Cassandra {SkyWing/SandWing Border}

Sandy looked straight into Pyra's eyes, and Pyra saw the fiery spirit she'd felt before deep in Sandy's blue eyes.
"They don't appreciate you, either, do they?" Sandy asked sympathetically, and her voice sounded genuinely kind. "I understand. I feel the same way. I do what's best for the tribe."
Suddenly Sandy smiled up at Pyra again. "Well, since we're both underappreciated geniuses-" here she chuckled "-why don't we be friends? Our tribes are allied with each other, so that wouldn't be an issue. And..."
Here Sandy broke off, thinking over what Pyra had said about the NightWing Prince.
"...We both have worth to prove. So how about you show me where you saw this Prince, Sorendár. Most likely he'll be back there." Sandy's voice developed a stoniness, like she was making a plan. "If we capture him, we can bring him to the SkyWing ruler. I'm sorry, I forgot... do you have a king or a queen? Anyways, together, we can bring him down. I'm a pretty decent assassin, and I think you are too from what I can tell. What say you - let's go make a name for ourselves! We'll be as great as the SandWing who assassinated Luminara!"
Sandy's voice grew edgy and excited. She so desperately wanted to prove herself.


Sahara {RainWing Forest}

"No, Princess Peacock. Nothing yet. I just thought that maybe we could explore the forest, or we could play a game; you know, have some fun! We could clean your scales, too, for I know how much you like to glimmer in the sunlight." Sahara smiled at Peacock. Even though she was Peacock's handmaiden, the two were friends and often did fun things together to pass the time.


Sorendár {Meeting Hall}

Sorendár stared back at Viridian, his golden eyes wide but not fearful. He did, however, shrink back into himself as his expression soured further. It was clear he was extremely uncomfortable with being put on the spot like that.
"I-I-I..." he stammered, practically muttering, "I think you're right. I-I've seen some dragons come near the border while I've been... out."
Sorendár wished he'd kept his mouth shut. Now Viridian would pry, and his secret would eventually be forced out. He would be made to tell about 'Gem', and in extension, his secret rock no one knew he went to. Sorendár glared at Viridian, growing more and more surly-looking as he began to become frustrated with his situation.
"Oh,DARN this!" he finally snarled at Viridian. "I don't want to be here, under your scrutiny, your questioning!"
And Sorendár, the Prince of the NightWings, turned and fled the meeting hall, growling threateningly at the ambassadors in his way. Once he was free of the hall, he flew, until he came to his rock. He knew there was a cave nearby where he could live for the time being. If he went back now, he would be punished for extremely improper behavior. He decided that he would wait until they were frantic with worry and then go back - that way his father would be relieved and not angry. So he made himself a nest of leaves and curled up in it to wait.

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Pyra {Sand/Sky Border}

Pyra's grin was mischievous as she responded, "I'm all in for that." She extended her wing, gently bumping it against Cassandra's in a show of camaraderie. "Together, we'll prove them all wrong." The late afternoon sun cast a warm, golden hue across the vast SkyWing territory around them and her amber eyes shone with determination.

Peacock {RainWing Jungle}

Peacock gracefully slid out of her hammock, extending her limbs in a languid stretch. "Maybe we can play a game later, Sahara." She suggested, a playful twinkle in her eye and excitement in her voice. "But you know what I've been dreaming of? New earrings! And rumor has it that the SandWings have the most exquisite pieces hidden in their Bazzars. Oh, and don't even get me started on the IceWings! Just picture me adorned with icicle-inspired jewelry, simply radiant." She beamed and unfurled her wings to their full span. “We should sneak out of here and make a trip out of it- what do you think?” She tilted her head, waiting to see Sahara’s reaction.

Viridian {Leaving Meeting Hall}

Viridian let out a sharp chuckle in disbelief. “My moons! I don’t have time for this.” He hissed and grumbled. “Future of Pyrrhia ladies and gentlemen.” He muttered angrily as stuffed his scrolls back into his bag. Viridian nodded to the IceWing representative. “I’ll be expecting to hear the name of the spy you plan to assign to the mission soon, I must report back to the SeaWing royals.” He then gave a stern look to the NightWing representative. “I anticipate that the next meeting will be more productive.” After gathering his things, he was prepared to take off. “Thank you both for your time.” And with that, he left.

