GEN2

Rozsada

“Perk up little ones,” the wildclaw spread some water over the saplings with the small watering can she sported. “the sun’s been a bit too brutal, hasn’t it?” She turned her gaze to the sky where the sunshine bore down on them. Normally Rozsada wouldn’t mind the warmth, but many of her plants had begun to wilt under the heat. She thought that perhaps if she bought a few parasols and arranged them about, then the plants would be grateful for the shade. Rozsada imagined the garden full of the colorful parasols, stuck neatly in the soil to protect the flowers and small plants she loved to tend to. It tickled her, but then sent a nerve of anxiety about how the royals may feel about the sight. She cleared her throat, letting the sudden chill that had crept up her spine dissipate.

Rozsada always found herself unnerved by the idea of any interaction with the leaders of the clan. She’d felt that way for as long as she had been within the clan. Rozsada had not been born as a part of Clan Embellished, instead hailing from a now gone clan that had bordered the larger. She’d grown there with her parents and siblings, but after war wracked their lands it was only a matter of time for their defeat against Clan Embellished to end with the absorption of their lands. What remained of Rozsada’s family had left, dispersing to other clans further away after seeing their homes gone. Rozsada had chosen to stay, not wishing to see the land that she had grown up loving be abandoned.

The wildclaw had been less inclined to violence like others of her species. Most of her family were warriors, hunters. They fought for fun and sparred daily. Rozsada herself was not like that. She enjoyed the smell of flowers, the way bees would hum their wings between the different bulbs, the excitement of watching something grow. She was avid in understanding plants and their preferences, babying the more delicate ones and praising the hardy. When her clan fell to Embellished, she felt as though the plants of the land had become almost family. She would not abandon them, and so she decided to stay.

Under the rule of Clan Embellished, Rozsada did her best to assimilate into the clan. She found herself naturally drawn to the gardens of course, working with the plants that grew there like she had before. Over the months and years of time spent within the clan, she began to settle into a comforting routine. She also found herself becoming more involved in the other dragons that resided there, learning their names, their lives and becoming friends. One in particular she grew the closest to was a skydancer named Kaixaun. At first she had been afraid to approach him, having known he was a well trained fighter, seasoned with battles as he had gone through the ranks of the military to one of leadership. She expected someone loyal to the clan leaders, someone like Claudius who would terrify her. It turned out not to be the case with Kaixaun, and Rozsada was terribly grateful for it. Her fear of the skydancer washed away after their first interaction, and since she looked forward to his visits in the gardens.

“There you are.” the skydancer hummed as he moved through the pathway to where Rozsada was currently settled. She’d finished checking in on the smaller flowers near the ground and was moving away from them when her friend approached. Kaixaun looked down at the blooms and nodded thoughtfully, then waited for her to come over before the two began their daily scheduled walk.

“How are the flowers?” he asked.

“Perking up, though the sun has been a bit harsh on them as of late,” she sighed. “I was fancying putting up a bunch of parasols.” Kaixaun laughed, tickled by the same image that she had been earlier. Rozsada smiled too.

“That would be a sight.”

“Wouldn’t it?” the two lapsed into a quiet before setting down on one of the seats near the far corners of the gardens. It was quiet there, which was perfect for their daily gossip. “Alright, spill the beans.” she teased. Kaixaun feigned a look of hurt before laughing and relenting.

“There’s a traveling band of musicians within the clan this afternoon, a few of the guards were chatting about asking a few others to dance with them.” Kaixaun explained. Rozsada’s eyes went wide, giddy with the idea of not only musicians but romance between other dragons.

“Oh, you must tell me their names!” she begged. “I’d like to see if I cannot play matchmaker tonight!” There was another laugh from the skydancer. He knew from her look she wasn’t chiding, and was fully intent on doing her very best to help some dragons woo their loves.

The two sat there the rest of the afternoon as they did many, talking about the day and the dragons they encountered. They talked about a few that seemed to have come down with a cold (“I shall have to make some soup!” “Go easy on the onions, last time I got sick I thought I was never going to get the taste out of my mouth.”) and any special events in the clan that would be coming up soon. Despite her feelings about the clan from the start, Rozsada was glad she had stayed within the territory. She had grown to care for the flowers about her, but more importantly the other dragons as well.