I'mma go for it.
uhH, so for what I'm going for... I don't actually have the loved one (yet, because RNG really hates me for some reason) but it doesn't seem exactly a necessity for them to be real. (Also, the topic title implies someone stolen eggs... but yeah I don't think that'll be happening here)
I'll try to work with it.
also, having a young clan lore-wise kinda sucks for this, but I'll do my damnedest
but buckle up kiddos, this is gonna be long
Hylla
The Ancient One
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Jaynum
The Young One
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Eulalia
The Friend
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Alexia
The Progentior
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Ariden
The Traitor
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Persephus
The Loved One
The Spiral slunk down the small offshoot tunnel from the Lair's main passage. While still having plenty of room to move and stretch, he moved low to the ground, tail dragging in the dust behind him.
It was strange, really, to be moving down the path. The walls were still rough, bearing the pick-marks from when it was hewn, rather that the smooth stone of everywhere else. As far as he could remember, not a single living Clanmember had traveled in the tunnel. It was like going back in time to much earlier days. Ahead, the tunnel opened and he could see a soft glow.
"Hello?" Jaynum squeaked as he padded into the little chamber. "Are you around here Hylla?"
Yes, Hylla. The spectral dragon had chosen here to "reside." Where she could linger if she didn't have the energy to visit the ethereal plane and wished not to be viewed. Frankly, Jaynum didn't want to be here. The bare room stank of non-existent incense and Hylla gave him all the wrong feelings. Don't get him wrong, he didn't not like her, but the silent, staring,
knowing eyes and her looks of being a dragon from a far-gone era made him feel a bit... uncomfortable.
Especially since he was one of the few in the Clan who could see her and knew she existed.
"Yes?" Hylla hummed as she seemed to step out of the stone walls. The emblem that shined from just above her head was what bathed the chamber in a pale yellow light. "You seem... stressed Jaynum."
The Spiral grit his teeth and curled in on himself, then began to fidget with his scarf.
"You wouldn't happen to know where Persephus went, would you? I've looked everywhere for him and couldn't find him and I know Khione'll--
bebacksoonandIdon'twannatellherIlosthim--"
"Calm!" Hylla spoke. She dipped closer to Jaynum and tilted her head. "Haven't you asked Eulalia? She'd be likely to know, yes?"
"I tried to ask her, but she wouldn't say anything," the Spiral thought back to earlier when he had asked. The Mirror wore a scared look and shook her head. "
I-- I cannot say I do."
"I thought to ask you since you kinda just lurk around and listen to everyone."
The ghostly Skydancer's eyes softened. "I try not to take issue with the affairs of the living... But I suppose I'll make an exception.
"As you should remember, the day that Persephus was presented to the rest of the Clan was one of great emotion for our Progenitor."
Jaynum remembered that day, just a few weeks ago. The Wildclaw hatchling had stumbled into the lair seeking his true parentage, and while that brought its own throws, nothing rivaled that of Alexia. The Tundra raged through the lair, bellowing that she'd never allow some b*****d child of two dragons that as far as she cared hated each other into the Clan.
There were standards to uphold! Think of the scandal! She had an image to keep! It had hurt Jaynum to hear all that about the son that had cared enough to try and find him, despite the Spiral having sent away his ill-planned eggs in a time of fear. Still, Eulalia had begged and pleaded enough to allow Persephus to stay.
"After that," Hylla continued. "Eulalia had come to me, saying that she had a bad feeling for Persephus' safety. She asked if I would keep a watch for any ill-intentioned plans that Alexia might make.
"In different circumstances, I might've refused. I
do prefer to stay out of the issues of the breathing. But it was Eulalia who discovered me wandering the plains. She gave me a place of refuge here and was the first dragon I could call a friend for many years. I felt I owed her something.
"So I did, as you say "lurk around and listen" to Alexia. For the most part it remained her complaining about Persephus and the taint it'd have on the image. For a fortnight it was that, so I began to pull away from my watch. Unfortunately... It seems that was a mistake."
Jaynum's eyes widened at the spectral Skydancer's last statement. "What do you mean?!" he shrieked. "Alexia wanted to hurt him?!"
Hylla bowed her head. "Just a few days ago I had been wandering the vault, looking to see if I could identify any of the new artifacts. There, I overheard Alexia and Ariden as they were counting out the treasure they'd bring with them when they went to the markets. It was Ariden mostly. He was bragging about this dragon he found that would "take care of pests." I knew it was strange when they left the nests with a particularly large burlap sack thrown over their back."
"Are you saying," Jaynum began as he jumped up. "My son has been
kidnapped?!?"
"I will make no assumptions, but perhaps."
The Spiral cast large eyes at Hylla before turning and racing back down the passage.
Instead of stolen eggs, we have stolen dragons!
Yep, just gonna leave that open-ended. Fun! But it's eh... kinda lost steam on writing. :Þ
