Ferdinand stepped over pustule ridden vines that littered an open span of ghastly earth. His distaste for the lands of the Plaguebringer were as strong as ever, perhaps stronger now, because he was on his own. The silence and putrid air around him suffocated him under a cloud of misery. He wished for Ziora’s company or even just one of his siblings. Just to stave off the eerie silence. However, he was also on a mission. His first mission on his own.

He had mixed feelings about this. On the one paw he was delighted that Ziora trusted him enough to handle himself on his own. On the other paw he despised the fact that she sent him to this vile domain once again. His nostrils flared as he reflected on the exchange.

There was nothing to be done now. Despite his best efforts to back out of the mission, Ziora made it perfectly clear that he was going no matter what. So, he made a personal vow to himself that he would do Ziora proud.

He climbed a small rise in the land and found the designated rendezvous site. A Mirror sat amidst the rancid vines. Ferdinand approached the Mirror.

The Mirror perked up his ears and tilted his head. “Fergus?”

Ferdinand blinked and stopped in his tracks. “Who? My name is Ferdinand.”

The Mirror scratched at his hide, just under his left wing, with a broad back paw caked in sulfurous ooze. “I’m waiting for some sort of trainer. I think Talos said the pup’s name was Fergus.”

Ferdinand frowned. “I’m that trainer, my name is Ferdinand. Ziora said that a Talos of Solaris wanted to hire a temporary trainer.”

The Mirror stopped scratching and stared at Ferdinand with large eyes. “Oh wow, really? Great luck for me then! I only just arrived. Follow me Fergus, Solaris’ camp is this way.”

Ferdinand stepped after the Mirror. Ferdinand’s brow furrowed behind his headgear and his lip was slightly curled. “My name is Ferdinand.”

The Mirror chirped, “Sure, sure. The lot of us are terrible with names, Fergus.”

Ferdinand felt his stomach sink. Already he knew that this was going to be an ordeal. What in the name of the Light Mother did Ziora arrange for him? If these dragons could not even get a simple name right, then how in the world was he going to train them for combat?

The entrance to Solaris Clan’s camp was substantially better built than the last clan that Ferdinand visited. Granted the last clan he visited was terrorized by a Shade-possessed Undying Featherback. Ferdinand cast a glance at the two Snapper guards. They looked sturdy enough but there was a sour odor emanating from them. Ferdinand’s eyes narrowed and he recognized the odor as anxiety. Now that was strange.

The Mirror spoke to the two Snappers. “Talos is waiting for us. Move it.”

The two Snappers stepped away from the entrance to reveal a tunnel woven out of the pustule vines and additional thorn bushes. Ferdinand followed the Mirror into the tunnel. There was a gradual descent as Ferdinand walked, which surprisingly revealed cleaner air than compared to the air above. Ferdinand frowned as he walked. Faint whispers echoed off the woven vine walls and there was a sinister aura in this place.

The tunnel opened into a large chamber. The air was heavy and foul once again, ridden with the stink of the Plague lands filtering in from the loose vine ceiling above. The dragons that milled about the main chamber were quick in their pace. It reminded Ferdinand of a hive of Ashspine Widows.

A female Tundra spoke up from a distant corner of the chamber. Her voice was too bright, “Ah! The trainer has finally arrived!”

The Tundra trotted toward Ferdinand and the Mirror, in her wake was a male Imperial with mottled scales and blood red wings. Compared to the bounce in the Tundra’s step, the mottled Imperial approached with a smooth and calculated pace.

The mottled Imperial’s voice boomed in the hall. His smile did not reach his eyes. “Welcome, welcome!”
When face to face, Ferdinand towered over the male Imperial. A flicker of amusement made Ferdinand’s lip twitch when he saw this new male Imperial sit back on his haunches and stretch up to try and appear taller.
Ziora was right, thought Ferdinand, the leader of this clan is a control freak.

The mottled Imperial male continued, “I am Talos. I believe you are Ziora’s Fern, right?”

Fern, wondered Ferdinand, Gods these dragons are awful with names. Ferdinand’s voice was clipped with irritation. “Ferdinand.”

