Larkie's Clan

There is nowhere quite like the Everbloom Gardens in late spring. The marshiness of the ground created from early spring storms fades and the world smells not of rain, but of new growth and particularly of the heady scents coming off of the millions of flowers. From elegant, multicolored blooms on tall stalks with low, broad leaves to even the tiniest of petals growing close to the ground, there are flowers everywhere you might look, all on the background of vibrant green.

The vibrancy of spring fades into the comfortable deeper green of summer, and the cacophony of color takes on a slightly more relaxed, although never completely tamed, feel. Flies drone on lazily through the afternoons, although on some of the hotter days everything goes still as the sun beats down to feed all the competing plants and leaves.

In one spot, however, the competition thins out a little as broad-leafed trees and larger bushes give way to a meadow. This meadow is home to some of the shorter flowers, which, in particularly wet years, sprout in a yellow smear across one end. The meadow is bisected by a small stream, which runs clear through the grass and over flat, round pebbles that would be perfect for skipping on a larger, calmer body of water.

Heading upstream, the creek leaves the meadow and goes through a section of woods where fallen logs are covered in moss and mushrooms sprout up almost anywhere there's shade. The extravagant flowers share a space with ferns and berry bushes, and all the light is tinted green as it filters through the leaves of dogwoods.

The stream gets colder and the soil gets firmer as the water cascades down a hill, carving out a slick water slide with a pool at the bottom for safe landing and broad, open areas where, at the right time of day, someone might be able to find a sunny spot to warm up in after too long frolicking in the cold stream. At the top of this hill is a small plateau before the land rises again, and on this plateau is the spring from which the little stream originates, bubbling up in a cold, clear pool. The pool is surrounded by large, flat stones and reeds, the plateau offering its own fair share of flowers, as well as a view of the luscious gardens below. Set into the larger hill is a rather small opening, barely tall enough for some of the larger dragons, and that is where they make their home.

This flat, open area is where the adults can sun themselves while lazily watching the hatchlings splash and play, where young dragons eat too many unripe berries or play hide and seek in the tall grass. On particularly hot days, groups go down to the slide and the relatively cool shade of the forest, while elders keep a careful watch to make sure the young ones don't go running off. When the sun sets, there are campfires in front of the cave entrance, and then sleepy dragons can retire to the surprisingly large network behind the modest entrance, although any room in the caves is guaranteed to have the same cozy feel.

Travelers are always welcome to stop by, although they may have to share a room with a curious hatchling or two. There is always room for another friendly face here.