Valoran

The grandson of the legendary Treesnek, the Clan, especially the Tundras, have been watching him warily, afraid that behind his innocent eyes lurks, a monster equal to or greater than his grandfather. Iskal has ordered him to be treated no differently than any other Clan member, and the Clan tries.

Vesper, however, took to him right away, and is now often found with Valoran curled up somewhere near him.

Valoran is good at knowing rumors about going ons in and out of clan. Too good perhaps? Who can say.

But somehow or another he weaseled the knowledge of the rebellion against Clan Stelaris and the Game Masters out of Sulor, and passed it to Gaila. Was it to give her a chance to redeem herself? To cause chaos? Both? In any case the message was given and that was that.

It is unclear what side Valoran is on if he has even chosen a side. He was aware the Games had continued long before Molan said anything, but occasionally interfered to protect his Clanmates.

He raised Sylva before and after her disappearance, but seems to keep his distance now, watching and waiting. Is he interfering with his Grandfather's plans for the Wildclaw or helping them? And what of Elita, the spiral he found as a hatchling and has raised since? "I found her in the woods," he claims, and if he knows any more about her, he's not telling.

Valoran specializes in a type of magic that is odd for an arcane dragon, shadow magic. He weaves illusions and hides himself with shadows, winds and whispers, an art he hopes to pass to Elita.

Those of the Clan who are more generous remember a time when Valoran was friendlier towards his Clan and more open.

More recently, he's made friends with Imriel, though even Valoran seems confused as to how this happened. He and the guardian hope to train a spymaster for the Clan, but their friendship is growing independently of that.

Valoran has learned the lesson of his bloodline, Everyone will be betrayed. Everyone. Perhaps his reason for stealing Elita is because he hopes to prove this wrong, to have someone who will never betray him. Perhaps he hopes to prove it horribly right. Only time will tell.

--

Valoran slipped back towards the Clan, careful not to dislodge the little one tucked into his hood, it would not due to lose her after working so hard to get her, get to her, first.

The area around the lair was clear, he would be able to slip in with ease. Excellent.

"Hold on just a little longer, there will be a little mouse for you when we're home and warm," he promised, earning a small squeak from the hatchling tucked under his hood.

He padded towards the entrance, eager to curl up with the little one.

"Halt!" A large imperial moved out of the shadows of the lair, Valoran halted before him, looking up to meet Kellan's gaze, perched on the Imperial's head between his antlers was the fae Rowan.

"Valoran," Kellan relaxed, "where have you been?"

"Out," Valoran replied, and hoped the little one would stay still, "just for a walk Kellan, why?"

"The leaders were worried when we noticed you were gone," Kellan rumbled, his green eyes studied the spiral a moment longer, "there's to be a meeting, you've arrived just in time."

"Excellent, thank you," Valoran wove his way forward, laying on the charm, "I'm glad to be missed but not to miss."

"What is beneath your hood." A question, in a flat monotone, made Valoran pause, as Rowan moved forward, the fae's frills flared out, "what is it."

Kellan reached out with his claws, Valoran shied away but the Imperial caught his hood and pulled back.

The little hatchling let out a squeak, Valoran turned his head to check that she was safe on his back. The little red spiral waved her front paws, almost batting at Kellan's arm.

"What is this?"

"She is a hatchling," Valoran mentally cursed, had her tail stuck out, what had the fae seen to cue him in to the deception?

Kellan squinted suspisciously at her, "she's not one of ours."

"I couldn't very well leave her," Valoran raised a paw to touch his chest, time to act, and act well, "I was trying to protect her, that's why she was under my hood."

Kellan leaned forward to sniff at her, "Hmm..." the Imperial tapped his tail, "well bring her with you to the meeting, Iskal and Shalestone can pass judgement then."

Valoran turned his head to gently nudge the smaller spiral between his shoulders, "okay little whisp, come with me."

Inside though he cursed Rowan, he had hoped to get some time to spend with her alone before the Clan started nosing around, like they had with Sylva. They'd prevented him from getting close enough, close enough to hear the whispers too. How was he to plan if he could not hear the whispers?

