Arelian

The Lost Toy

​Arelian was a curious youngster, like most new hatchlings. She studied the wide world around her with big, inquisitive eyes. But her curiosity did not seem to know any limits, and that worried her parents endlessly. They were always warning her of the dangers of talking to strange dragons, or cautioning her about straying too far from the safety of their den.

She should have listened to them. But the strange tundra she met seemed so friendly, it was hard to feel afraid of him. Promises of treats and surprises were enough to lure the young spiral beyond the boundaries of her family's den, even beyond the edges of her Clan's territory.

Arelian giggled softly, twisting herself into loops and knots when she saw the huge pile of insects- there were juicy grubs and crunchy beetles, and all of her other favorites all in one big pile. She dove into the pile, munching happily, so content in her youthful innocence that she never noticed how unusual some of them tasted.

It wasn't until she had stuffed herself and curled up in a happy ball that she noticed how intently the strange tundra was watching her. Suddenly, she found herself feeling uncomfortable beneath his deep red gaze. She started to uncoil herself and wanted to go home, but as she glanced around, Arelian realized she didn't know where she was. She hadn't paid close enough attention when she followed the tundra out here, and for the first time in her short life, she was beginning to feel afraid.

A strange sensation began working its way through her body, she felt unbearably warm and dizzy. She tried to take another step, then collapsed. The tundra's cold laughter was the last thing that registered on her hazy mind as darkness enveloped her senses.

​When she finally awoke, Arelian struggled to push herself back to her feet, her big eyes went wide as she caught sight of herself. Her once gleaming golden scales were replaced with tattered, patchwork cloth. She swallowed hard, glancing around in fear when she realized she was no longer in the warm, bright Sunbeam Ruins where her family lived. Around her, there was only the disease and desolation of the Scarred Wastelands.

She wanted to cry, but found herself unable to, just another terrifying aspect of the horrible curse that had transformed her. She was no longer a happy, innocent spiral hatchling. Arelian was now a living doll, a cruel twist of fate left her caught between life and death, alive yet not.