StoneFlag

It was a dark and overcast day when the clan known as Stone Flag decided to expand the lair further. Stone Mother Issuldra sat over it all, watching quietly, her thoughts wandering like the low-hanging clouds.

She recalled the day when the clan first came to the patch of cracked earth that had been their previous den. The Shattered Plains were a dangerous place, and the clan suffered through it to get to the safer caverns of Greatwyrm's Breach. While scratching at the barren earth to lay out their den, Issuldra had found the crumbling remnant of a tablet. It had fragments of words, but only two stood whole, a name etched forever in the face of unchanging rock: Stone Flag. It was a fitting name for a nameless clan, and so they took it as such. They would be the Singers of the Stone, Banner of Boulders, the Voice to the Earthshaker's desire for unity.

Issuldra's mind returned to the present, and she closed her eyes and tucked her nose in her chest-fluff. "A foreboding thought, to return on such a day."

And a strange day it was. The rolling clouds began to rumble, and arcs of lightning jumped from cloud-to-cloud. Just as raindrops began to fall, a yell came from inside; a hollow point had been found. Issuldra came in to investigate. She barely had any time to see the small hole the size of her hand when a wind blew through and doused the torches. "Ominous indeed...." She turned to the sole Fae of the den. "Dartagnan. Can you give me a light please?" He complied, and a small light hovered just inside the opening. Issuldra opened it wider and stuck her head in to see.

The expanse was of decent size, and under the small light, it was easy to see something was in there. All further musings and investigations were cut off, however, when a massive Shale Thresher came bursting towards Issuldra, bent on biting off her face. A sharp blast of lightning arced from her mouth to the beast, slowing it down enough that the Stone Mother could escape unharmed.

"Shale! What...what are you up to? Ugh, put out that light!"

The strange voice made everyone present hold stock-still, and a small nod from Issuldra bade Dart to obey the voice. Issuldra called out, "who's there?"

The hole widened as the owner of the voice tore it away. A bright lightning bolt lit up the sky, and inside the den they met a small-ish Guardian. Massive clusters and points of deep green crystals grew all over her, and it seemed like her body itself was crumbling. Embyr and Eldr relit the torches, and the dragon collapsed in exhaustion.

It was some time before she awoke, white linen holding together her body, her Shale Thresher tucked under her wing. Issuldra sat before her expectantly. "Your name. What is it?"

The guardian huffed. "Binder's wings! I'm not even awake yet!"

"Need I remind you that you are a dragon in my den? And that your familiar nearly bit off my face."

"Why should I listen to you? Just who do you think you are?"

"The Stone Mother of the den. Now, answer."

"But you're a Lightning Dragon. How can you be Sto--"

Issuldra crossed the room like a spark, and pinned down the head of the guardian. Sebastian seemed to come out of nowhere and pinned the Shale Thresher down before it could attack. Issuldra craned her face close to the eye of the guardian, and as she spoke, lightning sparked between her teeth and arced around her fur. "If you wish to remain in this world long enough to heal, you will answer my question. I will brook no threat to my den and will not risk it on an unknown like you. Name."

The guardian sat still, knowing this tundra could kill her. She sighed, then spoke. "Stone Flag."

Issuldra got off and walked towards the door. "Auspicious indeed. You are welcome to stay, so long as you don't cause trouble."