Ember

Life had a fickle way of showing its thanks. Especially to the youngest of dragons. Ember had learned this when she had hatched, finding herself abandoned in the harsh tundra of Icewarden's realm.

For an Earth dragon, the tundra was not a place you wanted to be, nor did you want to be a hatchling within that realm. You could easily be killed, if not by the beasts then by the cold of the night.

Ember knew she had to find some sort of shelter. It was instinct, but finding mother's warmth was also instinct. She had just hatched, not even strong enough to dig yet, so all she could do was give chirps to try and find her mother.

Nothing, aside from the howl of the wind, and the slight hiss of Serthis that roamed this realm. It wouldn't be long before they found her and either killed or used her to their means.

The coatl hatchling had to get out of there. She had to leave. She had to get away.

Struggling against the ice and snow, she slowly moved forward, trying to reserve strength, but it was the strength that pushed her for the few miles she could muster.

Collapsing in the snow, she began chirping again, in hopes someone would hear her.

"What do we have here?" A hiss sounded to her right.

"Looksss like a hatchling.." Another voice hissed out, "Ssssuch a sssspecial find."

Her chirps grew more frantic as the sounds of the oncoming scouts came near. What was she going to do??

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT BABY!!" A roar sounded, followed by the sounds of battle.

Claw and tooth sounded, as well as the sounds of Serthis in distress. Strong rope dragged her away, her maw covered in a strong muzzle to keep her from crying for help.

As the coatl was dragged away, she could hear the cries of a female sky dancer in sadness. Silently, she was forced through the tundra to the cold stores of the Serthis hold.

"You will make a fine warrior once we train you," spoke a powerful dragon, "You will be given the name Ember, for the color of your pelt. Work hard, and we won't have to eat you."

Ember whined softly, shaking with fear. She knew, then and there, she was lost.

The first day passed with pain, humiliation, and the angry growls of their trainers. Ember wanted to find a place to escape, and despite them claiming there was no way to escape, there was indeed such a place. The young dragons had spoken of it, sending messages to the outside world in hopes they could be found. Even those considered long lost, were in reality, good hearted dragons. They put on a facade to trick their harsh masters. Ember learned from them that they could deliver messages out in the harsh cold.

So, as soon as she figured out how to write, she sent out a message, begging anyone and everyone to come help. On the fourth day, she was beginning to lose hope. Her body ached, and she'd been forced to kill a comrade. Something she didn't want to do.

The ground rattled beneath their chained claws, as the sounds of wing beats filled the lair. Perhaps it was the air squadron returning home after some fierce battle, or maybe it was their leader returning from a successful hunt. None of them knew.

But as the area erupted with dragons from every corner of the realm, Ember realized this was a rescue mission. She found out they were eager to save those that wanted to be saved, heal those that had been turned from their clans.

The battle erupted. Tooth, claw, and magic filled the air while Ember led her friends to safety. The dragonlings had become close during their time, and Ember was going to make sure they survived.

"Attack!!" The mutated dragon roared, eyes filled with malice. His claws stomped on the ground as he made his way toward the fighters.

It was then Ember saw him fully. He was terrifying, far beyond it. An imperial with multiple heads. She'd heard the others speak of something like that, a strange dragon that had become something so sinister after death. It had not been buried, and it had not been dealt with properly.

"KILL HIM!" A female roared, "TAKE THAT MONSTROSITY DOWN!!"

Dragons seemed to leap from everywhere, clawing, biting and tearing into the imperial, trying to bring the beast down. It roared, sending some flying, others latching on as it did. It's body sinking toward the ground.

"Polaris!" A male called out, "Are you sure she's here? The hatchlings are not here!"

"I'm sure of it," The female Guardian spoke, "Polarlicht, see if you can find them. They may be hiding."

"I shall, my love, " The male skydancer responded, heading about the area. He sought out anything that might hide such young dragons. He sought and sought, but was coming up empty.

Ember gave a small sneeze, her nose wrinkling up from the smell of blood. The skydancer's head glanced into their hiding spot and smiled.

"Hello," He spoke, "I am Polarlicht. I'm here to rescue you."

Slowly, he reached out, scooping the youngsters toward him. His touch was warm, gentle, and kind. He seemed friendly, and it wasn't long before the others snuggled against him.

Polaris grasped the chains in her mighty jaws and broke them, freeing the children. She noticed the female she tried to rescue before and gave a few licks onto Ember's head.

"I've found you, little one." She smiled, "I'm going to bring you home."

With that, she scooped Ember into her maw and carried her back to the lair. The others were taken to other clans, granted the place to live in peace.

Ember had been lost, but now found. She was no longer such a small dragon, but she'd grown. Thanks to Polaris' mothering, she was far stronger, healthier, and kinder. She was intelligent and kinder than she would have been had she not been found, and for that, she was thankful.

Even then, she wondered what had happened to her true family. Every night she wondered, but as time went on, she began realizing something. Something that eased her mind, and accept her family.

"Love of a Family is what makes it Home."

(Bio written by Noobat)