Titus

Maximus could barely see in front of him, the thorns tearing at his pelt were all that reminded him that he was moving forward.

On his side was a crate, the wood thick to keep it’s contents safe. Inside three eggs were nestled carefully in moss, protecting them from the rough ride. Two were rather large, the third, however, was quite small.

Maximus had to get them out of the bramble. His infatuation with the dragon at the shoreline had led him into the shadows. He followed her, blinded to the darkness around him as she seemed to light up his life. However, he couldn’t stay, not anymore. The coming of their clutch opened his eyes, these babies couldn’t survive here, they needed to get to The Sea of a Thousand Currents, from there they would be safe from the beasts in the dark and could make their way to his Homeland, the Windswept Plateau.

In the distance a cave presented itself, beckoning to them with a promise of safety. He needed to rest, his mate was a small dragon, she could not catch up to his stride. After all, he had left without a word, perhaps she didn’t even know they were gone.

Delicately, he lowered the crate and inspected for damages. He peered inside to the eggs and found that all was well. He gazed at the small egg, the unfortunate runt he presumed, he needed to get that one out of here for sure. Closing the crate he sighed as he knew they were due to hatch soon, they would need to eat to survive the journey. Maximus rose with a grunt, he was exhausted, but foraging shouldn’t be hard, and shouldn’t take long. He took a look at his crate, they would have to stay here where it was safe. With that last longing look, he left.

-

There was silence. A whispering of wind as the brambles shook over damp ground. The silhouette of a creature in the bramble, sharing the likeness of a serpent, emerging from the murky darkness. It peered over a pile of flesh and bone and decided, much too big. The creature continued seeking for nourishment in a nearby dark cavern. The opening in the stone a promise of refuge, and where there is shelter, there are refuges.

-

A cracking amongst silence, a pair of blue eyes through dense fur gazed at the minuscule creature before it. The first meal for the dark.

Shifting. A new pair of eyes peered at a small creature. The second meal.

Silence. A tear as a pair of blue eyes met a creature his size.

The first meal for the serpentine dragon.

-

A small spiral slips from the crate, smacking as his first meal was quite viscous. Darkness hazed his eyes for a mere moment before he could see. With nowhere else to go, he continued his search for food.

---

Titus is known as a thief and nuisance. However true this might be, Titus does everything for a reason. Growing up with no clan, no family, nothing at all, Titus was hungry for all of it. His youth was full of hardships, but he found solace in making friends and acquaintances. As he traversed the land he went around picking up the forsaken, the down trod and the ones most would prefer dead.

Dragon after dragon his makeshift clan grew, from 2 to 4 to over 20 at any time. From just a gang of hooligans scavenging for food and shelter, the SV Mercenaries were born. As all members are quite skilled, it wasn't long until they were able to claim hidden territory, where they would hide and surface to do all sorts of odd jobs.

Eventually a time came in which they were too strong, the name of their clan was whispered among those who needed a good hit man, beast exterminator or bodyguard. Even if their clan was hidden well beneath the surface in a system of caves and underground passageways, there was the fear that one day they would be targeted.

For there was someone who has always been watching.

---

Titus and Rue do not have a great relationship. In the beginning, Rue would attempt to kill Titus every time she discovered him sneaking around their territory. Their constant skirmishes and encounters led to her discovering his past, and why he was so often sneaking about. For when she looked into his determined eyes, their cool blue demeanor reminded her of a pair of soft lilac eyes she knew very well.

Rue was the first to know who Titus truly was, and it made her even more aggressive than before. No one could know, the reputation of her friend and ally could not be tarnished with the birthright to this criminal. Eventually they came to an agreement, as long as Titus never showed his face to his own mother, then Rue would not target his people, and if at all necessary, which was unlikely, they would be there to help each other when a battle bigger than their clans would arise.

Titus may never be able to see his mother, to be embraced by the figure he sought for so long, but he understands. He understands that as it currently stands, he has a family already, and they would die for him before his own mother would know he was alive.