Hiro

The first outsider to enter the clan, Hiro began his life in a clan hailing from the Everbloom Gardens. His muscular frame made him well suited for battle and was taught to use his primal strength to defend the clan. However, like all Nature dragons, Hiro also exhibited a love for the flora and fauna of the world. So while he became an experienced warrior, he also tried to spread life wherever he went. He also kept a garden of his own and tended to it often, sometimes just sitting there and watching the various plants grow. Over time, his experience with plants led him to trying to create herbal remedies to try and help his fellow clan members if they fell ill or if they were hurt.

However, Hiro's tranquility was not to last. During a particularly vicious battle, most of his clan mates were slaughtered. Hiro left that battlefield a fallen warrior, racked with so much guilt and self loathing. How could that have happened? Why did it have to happen? He could have prevented it had he been more focused. It was his fault that they died, all his fault. These feelings soon drove him to leave the Viridian Labyrinth. He took with him only a few seeds from his garden, hoping to spread life once more.

He had no set destination in mind, but he knew he needed to be somewhere else, away from his horrible failure. After a few days, he grew tired and soon came to the Starfall Isles. Landing in the Starwood Strand that night, he was amazed by the plant life that surrounded him, plant life that he had never seen before back home. Momentarily distracted from his inner torment, Hiro began collecting samples and seeds, hoping to study these strange plants and to grow them himself.

After a few hours, he was discovered by a pair of dragons named Malefor and Dawn, who had been out on an evening walk that night. Seeing that he was an outsider, they offered for him to stay with them. Though a little reluctant, Hiro figured he could at least stay the night and accepted their offer, taking all the samples he had collected with him.

While he hadn't planned to stay permanently, Hiro was touched by the kindness Malefor and Dawn showed him. They gave him his own spot in their lair, made sure he was comfortable and made sure he was well fed. They didn't know him, yet they treated him like one of their own. Maybe...maybe it wouldn't be so bad to stay a little longer. One night turned into another and another and with each passing day, Hiro grew more comfortable with his new environment. After about a week went by, he asked them if he could be a part of their clan and he was grateful to hear them say yes. Then he began setting up his new garden in his section of the lair, planting the old seeds he had brought along with the new ones he had found.

Hiro hasn't spoken much about his life with his previous clan, he prefers not to be reminded of his failure, but he did let Malefor and Dawn know about his knowledge of herbal remedies. This has led him to becoming the healer of the clan and that was why he was asked by Malefor to try and heal a dragon he had rescued. She was unconscious and she didn't seem to have any visible wounds. So, he decided to look her over briefly before asking her how she felt once she was awake. When she opened her eyes however, Hiro was shocked to see there were as red as crimson, marking her as a Plague Dragon. He was quite reluctant to help her given that Nature and Plague dragons didn't always trust each other due to conflicting deities. But he had a feeling Malefor wouldn't be too happy if he chose not to, especially since he was the only healer.

After learning she was suffering from exhaustion and soreness, which had been caused by days of nonstop flying, he made her a few simple remedies. One to rub on her tired muscles and another to help get her strength up. He made sure to remind her that she would have to return to get more and despite his conflicted feelings regarding her, he did offer to answer any questions she might have about the remedies.

When he wasn't tending to his garden or helping other members of the clan as the numbers increased, Hiro was usually helping the Plague dragon, whom he learned was named Kara. He was a bit distant and cold towards her at first, really only helping her because he had to. But as time passed, he gradually softened and began to genuinely feel for her. As he grew used to her being around, he soon found himself looking forward to the time they would spend together each day. Never in his life did he think he would actually enjoy being around a Plague dragon and he was indifferent about it at first but that whittled away after a bit. Hiro also began to notice something as well. He could see the same sadness and guilt in her eyes that he carried in his own heart. Had she done something that resulted in the deaths of those she cared about? The part of his mind that held his old views told him she probably didn't have those she cared about. After all, she was a Plague dragon and they were raised to bring death and decay across the land. But if that was the case and she really didn't care, why would she have all that sadness and guilt inside her? Sure she didn't show it all that much, nor had she spoken of it, but he could see it because it mirrored his. Still, he wasn't sure he should ask. If she had gone through a situation similar to his, he had a feeling she might not want to talk about it.

So time passed on, the two dragons getting closer and closer. By now they were spending time with each other even when it didn't involve her getting medicine from him and Hiro realized that he really was enjoying being with Kara. Not only that, he always felt a tinge of longing when she wasn't with him. Sure he knew she was probably safe in the clan's boundaries, but still. He really enjoyed spending time with her. Was it...love? Honestly, he wasn't sure at the time. All he knew was his heart longed to have her nestled up with him, his wings shielding both of them, especially her, from harm. What's more, he actually felt willing to tell her at least what had happened to him. Despite their opposing deities, he felt he could trust her.

On the night on which he planned to do this, Hiro was surprised when Kara asked him if she could talk with him, alone. He was surprised and worried, especially since her tone was serious and nervous both, but he agreed and the two of them headed out to the Starwood Strand. Once out there, they two dragons sat in silence for a while before Hiro asked what it was she wanted to talk about. He also reassured her that he would listen and that he was there for her. That seemed to stir something in her and she soon began telling him a story. A story about her and her clan, how her inexperience and youth had led to many unfortunate occurrences and finally resulted in the deaths of all the clan members. She was so sure she could have prevented it and revealed that she had fled her home in guilt. By then she was in tears and Hiro finally knew for sure that her past mirrored his own. When he wrapped her up with his body and wings and began to reassure her that things would be okay, she nestled up to him and said three words that made his heart jump up.

"I...I love you..."

For the first time in a while, overwhelming happiness and glee filled Hiro's being. It was a wonderful feeling indeed to have the one he loved love him back. So with a smile, he told her that he loved her too. That seemed to help and she slowly calmed down after that. After that night, Hiro and Kara became closer than ever, sharing a spot in the lair and spending as much time together as possible. He also bought her a special necklace from an auction and she soon did the same for him with a familiar. Hiro didn't even care that she was a Plague dragon anymore. All that mattered was that they loved each other. The biggest example of this was during the Riot of Rot where he not only accepted that she wanted to celebrate it, but celebrated it along with her and was okay with her obtaining an Enduring Goblin during the festivities.

Nowadays Hiro enjoys a peaceful existence in the clan. He no longer judges other dragons based on their Flight, having realized that was unfair and unkind of him before. He still functions as a healer and he and Kara work hand and hand, using his knowledge of medicine and her knowledge of sickness to make many breakthroughs. When not spending time with Kara, Hiro often tends to his garden, helps other clan members or just relaxes in the company of his Greenroot Janustrap, a gift from Kara. He is much more understanding than before and is always ready to help someone in need. He also enjoys just spreading life wherever he goes, something from his old views he still clings to.