Strawberry sat close to the window in the brown, green, and very flowery thrownroom. She never thought she would be this bored when her tribe is at the brink of war with the NightWings. Strawberry wonders if her father and brother will be okay. In a way, Strawberry was jelouse that she and her mother could not leave. To her, Grapefruit’s reasoning was flawed—the most flawed a war general’s reasoning could be.

  “My dear,” Queen Papaya put her talons onto Strawberry’s shoulder, “You seem troubled, are you okay?”

  Strawberry shifted her shoulder to make it so her mother’s talons fall off of her shoulder, “We should have evacuated.”

  “I told Grapefruit to make us stay,” the queen said, bluntly.

  “You did ?” Strawberry stood up, turning to a bright red and green color, as she slammed her talons onto the floor, “If where queen already, I would have made sure me, my family, and the citizens got out of the rainforest safely! We are valuable to the NightWings! I am your heir to the throne, and you are queen. All female dragons in the royal family—so, at the moment, me and you—are at the greatest risk of getting attacked!”

  “We are safe darling,” Papaya smiled, “Our military and our prisons have gotten so much better since your grandmother from two generations ago, Queen Glory.”

  “I don’t think so,” the princess scoffed, turning her face away from her mother, “We still have miles to go to fix the stupid fucking shit our ancestors did.”

  “Don’t you talk that way about family,” Queen Papaya glared at her daughter, showing her venomous fangs as a threat. General Grapefruit—to the surprise of Strawberry—stood right in front of her.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Grapefruit glared at the queen, “If you kill your heir, you will the royal family, your majesty. You have no neises, sisters, or any other daughters.”

  She groaned, “Yes, yes, I know, I know,” she turned towards her daughter, “I apologize, my dear daughter, I should have not threatened you.”

  Strawberry rolled her eyes, “I want my friends.”

  “No, no, Berry, you see them right now,” she glared, “Your are watching the eggs.”

  Grapefruit laughed at the argument, “You two have better things to worry about, my friends.”

  Strawberry made a realization, , stumbling back, . Strawberry muttered softly, “They don't want us, Mother, they want Goose…”

  “That's part of why your Father has her,” explained the Queen, “I knew they wanted your brother. I knew you’d protect him.” She had the audacity to laugh, “I could have you risk your valuable life for your brother—you are next in line, and I don’t want to another egg with your father,” Queen Papaya glared at Strawberry, “I’m with two eggs.” The Queen seemed to say “just happy,” in just a way that it sounded like she was not happy—did she only want two daughters? Maybe, but she got my brother Goose—and I bet she loves Goose.

  “Then didn’t Goose stay with us if he’s so valuable now!” Strawberry marched towards Grapefruit, “Why are risking my brother’s life? Isn't it your job to help protect us and our dragons?”

  Surprisingly calm, Grapefruit said, “The Queen said it’d be best to try to bribe the NightWings with Prince Gooseberry and Prince Gooseberry alone,” he smiled, “And my job is to and alone.”

  “I’m only wanting to protect the future eggs and future dragonettes of my tribe,” smiled Papaya.

  “You only wanted , did you?” Strawberry felt her scales turn blue—more blue than normal, “You never wanted my brother.”