Malachi

Malachi's parents were Ocezeco and Shawn, both of the Plague flight. He was born in a venerable lair hidden in the Foxfire Bramble, alongside his brother, Shade and his sister, Zin. The hatchlings were close growing up, especially Malachi and Shade, but somewhere along the way, things started to change between them, and it was because of Ocezeco. Their father was intentionally driving a wedge between the brothers by playing favourites, preferring Malachi over Shade. Ocezeco saw in his youngest son the same remorseless drive to survive that was so prized by the children of Plague, and praised his cold cruelty, while rejecting Shade outright. What Ocezeco's goal here was not clear, but it's certain that the eventual outcome was not what he had planned. One dark night, Ocezeco was found murdered, with the only clue to his attacker being a tiny decorative birdskull with purple feathers... Shade's favourite accessory. Shade was forced to go on the run, and it was clear to all that it had been a crime brought on by jealousy. All except Malachi and Shade, however, who knew the truth. It wasn't Shade who had killed Ocezeco that night. The birdskull had been dropped in the scuffle that followed the dreadful act, when Shade had confronted his younger brother in horror. The fight that ensued was terrible. As always, however, Shade held back, even though he knew his brother's viciousness, and Malachi gained the upper hand, knocking Shade out cold. Then he placed up the birdskull, and carried his brother back to bed before returning to his own, where he waited for the discovery to be made, the accusations to begin.

For though Malachi was always their father's favourite, he knew something Shade did not. He had overheard their parents arguing one night about their father's past dalliance with a Shade-touched Imperial, a secret he had carefully kept from Shawn up until that point. Shawn was furious.

"So that explains it, how our children ended up Shade-touched!" she shouted. "She passed it onto you, and you passed it on to them! How could you do this to them? To me?"

"I didn't think it worked that way, okay?" Ocezeco growled back. "And what difference does it make? What they don't know won't hurt them. Malachi is already a fine young drake, and Zin..."

"And what of Shade?" Shawn had laughed then, a bitter laugh. "How ironic, that I chose that name."

"Shade is weak. He smells of cowardice."

"He is your son!" Shawn reminded him.

"Then perhaps it is time for him to fight for that honour!" Ozececo roared, thumping a furry paw.

Malachi could have laughed aloud, if it wouldn't have betrayed his position. The honour of what, exactly? Of being Shade-touched? Of being cursed? What was their father thinking, tainting himself like that, lying to their mother?

But now Malachi knew the truth, and he knew what he must do. It would drive their family apart, but it would keep Shade and Zin from ever learning of their curse. Perhaps one day, his brother would forgive him.

After the deed was done, Malachi left the Tangled Wood as well, travelling to the Starfall Isles. There he set about searching for a way to break his curse once and for all, and keep the Shade from consuming him.

He found a home in Bloodbane's clan, though it's more an arrangement of convenience than anything. He made friends with Mephistopheles, Matilda, and a Fae named Shinu, and the four of them can often be seen keeping company with each other.