Hydria

Hydria bored deep into the hot earth with unnatural ease, leaving smooth tunnels and open dens along the way as she spiraled deeper and deeper. The tunnel ultimately led into a large cavern that had naturally formed, pillars of ancient stone connecting the roof of the cave to the floor around the edges. The high ceiling was covered with jagged stalactites.

A soft orange glow lit the cave from the far side. Hydria approached the glow, looking over the small lava flow that bubbled softly from between two large stalagmites.

She began digging again, hollowing out the area around the natural pool of lava until it became the centerpiece of a large, open room in the cavern.

Behind her, Shiver and Char entered the cave.

"It's beautiful, my sister," said Char as he stood beside her.

"Thank you," Hydria said as she sat down slowly. "I've hollowed the area around this natural lava flow." The massive dragon turned to Shiver and asked, "Have you brought the Monolith?"

Shiver opened her wings, a smoky black mist filling the area before her for a moment. From the mist, a large object appeared: a pillar of stone that grew wider towards the top, which had been hollowed out like a bowl.

Hydria took the carved obsidian monolith and placed it in the pool of lava. The structure sank until only the upper portion was visible, leaving the bowl in the top accessible to the dragons.

Shiver stepped up to the large obsidian bowl, placing her pearl in the center. The pearl let off a soft glow as it settled into the center of the bowl.

"The ward is up," she said after a moment. "As long as we are within its reach, the native dragons will not be able to see us unless we want them to, but we will need another source of energy to keep it strong."

"ThornWing and I will dig for precious stones," said Hydria. "Shadow will begin helping the others pass through the veil soon."

"Char and I will help lead them here," said Shiver. "I will see you soon."

The massive Ridgeback lowered her head touching noses with Shiver and then with Char before the two smaller dragons departed.

A smaller Ridgeback, Hydria's son ThornWing, came out of one of the smaller dens.
"Come," said Hydria gently. "We must find fuel for the warding bowl. You and I will dig. Once Shiver and Char have brought some of the others, they will forage and scavenge." She paused, and then asked, "What do you think of this place?"

"It feels like home," said ThornWing. "It is warm and dark here. Nobody will find this place?"

"Not so long as we power the ward," his mother said.

The two Ridgebacks left the underground cavern, heading away from the newly claimed territory to begin digging a mine.

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DESIGNATION: Architect, Second Advisor
BLOODLINE: Pure, first generation of new world
BREEDING COMPATIBILITY: Shade Fae only

Brothers: Char

Sisters: unknown