Quarus
(#21509913)
Level 25 Imperial
Familiar
Yellow-Throated Sparrowmouse
Click or tap to view this dragon in Predict Morphology.
Energy: 0/50
This dragon’s natural inborn element is Light.
Male Imperial
This dragon is on a Coliseum team.
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Personal Style
Apparel
Skin
Scene
Measurements
Length
22.93 m
Wingspan
22.76 m
Weight
7014.09 kg
Genetics
Crimson
Iridescent
Iridescent
Gold
Stripes
Stripes
Gold
Glimmer
Glimmer
Hatchday
Breed
Eye Type
Level 25 Imperial
Max Level
STR
126
AGI
10
DEF
6
QCK
56
INT
8
VIT
13
MND
6
Biography
 Q U A R U S Protecter - Brother in Arms The Fallen Pharaoh All elemental regions have their mysteries, though arguably the strangest ones may be found in the Arcane Flight. Many Arcanites seem to think so, and they go on to become Sornieth's finest investigators, researchers, and thaumaturgists. One group makes its home in the Star Wood Strand. Using their formidable magic, they have taken over large trees and converted them into homes with glowing leaves and branches. The trees have continued to grow. Their canopy has woven together overhead, blocking out some of the light from the sky and leaving only the illumination conjured by the dragons. If you should enter uninvited, a great Imperial will appear before you. Do not be afraid—he just wants to talk with you. He likes talking with everyone. His name is Quarus, and despite his friendly demeanor, he is the clan's greatest protector and one of their most stalwart drakes. Quarus sprang from humble but slightly troubled beginnings. Born to parents in the Sunbeam Ruins, he was possessed of insatiable curiosity practically from the moment he hatched. His first words were “What's that?” and he was forever blundering around the lair, craning his long neck to better look at various things or butting into conversations he had no business in. His parents were quite overwhelmed by his rambunctiousness, and after several embarrassing incidents, he was left largely on his own. As Quarus grew, he began exploring farther and farther away from the lair. “It must be the travelers’ blood in him,” others chuckled, for Quarus’ parents had come from different lands and had not expected to stay long in the Sunbeam Ruins. His father was solitary by nature and not too keen on raising hatchlings now; his mother ached to travel far and away, as Wind dragons were wont to do. The two of them had their own troubles to contend with, and so whenever Quarus went exploring, he was always alone. He did not mind. The Sunbeam Ruins were bright and beautiful. Light reflected off the polished pillars, dazzling, almost blinding. In such a serene place, it was easy for him to drop his guard, to forget that he was, after all, just a very young hatchling in a wide and dangerous world. He realized it one sunset. As the shadows grew long, one of them broke away from the main mass, its eyes glittering. Quarus had never seen a Darktouched Chimera before, but he had heard of them, and he was still too young to fight back. And although he was larger than it was, the beast could and would kill him if it managed to sink its fangs into his throat. Still, Quarus fought back. He batted at the Chimera with his forepaws, all the while baying for help. It was not long before someone answered. With a deep bellow, a huge bear charged past him: a Sunbeam Ursa leaping to defend its home. Quarus thought at first it was acting alone—and then he glimpsed the tiny Fae clinging to its back. The Ursa crashed into the Chimera like a wrecking ball. The Chimera leaped back; undeterred, it rolled to its feet and tensed to pounce again. This was the moment the Fae flapped up into the air. A sphere of bright light materialized between her paws, throwing the ruins into stark relief. The Chimera decided it had had enough. With a frustrated roar, it turned and headed back towards the west. The Fae shot the light sphere after it, and Quarus ducked down, squinching his eyes shut as it detonated. