The above images courtesy of Flight Rising

---

Bio/info:

"But what happens to exalted dragons?" Chara asked.

The clan elders looked unsettled, and just responded with "They go to serve their deity."

"But what does that MEAN?" Chara asked.

"We don't ask these things" was the response.

"Exalt won't happen to you anytime soon honey, lairs recruiting to train for exalt usually only pay for dragons with cheap dowry. And enslaving other dragons is illegal across all flights, they couldn't force you to go anyways- just train you."

The thought of the auction house still terrified Chara.

There were plenty of free ranging dragons, right? Faes that leave because their nest is getting too overcrowded, groups of mirrors that travel in packs searching for food, guardians on their search. Clan progens and lost eggs had to come from somewhere. These progens and gen 1's were often on their own before joining an organized clan. Did exalted dragons just become these free roaming dragons, going to serve their deities in private? Did some ever join up with another clan?

Chara felt uncomfortable. She knew plenty of dragons were originally these free roaming dragons before joining a clan. But exalted dragons, ones specifically off to serve their deity? She never heard from one again after they left their clan. Had anyone?

There were many whispers among the hatchlings about what happens to exalted dragons.

Most agreed they became they became free roaming dragons, many even starting clans of their own. Dragons talked about mirrors choosing exalt as an excuse to travel in packs with their own kind instead of being tied down to a clan- mirrors as a rule of thumb tended to hate being tied down to a traditional clan. Chara didn't know how true this was. She knew for certain guardians often chose exalt as they reasoned their could be no better charge than their deity.

...But there were other whispers of something darker. Everyone knew of the eleven deities. But there were whispers of another, the gatekeeper. A reaper-esque type figure. A dragon that collects souls of the exalted. Naomi. Whether this happened as a immediate result of exalt, or after their natural lifespan of dutifully serving varied by who told the legend. Some said she had a single un-exalted mortal offspring named Willow, and that Willow had offspring of her own. Some even said these offspring possessed small supernatural powers, different than the normal magics achieved through training. Most of these legends involved death related powers.

Little was known of unconventional powers other than rumor and folklore. Some said that being free of Noami's blood wasn't a guarantee of being free of these powers, but the bloodline was an almost sure bet of having them. Others disagreed, saying only bloodline dragons possessed them. Still others thought the whole thing was a myth entirely. Some said these powers steamed from the shade itself, or that these powers were evil. Were they a curse? A gift? Or something in between?

Chara sat in the auction house, a scared hatchling, crying.

"It sounds like it came from over here..." another young hatchling seemed to say.

Chara turned around to see a little Pearlcatcher hatchling.

Why was this dragon even talking to her, weren't their species KNOWN for a mutual dislike of each other? Her initial thoughts were of disgust, mistrust, and fear.

A timid, kind voice asked "Are you ok?"

Chara nooded.

"My name is Asriel... what's your's?"

He explained it wasn't her time, whatever that meant. That she shouldn't stay at the auction house, as it put her at risk. He asked her to come with him, and they could grow up together raised by his loving clan instead. And he said he'd be the one to let her know if her time ever came.

Something seemed off about this hatchling. Something unsettling. Something otherworldly. But their was a kindness and an innocence about him. She chose to go with him.

---

Credits, acknowledgements, and other info:

-Dragon named after Chara from Undertale (although completely different character from my dragon).
-Asriel's quotes are all either from Undertale, or from the Underline comics (based on Undertale). I do not own, I'm only providing a link to the comic: http://youtu.be/iVzkfMbBH3k
-Theme song for her (I do NOT own, only providing a link): http://youtu.be/EBhFHJMVfiI

---