Cypress

A lonely gardener living in the border woods. Quite inconveniently for her, her lute playing often draws unfortunate wanderers, who are later found walking around outside somewhere with no memory whatsoever.






We are a solitary breed, young one.
Don't argue.
I left when I was your age too. You know many of the skills needed to survive. You can figure out the rest on your own.

The dragonet's feet scuffed the ground. She was barely halfway to an adult! But her father had taught her not to bother with her emotions. Emotions could be manipulated. It was better to hide them while she was here. While she was here. Could she leave the darkened woods? She would go far away, she knew that for that was the way of Veilspuns. Never make contact with another dragon unless absolutely necessary, and certainly never a dragon of another breed. Her father was not one to be ignored.

The first few weeks were the hardest. She knew some medicinal plants, a few more edible ones, and basic traps. But it was harder than she had guessed. She was starving and dehydrated when Ysandre found her. She had been staggering from tree to tree, searching for food, when a flicker of blue had caught her eye. Another young dragon, of a breed she had never seen before, was staring at her from a patch of pine needles, a kettle of tea in her talon. The Veilspun raised her talons, trying to cast a spell, but she collapsed with the effort of mustering the magic inside her.

She awoke in a dark place. The inside of a hollow tree, sheltered from wind and wolves. A small fire crackled nearby, with a kettle smoking over it. The dragon, a strongly built dragon with patterns like curling smoke along her scales, sat across from her, stoking the fire. The Veilspun tried to speak, but her tongue felt as heavy as a stone.

Don't be afraid, The unfamiliar dragon said, coming around the fire. She propped the Veilspun's head up and gave her a drink of the hot tea. It was bitter, but she swallowed it.

I've never seen a dragon like you. Your mane looks like cypress leaves, the way they flow to touch the water. Are you feeling okay? I have food if you need it.

The look on the dragon's face seemed real, a mix of concern and fear and something else she couldn't identify. But her father had taught her that emotions could be faked easily. She was hungry, though.

F-food, She choked out.

The stranger gave her elk jerky and more tea, then explained that her name was Ysandre and that she was a Guardian dragon. She was astounded to learn that the Veilspun had no name, but she managed not to gasp out loud.

The two stayed in the hollow tree for a few more days, sleeping curled up in a corner. Ysandre taught her more edible plants and the best ways to rig a camp. It was...nice being with another dragon. But she knew how emotions could cloud the mind, and how dangerous friendship could be. And...maybe more. It was a simple spell really, wiping memories. But it was the hardest spell she had ever done. She named herself Cypress as a reminder.

And she never let anyone else see her again.