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and he heard the crash. It took some time for the ringing in his ears to subside. When it did, he was conscious of another dragon patting his arm, asking if he was all right. He tentatively cracked one eye open. A small band of dragons had clustered around him. “Are you all right?” asked their leader. He balanced his pearl on his feet as he pressed his forepaws against Quarus’ shoulder. “We usually don’t gather here....My word, if we hadn’t come by with our guards, you’d be in quite a jam!” He went on to explain that he and his companions were gatherers. They hailed from a clan in the Ashfall Waste and had stopped by to hunt in the Sunbeam Ruins. “Though it looks like our quarry got away,” the old Fae droned as she rode up to them on her Sunbeam Ursa. Her eyes sparkled with good humor, and the other dragons chuckled. And then her demeanor changed. “That Chimera took a bite out of your fingers.” It had—several bites, actually. Quarus sat down, grinding his teeth as the gatherers patched up his paws. The Pearlcatcher was muttering, “Too bad we can’t carry him; it’d be easier....” “He’s strong enough to walk. Aren’t you, li’l fella?” asked the old Fae. Quarus managed to smile at her. The gatherers accompanied him home to see that no further harm befell him. They were a chatty bunch and kept him entertained with stories. Though they had a warm and comfortable home in Blacksand Annex, they frequently flew to other territories to gather resources for their clan. “Your clan does the same thing, too, I reckon,” said the Pearlcatcher. Quarus mumbled an affirmative response—he didn’t really know what his clan was doing. His parents had never bothered to tell him. They didn’t seem particularly concerned about him, either, when he finally came home. Though the gatherers were welcomed by the clan leaders, Quarus’ parents seemed more annoyed than anything else. “Wandering off Shadowbinder-knows-where,” muttered his father. “You’re just like your mother!” Quarus was puzzled; why did he say it as if it was a bad thing? Sure, traveling could be dangerous, but as the gatherers had noted, it could also be for the good of the clan. And they got to visit lovely places and see such amazing things. Was that really so bad? The gatherers and their guards took their leave. “Thanks for offering to put us up for the night,” said the Pearlcatcher, “but we’d best be off. We’re used to flying in the dark—all that smoke back home; you know how it goes. But we’ll stop by to say ‘hi’ if ever we’re in the vicinity again.” The old Fae winked at Quarus. Her Sunbeam Ursa was picked up by another Imperial. And then off they went, vanishing among the stars. Quarus never saw them again, but he often thought of them in the coming years. He started to pay closer attention to the tales brought back by his clan’s gatherers and emissaries. They were every bit as wondrous as the stories he’d heard from the Fire drakes long ago, and they kindled his desire to travel to other lands and see those wonders for himself. When he couched his ideas to his parents, they didn’t disapprove, but they didn’t seem happy, either. They just...didn’t seem to care. It hurt Quarus to realize this, but he was a cheerful young dragon, and he quickly bounced back. He wasn’t being encouraged—but neither was he being held back. Once he accepted that, he felt incredibly free and light. He could leave any time. It happened one rainy night. A storm swept in, washing the Ruins clean. The gatherers were urged to take shelter, but Quarus felt the wind pushing against his wings, and he hesitated. He turned back to his clanmates, his mane whipping about his face. “I’m going,” he said to them. His clanmates were perplexed by his words; then they saw the excitement in his eyes and realized he was telling the truth. Nobody tried to stop him. He gathered himself and leaped into the air. Like the kind travelers who had saved him long ago, he was quickly swallowed up by the night. He rode the tempestuous winds and laughed at the crackling thunder. He was his own dragon now. 
Quarus had been smart enough to take along money and provisions. He was a good gatherer and could live off the land. He was not prepared for the loneliness, however. He had not been attached to anyone in his clan, but he missed the sense of belonging, the security of being surrounded by other drakes. From time to time he stayed at other lairs, helping out where he could, but always he found himself moving on. He didn’t regret leaving, but by now he was starting to accept that his “adventure” wasn’t as amazing as he’d imagined it would be.
