Ikad

"Behold, it is I!" The words boom out across the clan entry hall, startling the quiet conversations into silence. "Your savior!"

The swampy ridgeback stayed in the doorway for a moment, letting himself be outlined by the sun streaming in, then swaggered further into the room.

He was quickly met by Vale, who tried to herd him into a side room. He held his ground against the much smaller seer and spoke up again.

"I have answered your call and have come to lend my exemplary self to your very important project!"
He looked down at Vale expectantly, who sighed heavily and gestured away from the main hall.

"Follow me please. We will test you-"

"Test!? No, no. I am what you need. Your search is over."

Vale moved to argue with him, trying to remind him that the clan had sent requests for meetings to several candidates, to ensure they found the best choice for their project. The scribes had been working overtime lately, mapping bloodlines to try and narrow down the options, hoping to take some pressure off the already exhausted seers.

Before she could say anything, Uha flitted into the hall. Ikad caught sight of her, and dashed past Vale, nearly bowling her over. His face was lit with a powerful inner light.

"My lady, I am at your service." For the first time since he entered the hall his voice was soft. He bent low, putting his head below Uha's, and from nowhere produced a tail clasp, cunningly wrought of amber. He was wearing a matching piece. "This is for you."

Uha said nothing, but her eyes lit to match his as he clasped the jewelry around her tail. He was not what she had expected, not at all. But somehow, she thought he was perhaps what she needed.

In public Ikad was boisterous and boastful. He was never possessive, but he made it known that he was hers and she was his. Then two eggs were added to their family, and he became more boastful. No one within earshot could escape hearing about how well colored the eggs were, how perfectly shaped. His confidence that both would hatch perfectly, and that the hatchlings would be the best anyone had ever seen, was a common topic as well. His arguing decreased. He simply wanted the world to know how proud he was, how wonderful life was, how perfect Uha was as a mother and how amazing his babies would be. Once they hatched they were inseparable. It became a common thing to see Ikad tumbling around the clan's lair with the two hatchlings, shouting and giggling. He took on the role of father with gusto, letting Uha continue working

poison, toxin, lore for breed change