Aello

Received as an egg for placing second in the 2017 Mistral Jamboree's Writing Competition - Words on the Wind category.

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You're sitting around a campfire with Tersia, Orchai, and several other dragons when something golden flickers in the sky above.

At first, you dismiss it as nothing more than another meteor. But then it appears again in the corner of your eye, closer. At this point, some other dragons have noticed the flicker as well, and a murmur spreads among the group. Tersia straightens from their lounging position on a log, a hand by their eyes to block the firelight.

"Rune, can you see what or who that is?" they ask, a strange anticipation coloring their voice.

Runespectre stretches her neck, and then a god half of her torso, up towards the golden glimmer, which is now appearing every few seconds and growing more detailed with every one. Runespectre studies the glimmer for a few seconds, then gasps.

"It's Aello!"

At the name, everyone bolts upright, calling out the dragon's name. They take their time soaring down, more details becoming apparent with each pass - first the swaying of metallic cloth and ribbons, then bright green wings, then the form of a Nocturne. When they finally land in front of the group, Tersia rushing up to greet them, their eyes glimmer an electric blue.

Tersia chatters with Aello quite excitedly for a minute or so before turning to the group.

"Aello has returned, and she has brought with her tales of the Viridian Labyrinth!"

There's some cheering as everyone crowds around Aello, waiting for her to begin her story. Her voice is quiet, subdued in a way that casts a spell over her listeners. You're about to join them when Tersia slithers over to you.

"I'll introduce you properly later," they whisper, much quieter than you could ever manage, "but that's Aello. She travels all over Sornieth, seeking out sacred places and then bringing tales back to us. And sometimes artifacts, though that doesn't seem to be the case this time." They pull away and smile, gesturing for you to join the others. You settle down, careful not to disturb anyone as Aello begins to speak of a shrine to an insect deity deep within the Labyrinth.

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