Temperance

Temperance looked about herself with interest as she moved with her nomadic clanmates through the plaguelands. Though by no means a new member of the group, she was considerably less accustomed to this life than the veterans and the members that have been here since they were hatchlings. The only areas Temperance knew well were her birthplace in the Shifting Expanse and the clan's temporary home in the Shrieking Wilds. This place reminded her in some ways of both. As they traveled, the band passed through dry areas where the shifting ground beneath her claws almost made Temperance nostalgic for home, but at other times, they found themselves surrounded by dense growths and squelching through earth damp with something foul and unidentifiable, in a twisted parody of the jungle. Temperance kept up her cool mental comparisons as she carefully sidestepped obstacles in her path.

Temperance followed in the footsteps of the dragon in front of her, knowing it was the best way to keep from stepping in a quagmire or a sinkhole. She respected the Plaguelands but that didn't mean she wanted to bathe in its muddy decay up to her waist. The clan travelled for what seemed like hours and she was starting to nod off on her feet when suddenly the dragon in front of her came to a halt, almost sending her crashing into them.

"What is it?" She asked, and her clan mate pointed ahead. "A stranger is talking with Kaede," they said.

Curious, Temperance pushed her way to the front of the crowd, just as Kaede turned to face them.

"This Mirror has offered a sparring lesson to any dragon that is interested," they said. "If you would like to improve your battle prowess, please step forward now."

Temperance wasn't much of a fighter, but she didn't want to be a burden either and this seemed like a good opportunity to learn some self defense. She stepped forward and the strange mirror gave her an approving look.

A few hours later she was exhausted and muddy, but the mirror announced that the lesson was over. "You have done well," the mirror said. "And the technique I have taught you can also be passed on to another if you care to train them." Temperance bowed her head in thanks, and returned to her clanmates.

Kaede greeted her. "What did you learn?" They asked her. And she demonstrated the new technique.

Temperance felt good about herself after the sparring session. Even the clan's trainer didn't know some of these tricks. As the clan's ambassador from the Shifting Expanse, she felt it was her responsibility to set an example for the rest of the clan and to learn as much as she could to be an asset to the clan. Knowing some advanced fighting techniques, Temperance felt much more confident as the group resumed their travels through the Scarred Wasteland.