Sorkano

When Sorkano first arrived, he felt like a wreck. Saved just days from exaltation, he was certain that his luck would run out soon. Flix tried to be kind to the dragon, but many other dragons weren't as supportive. Even Arizona, previously considered the most drab, could tip her snout up at him whenever she walked by. Sorkano was clumsy, tripping over his talons. He wasn't smart either, and would often blank out whenever a conversation got too intense. Other dragons avoided him simply because of his looks, his awkward smile and broken life. He'd had so many dragonets, yet felt so empty. They had been exalted, and Sorkano was certain the same would happen to him.

No one ever expected Dreamcatcher.

Dreamcatcher was unarguably one of the prettiest dragons in the clan. Her passion for painting and gentle, sweet nature was well-loved by all; and several male dragons had an eye on her. One of her biggest competitors was Smokeheart, who would try to impress her whenever she neared him. Yet she remained single and distant from all the other males.

The meeting of Sorkano and Dreamcatcher was a mistake. The normally clumsy Sorkano accidentally bumped into Dreamcatcher while the beautiful Guardian was painting a scene of some fire salamanders basking in the sun. Paint flew everywhere and both dragons were positively covered in it, the canvas a smudged mess.

Sorkano immediately began to apologize, feeling once more like a mistake and a mess. Dreamcatcher, however, was surprised to see him. Her normally easygoing self laughed it off, helped him to his feet and told him no problem, even though the salamanders had scattered. Sorkano was surprised that this dragon was actually being kind to him, not looking down at him like some second-class dragon.

It was the start of a new life.

Sorkano would often see Dreamcatcher about the clan, and whenever he saw her his face heated up and he stumbled about awkwardly. She would only laugh about it, although truthfully she began to fall for him too. Most male dragons had put on a face, trying to show her something they weren't. They tried to act handsome and stylish and brave and reckless, and it honestly tired her. The open candid nature of this ridgeback, his shy scuffling, his sweet smile, attracted her more than any crazy stunt ever had.

One day Sorkano tried to pull his bumbling self together and bring her a vase of roses, because he had heard that she loved flowers. Unfortunately, he had been leaning against the door when she pulled it open and he tumbled in, the vase flying from his claws and spilling all over the table, the roses included. Sorkano felt awful, but Dreamcatcher was smiling with an artistic gleam in her eye. She quickly pulled out a notepad and began sketching-a sketch of the spilled vase and roses all over the table. Sorkano didn't understand until she beemed at him, her pearl-white teeth glinting with excitement. "This will be a masterpiece!" She exclaimed happily.

Sorkano picked himself off of the sodden carpet, surprised he wasn't being yelled at. "Really?" He asked.

She smiled sweetly at him. "Of course. It's a picture of life-even when everything is lost, it's still beautiful. It still has a purpose." Her eyes glimmered with meaning as she looked at him.

Sorkano struggled to find his tounge. "Dreamcatcher...I know I shouldn't, your so much more distinguished and I..but I..."

The Guardian flicked his mouth shut with her wingtip. "I like you too, Sorkano." She said, smiling.

"R-really?" The Ridgeback stuttered, his face growing red. "But I'm...and you're...."

"I look for beauty in the heart, Sorkano, not beauty in the scales. It's like a piece of art, a painting is only as beautiful as what it means, as the effort put inside of it. You are genuine and you care for others. I care for that much more than brawny muscles or handsome colors."

Tears came to Sorkano's eyes. Someone else appreciating his ugly self made him feel....different. As though he meant somehting. As though he wasn't a mistake.


When Dreamcatcher announced the news to the rest of the clan, many dragons were shocked.
Smokeheart wouldn't even look at Sorkano. But the Ridgeback didn't care. It didn't matter. The dragon he loved saw his true beauty, and he didn't need anyone else's negative opinions weighing down on his wings.

Sagittarius and Citrine were the first to congratulate the pair. Sagittarius chuckled broadly, happy to have another Ridge male in the clan. "It was similar with me and Citrine." He said with a smile. "But I'd be happier with no one else."

Now, Dreamcatcher and Sorkano are bound together, paintings and clumsiness all. Love holds them together and will never let them drift apart.

And the painting of the roses? It hangs in the den, a true masterpiece.

A picture of how something broken can still be beautiful.