Pendant

"And so we send off another clutch of our babies. A little saddening, isn't it, Pendant?" Her partner looked at their children, a sigh on his lips.

She turned away to look at them, too, running around excitedly as they said their goodbyes and packed their little satchel of items.

She wanted to agree, really she did. But as she looked at the young ones, bright-eyed and stumbling over their own four feet, she felt absolutely nothing in her heart.

"They're going to begin a new life."

As soon as those words left her mouth, she felt Rogue's eyes on her. She could've pretended and injected a little more emotion into her voice, but upon coming into a new clan she had decided she wasn't going to pretend anymore. And a part of her really wanted at least one other dragon, one other soul, to see her for who she was. And, if she let herself hope enough, accept her.

"My dear." There was pity in his voice. Pendant hated it. She turned around and left his company, walking briskly back into the darkness of their cave.
-
Later that night, Breiries approached her, to say her goodbyes. Breiries was a pretty young thing, but her beauty was more subtle. She had reminded Pendant of a berry, and hence the name.

"Goodbye, Mother. Tomorrow I will be going to serve the Plaguemother."

Pendant looked up from where she had been tidying her things, getting ready for bed.

"It is an honour."

Breiries smiled. She had expected something like that, knowing her mother, but her heart grew heavier nonetheless. As a young adult, Clan Leader had had high hopes of sending her to another clan, having appreciated her beauty. Perhaps, though, hers was an acquired taste. They had received no offers.

Pendant had taken a small comfort in that, even though she knew it was wrong to. Her daughter had been disappointed but accepting, deciding to join Plaguemother instead. While it was an honour, it also had a connotation - that she was different, undesirable, unwanted. Even more so since she wasn't an actual ugly one. Pendant felt a similarity there, a familiarity.

"If only I had Mother's beauty." There was a pause, and Pendant thought she saw a shine in her daughter's eyes, but it could have been a trick of the light. "I would have a home then."

"You have a home now and you will have a home tomorrow. Home is what you make of it. No one is going to make it for you." She heard a small intake of breath, and glanced at the entryway of her chambers. Warm orange eyes met hers, but they were disapproving. It was not a look Pendant saw often. Had she been too harsh? She narrowed her eyes, before focusing back on her daughter. Brieries hadn't seemed to notice the silent third party.

"You have to be strong. But don't worry, Mother and Father will always be behind you. Write back often."

Breiries seemed to lose her control, and tears spilled over her face. She made a move as to bump heads with Pendant, a traditional way of showing love and gratitude, but something in Pendant's face must have stopped her, because she didn't follow through. Nevertheless, she curled her own tail around herself, a much more formal gesture of thanks.

"I will, Mother. Thank you. I will go back now." Wiping her eyes, Breiries retreated from the chambers. The doorway was now empty, and she left without incident.

Just before Pendant could breathe a sigh of relief, though, those watchful warm orange eyes were back on her. Rogue walked into the room. He twined his tail against hers, steely gaze uninterrupted, as if daring her to resist. She accepted the contact almost reluctantly, and tried to ignore the pang of discomfort that rose within her.

"Really, it was lucky that I was here in time. She was so sad."

This time, Pendant really let out a long, suffering sigh. "Indeed. What would I do without you."

"Crash and burn," her idiot partner scoffed. Pendant didn't think it was worth a response.