Roxy

A Scroll of parchment that smells strongly of ash and wind is delivered to the Mayor it has a wax seal with a crest on it, The Seal of Clan Burning Fantasies

The Letter contains as follows

Greetings From Clan Burning Fantasies,

My name is Roxy I’m a young Arcane Dragon who moved to my clan awhile ago and was trained to fight by two of our Clans finest Eleanor and our Fire Rep Zhaitan.
I have led hunting parties many times to gather food and I strongly believe in the ideals of integrity I am not a liar and have a high moral.

On one of our hunting trips we even found an earth Egg and Familiar for our clan, I carefully brought the egg back to our clan and when it hatched I took the responsibility of raising her. With my guidance Acacia now has a good life in the clan and now I would love to move foward and bring my expertise elsewhere.
I hope to hear from you soon and will help protect anyone from getting hurt on the trip. Funding isn’t necessary but is appreciated.

Wishing Your Village well,

Roxy of Clan Burning Fantasies

~This was written by Fantivity

~This was written by Countessoffire

Roxy clasped a parchment tight in her talons. She flipped it upside down and twisted herself into knots as she examined it. She muttered, "I don't understand. They should be right here! All I'm seeing is a big crater!"

Her snout crinkled. "I mean, I've heard a few of them can be tricksters... but this Diana sounded so lovely in the letters! What reason would a Mayor have to misguide a future resident of her village?"

Roxy heaved a sigh and slapped the map over her torso. She glared out at the massive crater shimmering with water. Her pupils narrowed to slits as the sunlight danced and seemed to mock her predicament. "Maybe I fell for a scam? I mean, Chrono didn't seem to know of any dragon in Sanguinem Luna by the name of Diana Azraellan..."

A deep masculine voice startled Roxy right out of her knot, "Young Master Chrono is but a Treasurer. It would hardly be fair to expect him to know every dragon in a foreign clan."

Roxy had abandoned her map in her shock. She trembled behind a large boulder as she did her best to reign in her raging heart. Her nostrils flared as she huffed, "Oh, as if a voice in my head would know that."

The masculine voice answered, "Come round the boulder, young one. Retrieve your map. I apologize for frightening you."

"Frightened," asked Roxy, "Haha, who said anything about being frightened?"

Yet come around the boulder she did. Roxy blinked in awe as she froze with a forepaw hovering over her discarded map. Standing before her was a titanic Guardian of speckled flint scales, white wings that faded into the gray of his scales, and runes. The rose runes that were inscribed along his face and flanks were a stunning display of Arcane that made his starry pupil-less violet eyes all the more beautiful. Roxy felt like she could fall into eternity within his gaze.

A shudder traveled up her spine as she felt the urge to at least bow her head in greeting. Her jaws worked as she tried to form what she wanted to say. "I... Uh... I'm Roxy!"

The Guardian's deep voice rumbled through her core, "I know. I came here to retrieve you. You're awfully late... but that is hardly your fault..."

Roxy blinked, perplexed. "Wait, late? But I'm a little early! I was supposed to go to someplace called the Crystal Spire! Meet Diana Azraellan, wherever she is... She's the one who is late..."

The starry-eyed male Guardian shook his head. "No, she is right on schedule. She awaits your arrival here, in this very spot... 950 years ago in what my clan refers to as the Pantheon Age. During the dawning days of Serenity Village and the rise of Arcyng Leo'Animus's court."

Roxy frowned and rubbed her snout. "Is this some kind of Temoral Rifter prank? It has to be. There is no way I'd receive a housing invitation from a village that existed 950 years ago. Anyway, you still haven't introduced yourself Mr. Star Guardian. Do you know your eyes are so pretty? Wait... Did I just say that?"

The starry-eyed male Guardian spoke up to interrupt Roxy's rambling. "My name is Aeterna'Tempus, Mystic of Sanguinem Luna Clan and brother to the Patriarch Arcyng Leo'Animus. My actions have nothing to do with those universe shattering pests."

Roxy felt herself tremble. Which surprised her. He didn't raise his voice nor lower his voice to a growl, but she could feel his rage. It felt like some force was bearing down on her on all sides. She squeaked, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you didn't like the Temporal Rifters. It's just, they're everywhere in my clan so... Uh... Eep! I'll be quiet..."

Aeterna'Tempus stepped closer to Roxy. He stared down his snout at her cowering form. Lowering his head, Aeterna'Tempus did his best to gentle his tone, "That is not necessary. As I said earlier, you're late for your appointment. I came here to retrieve you, just as I intercepted the letters."