His mind flashed back to the travelers he’d met. They had chattered gaily around him, spinning stories about their adventures together. That was the word: “together”. Adventuring was more fun when you were in a group. He thought about this as he walked on. His mother’s wanderlust had crept into him, but he had not inherited his father’s appreciation for solitude. Sooner or later, he would have to settle down. Find a clan that loved to explore, that regularly sent its members to other lands... “That wouldn’t be so bad,” he thought with a faint smile. Quarus was following a coastal road. The road was dusty, and he soon began to feel the itch of it against his scales. It was still light out, and not yet too cold, so he decided to go down to the nearby beach and wash the grit from his hide. To protect his supplies from wandering beasties, he found a nearby stand of trees and hung his pack from the branches. He slipped into the water. Like many beasts with huge lungs, he could hold his breath for long amounts of time. He dove beneath the waves to see the fish that swam past. Some of them came near and picked the dirt from his scales. It was, quite honestly, the first time in weeks he’d been pampered, and he soon began to drowse, his limbs hanging idly, raising his head to take a breath from time to time. A cold current brushed his side. Quarus opened his eyes. The sun was a mere sliver on the horizon, but by the fading light, he could see that the little fish had all gone. What had happened? What had scared them off— Something grabbed his tail. In that instant, horrible images of saw-toothed leviathans and Octoflyers flashed through Quarus’ mind. He thrashed away with a yell and plunged into a panicked scramble towards land. The sun slipped below the horizon, but as he glanced back, he saw a large shape beneath the water, surging after him. It was after him! Memories of the Darktouched Chimera flooded his mind. He was a young hatchling again, barreling through the Sunbeam Ruins, desperately trying to find someone to help. He splashed out of the waves and bounded up the beach, instinctively making to where he’d stored his supplies. He had to grab them and then flee. He could hide among the trees....Wait, that was stupid. He could fly! By then, the creature was right on his tail; he could feel its steps thudding against the ground, hear it huffing and puffing. He yanked his tail out of reach and turned around to face it. A bear. It was a huge beast the color of a tangerine, its dense fur sticking up in spikes. It didn’t seem focused on him now. Quarus watched with dismay as it bounded past him and began clawing its way up the tree he’d hung his supplies from. “No, wait...” he began, too late, as it knocked the pack to the ground. It ripped the flap open and pawed through Quarus’ food, singling out his fruit stores. As Quarus looked on, his expression gradually solidifying into a frown, it gobbled up his jars of jam and fruit preserves. It licked its webbed paws clean, and then it looked expectantly up at him, clearly demanding more. In this way, Quarus learned that the bear was harmless. It had come out of the sea and was obviously aquatic, so he supposed it got tired of seafood after a while, hence its hankering for sweeter fare. It was also annoying. Quarus continued following the coastal road, the bear trotting along behind, and it learned to stick close to him when he went foraging so that it could quickly nab the fruits and vegetables he found. Quarus, for his part, grumbled and griped about it, but on more than one occasion he caught himself sneaking tidbits to the bear and then looking around guiltily, even though no o After a few days’ travel, he came to a small village. The hatchlings clustered around to stare at the bear, which went to sleep in a patch of sunlight. Quarus went to buy food and ask about the possibility of taking lodgings nearby. The merchant who served him was a creaky old Snapper, her eyes as cloudy as her smile was bright. “My grandchildren have told me about your familiar,” she said as she weighed the berries he’d asked for. Quarus was about to protest, “It’s not my familiar,” but then he stopped and thought about it. Yes...He and the bear had traveled together for nearly a week now. He was, if nothing else, beginning to tolerate it. The merchant continued, “It’s a Sunsea Pseudo, and those bears do tend to be picky about the dragons they bond with. You should treasure its company.” “It eats a lot,” Quarus sighed, and the old lady laughed at him. “It stores up all that energy to fuel its magic. Sunsea Pseudos are regarded with suspicion in the Sea of a Thousand Currents; they’re viewed as impostors of the Wavebreak Snarlers. But that’s just an old superstition, really. They’re just like any other familiar. Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.” She placed the bag in Quarus’ paws. Quarus walked outside to where the bear waited. It ate a lot, but then, so did Imperials like Quarus. “I guess we do get along,” he thought, smiling wryly. And at least with a familiar around, traveling wasn’t so lonesome anymore. It couldn’t talk back, but sometimes it was better just to have someone who listened.
Quarus more or less grew up on the road. His Sunsea Pseudo remained a constant companion even when he left the sea. It didn’t seem to suffer ill effects from being away from the ocean, though it did seem happy with a bath from time to time.
