Strawberry didn’t realize how boring sitting through this meeting would be. Sure, she is royal, but she still is just a kid. She knows she is six, and that means at her next birthday, she will be an adult dragon.

  But why does Strawberry have to sit through this? Why, why, why?

  “Princess, are you listening?” asked General Grapefruit, giving her a soft glare.

  “What?” Strawberry’s head shot up, she was confused at first, “Oh, uh, yeah, I am listening. For sure, definitely.”

  The General almost looked like he wanted to bite someone's tail off at that very moment, “God, you are going to make me recite that entire thing, again,” he flicked his tail upwards. “For this moment, the best plan of action is to have the Royal Guard surrounding the castle—to protect our Queen, of course. Then we will send half of our high ranking officers in the Defense Troop to disguise themselves around the perimeters of the forest and near the NightWing Village, armed with tranquilizer darts. The rest of the Defense Troop will be hidden more sporadically inside the forest.”

  Strawberry yawned, “And, how exactly, will this work?”

  “Well you see,” barked Grapefruit, “this will help keep us safe, especially you and your family safe. Most civilian RainWings have been evacuated, but it would be too suspicious if we had your family leave. I will personally stay with Queen Papaya and you, Princess Strawberry, since we need to make sure the queen herself and her heir stay safe to keep the royal line moving. King Loganberry will evacuate with Prince Gooseberry as soon as this meeting is over.”

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  “That's a little contradictory, isn’t it?” the princess scoffed.

  The general gave a confused look, “What do you mean?”

  “You—yes, you—said that it’d be too dangerous and suspicious if me and my family leave the rainforest for safety. So, why is my Father and Goose leaving?” Strawberry looked up at her father sternly, “Wouldn’t you, of all dragons in Phyrra, want to protect your own wife and daughter, Father?” She continued, “As well as, will it be suspicious if the king and prince of the RainWings have vanished?”

  “Strawberry,” her father said, “Your mother asked me to protect both of our eggs as much as I could—before and after you both hatched—to explain General Grapefruit further, it would not be suspicious if your brother and I were gone, they are not looking for us. They know how valuable both you and your mother are. You have venom to protect yourself, and so does your mother and General Grapefruit. I trust everyone involved to protect themself and each other.”

  The general chimed in, “As well as, we can use both of you as bait before we kill and dismember the NightWings involved.”

  “I guess,” she shrugged her shoulders and folded her wings, “This meeting should be over now, anyway.”

  “Yes, follow me to your mother,” smiled the general—now he is being weirdly nice—but that might be because we are making history.