O1iviaDragon » Lair » Tango

Tango

(#46420437)

Level 1 Skydancer

Familiar

Four-Eyed Phylactery

Energy: 0/50

Personal Style

Apparel

Skin

Scene

Physical Attributes

Battle Stats

Measurements

Length

4.84 m

Wingspan

3.62 m

Weight

431.85 kg

Genetics

Midnight
Iridescent

Purple
Shimmer

Amethyst
Runes

Hatchday

Oct 29, 2018
(5 years)

Breed

Adult
Skydancer

Eye Type

Plague
Common

Level 1 Skydancer

EXP: 0 / 245

STR

AGI

DEF

QCK

INT

VIT

MND

Lineage

Parents

Axel
Undying

Offspring

Biography

Tango

His older brothers had warned Tango that being useful to their mother, Undying, was a dangerous thing. They also told him to pity his sister, Maokai, because she was by far the most useful hatchling in Tango’s litter. Although, at the time, the only thing Tango had wanted in the whole world was for his mother to look at him with the same love and affection that gazed upon his sister with so Tango figured that perhaps making himself useful was the best way to achieve that.

Now, Tango knew that having magic automatically made a dragon worthy of being called useful in his mother’s mind. However, Maokai had sucked all of the magic out Tango not long after he had hatched so the skydancer figured he would have to find other ways to prove his worth.

Killing, as it turns out, was one of the best ways. Since Undying was working vigorously to train Maokai to become a powerful necromancer, the mother needed a constant supply of freshly dead bodies that her daughter could practice with. This was where Tango came in. The skydancer hatchling would do all of the hunting and killing for his mother so she had more time to work with Maokai.

As time passed, Tango became very adept at hunting with a bow and seldomly ever missed a shot. Even as his mother continued to ask for larger and larger creatures, Tango never failed to bring back the corpses his mother desired. Undying started to say good boy or good child whenever Tango laid a dead creature before her feet and that gave Tango hope that perhaps his mother would care for him one day.

Although, the luck Arenji had blessed Tango with was not made to last. Once Tango reached adolescence, Undying instructed her son to bring her the bodies of three dragons. Now, Tango had killed many things, but he had never killed a dragon before and the thought terrified him.

...

“C-could I possibly hunt something else?” Tango pleaded.

His mother flicked her fuchsia eyes at her son.

“You want to please me don’t you?” She asked, without the slightest hint of an emotion.

“Well, y-yes.” Tango admitted as he glanced down at his talons. The skydancer could sense his mother’s growing irritation with his antenna and he knew all to well how dangerous his mother could be when she was annoyed.

“Then, bring me the bodies of three dragons by up.”

“But—” Tango pipped in.

“If you are too scared to kill, you are of no use to me.” Undying stated and began to walk past her son.

“Wait! I’m not scared!” Tango protested.

His mother stopped to look back at him through the corners of her eyes.

“Prove it, child.” She challenged and then, walked off into the night.

Tango sat there for a moment longer at stared at the place where his mother had been. He replayed the entire conversation in his head over and over until he became unsure of what was actually said. Tango bit his lower lip. One thing was for sure, if he failed to bring her three dead dragons, his mother would view him as a failure for the rest of his life. Although, he wasn’t sure if he could carry out such a horrible deed.

He had seen his mother kill a dragon once when he was very young. She hadn’t flinched, even when the dragon screamed and their blood seeped into the soil. Tango still remembered how his mother had stared at the dead dragon with unblinking eyes. The dragon had been his half brother, Yahir, and she had killed him because he had threatened to harm Maokai. Tango shuddered, but quickly shook his head after. No, he couldn’t let fear control him this time.

His mother had killed many times and that had made her powerful. If Tango wanted to be strong like her, he would have to kill. It was the only way.

With that mindset, the young skydancer set out into the Abiding Boneyard in search of lost traveling dragons. He knew many dragons died every year during their pilgrimage to the Rotrock Rim so the skydancer figured that killing a wandering dragon in that territory would only be quickening the inevitable...or at least he hoped.

...

After hours of searching, Tango finally caught sight of a lone pearlcatcher traveling across the vast expanse of bones and debris. The skydancer scrabbled to climb on top of the massive skull (that likely belonged to some long forgotten breed of dragon) and pulled back his bow.

One shot. That was all it would take.

Tango’s talons trembled as they held back his bowstring. His heart began to pound.

“I have to do this.” Tango whispered to himself. Otherwise, he would be nothing in the eyes of his mother and perhaps his entire clan.

In an instant, Tango released the arrow and a few yards away, the pearlcatcher dropped dead.

Tango blinked. He didn’t feel anything. No power nor grief. Not even an ounce of shame.

Was it really this easy?

Tango started to make his way off the skull to solid ground, but the adrupt roar of another dragon made the young skydancer freeze in his tracks.

“Nooooooo!” A massive imperial dragon boomed as he descended from the starry night sky and landed before the pearlcatcher. Tango’s blood went cold. The skydancer had heard of travelers who took turns flying and walking in order to prevent muscle soreness and spot potential threats better. This pearlcatcher had not been alone.

“No.” The imperial muttered so softly that Tango strained to hear it. As the imperial spoke, a small pearlcatcher hatchling hopped off the imperial’s back and frantically looked around. In an instant, the pearlcatcher hatchling’s eyes met with Tango’s.

The tiny pearlcatcher may have been a few yards away, but Tango could easily see the horror and confusion in the little pearlcatcher’s golden irises and sense it with his antenna. It was then that a Tango realized that he had just taken someone’s mother away. Tango felt a sudden heat rise in the back his neck. This was all his fault.

