Scales of Desire
Chapter 35: Shadows in the Nest

Chapter 35: Shadows in the Nest

The cavernous great hall of Drakon's clan echoed with hushed voices and the scrape of claws on stone. Dragons of all ages and colors huddled in small groups, their usual jovial atmosphere replaced by a palpable tension. Aria stood at Drakon's side, her hybrid form drawing curious glances from some of the younger dragons.

"Something's not right," Drakon rumbled, his eyes scanning the assembled clan members. "Can you feel it?"

Aria nodded, her newfound draconic senses prickling with unease. "There's fear here, and... something else. A undercurrent of deception."

Before Drakon could respond, Elder Kairyn, a venerable silver dragon, approached them. Her scales, once lustrous, now bore a dull sheen that spoke of recent stress.

"Drakon, Aria," she greeted them, her voice low. "Thank you for coming so quickly. We have a... situation."

Drakon's brow furrowed. "What's happened, Kairyn? Your message was frustratingly vague."

The elder dragon glanced around nervously before responding. "There have been... incidents. Sabotage of our food stores, damaged nesting areas, and most alarmingly, several of our sacred texts have gone missing." Aria's eyes widened. "You suspect a traitor within the clan?"

Kairyn nodded grimly. "I hate to even consider it, but the evidence is undeniable. Someone is working against us from within."

A low growl rumbled in Drakon's chest. "Who else knows about this?"

"Only the council of elders," Kairyn replied. "We feared spreading the information might cause panic or tip off the culprit."

Aria's mind raced, considering the implications. "Could this be related to the human council's plans? Perhaps someone trying to weaken the clan before the Sundering Ritual?"

Drakon shook his head. "Possible, but unlikely. The clan has been isolated for generations. Few outsiders even know of our existence."

"Which means we're dealing with an internal threat," Aria concluded. "Someone with intimate knowledge of the clan's workings."

Kairyn's shoulders sagged with the weight of the situation. "We need your help, Drakon. You and Aria have faced betrayal before. How do we root out this poison without tearing the clan apart?"

Drakon exchanged a glance with Aria, silent communication passing between them. After a moment, he turned back to Kairyn. "We'll need to investigate discreetly. Can you provide us with a list of everyone who had access to the affected areas?"

The elder dragon nodded. "Of course. But please, tread carefully. If word of this spreads, the panic could be as damaging as the sabotage itself."

As Kairyn moved away to gather the requested information, Aria leaned in close to Drakon. "We should split up," she whispered. "Cover more ground that way."

Drakon hesitated. "Are you sure? You're still new to draconic customs. Some might not take kindly to a hybrid asking probing questions."

Aria straightened, a determined glint in her eye. "All the more reason for me to do it. My outsider status might make some more willing to open up. Besides, I can sense things you can't."

After a moment's consideration, Drakon nodded. "Very well. But be careful. We don't know how far this corruption has spread."

With a plan in place, they set to work. Drakon focused on interviewing the clan elders and senior members, while Aria made her way through the younger dragons and support staff.

As she moved through the winding tunnels of the clan's mountain home, Aria found herself marveling at the intricate beauty of draconic architecture. Crystalline formations cast rainbows across curved walls, and ancient murals depicted the clan's long history.

Her musings were interrupted by a commotion up ahead. Rounding a corner, she came upon two young dragons engaged in a heated argument.

"I'm telling you, Zephyr, something's not right!" the smaller of the two, a copper-scaled female, hissed. "Haven't you noticed how strange Talith has been acting lately?"

The other dragon, whom Aria recognized as the young wind drake who had befriended Mira, shook his head. "Lyra, you can't just go around accusing people without proof. Talith is a respected member of the clan!" Aria cleared her throat, causing both young dragons to whirl towards her in surprise. "Is everything alright here?"

Zephyr's eyes widened in recognition. "Aria! I didn't know you were here."

