keay

Keay was a... peculiar being, even as a hatchling. Where the other hatchlings fought and competed with each other, Keay tried to make friends and play gently. For obvious reasons, being in a Plague flight, this was unacceptable behavior. The elders of the clan spoke in hushed whispers of the silvery gray Banescale, attempting to come to a compromise on how to deal with it.

Then they had the conclusion: throw it out into the pulsating wastes, if Keay returns, then it has proven itself. If it didn't... then it simply was not a true child of the Mother. And throw out the hatchling Keay they did. Keay wandered the Plague land as best as a hatchling could, but eventually it collapsed on itself...

Its blood felt thick, wings heavy, vision blurry. As Keay began to succumb to the harshness of the Plague territory, it cried out to the Plaguebringer: "Mother, I beg of you! I can be strong! Give me one more chance!" Its words echoed around itself. Not a sound returned to Keay.

Then a growl rumbled through his mind: "I cannot prove your worthiness." Spat the voice, "Adapt. Survive. Conquer." There was a pause in the telepathic voice, then it continued, softer. "Or are you not my child?"

Trembling legs sprung beneath Keay's little body. It carried itself forward achingly, to a destination unknown, guided towards an unknown singularity. I must become stronger. The hatchling carried itself for who knows how long until its quivering limbs gave out. Keay found itself outside a cavern, the sticky darkness a relief after the harsh, blistering wastes. There were no pustules to feed on inside, but red, glowing mushrooms. When Keay bumped into one, it sent up a cloud of billowing spores. It didn't know if the mushrooms were edible or not, but the young dragon was so desperate that it ate its fill of the mysterious cavern fungi then collapsed to the floor, laboured breathing slowed. When it awoke, Keay's body twisted and contorted with pain. It cried out for help, but nobody came.

"Embrace it," urged a familiar voice in Keay's head.

It tried, but salty tears still leaked from its eyes as it suffered. Pressure built up in Keays body until it felt like it would explode-- and it did. But Keay did not die. Billowing clouds of red spores poured out of its eyes, mouth, and wherever else there was a puncture or lesion to escape through. The young dragon rushed out of the cave, body still aching. and threw its face over the nearest puddle of ooze so that Keay might see its own reflection...

"I look horrifying," was Keay's first thought. Keay spotted a roaming lizard and attempted to catch it. As soon as a spore-spilling talon touched the small creature, its flesh began to rot.

"Oh," breathed Keay, "so this is stronger."


Lore creds to SeptemberRain!! <3