Swordtail

"I am useful, [...] I have many uses. I am smart and I know things and I can fight HiveWings and I am in the Chrysalis, hello, which everyone seems to forget, secret revolutionary over here, and I am also, by the way, extremely good company."

— Swordtail to Sundew, The Poison Jungle

Swordtail is a young male SilkWing introduced in The Lost Continent. Before becoming a fugitive, he worked in a treestuff construction crew under Grasshopper.

As of The Poison Jungle, he is assumed to be under the Othermind's control. He is the brother of Io, and is currently in a relationship with Luna.

Appearance

Swordtail has dark blue scales with a small pattern of white triangles along his spine and snout, dark blue eyes, and deep blue wings. He is dappled all over with orange splotches, as though someone melted a sunset in a cauldron and flung it over his wings. He is often covered in dirt, with splinters of treestuff caught between his claws and tangled between his long, elegant horns, he normally wears a grim expression. He is slightly bigger than Sundew.

Personality

Swordtail is known for causing trouble, a dragon with wild ideas who speaks a little too freely. He was placed on Misbehaver's Way several times before being assigned to a construction crew, a profession that is not highly regarded in Pantalan culture. Before becoming a fugitive, Blue often worried that Swordtail's rebellious ideas, such as believing that the SilkWings should have a queen of their own, or that the collapse of a Hive tower being caused by shoddy construction rather than LeafWing sabotage, were a bad influence on Luna. Blue described Swordtail to have "impulsive courage", and considers him one of the bravest dragons he knows. Other dragons often consider Swordtail's ideas and plans to be long-winded and too optimistic.

Biography

The Lost Continent Prophecy

The Lost Continent

Swordtail was mentioned in the first few chapters as someone known for being a troublemaker. He first appeared at his girlfriend Luna's Metamorphosis, displaying his trouble-making skills. When Luna had woven her cocoon and the guards began to get closer, Swordtail jumped down from the balcony to attack the HiveWing guards and protect Luna. He was put in Misbehaver's Way for this, where Cricket later freed him with a stimulant that inadvertently gave him super strength, extra energy, green eyes, green silk, and extremely hyper behavior. He and Cricket flew away to the safety of a sinkhole in the savanna not far from one of the Hives, while he carried a wingless Blue using his super strength. The symptoms wore off a little while later, so to get Blue out, he had to shoot silk webs under him. They then traveled towards Wasp Hive, where Swordtail suggested his "plan", in which he would storm in, knock over the guards, and demand to know where Luna is. They eventually agreed to hide in a greenhouse near Wasp Hive, which had a sign saying that no one but the queen was allowed in. However, the three were captured by a group of LeafWings, Belladonna, Hemlock, and Sundew, and in order to not be killed, they were forced to help steal the Book of Clearsight. They discussed whether or not to abide by their captors' wishes. Swordtail did not know of Cricket and Blue's idea to agree and escape later, so he voiced his own opinions. Cricket and Blue ended up leaving him behind with the two older LeafWings while they traveled with Sundew to steal the book. Later, he teamed up with Cricket and Sundew to rescue Blue and Luna from the flamesilk cavern. The two were able to escape, and Swordtail reunited with his lover. They escaped the hives and ended up on a beach, where he flew with Luna to test out her new wings. Suddenly, a patrol group of HiveWings arrived and fought him, Luna, and Sundew. Luna tried to protect herself with her flamesilk, but accidentally created a sail which allowed her to be blown out to sea. Swordtail flew after Luna, trying to rescue her, but was unable to find her.

The Hive Queen

Swordtail is mentioned briefly in the prologue by Luna, who stated that he must be losing his mind without her. Later, he is dragged in the cave unconscious by Sundew, who had Cricket crush reddish plants under his snout to wake him up (after Cricket annoyed her too much with questions). After he woke up, it is said that he flew all around the bay stopping only for sleep in short bursts. He discusses with Cricket and Sundew about the Chrysalis and shutting down mind control and gathers fruit and water for Blue once he breaks out of his cocoon. Swordtail watches as Blue comes out, and admires his wings although scrutinizing them for "not as handsome as mine, of course, but pretty cool". He flies with them to Jewel Hive, and spends the night in the market with his friends. They steal jewelry in the market, but Blue leaves flamesilk to pay for it. More information flying in soon...

