Aelphis

Aelphis is the firstborn son of Apophis and Delphi. Not just the firstborn, but the result of a lone egg nest. Without company of brothers or sisters he took to rather rambunctious ways in the Stormwing lair. His first memories are of following his father out to 'help' guard the lair. Proud as any he strutted after, nearly making it to the entrance, but was bustled back by his mother once Apophis noted him in his shadow. Bored and more than a little rambunctious he took to playing with the spirals to keep himself busy. He rarely understood Lapis or Lazuli's manner of speech, something too quick about their words, but he pretended to get what they were saying nonetheless.

After creating too much trouble with the spirals he found himself being cared for by his mother or his father a bit more often, which he enjoyed. Usually only one at a time as the other was always guarding the lair. His eyes always shown brightest at the changing of the guard, always proud to know his parents were the ones everyone trusted to keep them safe. Someday at that time he was able to sit with Apophis and Delphi and even tried some of their favorite Cindervine tea. He did his best to not make faces but at his age it was perhaps a bit too spicy for him. Aelphis does his best to be stern like his father, and developed his mother's habit of fastidiousness.

One day he remembers his father allowing him to come with him to the entrance. Aelphis did his best to remain still and alert, and he swears he didn't fall asleep. But he can't remember when the skydancer arrived or how his father got to talking with the one he knows these days, as Puck. The skydancer talked about lightning dragons that lived far away in an Ice lair deep within the Fortress of Ends. Puck himself lived there and often traveled. He had come to Stormwing den to inquire about certain parts the lightning dragons needed for some heating device back home.

Intrigued Aelphis listened to the conversation then, and the next day when the skydancer returned with parts and payment. An immediate friendship was made as soon as the young imperial got to talking with the skydancer. He was intrigued by the tales of the hoarfrost and the things collected there, it sounded dangerous, and exciting all the same. Puck invited Aelphis to return with him, those that lived at the Fortress of Ends would welcome him there.

He was unsure at first, and declined the offer. Still he talked it over with his parents through the long night watches. Apophis and Delphi were more than enough to guard Stormwing. He might be a lightning dragon at heart but how could he prove himself while stuck beneath his parents' shadow? The next time Puck came to visit he announced it would be his last visit. Once more he extended the offer to Aelphis to join him. This time with his parent's blessings the young imperial decided to leave for the southern ice flight continent. There he has just started settling in. It's cold, but somehow it feels like home. Puck gave him a scarf he had found back in lightning lands. Something to keep him warm in the strange icy land, and bright blue to match his natural flight.


Ever since he traveled to ice flight and joined the new lair Aelphis has been growing and learning. He is extremely ambitious, proud of his heritage and vastly curious. Above all he wants to be strong and prove himself the equal of his parents and all the dragons within his new family. Puck helped to train him and the young imperial roamed far and wide, hunting, fishing, gathering, and most importantly fighting. Aelphis had a knack for battle, Puck said it must be in his blood, but it was more than that. Soon enough his best friend couldn't teach him any longer. So Aelphis trained with the trio known to the clan as the battleclaws.

Arrayed in armor and battle worn, they were the elite, in a league their own. Rezz almost seemed robotic, wounds healing unnaturally fast, Lavi kindhearted and jovial, but murderously fast and heedless of danger when it came time to fight. Last was Althea and she impressed Aelphis the most. He began to learn even more from the wildclaws, clan secrets and fighting techniques he had never seen.

To this day he learns with them, still but an apprentice in comparison to their skill and experience. But Aelphis will not be content to simply dwell as a fighter in the clan, his mind is still keen and his curiosity boundless. Wash has taken an interest in the younger imperial. Even taken to counseling him and letting him shadow on days he is not training with the wildclaws. Zoe is more hesitant to accept Aelphis. Ever the cold calculating ice dragon she is not as openhearted as the wind born Wash.

Aelphis continued to grow, to lengths that astounded the clan, and today he stands as the largest dragon of the clan. These days he looks down on all the dragons, and his wings easily cast a shadow over them all. Only Warden could hope to compare, but he is rarely with the clan, his devotion to the Icewarden so complete he never leaves the deity's service. Today Aelphis is considered a family member in full, and he will fiercely defend the clan he has grown up with. His ambitions are still great, but he has come to love the dragons he chose to join and their needs and safety are his priority. Should he ever meet his parents again, he would not be lost in their shadow.


Not long ago Puck came back from an ambassador visit to the Shifting Expanse. At first the skydancer wouldn't meet his friend's eyes. Kept his wings and head low. Eventually Puck got the words out. Delphi had passed away. Aelphis has not been able to talk about it yet.