Erie

Even though her colors aren't the greatest, as soon as she hatched I noticed her likeness to a shiny Noivern I hatched a few years ago with the same name. I actually came to like her quite a lot, and now I don't really want to get rid of her, haha.

She used to be the only one in the den because of lore. Well, that and I could never find a place for her up top. On 5/12/22, though, she finally made her return to the Outskirts. I've got some ideas for her, and with a fresh coat of paint, it's time to theorize!

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Erie was one of the first children to be born to Rinus and Galeca, the founders of the clan. Very determined, she wholly dedicates herself to every task she sets on. Although she is not the strongest, the other dragons, especially smaller ones, find her intimidating because of her powerful color scheme. She does have a temper and huge wings, which she loves to use to start whirlwinds when she's upset. She is also considered one of the elders of the clan, and the other dragons are all sure never to misbehave around her.

She has a great love of flying, so when she's free of her self-appointed sheriffing duties she always takes the opportunity to go for a nice flight. The adventurous type, she'll often stray from the Lightning turf. She has run into some conflicts with other clans because of her wandering, but she is also quite speedy and always managed to get out relatively unscathed. She is careful not to start any wars, having developed a habit of running when she wanders into trouble. After a string of incidents where Erie was chased back home, she's since stopped straying as often, settling for border patrol.

Erie has also met many of the clan's newcomers since she is always found on the outskirts of the lair. Somehow outsiders seem to find her quite welcoming, which baffles the dragons she lives with. Because of her hidden ability to recruit outsiders, the clan often spreads rumors about Erie being more like her mother than she lets on. Some of the other border guards have reported her personality to shift to hearty excitement when meeting new ones.

Or maybe those newcomers wonder how a clan could be so accepting of such hideous colors.

...

For decades, Erie tirelessly patrolled the edges of the clan. Given she believes the Outskirts are her charge, combined with her determined nature, she was found there day and night, barely stopping to rest. The Peacekeepers, particularly Zentangle, started to notice her fatigue over time, but even when pointed out Erie did not falter in her duties. Eventually, Zentangle challenged her to a spar to test her remaining strength. Only when she was brought down easily did she concede that she was not well enough to protect the Outskirts any longer.

She spent years in the newly formed Den deep beneath the Canyon, dug in the farthest reaches of the caves, supposed to be resting. While down there however, she spent her days using her remaining strength to dig, to grow the space for others. Thanks to her work, the den is large enough to accommodate a very large number of dragons that may need a rest from the surface. Once she completed the caves, she retreated to the central hub of the place, where she would continue to greet those making the trek downward.

Only once the number of visitors stopped growing and she became accustomed to the regular community there did she finally begin to rest. She went to sleep, and stayed so for a long, long time.

When Erie finally awoke, she felt that her strength would never return to what it once was. Her scales had molted, revealing a darker pattern beneath. Realizing that her old habits had weakened her, she eventually traveled back to the surface. Upon returning, she discovered her younger sister Artemesia, who had begun protecting the border in her stead, as well as Rapidfeet, a much kinder Guardian.

Honored that her smaller sister would adopt her purpose, she asked the young one if she could return and if the two could work together. This was news to the rest of the guard, since Erie had always liked to work alone, but the clan hopes that this is proof of growth.

Since Erie's return, she has not broken her promise - and she even seems relieved to have some assistance. She's also seemed much less gungho since her return, and always a bit tired. Inside of her lair, she keeps a small collection of her old, brighter scales, which have since become her new true charge. It is admittedly easier to care for.