Taima

I. Storms of Fate

It began with a storm. Common enough in the vast wasteland region known as the Shifting Expanse, but this one was a monster even for those who called it home. Taima, storm-wild and exhausted, finally found shelter at the base of an abandoned tower balanced precariously at the edge of the Carrion Canyon.

Her long time companion and occasional consort, Deimos, was nowhere to be seen. Her roars thundered out across the plains, over the howling fury of the storm. Even the mighty Stormcatcher, the god of storms, heard her from atop his spire. He dispatched Kyro, one of his many sprites, to investigate.

By morning the storm had passed. Taima woke to a hazy dawn and a curious new visitor. The brash, trash-talking little sprite berated her for bothering the god, which in turn annoyed her. They stared each other down, lightning sparking all around them, until a familiar roar interrupted them and drew Taima’s attention away.

Deimos had survived the storm. And he was not alone. Nestled safely in one massive foreclaw was (to a Guardian’s eyes) a tiny dragon egg. He had protected it through the long, violent night, hunkered down in the canyon. He was exhausted and battered from weathering the elements.

Just then the massive portal at the base of the tower clanked to life and slowly ground open, metal squealing against the corroded track. Dragons and sprite exchanged uneasy glances but, with Deimos injured and in need of shelter, there seemed to be little choice. Taima leading, the trio cautiously ventured into the cold dark.