“Papa!” The pearlcatcher shrieked and pointed at Tango with a shakey talon.

The imperial dragon jerked his head away from his mate’s corpse and stared at the skydancer. The massive dragon quickly ushered his son behind him and let out a low growl. Tango could feel the cold calculated rage radiating from beneath the imperial’s scales. A moment later, the imperial charged forward as he bore his sharp, menacing teeth. Tango held his breath and silently asked Arenji to have mercy on him. Then, Tango bowed his head. He deserved this death. A life for a life. It was only fair.

“Now, Maokai!” Tango heard his mother shout.

The male skydancer looked up just in time to see his sister leap over him and slit the imperial dragon’s throat. The imperial dragon’s blood sprayed across the sand as his body crumbled to the ground.

Just like her mother, Maokai’s face was devoid of all emotion as she licked the blood off her talons.

“Papa!” The pearlcatcher hatchling screamed and dashed towards the corpse.

“Run away, you fool.” Tango snarled with his bow drawn yet again and his arrow pointed at the hatchling. The small pearlcatcher stopped in his tracks and titled his head up to Tango.

“W-why?” The hatchling asked with tear filled eyes. Tango could barely move his lips to form an answer.

“Because the weak ones will always be expendable,” Undying replied and then, swiftly snapped the hatchling’s neck between her jaws. Undying stared at Tango as she let go of the hatchling’s neck between her teeth. And kept staring, long enough to send a message: you will always be expendable.

It was then that Tango realized his mother had known from the very start that he wouldn’t be able to carry out his task.

...

With his head held low and his tail dragging on the ground, Tango followed his sister and mother back to the Melohn. The young male had been forced by Undying to carry the pearlcatcher he had killed. Although, the weight of the body was nothing compared to the weight on Tango’s heart.

Once the young skydancer had left the body in his mother’s chambers, he fled to his room and after safely locking the door shut, he sobbed into his paws. He had lost everything today. His innocence, his mother’s respect, and his hope. There wasn’t anything left to fight for.

In the days that followed, Tango rarely left his room in the days that followed. His brothers tried to speak with Tango and make sure if he was alright, but Tango kept pushing them away.

Unbeknownst to Undying, Maokai, and Tango, the imperial dragon (who’s name was Mortimo) that Maokai had killed had been a member of the Aquafire Clan and that clan did not take take kindly to outsiders who murdered their kin. Only a week after Mortimo’s death, Aquafirian spies, sent by Nightshade himself, had caught wind of rumors that dragons from the Melohn were responsible for the death of the imperial dragon.

The Aquafire Clan’s queen, Nira, wrote a warning letter to the Melohn that if they were harboring the killer who had taken the life of Mortimo, his mate and his child, they would face the wraith of the Aquafire Clan. Now, the Melohn knew that the Aquafire Clan’s army rivaled their own in strength so they knew that going to war with the Aquafire Clan could prove to be deadly mistake. However, they couldn’t possibly afford to hand over Undying to the Aquafire Clan because the legendary necromancer’s skills were of dire importance to the Melohn (~~not to mention the fact that Undying would unleash her wrath upon them all for betraying her~~).

Oddly enough, Undying came up with the perfect solution to the Melohn’s dilemma. She suggested that they claim her son, Tango, had murdered all three dragons and give him to the Aquafire Clan. Tango’s brothers had learned of their mother’s scheme and they quickly urged the young skydancer to flea before the Aquafire Clan’s warriors came for him.

Tango truly felt like he deserved to be exalted, but he couldn’t say no to his brothers, not when they desperately pleaded for him to leave. They didn’t want him to die or spend the rest of his life in the service of a false god so Tango would stay alive for his brothers. Even if he was already dead inside.

...

Tango stood at border of the Melohn’s territory as the cool night breeze ruffled his feathers. He stared at the vast wastelands beyond his home clan and shallowed hard. There was no going back after this point. This act would forever separate himself from the Melohn and he doubted he’d ever come back.

“Are you ready, Tango?” His litter brother, Rodran, asked as he stood a little further behind him.

“I-I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.” Tango admitted, quietly. The Melohn had been his entire world since the day he was born. He hadn’t begun his spy training in the Melohn yet so he barely knew anything about the world beyond his home.

Rodran put a paw on Tango’s shoulder.

“Arenji will guide you.” He assured with the upmost certainty.

Rodran’s faith in Arenji never wavered and Tango had always admired that about Rodran when he was a hatchling, but now it only made the skydancer clench his fangs.

“If Arenji is truly cares for us pathetic dragons, then why didn’t he keep me from finding Mortimo and his family? And why’d he just stand by and watch when we murdered them?” Tango challenged with a tone sharp as daggers.

Rodran didn’t even flinch at Tango’s question, instead he just looked at his brother with the sincerest understanding.

“Arenji doesn’t will for bad things to happen, Tango. That’s the Shade’s doing. Although, when the Shade does win the eternal battle between right and wrong, Arenji will always make something good come out of the chaos.”

“How can you be so sure?” Tango demanded.

Rodran didn’t break his brother’s gaze. “Our mother has been killing you, Tango. She’s been pushing and forcing you to give up more and more of yourself, and making you into the vicious monster she has always sculpted our sisters to be. That’s I think it truly was the will of Arenji to have the death of Mortimo, lead you out of the Melohn because our God wanted to save what was left of you, Tango.”

“There’s hardly anything left...” Tango muttered as his voice broke.

“And yet, the God of the universe still think its worth saving.” Rodran retorted with a grin.

Tango felt hot tears slide down his metallic scales.

