HiveWings

"No! The HiveWings saved us, remember? Our tribe agreed to accept their queen. Besides, there's a reason the universe gave them weapons and not us. That's why they're in charge."

— Blue to Luna about the HiveWings

HiveWings are one of the three tribes that live on Pantala. It is confirmed in The Hive Queen that they are all descendants of Clearsight, who mated with a SilkWing named Sunstreak and one other unknown SilkWing. Their dragonets became the first ever HiveWings. Clearsights decision to mate with SilkWings resulted in the HiveWings being realted to the SilkWings. HiveWings are the tribe that currently has control of most of Pantala, as they killed off most of the LeafWings and enslaved the SilkWings. They are ruled by Queen Wasp, and are primarily based appearance-wise on wasps as well as other insects. It is likely that the Legend of the Hive mentioned by Hope in the epilogue of Darkness of Dragons is about HiveWings. HiveWings, along with SilkWings and LeafWings, are the three Pantalan dragon tribes. Their colors include shades of red, yellow, orange, green, and always black.

Description

HiveWings have slender, incredibly strong and  muscular bodies, with four thin and clear segmented wings. According to the description in the Pantala dragon guide, HiveWings can be red, yellow, and/or orange, but always have some black scales. The common belief among HiveWings is that the reason why they have black scales because they share the same ancestor, Clearsight. Which was found true in The Hive Queen when we found out they are all original Clearsight and lots of mates and their so many children had so many children, it formed its own tribe. HiveWings have a slightly compact face, with a smaller nose-ridge on the tip of their snout, and a larger curved ridge on their forehead. Their eyes are commonly black, brown, or red. In The Lost Continent, when Blue was being shuffled off to the flamesilk cavern, he mentions the "yellow-orange-green glow" of HiveWings' eyes, suggesting a sort of light to their eyes. This glow or the eyes themselves could be green. They have a pair of long, curved, and smooth-looking horns, that raise slightly above their head, the tips curving slightly forward, giving them an almost regal appearance. Long thin spikes go down their spines, to the tip of their tails, which have a slightly larger spine, which can be used to spray acid, or inject venom, alongside spikes on their wrists used for similar purposes (if they have that ability). Another ability of the HiveWings in to emit a powerful stench, as shown by Lady Scarab. It is unknown where this smell is exuded, whether it be spines, a gland, or a bodily orifice. Some HiveWings, like Treehopper, have been shown to be green.

Society

HiveWing's are first class citizens in their society. They live in hives ruled by Wasp and her female relatives. Unlike other dragons tribes in both Pantala and Pyrrhia, Wasp's relatives who rule the other hives aren't princesses but Ladies (the female term for lord). However, the Queen still outranks the ladies. It's also difficult for HiveWings to get a divorce because they need permission from Queen Wasp in order to do so.If Wasp allows a HiveWing couple to get divorced, they have to go trough a whole separation request process. It's unknown what kind of work HiveWings need to do in order to become divorcées but the process is difficult.HiveWings who become mates without the queen's approval are severely punished.

Abilities

According to the Pantala dragon guide, the HiveWings' powers can vary from dragon to dragon. Deadly stingers extending from their wrists, venom in claws or teeth, paralyzing nerve toxin, boiling acid that can be shot from a barb on their tail, and emanating a horrible stench are a few examples but there are more. The queen can also control the minds of any HiveWing who she has injected with a certain plant. This plant is kept in her off-limits garden. HiveWings are said to have completely white eyes when under the mind control and move in an eerie unison. Cricket says Katydid describes the feeling as having an unstoppable urge to do what the Queen makes them, similar to being hypnotized. Blue speculates whether or not the controlled dragons feel guilt for what they are forced to do; Cricket responds that she doesn't know, stating "That's one of the questions I'm definitely not supposed to ask: Hey, do you ever feel bad about what Queen Wasp makes us do?"

Names

The HiveWings are named after a variety of bugs. Dragons from the tribe can be named after different species of bee and wasp, but also any other insects that aren’t related to SilkWings, like ants, beetles, weevils, crickets, praying mantis, and more.

They can also be named after types of annelida (Earthworm and Bloodworm), it is unknown if this is intentional or just Tui T. Sutherland mistaking worms for insects.

Known HiveWings

• Aphid
• Lady Bloodworm
• Bombardier
• Bumblebee
• Cadelle
• Chafer
• Lady Cicada
• Ex-Queen Cochineal
• Cricket
• Dragonfly
• Professor Earthworm
• Grasshopper
• Hawker
• Lady Hornet
• Lady Jewel
• Katydid
• Principal Lubber
• The Librarian
• Malachite
• Lady Mantis
• Midge
• Pinacate
• Rootworm
• Sandfly
• Lady Scarab
• Silverspot's Mistress
• Treehopper
• Lady Tsetse
• Lady Vinegaroon
• Queen Wasp
• Weevil
• Lady Yellowjacket

Trivia

• The varied HiveWing powers might represent the diversity of insect adaptations. For example, bombardier beetles can spray an acid and some spider bites are venomous.
• This tribe is the most powerful of all the tribes on Pantala, possibly because of their wide variety of natural weapons and because they are in control of SilkWings and killed off the LeafWings.
• HiveWings and SilkWings always know what time it is and can predict the upcoming weather through a "precise internal clock." It is unknown whether LeafWings also have this ability.
• HiveWings are one of the two tribes known to wear glasses. The first character shown to ever wear them is Thoughtful of the NightWings. There are two mentioned HiveWings with glasses; Cricket and Lady Scarab.
• The HiveWings use flamesilk as a source of light and heat for themselves and the SilkWings.
• It was revealed that HiveWings used to have antennae, probably due to their SilkWing ancestors.
• A dragon paralyzed by HiveWing venom can be unparalyzed when given a strong stimulant. The paralyzing venom has been described by Swordtail to be like "fire burning every nerve in your body. When it wears off, all you want to do is run or fly or even blink, but you can't move."
• HiveWings are the second tribe to (sometimes) have barbs on their tails, the first being SandWings.
• They are the fourth tribe to have any sort of appendage at the end of their tails; the others being IceWings (spikes), SandWings (barbs), and LeafWings (fins).
• In The Lost Continent, Blue says that "HiveWings don't have to blink" when he sees HiveWing guards not blink in the Flamesilk Factory. It is unknown if HiveWings possess that ability.
• HiveWings seem to be quite sophisticated in building and schooling. Pyrrhian schools do not have such a selection of objects and rooms. Their hives and the structures inside of them are more architecturally ingenious than Pyrrhian structures.

Gallery

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