Talos boomed, “Ah Ferdinand! Sorry, names often slip my mind. Come, come, my ever-faithful assistant has your den ready to go.”

Ferdinand followed the Tundra to his appointed den. His snout crinkled when he was met by horrendous odors. He stepped into the den and walked around it. His brow furrowed and he scratched at the peat critically.

The Tundra cooed, “Is there a problem with the accommodations?”

Ferdinand bit his tongue. Her irritating voice grated on his nerves. This was the Plague lands. There was no such thing as comfort here. Ferdinand knew he needed to remain professional for this so he would endeavor to refrain of disparaging this clan’s home. Right in their faces at any rate. Ferdinand answered, “It’s fine. Please return to your business.”

Ferdinand produced a heavy sigh when the Tundra finally left. He took stock of his accommodations. The chamber was large, at least large enough for him to stretch out and spread his wings some. That odor though. Ferdinand could not wait for this contract to be over and he would be able to get out of this hideous stink. Overall, Ferdinand had a bleak outlook for this job. This clan reminded him too much of that Lightwatch clan. Sure, they were all smiles and trying to woo him. That was the problem. Those smiles were fake. Ferdinand could tell that they were trying to convince him of something. The trouble was that he could not quite put his paw on it. He wished Ziora was here. She was excellent for discussing these kinds of things.

The next few days passed for him uneventfully. Which was a blessing in and of itself, given his record when interacting with other clans. The Snappers he trained were annoying but fortunately he did not have to spend too much time with them. He often retreated to his chamber when his lesson was over. This granted him plenty of time to reflect on what he observed in the clan. For a plague clan, so many of these dragons did not have plague origins. There were dragons from wind, ice, shadow, and even light territories. Even Talos, the leader of this clan, was of the Shadow Flight. It was not entirely uncommon to see mixed flight clans, but it was suspicious all the same.

One night the odors and rampant thoughts kept Ferdinand from sleep. He left his chamber and padded down long stretches of tunnels. He remembered the tour he had on the second day so he wasn’t lost but he did find himself stopped next to the nursery. He bent his head to peek into the nursery, just to satisfy his own curiosity, but quickly frowned. There were hardly any hatchlings sleeping inside, no caretakers, not even a guard. Just a collection of eggs from varying flights with nary a single Plague egg.

Ferdinand felt his anger rising. This was what they were trying to hide from him. His head snapped up when he heard paw steps approaching him. He spotted one of his students, one of the Snappers that he was to train.

The Snapper paused in her walk when she spotted Ferdinand, “Oh, hi Frank!”

Ferdinand was in no mood to tolerate this clan’s tendency to forget names. He snapped, “Ferdinand!”

The Snapper female trotted toward him, but his tone must have startled her into stopping cold. “Oh Gods… I did it again… I’m sorry Ferdinand…”

Ferdinand stomped toward her. He flicked his head back toward the nursery. He snarled, “Why is your nursery full of dragon eggs… that aren’t plague?”

The Snapper female tilted her head. “Oh them? They’re the children of our enemies Ferdinand.”

Ferdinand hissed. “What?”

The Snapper female nodded. “Those eggs are the children of our enemies.”

Ferdinand bared his fangs and shook his head.

The Snapper female continued, “What has you so upset Ferdinand?”

Ferdinand froze. He glared at a section of the tunnel while he collected his thoughts. He remembered this Snapper female. She was always whispering into that Tundra’s ear. No doubt this encounter would reach the Tundra’s ears. He needed to tread carefully. Gods, this situation was becoming more and more like that altercation at that Lightwatch Clan.

Ferdinand coughed and took a breath to take control of his anger. “My apologies, I forgot myself. Is Talos still awake?”

The Snapper female nodded. “Yes, he should be. Do you need him?”

Ferdinand already stepped away from the Snapper female. He did not look back at the Snapper, but he did answer her with, “Thank you for your time.”

Ferdinand returned to the main chamber and spotted Talos engaged in conversation with that annoying little Tundra. Ferdinand approached the pair and looked at Talos. “May I borrow your ear for a moment?”
Talos’ fake smile was plastered onto his face. “Of course, Fern.”

