Arborvitae

Walking through the branches, leaving your old clan behind, you wonder how your new home will treat you. Hopefully you’ll be a good fit for them, so you can stop moving about between clans, can find a permanent nest to hunker down in and set about finding a few friends, and possibly even a mate.

With those thoughts in mind, you set out on the paths between the lairs, hopeful that this new place will be one you fit with.

The travel is light, since you don’t have to travel very far, and you decide to walk the distance, taking a nice stroll. After all, you don’t have many belongings with you, just a single pair of bags, and you do have some slight trepidation about meeting your new clan.

Of course, no matter how many times you wander off the path to look at an interesting flower, or stop to take in a beam of light, you have to eventually arrive.

It’s not yet noon when you finally get there, dragging your feet, and trying to find a way to prolong the inevitable. The first meetings never seem to go well, and they sour any second meetings you might have. First impressions are important, and you always have had a problem making good ones.

Alas, the Lair is right before you, a small clearing showing a multitude of dragons cavorting about, some singing, some dancing, and all seeming to have a lot of fun. There’s a trio of Ridgebacks sunning themselves, a veritable pile of hatchlings all on top of each other playing on one side, and-

Your assessment of the clan is interrupted by a small Fey dragon covered with blooming flowers flitting down in front of you, hiding the others from view.

“Hello there. You must be our newest member. Welcome to our abode.”

Before you can get a word in, you can feel your throat close up in fear. These new dragons, what if they don’t like you, what if you don’t fit in? It’s been three years of moving from clan to clan, trying to find a place to call your own, and still you can’t find a good way to make a good impression.

She seems to understand your plight, because she just chuckles and gives you a smile. “Not one for talking are we? That’s ok. We have a few silent members of our clan, and I’m sure we can figure out your needs with a bit of charades if absolutely necessary.”

At the very least, one dragon here seems kind.

“I can’t stay for long, I have the clan to run, but feel free to interact with anyone really. We all have jobs to do, but I’m sure we’d be willing to make some time for someone just learning their way about.”

You give her a smile, thankful for her not forcing you to speak, and for taking the time to reassure you.

“And, just so you know, you can take as long as you need to find your place here. We aren’t going to kick you out for not knowing what you want to do after only a few days, ok? We’re better than that here, and you can take as long as you need.”

She looks like she wants to say more, but a piercing cry comes from the woods across the clearing, and she gives a sigh.

“And that’s my cue to be off. Don’t be afraid to approach me later, if you need to learn more about the clan, or anything really. Just, don’t get into any fights.”

With one last look at you, she flits off, lightly following behind what looks like the majority of the dragons in the clearing.

At the very least, you’ll have less a chance of being embarrassed in front of everyone, if almost no one is there.

With a shake, you step out into the clearing, looking for the least likely dragon to embarrass you, and your eyes settle on a group of hatchlings. Unlike the pile wrestling, they seem intent on something in the trees. Maybe that’s a good start.


Familiar: Ragamouse