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Cassandra {SkyWing/SandWing Border}

Sandy bumped Pyra back with a giggle. That giggle turned into a triumphant laugh. "Yes, yes, Pyra. We will."
Sandy took to the skies, beckoning Pyra on. She soared lazily behind Pyra as the SkyWing took Sandy to the place where she'd first noticed Sorendár on the rock. Sandy looked and looked, for a very long time.
"There!" Sandy exclaimed, pointing to a tiny, nearly invisible wisp of smoke drifting up towards the clouds. "There's our quarry. Since he knows you, how about you go in and talk to him. Keep him distracted. Maybe bring him out for a walk. Then I'll jump him, and you stun him. Does that sound okay? I have rope in my satchel in case we need to tie him." Sandy was speaking so fast that she barely took breaths in between her sentences, she was so thrilled. "I think we should bring him to the SkyWing leader. I'd rather serve them instead of the stuffy old elders in SandWing assassin troops."
Sandy smiled down at the wisp of smoke, but her smile was cold - like the smile a snake might make before killing its prey, if a snake could smile.


Sahara {RainWing Jungle}

Sahara stretched simultaneously, feeling the glory of daytime in her stretch. She yawned half-heartedly, then said amiably, "I've always loved IceWing jewelry... yes, let's sneak out. I've always wanted an adventure. What if we meet a cute royal while we're out? Or even just a cute dragon in general?"
Sahara sighed. She adored the idea of being a mate to another dragon, and it was her dream to be mated someday. She smiled softly at Peacock, lost in wishes and daydreams.

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Pyra {SkyWing/NightWing Border}

She nodded, paying close attention to Sandy's plan. "Perfect.” Pyra said, ready to take action. She began to turn around but halted, casting a brief glance back at Sandy before taking off. "I'm not allowed to make eye contact with the SkyWing Queen, let alone speak to her. But we can bring the supposed prince back to the SkyWing Shadows' leader."

With that, she swooped down to the rock where she had first encountered Sorendár. "Remember me?" Pyra asked with a mischievous smile, her boldness notably higher than when they first met. "You seem quite devoted to guarding this rock. Have something on your mind, Kopur?" Pyra motioned behind her. "I just took down a mountain goat if you'd like to share. I know food always lifts my spirits. What do ya say?" She tilted her head, her gaze assessing whether he might be vulnerable enough to believe her story. If not, it was no problem – she had Cassandra's assistance to apprehend him if he wouldn’t come willingly. Pyra was prepared to shoot up a flame signal to call on Sandy if needed, feeling the fiery heat already warming up in her throat.

Peacock {Leaving RainWing Territory}

Peacock put on a dramatic display of vibrant colors with her scales as she envisioned her ideal partner. "Ooh! What do you imagine when you think of your future mate?" She asked curiously, poking her head through the flowering vines that separated her hammock from the rest of the area. Signaling that it was clear, Peacock waved Sahara over before stepping out herself. She spread her wings and launched into the air, ensuring they got away quickly before anyone arrived. As they flew over the treetops, Peacock continued the conversation with Sahara. "I just want my mate to make me look good, you know? Our scales should complement each other, like a power couple.” She laughed warmly. It was discussions like these that made Sahara her best friend, allowing them to share thoughts about love, jewels, or really anything that crossed their minds.

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Sorendár/Sandy {SkyWing-NightWing Border}

Sorendár glanced up from his nest. Gem was standing in his doorway. Why was she back so soon? Did she have a death wish? He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't register the fact that she was talking. Despite his completely soured expression, Pyra could tell that he was tired, and that he was rather lonely. When she questioned why he stayed at this rock, however, he stiffened up and pulled his head upwards into a more defensive position.
"I am here to do the work I have been given," he said shortly, giving her no room to ask more questions. "And no, nothing's on my mind, except for my disbelief that you're back so soon. I don't understand why you'd be back after I told you it would be safer for you to leave. And why you would bother me, of all dragons."
He sighed and stood up rather stiffly. He figured that, if he went with Pyra to eat the silly goat, then she'd leave him alone. But when he reached the mouth of the cave, he stopped. He felt underneath his scales begin to crawl like he was in danger. He decided to trust his instincts, so he turned his sour glare on Pyra again. He didn't quite trust her with this horrible feeling bugging him.
"Maybe... you could bring the goat here? I'm really sore..." he lied quickly. If what she said was true, she'd go get the goat.

