Shira

Shira can hear it. The voice coming from the stone, calling to her, beckoning her to come closer and listen.

It was a shock to many of the clan's dragons - Shira was from an allied clan, yes, but still a stranger to them. Queen Una was the Spiritstone's Ambassador, and for years and years had been the only one who could hear it.

But Shira can hear it.

Una began to train her - for what else could she do? - and Shira's bond with the stone grew stronger and stronger. Her bond began to overtake Una's - for Una had to be beside the stone to hear it. Shira can hear it from anywhere. It is with her constantly, talking, murmuring guidance.

It was early in the morning when Una made her decision. She was, after all, a Wind dragon, and yearned for new adventures, a new life. So she left. She left a message for Luthien that Shira was to become Queen after her, and vanished alongside Hope.

--

Ages and ages passed. Shira became one of the greatest of the monarchs, and her bond with the Spiritstone only grew.

The Spiritstone whispered it to her one day. Find the Descendant, she said. The descendant of Luthien. Find them.

Thus began their clan's search - they sent out dragons to track every single one of Luthien's descendants. Many were exalted. Several were found, and brought home to the clan. The Spiritstone was pleased by this - but still, it whispered to Shira to search, to find the descendant.

Shira was sent to track down one of Maelon's sons, Firion. He had lived in the clan once - for a short period of time. He had moved on a very long time ago. Shira tracked Firion's daughter, and inquired about any further descendants.

"There's one daughter also in the Southern Icefields," a dragon recalled to her. "Mary - something like that. Here, I'll show you how to find them."

Shira watched as the dragon pointed the location out on a map, and felt as if her heart had stopped. The location was the home of her birth clan. The clan of her parents. Mary-something. Her mother's name was Maryden.

"Maryden," she whispered. The dragon looked up at her in surprise.

"Yes, that was it," the dragon agreed, nodding. "Maryden."

Shira felt faint. If Maryden was indeed a descendant of Maelon, that would make her a descendant of Maelon. A descendant of Maelon, Amira, Hyacinth, and Luthien herself. Dragons she had known and respected her whole life - Luthien, who had been like another mother to her from the day she arrived in the clan.

"The descendant," she whispered. "It was me, wasn't it?"

Yes, the Spiritstone whispered back, and Shira could hear a note of amusement in her voice. I wanted to show you, Shira... You were always meant to be here. You were always meant to find me, and become a Queen of this Clan. It's in your blood.

"Why now?" Shira demanded. "My old friend, please. Why have you only told me this now?"

I only discovered it myself recently, the Spiritstone told her gently. And... I knew you had never forgiven yourself for your mentor, my old friend Queen Una, leaving us. How could you? She was a descendant of Sirius, born to be a queen in the clan. But my beloved Shira, so are you.

--

She returned to her mother's clan for a few days to share her revelation. Maryden hadn't known either - she had never questioned her ancestors. After spending time with her parents and son Orion, Shira returned home and called together a meeting of all Luthien's descendants. Family was of the utmost importance in her clan - and now that she knew she was united by blood to all of them, she had to let them know.

Luthien was the first to approach her when her revelation was dropped upon them, the beautiful High Queen wrapping herself around Shira and pressing her muzzle to Shira's cheek. Shira knew how much Luthien loved her descendants - and how much Luthien had always loved her.

This is my clan, Shira thought to herself as her family - her blood family - approached her warmly. The clan whose blood flows through my veins. The clan of which I am Queen. My home.