Njada

Njada has only vague recollections of her mother. She may have had siblings, or she may not have. But she does remember the Tangled Wood, and her mother taking her to the edge of their lands one night. They walked for a long time before soft forest floor gave way to the loamy river delta. Trees thinned out, and Njada got her first glimpse of the night sky, unhindered by the reaching branches of the trees she was so familiar with at home.

There, breaking free of the canopy, was the moon. Its soft light washed everything in a dreamy glow, as if everything were lit from within. Njada had never seen such a sight. Was this really still the Shadowbinder's domain?

"Go on, little one." Her mother nudged her from behind.

The little dragon jumped at the opportunity to explore, running haphazardly through the logs and other debris swept here by the great river. There were no lairs here. This small section was left untouched, with only the local wildlife watching carefully as the little imp scrabbled across the surfaces of their home.

Her mother still stood at the edge of the marsh, half hidden in shadows cast by the branches above her.

Njada turned to see her still there and frowned. "Mama, mama! Come play with me!" She trilled, hopping atop a log as she waited eagerly.

Her mother did not answer. A strange look passed over her face, one Njada did not understand or recognize.
"I cannot, little one," her mother said at length. "You go on." She pointed her snout toward the edge of the delta, a haze obscuring where it ran into the Tidelord's sea.

Njada glanced back, uncertain. "But Mama..." Her voice trembled as she spoke, and she was suddenly filled with the urge to rush back to her mother and never leave her side again. Her claws scrambled for purchase on the rotten log she had climbed, and she pushed off into a run across the swamp, back toward her mother.

She did not get very far.

Njada's mother stepped back, the shadows nearly swallowing her, except for her two eyes. "Stop," she commanded, and Njada, who had never been scolded in all her life, did so.

Her large eyes blinked, body frozen as she stared across the short distance it would take to reach the safety of the Tangled Wood again.

"I cannot go with you," her mother said softly. "Not now. There are many things you do not understand, little one. And these are dangerous. You will be safer in the Tidelord's realm."

Njada sniffled. "But... home?"

Her mother chuckled. "Oh Njada. You fierce little dragon. You are strong and brave. I would not send you out if I did not think you could survive."

A swell of pride rose in Njada. She was fierce! She knew that! "I am strong," she roared, though it came to little more than an indignant squeak.

"You are. Which is why you must go." Her mother extended a claw to point toward the edge of the river delta again. "Find a home among the clans of the Water Flight. They will teach you all you need to know about being a strong and brave dragon. Their god may be gone, but they are still a strong flight."

"What if they're mean?" A whine entered Njada's voice.

Her mother chuckled again. "Well, we know what to do with bullies, don't we, Njada?"

The little hatchling nodded.

Far off in the Tangled Wood, a large crack sounded through the trees. Her mother turned her head sharply. For a few moments, she did not move, looking more statue than dragon. When she finally returned her gaze to Njada, her eyes were sad. "There is no more time," she said, her voice soft. "You must go."

The small imp hatchling turned her head toward that fog, the edge of the delta. She had never ventured this far before, let alone into another flight's domain. Would it really be alright? Her fearful eyes found her mother's again, soft purple against Njada's much darker inky hue.

"I'll do it, Mama!" she called, her voice echoing across the bog. "I'll make you proud!"

"Good girl." Her mother smiled.

The hatchling gave her mother one last smile before scampering off to the edge of the delta. Behind her, she thought she heard her mother say, "Perhaps one day we'll meet again." But when she glanced back, the fog had already swallowed the forest and all she could see was fallen logs and marsh weeds.

---

Now Njada roams the realm of the Tidelord, home-less and clan-less. She has stayed with many clans, but would always leave when she felt they were growing too close to a family. From them, she has gathered a variety of skills, from herbal medicine to swordfighting. It seemed that Njada would be doomed to wander all of Sornieth alone, forever, constantly searching for her mother or what remains of the family she barely remembers.

That is, until she meets an interesting dragon who tells her of a cathedral that might be able to help her locate her mother.