Sandy stared down from the nearest rock, pleased with the idea to cover herself in damp clay to hide her shimmering scales. Sorendár had not seen her. She thought about the plan as she looked at the NightWing Prince - he was a big dragon, and she wondered about how she would stun him. He might be quicker than she first assumed...
She rummaged in her satchel for her under-scale injector and her bottle of tranquilizer. She filled the injector halfway up and held it in her hand to hide it. Now Sorendár would be sure to go down. The SkyWing Shadows would be pleased. The Prince was a pleasing dragon to look at, and he was a royal. She and Pyra would be known throughout all the Sun Territories as the girls who caught the NightWing Prince single-handedly.
She smiled down at them as Sorendár stopped at the edge of the cave, and waited for Pyra to give the signal. This would be so much more fun than if he cooperated.


Sahara {Leaving RainWing Jungle}

Sahara giggled.
"I think I should like a complimentary mate, too. In my opinion, SkyWings, SeaWings, and RainWings are too colorful. What if their colors clash really bad with ours? MudWings are kind of boring... But SandWings, NightWings, and IceWings - oh, some of their kind have the most beautiful scales! NightWings have those beautiful white spots, like stars, under their wings, so every time you cuddled up to them and they put their wing over you, you'd be under a blanket of stars. The only problem with NightWings is that they can be too scholarly sometimes." Sahara laughed. IceWing scales can be beautiful too! I've seen a few males whose scales sparkle like they're covered with frost. They're so pretty!"
Sahara sighed happily, in the midst of another daydream. She'd always wanted to be mated to an IceWing, since she found them so pretty. She glanced over at Peacock. "What do you think? Do you agree with me, or do you prefer another tribe?" Sahara inquired curiously.

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Pyra {Sorendár’s Cave}

Pyra was ready to coax Sorendár out of his hiding spot, but his mention of soreness caught her attention. Sore from what? While she didn't know the cause, it provided her with enough confidence to signal Cassandra since they could take advantage of his supposed weakened state. "As you wish." she replied to the prince, a sly grin on her face. Pyra had been building up a substantial stream of flames, and she released it in a fiery burst from the cave's entrance. Cassandra couldn't miss it.

Pyra swiftly turned, pouncing on Sorendár. Her petite size made it easy to clamber onto his back, and she dug her claws into his shoulders while using her own wings to pin down his. Pyra had to keep him alive, which is why she refrained from going for his neck, even though she had clear access. “Apologies for any inconvenience, Your Highness." She hissed sarcastically.

Peacock {Leaving RainWing Territory}

Peacock pondered the idea with a thoughtful smile. "Yes, I hope my future mate isn't as dull as a papaya, but I suppose I'll need to meet them to know for sure.” She mused, her scales taking on a warm pink hue. "Every tribe does have its unique charm. The SkyWings, SandWings, and IceWings are all so intense, which can be quite thrilling. The SeaWings appear cultured, and MudWings are incredibly hardworking. As for NightWings, I'm not quite sure. I don't know much about them; we don't have many scrolls about them back home. But, to be fair, I've never met a dragon from another tribe yet, so I could be completely wrong about all of them!" Peacock chuckled, but her expression quickly shifted as a realization struck her.
"Sahara!" She gasped. "We haven't got a map, and I've never been outside the jungle! Perhaps we could ask a random dragon for help. After all, they should be eager to assist the princess, right? I heard some dragons saying something about how every tribe likes RainWings right now to try and sway us to whatever side of their silly conflict." As she flew, Peacock stretched out her claws in front of her, enjoying the idea of being well-liked, especially if it was by ALL the tribes. It was rather satisfying.

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Sandy/Sorendár {Sorendár's Cave}

Sorendár let out a sharp hiss of anger and pain.
"Let go of me!" he spat between gasps, his voice laced with pain. Thinking quickly, he rolled over, even though he felt his wing snap under his own weight, to try and pin Pyra. Whether rolling over worked or not he never knew, for by the time he was rolled over Sandy had reached them. The entire time Sorendár was screaming "Liar! Traitor! You weren't ever my friend, were you, you little-"
Sorendár roared as Sandy slammed her injector under his neck scales. He rolled back upright to confront Sandy, but Pyra could feel his tense body growling weaker beneath her. Finally he tried to lunge at Sandy, and he collapsed. Sandy immediately tied his muzzle closed, and held out the rest of the rope to Pyra.
"You did most of the fighting and lying. It's only fair that he's your prisoner. Just please make sure that you put in a good word for my planning, won't you?"
Sandy looked eager. She felt the thrill of the hunt, and she stood above the face of their quarry. They were victorious!


