Izanami

"'BloodyRiot?'What the hell kind of name is that?" The female Guardian asked her mate.

"Well, what about our names?" He questioned.

"What about our names?! You want to give our child something as stupid as what we have, just so you can feel a little bit better about yourself?" BloodBaroness glanced down at the only hatchling of the litter, "Lame." She scoffed.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's with the attack? You told me I could name the first born of this nest because you got to last time!" BloodBaron protested, "And, since she's the only hatchling that was born, I'm the one whose gonna name her!"

"Baron, honey. I love you, but come on. Get real, do you really want our child to suffer from a name like ours?"

"Yes! I mean no! I just want to carry on the Blood legacy! I'm BloodBaron, you're BloodBaroness, so why can't she be BloodyRiot?"

"You know what, fine. Name her 'BloodyRiot' for all I care." BloodBaroness sauntered off in the direction of the Meat Hoard for a much needed 'Stress Snack.'

"Well, waa, waa, waa!" BloodBaron made a face as he mocked his mate. "I don't care what she says." Baron looked at his sleeping offspring with caring eyes, "You're a lucky one, to have a name such as ours. You're special Riot, unlike us, you won't be exalted to live your life freedom-less. No, you still have a chance; and you're going to be the greatest Warrior your new clan has ever known."

"'BloodRiot?' The hell kind of a name is that?!" One hatchling asked the cowering Guardian.

"Funny." She thought, " Those are the same exact words I remember my mother saying as Father was choosing a name for me."

"HA, HA! Yeah, that's so stupid it hurts!!! Like, what were your parents thinking when they named you? They must have been looking at a couple of dogs fighting for their lives!" Another babe exclaimed.

"Hey! That's a good one Screw. Ya hear that, BloodyRot? That's exactly what you are," San - a female Wildclaw - began, "a dog. So why don't you be a good little doggy and fetch me the freshest mongrel you can get your claws on. Speaking of claws, yours are disgusting. Don't even touch my meat, use your creepy spells to float it over here." The other hatchlings snickered as the watched Riot drag her tail to the Meat Hoard.

"What's wrong with me? I'm supposed to be the greatest warrior my clan will ever see. How can I do that when all I'm doing is fetching meat for hungry babies? San is right, I'm nothing but a dirty lap dog." A single tear feel from the hatchlings eye as she preformed a levitation spell on a plump squirrel; but no one noticed it among her blood-colored scales, except for one dragon.

A smooth, jade talon wiped the tear from the hatchling's face, and Riot looked up in confusion. Her eyes widened as she looked at the Imperial before her. At first, Riot was startled all she saw was a very large
and very frightening-looking face. And then, the clawed hand reached up and removed the ominous, smoking mask. And there, in the dusty clearing, stood the most Beautiful dragon BloodyRiot had ever laid her eyes on.

"Do forgive me for spooking you, the mask is just a formality." Her voice was silky-smooth; it tinkled as a chime made of diamonds might resound. Adorned with gorgeous tassels and ribbons, there was no way she wasn't royalty. She was so breathtaking that Riot had almost mistaken her for a jade statue... almost. Because after all her staring, Riot finally registered that the dragon had spoken.

"N, n, no. I, it's alright."

"Why do you cry so, little one?"

"Huh?"

"Someone with such talents should have no reason to cry. Why, it takes most grown dragons years to master levitation spells." For a moment BloodyRiot was speechless, no one but her parents had ever complimented her before, let alone a Queen.

"M, m-my papa taught me how. H-he said it would help me become a great warrior." Riot answered meekly.

"And he was right. Levitation spells allow a dragon to wield many weapons as opposed to just one." But their Chat was interrupted by a certain, demanding little derg.

"Honestly, how long does it take for a dog to bring its master some meat?" San made a disgusted face, "Hurry up!" As if she had finally noticed the dragon in front of her, San changed her demeanor completely. "Oh hello~" she cooed. "Who are you? And why are you talking to this piece of minced meat?"

"I am Jade on the Wind." Jade masterfully masked her annoyance with the rude child.

"Jade on the Wind? As in The Jade of the famed Clan, Wind Over Water?!?!" San exclaimed.

"I am she. And who might, You be." The hatchling jumped around, oblivious to the Leader's underlying sarcasm.

"Oh me?" She asked innocently. "I'm San! See how I sparkle?" She twirled around to emphasize how her crystallized scales caught the sunlight. Riot looked on with wistful eyes, "Oh, how I wish I'd been blessed with such a pallet... triple pearl, crystal and facet. On top of that, she has the rare opal gene. It's so unfair, there's no way Jade wouldn't choose her over me." And again, Riot found herself frowning.

"Yes, that's very unique, child."

"Isn't it!?"

"As it happens, I'm here to take a hatchling like yourself home with me today. To reside in my clan, of course..."

"Really? Sqeeee!" SAN let out an ear-bursting squeal. Riot hunched even lower.

"That's right. I'm looking for a very beautiful nestling. One absolutely breathtaking, one I've never seen before."

"Oooh! Oooh! Like me~?? Please choose me!" SAN ran in tiny circles, wagging her tail from side-to-side in excitement. Riot snickered, "Just like a dog." SAN glared at her in curiosity, but didn't ask for an explanation in front of the honored guest.

"Oh, yes. Very much like you~." Jade brought her massive head down to the children, and almost scooped San into her large palm... almost. Instead, she gathered up BloodRiot, much to both hatchlings' surprise.

"B-but WHY? Why would you choose such an ugly thing like that when you could have such a beautiful dragon like me!!?!"

"S, s, s-she's right! Why would you choose me."

"Because," Jade started simply. "To be beautiful means nothing if you are not kind. A vain flower will only ever wilt if it remains vain, while a humble bud can only grow if it never over-realizes its beauty."