Permafrost

Prince of the Ocean Depths Co-Heir Mage of the Wavedancers Easy Going Fastidious Compassionate

Permafrost hatched from the first nest laid by Wavedancer. He was the sole hatchling to remain behind when his brothers and sisters went to serve the Tidelord. His parents would mate again and, as with his clutch, only one would not go on to serve their deity.

When Wavedancer and Skywing left to serve the Tidelord, the lair descended into somewhat organized chaos. Realizing that order needed to be maintained, Permafrost formed a plan with his younger sister, Shyrza, to create a hierarchy in the lair and restore order to it.

What eventually evolved was a system of honor, even though all trades performed at the lair were seen as needed and valuable. Those who had been there the longest, some of them a few weeks to a few days older than even Permafrost, were to serve on the Council of the Wise, a body of drakes to keep peace and order within the lair. It would be their combined knowledge and wisdom that would allow the lair to flourish and survive whatever may befall it.

He knew that their fighters were also valuable, even if every dragon needed to learn how to fight, some had taken it upon themselves to grow as strong as they could as fast as they could. He wanted them to be next in the new hierarchy. Then those who had been rescued, or had just stumbled upon their lair and lastly those born into the lair, all of them workers of some trade.

Knowing that this would ensure the peace and harmony Wavedancer had always wanted, he decided to rename their lair after his mother.

Like Wavedancer, Permafrost is very laid back and easy going. He is rather fastidious when it comes to bathing, hating to get dust or dirt on his fur. True to his Tundra nature, he has become a very powerful mage and uses that to help aid his fellow clan mates in battle.

Before becoming a leader, he used to spend his days lazing around, watching the sea life pass by unless something interesting caught his attention. Now he has little time to waste, always going from place to place in the lair, making sure that everything is running as it should be.
"I know you must be wondering why I have called you here today," Permafrost said as he shifted from foot to foot slightly, "but Shyrza and I agree. If we are going to run this lair responsibly, and live up to the legacy our parents left us, then we must set up some form of council."

"And, naturally, you chose us," Shadow rumbled out as he looked down at his two charges, the speaker being a mere two days younger than the old Guardian.

"It only makes sense," Permafrost said, "I mean, you've been around the longest, and the rest of you, taken in by our parents, entrusted with the care and defense of this lair until proper fighters could be trained. All of you have great value and can add so much to helping this lair both from rogue clans as well as from the Beastclans."

"You know we would do whatever was in our power to aid you and your younger sister," Yuhuang said, the Imperial shifting his wings a bit."

"And we, too, owe your parents a lot," Tigerclaw said, "for not many water dragons would trust an ice dragon in their lair where they are weak to our element."

"As they are weak to my plague," Yuhang said.

"Or even my lightning," Keelan added, his multiple eyes shifting to all of them there.

Permafrost nodded. "Wavedancer and Skywing had so much trust in all of you, and growing up with you here . . . I know you are the best and wisest dragons of this lair."

"I wouldn't go quite that far," Span said as the little Fae hopped over, looking up at the larger Tundra, "but I accept that honor regardless."

"As do I," Shimmerwing said as the Skydancer dipped her head.

Acalan nodded. "And I speak for Coatls, we very thankful for parent's graciousness and yours."

Permafrost found himself smiling at that. "Then you will become the Council of the Wise, those entrusted to help Shyrza and myself to help this lair and ensure it's survival, no matter what may befall it."

"With your guidance and our leadership, nothing will bring this lair down," Shyrza said as she nodded, her violet fur ruffling a bit.

Nodding as well, Permafrost looked at the other elders, some older than him, some younger, but he knew, deep down in his heart, that they had the strength and wisdom to help guide their lair and keep it safe and prosperous for all of eternity.
“I will get this cure yet,” Permafrost said as he was forced to pause, vision blurring some, “I will figure out how to save all of you. One cure at a time.”

“Permafrost, please, do not over stress yourself,” Selentura said, “we have survived this long, we surely will survive long enough for you to find a cure.”

“For every step we gain, we end up losing more ground,” Permafrost said, “I know Dogwood and Iorama have been a great help, but, even with our three, combined minds, we still can’t figure this out. And, since Dogwood came down sick . . . “

“If you come down sick as well, how will that leave us?” Selentura said, “I’ve already had to watch my adoptive guardians leave to join the Tidelord, I don’t want to see you join them too.” The ridgeback female frowned, her fiery eyes slightly dulled from her sickness.

