Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

You're Not Welcome Here

Juniper was planning. She had rounded up several students from the school- mostly Icewings and a couple Nightwings, but there were a few Seawings and Mudwings in the midst as well. All of the dragons, had one belief in common.

"What do you all think of hybrids?" She questioned. The other dragonet's faces instantly contorted in disgust.

"They are revolting and a taint to how Pyrrhia should be run." One of the Mudwings announced. "I still can't believe my grandmother sided the way they did in the war. We should've been helping the Icewings take down those filthy hybrids."

"Agreed." One of the Nightwings added. "My parents don't live in the rainforest, and they took matters into their own hands and hunted some of them down."

"So we're all in agreement, then?"Juniper questioned.

"Yes, but what is this all about?" An Icewing demanded. Juniper grinned sickeningly. 

"There are far too many hybrids in this school." she declared. "They don't fit in the Winglets, and SOME of them clearly have some genetic issues. So," she stood up straighter. "I propose we rid JMA of all hybrids."

"And how would we do that?" The Mudwing questioned. 

"We start small. Bully the hybrids. Let them know they're not wanted here. Then, when the message is clear, we'll kick things up a notch."

"And attack them?" The Icewing pleaded. Juniper nodded.

"Whose with me?" The Mudwing jumped up.

"As eldest prince of the Mud Kingdom, you have my loyalty." he announced. 

"Fair enough Wade. Next?"

"I'm in." The Icewing declared. 

"Good to have you, Walrus."

"If he's in, then so are we." The rest of the Icewings agreed.

"Hybrid lovers are the reason why my parents are in jail." The Nightwing explained. "I'm all for taking them down."

"It'll be nice to have someone else from the corrupt rainforest on my side," Juniper grinned. "Welcome to the cause, Darkheart."

"Very well. Who should we start with?" Wade questioned. Juniper dropped a scroll in front of them.

"I've made a list of every hybrid in this school." she explained. "Take your pick, although if I had to choose," she grinned evilly. "I'd start with the freak princess and her older brother."

*~*~*~*~*

Ander felt as if she were walking on air.  Manta-Ray, or Ray, as she called him, was perfect. He didn't mind her strange phrases or confusing monologues. He was genuinely curious in everything she had to say. He didn't completely understand the stars, but he was willing to learn. And then there was the dancing of course. The stars, now friendly again, would shriek happily whenever they waltzed, murmuring about how she was following in her parent's footsteps. 

Ander may not have had many friends in JMA. She may not have understood anything the teachers were talking about, or why they got upset when she did her homework in Latin, but she had Ray. And that made this whole anxiety inducing place worth her time. 

Unfortunately, Ander's carefree day was quickly cut short as a trio of dragons surrounded her.

"Salutations, bien amigos." she greeted them. They glared at her.

"You're a filthy hybrid freak." One of them snarled. Ander frowned. She had done nothing to these dragons. Why were they being cruel?

"Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of," One of the Icewings snapped, shoving her. 

"I...I don't understand." she admitted. They jeered at her, and a nightwing spit at her face. 

"I don't understand!" The Icewings said mockingly. "Not surprised. Hybrids are supposed to be idiot-er than most dragons. But I guess we found one below even that level of smartness." Ander frowned.

"Idioter is not even a word..." she offered. They glared at her more.

"Stupid taint." One of them spat, shoving her to the ground.

Before Ander could comprehend what was going on, they were on her, hitting and kicking at her. Ander let out a cry. She didn't understand. Why were they doing this? She curled up in a ball as the boys clawed at her.

But then it was over, and they spat at her again.

"You're not welcome here, hybrid scum!" One of them yelled as they took off. 

Ander's eyes filled with tears. What was wrong with being a hybrid? She had always been proud of that fact- that her parents hadn't let a tribal difference stop them from being together.

Had she been wrong? Were these dragons right to hurt her?

Was there really something....wrong with her?