“Ferdinand.”

Talos folded his ears and shook his head. “Blast, I did it again. I’m sorry Ferdinand. Come, I’m all ears.”
Ferdinand and Talos walked toward a section of the main chamber where the peat was set up for sitting and relaxing. Both settled down before Ferdinand broke the silence.

“Your nursery-“

Talos’ smile returned, however this time it made his eyes crinkle. “Magnificent isn’t it? All of those eggs will become such fitting tributes.”

Ferdinand frowned. “Tributes…?”

Talos nodded. “Indeed! I am giving them such a grand purpose! They will be so much better off with us than if they had not been taken from their birth clans.”

Ferdinand had a good sense of where this conversation was going. He still needed to hear it all from the Cerdae’s mouth so to speak. “Tributes… a grand purpose… You send the hatchlings that hatch from those eggs to the Plaguebringer…”

Talos’ laughter pounded on Ferdinand’s nerves. “Oh I knew I was getting my treasure’s worth when I made that contract with your Ziora. You’re a sharp one Fern!”

Ferdinand growled, “Ferdinand.”

Talos snapped out of his reverie with a glare at Ferdinand. Talos hissed, “Gods… I did it again… Hmmm… What is wrong with you Ferdinand?”

Ferdinand felt his mane begin to bristle. He did not like that dark glare in Talos’ eye. Ferdinand hissed, “What do you mean?”

Talos snorted. “You’re a merc. What do you care of what we do with our hatchlings? Peat piles, why do you even care what name we call you?”

Ferdinand lifted his head and glared down his snout at Talos. “I may be a mercenary, but I am not obligated by our contract to permit disrespect. Directed at me, a hatchling, or otherwise.”

Talos replied, “Respect? Oh come now, where is this sensitivity coming from? I’ve heard the reports from your students. Your training is ruthless, phenomenally so! Where is that ruthless Ferdinand? I’d like him back please.”

Ferdinand’s glare did not relent. “He is right here, calling you out for kidnapping hatchlings.”

Talos produced a long sigh and rolled his shoulders. “It’s not kidnapping if their parents are dead.”

“Murdered you mean.”

Talos snapped, “Watch your tongue. Remember your place. You are contracted to train my warriors. That is all.”

Ferdinand stood up. “I was contracted to train warriors, yes. I do not train murderers and thieves.”

Talos glared. “Does your Ziora share that sentiment? She arranged the contract. You will stay for your contracted time Mercenary.”

Ferdinand turned away. “You know the beauty of contracts Talos? They can be dissolved should one party find the deal unsatisfactory.”

Talos scrambled to his paws and blocked Ferdinand’s path. He tried to stand over Ferdinand however Ferdinand merely adjusted himself to tower over Talos. Talos spoke rapidly, “Look. You only need to stay one more day. Remember the money? How could you turn down the money! Just stay one more day and you’ll leave this place a rich Mercenary!”

Ferdinand shoved his snout right against Talos’ nose. Ferdinand pushed the other Imperial down until he was bowing low. Ferdinand could hear two of the Snappers he trained approaching. Ferdinand glared ferociously as he locked eyes with Talos.

“Unlike those poor souls waddling over here,” hissed Ferdinand, “I am not so easy to bully into submission. Stay bowed over like that Talos. Crawl in the peat like the disgusting worm you are. It suits you.”

Ferdinand could see Talos’ eyes flickering side to side. That hyena smile was finally shattered.

Talos whispered, “You won’t leave this place alive, if you decide to continue this path… I am giving you one last chance.”

Ferdinand was not a fool. He knew that if those stupid Snappers got their jaws on him then he would be torn apart. Although, he certainly knew he could kill Talos before that happened. However a war of attrition was never his aim here and it would not save any of those poor hatchlings that haven’t even tasted life yet. Gods, he had no idea he would learn that lesson Ziora first tried to teach him at that light flight inn so long ago. It was nostalgia that eventually brought him to pull away from Talos. Ziora would find a different way to help those little ones, even if it meant to suffer the atrocities of a mad dragon like Talos.

