Fleeing her homeland of the Abiding Boneyard of the Scarred Wasteland, Navina needed a new home. Against both her grandparents and parent's wishes, Navina wandered for many weeks, looking for a place to call home.

She always felt like an outcast in her home lands. Though the lair she came from consisted majority of similar hued dragons, Navina needed a home where she belonged. A place that would feel like home in her core. And residing in Plague was not it.

So she left. She knew that the moment she stepped foot out of the Boneyard she would never be able to return, and she was more than okay with that. If she never saw another skeleton of a dead Boar it would be too soon.

After trekking through Wasteland for weeks, Navina was losing hope. She was thin, dirty, and lonely. Many a times she had attempted to take shelter in the various lairs across the land, but each time the permanent residents would chase her away.

Of all the Clans, Plague is most ferocious.

Navina was at the end of her wits. She had been travelling for what felt like months, when in reality it was a total of 4 weeks, 2 days. All this time however, she only had a clawful of good meals. Her wings were torn and blistered. Her claws dull after the long journey. She was ready to just lie down and submit to the elements when suddenly, just over the horizon, was a foreign fresh smell.

Ever since Navina was a hatchling, she had never left the Wasteland. She had shifted Subregions a few times, adjusting to the ever growing lair size, but she had never been aloud to venture outside the border limits. She knew of the other Clans that existed in the World, but only heard stories of them. As a young Dragon, she had especially been interested in the Starfall Isles and the Tangled Wood. But knowledge of other regions were scarce in the Wasteland. Knowledge was not a priority; survival and fighting were.

As Navina lay on the ground, about to give in, this new scent was a glimmer of hope. With the last amount of strength she possessed, Navina got up and followed the smell.

After a few kilometeres, the scarce barren plains of the Wasteland began to withdraw, and was replaced with a purple grass.

The dry air was turned into a thick mist. The smell intensified, strong and crisp.

Navina was nervous, yet excited. This land was completley new to her, and she was intrigued by both the smell of the region as well as the odd texture which she walked on.

As Navina walked, the mist thickened. Visability of the land became harder, and soon Navina found herself lost. Trying not to panic, she hurried along.

The further Navina travelled, the darker it became. Sound was muffled, sight was almost non existent, and the ground was becomming softer. Navina wanted to fly above the mist; see if she could get a better vantage point of this land. But her wings were beyond flight, and she was grounded.

Navina wanted to turn around. She wanted to leave this strange place and return home. Beg for forgiveness. Yet, another part was enthralled with this. It was all so new, so different to her past life. So she continued.

Eventually, the mist became so thick that Navina could see absoutley nothing. Not even her own claws in front of her face. With a choking sob, she collapsed.

Hope is lost.

As Navina lay there, finally admitting defeat, deep within the Shadows, something was watching her.

Likan had felt a disturbance in his home's borders. His long whiskers twitched with each footstep of this stranger. An outsider had entered his home. With permission from both Elysium and Dalinar, he set out searching for the intruder.

They were not hard to find. Bumbling along like a Wendigo, Likan followed the sounds; wary but alert.

Eventually he came across the source of the intrusion. Likan prepared himself for a fight against a threat, but instead came across a rogue dragon. This Skydancer was in very poor shape. Her wings were torn in places and her hide had lost all of its sheen.

Likan watched her for a while, following her close enough to see her, but far enough that she could not see him. At one point he thought he was seen by her, for she suddenly looked back towards his direction. He froze in place, and she turned back around, shaking her head.

The mist was getting to her.

When she did turn around, Likan could see that she had red eyes.
"She's a Plague dragon. What is she doing so far from home?" Likan thought to himself, still following suit.

After some time, she quickened her pace, beginning to panic in the looming forest. Likan too quickened his pace, yet still keeping silent and using the mist to his advantage.

Shortly after her spurt in pace, she collapsed. Likan thought she had suddenly died. But then he heard a faint sob, and knew she was succumbing to the darkness that is the Tangled Wood.

Deciding to announce his presence, Likan began to move in.

