Droplet was tired. So, so tired.

He couldn't remember the last time that he had felt so weary. Was it the day that his trainer, Gale, had snapped at him every time he did the slightest thing wrong? The day that he had wrestled a polar bear while hunting and then lost? Maybe it was neither of those. Both of those experiences had felt tiring, yes, but not in a sleepy way.

Along with his tiredness was guilt, sadness, and a feeling of loss that Droplet couldn't quite identify. He knew where all of these emotions came from: they had been with him constantly ever since his mother had been sent away to live in some far-off nature clan. Her name had been Frigid, a lovely gray skydancer with navy-blue wings. Droplet could barely remember her now.

His father, Thaw, had been devastated when Frigid was sent away, mourning her as if she were dead. It was a huge shock when Thaw decided to take on a new mate, Tempest, only a year later.

Droplet had been pushed to the side, forgotten, as Thaw had tended to his new mate and had eggs. He had made a whole new family, leaving his son behind.

And now Droplet was alone and about to go into hibernation, while Thaw didn't even glance his way.

Droplet understood, of course. He was useless, really. He was a terrible hunter and an even worse fighter, and he had no offspring. Already his half-sister Alpine had a son, and his half-brother Winter had two sons. It wasn't a surprise that Thaw spent all of his time caring for them.

But he could've at least shown some support.

Sighing, Droplet lay down, and closed his eyes.

Droplet hibernated for years. His dreamless slumber, at least, was devoid of the pain that he had endured while awake.

But he couldn't sleep forever.

When his eyes finally opened, he was surprised to see a young skydancer sitting beside him. She looked up, eyes bright, as he got to his feet.

"You're awake!" she cried, beaming at him. "My name's Gannet. You must be Droplet. Am I right? I must be, 'cause that's who everyone says you are."

Gannet? Droplet didn't recognize that name. He didn't recognize the dragon, either.

"Who are you?" He asked hoarsely, surprised at how dry his throat was from hibernating.

Gannet laughed. "I guess that's a valid question. I was sent over from Mistral's wind tribe about 5 years ago."

"5 years?" Droplet said, dazed. He hadn't known he'd been out for that long.

"Yep!" Gannet said proudly. "Crazy, right? Flurry's been here for longer than that, and she still can't adjust! but I guess I'm just adaptable...I don't remember a lot about home, anyways."

Droplet blinked, trying to process her words. "And you're here because...?"

"I wanted to meet you! Nobody here will talk about what it was like before the famines started to kick in, but I figured you would!"

Droplet raised his brow. "Why?"

"Um...because you're the only person I haven't asked?"

Droplet sighed and hunched his shoulders.

"Hey don't take it too hard!" Gannet exclaimed. "It's not like I hate you or anything...you've just been asleep for a while!"

That was a fair point.

"Well, nobody talks about it for a reason." Droplet said gruffly. "The time before the famines...was a long time ago. And talking about it only gives people false hope that things will get better."

"Because it will!" Gannet said fiercely.

"I can see why many refused to talk to you." Droplet said dryly. "Does your mate put up with that nonsense?"

Gannet laughed. "What mate? Blizzard hasn't told me to find one yet. I'm only here because I was a part of some 'diplomatic trade' between his tribe and Mistrals."

"Oh." Droplet shifted his feet uncomfortably. "I'm sorry that Blizzard doesn't care about you. The famines have changed him, that's for sure."

Gannet's eyes widened. "How has he changed?" she asked, sounding exited.

Droplet shot her a sharp glance. "If I tell you, will you tell anyone else?"

"No!" she exclaimed. "Why would I?"

Droplet let out another sigh. "Fine. You wanna know? Here's the truth; A long time ago, at least 10 years back, this tribe was nothing like it is today. It was small, compact, happy...until the overpopulation began."

Gannet stared at him, captivated.

"At first it wasn't very noticeable. There were more and more nests hatching each week, but that was cause for celebration, not grim mutters and worried faces. Food was in good supply, and we had nothing to worry about. That is, until food suddenly became scarce."

Droplet flexed his claws, remembering the concern he had felt.

"It was just...gone. And there was nothing we could do to get more. We tried to find the cause of the food shortage..." he paused, hesitant.

"Did you find it?" Gannet asked quietly.

Droplet's claws tore through the dirt floor of the den. "Yes." he muttered.

Gannet gently set her claws on his, comforting him.

Droplet let out a deep breath, then continued. "When we looked at what our clan had become, we realized that it was much too large for our territory. We had too many dragons. In an act of sheer desperation, Blizzard began to exalt dragons against their will. Exaltion was usually full of honor, but these dragons wanted to help, and Blizzard didn't let them. He exalted Sleet's mate, leaving him emotionally broken. He exalted Breeze and ice's children, leaving them with only two hatchlings out of their massive brood. And he gave away my mother to a far-off nature kingdom, leaving me alone with a father who replaced her and forgot that I existed. He did so much damage, and then, realizing what he had done, retreated into his den, staying there for years. Eventually the famine did end, but every few years it returned, and every time that happened Blizzard was forced to exalt more. Frostbite's sister, Flurry's daughter, and so many others were lost. Now, Blizzard sits like a coward in his lair, hiding from the things he's done."

Droplet growled. "Are you satisfied? Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Gannet blinked at him. "Yes." she said simply.

Droplet watched in surprise as she stood up to rest her chin on his shoulder.

"Thank you for telling me the truth when no one else would. I hope to see you soon, once you recover from your hibernation."

With that, she left the den, laving Droplet staring after her.