Clay
Template:InfoboxClay is the MudWing Dragonet of Destiny and the main protagonist of The Dragonet Prophecy. Like most Mudwings, he is loyal and extremely protective to friends and family. He is resistant to fire and extreme heat, like that of Peril, having hatched from an egg the color of dragons' blood. His intended replacement is the false MudWing dragonet Ochre, though Morrowseer thought Clay would be acceptable. Clay was brown (the color of flat mud) when he was under the mountain, but when he went into the sunlight, he was really muddy brown with gold and amber undersides.
Biography
Clay was brought as an egg to the cave by the MudWing Asha, a member of the Talons of Peace, who was also his aunt. He was the son of Cattail, who sold him for two or more cows to breed by the Talons of Peace. However, Asha died shortly after bringing him due to the injuries she sustained. Clay hatched first out of all the eggs, and tried to break them open (the bigwings of a MudWing clutch would be the first hatched and would help the other dragonets in his or her sibling group out of their shells), but with Asha being dead, the rest of the guardians didn't know anything about MudWings and thought he was trying to kill them, so Clay had been corralled in the river until the rest of the eggs hatched.
Clay grew up with his companions, Tsunami, Glory, Sunny and Starflight under the mountain in a cave near the Sky Kingdom. They were cared for by Kestrel, Dune, and Webs, members of the Talons of Peace. Clay had trouble in battle training with Kestrel, who periodically attacked him with fire and complained about how he was too gentle, demanding to see more of the 'vicious little monster' he had supposedly been when he hatched. When the dragonets were old enough, they were supposed to leave the caves and fulfill the prophecy. However, they all possessed a desire to escape their confined existence (except Sunny), a desire that turned into a necessity. That day, the deliverer of the prophecy visited the cave. The NightWing Morrowseer decreed that Glory was an unworthy substitute for the deceased SkyWing mentioned in the prophecy and ordered that she be disposed of. Tsunami was chained as part of a plot to kill Glory, as she was the only one who could stop Kestrel. Knowing that Glory would be killed, Clay led the others out in a daring escape. Risking his life, he managed to get a ways down the river, but he was then hit with a substance that started to dissolve his scales. He was rescued from this fate by Tsunami, who succeeded in escaping. The two made their way outside, at which he had to save Tsunami from falling due to a dislocated wing, which he subsequently fixed. He was happy and fascinated by mud and scavengers, surprising Tsunami. The duo then encountered Queen Scarlet of the SkyWings, who insisted they return to her kingdom after answering some questions wrong. They escaped by impaling her tail into the ground. They managed to free their friends shortly afterward, but then were captured by the Queen Scarlet.
Queen Scarlet pitted dragons against each other in gladiatorial style battles, and if they won enough, she would pit them against her champion Peril, who was invulnerable because of having too much fire (see SkyWings). Clay made friends with Peril, who was attracted to him because he was resistant to her fire, despite the fact he did not know this. Clay volunteered to stand in for Starflight after learning he was next to fight. He was pitted against Fjord of the IceWings, who managed to pin him down. However, a corrosive venom dissolved his face, making Clay victorious. Later on, he decided to hide Peril during the trial of Kestrel in exchange for knowledge of Sunny's location. After the trial, Peril did not talk with him, and he started to get the prisoners to sing with a wire Peril accidentally burned through. He, Starflight, and Tsunami were taken to her room, which Peril helped them escape with. With the help of Peril, Clay and his friends tried to escape, only to be betrayed. During this, he learned that his scales were impervious to fire.
The next day, Scarlet's hatching day, the three were taken to the balcony of the queens, on which Burn was seated on. He helplessly watched as Starflight and Tsunami were forced to fight a mad SeaWing, scavengers, and IceWings. After Starflight was rescued, he was pitted against Peril. He surprised her with his ability to fight back, and quickly pinned her, but wouldn't kill her. At that moment, Glory spat acid at Scarlet, the same that melted Fjord. They were then able to escape with Peril's help, and succeeded in rescuing Kestrel in the process, whom Clay and Sunny were the only supporters.
They finally managed to escape, and then traveled to the Mud Kingdom to try and find Clay's parents. Clay was disappointed to find that his mother didn't care about him (see MudWings) but he found the sib group of his brothers and sisters that he would have belonged with had he not been taken by the Talons of Peace. Finally at peace with himself, Clay leaves with his friends in the search for Tsunami's parents.
For almost all of the Lost Heir he is imprisoned. And after they escape they head to the rainforest where Clay is knocked out for the travel to the village and later keeps watch over the portals to the Night Kingdom. He doesn't appear much in the Dark Secret since Starflight is imprisoned in the Night Kingdom and its' from his point of view.
