Cerimi

Lead Hunter

When Cerimi first came upon Karli's clan, it was a small one, only four members. Well three participating members and one that liked to hide in the cave most of the time. Karli was trying hard to bring in more members, and she had an advantage having a healer already a part of the clan. The first issue they were running into was that no one was organizing a hunting party. They were going off one at a time to get food for themselves, not really leaving anyone to defend the camp or the nests besides the sitting mother (or father so the mother could eat.)

Cerimi pointed this out to Karli, suggesting that instead of doing it this way, they organize a hunting party, a group that goes out to find food and bring it back to the whole camp, thus not leaving it undefended. Karli agreed, placing Cerimi in charge of picking her hunters since it was her idea to begin with. Cerimi had to choose carefully, she needed strong dragons to take down bigger prey but at the same time she didn't want to take every strong dragon with her as some were going to be needed for defense. That didn't leave many options but she did the best she could, recruiting dragons as Karli brought them into the clan, conferring with King first in case he felt they were better suited to his guard than her hunters.

When Shade arrived shortly after her, Cerimi felt an instant connection. Not the head over heels in love type but the good friend kind of connection. They were both new, both figuring out their place in the clan. Shade seemed to be a source of comfort for Karli, making her smile when no one could. Cerimi liked that about him, that he could comfort their leader without effort. Karli kept him close, which meant he and Cerimi spent a lot of time together.

They decided to have a nest together as their friendship grew stronger. It made sense at the time, mainly because they really didn't spend much of their time with anyone else. Their son Stark stayed with the clan, joining his mother's hunting party as soon as he was old enough. It warmed Cerimi's heart to have her son close, especially when he chose a young dragon from the guard as his mate.

Karli brought Sansa to the clan after finding her hiding in a cave, starving and cold. Cerimi noticed Shade's interest in her immediately and knew that Sansa was who he was meant to be with. Sansa had initially paired with Contralto and they had a nest, their children leaving soon after hatching to find their own way.

Cerimi soon realized that she was attracted to Contralto, something that made her feel ashamed. She didn't want to hurt Shade or Sansa, but she also couldn't help how she felt. Then she noticed how Sansa was looking at Shade and realized that this could all work out for all of them. She broached the subject with Shade, pointing out how he felt about Sansa. Shade felt guilty, she could tell, but she assured him she would be OK and to follow his heart, fully intending to take her own advice.

Contralto seemed heartbroken after Sansa left him for Shade. She wasn't mean about it, but it still hurt. He left the guard, unable to be around Stark because of how much he resembled his father. Cerimi offered him a spot in the hunting party to take his mind off things. He had considered leaving the clan, feeling that there wasn't a place for him, but Cerimi stopped him. She pulled him aside one night, asking where he would go. When he shrugged, she pleaded, "Stay with me." He didn't understand at first, looking confused.

Stark happened to walk by as his mother said this and he stopped. "Man you are dense. She loves you and is asking you to remain with her." Before Contralto could respond he moved on, sitting next to his wife by one of the camp fires. Contralto turned to Cerimi, the confusion gone.

"You love me?" He shook his head in wonder. "Why?"

Cerimi laughed self consciously. "Who knows why anyone loves? I realized how I felt when I noticed Shade and Sansa had feelings for one another. I was the one who told them to be together. It was my fault your heart was broken. But I had hoped that in time you would realize how I felt about you as well."

She stood, pulling her wings close to her body. "We need to hunt soon. I just wanted you to know before you left the clan." As she turned to walk away, signaling to the other hunters that it was time to leave, he stopped her with a touch of his wing.

"I may not share your exact feelings yet but I'm willing to see where it goes." She nodded, knowing that broken hearts didn't mend overnight, hoping that eventually he would return her feelings. In the meantime, they could get to know one another over a fresh kill.

Even knowing that Contralto didn't love her the way she loved him, he still agreed to nest with her, hoping that children would make them closer. In her absence while caring for nests, she put Contralto in charge of the hunting party. Watching him organize and lead, she realized that there was so much more to him than he let on. He was truly content to be in charge but had no issue turning it back over to her. This helped to reassure her when she was busy with other things and let her not stress so much over leading the hunting party. It was nice to have a partner that she could count on. Cerimi watched as Impa strutted from her nest to the fire to eat, her heart hurting. She knew Impa's new nest wasn't from Magnum. Just watching the way Impa fawned over the eggs, the self-important way she held herself, Cerimi knew Contralto was the father. He hadn't shown an interest in Cerimi herself in weeks, and had been spending more time with Impa than was normal. Cerimi had tried to not let it hurt her, had tried to bury herself in her work, but here she was again, cast aside by a mate. She started to wander if the problem was her.

Her other concern was Magnum. He knew what happened, the betrayal was plain on his face. He had stopped smiling, stopped doing much beyond the duties required of him in the clan. He stopped interacting with other dragons, just sitting by a fire, staring at it, like he could make it leap from the pit and onto him, to consume him in his pain. Cerimi took it upon herself to look after him, hoping that if she could help him with his own pain it would heal hers.

"Here, eat this," she mumbled, pushing a flank towards him. He sniffed it, taking a small bite without looking up. "You have to keep your strength up."

"Why? What is the point?"

Cerimi settled back on her haunches, licking her lips. "The point is that you will survive this. Yes, the betrayal feels tremendously huge right now. I know your heart is broken, but it can heal with time. You can focus your energies elsewhere."

He pushed the meat away, resting his head on the ground in front of him. "Focus on what? My children have left the clan. My mate has taken to nest with my father. What else is there?"

"Hunting. You are very skilled. You rival your father in skill. Be my second."

He looked up in surprise. "But that's his job. He's your second. Has been for a long time now."

Cerimi tossed her head. "He doesn't deserve that position. He doesn't deserve any position." For the first time her true feelings showed through, the anger darkening her eyes.

Magnum paused, realizing he wasn't the only hurt party in this. "He hurt you, didn't he?"

"I'm starting to think there's something wrong with me. Your first mate leaves you, it can be passed off as a mutual separation. But a second mate? I'm doing something wrong."

He pressed his wing against hers. "Maybe you are choosing your mates for the wrong reason? Did Contralto ever return your feelings?"

She shook her head. "No. He was still obsessed with your mother. Not her fault, mind you. She didn't ask for that. It's just, I don't know what else I could've done to change his heart."

"Nothing, there is nothing you could've done. My father is a selfish fool who only thinks of himself. He doesn't even love Impa. She is a means to an end. He believes that he can put one of their children in line to lead."

"It will never work. Karli will never accept it. Not one of theirs."

Magnum straightened up, stretching out his wings. "No, never one of theirs. And as long as she refuses he will cause problems. I wish I could help get him off her back."

Cerimi looked at him thoughtfully. "Maybe there is. Not right away, but we can keep our options open. For now, be my second. Work your hardest, focus on that. It will get better over time." Magum agreed, thanking her for her understanding and support.


Hunters:
Cerimi
Contralto
Stark
Leafeon
Magnum
Holly
Rusty
Kaiba
Ishtar