Hope

Marshwisp Colony Apparel A number of aromatic cyan-colored mushrooms that have somehow sustained a colony on a passerby dragon. Parasite? Symbiote? Fashion statement? 1000

Being the daughter of two of the strongest warriors in the clan, Hope is a very confident dragon and usually believes that anything is possible once she has set her mind on it. What she calls determination, others sometimes think of at mulishness, but that doesn't deter her. Giving up is simply not part of her vocabulary, and she always expects something good to come of even the worst challenge. Hope is a natural leader, though she rarely tries to lead anyone, prefering to stay in the background and do her own thing. Despite her positive outlook on things and life in general, Hope doesn't give her trust easily, and is truly close to only a handful of select dragons, including her family and her mate, Polaris. Hope is fascinated by mushrooms, especially luminescent ones, and loves fireflies and stars. She always loved hearing tales of the Wispwillow Grove, and her greatest dream came true when she finally managed to visit it. Hope is interested in all things Shadow and prefers night to day.

Wispwillow Peryton Familiar Only shadow dragons can see wispwillow perytons after night falls. To others, they appear as a jumble of small floating specks of light. (Colored by Xemni.) 0 Gloomwillow Guide Apparel Through the oppressive murk, you notice a faint, dancing light. Do you follow? (Trickmurk Circus Holiday Item 2016) 0

Hope and Shayla exploring the Wispwillow Grove
Amazing Art by mus


The Journey to Wispwillow Grove

After Clan Safe Haven had moved from Nature to Light and her family had settled down in their new home, Hope decided that it was finally time to make her dream come true and visit the Wispwillow Grove in the neighboring Shadow territory. She chose to travel alone and on foot, wanting to get to know her new home while following her dream. Neither the protests of over-protective family members, nor the loss of her familiar (an Ice sprite who decided he wasn't the right familiar for her after all) could stop her, and so she embarked on the biggest adventure of her life.

After a long and sometimes dangerous journey, Hope reached the edge of the Tangled Wood. After she had made camp just outside of the trees and the shadows of the night had fallen around her, a faint blue light appeared under the trees nearest to her, dancing around the tree trunks in slow circles and seeming to beckon her. Curious and enthralled by the being that seemed like a giant firefly to her, Hope followed the light's invitation. So she met the Gloomwillow Guide, who not only would become her guide through the Shadow territory, but would also become a loyal companion, sticking with her even when she returned to Light and her family.

Together the two of them travelled deep into the Wispwillow Grove and it became a journey Hope would never forget. She had never seen anything more beautiful or mesmerizing than the luminescent mushrooms, many of them bigger than she herself was, or a place that was more mysterious or exciting. She stayed there for a while, drinking in the sights around her, feeling as if she were moving through an enchanted world of her own dreams. Soon Hope became aware that there was someone or something following her around at a safe distance. With time, the pursuer steadily drew closer, until Hope could make out the shadowy form of a four-legged, winged beast.

Once again feeling curious rather than threatened, as she had in the night she met the Gloomwillow Guide, Hope decided to wait for whatever was following her, hoping to lure the beast out of hiding. When her pursuer finally came to her, Hope could see nothing but small floating specks of light, no matter how much she kept staring and blinking, until her eyes watered. Even though the true form of the creature remained hidden to her, Hope knew it was friendly and she also knew the moment she set eyes on her mysterious visitor that she had found her new familiar.

Later she would learn that she had bonded with a Wispwillow Peryton, a creature only Shadow dragons could see after nightfall. Hope couldn't have been happier when she finally was able to see her new familiar for what it was, because it almost seemed to her as if she had taken part of the Wispwillow Grove with her. Shayla's feathers and fur were as dark as the endless gloomy twilight of the Tangled Wood, but there were specks of a lighter, blueish-white color emitting the same soft, glowing light as the mushrooms of the Wispwillow Grove. At night, those specks were the only part of Shayla Hope was able to see (even though she'll probably never give up trying to see more and secretly wishing she were a Shadow dragon).


Hope and her newfound familiar resting together during their adventures
Amazing art by bloodofthedragon

This wasn't the last time Hope would visit the Wispwillow Grove, though the next time she would bring her mate with her to show him the wonders of the Tangled Wood.





Hope's Pohip planter with mushrooms from the Wispwillow Grove
by starsystems




Friends and Family

Michael: Mariana: Galaeron:

Always aware of her parents' history, Hope is of the opinion that trust has to be earned. She will never call anyone her friend until they have proven to be her friend, and she doesn't expect anyone to consider her a friend unless she has proven her trustwortiness to them. This is probably the reason that, while Hope likes her clan and is well-liked herself, she doesn't really have many friends. Being a fiercely independent creature and having a family and mate to rely on, this doesn't bother her. One dragon she does call a friend is fierce and strong Mariana, who shares her fascination with Shadow and has a Gloomwillow Guide as a companion, too. Hope is close to both of her parents, Michael and Alex, but especially to Michael, though their strong wills can clash spectacularly from time to time. While she isn't related to Jeep and Charlie, she has always considered them family and sees them as uncle and aunt. Hope has also a little bit of hero worship going on for the mysterious Shadow Mage, Galaeron, whom she greatly respects and admires.

Alex: Jeep: Charlie:

Mate

Hope's mate is Polaris, whom she met one night when she literally stumbled across him while he was stargazing. Having been alone with her love for the night and all the twinkling, glowing lights in it until then, Hope was immediately interested in the quiet dragon who was still new to their clan. After that night, they kept either running into each other or meeting each other after nightfall, and finally they fell in love during a long night with countless shooting stars streaking through the dark sky above.







Polaris & Hope
adorable adopts by tysm







Hope during the celebration of the longest night of the year
lovely adopt by Skyflu






Hope wearing a crown of violets during the Brightshine Jubilee
beautiful art by Chromathesia






Hope being curious about something
Lovely adopt by MawkishMuse










Hope drinking mulled wine after a long and cold night watching the stars, wrapped in a warm scarf made for her by Polaris
beautiful adopt by Lupik






Lovely Hope portrait by Bekuno








Hope & Polaris lanterns, created by Flare to keep them company during starless nights
Lovely adopts by porifra