Ebony

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Ebony is one of the most well-behaved dragons you ever did meet. He helps the elderly, wounded and sick, does anything that needs doing (no matter how tricky) and always tidies up after himself. He spends all his spare time in the clans' scruffy library.
___He originally went to the library to put it in order, as, somehow, no-one in the clan ever thought about being a librarian, but when he had finished, he quickly became interested in the scrolls himself. It did not take him long to read them all, once he had learnt how, and he was soon searching for more materials to add to the very short list of what was already available. Being a hatchling, there was not much he could do, so, to begin with, he went around visiting the other dragons in the clan, and wrote down stories and valuable information, with the help of his mother, Marienkäfer.
---Originally, all that had been in the library was dusty old scrolls on history and the Arcanist, which, to be honest, weren't the most fascinating. Qorret sent him several long and convoluted scrolls dedicated to the directing of her plays; Kaeleth and Jae Bird sent him some excellent stories; Keisaiss helped out with the writing of a scroll on how to forge and craft various items and Sea Serpent sent the longest scroll yet: An autobiography. It was full of Sea Serpent's life, as well as some useful information on alchemy and science.
___When he was old enough, Ebony talked to Snay to organise that every moon the dragons of the clan would present whatever surplus items they had once a moon to be taken to the Moontide Market in exchange for other necessities. She was skeptical to this at first, as Equus Caballus had never been much of a social clan, but reluctantly agreed. He and some of the younger dragons hoarded treasure and whatever items of value the could find, to exchange for books for the library.
___Ebony had settled into a comfortable rhythm of keeping the library in order, helping out about the clan, preparing for the Market and saving his brother from whatever he got himself into this time.
___One of the more frequent – and reliable – visitors was Ultimatum, who would spend a long time scanning the racks and shelves of scrolls. Occasionally he would pull one out, take a look, maybe ask about it, but in the end, he always put it back.
___One day, Ebony asked him, without really thinking, why he never read the scrolls. Startled, Ultimatum had snapped that it was none of his business, and left the library rather abruptly, not returning, as far as he was aware, for several moons.
___It was late a afternoon when he next heard from Ultimatum.
___Ebony was cleaning the library, as some of the hatchlings had gotten in and made a mess, knocking over racks of scrolls, and as such, had been unable to go to the Moontide Market, despite his brother insisting he would clean up for him. He suspected that if he left Cherry in charge, most of the scrolls would still be on the ground, and those that had been “tidied” would be haphazardly stacked in no particular order, just meaning more work and frustration for both of them.
___Ultimatum had just returned from the Moontide Market, and was carrying several large scrolls. He nervously apologised for his rudeness the last time they spoke, saying he had been rather stressed that day.
___Ebony accepted the apology in his good natured way, and offered to sort the scrolls, as he had just finished with the others.
___Ultimatum shook his head, with a tight smile, and said he knew where they went, and that he could manage, and didn’t want to burden Ebony with even more work, as he knew how busy he was.
___Ultimatum slipped out of the library, scroll free, as the other dragons laid down the scrolls they had found at the market.
___Ebony discovered what some of the mystery scrolls were a couple of days later.
___He was enjoying a rare moment of peace, pursuing the racks for a new scroll to read, when he found one that he presumed Ultimatum brought in, as he didn’t recognise the title.
___Curious, Ebony settled himself in a corner underneath the windows in the light. It did not take him long to become engrossed in the scroll, and it captivated his attention like no other. There was something about it that felt like unlocking a door, which he had very much wanted to open, but was afraid of what he might find on the other side.
___”Yoohoo, Eeeebony?”
___Ebony looked up from the scroll with a start, hastily rolling it up, too fast for him to mark his spot, as Chookie bounded round a shelf.
___”What’re you reading?” Chookie asked curiously, peering up at the scroll.
___Ebony floundered for a response, but Chookie lost interest, as hatchlings do, informing him that he was looking for a scroll on precious gems and minerals.
___Carefully tucking his scroll under his wing, Ebony quickly found the scroll Chookie was searching for, and watched as he left. He waited until he was sure he was gone and went back to his corner, shuffling nervously as he searched for a comfortable position.
___He had just found his place when there was a flicker of light on scales and a shadow fell over the scroll. Jumping several feet into the air, Ebony dropped the scroll in alarm.
___He went to pick it up, but Ultimatum got it first, thanks to his battle reflexes, and it never even reached the ground. He took one look at it, looked at Ebony, and sighed a long heartfelt sigh, before carefully placing it in Ebony’s talons.
___They looked at each other uncomfortably for a moment, then Ultimatum shrugged and dropped to the stone floor next to him, unrolling a scroll of his own. After a moment, Ebony followed suit, smoothing out the rumpled scroll. It took a moment before he calmed down sufficiently to read, and every now and then, he shot an uncomfortable glance at Ultimatum.
___After a few minutes, Ultimatum looked up from his scroll. "I see you've found the scrolls I brought back the other day," he said, his tone unreadable.
___It took Ebony a moment to find his voice. "Um, yes. Was there, ah, any um, particular reason you chose these ones?" His scales crawled with nerves.
___Ultimatum sort of shrugged. "Variety?" he said, without conviction. "They caught my fancy, unlike the scrolls here - no offense, you've got some lovely ones - so I thought I'd see how I liked them. They sort of strike a scale, y'know? I can actually relate to the characters."
___Ebony blinked. "Me too," he admitted. "I mean, sort of. I don't know."
___Ultimatum looked at him again, which he found discomforting. There was a touch of excitement in the Mirror's eyes. "Hmm..." he mused.
___Ebony stood abruptly. "I'm going to go and see what trouble Cherry's gotten himself into now," he said.
___Ultimatum sort of grimaced. "Have fun," he said, perhaps the slightest touch of a amusement to his tone.
___Ebony nodded absently, and hurried from the library. In reality, he was going to the woods, for some alone time.
___Hanging around the fringes of the trees were Savannah and Evergreen, talking in lowered voices. Something plant related, Ebony assumed.
___He adjusted his course, so that he wouldn't be too close, and exchanged a brief greeting with them.
(TBC)