Spirit

Spirit's egg was the only one from his clutch to drift safely to shore after a goldenbeast attacked the Gladeveins nesting site, but he was not unscathed. The trauma to his egg caused him to hatch three days too early, resulting in a worryingly frail and tiny mute hatchling. The parents raised him over-protectively, never letting him out of sight and panicking at the slightest sneeze.

Spirit never did develop a voice, and his family's signature magic is that of songs of battle and healing. He never knew of battles and hardships, as he was kept safe in his parents' protective wings from hatching. However, he has been listening to the beautiful songs of magic that rings through the crystalline caves of his home, and when he thinks no-one can see him he dances. Thin, graceful legs step to the undulating voices, and delicate membrane wings stretch to lift him in high pirouettes. Never has one seen such a perfect yet fragile dancer, and the movement itself is not all. Where he dances, flowers bloom, fruits ripen, grass grows tall and lush. His fluttering, gentle touch causes bleached coral to regain life, and brings health to stagnant tidal pools.

Once he had grown healthy and no longer got hatchling illnesses, his parents decided to let him find his place in the world. Wherever he goes, they know his talent will someday be a source of hope and strength. Or so they had said, but in truth the place they were sending him in hopes of their weak son living a long life was a clan famous for its healers. A school of allied maren were to be his guards and guide him to his destination.

And so he left, sailing a giant transportation lilypad out into the open sea. Spirit did not see the merfolk under his giant leaf, he was too busy gawking at all the things he had never seen in his sheltered life. Blooms larger than a snapper's maw hung from high branches, and silvery fish jumped and glided on gossamer wings.

Another thing he did not know was that he was being followed. Elfin, a young student of his mother, had in fact been trying to befriend with him since they were both hatchlings. However, his parents had shooed her away because he caught illnesses so easily, and Elfin was shy. Over time, as she became a young adult, that feeling of longing for his friendship had changed into something else entirely and she had eventually become so shy around Spirit that she'd flee him upon sight. He, of course, had not noticed. Spirit was generally a lost case at noticing things.

When she heard he was leaving the clan, Elfin had made a rash desicion and followed at a distance. She knew his destination, the Crystal Springs, and got there before him by flying a detour. There were several dragons up and about, and the air shimmered faintly in a dome-shape she knew from her lessons; The Barrier. In theory she should be allowed to enter, as only those with ulterior motives would be harmed by the great magic shield, but then she'd have to talk with all the strangers that would sense her presence. So she found a coral outcrop, and perched.

Spirit, oblivious to the frentic activity and fierce battles raging under his leaf as the maren warded off mammertees and relic eels, had an uneventful journey. The scenery had faded into water in every direction as far as the eye could see, so he practiced a few steps out of boredom. His leaf grew blossoms. Day turned to evening, still nothing to see. More blossoms, and a few seaweeds that had drifted by, were now turning the lilypad into a small and very odd garden.

Well after nightfall, several dragons gathered at the shore of the Crystal Springs lair. Elfin followed them, gliding in slow spirals at the very edge of The Barrier. After a while, she saw a floating flower patch drift towards the waiting crowd. In the middle of the bizarre float was Spirit, curled up tight against the chill night breeze. Her heart beating faster, she watched maren gracefully emerge and speak with the dragons in hushed voices. A few of the maren were injured, and magic circles sprang into action around them. So these were the healers that her master had entrusted her son to. Elfin was drawn to their flawless, pure magic with such force that she did not realize she had passed through the magic wall.

After reviewing the request for aid from an allied clan in The Gladeveins, there were split opinions in the Crystal Springs as to whether they should admit such a weak individual into their clan. It was not just the selfish notion that it would lower their own fighting strength; this was a dangerous area, filled with strong monsters and wild ancient magics. However, the majority vote went the way it always goes in a clan full of healers; help those in need.

And so they sent their fine maren allies, for sending dragons to fetch their patient would stir up a great deal of unrest among other dragon clans in the area and might be seen as disrespecting the borders. Ah, politics. The brave maren returned with their cargo sound asleep, surrounded by evidence of his nature magic. The moment they lifted the tiny, frail dragon from its nesting place, an unexpected bonus dropped into the healer pack's gentle claws; a young imperial, enamored by the beauty of their signature magic, had come to learn from them. The student had plenty of potential, and was accepted at once.

In the end, after years of bumping into one another, it was Spirit who confessed his feelings to Elfin through his dance. They still live together, him dancing to her gentle healing voice as they tend to the gardens and health of Crystal Springs.


Belongs to Cutiepaws