Earthy

Earthy was discovered by Snowdryft when he took a pickax to the stone in her flank. In his defense, she was covered in a sheet of snow, having laid down for a nap just outside the mouth of a cave.

She was less than thrilled at having been woken up more so than being attacked. Heaving her body to her feet, she wordlessly looked down on the Tundra- and smashed her massive forehead into his own, sending him sprawling.

When he came to, Snowdryft saw that Earthy was sleeping, this time without the snow to cover her up. He could appreciate her wings, which matched perfectly the night sky; tree-like growths jutted from her torso, striking and green. Her body, striped like the layers of ancient ground and pebbled with precious stones...

And then he saw it. Blood. At first he thought it had dripped from his forehead and into his eyes, which was true in part. But he had opened a massive wound in her left leg, and it was beginning to stain the snow she slumbered on. Knowing he had done wrong, Snowdryft waited for her to wake up- for he knew better than to wake her himself.

When she awoke, Earthy followed Snowdryft to the lair after he apologized and offered her treatment. A quiet, leery dragon, she began to warm to him as they discussed the cave and the minerals he was searching for. "You know," she said, as she eyed him thoughtfully, "these do come off. If you do it correctly."

As they passed a pile of boulders, she slammed her good hip into the side of them- and a chunk of rock broke off. She gathered the glittering purple stone into her hands and offered it to the Tundra.

And she smiled the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.