“I’ll miss you, Rodran.” He somehow managed to say before Rodran pulled him into a tight embrace. The skydancer had been so obsessed with his mother’s approval that he had failed to see the abundant loyalty and love his brother’s had given him freely. He had been such a fool.

“I’ll miss you too, Tango.” Rodran replied, voice hoarse with his own tears.

Tango forced himself to pull away from his litter-brother and take a step back. He had to leave before it was to late and far to hard too.

“Please, tell the others—”

“I will.” Rodran promised, already understanding what his brother meant. Tango wanted all of many other brothers to know that he loved them and would miss them terribly and it would be Rodran’s job to let them know.

Tango turned to face the world beyond and spread his wings.

“Tango,” Rodran said, making his brother turn his head around, “Make Arenji’s will descend like the rains.”

Tango smiled. He had heard that familiar phrase repeated by the Melohn every time they sent a spy out into the world. He supposed that he was technically a spy now even he had no formal training.

“For the good of Arenji.” Tango said as was tradition among the Melohn and then, took off into the night sky.

...

With the Aquafire Clan’s spies lurking everywhere and a bounty on his head for murder, Tango could never stay in one place for too long. He was constantly on the run from one territory to the next. For a while, Tango managed to get by with a fast pace life, but as the days turned to months and the months to years, Tango’s notorious short male spawn lifespan started to catch up with him.

It all started with an ache in Tango’s bones, then his feathers started to dull and his skin started to sag. The skydancer tried to ignore these changes, not because he was in denial of his aging, but rather because he was still on the run. Although, Tango knew that no matter how fast he ran, he was dying and his death was very near.

Tango knew he needed to find his life-giver and could practically feel his soul tugging him towards them, but he didn’t want to drag another dragon into this life where they would never have time to rest. It wouldn’t be right and Tango honestly doubted that there would be a dragon out there who would care about him enough to give up everything and travel around Sornieth with him. Not to mention, the fact that his rapid aging had made him so ugly now. He doubted dragons could barely stand to look a his haggard face.

So Tango continued to fly onward and never looked back, or at least that was what he did up until that one fateful day when the skydancer flew over the Sea of a Thousand Currents. Tango hadn’t been sure why he thought traveling over a massive body of water was a good idea when he absolutely no clue where he could find an island to rest at. The skydancer guessed his mind was starting to go with youth.

The skydancer flew for a couple of hours. As usual his wings started to ache more and more with every passing minute. Tango clenched his fangs. Just a little further, some primal part him reminded. The skydancer continued to fly on, even as the winds pounded against him and the waves grew higher. Tango practically wheezed for breath, but kept going despite the sheer agony it caused him to feel. More hours passed. Dark storm clouds blotted out the sunlight, yet Tango still kept moving forward. Just a little further, the voice promised again. Then, the rain pelted his wings and the skydancer let out a ragged gasp.

Keep moving.

Every single fiber of his being hurt, but Tango couldn’t stop—he had to get there—to her.

Wait a minute. Tango blinked. Her? The skydancer tried to hover in the air for a moment as rain riveted down his saggy skin. Where was he even going exactly?

To her.

All the air rushed out of Tango’s lungs as the pull took hold of him so tightly. Go to her—go to her—gotohergotohergotoher. Black spots where dancing in the corners of his eyes. I’m dying, Tango realized. He knew he should have thought about his brothers or started praying to Arenji or both, but all he could think was that she was out there and the distance between them was much to far.

“Shadow.” He whispered her name on his lips. Then, his wings gave out completely and he fell into the sea.

...

Shadow and loyal familiar, Fenrir, had got out to play in the shadows within the Fishspine Reef as soon as the storm let up. Shadow just loved to move through the reef’s shadows, mostly because the shadows moved so erratically through the water, which made moving through them so much more fun. Shadow-travel was much faster than swimming too, which was really an added bonus.

“Shadow,” Fenrir’s voice echoed to her, “You want to race me?”

Shadow raised an eyebrow as she watched her familiar’s glowing purple eyes move through the swirling darkness.

“Why do you always insist we race, Fenrir, when we both know you are going to win?”

“Because I like winning.” The umbra wolf as his eyes illuminated that devious fanged grin of his.

Shadow through her head back and laughed into the endless void as she trailed behind the wolf. “I swear, Fenrir, I’ll—”

A sudden chill went down Shadow’s spine. The fae stopped moving.

“What is it, Shadow?” The umbra wolf asked as he moved towards the fae.

“Something about this shadow...” the fae trailed off as she tried to sense the edges of the shadow she lingered in. Since this shadow was underwater it was blurry—to say the least—but there was something about it that seemed different. Shadow tried to feel further until suddenly—

Shadow gasped.

“What?” Fenrir demanded.

“This shadow—it has arms and talons and wings too!” Shadow instantly lept out of the darkness and into the water.

...

Once Shadow had left the shadow realm, her familiar let out a huff of frustration.

“I don’t see what the big whoop is. We see fifty dragons on a day to day basis that fit that vague description.” The wolf muttered to himself before he lept out of his shadow.

Once the wolf had fully submerged himself in water and looked up to the surface, the beast finally understood why the fae had dashed out of her shadow. There was, in fact, a skydancer floating on the surface of the sea, but it looked like it was dead. Fenrir doggie paddled up to the surface and popped his head out of the water.

Now, that he was closer, the wolf realized that the skydancer didn’t just look dead, no it looked like death itself. Its wings had been battered so badly that there were large chunks of feathers missing and the feathers that remained were a dull gray color. The skydancer only had a few matted wads of grad fur where mane used to be. If the wolf hadn’t seen the faint trace of runes on the skydancer’s sides, he would have assumed the dragon had the ghost gene based on the bones could easily be seen beneath his saggy skin.