It clicked. Roxy lifted her head and stared into Aeterna'Tempus's eyes. "The portal! Every time a letter appeared and disappeared; it was you! But... but why? Isn't taking me to the past some kind of time travel taboo?"

Aeterna'Tempus answered, "Do you plan on harming your grandparents?"

Roxy shook her head. "Oh gosh no! I wouldn't even know who they are..."

Aeterna'Tempus rumbled, "Then it is time to go. Stay close, and do not stray from my side once you pass through the Tempus Vell."

Roxy scrambled to collect her dropped map. She lifted her head in time to see Aeterna’Tempus slash the air with a mighty left forepaw. It was like nothing she had seen before. It looked like reality itself was shredded, like fluttering curtains framing a window except there was only darkness and fog on the other side. Trembling, Roxy approached the fluttering curtain and shimmering threshold.

She yelped when she was shoved through. Her body twisted and writhed against the shimmering surface of the threshold. She felt like she was swimming until she slammed into something hard. Discombobulated, she staggered away from the threshold. Fog parted away from her paws as she watched Aeterna’Tempus push through the threshold.

Once Aeterna'Tempus passed through the threshold. He raised his right paw and the curtains closed behind him. The portal from where they came from was gone, mended like a wound. Aeterna'Tempus started walking, his runes glowing in the gloom as a beacon. He rumbled, "This way."

Roxy kept close to Aeterna'Tempus. The longer she spent walking with him inside this strange place, the more unsettled she became. She could hear what sounded like water flowing, the creak of a mechanical wood device, but further off in the distance there was a moaning or whining. Roxy trembled as she ventured to ask, "What is that sound? It is... well it sounds like dragons in trouble..."

Aeterna'Tempus did not stop walking. "You aren't too far off. While there isn't any solace in my words, fret not. There is nothing you nor I can do for what you hear... You hear the sound of the end times..."

Roxy's eyes widened and she almost froze on the spot. Aeterna'Tempus's insistent tail kept her moving by pulling her along. At last they came to a stop in who knows where. Roxy was panting as she watched Aeterna'Tempus open another portal with his claws. The shimmering surface made it difficult for her to make out where they were going.

She didn't have long to wonder. Aeterna'Tempus shoved her through the threshold again. While still startled, Roxy at least landed on her feet once exiting this time. She landed in soft grasses, surrounded by brilliant Arcane domain flowers and crystal infused boulders.

Perched on top of one of these boulders was a large Ridgeback female. Her blue scales shone beautifully in the sunlight and her violet eyes were bright with excitement. "Oh my gosh! There you are! Roxy? Roxy of Clan Burning Fantasies?"

Roxy straightened up and squeaked, "Yes! That's me! And this-"

Roxy turned to acknowledge Aeterna'Tempus's presence however he was nowhere to be seen. The Tempus Vell was gone. All around Roxy could only see the gleaming Starwood Trees and irradiated grasses of the terrain. She could smell the inland sea, just shimmering a mere hundred Imperials behind the blue Ridgeback.

Roxy shook her head. She looked up at the Ridgeback female. "You must be Mayor Diana!"

Diana Azraellan leapt to her paws and bounced off of the boulder. She danced in an excited circle around Roxy. "Yes I am, oh I can not tell you how delighted everyone is going to be. Now you are going to have to tell me everything about Clan Burning Fantasies! I've never even heard of the clan. Is it based out of the Fire Domain? The letter smelled so sooty!"

Roxy let herself be led away by the bubbly Mayor. All the while she had her head turned over her shoulder to watch the place where the portal once was. There was no sign of it. Not even in the magic spectrum could she detect any residue.

Roxy spoke up, "Um, Mayor Diana? Is there a dragon by the name of Aeterna'Tempus in Sanguinem Luna?"

Diana answered, "Why yes! He is the High Mystic! Every Captain of the Domestic Castes reports to him then he takes his reports to the Patriarch and Matriarch! How do you know his name?"

"Well," said Roxy, "Um. He was the one who guided me here."

Diana cooed, "Aw! That was nice of him! His help must've been quite the boon for you. You arrived right on time. Hey, wouldn't it be cool if you sorted into the Astronomer Caste? You'd be able to see him pretty often working for his brother Aeterna'Scientia."

Roxy shuddered, remembering the void she followed Aeterna'Tempus through. She could still hear the sounds of distressed dragons, the end times. What could that possibly mean? Maybe Diana had the right of it. Maybe she could probe Aeterna'Tempus for answers regarding her questions about her experience.

~Written by Countessoffire