Spruce

"Trees remember their roots." My mother always told me, yet here I am, tripping aimlessly around the forest in attempt to find my roots. It felt like I was running in circles; I wasn't supposed to be a dragon, but a tree. I was a tree; a tall spruce, towering over the forest. Life was so simple back then.
A growl grew in my throat as my scales moved against each other as I searched for food, stumbling over every branch, tripping over my own tail; this never happened when I was a tree. The sun blinded me rather than nurture me, like it normally did. My scales ached, unlike my bark which was always smooth.
"Mother!" I hissed into the air. Nothing. I picked up a branch, snapping it in anger.
"Ehm, are you alright?" A skydancer asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Alright?! Was living happily as a spruce, now I'm dragon?!" I scratched the ground, furrowing my eyebrows at him.
"Do look alright??!" I yelled, whacking my tail on the ground. The skydancer flinched.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Ehm, who are you?" He asked, and I paused.
"Spruce? Never had a name or anything, I mean... I'm tree. Or, was, anyways." My voice suddenly toned down. He looked confused.
"Well, I'm Pelamis. Professional pirate." He held out his hand and grinned. I looked at the hand confused.
"What's pirate?"
"Wha-How do you not know what a pirate is?!" He looked at me like I was crazy.
"Oh, right the whole tree thing." He sighed.
"What's pirate?" I asked again, hoping for an answer this time.
"Ugh- A pirate is a dragon who scorages the seas for treasure and gems. If others get in our way, we kill 'em." He looked proud puffing out his chest.
"Who is we?" I asked. He seemed annoyed by my questions. When he frowned, I grinned.
"My crew. The other pirates on my side." He said, talking to me like I was a newly hatched hatchling.
"I want to be your crew!" I said proudly, standing tall.
"What- No! You can't!" He yelled at me.
"Can." I replied simply.
"Fine. Let's see if you can survive our seas, huh?"
"Yes! To ship?" I bounced happily.
"Yeah, follow me." He turned his back and walked towards a brighter part of the forest. Towards the beach.

'Trees remember their roots.' Spruce's mother always told them, yet here they were, tripping aimlessly around the forest in attempt to find their roots. It felt like to them like they were running in circles around the scorched land that was once their home; they weren't supposed to be a dragon, but a tree. They were a tree; a tall spruce, towering over the forest. Life was so simple back then.
A growl grew in their throat as their scales moved against each other as they searched for food, stumbling over every branch, tripping over their own tail; this never happened when they were a tree. The sun blinded Spruce rather than nurture them, like it normally did. Their scales ached, unlike their bark which was always smooth.
"Mother!" Spruce hissed into the air. Nothing. They picked up a charred branch, snapping it in anger. The only reason they returned to this form in the first place was because of that stupid fire! Their sister was supposed to protect them all!
Of course, there was nothing proving anybody they knew, even their own sister was alive. They couldn't comprehend their death, however. Trees and treeguard spirits don't just die, they live for ever and ever, and the spirits make sure of that! Now where is mother? She'll help gather us together again! Then she can go back to happily living as a tree, tall and proud!
"Howdy, tree fella," A voice suddenly greeted from behind. Spruce jumped and yelped in surprise, but that surprise quickly turned to anger as they confronted the stranger.
The being in question seemed to be a dragon, at the very least. More specifically, a large, female imperial. Black as the void aside from her blood-red antlers and belly that glistened even through the last of the settling ash.
Spruce had taken so much time taking in the details of this new imperial, however, that she found the time to speak up again, asking, "Soooo, you lookin' for someone? I know a few people who might know a few people."
Spruce barely managed to sputter out, "Wha- Y-yes, I am looking for someone. My mother! She'll know where my sister went! She'll know what happened and where everyone's gone," they continued with a grumble, "And I doubt you'd be any help!"
"Uhh looks like a tree, hardly talks, has butterfly wings, might be named MonarchOrchard?" The imperial guessed with a friendly, yet teasing smile, adding, "The name's BloodBelly, by the way."
How... how does she know my sister?! Spruce froze. I... I don't like this beast of darkness and blood, not one bit.... but she knows where Monarch is...
"Fine, take me to my sister," They barked at BloodBelly, who didn't seemed phased, "But if this a trap you have my word that picking a fight with me shall be the last mistake you'll ever make!"
"Sure, whatever, tree fella. Follow me!" BloodBelly's response was quirky and full of the innocent playfulness you'd often only find in a corgi.
'Tree fella'? Who does this fiend think she is?! To dare dissrespect me like thi-
"Hey, keep up, dude, your wings are gettin' covered in ash just sittin' there!"