Navina, in her sorrow, began to feel like she was not alone. Bolting upright, she wildly looked around. She could see nothing, but she could feel eyes on her. She prayed to Plaguebringer that it was friend and not foe, for she did not possess the strength to ward off any enemy now.

Frantically looking around, Navina shouted "Who's there?! Show yourself!"

Likan, realizing this dragon was of the Wastelands and her sight could not see in the mist, stopped walking. Her red eyes were of no match to his purple ones.

From only a few meters away, Likan spoke. "Who are you, and why are you in the Tangled Wood?"

Navina, hearing a voice so close to her, startled so much that she fell over. Scrambling in the opposite direction to the voice, she attempted to compose herself. With no avail.

"W-Who are you? Where are you?? Show yourself, coward!" Navina said in a trembling voice, her words much braver than how she felt.

"I won't ask again. Who are you, and why are you in the Shadow region?" Likan said in a booming voice that seemed to come from all directions.

Navina cowered. She was terrified.

"I-I am Navina. I come from the Scarred Wastelands. Please don't hurt me, I don't know where I am. I have been travelling for what feels like months, and I just ended up here." Navina said, nearly in tears. "Ca-can you help me? I can't see a thing. It is so dark. Please. Don't hurt me." And with that, Navina desolved into a quivering mess, fearing for her life yet not able to do anything if she were to die.

Likan felt pity for this Sky. She was in such poor shape, and so obviously terrified. The Skys Likan knew were always such proud dragons, and for one to just lie down and wait to die meant that she was at her wits end.

Spreading saliva on his tail and promptly lighting it, he creates a circle of light around the two dragons.

Navina startles once again, not expecting to see a dragon so close to her. She blinks in the change of light, and looks at this new dragon. He is a Pearlcatcher, around the same size as she.

Likan steps forward. "No need to fear Skydancer. I am Likan, and I am going to take you back to my lair where the Guardians will decide what to do with you." He then offers a claw to her to help her back to her feet.

Navina hesitates. If she were at full strength, she could take on this Pearl. But, in her current state, he could knock her out with a single strike. She sighs, and gets up, swatting his claw away.

"Thank you." Navina says curtly.

Likan's ears flick back, detecting the harshness in her voice. "Or I could leave you here. I'm sure the Wendigos or Stompers would love to investigate your presence. They are worthy opponents, even at full health. In fact, I can hear one approaching, interested in the light I am casting."

Navina's ear feathers flick down in fear. She does not want to be left alone again. "No thank you. I would like to very much come with you." Her panic is showing again, she she curses under her breath.

Likan gives a single nod, and briskly begins to leave. Navina nearly trips trying to keep up. Following the bobbing light, Navina has no idea where this dragon is taking her. She simply follows, knowing there is no other alternative.

After some time, the bobbing light stops. Navina walks up beside Likan as he stares at a line of trees. "We're here."

Navina is about to ask where exactly 'here' is, when the ground begins to shake. The trees, as if by magic, part, to reveal a narrow path.

Likan walks on, and Navina follows once more. This time, the need for his tail light seems null; everything is dimly lit by an unknown source.

The two dragons walk for an unknown amount of time before they come before two giant Guardian dragons.

Navina's mouth drops open. Standing nearly three times larger than Navina, these dragons are intimidating, to say the least.

Likan bows, and Navina blindly copies. She can hear her heartbeat hammering in her ears, and she hopes that no one else can.

"Rise." The male Guardian says, voice booming.

Likan and Navina rise, and Likan speaks. "Elysium, Dalinar, I bring you the intruder to our land. She is a Skydancer from the Scarred Wasteland, wandering here by accident. She poses no threat considering her current state of health. She does not even possess enough energy to create a spark, let along fly. What should we do with her? I can rally a troupe to send her back where she came."

Navina feels her heart sink at the thought. She does not want to return to the Boneyard.

The silver and red Guardian speaks. "Skydancer, why have you entered the Tangled Wood? What did you hope to achieve by entering the mist?"

Navina, not looking at the Guardians, says "Well, you see, I came looking for a new home..." The last of her words getting quieter until the word home is no more than a whisper.