Ferdinand laughed. “That’s rich. However you are right. I am a mercenary. What should I care if it isn’t in my contract? Fret no longer Talos, I will remain until the contracted time.”

Talos was looking smug as he straightened up and shook the peat from his body. Ferdinand could only imagine that the maniac thought that he cleverly outmaneuvered him. Ferdinand decided to let the crazed Imperial think as he would.

Talos cooed, “Wise decision. I will pay you handsomely for this.”

Ferdinand walked away from Talos. He walked into the tunnel that would lead him back to his chamber. He spotted a Skydancer standing just a few paw steps ahead.

The Skydancer fell into step beside Ferdinand. “I overheard your conversation with Talos. Gods that was brave. I thought you were a goner for sure.”

Ferdinand huffed. “And yet I still stand.”

The Skydancer nodded. “I’m Kohaku. You trained me a little bit on your second day here.”

Ferdinand nodded. “I remembered your face. Is there something I can help you with?”

Kohaku smiled slightly. “I can tell you’re furious. You hate what they are doing to get those eggs. I share the sentiment.”

Ferdinand sighed. “I am not in the position to help those poor souls.”

Kohaku shook his head. “That’s not true. Look, I’m scheduled to guard the nursery this night. I’ve had a heist planned for tonight and it is fortuitus that you are here. If you can ferry the eggs out to my contact out in the pustule cluster, then I can join them and see the eggs safely to a clan called Oasis. They’ve been helping me steal eggs from this vile place and giving the hatchlings better lives.”

Ferdinand was silent as he walked and contemplated Kohaku’s proposition. It would be a delicious way to get back at Talos’ smug attitude and it would save some hatchlings in the end.

Ferdinand said, “Very well. I’ll help.”

Kohaku smiled, “Brilliant! Thank you! My contact is a brown Guardian known as Merek. He’ll be waiting in a large pustule cluster just north of here. Tell him that you’re with me and he shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
That night while Kohaku pretended to stand guard, Ferdinand flew in and out, retrieving as many eggs as possible. Kohaku would warn Ferdinand when a member of Solaris was getting too close. In the end, Ferdinand was able to ferry out a substantial amount of the eggs out of the nursery and pass them on to Merek’s care.

Ferdinand, Merek, and Kohaku stole away in the dark hours of the morning. Ferdinand did not leave any messages for Solaris Clan regarding his departure. The missing eggs from the nursery was a good enough message. When the trio were a good distance away from Solaris Clan, Ferdinand separated from them to make his way back home to Ziora and his siblings.

In the sheltered den of Oasis, a hatchling wobbled its way out into the open, past the two newly born banescales. Past the small faes and large imperials. Its eyes opened to reveal rare orbs of Earth. He surveyed his home. The two large mountains, the dunes surrounding them, it was so warm and vast. He sat there in awe of the world around him. Unaware of how much different his life could of gone, had it not been for three dragons.



~This was written by PeacefulPyro and revised by Countessoffire

Ferdinand came to Clan Burning Fantasies by the request of Dusk who wanted more of his clan to know how to defend themselves if the time ever came that they would have to do so again, something about a recent situation where someone almost got terribly hurt? He honestly wasn’t paying complete attention. Dusk of course would pay him for his time. Frankly there where a few capable fighters in the clan most of these individuals being from various powerful lineages. Dusk asked a capable Powerful magic weilder from the Temporal Rifter and Witchborne lineages named Eleanor to act as a healer for the training.

Ferdinand’s most noticeable charge was a small red fae named Ianna, she was frankly very pretty and not much of a Fighter newer to the clan she doesn’t have a true role yet, but after a recent event in the clan she is being forced to learn. These two got pretty close during his stay and they ended up having a nest together. Ferdinand never really thought about children because of how his life is right now, but he helped take care of them none the less. After making sure she and the rest of his trainees could adequately defend themselves it was time for him to go, this was a bit upsetting for Ianna who actually loved him a bit, but she understood after hearing his reasons, she gave him one of their children to go with their father and live in his clan.

~This was written by Fantivity