Tenebrous

Cadfan could hardly wait to meet the new clanmate. There were very few Wildclaws in the clan so having a new member of the species arrive was exciting! Cadfan gathered up some of the best food in the clan's hoard, bundled it in fine cloth, and headed out to meet the new arrival.

The new Wildclaw appeared at the entrance to the lair that evening, a dark-furred wolf padding along beside her. Cadfan, carrying the welcoming bundle of food between his jaws, walked up to meet her with a smile and a spring in his step. As the Wildclaw drew closer though Cadfan noticed there was something slightly off about her. Her wings were tattered and torn as though something or someone had shredded them, but perhaps the strangest thing of all was her face - parts of the flesh appeared to be missing. Black linen bandages adorned her face as though trying to hold it all together. Cadfan, ever the gentleman, decided to go through with his greeting regardless.

"Tenebrous, isn't it? Welcome to the clan! My name is Cadfan and I offer you this food as a welcoming gift!"

Cadfan placed the bundle on the ground and stepped back slightly, still smiling. The wolf walked forwards first, sniffing cautiously at the bundle. He then proceeded to viciously tear through the fabric and devour the bundle's contents, much to Cadfan's bemusement. Tenebrous looked from her wolf to Cadfan, a gleam of interest in her bright red eyes, and spoke in a low, silky voice.

"I've never worked with a Tundra before," she said, reaching out and slowly stroking a paw under the slightly smaller dragon's chin. She exerted gentle pressure on a claw, titling Cadfan's head up as her other paw came up to caress the side of the Tundra's head.

"You seem to have led a predictable life so far. Would you like to experience pain like none you have ever felt before - every sinew afire in glorious protest? You will beg - scream - for mercy, and eventually you shall know it. But not before my data is complete. You dragons of the Lightning flight speak of science, and what greater science is there than the study of the blood and bone of dragonkind?"

Cadfan blinked. He blinked again, as though trying to bring the world back into focus. He noticed that the Wildclaw was smiling now.

"Um, well, that sounds great and everything but - um - I have some work to do over there now."

The Tundra carefully extracted himself from the Wildclaw's embrace before swiftly retreating back into the lair. Tenebrous watched him go, still smiling. She reached over to pet her wolf familiar behind the ears.

"Oh, Shade. These soft-minded simpletons know nothing of true science. At first they run, but they submit soon enough."