“Shadowbinder’s goop.” Shadow muttered in astoundment as she swam towards the skydancer.

“Hey, be careful! It might be diseased!” Fenrir warned.

Shadow shot her familiar a glare.

“What? I’m being honest.” The wolf scoffed.

Shadow turned her head back to the skydancer. Sadness filled her big violet eyes.

“I just want to make sure he is dead.” She told the wolf. The tiny fae hoped onto the skydancer’s bumpy ribcage. Since Shadow was so small, she could walk on the top of the skydancer’s body without making it sink an inch. The fae crouched down and brushed one of her slender paws against the skydancer wrinkly skin.

“Poor thing.” The fae said.

The skydancer made a strange gurgling sound as he tried to breathe in and his chest expanded in instant.

“Ah!” Shadow exclaimed. “Fenrir, he’s alive!”

The wolf’s mouth fell open.

“How the Shade is that even possible?!” He shouted.

“Quick! Get his head out of the water!” She commanded.

The familiar hastily obeyed by lifting the dragon’s head up with his snout. He figured he’d act now and ask questions later. The simple decision could very well save a life. The skydancer burst into a coughing fit, but for some odd reason, he didn’t open his eyes.

“Lets get him back to the Aquafire Clan!” Shadow roared.

...

Tango thought he saw Naomi standing at the gates. She had been laughing.

“Ha! I told you so Arenji!” She said before she blurred out of focus and he once again felt a familiar tug.

Come.

She beckoned to him and he followed, despite how tired he was and how badly he wanted to give in to the darkness that wished to shallow him. He followed.

Come.

He felt the warm of her paws. Could smell her sweet cylis hinted scent.

Breathe.

He obeyed. It made his lungs sting and his body ache, but he obeyed.

“Please, hold on.”

Her voice was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. It made him want her more than life itself. He reached out to her.
“We’ll take it from here.” A different female voice assured.

“But—“ He heard her protest.

And then, the gap between them was rushed open again. She was leaving. Leaving him to the darkness that swirled around him. Tango felt the void pulling him away. Eating him alive. It hurt more than dying had.

“Sh-Shadow.” He rasped and reached out to her again. “Please, don’t go.”

There was roaring silence that answered him.

“Please.” He begged, again. “Don’t leave me.”

Then, he felt her warmth again. The skydancer opened his eyes and he saw her. She was the most stunning thing he had ever seen. Tears instantly blurred his vision.

“I-I thought I never see you. I-I—“ He stammered.

“Shhhhh.” She whispered.

Rest.

He closed his eyes and let her warmth envelope his body, mind and soul.

...

Shadow never seen the skydancer once in her life before, but he knew her name. He had said it just as the healers had tried to usher her out of the tent so they could operate on him to see what was wrong. Everyone had been shocked when he spoke her name and begged her to stay.

It broke Shadow’s heart to see him reach for her with his withered talons. To hear the fear in his voice that she might already be gone. Shadow didn’t care how the dragon knew her. All she wanted to do was make his pain subside.

She quickly swerved around the healers and landed right next to the skydancer’s snout. Like literally every other dragon in the Aquafire Clan, with the exclusion of other faes of course, the skydancer could likely shallow her without having to chew, but Shadow was used to living with that possibility. The fae placed one of her font paws on his ragged skin. The skydancer’s ruby-red eyes fluttered open. Instantly, their eyes met. Shadow’s heart started to pound as she some kind energy began surging inside of her. The skydancer’s eyes started to water.

“I-I thought I never see you. I-I—“ He stammered as tears streaked accross his cheeks.

“Shhhhh.” She whispered and gently brushed away his tears with her talons. She felt that energy building up—burning in her chest. She wanted to save him—no, she needed to.

The skydancer’s eyes slowly closed and Shadow let that power flow through her paws into his wrinkled skin. The skydancer let out a low, rumbling purr and gently pressed his snout closer to the fae.

What happened next made Shadow think she was hallucinating. The skydancer’s skin began to smooth out and reflect the amber light of the tent’s lantern. His feathers started to sprout back up and turned to a shimmering shade of purple. The skydancer’s mane also grew back with thick, healthy fur and his once-all-to-visible bones vanished beneath muscle.

“By the Gladekeeper!” One of the healers, named Maruna, gasped once the skydancer’s transformation was complete.

Shadow blinked at the skydancer. He looked thousands of years younger and, if she was being honest, sooo undeniably handsome.

...

When Tango woke up again, he expected to be greeted by aching thighs and bones instead he didn’t feel anything, aside from a silk blanket that had been thrown over his back. The skydancer tried moving his legs—still no pain.

Then, the memories came flooding back. Tango’s eyes flew open.

“Shadow?” Tango asked as he lifted his head and took in all of his surroundings. He guessed based on the countless herbs that jam packed the shelves within this tent, that it probably belonged to some professional healers. He wondered if Shadow was some kind of healer too.

“You’re awake?” A slightly grougier version of Shadow’s lovely voice responded.

Tango looked strait in the direction of the sound and saw an umbra wolf curled up on the floor a few feet away from his bed. Shadow was lying on top of the wolf’s back and looking in Tango’s direction with sleepy eyes.

“I hope so.” The skydancer responded and continued to look around the room. If he was being honest, this seemed reality he was in felt like a dream. He had found his life-giver and he was talking to her. Actually. Talking. To. Her. He had never thought he’d actually make to this day.

Shadow smiled weakly at Tango.

“How do you feel?” She asked.

Tango grinned. “More alive than ever.”

Shadow let out a long sigh of relief.

