"The Queen is dead!"

Glade slammed through the door and raced to her mother's room.

Queen Fawn's body was half melted with venom. She lay next to her mother's body. Cradling the severely scarred head.

"No!" She wailed. Her and her were never close. An orphan Mudwing dragonet named Caterpillar squished through the dragons.

"Princess Glade!" Caterpillar cried.

Normally it was her job to be the dragonet's bigwings.

"She was a great Queen," the army commander, Magpie mumbled.

Her brothers snuck through and bowed over Fawn's body.

"Long live, Queen Glade!" Caterpillar chanted.

"Long live, Queen Glade!" Other Mudwings joined in.

No! I'm too young. She gulped.

"Long live, Queen Glade!"

"Long live, Queen Glade!"

"Tomorrow we will coronate you," Magpie bowed.

Every Mudwing followed his lead and bowed.

"Your Majesty," Caterpillar giggled.

Someone help me. "My first order as the unofficial Queen is to farther investigate my predecessor's death," she commanded.

Images from the night before were muddled. What happened. I was woke up. But my who? Who? Ummm... Servant? Maybe... Emotions cluttered her memories.

Murk and Bog carried their mother's body away. She sniffled. Her tail lashed.

"Caterpillar, come on," she called glumly.

"Where are we going your majesty?" The dragonet bowed.

"Stop!" She snapped.

The dragonet's head shot up. Her eyes expressed a hurt feeling. She looked away.

"We are going on a little stroll, alone," her eyes narrowed.

Caterpillar nodded briskly and followed.

The pair slipped into Glade's room. Her wings flared open. Caterpillar's swept the room.

Glade ran full speed and burst of the balcony. Caterpillar seemed to stall behind her. Finally Caterpillar leapt from the window and flapped after her.

"Queen Glade what are you doing?!"

Magpie bellowed. She dove into the trees.

Hide. Her instincts told her. Hide well. She dipped into the river where she caught the alligator. Taking a gulp of air, she dove deep under the surface and swam against the current.

A splash at the surface told her Caterpillar followed. If we swim far enough this way we'll reach Diamond Spray Delta. Maybe we will meet some Seawings. Her body tingled with excitement. I've never met a Seawing before.

Schools of fish darted away at their approach.

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