Saphira

Saphira, the great counselor

Saphira smiled to herself as she walked alongside her parents. She knew something they didn’t know. Should she be ashamed of herself? …maybe. But she was still excited. She had been extended an offer to visit, maybe even stay, in a Plague clan.
She wasn’t exactly the most adventurous of dragons, especially not in the way that most dragons would define adventurous. She didn’t like to explore strange areas that couldn’t be determined as safe or dangerous. She didn’t like to approach new dragons. She liked her safe little bubble.
But with the gentle poking on the outside of her bubble, in the form of an invitation extended by War and Famine, the leaders of a friendly plague clan, she felt herself growing a little more adventurous.
The only problem was…she had no idea how to approach her parents about it. She was afraid they would tell her that she couldn’t leave, that she had to stay in their ever-growing water clan…and she couldn’t do that.
Sadly, she never found a way to tell them. She snuck away in the night, leaving behind her a note saying, “I love you, I’ll miss you. Don’t worry about me, I’m safe. I’m sorry.”
She flapped her little wings and traveled all the way to War’s clan, where he greeted her with Famine by his side.
“Greetings, little one.” He had a large, commanding voice that she hadn’t expected from the letter he had sent.
“H-hello.” Her voice quivered and she wondered if it was too late to go back home.
“How was your journey?” Famine’s voice was smooth, and kind. Genuinely caring. Surprising for a dragon named “Famine.”
“Um…it was a little tiring, I’ve never flown so far by myself!” Saphira laughed weakly.
“I see. Come, child, we have food waiting for you.”
Saphira followed Famine, wide eyed, taking in everything and everyone around her.
A dragon that especially caught her eye was a male spiral named Cobalt. He hailed from a fire clan and something about him made her feel all warm and squishy inside. It was an odd feeling, and she tried to chase it away, but instead wound up shyly flirting with him.
They even laid a nest together!
But there was a tragedy. One of the eggs was hallow and empty. No matter how much she cried, and begged and pleaded with any god she could think of, the egg still echoed back empty.
Her obsession with finding a way to make her egg whole once more wore on Cobalt…and he left, giving her even more pain.
Although the dragon she had loved was gone, when the eggs began hatching…the hallow egg hatched too! She named him Teardrop, because her teardrops had held the magic that made him live.
But he left her too. In pain and despair she sunk to the floor of the cave and wept bitter tears. Was there anything to take away her pain and make her strong again?
A new dragon joined their clan. Another coatl, like herself. His name was Venogon, and they quickly became friends. They would talk until the sun was about to rise from bed, and laugh together until the moon was about to sleep once more. She had never felt so whole, so loved, or so accepted before.
Her pains were still there, but they were muffled by the companionship she felt with Venogon. She had someone to lean on now.
She wanted him to ask her to be his mate. She wanted it so bad. But he never made a move. He never acted as though he might have stronger feelings for her. He was perfectly content to be her friend and nothing more. She obsessed over this until she had nearly convinced herself that he didn’t truly care for her at all.
And then a dream came. Cobalt and Teardrop were in a line, the dragons who had left her. And beside them was Venogon. She wanted to reach out to them and beg them not to leave, but she couldn’t move or speak.
War strode in front of them and stood like a wall between Saphira and the dragons who had left and who she feared would leave.
“You think he’s going to leave you?” War’s tone was almost mocking. “Why do you think that? Do you think you deserve it? Are you unlovable after all?”
He spoke her fears and she tried to scream at him to be silent, that she wasn’t frightened at all, but again, she couldn’t move or speak.
“No one loves you. No one cares for you. You think Famine or I care? Ha. No one cares.”
Saphira felt a tear slid from her eye and down her cheek. That was all she was ever good for…crying.
“I CARE!” A strangled shout came from behind War, as with a flurry of feathers a coatl attacked him, knocking him to the ground. “I care about you, Saphira…but I’m scared to tell you how I feel. I’ve never loved someone as much as I love you.” Venogon locked eyes with her, then slowly faded away, along with War and the other two dragons.
Saphira felt her eyes open and stared straight into the face of Venogon.
“Saphira, are you alright?” He asked frantically, “You were twitching and moaning…you even screamed once!”
Saphira hugged Venogon tightly, “Venogon, be my mate. Please. Forever. I’m begging you!”
“You don’t have to beg….” He told her tenderly, “I’d love to be your mate.”
With a sigh of relief, she settled back down to sleep once more, nestled into her friend’s—no, her mate’s side.