He followed Kellan towards the central cave, large enough to hold all their Clan, and settled in, he placed the little one on the floor between his paws, and dangled his tail for her, to let her play while he listened.

Iskal rose to address the Clan, the blue mirror looked over them, "as you all know, the Games are officially ended." That opening was enough to send the Clan into murmurs, the newcomers asking for clarification while some of the older dragons shared uneasy looks. Valoran's eyes darted around, Gaila, Sulor, then Gaila again, then over to Sylva, then Arawn, then Molan, and settled on Sylva. He could still see the traces of magic on them, that had pulled them to the games, and in the case of all but Sulor, revived them.

Sylva lashed her tail, the others looked uneasy, except for Molan, the large guardian seem to know what was coming.

"However, we have reason to suspect that this is not the case. We are unsure if Clan Stelaris has continued despite their claims other wise, if this is an outside force, or if this is a faction within, but regardless, it is clear the games have continued." Iskal stopped, and his mate stepped forward to continue.

"We must take cautions to protect our Clan from these games," she looked saddened, "I am sorry but we will be restricting the Clan to the lair as much as possible. We have plenty of food stored, and plenty of space within the lair."

Several voices rose out to complain, The Huntresses, a few of the more prone to wandering dragons, Aegean looked particularly cross. Valoran simply nodded, a wise choice.

Iskal's voice rose above the noise, "this is for the safety of the Clan!" he raised onto his back legs to see all of them, "for we are one, and we must be united against this threat! I will not allow them to pick us off one by one!"

"What about Felar and Birch?" Lace called, naming her children, who were currently away from the lair exploring.

"They're together," Molan replied, the Guardian shifted to his feet to address them, "they prey on dragons that are alone and away from home."

Valoran let the clan bicker and worry, instead focusing on the hatchling, who was nibbling on his tail, he smiled a little, "there there little one, that mouse will come soon. Or perhaps a beetle?"

He settled in, circling around the hatchling, who watched him with big pink eyes, as he cooed and whispered to her. Yes, this one, this was a good choice. He'd picked well. The Clan was still calling questions to Iskal, but they seemed calmer. They didn't matter though. All that mattered was her. He would teach her about the shadows and the whispers, like his own little apprentice, yes, how delightful that would be! She would be his, and no one else's. Finally, he would have someone who understood him, and he understood them. He hadn't felt this connection with her brothers, no, but her. He would have a chance with her.

"Valoran has an announcement."

"I do?" his head snapped up, and he looked around at all his Clanmates, who were staring at him, "yes I supposed I do, don't I, come here little one."

He lifted her up, she clung to his arm, barely half a meter in length.

"Is that a hatchling?"
"Where did it come from?"
"Is it a Treesnekling?"
"Can't be, I've heard they're all brown and green, look at that one, too red."
"Doesn't mean Treesnek didn't get to it."
"Poor little thing."

Iskal waited for the Clan to settle, "Valoran, what..."

"I found her in the woods, while I was out," he set her down and began to circle again, gently containing her, and separating her from the Clan, "she was lost, and so young, I couldn't leave her." Leave her to be consumed by the whispers, the whispers drawn to her clutch, so many whispers, it had been so easy to follow them, to see what commotion had stirred the shadows into such a frenzy. How could he resist taking one of them with him? When there were such beautiful plans, his plans and others, all whispering.

He knew, he knew what Iskal, Shalestone and the others did not. The Games were bigger than all of them, and would not stop. But for now, they could try. This would get him the time he needed for his plans.

"She's so little, and many of the original members of the Clan were foundlings," he gestured, to Sulor, Tazenia, Sykion and Lace, "we still have no idea how Talin got in our lair."

"True," the nocturne admitted.

"So was I supposed to leave her?"

Iskal and Shalestone approached, Valoran did not stop his constant circling, his pace unchanging, he could eat his tail right now, a constant Ouroboros.

The leaders watched both spirals silently before turning to each other.

"She stays," Iskal spoke, and Valoran smiled. With a dip of his head, he acknowledge his leaders and gave his thanks, gently picking up the hatchling.

"Valoran... What is the newest member of our Clan called?"

"Her name is Elita," Valoran replied, and carried his chosen one off. His plans started with getting the little one something to eat.