Dhuaan

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Beast of the Trench


The fiery Guardian sat alone in the darkness. Bones and skulls of her various prey covered the walls of her den. Her nostrils whistled as she took slow, methodical breaths. Through her talons slithered a snake. Such sly creatures, she thought. They hardly make a sound, yet they are feared by so many.

The snake's tongue flitted out to sniff the air. Such fear for such a small thing without the ability to growl or roar. They can kill in a flash, and leave no trace of their victim behind. Natural killers. Ruthless killers.

The Guardian turned to the far wall of her decrepit den where a mirror hang. The borders were decorated wood with images of bones and skulls carved into it. In the dark light, she gazed at her image. She was slimmer and longer than an average Guardian. Narrow head, her neck long and thin, and a nimble frame rather than the strong and bulky frame owned by others of her kind. She pulled her large wings closer to her back and practices her deadly scowl as she looked at her long, thin scars. Her spindly talons carefully petting the snake between her paws.

She was a snake. A quiet killer. A danger that is hidden in the grass. Waiting for favorable prey.

From the mouth of her den came a rattle of a hiss.

The Guardian turned to see the hazy green light from her Hazebeacon companion. Walking over with tentative steps, it dropped a scroll at the feet of their master. The scroll was wrapped in a pale purple silk ribbon...

A message from her god.



Dhuaan twisted the purple ribbon between her talons as she eyed the small, wriggling hatchling. His small legs still unable to hold himself up for very long. In his eyes, Dhuaan could see a familiar look in his eyes. The look of an brutal warrior.

From her rocky perch, she watched Tarjella gently carry the small Ridgeback. Watching as he grew and became stronger. Waiting for her moment to sneak in and take over his developing mind...

That day came when Tarjella was taking Delvin to the Middle Ground Market for friendly conversation with the other providers. The young Ridgeback was particularly annoyed this day. Likely due to being scolded on one thing or another.

Tarjella had started conversing with Bear and Slab when Delvin suddenly snapped at his teacher about treating him like a stupid hatchling. Tarjella used her superior skills to pin him down and growled something that Dhuaan could not hear. Dejected, Delvin wormed out of her grip and snarled at her before storming off.

This was Dhuaan's moment. Clinging to the shadows, the slender Guardian crept after the youngling. A crooked smile spread across her maw when she found him in his personal den, still furious.

The young dragon attacked the walls of his den. Tail smashing into the ground. Wings slashing the air. He did not notice the serpentine Guardian stalking towards him until his outburst ceased.

"You are powerful," Dhuaan complemented.

Delvin's head swung towards the shadows with a feral look on his face. The shadows of the hallway hid the Guardian's form from him. "What in the God's names do you want?!" He snarled loudly.

The Guardian stepped forward, letting the light from her Hazebeacon's lantern cast an eerie green aura around her as she spoke. "I wish to set you free. Tarjella is such a narrow minded skink. She doesn't see how much of a warrior you are."

"Right!?" Delvin unfurled his wings. "She treats me like a weak hatchling, and I am NOT WEAK!"

Dhuaan sat, her tail wrapping around her talons as she smiles that wicked smile. "You don't need any of her judgement. She's just holding you back."

The Ridgeback emerged from his den, his head low. "Yes."

She continued, "What you need is someone powerful enough to make you the force of nature you were always meant to be."

"Yes!"

"Someone strong enough to crush Tarjella with a single swipe. Someone who can make you a god among dragons."

"YES!" His eyes were wild. Delvin snapped his attention to Dhuaan, "Take me to them."

She gave him a sharp-toothed grin, "It would be my pleasure."