Ozaki

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Sneaking through the Everbloom Gardens, between the twisting streams of crisp water of hanging villages, a unit of plague dragons infiltrated the Nature territory.

Their varied red eyes blinked in the darkness, slowly making their way through a pollen-infested flower field as their dark scales and fur rummaged across the grass towards the main village of area. To anyone outside of the Plague Flight, this place was rather beautiful. Multi-colored potted plants scattered the twisting branches of a massive tree, a gentle glow of candle light gleaming in windows through massive leaves and an endless garden of fruits lowering themselves onto the wooden pathways of the village.

Ozaki could only stare up at it in dismay.

This place is going to fall apart. And it's going to be our fault.

The tundra fixed his copy of his flight's tome, snaking behind a flesh-colored mirror as a guardian led the mission towards the town. He wondered what was going through these dragon's minds. Ever since the Armistice fell between the Plague and Nature Flights, all he could hear from outraged dragons was that they couldn't believe what the Nature ambassador had done.

Many including the phrases "How was this not intentional?!" and "There's no way we can stand by for this!" While many other dragons didn't feel the same way. Ozaki still could feel their anger towards what happened.

I'm sure that there's some reason for all of this, he thought, climbing over a bending root. At least... One that doesn't involve intentionally causing conflict for the sake of it, just because you're angry.

Except now there may be a reason for it. If his clan, and so many other's, plan was successful.

Sending a peaceful Nature village into dismay, and for what? To avenge the fallen? Ozaki felt it was counter productive and weird. He didn't even know if Merlina agreed to this idea, but a majority of his friends followed this idea. And now they were here.

The unit suddenly stopped as they bunched up under the shadow of the tree. Ozaki halted, bunching up beside the scary mirror as the scarred, "primal" eyed guardian leader turned to face them.

"You know the plan. Our goal is to take the hatchlings from this village and replace them with skulls," she stated, pointing a claw up to the branches. "The second and third unit are doing the same to the other villages in this area. If we fail, we're better off as fodder for the Plaguebringer."

Yikes! I don't want that, Ozaki thought. His eyes looked over at the others, seeing their determined eyes gleaming in the green shadows. Looks like none of them do, either.

"We must make as little noise as possible, you got that?" She added, a rumble filling her tone.

He nodded, others nodding with him.

"They took our brothers and sisters from us with their scheme. Now we shall take their's for their crime," the guardian snarled. "We shall make them pay for their treachery against such peace!"

The dragoness gave a little grumble and began to climb up the tree. A fae flew up alongside her, soaring up towards the opposite side of the village and vanished into the overgrowth. Ozaki gulped, climbing up the tree with everyone else.

Each claw hooked onto the weird, thick bark and when he finally reached the top, the rush of life filled his nostrils. It was far too much for Ozaki to handle, but he had to go through with this. He had already come this far. Backing out now would just make him seem weak. Or something.

He saw the plague dragons fan out, and the sound of quiet rustling signaled that they were taking out guards. The tundra marched his way away from the sounds and entered the first hut he saw.

Inside, he could see vines draping the ceiling as leaves interlocked them against the branches and scrolls that were stored over his head, leading to a moss-like curtain in the back. Candles glowing inside pink bulbs gave the room a calming glow, shining off of Ozaki's fur as he carefully stepped across the vine floor towards the back.

As he pulled back the curtain, it revealed the massive form of a gaoler — surrounding three little hatchlings with her long tail.

Oh dear... three of them? He thought. Oh I... I just... I can't do that to a parent!

Ozaki looked behind him. He could see his friends and unit clambering over the branches with disgust, holding hatchlings in their arms and mouths. He looked back, breathing in.

Why do we have to do this to their Flight? Won't this just cause more issues than we already have? The warchief told us all that we wouldn't retaliate against what happened, and that the ambassador was ill. What makes what we're doing right?

Our friends and family had suffered loses trying to stop the First Seed. That's why. But it isn't right... If I don't bring back a hatchling though...

Ozaki stared at the hatchlings with content filling his eyes. He didn't want to be exalted, whether it was honorable or not. He looked from the supposed mother, frowning. Then, with a swift motion, reached over and plucked a random hatchling from the three slowly and vanished out into the darkness.

I'm sorry little one... For the Plaguebringer.