Sunbeam Lair We need to talk about Kevin

As the bird was released, Asterr moved closer and nosed the creature away from her daughter. It was inspected before the girl’s question was answered, though her findings were not good. It was doubtful that it would survive, given its injured wing, and so the only thing they could do for it was put the poor thing out of its misery—but the dragoness hadn’t made a move to do so. Back towards the hatchling had she looked instead, expression serious. It was time for the child to learn from where their blood had come, and why they were never meant to harass the birds.

“Are you aware of what we are, Airi?” questioned the Chieftess. “We are dragons. We are not torturers or murderers, but great creatures of lore.” She paused there, her attention being turned towards the bird as it’d tried to hop away. It was not allowed to leave, though, and so she’d directed it back towards her daughter, right where she could watch it until her point was reached. “Long ago, the dragons were chased from Earth and sent up into the stars. One dragon, Draco, had left behind eggs, from which our ancestors hatched—but no longer had they been in possession of their wings.” As the tale was told, she’d felt a stirring from the back of her mind, the beast having awoken in order to listen as history was spoken of. Continuing, she said, “Our wings were given to the birds so that they might serve as our eyes and live alongside us someday. It is for that reason that we do not harm them unless if we are in need of a meal.” They could be killed so that they could provide life energy for the dragons, but for nothing else. To murder them for sport alone was intolerable, and a great offense to the dragons that had created them.

Asterr nudged the injured bird closer to her daughter, then moved back. “You have broken this bird beyond repair,” she stated. “It cannot survive without its wings, so you must end its suffering and then eat it, that way Draco will not become upset with you. You will kill this bird, Airi, and you will remember this moment.” Watchful would the dragoness be, staring down at the young Draconid until she completed the task that was given. All the while, she could hear a rumble of approval echoing throughout her head, a message from the great dragon himself.