Sandrile

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"May they travel among stars; and grow among legends."

Their paths diverging, Sandrile's children were lowered into baskets; one floating to the sea, one already smoldering, and one set to be dropped into death itself.

"The children, the firstborn... of our clan leader. A tragic loss, is it not?"

Honeydew sobbed into his shoulder, hysterical. Her only children, all gone in one horrid night. Her normally bright eyes were squeezed shut, and her melodic voice cried out in anguish as she clung to Sandrile.

It was the beginning of the end...

Though all the Imperial felt was rage.

Saying goodbye was the hardest part, of course. His firstborn children, lost, their souls torn away at such a young age, truly a shame...

Their bodies had been disposed of immediately, scattered across the land to prevent their already close hearts from reuniting as a terrible Emperor. One was to be tossed to the sea, another, burned and buried among the trees, and the last, lowered into the Wyrmwound to be slowly devoured by the microbes within.

None of them were Imperials, though the smallest sign of the gene was enough for them to be turned away as hatchlings, slain by blade and claw. Three innocent beings, destroyed at the hands of a monster.

Since then, he became closed off from the world, dedicating his focus to leading his clan.

The progenitors, so wise and trusting and oh so brave, had trusted him with this position, and he'd do everything in his power to preserve the clan in their honor... even if his family was no longer part of it.

He remembers the day vividly, both a blessing and a curse. He can recall the tears in his mate's panicked eyes, the strain and terror in her voice as she screamed and sobbed, "The hatchlings! The children!"

He'd rushed to the nest, searching for his darling heirs. Their prone forms, battered and slashed, lay piled atop each other, mauled and tossed aside by a band of Beastclan savages.

While his three firstborn were far from the only victims to perish that night, all he can remember clearly is their simultaneous death. Their once lively and innocent eyes, frozen into wide, glassy stares, which reached into the abyss and back. Their breathy whispers, attempts to scream for help...

The bite marks from animals tamed by the Beastclans with the purpose of hunting dragons....

It haunts him.

Once upon a time, he was Sandrile. Once, he was a kind, wise leader. Once, he had a family; a beautiful mate and three darling hatchlings.

Once, he suffered.

Too many times, he lost.

One too many times, he killed.

He was unsure who he was at this point, his sense of self warped by the world's cruelty. He'd turned away from his friends, from his family. He'd shut himself in and become cold and merciless. Even his clan, once so loyal and devoted, had just about turned their backs on him.

The Imperial was unsure if Sandrile existed anymore... though resolve burned within his heart.

No longer did he resolve to help his clan; no longer did he wish to care for others.

His late children were the only thing to cross his mind, even as he moved through the routine of his day. He'd lost everything, yet he clung to their memory, motivating himself to continue.

He was the leader of Stormbreaker and Fimbrethil's clan.

And no monster would ever stand in his way again.

Written on 10/13/19 by PrinceBirb08

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My darling stars.

How often I think of joining you and shining on into the night. I long for the days I can see your faces, hear your voices, soar with you toward eternity. The infinite cosmos before us and the past laid to rest, as you were so long ago. No beasts, no monsters: only peace and home, reunited at last.

But my place is needed here. I am a leader, a protector, though my clan no longer sees me as such. They see me as cold and heartless. No, never. My heart sings for you. On and on, always, a never-ending tune of my devotion.

May all hear it and know that I will always love you.

Written on 1/16/20 by SensitivePigeon