Alix

Alix lay a little ways off from the small group of dragons actively discussing his fate. He flicked his tail idly, giving voice to a loud yawn that bared his impressive canines. Finally the group broke apart and the wildclaw female with the disquieting eyes approached him. "You may stay," she intoned quietly. "Show us."

Born in the cold reaches of the Snowsquall Tundra, Alix began life as a wildclaw alongside two rough and tumble brothers. They spent their time raiding and harassing the nearby tribe of Longnecks. The clan's beliefs held that Longnecks were a disease that needed to be harried and driven out, so the antics of the young dragons, while not condoned, were also not punished or remarked upon. While they did kill or harm their Beastclan neighbors, the young dragons certainly made life incredibly difficult for them.

Being the youngest of his three brothers, Alix was the brunt of many a practical joke and trick when the brothers tired of their toying with their neighbors. Such doings could be chalked up to young dragons having their fun, save that as time wore on, the pranks became far more perilous. One such endeavor culminated in Alix being trapped in an avalanche. His brothers, fearful of the repercussions of their involvement and of the gravity of their mistake, fled. Alix was left to the cold, and to his fate.

Enclosed in darkness, smothered by snow, Alix gave himself up for dead and lost when the crust of his icy tomb was pierced by the blunt end of a spear. Hooved hands began to dig him free, lifting him back into the light and into the arms of a young Longneck hunter. Initially terrified, the dragon was too weak to do little more than kick in feeble protest. The hunter, for her part, ignored this and took Alix home to her kin.

All Alix can now remember about this time in his life is the feel of a woven reed mat beneath him, soft droning chants and the taste of bitter herbs. Iiska, his rescuer, often relates patiently to him that to save his life her clan's mages had to change him and give him warmth. They were displeased by Iiska bringing him into their sanctuary, knowing full well that he was one of the havoc wreakers. Their price for healing and changing him was Iiska's expulsion from their ranks. While she was upset, she accepted these terms for Alix's life, and in turn he vowed to keep her safe for all of his days.

They were wanderers then, beholden only to each other. They visited many a clan, Alix fathering and then forgetting about a few different broods of nestlings along the way. He learned how best to defend himself, singlehandedly dealing with enemies that would daunt a seemingly more stout-hearted dragon. Though ferocious with his blood up, he remained an unassuming, easygoing fellow from day to day.

Alix and Iiska's sojourn took them at last through the Wandering Contagion. While most unused to such a purulent environment reacted with horror and revulsion, Alix found the smells interesting rather than repugnant. When Iiska, consumed with curiosity, disturbed a small pile of bones, it seemed as though they had unleashed the Plaguebringer's own wrath.
Two large dragons attacked the Longneck, and without thinking another moment Alix brought them both low. A third and a fourth dragon joined the fray, and it was only then that he was subdued. He and Iiska were brought within the circle of Tva'Kadith, to be meted out a punishment. However, his display of battle prowess in defense of Iiska persuaded the dragons of Tva'Kadith to treat him with more respect than they would most captives. Rather than being confined to the pit cage to await his time as a sacrifice to the Plague Mother, Alix was given a choice to be among those that sat before the shrines. Being a sensible dragon, he agreed on the condition that Iiska be left unharmed.

Now Alix spends his time showing the warriors of Tva'Kadith the ways he has learned. While he could with very little trouble claw himself free from this clan and go his own way with Iiska, he rather enjoys his life as a teacher and finds that perhaps this is where he has been meant to be all along.