Sahara {Leaving RainWing Territory}

Sahara gave a start. "OH! You're right! We don't know where we're going... yeah! Let's ask a random dragon - maybe we'll make a new friend! While we're looking for this random dragon, should we play a game?"

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Pyra {Sorendár’s Cave}

Pyra exhaled sharply when Sorendár rolled over, briefly pinning her down. She felt her wing dislocate from her shoulder, but it was a minor issue compared to the audible snap coming from Sorendár's wing. Despite the pain, she let out a strained chuckle. "When did I ever say I was your friend?”
Once Sorendár was unconscious, Pyra got up and gave Sandy a crooked smile. Her injured wing lay beside her with her shoulder throbbing in pain, while she kept the other wing tucked in. She nodded at Cassandra and reached for the rope. "You're coming with me, aren't you? I'm sure my boss won't mind, considering your tribe's alliance with the SkyWings. Plus, you deserve as much credit as I do since it was your plan."

Gesturing to her wing, she winced and said, "Sandy, could you do me a favor? Stand on my wing, and I'll pop it back into my shoulder. Then we can take care of sleeping beauty here." She gave Cassandra a pained smile as she gestured to the prince.

Peacock {Flying over unknown territories}

“Yes a game sounds delightful, what do you have in mind?” She said with enthusiasm as her scales returned to their usual peacock pattern.

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Sandy {Sorendár's Cave}

Sandy stared at Sorendár triumphantly before turning to Pyra.
"Oooh, that looks like it hurts. Sure I'll help."
Sandy moved over to hold Pyra's wing down while she readjusted it. "So... you dislocated your wing, huh? When Sorendár rolled over on you? He's not a little dragon... you're lucky it's just a dislocation and not a break, like his."
Sandy gesured with her tail to Sorendár's wing; there was a awkward bend in the middle forearm bone of his left wing, where there was no joint. "At least he's passed out. This wing's going to be swollen and very sore before too long. And of course I'll come back with you! We make a good team. We should work together more often - we'd do well, I think!"
Sandy made sure to hold the wing firm so Pyra could pop it back into place.


Sahara {Flying over unknown territories}

Sahara somersaulted in the air and said, "Well, there's charades, or racing, or seeing how many- OH! Look, Peacock, an IceWing! Maybe they can help us?"
She pointed a little ways ahead, where an IceWing was flying leisurely.

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Pyra {Sorendár’s Cave}

Swiftly shifting her weight away from Sandy, Pyra managed to pop her wing back into place, although not without releasing a pained gasp. "Ooh!" She winced slightly, stretching her wing as the pain gradually subsided. "Thanks, Sandy, we really do make a great team. Good job." She added with a genuine sense of appreciation.

"So, how long will he be knocked out for?" Pyra inquired as she stepped over Sorendár's tail and poked his side with her talon to ensure his unconscious state. Then, she looked closer at his injured wing and let out a long hiss. "That looks tough."
Pyra felt a twinge of sympathy for Sorendár since he seemed like a decent dragon, and maybe they could’ve actually been friends in another reality. Alas, that was the nature of her job, and for now she was more focused on moving up the ranks with Sandy. She quickly shook off her feeling of pity and replaced it with determination once more.

Peacock {Flying over unknown territories}

“Oh how splendid!” Peacock exclaimed, clasping her talons together in excitement. Flying a bit closer to Sahara, she lowered her voice. "Such lovely scales..." She murmured, admiring how the stranger's scales reflected the sunlight. She shifted her forearms to a pristine white to see the same effect up close before reverting to her original display. It had taken her many moons to perfect the iconic peacock pattern, but after countless hours in front of a mirror, she had mastered the look.

Peacock quickened her flight to reach the stunning IceWing. "Ahem! Er- well, greetings!" She suddenly felt oddly jittery and awkward when she got there, and her scales began to reflect her emotions as they involuntarily shifted in shades of pale greens and yellows. Peacock’s gaze shot nervously to Sahara as she held her breath, silently pleading for guidance on what to say next.

