Liona

Liona is, as some would say, a true child of Nature. Having been born under the boughs of the Gladekeeper's realm, the female Guardian is right at home between the large trees and ever changing undergrowth that encompass her clan's immediate territory. When she is not busy with duties to the War Beasts or tending to the vast needs of her clan, Liona can often be found wandering the "gardens" cultivated by the clan's Druids.

An off shoot interest of the female is her pond. Nestled inside the largest of the gardens is a large clear water pond that hosts an assortment of piscine creatures. At first it was a place for the seafood lovers of the clan to raise or store specimens for later consumption but the Guardian has adopted it for her own enjoyment. Some members of the clan have called it her charge but that is not entirely true. While she does zealously guard the pond and its precious community, the female holds something else much more dear. Her best friend, beloved mate, and Charge are all found in the Plague born Orion.

Raised together in the nursery, the closeness of the two was simply found to be friendly familiarity among hatchlings. When she was old enough, Liona was trained under Mahavah to become a War Maiden like her mother, while the Nocturne, Orion, studied under the Quarter Master, Phoenix. Not quite understanding the pull and tug on her soul, the young Guardian let it be assumed as loneliness like everyone else was saying. It wasn't until a conversation with both her mother and Mahavah did Liona understand what she was feeling, but knowing didn't help the feeling of emptiness every time Orion left sight.

Though it was accepted that she had claimed Orion as her charge it came as a bit of a surprise to the clan when they both confirmed their feelings for one another. Though it wasn't unheard of for a Nature and Plague born to fall in love and become mates, it just wasn't expected of the two. Both were adamant about their birth flights' likes, dislikes, wants and wishes, and had on more than one occasion been seen arguing the matter.

Love Interest Orion

Enjoys Broadstripe Uaru Seafood Delicious when cut into thin slices and served raw over a bed of cut carrots. Also delicious without the carrots: Some dragons never eat their veggies! 35 3 Telescope Butterfly Seafood Its tail looks like a butterfly's wings when viewed from above. 33 3 Turtle Shell Organics This was once a cozy turtle house - it is not quite as cozy for a dragon. 80 Ringscale Arowana Seafood Prized by fishkeepers, these fish are difficult to keep in a lair that enjoys their seafood. 35 3 Giant Lilypad Trinkets Also known to fae dragons as 'boat'. 34 Barbarian's Headdress Apparel A headdress of a barbarous clan. 1650 Famliliar Fuiran Familiar Fuiran are one of the few species in the Shifting Expanse that prey upon Scalebacks. Their powerful jaws are capable of cracking the thick hide. 1950 Gatlin

The late evening sun cast long shadows through the canopy, wavering in the slight spring breeze. The chill of winter had yet to fully leave but with the mottled sunlight on her back Liona didn't notice the cold. instead, her mind was elsewhere, brooding and deep in thought. emerald eyes blinked as a small tetra flicked from the cover of one lilypad to another in the shadow of her reflection. On the shore down a few paces to her right was a long legged heron who was standing like a sentinel in the reeds. And on her left around the curve of the bank was a small flock of three ducks. They had stayed during the winter and, though they rarely harassed her schools they still made a mess of flora.

At this moment, Liona didn't care or pay attention to their waddling and preening. "Their late... They've never been this late. At least not when they said they'd be back by noon", she mumbled to the slow moving carp that had glided close to the parrot feather beds. "What if something happened... everyone says 'It's fine'. 'They're okay'. And 'It's Phoenix'. But...still." A deep sigh suddenly disturbed the still surface of the water and the carp was gone before the water settled.

"Right..."

"What's wrong with you?" The sudden voice startled the young Guardian out of her moping and she jerked her head up to see who it belonged to. She blinked once in both relief and subtle agitation. "Orion, you know better than to scare people like that", she growled at him, rolling her eyes and looking away as to hide her obvious joy at seeing him alive and well.

"Perhaps you shouldn't get so dazed talking to your fish", was his simple, almost emotionless reply. It only irked her more that he was so...chill. He stood on the opposite side of the pond, crimson and white head strikingly noticeable against the hued greens of the reeds. "Look, I was just waiting for you to come home. That's all", Liona shot back as she stood, turning away from the pond and the dragon on the other side.

There was a snort and a quick flapping of wings before the dragon-on-the-other-side landed in her way. The female opened her mouth to protest but was stopped by the up held claw and the contents they held. "Phoenix took me by a slow moving river today, saying it was a great place to practice, but I think she just wanted to check the nets left by some-dragon for a snack. I..uhm, found this and thought you might like it. Ya know, because you like weird stuff like that." The awkward shuffling and shrugging of the Nocturne made Liona smile almost more than the gift.

A small bowl containing a single, small stalk of "duck potato" blooms was gifted up to her, which she took gently on both of her larger paws. Her smile still beaming across her scaled features, the female looked back to the male. "Thanks, Orion. This is beautiful."

He gave yet another shrug, looking away with a facade of smug ease. "Yeah, no problem. I'm just glad Phoenix isn't around. She teased me non-stop about- Er, nevermind."

"She teased you about what", Liona asked, turning back to her pond to plant the stalk. The red eyed Nocturne waved a paw, "Nothing, forget about it, okay? Just plant your plant and do your Nature dragon stuff."

In the gathering shadows surrounding the pond and its two bystanders, a pair of Shadow hued eyes watched the exchange with a very pleased smile. The aged Ridgeback knew from years of experience the subtleties and cues that would forge a bond stronger than either of the two Flights represented could fathom.