Hyacinth

'Oh Gladekeeper... I thought my blood was supposed to be warm...' I thought to myself as I stumbled into yet another tree, the bark grinding painfully against the open wounds along my side and leg. I gave out a hiss of pain and stepped away, my left leg giving way and dropping me to the ground. Blood stained the undergrowth around me and I writhed around for a few moments as I attempted to force myself to stand. Then again, was it so bad to just lay here and fall asleep, maybe it'll turn out to be a... I shook my head to clear those thoughts and pushed myself up. Leaves stuck to the slashes, saturated with blood. I didn't know much about medicine but I was pretty sure I was losing too much blood for it to be healthy.

I dug my claws into the soil underfoot and forced myself forwards. Pain lanced through my body but it was muted, I was starting to feel cold now. 'Come on Hyacinth, you can survive this.' The thought of the others of my clan forced my body to continue forwards although I was slow. That was okay, I just had to keep putting one leg in front of the other and eventually I would reach home and someone could help me. That thought made me happy, it was a long way to go but I would... There was a rustle there wasn't there? My head snapped around and my eyes widened, I saw movement, some of the bushes around me were moving, was that a shadow I saw dash behind that tree? Why did I think it was such a good idea to borrow from that apparently abandoned nest?! I didn't even see the thing that struck me, all I knew was that one moment I was reaching in to take some shiny trinkets and the next I was twenty feet away bleeding from too many wounds to fathom.

Had it followed me? That dark creature. I couldn't see anything around me, I could hear the movements of the forest around me, the gentle creak of trees, the shift of small critters running through the undergrowth. Something larger was lurking there, my dewclaw twitched in anticipation. Was it moving? I couldn't tell, it felt as though it was about to lunge. I dashed first. It was agony, forcing my tired muscles to move like this, I could feel my hide shredding as I put strain on the wounds but I dashed, body low, wings tucked in against my body as I ran. Flight would be no use, I'd need to find an opening and ready myself and by that point I'd be done for, ripped apart before I even knew what was happening.

All went black.

I was snapped back to life as my back slammed into a tree, the bark cracking and trunk splintering as my bulk was driven into it. All I could see was a shifting mass of black before my eyes, the occasional flash of gold as its eyes snapped around and the glint of teeth like obsidian, reflecting the wan light coming in from the canopy. It would seem I couldn't run any longer, this thing was faster than I was. I lashed out my hind leg, dragging my claws along the beast's chest and throat. It felt like I was cutting oil but it reared back, a horrific keening wail leaving it, or I could only assume it was making that noise. My sight vibrated with the volume of it but I got up and pressed the attack. I pushed off the tree and landed on the thing, teeth sinking into it, claws scrabbling to gain purchase or rip it apart, to be fair I wasn't sure what I was doing anymore.

The taste of coal entered my mouth as my teeth sunk in and pain ripped through my wing as clamped down onto the bone and crunched, snapping it. I hissed in pain, my vision hazing over. There was only so much I could take and it would seem I was hitting my limit. I didn't want to die. It would seem this thing was not giving me a choice however. Claws were driven into my stomach and I was hauled off of it, thrown like a stuffed mith into another tree, branches driving into me, ripping my already battered body apart even more. The creature of darkness was nowhere to be seen, I had scared it off, wounded it but it was too late now.

Time seemed to slow as I slumped to the ground, my blood leaking out into the soil around me. Would I nourish a new generation of life? Would I be the catalyst for a colour of flower? I guess for the first time I felt serene. I felt the weights of my worries falling from my back as I lay there and I admired the world around me. Insects chittered and small creatures came back to investigate the scene of the fight. It's strange what you notice as you die, with the world nice and slow around you. I saw a bird watching me before giving a caw and fluttering off. A strange purple light shone from beneath a tree and an odd limping badger walked past, seeming to hold the same glow. I didn't care though, I guess I was free...

Host?

Confirm.

Suitable?

Confirm.

Spread?

Confirm.

How long had I been lying there? Hadn't I been wounded?

Confirm.

I twitched and blinked a few times. My body was working fine, purple threads were stitching the wounds together. I didn't even seem to feel pain anymore? Then again I wasn't who I was before was I? I could feel the last vestiges of my conscience slipping away, my body wasn't dying anymore but I was. I gave a quiet sob and attempted to move. My body didn't respond. I didn't even twitch this time, I just stood there. I could feel the whispering in the back of my mind growing louder, had that always been there?

Deny.

Oh. It would seem this was my end. I hoped this whisper wouldn't try and harm anyone I knew.

Deny.

Life.

Confirm.

Well that was good at least.

I twitched my claws, making sure the nerves were connecting properly. I looked over my wounds, especially my wing but the burst I gave my body when I took control seemed to have healed everything. My secondary consciousness had already faded. That was good, wouldn't do to have conflicting commands. I couldn't go back to the clan that my old consciousness had, they would recognise the differen- The beast was still here.

The pain of the memories flashed through my mind and I settled into a fighting stance immediately as the oily creature slithered from the darkness. Had it always been so dark? No, it was turning to night, rapidly it would seem. I readied myself to leap forwards before a bolt of light shot down from on high. I stumbled back, snapping my eyes closed and throwing a wing up to deflect the light. Crackling sounded, I could smell ozone. I looked around once more and a new dragon had entered the fray. Lightning crackled around the fur running down her and she gave out a long hiss of rage. With a flick of her head, another bolt of searing white shot forwards, snapping through a tree and sending the black creature fleeing, it seemed like it was barely able to see now... Must have been too used to the darkness.

"Child, are you well?" Her voice was soft, motherly. I looked over her body, soft markings in grey covered her and I swallowed before nodding.

"I... Wash... Fraid..." I mumbled, trying to get control of my vocalisations but she didn't seem to mind. She moved closer and looked over me, checking for wounds apparently. She didn't seem to mind the cluster of mushrooms that were starting to grow on my back and neck but that was good. "I was afraid that it would kill me." I told her, my voice was still slow.

"Shhh, it's alright my dear. You are safe now." The Imperial murmured, reaching over and gently stroking her claws across my face, almost tenderly. "You're alone and scared, I could see that from above. If you do not have a home, please come with me. I can take you in, I can keep you safe." She whispered to me. New life it would seem, that was good.

"Yes... Yes please, I would enjoy that." My speech was becoming more fluent, that was good. It would help me blend in but I'd need time to sort through these memories. "My name is Hyacinth." I told the other dragon, stepping closer to her to let her protect me. I could tell even now I was not used to combat, thankfully this other dragon seemed to be.

"A beautiful name. I am concentration. Now come, we'll get you some food and a bed for the night." I was happy, I believed, it was difficult to tell for now but I would learn, especially with someone so motherly helping me. I set my claws and strode off following her leaving my death... And past behind.



Lore by Redemption
















((old lore))

Hyacinth.....

She was once alive. Yes. But an unfortunate incident caused her to... Die. Rather early. But it wasn't the "end" for Hyacinth. After dying, a colony of mushrooms began to grow on the back if her corpse. To her surprise, "she" was re-animated. Or who she thought she was. Truthfully, it isn't her at all, but the fungus that gained access to her brain. Her personality, memories, and behaviors. For now, she has a terrible fashion sense, but overtime, she'll get back into the swing of things.

She is the clan mage.

She has also shown interest in Clef.