Shadesmoke

Though once a powerful and esteemed adviser to a high priest in a clan obsessed with magic, Shadesmoke has fallen very far from who he once was. As a hatchling, he was full of passion and curiosity, with an eagerness to devote himself to the bewilderment of magic--which he hoped would plunge him towards greatness. He abandoned his birth-clan in the night, following the trails of a nomadic Shadow clan. He'd heard them whispering about magic whilst traveling along his clan's borders and felt this incredible calling to be among them. Though he was an outsider, they embraced his enthusiasm and vigor for their shared passion, and gave him room to flourish. In a short time, he became one of their most trusted companions, whose words they listened to and whose advice they followed. They believed him to be brilliant, despite his youth.

Because of this deep trust and faith in him, Shadesmoke realized he could push the boundaries. He could dig deeper. He could fall farther, unhindered. There seemed to be no limit he wasn't allowed to go past. He felt unstoppable! But soon, he'd realize there were consequences. Greedy to understand the origin and voracity of magic, he didn't heed the warnings of some elder scholars he consulted with--on the topic of The Shade. This dark and forbidden topic piqued his endless curiosity, and instead of listening to dragons well beyond his years, he ran head-first into the darkest reaches of Shadow territory--into forbidden Shade-touched forests. He finally learned what it meant to make a dire mistake, but it was too late to turn back. By the time he crawled out of the forest and made it back to his clan, he had already changed too much. A darkness had crept upon his gluttonous soul, and ate it right up. He was hardly the dragon he once was. He was no longer trustworthy or reliable, and led his clan into terrible decisions that nearly obliterated them. Before it was too late, he admitted to the high priest--the one who trusted him most--what he had done and who he had become. The clan (or what was left of them) was outraged and betrayed that the young Tundra they had taken in had torn them apart from the inside out. They banished him to never return to them as long as he lived, and left as quickly as they'd arrived in his life.

Though he'd overcome with a deep and unshakeable sadness, Shadesmoke accepted his fate and took it as due. He know he'd gone too far and took his outlaw as atonement for the tragedies he'd caused a clan who loved and trusted him. He could never take back what he'd done and for that he would forever repent. The name Shadesmoke was not his birth name, but rather what his former clan named him derogatorily before banishing him from them. He took it sincerely as his own as a reminder to himself and any others he ever came in contact with that he was bad news.

After what happened, he spent a long time wandering alone, making sure to keep his distance from anyone else. He didn't want to cause anyone more hurt, and didn't even trust himself knowing that The Shade had hold of part of his heart. But one day, while traveling in Starwood Strand in Arcane territory, far away from where he'd separated from his clan, he came across a being who was not much unlike him. He could tell by both scent and sight that she too was touched by The Shade. She said nothing and only stared, but he knew there was no way he could endanger her. And so, for hours he just stood by her and stared back. It was kind of nice to be in the company of another dragon for a while, and know that neither he could hurt her nor she could hurt him. Then right as he started to wonder if perhaps he should take this irregular Coatl hatchling somewhere where they both couldn't hurt anyone, a normal Arcane Skydancer appeared out of nowhere and scooped her into her arms and began to fly away. Stunned, he called after her, worried that she didn't know what she'd just taken. She landed with the clearly Shade-touched being still in her arms and looked at him confused.
"Forgive me, madam, but I think you've made a mistake. That thing will harm you and your clan. You must leave her and go away quickly, and pray to whatever god you follow," he explained in the most polite voice he could, lowering his eyes in respect. She lifted up her witch hat to get a closer look at him.
"I appreciate your concern, stranger, but it's alright. She's one of my clan," she explained, ready to take flight again. But he wasn't finished.
"Forgive my audacity, but I warn you that is a dire mistake you're making. You are all in grave danger! She is Shade-touched!" He was taken aback swiftly, as she smiled and chuckled.
"We are well aware, wanderer. We have named her as such. I'm her guardian, and a sorceress in my clan. She has been with us for a couple years, under close watch. I can assure you, she is not the most dangerous thing in our clan. But again, thank you for worrying and I wish you the best." With that, she took flight. Shadesmoke was utterly bewildered. They knew what she was and weren't afraid? There were worse things in their clan than a being like her--than a being like him?

