Lunara

(dragons mentioned: Yeti, Nimbus)

Witch. Phantom. Cursed creature.

Lunara is all too used to the names they call her, but that doesn’t mean they don’t sting.

She has long since left the lands where she was born, seeking refuge in a lair that may be kinder to her. Her kitsune mask hides the scars on her snout. She is afraid to ever take it off.

When she requests to train so she may serve the Gladekeeper, her new clanmates give her strange looks. “Are you sure?” a thick-furred Gaoler asks, seemingly sensing her hesitation.

She isn’t sure.

“You may stay as long as you like” he continues. “Our clan welcomes everyone.”

She decides to stay.

It doesn’t take her long to realize this clan is kinder than the one she was born in. She somewhat reluctantly settles in, slowly learning to know the other dragons. She feels drawn towards the Gaoler who welcomed her. The Gaoler’s name, she soon learns, is Yeti. He is a sorcerer. Perhaps he could teach her to control her powers.

It takes her a month to gather the courage to approach him, and when she finally does, she finds him and an Obelisk dressed in purple, both hunched over a spellbook. She squeaks. They are both so big, and she is so little!

Her squeak draws their attention and both turn to look at the same time, smiling when they see her. “Hello, Lunara” Yeti greets her in that deep voice of his. “Is something the matter?”

“I- um-” Lunara stammers, blushing under her mask. “I don’t want to intrude…”

“You’re not intruding.” The Obelisk settles down and folds her claws underneath herself. “Come sit with us… Oh, and don’t mind Howl if he starts sniffing all over you, he’s a little too curious for his own good.” She glances at her Vulstal, who yawns and blinks up at her innocently.

Yeti hums softly in agreement, settling next to the Obelisk. Lunara manages a nervous smile and sits a little distance away from them, her posture stiff and uncomfortable. “I- um- I was hoping you could help me…” She trails off, watching as a little Psywurm peeks out of Yeti’s fur.

Yeti notices her staring and chuckles to himself. “Is Muppet being silly?” he asks.

Lunara nods, and the Psywurm squeaks softly and hides in Yeti’s fur again.

“Let him” Yeti says. “What did you need our help with?”

Lunara blinks. Isn’t it obvious? “Well, I have these powers…”

“Are they bothering you?” the Obelisk asks.

She nods quietly.

“Why?” The Obelisk swishes her tail.

Yeti nudges her. “Nimbus! You can’t ask that directly!”

“No, it’s fine” Lunara stammers quickly. “It’s fine.” She takes a deep breath. “I was born like this, and mama- Mama thought I was cursed.” Her voice falls to a whisper and she looks down. Howl whines softly and trots over to her, pressing his nose against her thick fur. Muppet peeks out of Yeti’s mane again, tilting their head at her.

Yeti smiles, a warm and gentle smile. “A curse is only a curse if you believe it to be.”

“…What?” She stares at him.

“I mean what I said.” Yeti moves to settle next to her and gives her a gentle nudge with the tip of his tail. “You carry a great blessing, but one that is often misunderstood. You hold the magic of two Flights in your claws.”

“WHAT!?” Lunara squeaks, fur puffing up with excitement. “You mean I’m not broken? I’m not a monster?”

“You’re not a monster” Nimbus confirms. “I have something similar, look.” She removes her headdress, letting Lunara get a good look at the ice crystals embedded in her scales. “I hold both the magic of Plague and the magic of Ice, just like you hold the magic of Wind and the magic of Shadow. Yeti might be an Arcane mage, but he knows a little bit about everything and he’s teaching me to find the balance between my powers.”

That last sentence barely registers, as Lunara is overwhelmed with emotion. She sobs under her mask, buries herself in Yeti’s thick fur, and when he uses his wing to pull her closer like a hatchling in need of comfort, she gladly accepts. “I’m not broken” she whispers, still in disbelief.

Her claws reach up, and after a moment of fearful hesitation, she removes her mask and reveals the scars underneath. “Thank you” she manages, choking on her tears. “Thank you thank you thank you-” She buries her face in Yeti’s fur again.

The Gaoler purrs softly and curls up around her. “You don’t have to hide who you are here, but if you want to keep wearing your mask, I don’t think anyone will blame you.”

Lunara chuckles weakly at that and puts her mask back on. “I think I’d like to keep it… It’s part of who I am now.” She looks up at him and Nimbus.

“But you will always see who I am underneath.”

(written for Mistral Jamboree 2022 story contest)