As the sun creeped up over the sandy cliff sides, the caves began to hum with activity. Dragons of all shapes, colors, and sizes crawled out drowsily from their dens, eager to bask in the warm spring sun. The last of the early morning frost melted away into a glittering dew on the sparse grasses as another day in the colony began.
Vesp watched all of this from the confines of his shallow cave at the very bottom of the ravine, flicking his tail with annoyance. His sleek, scarlet red body was curled elegantly under the shade of the rocks. "Hmph, mindless drones."
A much smaller dragon suddenly popped through the narrow entrance. "Hiya, Vesp!" he chirped. "You're gonna miss out on all the good stuff if you don't come out soon!" He quickly hurried away, claws clattering noisily on the sandstone as he went along.
Vesp snorted out a puff of noxious smoke, rolling his eyes as the little dragon disappeared past the entrance and out to the rest of the colony. He lazily slunk out from the den, his slim, long body fitting perfectly through the opening. Under the sun, his scales glowed with the dangerous glint of a viper dragon, his vibrant colors indicating a toxic fire within. His wicked fangs sparkled under the morning sun, coming to a deadly point at the very tips. With a burst of speed, he launched into the air with his slender wings, gliding to the feeding area nestled high among the soaring cliffs.
He lighted down on the food pile, picking out a plump deer thigh before retreating to a shallow hollow far away from the rest of the morning commotion. The rest of the dragons excitedly gathered around Ferus, the leader of the great colony. The mighty earthshaker dragon stood on his rocky outcrop, his royal blue scales shimmering with power. A hush fell over the crowd as Ferus cleared his throat.
"I am happy to announce another successful rescue from last night!" The crowd cheered and stomped with glee. "Our excellent rescue squadron managed to free five new members from the clutches of human tyranny. I expect them to be welcomed warmly in our humble colony."
The colony cheered on the new dragons as they nervously stepped forward from behind the outcrop. Vesp snorted before returning to his meal. "Great. More annoying newbies to get used to."
"Oh, don't be like that, Vesp!" said a familiar squeaky voice.
Vesp peered down lazily, spotting the tiny dragon from before. "Kodi, don't you have better things to do than bother me all day?"
"I just wanted to cheer you up, that's all!" he chirped. "Anyways, look over there, the last of the new dragons!"
Vesp squinted towards the faraway outcrop. At the very end of the line was a diminutive, shaking dragon that looked as if she would pass out at any second. Her yellow scales were dull from stress, and she looked incredibly thin for a dragon. "And what? Another mousy little kid that we need to put up with?"
"No, no, Vesp! Her body type, her scale colors! Do you think —"
"No. I haven't seen a viper dragon in years. The last I saw was my home colony, and we all know how well that went, right Kodi?" Vesp growled.
Kodi frowned. "All I'm saying is that maybe there's some hope. I just don't think you should be lounging around in the shadows and huffing and puffing about all day! It's hard for a younger dragon like you, but —"
"It's different nowadays, Kodi. And besides, there are still plenty of pygmy dragons flying around. How many viper dragons have you seen in the last 30 years you've been here, huh? If you're so sure, then where are her fangs?" Vesp's eyes glittered with danger.
"Fine, I'll let it be." Kodi stretched out his delicate wings. "You're on scouting duty today, by the way." He fluttered away, joining the others in meeting the new arrivals.
Vesp took another chunk out of the thigh. He silently chewed under the sparse shade of a bristlecone tree, alone in his hollow.
————
At noon, Vesp showed up to scouting late, yet again. Niha, the lead scout, swished her flat tail in annoyance.
"Where have you been, Vesp?" she scolded. "You're setting a poor example for the new recruits!"
Vesp finally noticed that two of the rescued dragons were standing idly with the rest of the midday scouting squadron. One was a jittery earthshaker, while the other was the same yellow dragon that Kodi had pointed out from earlier. Although he was quick to dismiss her, Vesp could help but admit that her vibrant yellow scales stuck out among the rest of the dragons. His thoughts began to turn in his head.
Niha snorted out a puff of black smoke. "Whatever. We'll be pulling out in just a bit, then. I want the usual two groups, one patrolling the north side and the other on the south. Grunch, you'll be joining north side. Mallie, you'll be on south."
The squadron split in two, each taking a new dragon. Vesp reluctantly walked up to the south side's launch point, taking the left rear position. On the other side, Mallie took the right rear, nervously glancing at Vesp every so often. She readjusted her feet just as Niha began to launch the signal.
