Tales from Sirex Hive

Vinegaroon was most definitely going to die.

The SilkWings were crowding up against the walls. There were screams from outside, pain from her HiveWing guards and cries of rebellion from the SilkWings- where had she gone so wrong? Was it that last decree she had made about the necessary banding, or the new HiveWing-only laws, or...no, that couldn't be it. They were just SilkWings, after all, angry about whatever they could think about. Soon they would be done for.

But Vinegaroon couldn't shake the thought that she too was done for. Once the brightly colored dragons broke in, tearing down the walls, coming straight for her heart- she always claimed that she was a strong, powerful fighter. She could take anybody out, but nobody ever challenged her, and her real nature was never revealed.

Vinegaroon was an absolute coward. While she stood strong her wings shivered as she stood, fighting urges to run- they would be on her in a moment- and wondering how she could get out of the Hive with her life. Forget about the rest, the SilkWings could deal with that until she had a plan to come back! So she paced, moving around with wide eyes, scared out of her wits, staring at the window that was periodically blocked by a winged dragon.

A guard rushed in, blood streaming from their wings, half of the second pair torn off- they breathed heavily, catching themselves. Vinegaroon rushed forward and stood over them- "Get out there! We need dragons to defend the Hive, not slack off!" They breathed deeply a few times, shaking droplets of blood off their broken wings, before rushing back out before getting her upset. She turned around, guard forgotten, back to wondering how she was going to get out of there.

A crashing sound. One of the windows broke, too small for a dragon to get through- but there were colored claws dragging through the wood and snarling at her. Maybe she should run further back into the mansion, but she didn't want to risk getting stuck somewhere, and the back windows were already in pieces. Maybe some of the dragons had already gotten in...

And then he showed up. The black sheep of the family, whom Vinegaroon had forgot even lived there- Sirex was a formidable dragon, but the nobles never paid him any heed, due to his...less than stellar origins. Everybody remembered the small male dragonet, never to be a heir to any throne, sick from his own venom- Vinegaroon never liked how he was shoved at her. Even though the two of them were much older she still had the same view of them that she had when they were hatchlings, that Sirex would never amount to much. She was, in fact, rather surprised that he showed up now of all times.

"Looks like you're having some trouble." he spoke, voice smooth, lips curling up into a smile.

"You think?" More claws scratched at the windows, dragons forcing themselves in, chanting words of rebellion and death to the hive! death to the hive! Following the will of the rainbow-eyed!

The black dragon motioned to the window. "I can take care of them if you want."

"You? Don't make me laugh. There's no time for that!"

But the steely gaze in his eyes made her realize that he was serious.

She laughed. "Tell you what. If you manage to clear them out, I'll pay you."

"I get to choose the terms. he said, and she couldn't stop herself laughing.

"Fine! If you SOMEHOW get these guys away- the wood was starting to splinter- "You can have the whole damned HIVE. How was she meant to hide the panic in her voice now? They were coming, and Sirex would obviously die in a moment or two, and this would be SilkWing Hive or something she couldn't even fathom. SilkWings, leading anything at all!

Sirex only smiled. "Then you sit yourself right here." Spreading his wings, black as ebony, moving towards the exit- a small gap in the wall, only accessible by HiveWings due to their shorter wings and guarded by a few dragons that were rather happy to not be out there in the fray. Sirex leapt out, holding himself aloft, before giving off a low pitched roar- and flying off, straight into the mass of dragons.

Vinegaroon was surely going to die.

Never mind the noises from outside, the screaming of the SilkWings caught by Sirex's impressive tail, eventually the lack of scratching at the wood, the familiar sounds of swords hitting flesh and tearing wings.

Never mind the one SilkWing head that came through the window, breath ceasing in moments. Never mind the quiet from outside.

Vinegaroon was surely going to die.

She closed her eyes, not even realizing that the SilkWings were running off, more of them dropping as they went, one black dragon standing there with the taint of death on him- a partner, standing behind him, snarling at the last few survivors succumbing to the poison through their bodies. Sirex turned around, the dragons gone, a bit surprised as to how easy the whole situation was- and lucky for the noble, she didn't hear his next words.

For Vinegaroon surely was going to die, but not from the hands she expected.