Riel

A Story from before Starfall 2016:

"Ecxuse me, do you have a moment?", asked Riel from where he stood in the doorway to the big study. The big study was a communal area dedicated to learning and discussion. It's walls were lined with shelves were dragons stored their research and some desks where dotted around the room. There were general silent study times and discussion times that were strictly scheduled and expected to be adhered to. Right now was a discussion time, but not much discussion was happening. Only two Tundras were there, the mysthic Emmeram and his brother the cosmologist Dres.

Dres was obviously distressed about the recent ending of the world. He had a star chart in front of him and was telling his brother how much work he had put into it and how he now could start all over again. When Riel interrupted them Dres sent him an annoyed look, but Emmeram seemed a bit relived.

"Yes?", Emmeram asked.

"I was wondering if you two could help me", said Riel and walked into the room while keeping a cearful eye on Dres hostile expression.

"Help you with what?", Emmeram asked patiently.

„Can you think of any way one could help the deities?“

„What, you think we know more than all those researchers and mages on the Starfall Isles combined?“, snapped Dres.

„No, I just... you were the only ones I could think of who might know of something else to do beyond sending exaltees to the Starfall Isles“, replied Riel a bit startled. He hadn't been with the clan for that long but Dres had never been this hostile before.

„Are you doing this to impress Riverfall? Are you still that unsure of your union? You have had hatchlings already, haven't you?“

„Dres!“, exclaimed Emmeram scandalised, „I know you are agitated, but please do not take it out on Riel, he has nothing to do with it and is only trying to help“

Dres drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then he exhaled slowly and shook his mane.

„Yes, I'm sorry Riel, I should not have said that“, he said. This week had simply been a lot to take in, what with the world ending and all. The night sky and the stars suddenly turned from a comfrting constant to a jumbled mess, his daughter moved out of the clan as she had been planning to do for a long time and to top it all off he suddenly missed Mumei a lot. Maybe because the sky was no longer the same as the one they had met under. She was with the Lightweaver now, and who new what state that realm was in right now? But that was no excuse to be so hostile towards Riel.

„You asked if we knew a way to help the deities? Well, nothing comes to mind right away, we would have done it if we knew“, said Emmeram, „But then again, this situation has never been there before“

Riel hesitated, but then suggested: „What if we prayed, sent the Lightweaver some energy? I now how to do that from Riverfall“

„Have you tried to do that yet?“, asked Emmeram.

„No, I have never done it alone, it is not an easy feat to enter a meditative state and connect with the realm beyond. But I though maybe you could do it and I could send some energy through you“

„Riel, I am sorry to say but I don't know how to do that either. Riverfall is our head preistess for a good reason“

„Yes, I now. I just feel so useless next to her“, he sighed defeated. It was not easy being Riverfalls mate. Their union was still rather young and oftentimes Riel wasn't sure if he deserved her. It didn't help that her very best friend Zuma clearly dissaproved of him too and that Riel still hadn't found his place in the clan. The only things he had been good for so far were being there for Riverfall, supporting her and having four hatchlings with her. At least with this crisis and her so incerdebly busy running the temple he would have liked to help, to do something.

„It's alright, next to her almost everyone feels useless“, said Emmeram to try to cheer Riel up. But Riel sent him a doubtful look. After all Emmeram had a designated role within the clan, was the son of a founding member besides that and had had a mate for quite some time.

„A prayer could never hurt though, right?“, mumbled Dres quietly, „And if the Lightweaver can't hear it right now she will once she comes back. No prayer ever gets lost. Beyond that just support Riverfall like you always do, maybe get her some really nice seafood“

They agreed, and prayed:

Dear Lightweaver, please come back soon and stop the world from ending, that would be really nice. And if you could let Mumei send word to my brother that would be very much appreaciated, he is missing her a lot right now.

Dear Lightweaver, thank you for all your kind gifts so far and for leading me to this clan. Please come back soon and sound, we cannot be without you. If I could I would do more for you, but I am but a simple dragon without any special talents.

Dear Lightweaver, if the sky would turn back to it's orriginal state I would be terrible thankful. Oh, and please come back soon. I miss Mumei, be kind to her please. Sorry this prayer is a mess, I need to sort myself out.

And then Riel went to find some really nice fish.