In a burst of dry air, the south side group took off into the sky, starting from the point all the way to the rear. Vesp watched Mallie flap hurriedly as the rest of the group pulled away from the colony. He chuckled as she struggled to keep up. "Rear's the easiest position, you know. Here at scouting, you gotta be able to keep up," he shouted over the wind. Mallie said nothing as she noisily floundered back into the correct position.
"Watch it, Vesp," growled the dragon in front of him. Vesp chose to ignore him.
After a while, the neat V-shape broke into a wider spread as the rocky hills broke away into tall evergreen forests. Vesp tilted his wings slightly, letting the cushion of air slow his speed. He spotted Mallie struggling yet again as the formation widened farther and farther. It was as if she was a little hatchling, flapping uselessly with her long, thin wings. It was almost sad. With a sigh, he shifted his weight and flew towards the strange dragon.
"Your wings aren't built for constant flapping. Stretch out and let the wind flow freely underneath them."
"B-but what if I fall?" she stuttered. She peered down into the prickly sea below.
"You won't. The air will catch you."
With a gulp, Mallie extended her wings as far as it would go, revealing a magnificent wingspan. For a moment, she hobbled in place. Then, her flight path smoothed out as the air began to lift her. She gasped as she glided side-by-side with Vesp, cutting through the humid late spring breeze. Vesp couldn't help but admire her graceful form. There were few dragons in the colony that had such a slender build. Although it seemed she was still shaky, she was a natural. It reminded him of his old home, watching the swift hunters return from a successful hunt.
"You're getting the hang of it," noted Vesp.
"I-i've never really flown like this before."
"Seriously? How long have you been held captive?"
"Well, almost my whole life, I guess."
Vesp frowned. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I didn't really know anything else."
A silence stood between the two as they flew over the vast territory. Now, Mallie's wings didn't make even the slightest rustle. They were matched in pace. He was almost afraid to ask the question burning in his mind.
"Where did you come from before the humans?"
"I don't know."
"You don't remember anything? Not your old colony? Or your wild name?"
Mallie looked away. "No. I'm sorry if that wasn't very helpful."
"Do you even know what type of dragon you are?"
Mallie was quiet.
"Mallie?"
A much larger figure swooped in between Vesp and Mallie. "Lay off of her, Vesp. And get back to your position." It was Niha, who had dropped behind from the front. "I won't stand for any bullying here!"
"N-no, it's OK," assured Mallie. "I'm fine."
"Just keep your distance from him, Mallie. Vesp is always trouble." Niha glared at him.
Vesp glared back. "Fine. Not like there's much to be scouting, anyways." He turned his snout up as he glided back out towards the left, away from Niha and Mallie. Soon, it was just him and the spring breeze.
————
It was long past sundown when Vesp heard strange scuttling past the entrance of his den. His head perked up to listen, losing interest in the leftover bones from his dinner. Again, where was more subtle scuttling by the opening.
"Kodi, is that you?" There was a soft yelp. Vesp knew that it wouldn't be Kodi. "Who is it? What do you want?"
"I'm sorry," replied a soft, familiar voice. Mallie poked her head through the narrow gap. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I just wanted to stop by."
Vesp relaxed. "Why'd you come all the way out here? Didn't Niha tell you I was trouble?" he snorted.
"I just felt like you deserved an explanation. You helped me fly properly for the first time, after all. You don't seem to be all bad." Mallie effortlessly slipped through the gap, sliding into the warm cavern.
Vesp flicked his tail. "You came in so easily. Usually only the pygmies can find their way in here. That's why I chose this place."
Mallie curled up delicately next to Vesp. "I don't blame you. It's quiet here. I've always appreciated quietness, even if it means being alone sometimes."
"Exactly! The other dragons simply want to play and chat all day," chuckled Vesp. Mallie gently laughed along with him. "So, what exactly needed explaining?"
"The answer to your question. About what type of dragon I was."
"Ah, yes. You don't look like most other dragons. Your build is much too skinny."
Mallie blushed. "Yes, I've noticed that, even at the stables. The truth is a bit embarrassing, actually." She sighed. "I really have no clue. I know I'm a bit different. The humans would always use me the most. I would even get special treatments and procedures that hurt for days after! And I was always made fun of by even the windstripes for being too small and fragile."