Life on the road was hard. Quarus and his bear encountered monsters, marauding Beastclans, and even the occasional thieving drake. The Imperial was light and relatively unburdened, and he could pick up his bear and fly away, quickly outrunning any pursuers. As he was clearly not affluent, most would-be thieves didn’t bother chasing him. He drifted from lair to lair, and when he decided to stay, he helped with the gathering again. Always before he had been interested in stories of strange places and phenomena, but now he listened to worldlier tales: advice about gathering food more efficiently and the quickest routes to take. He had glossed over these before, since his intention had been to wander. But now he listened more carefully. The wanderlust in him was beginning to die out. He also heard fellow gatherers’ grievances: small groups could be waylaid; their hard-earned spoils could be stolen or worse, they could be killed or captured and then sold into slavery. Quarus remembered the gatherers who had saved him from the Darktouched Chimera. They had needed guards, too. Quarus’ wanderlust was dying out, but a new interest was arising in its place. When the Darktouched Chimera had attacked him, he had felt so helpless. It also still annoyed him that when he’d first met his familiar, he’d panicked and run from it instead of standing his ground. He had come away from both incidents unscathed—but what if he encountered a true threat in the future and was unable to simply fly away? “Anyone can be a warrior,” he heard the old Fae say. Actually, she’d never said that, but he could imagine her saying it. She had been a dainty old dragon not much larger than her familiar’s paw, but what a punch she’d packed! Quarus started to smile. If that sweet, little old lady could be a competent warrior, then so could a strapping young thing like him! Now his journey had a purpose. He would learn to fight; he would defend those who came to him for aid. Once he had learned all he could about fighting, he would volunteer as a gatherers’ guard. He had been lucky in that he had gotten this far safely. He wanted to make sure other would-be wanderers woul
With his dedication and optimism, Quarus soon became a great warrior. He was quick to learn, and his cheerful attitude won him many friends who were willing to impart their combat skills. He put those skills to good use as he guarded travelers, merchants, and of course, the humble gatherers each clan had. Gone was the wide-eyed young wanderer who had panicked at the sight of an unknown creature and fled to hide among the trees. Quarus was now confident, strong, and able to protect himself as well as other dragons. His Sunsea Pseudo remained with him as a loyal companion, and it, too, proved useful during a number of skirmishes in the wild.
As Quarus aged, he began to accept that his world-traveling days were behind him. It was time for him to find a clan to settle down in. Although he had grown tired of exploring, he still retained his hunger for stories, particularly the weird and perplexing ones. So it was no surprise that he found himself drawn to the Starfall Isles. By then, he had acquired a good reputation as a friendly dragon and a skilled fighter, and many dragons were willing to befriend him. Accurately though, his clan didn’t choose him. He chose them. It was a quiet afternoon. Quarus was strolling through the Star Wood Strand, his bear padding along behind. They came to a part of the Wood shielded by towering trees. The pillar-like trunks, the branches locking overhead all gave him the sense of being in a great temple, and he instinctively paused. A deep green Tundra appeared. He’d evidently been watching for some time, but Quarus hadn’t noticed him; his fur had blended with the shadows so well. “My eyes must be getting old,” the Imperial thought wryly. He bowed his head and rumbled, “Greetings. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was your lair. I’m just passing through.” “You are welcome here,” the Tundra replied. He seemed to be about the same age as Quarus, maybe just a little bit older. “Although I largely remain here to guide my clan, I do receive news from outside. Quarus, isn’t it?” Quarus nodded. The Tundra introduced himself next: He was Alibaba, originally from the Scarred Wasteland. In his youth he had left his birthplace and established his clan in the Starfall Isles. “You’ve traveled far,” Quarus said, delighted at meeting a kindred spirit. Alibaba laughed softly. “Indeed. I believe my traveling days are over; I have a clan to tend. Still, it’s not as boring as many youngsters make it out to be. Sometimes, all one has to do is wait, and the adventures and mysteries come to you.” Quarus found himself visiting the clan repeatedly over the next few weeks. He loved chatting with the dragons there, and he was particularly struck by Alibaba’s assertion that you didn’t need to wander to have adventures. It suited him perfectly now, and it wasn’t long before he became a part of the clan. He had made many friends over the long years, and when they heard that he now had a permanent home, they came to visit him. They brought gifts for the clan and tokens for Quarus himself: souvenirs of the times he’d stayed with other lairs, the adventures they’d all had together. Quarus treasured all these trinkets, and his den was soon filled with them, a veritable hoard of memories. Nowadays, every time a visitor asks about a trinket or bauble, Quarus’ eyes light up with memory. He takes the souvenir down and holds it out for the visitor to see. “This old thing? Why, it was given to me by a dragon I met some years ago. You see, what happened was...” Alibaba was right; Quarus doesn’t need to wander away for his adventures now. They come to him in the memories shared by friends, held in the souvenirs from escapades past, and he relives them as he tells his tales. Perhaps his stories will inspire another young wanderer, as he was himself inspired. Who knows?
~ The End
• written and coded for Solaleon by Disillusionist (254672)
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