Corydalis

Though neither me, nor any dragon I have been friends with, have been to the lands further south than the Southern Icefields, I have heard many stories about the place. They say it's a cold place, icy and grey with a wind that cuts through marrow and bone. I've also heard that the earth cracks open wide, before your eyes and might swallow you whole! They say you can get lost for days in the landscapes of grey and white. It's a land where the sun doesn't even care to rise above the ocean most of the moons you're there! They say it's an old place with ancient tales of violence and war, but also passion and soul! When I was at the southernmost tip of the Icefields I saw the west bleed into the east and I knew I could get lost in these stories my whole life, which caused me to start writing this book. Even now, as I make my way back north I can't help but wonder what I'd see if I had flown further south. Are the stories real? I like to think they are.

Corydalis put down the pen and sighed. She would have loved to see the magical place she had heard so much about, but right now she had something else to do. It had been so long since she had visited her son and she wondered what he had been up to in the meantime. She knew from dragons who she had been talking to that Moor was in the caves beneath Dragonhome, and so she started making her way north. The snowy landscape soon gave way to the pink grass of the Starfall Isles. The old Wildclaw hurried through the Scarred Wastelands she had to cross and sighed out of relief once the fleshy ground turned to hard stone beneath her claws. She didn't search long and simply entered the first cave she stumbled upon to enter the system of caves that stretched under the entirety of Dragonhome.

The tapping of claws echoed through the tunnels and Coryadalis stopped once she reached the opening of a large cave illuminated by glowing blue mushrooms. "Can I help you?" a deep voice asked from beside her and Corydalis looked up to the old Imperial. "Oh, Norva! You might. Do you know where Moor is?" she asked as she lowered the hood to properly greet her old friend. "Oh! Corydalis, I didn't recognize you with that on! Yes, he should be training with your sister, come on." he said, smiling down at the Wildclaw, leading her towards another cave. "My sister? Timber is here?" she asked, slightly surprised her sister would settle down anywhere. Norva only nodded as they entered a smaller cavern. "Someone is here to meet you two!" Norva called out, his deep voice echoing slightly. "Mom!" Moor yelled happily as he abandoned the Wildclaw he had been training with to greet his mother. "I've missed you, Moor! Tell me, how have you been?" Corydalis chuckled. "He's a lot stronger than he looks! How have you been, Cory?" Timber laughed as she made her way over to her half-sister. "I've been great! I didn't think you'd stay in one place for long, Timber." Corydalis laughed.

"You are allowed to stay here as well, my dear. You know you're always welcome here." Norva told the smaller dragoness, causing her to chuckle. "Thank you Norva, but you know I like traveling too much to settle down. I just wanted to check on Moor and I am happy to see that he is doing great! I'll be on my way, though. Moor, I want you to have this before I leave!" corydalis said, before handing her son an old and tattered book.

"Stories from Sornieth and beyond, Vol. 1?" Moor asked as he read the cover. "Yes, it's all the stories I've gathered during my travels. I hope you enjoy them." she answered, before saying her goodbyes and leaving the three dragons with the old book. "Well then Moor, start reading! I want to know what your mother wrote down!" Timber said expectantly and the young Imperial opened the book carefully. Corydalis smiled as she heard her son start reading the book out loud before rounding the corner of the tunnel back to the surface.