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Sandy {Sorendár's Cave}

Sandy walked over to Pyra's side. "Hold still for a second. I'm going to make sure you didn't tear any ligaments or muscles."
She reached out with her front talons and gently ran them over the joint. She put one foot on top of the joint and gently lifted the wing with her other foot. Once she was satisfied there was no abnormal movement, she backed away again to inspect Sorendár.
"You're all clear! Nothing torn, but don't be surprised if it's sore for the next couple of days. There may even be a small bit of swelling..."
She trailed off as she began Sorendár's inspection. She rolled his limp body this way and that, but she slowed down after his broken wing made a funny noise. She poked under his ribs and felt his throat.
"It looks like he'll be out for maybe an hour or two, which is long for the dosage I gave him. But he's hungry and fatigued, so the medicine will be more potent. We'll have plenty of time to take him back."

Sandy smiled at Pyra. "I hope we'll be able to work together once we bring this boy back to the assassins. Hopefully they'll understand me better than the SandWings... but working with you is fun! I like it! It makes me forget that I like to be frustrated and makes me want to have a grand old time. So yeah, it'd be nice to work with you." Sandy smiled again, and this time, her smile held true friendliness.


Sahara/Likus {Flying over unknown territories}

Sahara smiled encouragingly and flew close to whisper in Peacock's ear. "Just act as natural as possible... hopefully we'll make friends with him!"

The IceWing turned to shoot a charmingly mischievous smile in Peacock and Sahara's direction. "Hiya, ladies! What can I do for you two today?"
Even Sahara was dazzled by the shimmer of his scales and the cheeky twinkle in his green eyes. Sahara finally stammered that they were looking for IceWing territory, so they could go shopping. The IceWing's face lit up in another smile, like this idea was the best one he'd heard all day.
"I'll take you, if you like! I haven't been in a while and I love it there. I'm Likus, by the way... who are you?"

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Pyra {Sorendár’s Cave}

“Sore for sure, but hey! Consider it a battle wound. Now i’ll have awesome stories to tell the other spies.” She smiled, as if the thought alone already eased her discomfort. "I'm certain the SkyWing Shadows will take a liking to you. You've got that fiery spirit that most SkyWings can relate to and appreciate."
Pyra proceeded to pick up the extra length of rope and started tying it into a series of knots. It took a few minutes, but once she finished, she had crafted a somewhat crude but functional stretcher with two loops at each of the four corners. Using her flame, she carefully burned the ends just enough to ensure that the rope wouldn’t unravel. The design made it longer than it was wide, but it was certainly large enough to accommodate a dragon. "I reckon this could make transporting the prince a lot easier. What do you think, Sandy?"

Peacock {Flying over unknown territories}

Peacock's scales slowly returned to their usual vibrant state, her initial nerves dissipating. She observed the IceWing with a newfound perspective, realizing that he was quite… nice. “I am Princ-“ She paused, clearing her throat, then started over. “I’m Peacock.” For once, she felt no need to flaunt her royal status, at least not right away. Despite her popularity with the RainWing subjects, her only true friend was Sahara, and she wanted Likus to perceive her as just "Peacock.” After all, she understood the importance of first impressions, especially since this was her first encounter with a dragon who wasn't a RainWing!

She grinned and extended a wing to gently bump against Sahara's. "And this is my dear friend, Sahara." Peacock regarded Likus with a brief look as she couldn’t help but admire his scales, then she quickly regained her composure and offered a warm smile, realizing she had been staring. "We'd be delighted if you could guide us! We’ve never been outside the RainWing Kingdom, so we could certainly use your help.” She said with genuine enthusiasm, her earlier unease now replaced with excitement.