Lyra, however, regarded her with suspicion. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Easy, Lyra," Zephyr soothed. "This is Aria, the Draconborn. She's a friend."

Aria smiled disarmingly. "I couldn't help overhearing. You mentioned someone named Talith?"

Lyra's tail lashed in agitation. "It's nothing. Just a misunderstanding."

But Aria's instincts told her otherwise. She knelt down, bringing herself to eye level with the young dragons. "I promise, whatever you tell me stays between us. But if something's wrong, it's important that we know."

Zephyr nudged his friend encouragingly. After a moment's hesitation, Lyra spoke. "It's just... Talith's been acting strange lately. Sneaking around at odd hours, being secretive. And yesterday, I saw him near the sacred archives right before we found out some texts were missing."

Aria's pulse quickened. This could be the lead they needed. "Thank you for telling me, Lyra. You were right to speak up. Can you tell me where I might find Talith now?"

The young dragon pointed towards a series of tunnels leading deeper into the mountain. "He usually works in the hatchery this time of day."

With a grateful nod to both young dragons, Aria set off in the direction Lyra had indicated. As she descended into the lower levels of the clan's home, the air grew warmer and heavy with moisture.

The hatchery was a marvel - a vast chamber filled with pools of geothermally heated water. Nest mounds dotted the shoreline, each carefully tended by attentive dragon parents.

Aria scanned the room, her enhanced senses alert for any sign of deception. Near the far wall, she spotted a bronze-scaled dragon meticulously checking the temperature of one of the nesting pools. As she approached, the dragon looked up. "Can I help you?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral. "Are you Talith?" Aria inquired.

The dragon nodded slowly. "I am. And you must be the Draconborn I've heard so much about."

Something in his tone set Aria on edge. She reached out with her empathic abilities, trying to gauge his emotional state. What she felt made her blood run cold - a roiling mass of fear, resentment, and... guilt.

"Talith," she said carefully, "I think we need to talk."

The bronze dragon's eyes darted towards the exit. "I'm quite busy at the moment. Perhaps another time?"

But Aria could sense his mounting panic. "I'm afraid it can't wait. We know about the sabotage, Talith. Why don't you tell me your side of the story?"

For a moment, she thought he might bolt. Then, his shoulders sagged in defeat. "You don't understand," he whispered. "They have my mate. My eggs. They said if I didn't help them, they'd..."

Aria's heart clenched with sympathy. "Who, Talith? Who's threatening you?"

Before he could answer, a commotion erupted at the hatchery entrance. Drakon burst in, flanked by several elder dragons. "Aria!" he called. "We've discovered-"

But his warning came too late. With a roar of desperation, Talith lunged at Aria. She barely had time to unfurl her wings before they both tumbled into one of the nesting pools.

The warm water closed over her head as Talith's weight drove them deeper. Aria struggled, her hybrid body not yet fully adapted to aquatic combat. Just as her lungs began to burn, she felt a surge of draconic instinct.

With a powerful kick, she broke free of Talith's grasp and shot to the surface. As she gulped in air, she saw Drakon and the others rushing to the pool's edge.

"Stay back!" she shouted. "He's being coerced. Someone's holding his family hostage!"

Understanding dawned in Drakon's eyes. He turned to the assembled dragons. "Secure the perimeter! No one enters or leaves the clan grounds without my permission."

As Talith surfaced, the fight seemed to have gone out of him. Aria reached out, gently taking hold of his arm. "It's okay," she soothed. "We're going to help you. But you need to tell us everything."

The bronze dragon nodded wearily. "I will. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to betray the clan, but I didn't know what else to do."

As they helped Talith from the pool, Aria and Drakon exchanged a grim look. They had uncovered the traitor, but it was clear that a far greater threat still loomed. The safety of the clan - and perhaps the entire draconic race - hung in the balance.

With renewed determination, they prepared to unravel the web of deceit that had ensnared their home. The true battle, it seemed, was only just beginning.