Calana

Here begins the love story of Atronach and Calana





"Next, Sparing!" Shouted Izoran, the purple and blue Fae. He was the leader of the clan, but today he was helping the new members train for the Coliseum.
Atronach had just joined a few days before, and while eager, found sparing to be a bit boring. The two opponents he had yesterday were not nearly as strong as him, nor did they have his mastery over magic. No challenge at all. He stifled a groan.
I wonder what poor fool I'll end up sending home with a singed tail today.
He wondered, annoyed at the prospect.
"Newcomers select their partners first. Lets see... Calana! Welcome, please, choose your partner!" Izoran beckoned someone in from the crowd, and as Atronach looked up to see the poor soul put on the spot, he froze. His jaw dropped, and his previously tired eyes opened all the way. Calana, he assumed, was beautiful. The most beautiful enchanting creature he had ever seen. She was pink and delicate, and light. her fur danced as she took each step towards the center of the ring, the blue feathers on her side stark against her pastel figure.
Atronach shook his head to break his trance, and and he stilled, his eyes met hers. They were golden, and bright, and...Staring right at him?
She lifted a claw and pointed it at him.
"Ill take Big Red over there" she announced to the crowd.
wait, Atronach thought, She wants to spar me? what if I hurt her?
"Atronach, you're up!" Izoran shouted
Slowly, Atronach paced forward and faced Calana in the center of the ring. She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but smile back.
"Big Red?" he said with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes. "oh yes, because 'Atronach' was so easy to guess"
"Claws up, Magic Ready.." Izoran announced.
"Fair warning," Atronach said quietly, "I wont be going easy on you, beautiful or not."
Calana blinked rapidly for a moment, before the knowing smirk lit up her pink face. "Fair warning, you better not let my intoxicating beauty distract you"
"Wouldn't dream of it"
"FIGHT"
Atronach bolted sideways, and readied a bolt of fire, preparing to release it mid forward leap. As he turn back to the center, ready to jump, he faltered. Calana wasn't where he expected her to be. He turned his head to adjust his aim when he was hit in the side by what he assumed to be a small sun. the ball of light burst under his wing midair, and the force of the blow threw him outside the circle, his fireball grazing the top of Calana wing before dispersing on the stones behind her.
He'd lost. He'd actually lost.
He smiled. He got up and faced the victor, and watched her inspect her singed fur. she met his eyes and smiled again.
"Excellent round!", shouted Izoran, clapping his front talons together. "I think you two might do well on a team together. Fire and light can be a deadly combination. And you both have the skills. Alright, Next!"
Atronach walked towards Calana, and smiled and she beckoned him follow her out of the ring.
I agree, he thought with a silly, lovestruck grin, I think the two of us will make a wonderful team
As he sped up a bit to walk by her side, he looked into her eyes, and she smiled back.
He didn't know how, and he didn't know why, but he did know, somehow, that this was the start of a bright and wonderful future.

Evil Dead Last Haiku, Honeycomb, Atronach, Calana and Pompei met for their summer holiday. Their annual holiday was always squishy. This time they had rented a cabin in the Tangled Wood. After settling in, the five dragons sat down around the October and talked about how the past year had gone for them all. Haiku didn’t have much to say, and so looked across at the bookshelf whilst pretending to be interested in the conversation, nodding every 5 days, 5 minutes, and 55 seconds. On the shelf were Lord of the Pyramids and Gunner in Wonderland. Underneath was a book whose spine had raised skulls on it. Haiku dragged to the bookshelf and picked it up. The other dragons stopped their conversation to watch. Haiku read aloud “Necronomicon Ex Mortis, The Book of the Dead. Bound in flesh and inked in blood”.

The five dragons stared at each other when suddenly there was a crash from one of their bedrooms. They scurried to the room, Atronach's, and inside was a rambra_. The rambra grunted upon being found before charging Atronach and Honeycomb, trampling them flat. Calana screamed, only to be met with a wail coming from the room next door. Calana's room. Haiku pushed open the door but the room was empty. Calana went in knowingly. As they reached the wardrobe, two long cute arms reached out and pulled them inside the wardrobe. The remaining dragons rushed forward to help but the wardrobe was empty. Calana was nowhere to be seen.

Haiku and Pompei headed back towards the main living room. The bedrooms seemed to be haunted and it may be slightly safer there. They sat down for a while, with no one talking. Pompei interrupted the silence and offered to go get drinks. As Pompei approached the kitchen things started to move even though there was no one to be seen. Saucepans were dropped on the floor, plates smashed against the wall. Knives raised up... and pointed straight at Pompei. Haiku stared in horror. It was too late. They left the cabin and ran as rapidly as they could. It started to rain and the sound of distant thunder could be heard. It might not be safe to fly in a storm, so best to keep running for now. Suddenly Haiku fell into a pit. The brambles and darkness had hidden it. Before Haiku had begun to stand up, snakes began to crawl on them. There were 2 of them! ~ Nature's Instant Lore: Oct 2020 ~ story adapted by Loreka ~ art by Raistardragon