“I’m glad to hear because I got the Aquafire Clan’s best healers to look at you and they had absolutely no idea what was wrong or if you were completely healed.” The fae explained.

The skydancer eyes went wide and the hair on the back of his neck stood on an end. He had to have heard her wrong.

“Wait, these healers, did you say they were from the Aquafire Clan?”

Shadow cocked her head to the side. “Yeah, I did. Have you, um, heard of the clan before?”

Have you heard of the clan before? It was such a simple question. Although, an honest answer could have deadly implications for the skydancer. Tango glanced around the room one more time. The Aquafire Clan would probably exalt him on the spot for the horrific crime he committed if they found him here. Fortunately, their were no healers in sight, but if they over heard him tell Shadow the truth about his connection to the Aquafire Clan, he could possibly endanger both himself and Shadow.

“I don’t think so,” Tango lied. He swore he’d tell Shadow the truth once they were far away from this tent and the healers that lingered there.

“Well, I guess we are pretty small compared to other clans.” Shadow mused with a shrug.

“We?” Tango asked as he desperately tried to keep the fear out of his voice.

“Oh, yeah, I suppose I forgot to tell you I’m a member of the Aquafire Clan as well.” Shadow mentioned.

No. Was all Tango could think as the color drained from his face. His life-giver couldn’t possibly be connected to the clan that wanted him dead. Because if that were true, she’d probably hate him just like the rest of her clan and Tango wasn’t sure if he’d be able to bare it.

“Is something wrong?” She asked, violet eyes filled with concern.

Tango looked down shook his head. Arenji above, he wanted to tell her everything. It went against every fiber of his being to lie to her, but, gosh, he couldn’t stand the idea of being separated from her again and he was sure that would happen if he was honest.

“It just feels so strange to talk to you.” He lied. In reality, nothing felt more natural and wonderful.

There was a short pause before Shadow spoke up again.

“I really apologize for being rude...but am I, um, supposed to know you?”

“Wait, you don’t know my name?” The skydancer asked, softly.

Shadow shook her head.

“I’m really sorry. If we met when I was a hatch—“

“We haven’t met before...” the skydancer admitted. “I’m sorry, I guess I just automatically assumed you’d know me too.”

He had been told the relationship between a life-giver and a male spawn wasn’t the same both ways. Life-givers could go through their entire lives without ever meeting their spawn, while their spawn couldn’t survive much longer past adolescence without their life-giver. However, Tango hadn’t thought that it was possible that pull on his very being to go to Shadow only went one way. That she didn’t feel as bound to him as he did to her... Or that she didn’t recognize him when their eyes first met and know that he was her Tango. Although, the skydancer supposed he was wrong and the realization hurt more than he was willing to admit.

He would always be expendable. Not just to his mother, but to Shadow as well.

Shadow hopped off of her snoozing umbra wolf and placed small paw on Tango’s massive one.

“But I can learn your name.” The fae piped up with a sympathetic smile. “And I can get to know you too. Although,” the fae started to fiddle with her talons, “I would really like to know, how exactly, you got know me first for, um, some minor safety reasons.”

Tango grinned at the fae and found himself telling her the history of his subspecies. He told Shadow that his father had died went he was a young adult and his mother had resurrected him with magic. The skydancer then explained that the act had left a magical imprint on their children who later, became known as Spawn. Then, the skydancer spoke about the differences between female and male spawn. He said Shadow was a life-giver and explained to the fae what life-givers where exactly.

However, Tango didn’t mention the names of his parents or any other key details that gave the impression he was from the Melohn. The skydancer also chose not to note that male spawn could still die after meeting their life-givers if they were separated from them long enough. The skydancer just figured that would be a little to much to tell Shadow that he, the random dragon she had barely knew, needed to be with her to survive.

He figured he wait for that later, once she knew his soul. Because maybe then, she’d be able to look past all the horrible things he’d done...or at least, he hoped.

After Tango had finished telling his life-bringer about his subspecies, the skydancer had to lie once last time and it probably killed him the most.

She’d asked him what his name was.

He desperately wanted to say Tango, but he was sure that to her, Tango was the name of a wanted criminal who had slaughtered a whole family of dragons. The skydancer doubted she want anything to do with such horrid dragon named Tango so he said his name was Rodran.

The skydancer hoped he could be at least half as good as the real Rodran.

...

The months that followed passed Tango by in a blissfully happy haze. Shadow gave Tango a tour of the Aquafire Clan. It was probably one of the most bizarre experiences in Tango’s life considering the fact that this very clan he was taking a tour of wanted him dead. Shadow also presented Tango to the king and queen of the Aquafire Clan. The rulers had placed the bounty on the skydancer’s head ages ago, but they gladly welcomed Rodran into their territory.

Nira and Leon told Tango—or more correctly speaking—Rodran that if the skydancer took up an occupation within their borders, then they would settler and feed him. Initially, Tango wasn’t sure if he could except their offer since the only useful thing he knew how to do was hunt and the Aquafire Clan’s hunting team was already full. However, Shadow assured the skydancer that she’d help him find a job that was the perfect fit for him.

The spawn and the life-giver spent weeks trying to find the right occupation for Tango, but in time, the skydancer discovered that their was nothing he loved more than teaching hatchlings how to hunt and defend themselves. The skydancer saw himself in every hatchling he worked with, especially the weaker ones born with physical and mental disabilities. The hatchlings just loved Tango too. They would crawl on his back and tug on his ears and Tango would just beam at them like they were the world’s most precious treasures. The king and queen appointed Tango to be a teacher without the slightest hesitation once they saw how well the skydancer worked with the little dragons.

