Madeline

The days start and end with Maddie. She’s the first to show up at the mess, dolled-up like the best of them – all sparkly and glittery and fashion. She’s there, always on time, always shining, getting her claws into the best of the night shift’s catches. Fish are hard to come by at the desert – the Earthshaker’s lands aren’t kind to her, but she manages. A piece of meat here, a fruit there and she keeps her diet, if not versatile, then at least tasty. Robbie, the parasitic fungus she has found, hiding in one of the deepest caves of their lair, is at her feet, trotting about and waiting for her to drop some of her food for him.

“The King’s still watching, behave yourself,” she scorns her friend. Robbie can be loud for a fungus, but he’s pastel pink and shines in the first light of the full moon. For that, she can forgive him his boisterousness. (She hopes, though, that he’ll grow out of it.)

Maddie avoids the King’s attention – and wrath – as a devil avoids holly water.
She knows she’s been accepted into his lair only on behalf of her beloved. She’s Nann’s Lady and that’s all she’ll ever be for The King and his Royal Court.

“I was born to rule,” she whispers to Robbie, who bounces around with a small mouse clutched in his fangs. “We were meant to start our own clan, me and Nann. But he’s chosen The King.”

“He swore his loyalty,” a voice from behind catches Maddie by surprise. She jumps, letting some plants fall on the ground. The Night Shift watches her mishap from the distance, but she can see them snickering. She feels her cheeks redden, blood boils in her veins – if she only were a Queen, such disrespect would be punished.

Shazra looms over her. He must have been going to The King, to relieve Him of his self-imposed, torturous duty. His scales glisten in the morning sun, but the look in his eyes is pure warning. They all love Nann, consider him as their family – but she’s expendable. She needs to watch her words, watch her thoughts.

“And he will not break his oath, I know,” she snips back, trying to save as much of her face as she can. She doesn’t add even for me but she knows Shazra understands her meaning. He’s not a fan of her, none of the Royal Court are.

Shazra walks away and Maddie watches as the brave Guardian approaches the King, the Gaoler who led battles at the bidding of the Mighty Earthshaker. He doesn’t fear the King. In his heart only love exist and Maddie allows herself, for the briefest of moments, feel jealousy.

That day, when The King announces that they’ll move to escape the oncoming drought – for the good of the hatchlings, of course – she’s shocked. She has heard many stories about Shadow Flight, but she doesn’t get the time to worry her pretty head about nightmarish ghost stories – no. Because that day, Siergiej decides to give up the crown, not to his own firstborn son, but to the dragon that during their journey proves themselves to be the best leader.

She doesn’t have time to worry. She needs to pack.

She needs to make a plan.
Maddie

Outgoing || Cunning || Jealous || Talkative || Cheerful


She's got that style
She's got that smile
She's got the walk
She's got the talk
She's got that zing
There's just one thing
She's got an ego
-- Ray Jesse