Thelxinoe

Thelxinoe once had another name... in the before times, when she lived at the Dragon Markets, because no one would take her home and eventually she just started working there to have something to do. She remembers Reina glancing at her once, not long after she gained her maturity... shake her head at the price the clan had set on her and walk on.

The price remained too high, and Thelxinoe watched other dragons go home with other clans, and find mates, and have children, long after she was ready herself to find a place of her own.

But the Markets... at least it was something to do. She was a hard worker.

Months later, Reina returned to the market and was stunned to find Thelxinoe still there. And this time, Reina brought her home.

For a long time, Thelxinoe didn't know what to do with herself... until she noticed that unlike most of her Wind-bred companions, she sees well in the dark, and likes the night, and the sound the wind makes in the reeds when it melds with the coo of nocturnal birds and the creep-reep of the frogs.

So now she helps keep watch on the lair at night, sitting on the ledge over the main entrance with her head lifted to the wind and her ears alert. Or she hunts night-blooming flowers or other things that can only be found after the sun goes down. When the Trickmurk festival came around, the clan conspired to get their Dusk Dragon a paper crown.

...the glowing runes, now. Those happened on their own.

***

'Do you think anyone will come?' Thelxinoe asked, anxious.

'They'll come,' Raia said, but she was nervous, and hiding it.

'They'll come,' Thelo said from behind them, and from him that was prophecy, and he was right.

The tundra and imperial dragonesses had decided to take their rune painting to the Dragon Markets on behalf of the clan, to help fill their coffers with gemstones, the most prized of dragon treasures. Thelo had followed--his magics made the painting permanent. And Layla accompanied them, to act as their accountant, their assistant, and to help wrangle customers.

Would they come? They did! Claws dripped paint over sleek hides, and spells sealed them in place, and pleased customers left their gems and enriched the Lair. And when it was over, an exhilarated Thelxinoe said to Raia, 'We did it!'

'We did!'

From behind them, Layla added, 'Can you do it again!'

The two grinned.