Although, as soon as the hatchlings were picked up by their parents, Tango would always find Shadow, his little night star, and the two would spend hours talking about the adventure they had during the day. It was during one of these little stays that Tango wasn’t bound to Shadow because she was his life-giver, but rather because he was in love with her. And he told Shadow that one night, as she lay curled up beside him, that he loved her.

As months went by, Tango started to forget the Melohn and began to completely embrace the new life he had been given in the Aquafire Clan. However, the skydancer never forgot to make Arenji’s will fall like the rains. He told everyone he possibly could about Arenji and all of the good things the God had done. Now, many members of the Aquafire Clan kept to their traditional worship of the eleven gods, but there was a small few in the Aquafire Clan that had been horribly abused by the elemental deities and found hope in Tango’s words. Tango vowed to protect and cherish those few Aquafirian followers of Arenji.

Little did the skydancer know, Nightshade, the notorious spymaster, and Drax, the death seer, were finally returning to the Aquafire Clan after searching for Tango over a year and the skydancer’s bissful haze was going to come an abrupt end.

...

Tango had finally decided, after a year of building up the nerve and being ~~pressured~~ encouraged by Asia, the reputable matchmaker, to ask Shadow if she wanted to marry him. Although, first the skydancer planned to tell the fae he loved so dearly the truth about his past. If Shadow still wanted to be with him, then he’d marry her and stay by her side until his dying days, but if she didn’t, then the skydancer would let her go, even if it literally killed him.

However, when Tango knocked on the fae’s bedroom door with the intention of confessing some of his darkest secrets to her, no one answered. After a few more knocks, the skydancer tried opening Shadow’s door and realized it was unlocked.

“Shadow?” The skydancer asked as he poked his head in the little dragon’s room. Then, the slender dragon noticed that their was a letter sitting on Shadow’s bed that was written in her handwriting. The skydancer walked into his life-giver’s room and delicately picked up the note.

Dear Rodran,

Sorry I’m not here. I just heard that a few old friends of mine will be arriving at the docks tonight so I hurried off to see them. Meet me there?

—Shadow

The skydancer frowned as he placed the note back on the fae’s bed and headed out to the Aquafire Clan’s harbor. He had really wanted to speak with her alone tonight, but perhaps now wasn’t the right time.

...

By time the skydancer made it down to the docks, a handful of dragons had already gathered there. Tango saw Shadow hugging the snout of a tundra with stripped, bright red fur and smiled faintly. The fae was loved by all of her clanmates and it was obvious why.

Once the fae pulled away from the tundra, her eyes licked to Tango.

“Rodran!” She called with a bright smile and waved him over.

The skydancer slipped between the dragons surrounding the fae until he finally shrunk the distance between them to a foot or so.

Shadow opened her mouth to introduce the red tundra to the skydancer when the tundra suddenly growled and outstretched his furry arm in front of Shadow.

“Tango’s right here, Nightshade.” He snarled. The dragons surrounding them went silent and turned their focus to the skydancer.

Tango’s eyes went wide at the sound of his actual name. The term ‘shock’ and ‘dread’ barely scratched the surface of the emotions he felt.

“Drax, he’s a friend!” Shadow exclaimed, but the tundra ignored her and kept his eyes locked on Tango. The skydancer’s stomach turned over when he sensed the hatred boiling beneath tundras fur.

“You killed her.” The tundra, Drax, accused.

Tango blinked and went utterly still.

“Drax, what are you talking about?!” Shadow demanded. Tango could feel the fear jolting through her.

No. The skydancer wanted to tell her, but not like this.

“Shadow, I—“ He started to speak, but all his words failed him when she looked at him and he felt anger as hot as red coals flow through her.

“What.” She bit out.

The massive guardian dragon, who Tango now presumed was Nightshade, lowered his head to get a better look at was going on. His eyes, which were purple like Shadow’s, darted back between him and Shadow.

“I want everyone off this dock. Now.” The guardian ordered. The crowd of dragons hastily moved to shore. However, Tango, Shadow and Drax didn’t move a muscle.

“Tango, you are under arrest for killing Mortimo‘s mate, Morticia.” Nightshade stated as the skydancer’s entire world fell apart.

“Is it true?!” Shadow shrieked with tears in her eyes.

Tango held his head low in shame and didn’t look Shadow the eyes.

“It is.” He voice was no louder than a whisper, but he knew Shadow heard it because she called him a bloody b*stard and few other choice words Tango didn’t wish to repeat. The skydancer deserved every minute of it.

...

Three weeks had gone by and Shadow still hadn’t spoken to Rodran—no, Tango. Everyone in the Aquafire Clan had been shocked to find out that the skydancer they thought they knew and loved was a actually Tango, the infamous killer of one of their own. Drax had confirmed it with his ability to see someone’s death. Long before Morticia had been murdered, Drax had seen her die at Tango’s hands and he remembered Tango’s face so that when the time came he’d make the murderer pay.

Although, making said murderer pay was no easy task now that Tango had snaked his way into their lives. He had worked the Aquafire Clan’s hatchlings and some dragons still thought he was innocent because of the kindness he had showed to them. However, Shadow knew, even though she didn’t want to, that Tango was telling the truth because he had a thousand reasons to lie to her that evening. He probably could have gotten himself out of prison if he lied because Shadow knew she would have vouched for him, but he didn’t.

Drax had told her that Tango hadn’t killed Mortimo and his son, Hades, only Morticia, but the fae didn’t hate Tango any less because Morticia had been a dear friend. A dear friend that Tango had stolen from her.

