Navenya

xWhen Navenya started lurking around the clan, no one paid her much mind. Dragons of all sorts came and left the clan, too much of the wandering type to stay. Sometimes they just became honorary clan members because they kept to the outskirts, too aloof to join but enjoying the proximity of company.

Navenya was not one of them.

She appeared one day in the midst of their territory, after having circled the lair for a few days. Before the day was out, she made a few friends.

By evening, Svana came to talk to her.

"How did you manage past our scouts? No offense, my dear, but a dragon of your size shouldn't be able to make her way into the middle of our home without some sort of alarm."

"Well you see... I just sort of... blend."

"You blend."

"Yes." And with that, the imperial seemed to sink into the ground, vanishing from Svana's sight.

"Oh. Uh. Okay then."

The reeds around her chuckled. "May I stay?"

And so the druid merged into the clan, on the condition that she joins the scouting team.

---

Navenya stared at the two wildclaws in front of her, watching them fidget. Katch bounced on his feet, while Noelle scratched idly at her neck plumage. The imperial shook her head and drew up to her full height, lording over the two smaller dragons.

"Alright, folks. I was told to join the scouting party, but since there isn't an official one, I've conscripted you two into it. Congratulations! You're gonna help me scout things."

Noelle shrugged nonchalantly. "We're green. We blend in. It makes sense."

"But you don't blend in enough!" The druid laughed, "Oh no, not at all. Now, uh, if you will just hold still, this will be itchy..."

"What are you-OH WINDSINGER IT FEELS WEIRD." The male wildclaw yelped as branches sprouted from his shoulders. His female counterpart winced and remained silent as the same happened to her.

Navenya giggled. "See? Now we all have built in camouflage! Oh, wait. You'll probably need armor."

"You don't?"

"Oh, sweetie, no. No I don't. Now this part is trickier. Let's start with you, shall we?" The imperial beckoned Noelle closer.

Sprouts sprang from the wildclaw's scales, growing and shaping and hardening into bark plates that moved with her body. She grinned. "Okay, that's cool. Thanks, Nav."

Now the male wildclaw was beckoned forward. "Alright, Katchii, it's your turn."

Katchiitaith grinned and hopped on his feet a few times before the imperial set to work. As before, sprouts sprang from scales and then... stopped. "Is it cool? Do I look cool?"

"Um, hm. Well. I'm sure they'll grow in eventually."

The wildclaw looked at the druid, then the face of his counterpart who was trying to smother her laughter. Finally, he looked at himself. "WAIT. SERIOUSLY?"