Akoya

The pearlcatcher had been waiting for a long time when word from the Arcanist finally comes.

Her clanmates gawp as she races off toward the Starfell Isles, exuberant at the thought of finally being reunited with her pearl. When she arrives, however...

"What is that?" The pearlcatcher stares in horror at the strange, two-headed creature it is presented with.

"Your pearl," the dragonlord replies flatly.

"That," the pearlcatcher points out, "is no pearl."

"It is your soul transformed by the miasma of the Plaguebringer." The Arcanist glares. "It is no small thing for a dragonlord to retrieve a soul from another's domain."

The pearlcatcher gulps, finding herself caught on the terrible side of a god's temper. She stammers, "I came for my pearl. What do I do with a monster?"

The Arcanist rears back. "Nothing. Be gone. Live your soulless life. But be warned: your soul, in whatever way it manifests, will always search for you. I would advise you to reconcile yourself with the facts." The Arcanist nods to the writhing aberration. "Denying your soul its place with you will only bring pain for both of you."

"Don't you mean 'all three of us?'" the dragon grumbles and the Arcanist's brows quirk.

The silence stretches.

The God of Arcane waits.

At length, the pearlcatcher rallies herself and stares at what had once been her pearl. Its smooth, cool surface now slick dragonhide with claws and horns and -- she shudders -- two heads. I cannot promise to accept this as mine.

She bows to the Arcanist and departs, heart heavy and mind in turmoil.

The Arcanist watches her go and then gathers the hatchling up in its arms. The small creature's eyes have not yet opened; it is still too young.

"You will be one of mine," the Arcanist decides. "Although my home will in no way replace the one you've lost. Nor will the home that you choose when the time comes for you to leave. But you are not alone, child."

The aberration twists and curls into the god's embrace. The Arcanist sighs and pushes aside the disappointment with the pearlcatcher lest it latch onto this innocent dragon.

"You are not alone."