Four months earlier...
"No."
"But—"
"No," I repeated.
My younger brother Saffron glared at me, his sunshine-yellow eyes narrowing into slits. "Why?"
"Because it's utterly ridiculous. And stop glaring at me. It's not going to accomplish anything. Can you pass me that leg? No, not the half-eaten one."
Saffron huffed as he passed me the raw sheep leg. The smoke that his nostrils exuded charred the meat, giving it a half-cooked scent.
"I didn't ask for it to be medium rare, but thank you," I mumbled.
"And I didn't ask foryouto shoot down my amazing, world-changing idea without even a second thought," Saffron rebutted. "You're so close-minded sometimes, Crimson. Like a human."
"Please, let's not stoop to that level," I said. "Besides, this is undoubtedly the worst idea anyone in the history of the planet has ever had."
Saffron bit off a chunk of meat and swallowed. "Do they have theater awards for dragons? If so, you'd win first prize for how dramatic you are."
"Settle down," a deep voice said.
We both looked at our brother, Cobalt. Sheep bones lay beneath his claws. His massive form draped across the mountaintop, his blue scales glinting in the sunlight.
He hadn't said a word since our argument began. Truthfully, I wished he had, so he could be onmyside. As our eldest brother, he should've been responsible for shutting Saffron down.
"Yes, let's calm ourselves," I said, glancing at Saffron. "No more ridiculous ideas."
Saffron's nostrils flared. Then he drew himself up to engage Cobalt. "Oh, wise older brother of mine, what do you think?"
I rolled my eyes. Sucking up to Cobalt would get him nowhere.
"Please, do tell," I said, looking at him expectantly.
But as Cobalt's silence went on, I worried we weren't on the same page. How could we not be?
"I think," Cobalt said in a deep, slow voice, "that we should bring it up with everybody."
I stared at him. "You are not serious."
Cobalt didn't respond. He tossed a bone into his maw and crunched it into pieces.
Meanwhile, Saffron grinned smugly at me. "See? Cobalt doesn't think it's stupid. And he's way smarter than you, Crimson."
Normally, I'd agree. As our eldest brother, Cobalt was experienced and knew much. Butthis?
I made a face. "If Cobalt says so, then I won't make a fuss."
"Sure..."
I ignored Saffron. Cobalt was only being nice. Otherwise, it made no sense. And Saffron's idea would never get any traction among the rest of us.
Right?
* * *
After the threeof us returned to the castle, we shifted into our human forms and summoned our family into the dining hall. Gathering seven dragons in one place wasn't an easy task, but Cobalt's roar was a force to be reckoned with. When he got loud, we knew something was up.