Although, if Shadow was being honest stealing Morticia wasn’t the worst thing Tango had done to her. The worst part was that he had made her fall in love with him and convinced her that she was his life-giver, which Shadow figured had to be a lie at this point. It had to be all one big charade he had created just to stay out of prison and Shadow had eaten it up. And now, even despite all that had happened, she couldn’t find it in herself to support beheading Tango for his crimes.

The fae stretched out her wings and let the wind carry her far away from the Aquafire Clan’s shores. She could feel Fenrir gaze on the back of neck as she flew. She had told the umbra wolf that she had wanted to be alone and she knew saying had probably hurt her familiar, but it was the honest truth.

She didn’t want to be around anyone right now.

Shadow closed her eyes to stop the sudden flow of tears.

She didn’t want anyone to see her weep for a dragon who had killed her best friend because weeping for such a dragon was so pathetic and—

Swoop.

Pain shot through Shadow’s left wing. The fae frantically turned her head and stared in horror at the spear protruding from her wing webbing. Before she could even think to act, the spear was pulled down and Shadow with. Shadow looked down as the air rushed out from beneath her and gawked when she saw that the end of her spear was connected to a rope and that was connected to a small ship.

Although, what really scared Shadow was the logo she saw on the shaip’s mask: a golden star with two symmetrical feathered wings on each side. It was the symbol of the house of the mirror her mother had been forced to marry and later killed. Shadow knew that House Brightwing, as they were called, had never forgiven her mother for killing one of their own and had always wanted revenge.

Shadow tried to flap away with her good wing, but whoever was pulling the end of the rope was far to strong. After a few moments, the fae crashed into the ships wooden floor boards and she saw stars. The mirror dragons on the ship gathered around and started laughing and someone grabbed Shadow by the back of her neck and held her up.

“Well, well, it looks like you are a long way from home little Robin child.” The mirror, who she had presumed had picked her up, purred into her ear. His breath smelled of ale and it made Shadow want to vomit on the floor.

The mirrors burst out into laughter again. Shadow tried to move, but she was still far to dazed from her crash into the ship’s floor. The world was spinning and she was drifting away. Maybe if she just took a little nap.

Thump!

Shadow was back the floor again and the wind was completely knocked out of her. Pain shot into her back like a thousand tiny daggers. The fae tried to scramble to her feet, but the mirror came on top of her too fast and pinned limbs to the ground.

“What do you is to do with her, father?” One of them asked with a feral grin.

“Oh, I just need her body to be—hmmm. What’s the word?” The voice of the one who had picked her up drawled. “Ah, I rember now. I need her body to be identifiable when I leave on her mother’s doorstep. Although, you may do what you wish with her in the meantime.”

“Even take her chasity?” Another asked, with lust-filled eyes focused solely on Shadow.

“Nothing would make me happier if you all f***ed her every single night.” The father purred.

Then, the mirrors moved in closer and Shadow screamed louder than she ever thought possible.

...

Tango had been lying on the damp floor of his prison cell, staring at nothing and wishing he was nothing, when he felt her fear. It zapped through him and him jump to his feet. She was in trouble, his instincts screamed.

Go. To. Her.

The skydancer started ramming his head against the bars of his cell like some wild bull. The sudden sound of metal clashing with bone made the prison guard, who had been previously napping on duty, jolt awake.

“Whoa! Look, pal, that is the toughest steel in Sornieth, nothing can break—“ The tundra guard stopped speaking once he saw that bars bend outward as Tango crashed into them for the forth time. With a heaving chest, Tango completely ignored the guard and charged forward for the fifth time. The bars snapped like twigs. The tundra dragon rushed in front of Tango and spread out his wings.

“Stop right ther—“

Tango knocked him to the side of the wall as he plowed through. More guards came and attacked, but Tango just shook them off. The pain from the injuries they inflicted on him felt dull, compared to feel of the pulsing terror radiating from Shadow. The skydancer sprinted down the halls and sent the prison’s entrance doors flying off their hinges as he burst to the outside. The light blinded Tango, but the skydancer didn’t need sight to find Shadow so he kept moving.

Somewhere far away, guards were shouting at him.

The skydancer kept running though and as he ran, he unfolded his wings and let the wind carry him off of the ground. Shadow’s fear was growing.

Arenji above, Tango had to get to her. Now.

The skydancer flapped his wings as hard as he possibly could for seconds that felt like hours until the ship finally came into view. The dragon had never seen the ship once before in his life, but his gut told him that it was an enemy ship. Tango pulled his wings against his sides and shot through the air—towards ship and Shadow.

Tango’s paws mashed into the ship’s flooring so hard that the boards cracked and sent splinters flying. This naturally made everyone on board twist their heads toward the skydancer. However, Tango’s gaze locked into Shadow’s wide eyes. For a moment, the raging beast inside Tango calmed, but when his eyes wandered to the mirror pinning her down and the larger one standing above Shadow, with his private parts dangling above her—about to touch her—Tango saw red.

The skydancer let out a deep feral roar and blasted through the mirrors as if they were mere bowling pins. Then, he stood over Shadow and let out low growl as his tail slashed violently from side to side.

“Don’t. Touch. Her.” He snarled and bared his teeth. Most of the mirrors took a step back, but the one—the large one—met Tango’s gaze with both pairs of his eyes and grinned wickedly.

“Make me.” He challenged and lunged at the skydancer. Without hesitation, Tango jumped at the mirror and the two instantly began to tear each other apart. However, Tango clearly had the upper talon or at least he did until the other mirrors ganged up on him. Some them laughed as they rapidly hit Tango over and over. Tango’s head rolled to the side as they continued to claw at his stomach. In a haze of blood loss and pain, Tango saw Shadow, curled up at the far end of the ship and crying.