Permafrost nodded, shifting to rest a gentle paw on Selentura’s. “I know, my child, I know.” He gave a mighty yawn. “Just one more try then I will go to bed.”

“You haven’t gotten any sleep in how long? Too long, I’d say. The last time I saw you go to sleep was, what, three nights ago? I’d almost swear you were a snapper and not a tundra.”

Permafrost chuckled at that, absently waving a cream-colored furry arm vaguely in front of him. “Trust me, I’m not a snapper. At least that much, I know.”

Selentura patted him on his shoulder. “Just don’t overdo yourself. You’ve given so much to the lair, to us here . . I don’t think any of us could bear to lose you. Not even those two mirrors.”

“Well, they still don’t trust us, but with you melting the ice one and me dousing the fire one, they know better than to mess with us,” Permafrost said, “oh, the test. I need to get back to it.”

“I won’t bother you any more,” Selentura said, “but please, get some rest after this.”

“I will, child, I will,” Permafrost said.

He shifted his attention to his test, running the samples through a battery of tests, marking the results so Dogwood and Iorama could go over them when they woke.

Satisfied he could do no more, Permafrost tottered over to the reeds he had laid out as his nest. He flopped down and stretched. Staying like that he closed his eyes.

Permafrost . . .

Permafrost blinked at the echo of his name, like the rushing of the current.

Permafrost . . .

Oh, he thought, Tidelord. It must be the Tidelord.

You have given so much for others, selflessly put yourself in harms way, never once thought of the consequences . . . You do your deity proud.

Permafrost half shrugged. Well, he mused, he did what any kind dragon would do. Help those who couldn’t help themselves. After all, that’s what his parents would have done.

Wavedancer and Skywing have petitioned me to aid you. While I would not normally involve myself with mundane affairs, they had served me loyally and continue to do so as they become my god-touched warriors on Sorneith. I will grant their petition and cure those who are sick. Though, this must come at a price to you. Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save every dragon in your camp?

The tundra didn’t have to think twice about that. “I am,” he whispered.

Then so be it.

Suddenly, Permafrost jerked awake, stretching, blinking. Something was wrong. He . . . Where had his fur gone? Why was his body now covered in feathers? Why did he have a sudden urge for fish? Where had his canines gone for battle?

Shifting his feathery wings, Permafrost rose, shaking hard. He glanced at the dragons surrounding him, all of them seeming in shock.

“You . . . You . . . “ Selentura tried to say.

“Your hide has changed pattern,” Liam said, the skydancer shifting a bit, “you . . . also are no longer a tundra.”

“I can tell,” Permafrost said, “I can’t smell a thing.”

“You are a coatl,” Yasuhiko said.

“More importantly, we are all cured,” Dogwood said.

“I heard the Tidelord. He said my parents petitioned him to cure everyone here. He said he would if I would make a sacrifice. I guess . . . This was it?” Permafrost said with a half shrug.

“It’s not the first time a dragon has been changed by magic, and I doubt it will be the last,” Liam said, “I am just glad he listened and saved us all.”

At the splashing nearby, Permafrost shifted, grinning before blinking. “Do I know you?”

“Of course you do,” the bogsneak male rumbled out, “you should know those who brought you into this world.”

Permafrost just blinked. “Dad?”

“Who else?” Skywing said, “the Tidelord decided to answer our prayers, I see, and he let us know what he was doing here so we could bring all of you back as full lair members. Last night, he also decided to change a few of us. Namely Wavedancer, Shyrza and Shadow.”

Permafrost nodded, shuffling over and giving Skywing a nuzzle with his cheek. “I’m glad to see you. I’ve really missed everyone.”

“And they’ve missed you too,” Skywing said, “your mother’s waiting at the entrance to the lair, let’s go.”

Permafrost nodded, more than willing to return to the lair. He watched as the others gathered what they had and dismantled the camp they had set up before following the others into the water and back home, a place he never thought he’d see in a long, long time. He also remembered to chastise Selentura for making the snapper comment, even if this was a blessing for all of them.