Ambricon

A low growl, a loud groan of discomfort, and a sharp pained cry. Three things that rang through the twilight of The Tangled Wood, deep within the forest and beside a creek. Yet there was no one to hear - It was nearly nightfall, and most other hunters would've left by now.

Ambricon didn't even know what to think with it all... He wasn't even sure of what happened. One minute, he'd spotted what appeared to be a Cobra, and the next, his back left leg became caught under a root before he could even begin to give real chase. His ankle was pulled and twisted. His wings could only take him so far, and the slight jarring movement of flight made it hard to tolerate... Walking was even worse though.

Eventually, he'd just laid himself down in a patch of leaves, completely given up on travelling back in a state like this. His own self-made burrow on the outskirts of the Starfall Isles was still a long way from here... Figuring that there was nothing left to do, he straightened out his leg as much as he could, and settled himself down into as much of a comfortable position as he could manage. He needed to rest... Just for a few minutes...

A soft slimy sound entered his dreams, and his imagination brought about a large slug creeping closer and closer, causing him to stir. The beginning blur as things focused in again showed a bright blue light - The moon? No... It couldn't be. It was moving too much - A part of whatever was coming toward him.

He blinked and shook his head, looking again. The one light then separated into multiple - Small specks of color that covered some sort of small figure. As he watched, some realization came to identify it as some sort of Familiar. An Illusionist, to be specific. He'd seen only a few during the Shadowbinder's celebrations... But what was it doing here?

A Gloomwillow guide buzzed nearby it, and both seemingly paid a lot of attention to his crippled state. Something about them both made him want to follow... "Should I?"

The Illusionist seemingly beckoned, and then climbed onto the large dragon's back, slowly and carefully weaving its sludgy form along pointed scales, while the Gloomwillow again buzzed and made its own alluring dance through the night air, before moving away and beginning to fade.

Ambricon didn't want to be left alone, that was for sure... He hefted himself up, and managed to walk at a very slow pace after the bug. Pain from his ankle was surprisingly... gone. An illusion from that creature on his body, perhaps? He wasn't even going to question it.

Each step brought him further out of the dark forest, and more into the terrains of the Plaguebringer. Barren land wasn't a much better sight, but it was certainly much easier to see around. He'd probably even be able to easier spy his home, eventually...

Surprisingly though, as the odd group kept along the edge of the wastelands, there came into view, a small garden by the sea, and a large warm den. It was too lovely to be in the Wastelands.

The strain on his three legs was finally noticeable, and, giving in to the temptation of a resting place, he went over and thumped his tail in a knock against the entrance. Strength waning, he ended up softly collapsing down onto the ground... "What a night this turned out to be..."

A few minutes after those words had faded away, the door opened. A small gasp was heard, and Ambricon suddenly felt two large claws carefully wrap around and carry him inside. He felt almost like a poor child being brought in from the storm...

"Poor thing... Looks like his leg is hurt... Aegritus! Please bring me my wrappings and medical supplies, and some food!" He opened his eyes to see a great green Imperial calling out. A moment later, his eyes fell upon whom he could assume to be Aegritus. Her appearance was more stunning than her rough name. "Don't worry, we'll have you fixed up quick." The Imperial's words went through his ears, but he was no longer paying real attention to her.

Aegritus merely gave him a cold gaze, and turned her back, walking back out with a silent sway that made Ambricon crush harder.

"She's not Mated yet."

That broke through his trance. He looked up at the green dragon. "What?"

"I see how you look at her." Emerald smirked faintly, a low rumble sounding in her throat that was partially recognizable as amusement. "She is alone. Perhaps if you stay a while to heal, you can help her socialize a bit more. Hm?"

Ambricon flushed a faint pink, only briefly, but then thought of his meager hole that could barely be counted for a lair. This place though, it was nice... Very nice. His eyes went back to the doorway that Aegritus went through. "It doesn't sound like a bad idea to stay for a while..."

"Fantastic. We love having guests here... I'll go and make some supper, while you sit and rest." Emerald smiled, and went along through a different doorway. She made a large spread of food for the group, and everyone sat down to a pleasant and happy meal, which only sold Ambricon more on the thought of staying.

It took a long time though to finally break through Aegritus's walls. They finally managed conversation after a few months, and eventually, Ambricon found himself being her Mate. Together, at Emerald's side, they became the guardians of the Lair, protecting those who lived within, and it can be safe to say that, thus far, they lived happily from then on. Especially Ambricon, who had finally found himself a good home.