“You love me.” She whispered and Tango somehow heard.

“More than anything.” He croaked and just like that, Tango felt her power surge through him and give him the strength to fight on. The dragon rose to his paws and knocked the mirrors off of him. Some of the mirrors got on their own paws and came charging back, slashed their throats open before they could harm him. After nearly half of the mirrors lay dead on the ground, the rest of the pathetic lot fled.

However, Tango continued to stand there, breathing heavily and covered in blood, until their wingbeats had completely faded out. Then, the skydancer beheld the bloody corpses beneath him and realized he had killed again. Tango looked over to his life-giver, who was still staring at the blood on his talons in shock.

Tango bow his head so low that his touched the blood-stained floorboards and squeezed his eyes shut.

“Shadow, I know my actions today and the past are unforgivable and I—“

“Tango, I don’t f***ing care.” The fae muttered.

Tango flicked his eyes to the fae and braced himself for the feel of her hatred.

Although, he felt something much different from hatred in Shadow’s as she walked over the bodies and placed her paw on his snout.

“I love you and that’s the only thing in the whole world that matters.” She told the skydancer without a trace of doubt.

...

After a only a week of debate, Nira and Leon decided to pardon Tango for his crimes and let him resume training the Aquafire Clan’s hatchlings. Mostly because he had saved Shadow’s life and Shadow had spoken on his behalf. Partially, because many of the Aquafire Clan’s members (the hatchlings especially) genuinely liked Tango and believed he was a good dragon.

Tango finally got the chance to tell his life-giver everything during that week. Everything about mother and his siblings and his home clan. He even explained why he had killed Morticia as pathetic as the reasons may be. And by some miracle, Shadow still said she loved him after he had layed his life out before her.

However, once the week had passed and Tango was pardoned, the skydancer knew there was one last thing he had to do before he allowed himself to rest.

He needed to return to the Melohn.

Word had already got out that the Melohn had tried to deceive the Aquafire Clan by claiming Tango had murdered three dragons and tensions between the clans were at an all time high. No one had told Tango outright, but the skydancer knew that the two powerful clans were on the brink of war. Knowing all that, the skydancer felt obligated to go to the Melohn to smooth things over and potentially create an alliance between the two clans.

The skydancer explained his plans to Shadow and the fae insisted that she come with him. Now, Tango didn’t really want to Shadow to embark on such dangerous journey with him, but, Arenji above, he couldn’t possibly say no to those big, pleading, violet eyes.

Although, before they began their journey, Shadow insisted that they go on one last date in the Aquafire Clan. Tango wasn’t really sure why exactly they needed to go on another date when they both knew they loved each other, but he couldn’t turn down spending time with Shadow so he agreed.

...

“Say my name again.” Tango requested as he infront of Shadow on shoreline, beneath the twinkling stars.

“Tango.” Shadow said with a grin.

“Say it again.”

“Tango.” She replied.

The skydancer bent his head down and nipped at her ears. He could smell the Cylis herbs on her.

“Again.” He breathed into the back of her neck.

“Tango. Tango. Tango—Tango.” The fae declared, smiling wildly. “Taaaaannngggooo.”

The skydancer was absolutely certain that he could get drunk on the sound of his name on her lips. Shadow leaned her head back to look at the skydancer.

“Tango.” She said, more firmly this time. “I need to ask you something.”

The spawn’s red eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Yes?” He questioned, softly.

Shadow closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then, her eyes fluttered open and focused on Tango’s.

“Will you be my mate, Tango?” The fae asked.

The skydancer took set back, with eyelids that couldn’t possibly be farther apart.

“Are you sure?”

Shadow grinned.

“More than anything.”

Familiar

Tango’s familiar, Stitchy, was actually the first living creature Maokai managed to bring back from death. The young necromancer played with her creation for a little bit, but quickly grew bored of the toy and left the creature in the trash to die a second time. Fortunately, Tango found Stitchy and managed to clean him up. Ever since that day, Stitchy has been a loyal friend of Tango’s. The creature normally doesn’t say much and is often mistaken for a lifeless toy, but Stitchy always finds strange ways to communicate his feelings in the end. Tango often feels like Stitchy is the only thing he has left of his birth clan so he is very protective of the familiar.

Those converted to Arenji’s will

^Shadow

^Spark

^Nyx

^{Mr. Catsby}

^Fiero

^MrCream

^Nafira

Description

Very few Spawn females are born, but those that are have sapped the magic from their brothers in nest, proving themselves to be powerful and magically blessed by Arenji. Most of them have proven themselves to be adept at necromancy, as their mother was when she resurrected their father. All Spawn have been touched by death and females can bring down curses and evil upon those that have wronged them. Many females also have difficulty getting in touch with their own emotions, despite retaining the skydancer ability to sense the emotions of others, leading them to be able to fake emotion with ease while secretly plotting the demise. They are a species you want to fight on your side, for woe to you if you are their enemy...

Boys, on the other hand, have lost their magical abilities. They are driven by the will of Arenji or lost to wander until found. Many have very short life spans, but find themselves drawn to those who are able to grant the touch of life when close to their deaths. They call these beings life-givers no matter their element or style and will connect to one and stay with them for the rest of their existance - possibly eternally - much like how a Guardian finds their charge. Many without a life-giver will seem lost or wandering, aimless, but feel a pull when their life is near end out of fear of going to the gods and into eternal servitude. Once they have found their life-giver, however, they will protect them at any cost and could put an angry imperial to shame in their sheer physical power.

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Exalting Tango to the service of the Tidelord will remove them from your lair forever. They will leave behind a small sum of riches that they have accumulated. This action is irreversible.

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