"A new home?" The blue Guardian says. "Why seek solace in the Wood? Wouldn't a dragon of your species do best in the Plateau?"

"Possibly, but truth be told I do not know where that is. I don't know where any of the other regions are, save for the Wastelands. I ended up in the Wood by accident." Navina says. "Please, I don't mean any harm. I just wanted to leave my previous lair, the Abiding Boneyard. I just didn't feel as though I fit in. I want to find a new home, one where i do fit in."

No dragon says anything.

"Well, will you please let me rest for a few days? Regain my strength so I can be out of your scales then?" Navina pleads, seeing that she is not wanted here.

"Fine. You many stay for 5 days and 5 nights. After that, you will leave to find a new home." The female Guardian says.

"Thank you." Navina says, earnestly this time.

For the next few days, Navina began to regain her strength. Her wounds were cared for, and she was resting. In no time at all, though, her 5 days were up. Navina was so heartbroken to leave. She had taken such a liking to the Driftwood Drag.

Though damp and dark, it smelled of pine and rainwater. The lair was small, but it was cozy. Many of the dragons were so kind to her, even though she was an outsider. But they treated her as if she were family. She helped a new mother with her hatchlings, and the younglings that ran around she would watch as the mothers hunted.

It felt like home.

But, a deal was a deal, and on the 6th day Navina was preparing to leave. Just as she was leaving, Elysium, the Guardian of the lair, halted her.

"Thank you for opening your lair to me, Elysium." Navina began. "Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine such kind dragons offering a stranger solace. You have a beautiful family here, and I am so glad that, even for a short amount of time, I can say that I was part of it." She ruffled her wings, fluffing up her mane in preperation for her journey.

"Well, a deal is a deal. I should be off and get out of your scales. I've probably over stayed my welcome." Navina said with a light hearted laugh, trying to cover her sadness. The great unknown awaited her, and well, it was unknown and great, and she was hesitant to go out and explore.

Luckily, during her short time in the Tangled Wood, Navina had become a little more accustomed to the dim lighting, as well as slowly starting to see through the thick mist that covers the region. She just hoped she wouldn't get lost.

"Navina, wait." Elysium said, looking down at the small Skydancer.

Navina halted. She didn't know the great Guardian even knew her name. She looked up at the large dragon before her.

"Navina, these past few days have come as a surprise for me. I was greatly hesitant on allowing an outsider into my lair, especially considering you are a Plague dragon, and they have quite the reputation. Our shared border is under constant surveillance. None the less, I am so glad that Dalinar and I granted you into our lives." Elysium said.

Navina blinked, not sure what to do.

Elysium continued. "So, with much talk with the other dragons, we have all come to an agreement. Navina, would you like to stay here in the Driftwood Drag with us? We can teach you all about our homeland, as well as about all other regions. You would make a wonderful addition to our family, as you already do."

Navina stood stock still. She could not believe it, and she hoped that this wasn't a dream. After a minute or so of silence, she realized that it was no dream, it was reality.

"Oh Elysium, I would love to stay here. I promise I won't let you down!" And with that, she bowed to the giant, and took off straight into the lair. She immediately went looking for Likan to tell him the good news.
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That was some time ago. Navina had been living in this lair for many months. She had many of her own hatchlings, bonded with a few familiars, and even had the opportunity to help the lair move to a larger area, the Wispwillow Grove.

Over the months Navina helped open the lair doors to many dragons who have been in similar positions to herself; fleeing their homeland looking for a place more suited to them. She also was able to slowly learn to see through the mist of her new home, and over time was able to adapt to the darkness; using the shadows to her advantage. Her purple hued appearence was very beneficial in a land of purple grass, and stealth seemed to come easy to her. Navina also recently was able to find a mate for life.

Yes, life here was good. She fondly looks back at the time she came crawling into the Tangled Wood, and likes to joke about it with Likan. She has seen many dragons come and go through her home, yet all the while she stayed.

She finally had a home.

A home amongst the Shadows.