Hello! I am incredibly proud to present chapter one of a project I have been working on for quite some time! The art, story, and characters all belong to me, so please don't use them without permission! Fan art and remixing as a reaction to it is fine, but please don't randomly do so. HOW TO READ: I recommend reading the more detailed story in the desc first, and then reading the comic in the project. [NOTE: The comic part is not finished, I am posting the written part now and will post the comic later!] Last of all, I'd like the thank everyone who supported me and encouraged my creativity! An especially big thanks to those who spent many long days listening to me rant about my characters. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy! ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.☪ .* :☆ﾟ. It was a quiet afternoon in the Diamond Spray Delta, the only noise coming from the chirping of birds, the occasional creature wading through the shallow swamp water, and Mudwings flying overhead. One of said Mudwings landed in front of one of the many large bunkhouses dotting the delta, and tossed an important looking message scroll beside it. The Mudwing flew away, stirring up dust and a slight breeze with their large wings, and leaving the scroll to hopefully find the dragons it was meant for. A dark chestnut colored Mudwing crawled out of the bunk, looked around, and gasped when she saw the scroll. Could this be the letter she had been waiting for? She quickly grabbed it and clambered back inside. “Silt, Pollywog, Duckweed!” She called. “Lilypad? What’s going on?” A Mudwing with rich, burnt umber scales ambled over, rubbing his eyes as if he had just been woken from a rest. “I have great news, Silt! You know how I’ve tried writing the queen for compensation ever since Fog’s death? Well, we just got a letter!” Silt’s eyes lit up. “Is it- is it the letter? Is it the compensation?” he asked tentatively. “I think so!” Lilypad looked around ecstatically. “Look! It even has a royal seal! Where are Pollywog and Duckweed? I’ll open it when they get there! I want everyone to see!” Silt smiled. Things had been difficult ever since their Bigwings, Fog, had been killed in a battle against the Sandwings, and one of their brothers, Duckweed, had been gravely injured. Lilypad had tried her best to take over the role of their new Bigwings, but it had taken a toll on her. Especially with Duckweed’s worsening condition. They needed treasure for his medical care- treasure that they did not have. Lilypad had spent months teaching herself to read and write, just so she could ask the queen for compensation. Surely, she’d sympathize. But they had gone months with no reply. Until today! Pollywog, a smaller framed Mudwing, sauntered in, supporting the injured Duckweed. He gently helped sit Duckweed down on a soft nest of phragmites. “Lilypad?” Pollywog looked at her questioningly. “We heard you call for us, is everything alright?” “It’s more than alright!” She blurted enthusiastically. “A letter from the palace arrived! I think it’s the compensation we need!” “Really?” Duckweed whirled his head around, his yellow eyes lighting up more than they had in months. “I’m sure it is! What else could it be?” Lilypad had looked more youthful than she had in ages- it was like a large burden had been lifted. “Now since we’re all here, we can open it!” They crowded around, eyes wide in anticipation. Lilypad slowly unraveled the scroll, and started to read. But as she did, face fell, and a crestfallen look overtook her features that had been joyful only a moment before. “What does it say?” Silt asked, barely able to contain himself. “Tell us!” It’s- it’s…” Lilypad looked down. “...Not it.”
“What?!” Pollywog cried, the usually mellow dragon suddenly outraged. “Then what is it?!” “An invitation. To a place called… Jade Mountain Academy?” Lilypad scoffed. “Here, I’ll read it.” She cleared her throat and eyed the letter once more. “Dear Lilypad, we unfortunately cannot provide compensation, as if we were to do so for one Mudwing troupe, we would have to do so for all others that have lost a sibling in the war. We sympathize with your pain, but there is simply nothing we can do. But for your trouble, please accept this invitation to Jade Mountain Academy. It is a prestigious multi-tribal school and a sanctuary for many. May you find solace and refuge. Best regards, Queen Heron.” Lilypad threw the scroll forcefully towards the ground. Wiping tears from her eyes. “This is useless! We can use it as kindling tonight. I’ll just have to find a better way to handle our situation. Maybe some other Mudwings would be willing to share their treasure… we couldn’t steal, could we?” As Lilypad rambled to no one in particular about how to solve their current predicament, Silt eyed the invitation on the ground. He picked it up, dusted it off, and reread it. He’d always enjoyed reading and other things of the scholarly sort. In fact, he was the most literate of his siblings. Self-taught, too. But he had always wanted to learn more, and this might be his chance to achieve that dream… “Wait.” He cut through Lilypad’s empty prattling. “This invite… could- could I attend Jade Mountain Academy? I mean- that way the invite wouldn’t go to waste, and I’d finally get schooling and, and,” he stuttered. “Absolutely not!” Lilypad looked at him as if he’d just suggested she throw a dragonet off a cliff. “Silt, we need you here! Especially with everything that’s happened! It’s selfish to even think of leaving!” She had started to raise her voice, and by now other dragons were staring. Silt looked towards Duckweed and Pollywog for help, but they were silent and turned their heads away with an awkward glance. “Lilypad,” Silt tried to reason. “You know I’ve always wanted to learn, and meet other dragons from different tribes! And it might even be useful, think of it! With an education, who knows what things I can do? A job in the palace! Can you imagine?” But Lilypad wasn’t buying it. “No.” She told him in a final, harsh tone. “I’m going hunting to calm myself down. Be back in a few hours. Duckweed, will you be alright while I’m gone?” “Yes, Lilypad, I’ll be fine. I’m not fragile, you know.” The small ochre dragon certainly looked delicate, but he was resilient. More resilient than the rest of them, that was for sure. “Right, of course.” Lilypad nodded thoughtfully and took off, large bronze wings glinting in the now fading midday light. Silt sighed, mumbled something to his brothers about going for a fly, and made his way to a slowly trickling stream, where he lay and pondered until sundown. Night had come quickly, and had blanketed the land in its serene, moonlit silence. Silt’s siblings were soundly sleeping. Not even a stampede of water buffalos could have woken them. Despite their heavy slumber, Silt rose as quietly as he could, and took the scroll out from where he had hidden it in his nest of reeds. He stared at it for a moment, doubts crossing his mind. But he shook them off and grasped it firmer in his talons. "This has to be done." He assured himself. You’ve always wanted this. Silt took one more look at his siblings. Oblivious that in the morning, he would not be there. A pang of guilt flashed across his expression. Surely they’d understand, though. They knew how important this was! They wouldn’t hold it against him, right? He swallowed the feeling. He could stall no longer. He unfurled his wings, and took off into the star-speckled sky, Jade Mountain awaited. ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.☪ .* :☆ﾟ. First- you’re here! Next- https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1296606568/
