Valerie

Lucifer was desperate. Not a single one of the dozens, if not hundreds, of guardians he'd encountered showed any reaction to Elske, and both of the dragons were starting to tire. They settled down to rest in what looked like a clearing, deep within the Lightweaver's territory. They were far from any clans, and no wild dragon would bother them so long as they kept quiet. His first official mission, to help his best friend no less, looked like it was going to be a complete failure.

As Lucifer was about to drift off to an uneasy sleep, the ground beneath him shook, then erupted. The dust of the long dead choked the air. With the flap of one mighty wing it cleared, leaving Lucifer face to face with a guardian that, once upon a time, could've been quite beautiful. Right now though, she was nothing but a monster. He grabbed Elske and fled, leaving the creature behind.

As a guardian is wont to do when it discovers its Charge, Valerie followed, despite being so very incredibly dead. Eventually she caught up, and at a loss of what to do with the dragon that was swiftly becoming a corpsicle at her front door, Rem decided to let her guard the Charge who'd been born long after she died. Some dried flowers for the smell, a clever fire spell from Plinian to keep her from freezing, and a quick check-up by Shriek, and she was able to walk the clan grounds as freely as any other. The mask was given to her by some brave hatchlings, who wanted to give her a smile - or her empty skull was giving them nightmares, depending on if you ask the hatchlings or Mytho. The expression changes daily and competition for who gets to draw it is surprisingly fierce.

Valerie is quiet, to the shock of no one. She does literally nothing except shadow Elske all day, every day. Other guardians in the clan can't decide if she's the ultimate example of a guardian's devotion, or a grotesque mockery. Elske, as far as anyone can tell, hasn't noticed her new bodyguard's affliction.