Stryker

If one happened upon the coatl, they would only see a dirty-feathered dragon with the haunted eyes of a soldier. Yet Stryker's unusual pessimism and bad-tempered nature wasn't always so.

Stryker's life was never easy; his unusual plumage was only the beginning, ostracized by his own family due to stories of bad luck associated with a dull plumage. Yet despite his exile, one by one his siblings and half-hatchmates met their ends, ending with his parent's disappearance until only he was the sole descendant on his father's side, his mother's parents having vanished without a trace. He was constantly plagued with accusations of revenge, briefly becoming known as the infamous "Phantom's Curse". Stryker himself became fearful that he would become the next victim, distrustful to the point he would strike lethally at any dragon that came his way.

The curse finally seemed to break when he met Katerina, a headstrong coatl who showed him how he could finally live without the constant fear that plagued him. They both moved to the Icefields to start anew. The illusion of a peaceful life was not to last.

One by one his children vanished as well, and he could only watch hopelessly as the remainders of his family diminished until it was only him and Katerina. In an ironic reversal of roles, Katerina became fearful and increasingly hostile to her own mate, culminating in her decision to leave Stryker; whether voluntary or not is unclear, but it has left Stryker devastated for forever.

Now he waits, for a resolution or Katerina to return, or perhaps just waiting until his own end so he could see his family again, someday.