Echo

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Battered Book of Fables Dragonmade The terrible thing is that all your favorite characters die in the end. (Special thanks XenonZerrow.) 70 Igneous Flow Minerals & Ores These rocks can be found where Blacksand Annex meets the domain of the Tidelord. 80 Obsidian Minerals & Ores The glassy surface of this igneous rock shines like a mirror. 15 Faded Shadowbinder Effigy Trinkets A crudely-fashioned stuffed doll that resembles the Shadowbinder. It is made of dark velvet and has a musty odor to it. 1000

xxxHe opened his eyes to bright blue skies, and knew he never wanted to be anywhere else. Unfortunately for Echo, his life and future would take him many places other than here, than this peaceful place curled up by his mother's side. He only had two twin brothers, two brothers whose names he can no longer recall, even though he tries desperately. Some days he gets so desperate to remember that he starts clawing at his forehead, holding his head in his paws so tightly it ends up bleeding. Most nights, he simply cries. He wants nothing more than to remember the sweet embrace of those he loves, but... xxxEverything just feels like it happened so very long ago, even though Echo is not that old of a dragon. It's as though his brain intentionally blocks out the memories, keeps him from accessing them, as though they fear he is not yet ready to remember. And perhaps, Echo thinks, he is not quite ready to remember. He's barely able to allow himself to remember the Burning Purge that killed so many, the event that left so many of his Clanmates dead or orphaned.

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Black King Trinkets Its value could be considered infinite. 60 Dire Kelpie Mane Apparel A dark swath of unkempt hair and weeds. 0 Zeeba Horn Organics Used in the production of a variety of natural remedies. The effectiveness of these remedies reportedly varies from dragon to dragon. 25 Onyx Minerals & Ores Onyx is a common material in centaur arrows and other weaponry. 45

xxxHe should've done more, he keeps saying. He should've tried harder, and then he could've saved more dragons. He could've done so much more, he's one of the largest dragons of the Clan -- or, more accurately, he was. Considering the Clan isn't really even a Clan anymore.

xxxEcho bows his head and bites down hard on his lip. He's trying desperately to keep himself from crying or showing weakness in front of the hatchlings he loves so much, the babies who rely on him now more than ever. Young Forever is curled up at his side, just like he used to curl up at his own mother's side when he was a hatchling. The memories are overwhelming. He feels his throat close around any words he might've been able to form only moments ago.

xxxHe's long lost touch with his family. Ever since their mother died, and their father left to become Exalted, nothing has been the same. Even though their father is not high on the ranks of the Exalted, he rarely sends them letters. Echo and his brothers lost connection long ago. There was... simply nothing to hold them together after Mother died. It was as though there was no real reason for them to stay together anymore.

xxxNow all Echo has are the hatchlings he adores. They are the only things that matter to him in this life now, because if he doesn't keep thinking along those lines he's going to lose himself. He loves these little ones, and they love him, and that's all he really needs. He has to remember that, lest he lose his sanity. He loves them, he loves them, he loves them.

xxxYoung Forever blinks open her big, wide eyes, and stares up at Echo, smiling softly. He smiles back at her and nuzzles her, then rests his head back down.

xxxIt's going to be alright.

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xxxThe title of Papa, Echo thinks, is one of the best, if not the best, in the world. There is no other word that can get him in such a good mood. There is no other word that makes him feel so happy. Whenever Young Forever approaches him, with a smile on her face and the word Papa on her lips, Echo feels his heart and face soften as he leans down to give her a nuzzle and a kiss. She may not be his by blood, but as far as he is concerned, she is his.

xxxToday, she runs up to Echo with a cluster of flowers clutched in her tiny paw. Ever since she was born, Echo knew that this little one was going to be his protectorate.

xxxShe had become his life. Never having hatchlings of his own, Echo is quite protective over all of the hatchlings, but Young Forever is special. She is his favorite, he has no doubt.

xxx"What is it, my little darling?" Echo asks gently. She nuzzles his foreleg and then hands the flowers to him.

xxx"They're just like your eyes, Papa!" She says excitedly, and then bounces away to search for more flowers, no doubt.

xxxHe loves her, yes. But gods, does she make his heart ache.

xxxShe reminds him so much of young Lightning, his nephew. So bright-eyed and ready to explore. So ready to take on the world. His eyes were just like hers.

xxxEcho still remembers seeing the fear in them the night of the fire, when so many of his Clanmates perished. They were filled with so much fear, crying out in terror for his parents, for his family. Lightning had cried out for him, for Echo, but Echo had been unable to reach him in time. He hopes that the youngster was able to find his way out... but he knows, more than likely, that Lightning too had perished in the flames.

xxxHe can only hope that he did not suffer for long. There really was not more else that he could hope for.

xxxEcho also remembers, barely, only just snippets of fleeting memories, his two twin brothers. He remembers wrestling by their mother's side, under their father's nose, the watchful eyes of their parents watching them at every moment. Imperials can be rough and tumble youngsters, and can easily become too rough with each other. But Echo was never that way. He preferred to be gentle, which often earned him scorn from his brothers.

xxxHe can only barely remember their scents now, and a few clips of their voices race through his ears. He cannot really even remember his own parents' voices that well, though he does still remember their names and ranks. Perhaps he would have been better off being born a Tundra rather than an Imperial.

xxxBut none of that really matters anymore. All that matters is taking care of the family he still has. He is now the father to so many young dragons who lost their families, that is his purpose now.

xxxThis is his family.

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xxx1. I bought him for multiple reasons, the main one being that two of my friends have his exact twins. 2. He was originally going to be a villain, but I decided against it only because I had the most blessed image in my mind of a bunch of hatchlings hiding under his large wings.

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