Umasou

The arid stretch of land known as the Highland Scrub was often thought of as the most docile area in all of the Shifting Expanse. However, the dragons who lived there knew how hard it was to survive in the wild desert heat. A small band of bandits led by a large Ridgeback called the area home and they were a very sneaky lot. They often tricked visitors out of supplies in exchange for worthless trinkets that promised to find water on their travels.

The band had 3 Ridgebacks that were the ring leaders, but the swiftest thief was a Wildclaw within the group. One day, when instructing visitors they should bed down for the day in the shade of one of the large rock formations, the largest ridgeback's wings blocked the view of the travelers, an Imperial and a Guardian, from the supply bags for just a moment. The Wildclaw, Lightning, dashed and stole the first item he got his talons on.

After speaking with the Imperial and the Guardian for a bit longer, the largest Ridgeback - Storm, left the area eager to get back to his basking rock. It wasn't until he returned to the gathering site, a shelter surrounded by towering cactus, that he realized what Lightning had snatched.

"An egg? What good is an Egg? We can't eat a dragon egg!" Storm snarled at the Wildclaw who didn't look that impressed by Storm's growling tone.

"Hey, we can always sell it to someone. Dragons are always buying eggs like this one, no one will think anything of it." Lightning scoffed as the blue egg gave a shake. As the two dragons argued, a third dragon, a female Ridgeback tried to get their attention.

After a few moments, she gave up and went back to watching the glowing blue egg. After a few moments, the egg hatched and the hatchling inside stole Spark's breath away. He had brilliant blue eyes and dark green wings. His dark brown body would make him stand out in the wilderness here but there was something about the youth, something she just knew would be wonderful.

Storm and Lightning both noticed Spark coo'ing and looked down at the new hatchling. The child was a small guardian and he happily latched onto Storm's long nose when the Ridgeback leaned down to examine the child.

"Daddy!" The dragon cried out as Lightning burst out laughing. He didn't stop either as Storm looked from the hatchling then back to Spark who had a knowing smile on her face.

"... Oh Stormcatcher." The ridgeback grumbled and it was the start of a new member joining the Bandit group.

Umasou grew very skilled under the leadership of the others. Many dragons would believe he was a well knowing nature dragon when it came to his recommendations. However, the herbs he sold would often make dragons sleep and when they woke, most of their supplies were gone.

Over time, Umasou learned all of the tricks of the trade until one day the Shifting Expanse had enough of the group's troubling ways. Visitors were afraid of coming for fear of running into the group of bandits. A group of hunters were hired to find and trap these bandits and after a few months of playing a game of cat and mouse, the group was caught. Only Spark and Umasou were left out of the group and Spark knew that the hunters were closing in. They were looking for one more Ridgeback and a Guardian.

She dug into her satchel and pulled out a scroll. She used it on Umasou, turning him into a Skydancer and she ordered him to find a new place to hide, a new way to live. She warned him of how dangerous being a bandit could be and implored him to find a new way of life.

Umasou was forced to leave his family behind and fled to the skies. flying across the Carrion Canyon and through the Lightning Farm. He found his way to the seaside and stared out at the ocean missing his family and feeling sorry for himself.

There he met a dragon, a tall wildclaw with icy eyes and a dark green body. She looked like she would be more at home in a vast forest rather than out in the desert area.

"You alone out here crybaby?" The Wildclaw wondered as the younger Skydancer nodded. "Come on then, no need to be alone." She said as she led him to a small grove. A wonderful place really, there was a small oasis and a group of very green dragons gathered round.

He could see the entrance to the den, where a Coatl basked lazily in the sun, well, his head and neck at least, the rest of him refused to leave the den. A Tundra was working steadily in the heat near a large flower bed, while a pearlcatcher assisted him.

"Oy! Theiler, found another one for you." The wildclaw called out as a dark splash of red came out of the den, stepping around the basking coatl.

She did not look like her Clanmates at all, that had mostly green, brown and gold about them - she was a dark blood red with venomous looking talons.

"You went out for Insects Celyn and brought back a stray?" She wondered as another dragon, a fae, flitted out of the hole.

"Oh! He looks parched! Come here dear! Drink!" The fae encouraged as the new Skydancer quickly decided. He'd take advantage of the kindness of these dragons until he was strong enough to go and free his family from Stormcatcher's grasp.

His bright blue eyes gleamed with his dark plans a moment and he missed the way the red Wildclaw watched him after that... never letting him get close enough to the treasure heap to steal a gem, let alone something more valuable. He needed to 'work' to earn his keep too! How new it was to work for his living in the way this Clan did... well. He wouldn't be here for long. He was a rogue. Once he figured out his new body, he'd show them ALL.