Doram

Clan Elder

His Story:
Doram was a bit of a mystery to everyone in the den. He had shown up a little after Celia and her friends had started the den together, in the midst of a fearsome storm. He didn't seem to remember much about his life before showing up at the den, but what he did remember, he wouldn't speak to anyone about-not even Celia, who everyone knew he had taken a liking to-except for Celia herself. His quiet nature and rough exterior led many to think him fearsome and intimidating, and his inclination to working by himself or with a select few dragons didn't help the rumors. But he ignored the rumors-didn't try to prove or disprove them.

His Conjuring:
On this particular day, Doram had been spending time with Celia, one of his favorite pastimes. He followed her lead and listened fondly as she chattered, until they ran into Altair. Celia began climbing on the larger dragon like a tree, and Doram found himself being stabbed with the bitter blade of jealousy. With the recent change that the Imperial had undergone, the Guardian found himself constantly reminded that... Altair was everything that he wasn't. Powerful, compassionate, easy to talk to... The list went on and on.

And Doram couldn't help but wonder if that was something that Celia liked.

Celia finished her chat with Altair while he was lost in his thoughts, and he was snapped back into reality when she began to talk to him again.

"I have to go talk to the Shadowbinder about clearing out some more den space. We raised enough funds, recently! So, uh... Why don't you go hunting with Altair? We could use some more meat... I'm counting on you two!" She suggested cheerfully, flying off before either of them could protest. Doram usually didn't spend much time with Altair, but Celia had given them a job to do together... He couldn't let her down.

"Hey there! Let's get started on that hunting, alright?" Altair said cheerfully, breaking the silence as he stood to his full height. Doram looked up at him and tilted his head, blurting out a question before he really thought about what he was saying.

"How do you hunt when you're so big and pink?" His eyes widened the instant he realized what he said, and he looked down to keep from meeting Altair's gaze. To his surprise, Altair merely began to laugh, and his head shot up to look at the Imperial.

"You might not believe it, but Celia's asked me the exact same thing." He said as he began to walk, brushing his tail gently across Doram's back to snap him out of his shock and get him walking. Doram wasn't surprised-it did sound like something Celia would ask, in her endless curiosity. "Honestly, I've never had a problem with it. I guess I'm just... Used to figuring ways around it." He shrugged, and offered Doram a grin. "Hope I won't get in your way, though."

Doram began to stutter, shaking his head rapidly. "Th-that's not what I-I didn't mean-I, uh, I'm sorry-" He cut himself off when Altair paused to turn to him.

"Hey, it's okay. I was kidding! We're both going to catch so much that Celia won't know what to do with it all." He said, as Doram took a deep breath. Impressing Celia was a nice thought, so he stuck with that for a little while. He thought before speaking this time, choosing his words carefully.

"What... What do you think of Celia?" He asked, meeting Altair's eye as he waited for an answer. Altair raised an eyebrow before looking up, thinking.

"Well... She's great, really. Inspiring." He began, tilting his head slightly. "She doesn't let her size stop her from doing anything. She let me stay when I felt like this was where I was meant to be... And there's never a boring moment with her around." He trailed off, and nearly missed what Doram mumbled, lost in thought.

"So you like her, too..." Doram whispered to himself, but not softly enough.

"Like her? As a sister, maybe. I'm not interested in anyone, really." Altair confessed, nudging Doram's side lightly. "No, I don't like her. Not the way you do, anyways." Doram stared up at the Imperial, shocked into silence. Altair gave a toothy grin, and moved away. "I bet I can catch more than you!" He challenged playfully, startling Doram into action once again.

"Oh, no you won't!"

Later...
Doram and Altair compared their hauls once they were both out of energy, and found that Doram had caught just a bit more than the Imperial. Altair merely laughed when they found it out. "Well done, Doram. Planning on impressing Celia with that?" He teased, causing Doram to swat at him with his wing. They laughed, and Altair caught Doram's eyes. Neither of them looked away, as Altair began to speak once more. "Doram... this might be a weird question, but... What do you think your purpose is? The reason why you exist."

Doram couldn't tear his eyes away from the pull of Altair's hypnotic gaze, but... he didn't feel rushed to answer. His eyes seemed to search Altair's, flicking back and forth slightly, rapidly. "I... Well... I want to protect the dragons I care about." He said in a voice just above a whisper. He paused, his breath shallow.

Nothing happened.

Altair tilted his head, and softly whispered. "Are you sure, Doram?"

Doram wasn't sure of anything, if he was being honest. But he took a deep breath, and closed his eyes to think. He opened his eyes after a couple of minutes, a newfound determination in them.

"I exist... To be there for the people I care about. To protect them and help them however I can. That's... That's my purpose. What I want to do." He stated, meeting Altair's eyes steadily. Altair grinned and nodded as his crystals and halo began to glow.

"A noble purpose, Doram." He encouraged, smirking at the astounded look in the Guardian's eyes. The light focused into one point, and Doram stepped forwards as the light faded away. A mushroom turned to him with a soft click, and Altair blinked slowly as a name formed in his head. "An Ancient Fungus...?" He stated, bending his head to inspect it. "Well... this is your familiar. Hard and rugged in appearance, but different when you get to know it. I think it suits you quite well."

Doram tilted his head and bent his head to the mushroom, blinking as it hopped onto his head and made it's way onto his back. "How did you do that...?" He whispered, astonished.

"It's my power. I can create familiars from the energy that comes from one stating their purpose. Or... Maybe I summon them from somewhere? I don't know, honestly." He shrugged, and bent his head to show Doram his familiar- the Glowing Pocket Mouse. He raised his head again, and scooped up their haul to bring back to the den. "I'll take care of this. Why don't you go talk to Celia?" He suggested with a wink, nudging Doram towards the returning Fae dragon before taking off.

Celia immediately bombarded Doram with questions-How the hunting went, if Altair had been nice, where the mushroom on his back had come from-things like that. Doram answered all her questions as best he could, and they talked well into the night. Maybe he wasn't able to tell her his feelings that night, or even the next, but he would tell her eventually. He knew he would.