Work Text:
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[We hear the soft roll of a Hivewing tape recorder]
ARCHIVIST
“Statement of Ardwolf of the Sandwings. Regarding a strange form nicknamed ‘The Distortion’. Statement recorded by Watcher of the Nightwings, head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, New Night Kingdom.
Statement Begins.”
ARCHIVIST, statement
“Once upon a time, deep in the bowels of the sandwing kingdom, where the sun beat down like coffin nails—you couldn't even trust your own eyes, claws, and the dragons around you, if they were even real in the first place. A young sandwing wandered. She had not seen civilization for days, no less water or food. Not even a cactus to dream of drinking from, only the grim desert stretching before her. Her wings were bruised and burned from the sun. There was no hope of her flying.”
“The dragon shambled on, her frail legs barely keeping her moving. Just when the sun was about to dip down under the dunes in front of her, she saw something. A strange, undulating shape that looked almost like another dragon on the horizon. Our young sandwing almost wept with relief. She used some of her precious strength to wobble forward enough to try to speak to her possible savior—but something was wrong. She had not seen it move, but now it was much closer. Closer still until it was mere clawsteps in front of her. The young sandwing called out, yet the dragon didn’t acknowledge it. She called again, now perplexed. Something was very wrong.”
“The dragons’ eyes finally met hers, and now she knows why she was so uneasy. The thing in front of her wasn’t a dragon. Its claws were long—way too long for any talons from any tribes—its wings were colorful, shifting in a way that looked like they didn’t belong there. Its eyes were filled with terrifying amounts of color, some of the likes she had never seen. Its teeth were long and sharp, its grin reminiscent of the haunting stories she had been told as a dragonet. It let loose a long and winding laugh, overlapping with itself. ”
“This wasn't a hallucination. She Knew that when it placed its talons onto her forehead, its claw was cold, but blistering with heat at the same time. It pressed down.”
“We do not know what happened to that young dragon. She pulled herself into the outskirts of our village early one morning, spat that story out, and promptly died. Although when her flesh rotted away quickly after, her bones were scorched a shining midnight black.”
[ARCHIVIST sighs,]
ARCHIVIST
“Statement ends. I’m not really inclined to believe this simply because of the fact that there is so much mention of hallucination. The bones though, I don’t understand, yet- “
[Clawsteps are heard on stone, signaling another dragons’ approach.]
TRIGGERFISH
“Heyyyy! Watcher!”
ARCHIVIST
“Yes, Triggerfish?”
TRIGGERFISH
“So, boss, since it is Friday night, we—me, Saccharine, and Marabou— usually go and get drinks. We were wondering if you'd like to come along? “
[They pause. We can practically hear TRIGGERFISH’s bisexual fingerguns... Clawguns]
ARCHIVIST
“Triggerfish, that's unprofessional. No.”
TRIGGERFISH
“Awwwhh, that's a shame, boss—right then, make sure to get some sleep!”
ARCHIVIST
“Yes, yes. Goodbye Triggerfish.”
TRIGGERFISH
“Bye bye, Watcher!”
[ARCHIVIST lets out a long sigh. Shortly afterwards, we hear the scratch of an ink-covered claw against paper]
ARCHIVIST
“Continuing… I had Saccharine do some follow-up work on that, and it seems, yes, other dragons did see the strange sandwing, and yes, she did have black bones, though they turned to dust soon afterwards. No mentioned phenomena of that happening to other dragons. If it did happen, no one has officially recorded it. Unless it’s mentioned in another statement.. Though that's unlikely. Anyway, recording ends.”
[Strangely, the tape recorder doesn't click off. We can hear ARCHIVIST muttering to himself.]
ARCHIVIST, quiet
“My eyes hurt.”
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