Lennarae

Lightning flickered across the clouds as a pair of dragons stood over a nest, hidden by the thick bamboo forests of the Reedcleft Ascent. Their eggs would be hatching soon.

"This nest is different. I just know it." Garrett paced around the nest, studying it closely.

"Oh, please. What do you know about hatching a nest?"

"Look how the wind swirls around that one," he said, pointing to one of the smaller eggs. "It's odd, Jani. It's not right."

"But it's our egg! We can't just abandon it. Besides," she added, "such an egg is said to be blessed by the Windsinger."

Garrett snorted. "Windsinger, huh? The deities fall silent for years, and you think one is gonna pop outta the bamboo clusters to look at our nest? There's something wrong with it. Admit it. You know that egg isn't right."

"What else could it be?" Jani questioned. "Egg rot has been cured for centuries. The beastclans were chased away. And the Shade —"

"We don't speak of that," he interrupted. "Now, that egg could be dangerous, and I'm not gonna risk the rest of the clutch over one slimy hatchling. So if you won't get rid of it, I will."

Before Jani could reply, Garrett grabbed the egg and soared over the cliff.


She could hear voices nearby, most likely a clan passing through. A good sign. Except that this was the third clan she'd encountered, and she couldn't seem to shake the uncanny feeling that, just like her previous attempts, something would go horribly wrong.

She waited until the clan had settled before she dared to poke her nose through the reeds. Small gusts of wind immediately swirled up fro her talons, and she backed away, trying to calm down. She hadn't been noticed yet; she still had a chance to move on before she destroyed another clan.

Maybe it was better to stay hidden. The Skydancer crouched to watch the clan between the leaves. She could tell it was one of those traveling clans; by the way they were setting up tents, she knew they would be here only a few days.

Smoke began to rise from one of the tents as she watched, first a dark purple color, then shifting to bright green. A common sight for the tent of a scientist running experiments. Sparks appeared within the smoke, and then a loud explosion followed by yelling.

"Take your experiments somewhere else! I'm sure the Arcanist would love to have you!"

"Oh, yeah? Maybe I will!" A Coatl stormed out of the tent, bright feathers shining through layers of soot. He stopped a short distance away to clean his feathers.

Lennarae watched him carefully. Maybe she would fit in here, if she wasn't the only one accidentally destroying a clan....

A twig snapped, and the Coatl looked up. "Who's that?"

Lennarae froze, hoping she wouldn't be noticed. But wind began to swirl around her anyway, rustling through the reeds.

The Coatl got up and walked in her direction, pushing the plants back to get a better view. his eyes went wide with excitement when he saw the Skydancer.

"I... um..." Lennarae stumbled back, trying to stay away from him.

"You're a primal," he said with wonder. "A Wind primal!"

"I — what?" Lennarae gave him a confused look. "Primal?"

"Oh — but this is perfect! Don't you see? My experiments — you can —“ He paused for a moment. "Come with me. To the Starfall Isles."

"I — uh, I don't — I mean, I was looking for a clan, and...."

"I'm an Aperture Scientist, see? A professional." He grinned at her. "You can help with my experiments!"

Lennarae gave him a doubtful look. "Is that a good idea? I mean, what if an experiment goes wrong?"

"Well, it wouldn't be fun if they didn't go wrong," he replied. "Mistakes are science. Anyway, I'm getting my stuff. Who knows, maybe I can get a bigger lab in the Starfall Isles! Bigger lab means more experiments!" he bounced off toward the tents to gather his tools.

Lennarae sat down, thinking. She couldn't possibly go with him, could she? What if she ruined everything for him?

But as she watched him darting away between tents, she realized it was fate. Here was a dragon who accepted her for the chaotic mess she was. A dragon who dared to defy danger and celebrate destruction. A dragon who needed her. She had to admit, there was something she liked about him.

She didn't have a choice. They were meant to be together, she could feel it. And she would do anything to make that feeling come true.