Acron

Pyrophyte Protectors Subspecies
[birthday girl!]

Art done by Todi

She was summoned to the secret underground forests that were scattered underneath the fire lands. Her heart guided her towards her towards her calling that made her feel happiness. She reached a main cave filled full of trees, streams, bugs and fish, but most importantly two ridgebacks watching very carefully at a one egged nest. She approached them carefully not wanting to startle them and once she heard their hymns of greets she carefully touched the egg. The egg started to crack and slowly a little snoot of a nose poked through followed by the rest of the head. The closer ridgeback gently picked up the hatchling and stared at it before saying “are you the one to guard the child?” “Yes. It will learn about nature’s way.” The ridgeback placed it back in the nest and they walked off, going thurther into the caves. The dryad gave the hatchling a quick body examination before making the cuddle up against her chest as they walked to the surface.

She couldn’t deny that the baby was adorable the more closer she got to natural light. The hatchlings belly shine nice in any type of lighting and it’s bright colours were cheery. She was moving the baby to a smaller underground cave where the dryads were mostly created but it would mean she would have to get there by foot instead of using her magical powers to levitate or quick teleport to her birth tree. The walk would take a week at most so she had to make sure of the safest but resourceful route to keep a hungry child alive but also make sure no predators tried eating them. So they walked through the days and when night came around they tried to slept in burnt trees or small holes whenever they could find some. But one day while they were crossing a plain of nothing but ash and sand she realised they were in big danger. As night approached and her waking speed quickened the hatchling started to cry, signalling that it was time to eat and rest. They came to a stop in the openess of nothing and ate a bit before attempting to fall asleeep. But sleep didn’t occur. There was a sharp cry screeching from the baby’s mouth and as she looked to see what was wrong a fiendcat was biting into its belly. She reacted quickly and grabbed a couple of sticks from her head before stabbing it with them. The fiendcat wasn’t very about being stabbed and attacked her, thrashing and scratching at her body. She soon caught slightly on fire but she didn’t care; she had to defend her child. She let out a crazed shriek before going for the cat again managing to keep the sticks lodged in its flesh. The cat hissed before running off somewhere in the darkness. Her attention quickly changed and looked at the baby which was bleeding heavily and it’s breathing was shallowing. She had no medical rescources on her and with nothing in sight the child surviving was slim. She had to make the sacrifice. She slightly cut her wrists and stuck it upon the child’s wounds. Slowly the bleeding stopped but not without a price. Where the child was damaged started to turn hard like wood. “I’m sorry child I failed to protect you and now your cursed by me forever.” She almost felt like crying as the child didn’t open its eyes but it’s breathing became regular. “You are why I was created. You are the most treasured thing I have ever set upon. I’m sorry for not saving you your dragon body.” She picked up the dragon and continued walking throughout the night.

When she finally reached the smaller cave she was extremely tired from not sleeping and walking all day and night. The other dryads saw the wooden parts and expressed many emotions towards her. The baby was taken from her and she was given her next dragon to gather.

******

Many years passed since she had seen that cursed dragon. Perhaps they made sure she couldn’t see her or maybe she had already moved to a different cave. Whatever the reason was it always left a feeling of guilt in her chest. As she moved throughout the lands in search of the nest hatchling a dragon landed behind her and said in dryad “Hello mother.” She turned around and actual tears crept down her body. The wood scared ridgeback stood in front of her, her size being nothing like she remembered. “They named me Arcon mother. I learnt much of the natures call. My call was to find you.” She hugged one of Arcons large legs and continued to cry. “I forgive you mother. You are the most treasured thing I live for. Let me now defend you.” She picked her up gently in her arms and carried her to her new home, somewhere far away from her birth tree, somewhere fresh.

“Granith my mothers staying with me!” “Okay! Just make sure you tell her where the rogue fires are!” “Your not going to question who my mum is?” “Probably a dryad.” “How’d You guess?!” “Cause you speak to trees.” “... good answer.”