NOTES: There are no humans here. Only wyrms. Females are referred to as nymphs. Spam the misshapened stick to hear the music. RATING: This story contains [mortar] and [def] among other things SONG: Upwind ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Onyx was a typical wyrm. She had dusty pink skin, white feathers, and dark eyes. She lived in the caves with her mother Sapphire, her father Garnet, and her older sisters Tourmaline and Moonstone. Her job was in entertainment. Every day, she went to the mansion of Lord Jasper, and his wives Ruby and Iolite, and she'd get dressed in whatever she was told to wear, and get ready for whatever party Jasper was hosting, where she'd have to serve drinks, converse with nobles, and put on her fake smile. She hated faking a smile. She rose early as usual and made her way to one of the exits. She stepped onto the ledge, and took off, flying straight for the city below. She made her way to the mansion where she worked, and entered. The other entertainment nymphs were chattering excitedly about the party, as they hurried off to get dressed, or helped one another with their feathers and jewelry. Just then, Rhodochrosite, the head of servants entered the room. She had dusty cream skin, and brown feathers with black speckles. She wore her usual baby blue dress, that pinched at the waist and looked good with a white lace apron. "Best work on your singing, dancing, playing, conversation, and serving skills, nymphs!" she said, "I see you over there, Onyx, don't think you'll escape this one so easily! The party's not over until the guests are ready to leave!" Onyx headed into a dressing room, locking the door behind her. The dress she had to wear that night was pale lavender, with designs of pale pink petals cascading down, and the whole dress had a ling flowing skirt and sleeves. She sighed and put it on. /Wish I didn't have to do this./ she thought, putting on her favorite onyx necklace, /I hate these parties, and why should I be forced to talk to strangers?/ She sighed and unlocked the door. As soon as she stepped out, a bell rang. Not just any bell, but the bell Ruby rang whenever she wanted tea. "On it!" Onyx called, grabbing a tray with a black and red tea set, five biscuits, a butter knife, and a jar of cherry jam. She made her way up the stairs, and through the halls, until she reached Ruby's room. She knocked the door. "Come in." Ruby called. Onyx opened the door, and entered the room. It was lit by only a few candles, and the curtains were shut. In the room, was a large bed, some book shelves, and a tea table. "Oh good," Ruby said, "I though Fluorite was going to do it this time. Come sit down." Onyx put the tray on the table and sat down. "Be honest with me, Onyx." Ruby said, "How do you feel about the party tonight?" "Can't say I'm a fan." Onyx replied, "Having to fake a smile the whole night is exhausting. Not to mention the fact that I won't get much sleep tonight, because it will probably go on until like three or so and I have to get up early just so I can get here on time, so I'll get like no sleep." "I don't like it either. I'm not sure why I agreed to marry Jasper, or what that feather-brained Iolite. I know I have to go tonight, but I'd rather spend tonight with a good mystery novel and a cup of mint tea, instead of dancing, talking, and drinking the night away." "I'd rather be at home with my sisters and parents." "Well they say great minds think alike! I'll let you get back to the preparations, alright?" Onyx nodded, and left the room. ..................................〰️➰〰️....................................... At the party, there were nobles of all kinds attending, wearing all manner of things. Some let their tails show, others (nymphs especially) had them hid under their garments. All of them, unlike Onyx, had tail buds that opened revealing either a straight, pointed barb, (a barbtail) a ball of sharp points, (a spiketail) a fire, (a flametail) or a curved barb with a serrated outer curve that could inject a deadly poison (a venomtail) but Onyx however, although of age, hadn't seen her tail tip yet, and moth had theirs removed and replaced with an embedded jewel. Onyx grabbed an urn of some weird-smelling drink called "spirit" that she knew was bad for anyone to drink, and she began to wonder why she couldn't serve tea, or starfruit juice instead. The party was like any other. Wyrms talked, danced, ate, and drank themselves silly. Then, she spotted someone on one of the balconies, and flew over to him. He wore a dark cloak, with the hood up, a necklace of obsidian, and a gold ring with an insignia that only one family is allowed to use. The balcony, like all others, had piles of pillows surrounding a low table big enough for eight wyrms. She fake-smiled sweetly. "Hello sir!" she said, "Having fun?" "Please, have a seat." the stranger replied, his voice was deep and commanding. Onyx sat down.
The balcony, like all others, had piles of pillows surrounding a low table big enough for eight wyrms, and a single lantern hanging from the ceiling, casting just enough light to almost fill the small room.. She fake-smiled sweetly. "Hello sir!" she said, "Having fun?" "Please, have a seat." the stranger replied, his voice was deep and commanding. Onyx sat down. "Enjoying the party so far?" she repeated. "That depends, are you?" He asked, "You can be honest with me." "Not really." she said, letting her real emotions through. "And what about your master and mistresses?" "Ruby's... I wouldn't say friendly but she's not a bad wyrm either, but jasper parties too much, and so I don't get much rest, and Iolite doesn't have much going on between her ears, and Ruby's the only one who actually remembers my name, or had even bothered to ask it for that matter!" "I see. So what's you're name, anyway?" "It's Onyx." she answered, giving him a real smile. She stood up, and headed for the railing. "I was lovely chatting with you, your majesty, but I must get going." she said, with a polite bow. "What makes you sure I'm the emperor?" he asked. "The crest on your ring, the fact that you're wearing your namesake stone, and that fact that your family has a history of disguising themselves as someone of a lower rank." She grabbed her urn and flew off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Chapter