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Sandy {Sorendár's Cave/Flying into SkyWing Territory}

Sandy practically glowed at Pyra mentioning that the SkyWings would like her. "Thanks. I always felt underappreciated with the SandWings." Once Pyra had finished making the makeshift stretcher, she got behind Sorendár and started to push him. Then she stopped and peered over his limp body at Pyra.
"When I roll him onto this thing, his wing will crack again. Don't worry, it's not breaking again - it's just the bone pieces sliding against each other. I just didn't want you to worry or anything." Sandy had indeed taken note of how Pyra's face had shown pity towards Sorendár and his broken wing. Even Sandy didn't envy the pain he'd be in when he awoke.
She rolled Sorendár's body on top of the stretcher, and his wing did make a crunching noise, but the bone damage didn't appear any worse upon Sandy's inspection.
"Yep, this'll work swimmingly! It should hold up pretty well and we don't have far to fly. Here's your side - we don't want to tarry too long; it'll be easier to get him safely locked away if he's still asleep."
Once Sandy was sure Pyra had gotten her loops secure in her talons, she took off. Quickly Sandy realized how absolutely heavy Sorendár was, and she was thankful they didn't have too far to fly.
"He's a big guy, geez!" Sandy panted. She glared down at Sorendár lying on the rope stretcher, one of his forefeet hanging limply over the edge. "Why'd you have to be so big, huh?" She looked over at Pyra, then, and laughed.


Sahara/Likus {Flying over unknown territories}

Likus turned his head and smiled at Peacock, his big emerald twinkling and full of cheerfulness. "Peacock, huh? The name suits you. You're all the right colors!"
As Peacock smiled at him, even thought it was a cover-up for her staring, Likus couldn't help but notice how pretty her eyes were. He tried very hard not to stare, but he found himself glancing back to look at her shining eyes over and over again. To him, those eyes were prettier than all the jewels glittering in her circlet. He also found himself feeling rather dull and inadequate in his pearly white scales compared to Peacock's shimmering array of colors. Although he found Peacock's innocence absolutely irresistible, he made sure to engage Sahara too. He didn't learn to be the IceWing's best spy without learning how to make friends quickly. He didn't plan on double-crossing these two though... they just seemed too innocent. He might have been a spy, but he still had standards. Turning traitor on a true friend or an innocent dragon was against everything in him, so he vowed to himself that he would ensure Peacock and Sahara's safety while they were in his company, no matter what his elders decided to make of it.

Likus got Sahara and Peacock to the IceWing Market safely. Sahara was immediately dazzled by all the jewelry and beautiful accessories everywhere. She continuously called out "Peacock, look at this!" as she saw things she thought the Princess would like. Once, she saw Likus alone at a stall, talking to the vendor, which made her feel vaguely suspicious, but she tried not to think about it. She only tried to keep in mind that she, Peacock, and Likus were going to meet in the center of the market when they were finished. Sahara was laden with packages, so she knew she ought to be done soon, but she wanted to find Peacock first.

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Pyra {SkyWing Shadows Headquarters}

Pyra struggled slightly under the weight of Sorendár as they flew towards their destination. "The spot is well-hidden, just outside the main city, at the base of a mountain." She explained to Sandy, her voice determined despite the strain. "It's hard to spot from up here, so we'll have to fly low. Watch out for the trees." She cautioned as she carefully guided them closer to the ground.

After a little while, the entrance to a cave became faintly visible through the dense foliage of trees and underbrush. Pyra gently lowered the prince to the ground at the cave's entrance and then turned to Sandy, saying, "Just give me a moment."

Pyra faced the cave and began to unleash a steady stream of flames around its perimeter. As the flames danced, an invisible barrier was unveiled, guarding the entrance. She whispered a sequence of secret words and took out a small rubellite crystal from her pouch. Holding it up to the invisible forcefield, a low hum followed before the barrier opened. With a triumphant smile, Pyra grabbed the stretcher handles and carefully dragged Sorendár into the cave.
Once inside, she turned to Sandy, her smirk gleaming with satisfaction. "Pretty neat, right? The queen had an animus dragon create this cave for us, and each member of the SkyWing Shadows carries a red gemstone to grant entry. Only the fire of a SkyWing can initiate the process." Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "What would you do if you possessed animus magic?"

Peacock {IceWing Market}

Princess Peacock couldn't help but shiver in the icy chill of the IceWing marketplace, a stark contrast to the warmth of her home in the rainforest. Her eyes fell on a display of cozy-looking shawls at a nearby stall. However, her heart sank as she realized they were crafted from polar bear fur. Instead, she chose a delicate, pale blue woven shawl that might not provide as much warmth but it would do for now.

