Aloe

Ever since I was a young hatchling, I was seen as an outcast. My mother is of the Nature clan, and my father of Ice. Yet, I am an Arcane dragon. Born in the Observatory, my lair was a Great one. We, as well as a few others, ruled over the peaks of the Isles, always watching, guarding, observing.

I was the from the first nest of my parents. Myself and my sister. We were both the "odd ones out" of our lair.

Within just a few days, we knew we didn't belong here. The Isles were not for us. Neither of us seemed to posses any magic at all, despite being Arcane. Our fellow hatchlings would mock us for our lack of power. Despite our parents' best efforts, they too knew we belonged elsewhere.

My sister was the first to go. She headed straight to The Viridian Labyrnith, and was accepted right away into a lair of The Behemoth. From one Ancient Lair to another.

I have not seen her since. I hope she is well.

I, on the other hand, did not yet know where my journey awaited me. My mother urged me to follow my sister. Follow her origins. She was very proud of my sister for going to The Labyrinth. My father tried many times to coorce me into Ice. But I was not fond of the cold.

No, for me, I needed to be elsewhere. Somewhere none of my family had been.

After some consideration, and many studies of our World Map, I knew my heart resided within the Tangled Wood. Neither of my parents liked this idea, and they tried very hard to get me to reconsider. But I refused their pleas, and the very next day I left.

The journey was long, but worth it. When I landed, however, I felt a little in over my head. I've never travelled outside my land's borders, and the Wood is notoriously unforgiving.

After wandering for some time, I stumbled apon these precariously glowing mushrooms. And though enticing, something within me said not to touch. As I continued to wander, the mushroom growth increased. So much so that it became very hard to avoid stepping on them.

As I stopped to ponder the growth of a particular fern, I felt as though I was being watched. Slowly, I turned around. When I came a full one-eighty, directly infront of me stood a glittering Windclaw with briliant pink wings. She towered above me, almost double my size. She was also wearing Gold Filigree Armour. For a dragon of such bright colours, she sure can hide well.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "And what are you doing in our land?"

Trying to keep my voice level, I squeak "I am Aloe. I come from Starfall Isles in search of a new home."

This Windclaw could sense my unease, and due to my size she knew I was young. "Hello, Aloe." she began. "I am Arcell, and you are amongst my terriroty within the Wispwillow Grove. Come, follow me to my lair. Saphira will want to meet you."

Arcell began to turn around to lead me back to her lair. But she stopped, and turned back to look at me. "Careful child, the mushrooms are toxic to all but Shadow. You'd do best to avoid them."

"Yes, I have been doing so already. I knew they were toxic." I say brightly, for she confirmed my suspisions regarding the fungi.

"Really? How'd you know? Only Shadow dragons know of their toxicity, we do well not to tell others." Arcell said.

"Oh, no one told me. I just knew." I replied.

Arcell pondered that thought for a moment. She nodded, as if to confirm something to herself, and began to journey to her lair.

I followed as best I could. She was quick on her feet, and followed a non-existant trail. I thought, considering her bright colours, that she would be easy to follow. I thought very wrong, and on multiple occasions she had to back track to gather me.

When we got to her lair, she introduced me to the leader, a beautiful Skydancer named Saphria. I told her of my journey, and ended up babbling about my history and previous home and why I left and how I have no idea who I am supposed to be and was bullied and made fun of as a hatchling and how I fear all those words were right and I will end up lost and confused... She's very pretty, and the words just continued to come.

Saphira laughed, something that sounded like music, and told me that I am welcome to stay within the Grove and try to find my purpose. That I may stay as long or as little as I like.

Thanking her, I went to find a place to rest.

The next day, I ventured out of the lair; making sure to stay close, but far enough to curb my curiousity. I once again came across an intriguing fern. Inspecting closer, I could tell that within its verins were bioluminescent bacteria. Very faintly, though.

Wandering over to a glowing mushroom, I looked (but did not touch) and saw that it too was crawling in the same bacteria. This was most fascinating. It seemed that the native flora within the Wood possesed the ability to produce light.

I continued my inspection of plants all over the Wood, and collected many species which I did not know the kind. When I returned home that evening, I went directly to Saphira.

"Queen Saphira, may I have a word?" I asked, bowing.

"Oh, my dear Aloe, you do not need to call me Queen. I wear this crown simply for the look, and prove to my clan that I am their leader. In time, I may pass it to another. And yes, you may have a word." Saphira said, laying down to be at eye level to me.

"Even after only a day here, I love your home. The flora, the dragons, the atmosphere. Everything about it is absoutely wonderful." I say slightly rushed.

"Is that so?" Saphira said, intrigued.

"Yes. But especially the flora. You have SO many different species and families, I want to learn about them all! I can even tell which ones are poisonous, and which ones are fit to eat, and which ones are healing, and..."

Saphira had to interject "Easy now, Aloe. You've only been here a day, and none of these plants will go anywhere. Now, tell me, how do you know which plants are safe and which are not?"

I thought for a moment. That is a good question. How did I know? I had no guide, no previous knowlegde. "I guess, I just sorta...do. It's as if by magic..."

And then it hit me. Magic! Of course! I was born in Arcane, yet I showed no power whatsoever while I was there. That's because my power lies within Botany! My magic shows through plants!

I can barely contain myself. I knew I wasn't all that strange! "Ohmygosh, thank you Queen Saphira! You have helped me find my magic!" I want to jump up and hug her, but I've already drawn enough attention with my outburst.

Saphira laughs once again. "My dear Aloe, you figured all this out yourself. Now, I take it you would like to stay within my home and learn about your beloved, what did you call it, flora?"

"Yes please, Saphira. I would like to stay here forever and learn all there is to know!" I said.

"Then you are more than welcome to, my child. The Tangled Wood is your home now."
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