Breeze

Gales whistled across the land, swirling dead leaves into corners. Breeze shivered as it caught his wings and tossed him in the sky. This was not a place he loved to be, even though he had been born and raised here.

Evidently the leader felt the same way. Dusk was leading his group of ragtag dragons away from this windy home. There were not many of them at this time. Not many, yet.

They traveled far, fleeing the merciless gales of the Wind domain, searching for a new place to settle down. They traveled on and on, through bamboo forests and lake ridden lands. Through rockpools where eyes peered out at them and wastelands that sparked with electricity. Days and days and even more days piled into a continuous rhythm. His sore wings reminded him everyday, every hour, of how far he had flown. This was surely further than he'd ever soared before.

The leader would not stop. He led them on as if they were heading into battle. He would find a perfect home for them, his expression said. Breeze had no need to ask if Dusk would settle for a decent place. The answer would be a flat out no.

Yet more days soldiered on. Dusk decided to try the Flight right beside their original home. Breeze followed on with resignation. Another flight, another rejection, surely. There must be a flight somewhere that the leader would accept? He had suggested ones that were further afield and seemed like they could make a nice home, but none had taken Dusk’s fancy yet.

The heat grew and grew as they neared, washing their scales in a comforting warmth. For the first time in a while Breeze relaxed. It was good to be warm again.

Lava spilled beneath them, flames licked the rocks. He already liked this place. He and his fellow dragons soared after their leader, enjoying the heat on their scales and the crackle of embers and flames. He hoped Dusk would finally settle and choose this place.

As it happened, Dusk did settle... For three days. He was then up and flying again. Breeze's heart sank when he had to yet again move on. This was such a lovely, warm place. He didn't want to leave. He had half a mind to refuse to move, but he followed with only a small complaint.

He was glad he did.

The leader did not go far at all. A mile or two from where they had been he stopped again. This was it, this was to be their home. Breeze drifted on the generous air currents and inspected it, admiring the glow of trickles of lava and the small, dancing flames; the crystalline rocks and smooth, shiny black hardened magma. The warmth that was all around permeated his scales like a sponge soaking up water. This magnificent land felt like home. It felt like he had never known the life of another flight, as if he'd always lived here.

Scales glinting in the firelight, he took his place beside his king. His job was not one of the usual occupations you could get, but that of someone well versed in the laws and rights of others. He, Breeze, may be the eldest of the small clan, but his responsibilities were better sourced elsewhere than being leader.

He had given leadership to Dusk's family when this small clan was newly formed. Breeze did not want to lead, it was not something he was not cut out to do and he felt they were better leaders than he could ever be. Dusk's parents had had to leave to serve another cause when the Fae was young, but all was not lost. Dusk had been looked after and trained, and now Breeze watched on with pride as one so dear to him took up his parents' mantle. This magical fire setting would thrive under his rule, he was sure.

It sure did. The clan grew. Dragons from other flights, some from many days away, came to join. Breeze gazed over it with a smile. This was what a clan should be, a group of friends, family, all living and sharing and laughing together.

The wind whistled across the land, but it was no longer harsh and cold. A gentle warmth washed over the smooth black pebbles and jagged crystals like a wave, it bore with it a beautiful murmuring of what was to come. Not that anyone could understand it. It's ripple was felt, if not knowingly so, across the clan. This was their home now, and it truly felt like home.

Lore written by Flitt