Cora

She was one of the first children born to the lair. The very first that was born with a gene. Her arrival caused a ripple of excitement through the clan. Eyespots! A perfect tertiary color! She had so much potential!

Alas, the lair was very poor in those days and while they had many dreams there wasn't much treasure. Cora didn't mind, her parents doted on her and there was much work to be done.

Someday was soon enough for dreams.

Except someday never came. There were always other places that money needed to be spent. Other dragons that needed the costly genes and embellishments that she once thought would be hers. In time even the work lessened. There were so many dragons who lived in the Ascent now, her labor, once so essential, was no longer needed.

She spent a great deal of time listening to the Wind sing over the cliffs. Why was she here? Maybe she should move on and leave her space to a dragon that would bring more to the clan.

She rejected the idea. "Perhaps it is selfishness," she thought, "but I don't think I am ready to serve." She couldn't see herself leaving the clan she helped build. The mother and father that loved her. The sister that lived in a neighboring clan.

She took up building windchimes. It was a craft that kept her claws busy and her mind calm. She collected bits and pieces from everywhere she went. Scraps of metal and string. Bits of wood and vine. Bone, seeds, wire..... She collected them and assembled them into works of art and music. She hung them were they seemed best suited around the lair, glad that no one seemed to mind their presence. She thought little of it. A silly craft.

She didn't notice when other dragons stopped and listened. How new dragons made their lairs near them. The whole clan wondered at her creations and she managed to never notice, assuming the compliments were just a way of being nice.

When the gifts arrived she assumed that there had been a mistake. The beautiful silks and box that held the glimmering runes couldn't be for her. She brought them to Matilda. "These were left in my cave, there must be a mistake."

"There's no mistake Cora. We've been looking for just the right gifts for you for a long time. We thought of buying you a gene scroll, but we couldn't find one that would do you justice. Though, if you want one, you are welcome to ask. When we acquired the silks and the runes, we knew that they were meant for you."

"But... why me? I am nothing to the clan. All I do is take up valuable space!"

"Nonsense! You have been here from the beginning. You made this place a home. Your windchimes delight everyone who sees and hears them. The Ascent is a better place because you are in it. There is no better dragon to receive these gifts."

"Tha.....thank you..." she stuttered, disbelieving.

She took her things back home and she tried them on. They were beautiful. Much to beautiful. "This is ridiculous. People are going to laugh."

People didn't laugh. They smiled. They complimented. There was no falseness in their voices.

The next windchime she made she gave as a gift, not something that was hung when no one was looking, but a present. Like something that was worth something. It was accepted with such enthusiasm that Cora was shocked. So she did it again, and again the response was overwhelming.

It wasn't long after that the first timid requests started coming in. If she wasn't busy, could she perhaps make one for them? They could pay, or trade? Please?

The Ascent filled with the music of her chimes. When visitors came they were struck with wonder as the gentle, beautiful music followed them everywhere, carried from chime to chime. They sought her out and asked for chimes to take home with them. Her creations spread across the Wind Lands and then across the seas.

She was visiting a distant clan when she came across one of her own creations. As she was passing she overheard a conversation between two of the residents of the clan.

".....it's remarkable."

"It's priceless. Made by Cora from the Butterfly Ascent herself."

She could barely suppress her merry grin as walked away.