Unnamed

N A M E * | * | * | * A dark smoke covered the lake. Glowing flames were eating away at the ornate buildings around the shore. A large shadow flies over the lake, blowing more flames down towards the ground. An elderly Coatl lets out a heavy sigh. She guided her hatchlings to safety, but with the smoke burning her eyes and lungs, she knew she wouldn't be able to muster more. She had known that the clan's leaders had been planning for an attack from the border of the Ashfall Waste. She had not imagined it would happen within her lifetime. It seemed to be a pointless attack. Why would Fire Dragons attack those living within Water's domain? Doesn't water put out fires? She knew that it had been pointless to even wonder why it would happen. The Fire dragons seem to have learned ways to set the water itself ablaze. Flaming cargo and debris from the buildings floated along past the wharf. Suddenly, the shadow from above darkened her vision. A dragon landed in the ashy sand with a loud crunch and looked over her carefully. "A survivor?" the dragon softly bellowed. "You think you're special, huh? You get your clanmates into the sea and you think if you stay here, you'd live, known for your selflessness and heroism, am I right?" She shakily turned her snout up at him, flaring out her feather frills threateningly. She couldn't muster a single word, but only a short song-like whistle. She knew it was already the end. This dragon had no need for such a threatening conversation. The dragon scoffed at her attempt. He kicked ashes and sand towards her and took off into the sky again, blowing another fireball towards the shelter she had taken. "Why didn't you escape to the sea, you fool?" he snarled, leaving her to stay unmoving in the burning remains of her home.

She woke to find herself in a soft and grass-filled nest lined with strong roots, keeping her safe within its embrace. She couldn't stand how dry it was. How were dragons supposed to deal with such dry scales? At least the humidity felt comfortable.
"Oh, the little pumpkin is awake!"
Her head quickly turned towards the source of the voice to find a large snapper smiling down at her.
"The little what?" she snarled at the snapper.
"...Pumpkin," the snapper repeated quietly.
"That's insulting," she said flatly. "If anything, I'm a lovely anemone."
"She was the Water dragon," another voice from the end of the cave said to the snapper.
"Oh, then I guess it may be rude to call somebody a small, round gourd. Even if it's cute and they really do look like a cute little pumpkin," the snapper said.
She scoffed and stood up, not going to rest there and listen to this. "I will not be treated like a hatchling. I am an experienced broodmother and I wish to not deal with this cutesy stuff."
The snapper pulled a metal mirror from the wall of the den and held it in front of her. "You have a new vessel now. You were killed saving your brood. You can begin again and I will try my best not to treat you like another hatchling. Though, you have to admit, you look like a cute little pumpkin and would say the same to a young one you cared for."
She glared at her reflection. "Oh, Tidelord, what have you done to me?" she grumbled.
"He didn't do this to you, I did," the Snapper said. "I sent your spirit into an egg of my own. I thought you deserved a second chance to bring your kindness into this world. Unless you don't wish to. I can always send you along to meet the Tidelord."
She reeled back, pushing the mirror down. "Was that a threat?"
"Not really, but you're free to seek that if you think that the first end was enough."
She scoffed and returned to sit down. "...I wish to explore Nature's marshes, the end of the reach of the sea."
"We have that here. We are in the Worldedge Wetlands."
"...I will consider lingering in this life then," she said.
"I'm glad. You would make such an influence in this life on the new age hatchlings. I hope you will grow to care for as many as you did in your previous life, yours or others'," the snapper said. "Your second chance has come and I wish you the best."
She nodded gratefully to her new mother. She glanced outside the den's entrance to see the flowering plants lining the marsh waters. "Will you take me to explore the local waters before I continue this life and find my new meaning?"
"Of course, whenever you're ready," the snapper said with a smile.