The Poison Jungle

Swordtail was one of the dragons who flew to the Poison Jungle along with Sundew, and shortly after arrival, was trapped and almost eaten by a dragon-trap. Blue attempted saving him by shooting flamesilk at the plant, but this only resulted in a fire. Sundew had to use her leafspeak to put it out, which resulted in the freeing of Swordtail. Sundew had previously predicted Swordtail would be eaten first, as she had said to him: "Yeah, you will probably get eaten." After Sundew secretly helped Mandrake, her ex-fiance with defeating a panther, Swordtail was introduced to him and his father, Wolfsbane, and Mandrake's sister, Nettle. He was described as by Wolfsbane as "unnecessary" and retorted with the fact he was with the Chrysalis and was good company. When they had arrived at the PoisonWings village, he shared a nest with Blue for sleeping. Later on, when Swordtail, as a 'guest' went to visit the SapWing village in the presence of Sequoia, he sees the three dragons from across the sea (Pyrrhia), previously revealed to be Tsunami, Turtle and a strange purple SilkWing that Swordtail identified as Io, his sister. They were reunited for a brief moment before the Queen told everyone about the mind-control plant, the breath of evil. Swordtail was also present to hear about the Legend of the Hive, which was the legend Queen Sequoia told Sundew, Cricket, Hazel, and everyone else present, including Swordtail about the breath of evil. Swordtail was not present in Sundew, her fiance Mandrake, Cricket, Willow and Nettle's quest to find an antidote for the breath of evil. Due to the proximity of Swordtail and the LeafWings army camp near the invading HiveWing force, it's assumed that he is already mind-controlled by the othermind. It is unknown if he was involved in setting the Poison Jungle on fire, or if it was just the HiveWings.

Relationships

Blue

Blue is one of Swordtail's closest friends. They have known each other for a long time. They are close but tend to disagree on many things, such as the LeafWings' plan to burn down the Hives.

Cricket

At first, Swordtail does not trust Cricket (mainly because she is a HiveWing) but then becomes more friendly around her. However, he still disapproves of Blue and Cricket's relationship.

Luna

Swordtail is currently in a relationship with Luna. He seems to care about her and love her very much, as he is very worried about her when she was blown in a storm to Pyrrhia.

Sundew

Swordtail first met Sundew while with Cricket and Blue, and he was quick to not tell Belladonna his name. Belladonna dismissed his arrogance and Sundew bared her teeth at him. They coexisted with each other during The Lost Continent, but they rarely talked. But when they did, Sundew usually snapped at him for being sappy.

Swordtail remarks that he wants to make the HiveWings pay and agrees to follow Sundew, sometimes referring to her as "The boss." Along with The Hive Queen, he seems to admire Sundew and the LeafWings, and Swordtail occasionally says that he agrees with Sundew and even Sundew tells him that she likes the way he thinks, although scolds him when she has to, letting the "Classic Sundew" shine through. In The Poison Jungle, Sundew admitted that there were times when she liked Swordtail.

Family Tree

Unknown

Unknown

Swordtail

Io

Quotes

"Hey, GRASSHOPPER! Look how hard I'm working! Are you happy NOW?"

― To Grasshopper about working

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"TO THE MOONS! Get it? Because moons is like lunar, which is like Luna, so it's like me saying 'to Luna' but in code. I thought that was clever."

― About going to save Luna

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"He didn't. I finished all my work and asked - yes, very politely, Blue, I promise - and he still said no. So I snuck off when he wasn't looking."

― to Luna and Blue, before Luna's metamorphosis.

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"I just want to hurt them. I want them to be stabbed with nerve toxins and have their loved ones ripped away."

― about the HiveWings

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"You're like a monkey. I mean— in a good way— like a— very fast— jumps— good jumps— not foodishly— I mean, not in a dinner way— just, so fast."

― to Sundew, about how she moves in the Poison Jungle

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"I wouldn't say you have a flamesilk, [...] I mean, he is a flamesilk and he's here, but he has himself. No one else has him, I mean. He is not for having. He's his own dragon!"

― to Nettle, Mandrake and Wolfsbane about Blue

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"I am useful, [...] I have many uses. I am smart and I know things and I can fight HiveWings and I am in the Chrysalis, hello, which everyone seems to forget, secret revolutionary over here, and I am also, by the way, extremely good company."

― Speaker

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"No, [...] You guys burned down Bloodworm Hive, and good riddance. Good riddance to all of them."

― Speaker

Gallery

• Reference by Platypus the SeaWing
  Reference by Platypus the SeaWing

References

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