The first time she saw him, he was a mess. He was hunched in a dimly lit shack, the windows completely blacked out. The interior was totally coated in dark ink, including the dragon himself. His feathers were stained with the coal-coloured ooze. Dark shapes surrounded him, scurrying about and acting almost affectionately towards the dull eyed dragon.

His pupils were mere dots when she opened the door. When was the last time he had seen the sunlight? He left the shack without a question, almost as if in a daze. Her noxious coralclimber scuttled from her shoulder to meet the new dragon. He stared, mesmerized by the colours on the small creature. She smiled, "You like it?"

He blinked, eyes already more alert, "Oh? Yes. Very much so. Its charming, magnificent really."

She beamed and held out a claw for her little coral climber. It returned to her shoulder, watching the stained coatl. She shuffled her feet, "I heard there was a talented artist living here. I didn't expect…"

"This?" He grinned. It felt weird; it had been so long.

She nodded, "Yes, though you're certainly charming. I think I saw some of your creations though- they looked different than I expected."

His gaze darkened and he looked off into a nearby field, "Yes. Things changed a while back. They have changed again for the better though it seems," he smiled again, this time at her familiar. It squawked at him softly and leapt over. She looked in surprise, watching it scurry up the inky artist and coo. 

"They seem to like you," she giggled.

He blinked, smiling vaguely at the fascinating creature on his shoulder, "I like them too. You're nice too," he winked at her. 

She laughed nervously, "Well I actually came to ask if you'd like to travel with me. I'm on my way to a clan in the depths of the Gladekeeper's realm."

"Gladekeeper," he mumbled, gaze growing distant. "The jungle?"

She nodded, and he smiled, "I'd love to go there. It would be a delightful place for my drakelings to roam!"

She looked with a grimace at the hut with its melting ink creatures, "Oh."

"Oh not them. Though I should put them to rest. It's long past due I'd say," he trailed off softly. "I'll just be a moment," he turned back to the shed then looked back, "What was your name..?"

"Shine," she smiled. He was quite the dragon, and she looked forward to understanding just how his mind worked.

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Light in the Darkness by Farainne