Personality
Clay, because he was a "bigwings," is very protective and caring towards his group of friends that he was raised with. When another of his group is attacked, he would lash out to protect them. He was not afraid to use his large size and formidable strength to defend his "family" and would protect them at all costs. He also is friendly towards other dragons, a quality of which helped him befriend Peril. He felt clumsy about himself, and didn't think he was worthy of being a dragonet of the prophecy. He was also slow sometimes at planning, a skill he didn't like to think about. He was slightly crushed to learn about MudWings, but ended up making peace with himself by talking to his siblings.
Quotes
"Oh, you did say that! I remember that!"
"Are you going to eat that whole thing?"
"Can I eat this?"
"Mishish vemmy shmewey."
"I was waiting for you to stop fighting."
"Not very nice."
"Can I eat them?" (talking about the dolphins)
"Aww. What happened to the hippos?"
"I'd like to be something more than alive.I'd like to be the kind of dragon she doesn't think I am -- the kind they write prophecies about. That dragon would rescue her no matter how awful she is."
"Quit snarling at each other like mini Kestrels"(to Starflight and Tsunami)
"leave?"
Relationships
Clay and Starflight don't have a very close relationship, but Clay keeps Starflight's back. Starflight is like a brother to Clay. Clay also stated he dreamed of Starflight's lectures.
Tsunami is a somewhat the best friend of Clay. She found and cured him when Clay got drenched in the white ooze and his scales were burning with pain, while he tried to find an escape route for the dragonets. Tsunami stabbed Queen Scarlet's tail to help her and Clay fly away from the SkyWing. Later, She calls Clay a handsome idiot and gives him a hint that Peril likes him (although it goes right over his head). Throughout the book, Tsunami shows signs of maybe liking Clay, because she was jealous of Peril and Glory. In The Lost Heir she says she had feelings for Clay and Starflight. In the second book though she seems to have a growing affection for Riptide, another SeaWing, the son of Webs.
Sunny is like a little sister to Clay, and he treats her like one. When Clay decides to travel down the river, Sunny says "Don't you dare die!". Clay also wanted to go save Sunny when she was trapped in a cage in the Sky Kingdom. When Sunny wants to explain her idea about the darts in the RainWings' attack she turns to Clay because she thinks he will listen. She also doesn't have the poisonous tail that the SandWings have. It is possible that she has a crush on Clay.
It is possible that Clay has a crush on Glory. He refers to her as beautiful once in the book, and feels bad about thinking that Glory was actually knocked out when she was displayed as "artwork". When Glory comes into view after Kestrel said she's going to kill her, Clay twines his tail with hers. When Glory goes missing, Clay is very worried about her. However, he probably sees all of the other Dragonets as just younger siblings. In The Hidden Kingdom, Glory repeatedly says Clay makes her feel happy.
Clay befriended Peril while trapped in the SkyWing Arena by Queen Scarlet. They become good friends, and Peril develops feelings for him because he was the only dragon that talked to her (besides Queen Scarlet). After Clay fights Fjord, Peril brings hot mud to treat his scratches. He soon finds out that Scarlet ordered Peril not to talk to him, but she does anyway. Peril seemed jealous of the other dragonets, because she wanted Clay to herself. When Peril helps the dragonets escape (but later betrays them) Clay touches her and figures out he's immune to her heat. This helps when he fights Peril against his will in the arena, leaving Peril to admit she wanted to save him after Kestrel and for him to like her more than the other dragonets. She says she does not want to kill him, and Clay says she has to. Clay and Peril's fight ends after Queen Scarlet is sprayed by Glory's poison, and they escape. Glory says Peril might be the missing Skywing; but that is proved false. Peril leaves, hoping she would meet Clay and the dragonets again. It is possible that Peril will return. It is also possible that Clay could like Peril back.
Kestrel was Clay's teacher. She was described to be strict and harsh, but when Kestrel is left in the Sky Kingdom Clay remembered how loyal Kestrel was and the look on her face when she saw Peril, and saves her. When the news gets to Clay that Kestrel was killed, he was described as being very upset. Kestrel was murdered by Blister with the consent of Morrowseer, the NightWing that issued the dragonet prophecy.
Trivia
- Clay is the only Dragonet with an ability that most of his tribe does not possess. The other dragonets are either normal (e.g. Tsunami and Glory), or have a detriment from their tribe (e.g. Starflight, who could not read minds of foretell the future, and Sunny, lacking a poisonous barbed tail).
- Clay dreams about Starflight giving him lectures.
- Clay seem to be skilled in first-aid.
- Clay assumed in his dream that the Scorching was called the Scalding.
- Clay and Tsunami are the only ones who meet their mothers
Gallery
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The dragonets of destiny. Clay is the one in the middle.
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Clay and Peril
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Clay with Sunny, Tsunami, Glory and Starflight -
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Clay to the far left. -
The Clay result in "Which dragonet are you?" quiz.
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Credit to RhynoBullraq
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Paper drawing of Clay -
Clay and Peril
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Made by Hrrdragons99
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Clay in the Night Kingdom
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By Tsunami SeaWing
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