Though he knew he had no right, he couldn't help but follow her--he had to see what kind of clan a creature like him could belong in. He watched from the fringes of what he soon found was known as the Demonic Woods, populated by various dragons that were not normal or even really dragons; and led by powerful demons who did not appreciate that he was lurking on the sidelines. Though he thought he was being careful and keeping himself well hidden, Shadesmoke soon backed up to find himself surrounded by an Ice Imperial with a dead stare, and a Fire Coatl with a very aggressive aura.
"What are you doing, young one?" The Imperial asked in a brusque tone.
"Forgive me, I didn't mean to--" He was swiftly cut off by the Coatl.
"Great, here comes an artful excuse from a clearly dishonest spy."
"No, sir, I am not. I'm not a threat. Not here. I made a mistake, I'll leave."
"Oh, he'll leave. This little fluffball thinks he can take down both of us," the Coatl mocked. Shadesmoke realized what he implied--he wasn't allowed to leave without a fight. He bowed his head respectfully.
"You're right. I stepped onto your lands without permission. If you have to attack me as penance for my mistake, I won't object. I was spying, but not on your clan. I was following one of your clan-members, curious about something. It was a misstep on my part. I--" He was cut off by the Imperial this time.
"That's enough blabbering. You're too annoying to be a threat to our region. Who were you following and why?" He looked as though he would swiftly lose his patience so Shadesmoke answered quickly.
"I don't know her name. She's an Arcane Skydancer. I watched her scoop up a Shade-touched being and take her here. I was originally concerned for her and your clan, but she tried to reassure me--" Once again he was cut off--this time by the Coatl belly-laughing.
"You were worried about the safety of Maleficent! That's a good one. What a dunce! Alastair, this one's all yours. Do what you like with him," He started to take off when the Imperial spoke under his breath.
"You don't give me orders, #3." Shadesmoke knew from his tone that the two were not friends. The Coatl halted flight and shot a glare at the Imp.
"I know," He growled, then left finally. The Imperial turned his full focus on him, which made him very uncomfortable.
"The Shade-touched one is one of us. She is no more a threat than you are. You have no more business here. I would advise you to leave now." Shadesmoke nodded, but it was as if the great Imp could tell he wanted to say more. "Why are you really here?" He suddenly asked.
"I...I wanted to understand...how your clan could accept one like her..." He admitted quietly but clearly. The Imperial leaned in and sniffed him then sighed with one of his lips curled slightly into a smile.
"You mean one like you." Shadesmoke nodded. "Shadetouched was accepted because our Matriarch deemed it so."
"You mean, you're not the clan leader?"
"I am Alastair, the leader of this region. Vixen is the Matriarch of our clan. If you wish to join us, you must take it up with her. You'll find her north, near the Observatory. If she accepts, you may pick whichever region you like to call your home. Though if you wish to stay among us in the Demonic Woods, you'd do best to win the approval of the other demon leaders. You've already met Crowley, the impertinent little Coatl. There are 5 others, though only 2 others whose opinions matter." Shadesmoke nodded, but honestly was overwhelmed by all this information. He thanked Alastair for the knowledge and understanding, and started flying north to The Observatory. But he stopped halfway, landing somewhere in the Demonic Woods again. This was a lot to take in. Though he was excited at the chance to be in a clan again, he suddenly was overwhelmed by panic and shame of what had happened in the past. This was a temptation to make another mistake and lead yet another clan towards a tragic path. Right as he decided to turn back and leave all this behind, he found himself face to face with the same Skydancer he had trailed.
"Ah, so it's you she wants. She's not one to make a fuss. I wondered what got her so frenzied. You must be special," The one called Maleficent set down Shadetouched in front of him who had been quaking until her primal eyes met Shadesmoke's, and she calmed. "Fascinating," Maleficent said, awed.
"I don't understand."
"I don't either. But she's chosen you, like she chose some of us. Come, we must go meet with our Matriarch to see that you have a place here among us."
"But--I don't know if--I'm not sure I..." He started to argue but she scoffed.
"Come now, you think I didn't see you and Alastair already discussing about joining this clan? You were on your way to meet with Vixen, no? You think you're the only one that knows how to trail another?" She eyed him and he realized that she'd been well aware of him following them. He allowed himself to chuckle slightly, and follow her to their Matriarch.

Shadesmoke eventually met all of the demon dragons and settled into the Demonic Woods, mostly with the help of Maleficent and Shadetouched, since Crowley still seemed to dislike him due to Alastair enforcing his rank in front of him. But beyond them, he seemed to fit in rather easily in the woods, finding common ground with many of the other residents. Naturally, most of his time is spent near Shadetouched who not only is one like him, but one he feels indebted to for helping him find somewhere he could belong. Sometimes, in the dark, he finds his mind wandering to his old clan and wondering how they are. Though he knows he can never reunite with them, he often wishes them peace and healing. On rare occasions, he wonders about his birth-clan and what became of them--of his parents. If they ever worried or thought about him. But he is thankful every day to have a clan and to have companions. He just makes sure to not let anyone too close, forever cautious about repeating the past.

Form Journeys:
Changed tert to Smirch, from Contour.