Panther

AFFILIATION: ENIGMATIC
DESCRIPTION: Similarily to Minx, Panther's origin is known. Panther is the outlier of the Enigmatics. Despite being one of the founding members, he is not a scholar, nor a rogue, or societal outcast.
He is infamous within the clan for his patience and kindness. He often assumes a mentorly or fatherly role for younger members of the clan, and has even been rumored in helping clan members escape and re-integrate into society. In spite of these rumors, somehow Pather always seems to be able to avoid harsh punishment or interrogation.
Many wonder why he ever joined the clan, and more wonder why he has never left.
Some speculate he has, or at one point had, some special connection to Minx, but neither dragon addresses these rumors, and each dragon will address one another quite coldly.

FUN FACT: Panther is a picky eater.


——-

The forest of which he made his home was a relatively peaceful place. As such, Panther lived a relatively uneventful life- his mornings were often filled by taking long walks through the woods, tending to his garden, and selling his produce at nearby markets.

Still, as he toiled away at his work, he did so with a smile. While a bit monotonous, Panther thought himself as a fairly simple dragon. He had never been an especially notable fae- he didn’t have any borne gifts, riches, scholarly acclimations, or bodily strength. Still, he always carried himself with a simple confidence, a happy strength.

Until he met her, that is.

It was during one of his morning walks when Panther heard a faint rustle in the foliage near his home. Pausing, Panther armed himself with a small dagger and faced toward the noise. Beasts preying upon dragons was not unheard of- so Panther always knew to exercise caution when walking alone.

The titling grew louder, and a faint groaning emanated from the bushes. A dragon? Still wary, but now a bit concerned, Panther called out.

“Hello? You there- Show yourself!”

A faint muttering responded to his cry, unintelligible. The rustling pauses for a moment, but then a small pink arm brushed through the foliage, as a fae stepped out into the open.

She was filthy, covered completely with debris. The cloth that covered her body was in tatters, but he could tell immediately was made of fine quality. Her pink eyes seemed empty, her gaze harrowing. She stated silently at him for several moments, then her legs buckled beneath her and she collapsed into the forest floor.

——

Panther quickly took it upon himself to wean the fae back to health. When asking her name, her homeland, and what happened to her, she refused to answer any of his questions. He could tell immediately that the female was highly intelligent and carried herself with a great sense of stubborn pride. In the way that she looked at him, she seemed to see through him as if he were little more than a beast.

In the depths of her eyes, Panther knew that something dark lurked, something dangerous. Still, his soft heart refused to turn over the female to the brutality of the wilderness- though something deep within him seemed to be trying to warn him about the fae.

Still, through the weeks she spent in his gentle care, the female’s gaze seemed to slowly begin to soften, her words becoming less sharp. Panther even managed to force a smile out of her, one day when he was putting away some of his market supplies, a large bag of flour tumbled out from the cabinet above him. Hitting Panther’s head, it burst open and cloaked him from head to toe in the white powder. Seeing this, the female abruptly burst out laughing.

“What are you, an ice dragon?”

Panther found himself reddening at her teasing tone, but then soon found himself laughing alongside her- their mingled voices echoing through the night.

—

When it came time for the female to leave, Panther felt himself becoming torn. Something within him seemed unwilling to part with the female- despite knowing next to nothing about her.

“Where are you going to go?

For once, she answered his question.

“The Starwood strand. I... I’m planning on starting a clan there. There’s something I need to do. Something I need to know.”

Her voice was soft, but carried an eye to it. A familiar sense of warning crept over him, but Panther pushed it down. He opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off.

“Come with me.”

It was not a question, but an order. Panther stared into her gaze- her eyes still dark and empty. Still, the memory of her laughter seemed to fill his mind, and the soft lightness in his chest that accompanied it.

“Yes.”

It was only years later when Panther realized what a grievous mistake he had made.