She's dying. She's no old dragon; quite the contrary, she began showing signs of illness within the first few weeks of her life and it progresses at an alarming pace. Ever a morose, lethargic young creature, her heavy limbs afford little mobility outside of the water. Though many of the others avoid her for fear of contracting this condition, it doesn't seem to be contagious -- the only obvious symptom is the loss of colour. First her scales, and now gradually her plumage: the stunning blue colouration she sported at birth fades first to gray and then into a lifeless white.

One might attribute it to her lineage: a Water dragon born to Ice and Plague, the two elements which our local dragons are wisest to avoid. Others are of the belief that this was some sort of curse placed upon her, or a sign that there is something wrong with the water or prey here and perhaps it is time to move on to better territory.

Whatever it means to them, she knows what it means to her. Until she does die, she will learn to live.