Shade

Shade

Breeds with: N/A

Mysterious Spirit

Bio: Shade wandered. Ever since they started their search, they have not been able to find it. They could not find their charge, they could not find the thing they were supposed to protect for the rest of their life. They could not find the thing that would make them a whole dragon, and yet they never gave up their search.

He remembers when he first started his search. He was so young at the time and so sure he would find his charge. He was passionate, but now he is tired. He remembers feeling that spark, that pull, that unsatiated desire that would only be satiated when he found his charge. It is still there, that’s why he wanders. The feeling hadn’t left him since he started his journey; however, his journey has been going on for centuries. He has never found his charge.

All over Sornieth, he searched, endlessly, and tirelessly. As a young dragon, he wandered the land in awe, at all its beauty and wondrous sights there were to see. He had never seen such wonders, those of which where the trees grew tall, where the land floats in the sky or where the weather was so cold he could hardly stand it. Then, he had a whole world to see with such little experience, he thought he would never see it all before finding his charge. And yet, here he was now, still searching, having seen nearly every corner of the world. There was nothing new for him to see, as he had seen it all. He had seen new clans form and old ones come to their end. He had seen a small tree at the very beginning of its life and when he came back around it seemed to reach the heavens. Still, he had not found his charge.

Though many times he had thought he might have found his worthy object to protect, he was wrong. He had thought his journey had come to an end only to find the thing he thought was his charge, was not upon coming closer. In a sense, he had come to terms that he may never find his charge. He may never find it, but in the time he had searched for it, He had seen all the sights that there were to see. To some extent, he had a full life even without the thing he was supposed to protect. He was so old now the magic in him was strong and powerful. He felt it grow and pulse into the ground with every step he took towards his never-ending journey. What was once a tiny reserve of magic in his young body, was now a powerful reserve of magic that thrived in his old, tired body.

“This is what I will use to protect my charge,” he thought. “When I come upon my charge, my magic will keep it safe…”

As he made his journey around the world, this thought comforted him. Maybe, just maybe, he needed to be strong enough before he could find his charge. Maybe he had to let his magic grow and thrive within him before he would ever find his charge. He was hopeful while also very hopeless. The more steps he took, the more hope he lost, but the stronger he grew, the more hope he gained.
The day never came. He had traveled all the way down to Rimebone Stockade, then up to Colonnades of Antiquity where he saw the world pillar. He went to the shrieking wilds and then back across to the Astrolodome where he saw how the pretty glass protected the region from the astral rain. He saw the horrifying Wyrmwound and then found himself seeing sights like the Hewn City, Wiretangle Walk, and the Great Furnace. He had seen it all, and soon the dragon grew tired. His body weakened although the magic in him grew stronger. His journey came to an end where he laid in the Dusk Sanctum surrounded by glowing blue mushrooms and dark purple trees that reached into the sky. As he lay there, worn and tired, he found himself examining what seemed to be a dying tree sapling. It did not look like it would live for much longer, and yet Shade felt a connection to this little plant.

“You,” his voice croaked out, “for the rest of my days...I will protect you, little sapling…”

While on his deathbed, Shade had found his charge. He had found the little plant that he would protect for the rest of time. And he did, he curled his body around the weak sapling and let his magic seep into the plant. His magic protected the little tree, and it grew and grew, bigger than any of the other trees in the area. It wasn’t long before the roots of the tree had cradled and encased Shade’s body just like Shade’s body had done for the little tree. Even in death, Shade’s spirit protected the now magical and mature tree. What was once a dying tree, was now a thriving tree that brought dragons from all areas that protected and made the tree their home. And Shade was still with them, his magic coursing through, and protecting the tree and its newfound habitants.

End

*Art is by StewedSkrill and BastardMan!