's wing, shoulder and finally his left arm.

He quietly silthered away, knowing all too well to leave the two alone. It was at this moment that he noticed Heart following him out of the cave.

"So, are you hungry," Heart asked, trying to put his mind off that encounter between the two.

Dero nodded suddenly noticing that he felt quite the craving for some copper ore.

"Is there any ore left?"

"Yes, a bit though, we will have to get more soon."

"Thanks, Heart."

"You're welcome, Derp."

—————

Hello, Singetail here.

So, how was the oneshot?

Did you like Derp?

How was the exposition?