Zen

Born not to his parents but his grandparents, Zen had never gotten the chance to meet his parents and for a long time, his grandparents would not tell him the story of their passing. Their wounds were still deep and healing and as a young hatchling, he never pressed the issue. After all, the two Tundras were really his mother and father from the first day he'd opened his eyes.
When he came of age to begin training with the other warriors on top of learning the dynamics of running a clan for the inheritance he would one day claim, Zen once again went to his grandparents seeking the truth about his hatching and his parents.
This was when his grandfather sat him down and revealed why so often the others of the clan would flinch when he had asked them when he was younger.
There had been much rainfall in the Gladeveins that year. Many lower pools had grown to small ponds. During the natural rainy season however, a massive storm hit. Flash floods took them by surprise and forced the clan to evacuate to higher grounds. Many protested, not wanting to abandon their nests with unhatched children waiting inside.
Seeing the desperation of the situation, Zen's parents disobeyed the order to leave and returned to their home. They each began emptying the nests of the eggs. The water continued to rise and even though they now had to swim through it to get back and forth, they managed to empty more than half of the nests, carrying the babies to safety.
When they went back for the last couple nests however, tragedy befell them. The water had risen too high and its currents were vicious. They both swam back out, but never returned. The water had swept them away and the sea is a greedy one; It took them and claimed their lives without mercy.
It was because of their bravery that the children, himself included, were born at all.
When Zen learned the truth, he was filled with melancholy. The two dragons he would never get to know had done something unbelievable. If he could only be half as brave as they had been, he would be twice the warrior he already was.
A few years passed after he had been told the tale, the clan grew in numbers and in strength and Zen had fully taken on the role of leader.
His grandparents passed and though it brought sadness to the dragons, Zen wouldn't let them remain down for long. He threw a grand celebration to honor their lives and the roles they had played in everyone's lives that existed now.
It was during such a party that Zen first met Organa; A strong willed Guardian who hailed from the Shifting Expanse. She was playful and energetic, a wonderful match for his own quiet and shy nature. She had been on a journey to find a new home, to find her charge and have a fulfilling life like her own parents wanted.
The more she spoke of the Lightning domain, the more curious Zen became. He had never ventured away from the Nature domain and even when he left the Gladeveins he became nervous.
It sounded lively and full of adventure, but for the time being, Organa disagreed. She had been looking for somewhere quiet and peaceful, somewhere that sounded a whole lot like the Nature domain. Timidly, Zen invited her to stay with his clan so she might experience the way of Nature first hand and be able to decide her fate then.
Everything seemed to fall right into place.. for while.
Organa fit in well with the Nature dragons, revelling in the flowers and trees that dared to touch the skies above. It felt right to have her with his kin.
But it didn't last.
Soon Organa expressed her wishes to return back to her own roots. Back to the realm of chaotic, precise lightning.
Zen knew nothing of the outside world beyond the Gladekeeper's territory, but he did know one thing; he absolutely loved Organa.
It was a terrifying decision, one he was worried was not the right one for his clan, but he had to try. He had to be brave, like his parents. So Zen uprooted the clan and with Organa's leadership, took his family to the Shifting Expanse, to the world that he dared explore. He could do it. He could be a strong leader and he would do it with Organa at his side.
And though his heart was in the fields and hers lay with the beds of flowers, their souls were electric, they were Lightning.

Time passed in the Shifting Expanse and the clan continued to thrive. Some of the clan members began to become homesick for their birthplace bower. A small group chose to leave and return to the Gladeveins. Zen surprisingly did not miss his birthplace. New members had joined the clan and he enjoyed listening to the stories of their travels and various birthplaces. A young Spiral joined the clan calling himself Tideprince, he had a strong resemblance to the Tidelord... at least in color if not breed. His stories intrigued both Zen and Organa. With another difficult decision in front of them they made the choice to once again move their clan to the Sea of a Thousand Currents. Once again, some stayed behind, others were excited for further adventure. Since their most recent move many new dragons have joined the clan strengthening it and bringing a once small clan into a stronger force... and who knows... maybe they will move again someday!?


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