Deserter

Template:Infobox Book Book Title: Deserter

Protagonist: Six-Claws

Release Date: March 29, 2016

Author: Tui T. Sutherland

Pages: 48

Blurb: Fans of the New York Times bestselling Wings of Fire series won't want to miss this all-new story set in the dangerous and thrilling world of dragons!

Six-Claws is a happy and industrious SandWing, always working hard and loyally for his queen. So when the youngest SandWing princess, Blaze, wanders off during a sandstorm, Six-Claws doesn't think twice before trying to rescue her. But it turns out that loyalty isn't always enough to stay safe in the Sand Kingdom...

Before the war of SandWing succession, there were three SandWing princesses... and a queen.

Discover the New York Times bestselling Wings of Fire series with this ebook exclusive origin story! Author Tui T. Sutherland soars further into the world of Pyrrhia's dragons than ever before! In these brand-new short stories, fans will meet old friends and new ones, uncover shocking secrets, and learn more about the terrible challenges that will test all dragonkind!

Check it out!

Plot

The book starts when Six-Claws is five years old. He is at a dinner with his family and his parents are discussing Oasis's new daughter, Princess Blaze. Six-Claws realizes that Oasis will not be queen forever as his parents talk about who she will get rid of. They eventually deduce it will be Oasis's sister, as she is closest to challenging the queen. They are later proven correct.

Two years later, Prince Smolder approaches Six-Claws and says that his sisters are up to something. Six-Claws heads to the wingery to look for Blaze, and meets Dune, a young SandWing dragonet. They notice a sandstorm coming and Six-Claws sees Blaze and goes out to save her. When Blaze is rescued, the king, Char, recruits Six-Claws and Dune to join the army. They take his offer and are always together for years.

One night, several years later, Six-Claws, Dune, Singe, and Scald are comforting Smolder over the disappearance of his girlfriend, Palm. A scream is heard and Queen Oasis is found dead, killed by scavengers. Smolder finds a scavenger hiding in the sand and later they follow the horse tracks to burn down the den. Over time, Blister takes off with half the army and Blaze flees north with a squadron of guards.

About 12 years after, Six-Claws, Dune, and several other soldiers are shown driving off defending IceWings. Dune gets severe frostbreath injuries from an IceWing and Six-Claws takes him to the nurses. Burn comes in and says that they are going to attack the MudWings, disagreeing with Six-Claws' idea of invading the borders of the Ice Kingdom and finding Blaze. Six-Claws is approached by a dragon in the shadows]](suspected to be Deathbringer), who tells him to leave Burn and go to the Scorpion Den. Six-Claws initially disagrees, and the dragon leaves. Six-Claws goes back into the tent and tries to change Burn's mind but she remains adamant and destroys Dune's wing and his foreleg when Six-Claws still asks her for one more day. Burn leaves and the SandWing nurses do their best to help Dune. When there is only one nurse left, she and Six-Claws leave with Dune to the Scorpion Den. The SandWing reveals her name as Kindle. Dune wakes up and says to Six-Claws that loyalty is stupid, but he disagrees and says they were just loyal to the wrong dragon and they will find a good dragon to be loyal to. Kindly, she says she hopes he is right, and they fly toward the Scorpion Den, with a piece of hope.