Content with her first purchase, she began to explore the market, trying to ignore the biting cold. As she wandered deeper into the bustling bazaar, she stumbled upon a hidden stall tucked away in the back. The moment she laid eyes on the jewels displayed there, her heart leaped with delight. They glimmered like nothing she had ever seen in the jungle.
Approaching the stall, she was greeted by a shopkeeper who appeared quite rugged, with a single eye and a tapestry of scars across his rough face. His wares exuded an aura of mystery, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.
"Welcome, stranger," he grumbled in a voice raspy from years of braving the icy tundras. "You've got an eye for the finest gems, I see."

Peacock admired the jewelry, mesmerized by their brilliance. She couldn't help but ask, "What's the story behind these jewels?"
The shopkeeper leaned closer, his lone eye gleaming with intrigue. "These are no ordinary gems, my dear. They're tied to a special lineage, I’ll tell you, they were NOT easy to get."
A shiver of excitement ran down Peacock's spine as she considered the possibilities. The shopkeeper spoke again, his voice carrying a note of caution, "These beauties are rare and some may be animus touched- frankly I don’t know which."
The shopkeeper's one eye twinkled, and he reached beneath the display, pulling out a magnificent golden necklace with hanging icicles that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly light. Its design was intricate and exquisite, a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. "This, my dear princess, is a hidden gem, who knows what powers it could hold…"
Peacock gazed at the necklace in awe, entranced by the idea of possessing such a wondrous artifact. "How much for this extraordinary piece?" she inquired.

The shopkeeper let out a sly grin. "For you, dear princess, it comes at a steep price. But with your royal status, I'm sure we can come to an agreement that will leave both of us satisfied." After purchasing the necklace, she excitedly rushed around the marketplace looking for Sahara to show her the new jewels.

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Cassandra {SkyWing Shadows Headquarters}

Sandy was prodding Sorendár, but she looked up in time to see Pyra's show. "That's really cool, Pyra. I wish SandWings were this cool." She sighed, thinking about the grumpy old assassin leader she'd insulted and walked out on. She poked at Sorendár half-heartedly while she thought, but something moved where it shouldn't have. Sandy took a closer look and beckoned Pyra to come see. She pressed on Sorendár's slowly moving chest, and Pyra could see one of his ribs move in with the pressure. He drew a sharp breath in his sleep, and Sandy said, "We'll have to be careful with him from now on. He's got a broken rib, probably from the overflexing that caused his wing to snap. Do you guys have a healer? Also, how's your wing?" Sandy quickly inspected Pyra's shoulder and was satisfied there wasn't any swelling. Once she was done inspecting them both, she took up her side of the makeshift stretcher again.
"Lead on, Pyra."
Sorendár sighed in his slumber. "I think if I had animus magic, it would've been a lot easier to capture this 'NightPrince' here. I love to make stuff in my free time, so I would experiment and make beautiful things worthy of the halls of kings and queens. Maybe I'd even gift something to your queen!"
Sandy sighed, thinking of being accepted by the SkyWing ruler. She had been considered unruly by the assassin leader, but Pyra was like her, and because of that maybe the SkyWing queen would grant her the liberty of joining the Shadows so she could work with Pyra.
"You think they'll... like me? I'd much rather stay here with you, y'know. You're a lot more like me than my SandWing counterparts."


Sahara/Likus {IceWing Market}

Sahara was waiting for her with Likus. Sahara was laden with bags of things, but Likus only had two bags.
"Where have you been?" Likus asked teasingly. "Sahara's been buying lots of stuff!"
"Oh yes!" Sahara trilled. "I've bought blankets and earrings and shawls and games we can play when we go home!" Sahara chattered on as Likus approached Peacock with one of his bags. He pulled something grey and wooly-looking out of it.
"This isn't going to be worth as much as that necklace you have there, but... you looked pretty chilly," he admitted, "and that blue shawl doesn't seem to cut it for you, so I got you this winter cloak."
Likus wrapped the warm cloak around her and clasped it. The clasp was a silver circle inlaid with a blue-and-green cat's eye stone.
"I thought the color would match your... scales." In truth, he was about to say 'pretty scales', but he didn't want to push anything further than her being happy with her gifts. "I liked it so much, I got you a bracelet and set of earrings, too. I just thought... these would be, like, a friendship gift. Since we're new friends and all."
Likus regained himself and smiled, the old twinkle in his eyes returning. Sahara caught a glimpse of the cloak and came running over, exclaiming, "Oh, Peacock, it's so pretty! I love it!"

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