Ausma

With its glistening snow-capped peaks and lush evergreens, there are some who crown The Southern Icefield the most beautiful region of the world; and in it lived who some would call the most beautiful dragon. A Skydancer name Ausma.

Ausma had many siblings, all blessed with rosy wings and crystalline scales and feathers that shimmered under the brilliant sun- tinting everything around them in a soft, pink hue. None of them however, could match her elegance and skill when it came to flight. Ausma would spend hours in the sky, preforming gentle arcs and swoops, followed by daring dives and sudden curves. She was a living example of why her kind earned their namesake. Whilst preforming one of her typical morning flights, the Skydancer came across something unusual amid the edges of the Snowsquall Tundra’s stark landscape- a huddled mass of yellow, brown, and cyan. Curious, she flew closer and came across a horrid sight- a Nocturne had crashed along the mountainside, one wing bent an an unnatural angle, while the snow underneath him was dyed with droplets of bright red. Wasting no time, the Ausma flew off, and thankful that a lair near her family’s had a Tundra serving as a healer. Together, the two dragons moved the the unconscious Nocturne onto a tarp, carefully moving him away from the mountains and into the medic’s lair, where he could be properly tended to.

The next day, her neighbor arrived at her lair, explaining the Nocturne had regained consciousness and was eager to personally thank her for her actions. Initially, Asuma intended to merely introduce herself before going about her day. However, she could help but ask how the Nocturne ended up in his situation to begin with. Obliquum explained he was from The Shifting Expanse and recently began traveling. Over estimating his own stamina however, he had crashed from exhaustion just before daybreak. Knowing very little of life beyond the her own region, Ausma was eager to listen to his stories, and they talked for hours. By sundown, she made a newfound friend, and promised to visited the lair every day afterwards; even bringing along leftovers her family cooked, as he also favored insects. Not wanting the shoulder movements to cause any stress on his recovering appendage, she she even helped him write letters to inform his mother of his situation.

Preforming her morning flight one day, Ausma heard a faint clapping from below. Gazing down, she realized she was had a spectator. Obliquum stood alone in the snow below, smiling cheerily. He had been encouraged to go outside, believing fresh air and sun would do him some good now that his wing had significant time to rest. Soon it became a routine for the two. She would fly in the mornings, and Obliqumm would watch, unafraid to express his fascination with her passion and talent. After two long months though, Obliquum healed and was able to fly again. Having spent so much time with the Nocturne- suddenly not having him around would feel like she were missing a lifelong friend. Though she did not realize it, he felt the same way. Not wanting their chapter together to end just yet, he asked Ausma to accompany him- and she agreed.

Since traveling with Obliquum, Ausma’s life has been a constant adventure. Being a lover of flowers, she hopes to visit Viridian Labyrinth and see the Everbloom Gardens. Though she loves basking in the sun and and the warmer climate of The Shifting Expanse, every so often she visits home, yearning to feel the stiff, arctic breeze on her feathers. Her adventure is becoming even more fun, as she and Obliquum are now the proud parents of four.

- Written by @lassavus