Desert Horizons: Thorn and Stonemover

Thorn reclined on some pillows in a tent, sipping a small glass of cactus juice. She chatted among her Outclaws, often excusing herself so she could explore the Scorpion Den a little more and punish anyone trying to cause havoc. Thorn couldn’t stand dragons that wanted to turn the Scorpion Den into an actual den of scorpions(but it really was, judging by the amount of lowlifes and criminals and assassins for hire that lived in there). She herself was a criminal, though, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t turn the Scorpion Den into a slightly more peaceful society with less killing. Besides, she was getting close to controlling it fully; only a couple more sections, and she was completely ruling the place.

As if our if the blue, a SandWing burst through the entrance of the tent. “Thorn,” he said, head bowed, “A NightWing requests your presence.”

“Very well.” Thorn slowly fit up and leaped onto the dais. “Let them in.”

The SandWing nodded, disappearing from the tent. A few moment after, another dragon as black as night entered, their silver star-like scales glittering in the dim torchlight. He quietly sat down on the carpets, claws tapping the ground as they looked around at the other SandWings nervously.

Thorn straightened, her tail curling around dais. “What brings you to the Scorpion Den?”

“Uh, I’m searching for a dragon named, um, Thorn,” the NightWing stammered, staring down at his talons.

“Well, you are talking to her right now.” This only made the NightWing slightly more shaky. “What’s your name?”

Slowly and hesitantly, the NightWing said, “Stonemover. My name is Stonemover.”

Thorn flicked her barbed tail, trying to think. Stonemover...it did sound very NightWing. This wasn’t some SandWing con artist trying to cheat her out again. Even if it was, they did a very good job on naming themselves, creating the costume, and acting. As far as Thorn knew, there wasn’t anyone that could do such a good job at fooling her. Unless she hadn’t kept very good count on the dragons inside the Scorpion Den...

She decided to play this calm. “Do you speak for anyone in particular, Stonemover?”

“I speak for my tribe,” Stonemover mumbled, scraping at the carpet. Then, a little louder, he forced out, “I need your help in finding a home for my tribe. We’ve got nowhere else to live. I-I can’t tell you our location now.It’s a closely guarded secret. That’s why I came here: I came in search of your help in finding my tribe a new place to live.” He lifted his chin, trembling.

Thorn brooded over this for a moment. This dragon needed her help in finding a new place to call home for his tribe. Ah, yes, this out everything in perspective now. Thorn knew that information travelled slow in the Scorpion Den, so she and her trusted general Six-Claws were the only ones that knew about the NightWing Home Dilemma at the moment. This was no con artist: this was a dragon that truly seeked her help. Thorn could help but admire Stonemover’s loyalty to his tribe. He only wanted was best to keep the NightWings alive.

“Come walk with me, Stonemover.” Thorn stepped down from the dais and walked to the tent exit, stopping to beckon the NightWing over with one wing.

Stonemover nodded, getting up, still looking uneasy.

Thorn slowly strolled through the bustling streets of the Scorpion Den, with Stonemover quietly following by her side. She caught a few SandWings cast wary looks at the NightWing, but she quickly ignored them and asked, “Why can’t you tell me your tribe’s current location? Surely it would be more helpful if I do happen to decide to search for a new place for them with you.”

“Something about staying mysterious,” said Stonemover. “My tribe prefers to let the others question where they’re staying. Besides, our queen forbids us to reveal anything of that sort in Pyrrhia.”

“And, according to A Guide to the Tribes of Pyrrhia, that too is a closely guarded secret,” Thorn mused, waving away a vendor dismissively.

Stonemover nodded. “It would have been better if she just put her name on it. However, she claims she doesn’t want so much publicity after what she calls an ‘embarrassing and unfortunate accident’.”

“I’ve been through more of those, trust me.” Thorn gazed over at him and smiled.

Stonemover nodded again.

“So, his exactly did you get here from your secret utopian haven?” Thorn asked,  She swiftly snapped up a lizard and glared at two dragonets chasing it. The two ran off, surprised at first but then horrified when they realized it was the Outclaw leader herself.

“Utopian?” The NightWing laughed bitterly. “Call it whatever you want except that. Let’s just say it’s more of a place where many suffer from starvation.” Thorn recoiled in shock as Stonemover continued. “But, if you do want to know how I got here, it’s from a tunnel I created myself.”

Thorn gasped. “You’re an animus!”

Stonemover winced. “Ah, I haven’t, well, had some acknowledge it that way. But yes, you are correct. I am an animus. The only one in my tribe.” He sighed, and then blurted, “I’ll show you the tunnel. I-I’m still working on the details, but I can show you.” He curled his tail in, and then said, a little quieter, “If you would like.”

“Please.” Thorn paused, and stopped Stonemover with her tail. Motioning out of the Scorpion Den with one wing, she said. “Lead the way.”

———————————————

Thorn paced the sands, peering at the rocky-looking tunnel Stonemover dug up. She paused in front of it, staring into the dark expanse that seemed to lead to somewhere sinister. However, Stonemover had confirmed that it did lead to the secretive Night Kingdom, so she closed her eyes, trying to envision the non-paradisal place. It was hard to imagine, though: the only thing Thorn could see in her mind was a vast expanse of nothing but rocks and lava. She shuddered, opening her eyes.

“You might be right about what you think is my tribe’s home.” Thorn jumped, glancing back over at Stonemover. The NightWing winced again. “Sorry. I’m not reading your mind. I could tell by your face that you were thinking about something dreadful. My home is absolutely the worst.”

Thorn tried for a smile, but kept the same emotionless mask. “It’s really that bad?”

Stonemover nodded. “That’s why I’m made a tunnel, so if I - or we, I may say - happen to find a new place to live, I can bring my tribe there through the tunnel.” He looked into the dark entryway and frowned. “It still looks a little craggy. I got plenty of cuts on my palms from walking through.” He sighed.”I’m going to need to work up more animus magic. It’s going to take me a year or two to finish it fully.”

“And when it’s done, can I visit you on the other side?”

Stonemover turned to Thorn, a scaly eyebrow raised. “Why do you mean?”

Thorn sighed. “Look, it sounds cliche, but I think I’m in love with you.”