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[columns][center][item=ruby webwing][nextcol][color=transparent]..[/color][nextcol][color=#1D2224][font=garamond][size=7][size=4][b]those who remain[/b][/size][/size][/font][/color]
[size=2]written by Disillusionist
[color=#9494A9]1,208 words[/color][/size][/columns]
[color=#4D0F29]There were three of them to begin with: the very first Ridgebacks to be born into the lair. The clan was new and eager to curry favor with the Lightweaver. Their parents, [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=24999387]Adrastos[/url][color=#4D0F29] and [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=25197371]Hemera[/url][color=#4D0F29], had also come from other clans in Light, and they supported the clan mother's decision to exalt their children.
The two sons showed promise. They were rowdy from the very beginning, always squabbling and wrestling with each other. Their sister, the eldest child, was quiet and retiring. Her parents and the clan's fighters took a long, careful look at her and summarily shook their heads.
And so, while her brothers went out to train for exaltation, Touvar stayed at home. There were no other hatchlings in the lair at that time, and so her only companions were books and toys. Mostly books, later on, as her facility with letters increased. Her father and mother were the keepers of the clan's wishlist, and they drilled into her the importance of organization, promptness, and memory. "Write it down or you'll forget!" they said, and Touvar did as they advised.
The days passed. Touvar grew into a rather plain young Ridgeback, as gentle and meek as she'd been the day she'd come out of the egg. Her two brothers grew strong. They were loud and boisterous boys -- but they always treated her very kindly. She always came to talk with them after their training sessions, even though more often than not they stank of blood and death. Even when the training sessions were less than successful and they came back bloody and beaten, they always managed to smile, and they always urged her to do the same. "Chin up, we ain't dead!" they always said, before bursting into laughter. They brought her gifts, too -- fresh seafood, interesting toys. On one of their training runs they came back with a Ruby Webwing, a familiar. It remained unnamed for a long time.
"Dragons don't die when they are exalted," Touvar's mother said one day. She sat down next to her daughter and started grooming her, flicking dirt and grease from her wings. Touvar and her brothers resembled their mother more, and perhaps that was why they were close to her; even though Touvar didn't approve of her brothers being exalted, she didn't speak out against it.
But Hemera could tell what her daughter was thinking. She soothed Touvar, "They go and serve our god. Can you imagine how amazing that must be? --The Lightweaver in all her glory, and my sons, your brothers, serving her!"
"They have to fight the Shade," Touvar said softly. She'd learned that a long time ago, and it still scared her.
Hemera shrugged. "So do all the dragon gods. They'll be fine, Touvar."
"But they could [i]die[/i]."
"Yes. And...?"
Touvar stared at her mother. It was an unbelievably callous response.
Hemera laughed softly, but it was a low, wistful laugh, almost a sigh. She cuddled close to her daughter. "Everybody dies, Touvar," she said quietly. "There are those who say that how you live is more important -- but I don't buy that. How you die, or choose to die, can be very important, too.
"And what better way to die than protecting those you love, or even those you don't know?" Her smile was sad but warm. "Sornieth, and all who live in it, deserve that much. It would be very bad if we didn't at least [i]try[/i]."
Touvar wasn't surprised by her mother's words now. It seemed she had known all along....But she was only just beginning to [i]accept[/i] it.
She asked, with just a hint of desperation, "Will we ever see them again?"
"We can certainly try," her mother repeated to her.
Her father later spoke to her, telling her about two other dragons who had been exalted before. "You were just about to hatch from the egg," he rumbled reflectively, flicking his tail. "Your mother and I didn't want to leave the nest, so we didn't see them very often....There was a Fae female, a small slip of a thing. She was the first Fae in this clan. Veritas didn't think she'd be able to hold her own, but she did. She was very brave.
"And there was Helina, a Wildclaw -- also the first in our clan. A speedy little trickster, that one. She was a great fighter. It was a shame she couldn't stay."
He'd said he hadn't seen them very often, but -- "You remember them very well."
"I try to remember," Adrastos said seriously. "It's part of my job. And of course, exaltation is no small thing. We'd be doing our clanmates a disservice if we forgot them after exalting them."
Ophiuchus and Helina hadn't had any family members in the clan, but they were still remembered. [i]"So I should remember, too,"[/i] Touvar vowed.
She talked to her father again, asking for some supplies. He raised an eyeridge, but complied. He gave her several rolls of parchment, battered old books, and pots of ink, muttering all the while how he "just happened" to have them lying around. It was no secret that Adrastos was something of a kleptomaniac, but Touvar didn't care. She nuzzled her father in thanks and then returned to her den.[/color]
[center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/w71aje50vwddb6z/2-truth.png[/img][/center]
[color=#4D0F29]Touvar's brothers trained with Darkscale, a Mirror female from the land of Ice. The day came, at the start of the Flameforger's Festival, when Darkscale was accepted into the service of the Lightweaver. The rest of the Festival passed as usual, except Touvar felt quite heavy during that week. She knew that it would soon be her brothers' turn.
They had been born in the lair together and trained together, and they left together. They flew off into gathering darkness, squabbling merrily all the way. Touvar strained to hear their voices long after they'd left, and then she huddled in her den for a while. By and by, some of her clanmates came by to cheer her up. Exaltation was a great honor, but it always left an equally great void, and for a while everybody struggled to fill it.
When Touvar was feeling better, she opened up her book. She began the list of exaltees, including the ones who'd gone before she'd been born. Ophiuchus, Helina...Darkscale...Razon and Spyrus.
There would be other names. She closed the book.
[center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/w71aje50vwddb6z/2-truth.png[/img][/center]
[color=#4D0F29][b]These days,[/b] the clan is a lot bigger than it was when Touvar was first born. Their practice of exalting continues. Touvar still watches the proceedings, and she records not only those who have already gone, but also those who are preparing to leave. She categorizes them accordingly, as meticulously as her parents watch over the wishlist.
Her Ruby Webwing, gifted by her brothers so long ago, has bonded closely to her. It has a name now: Razorus, after Razon and Spyrus. It's pronounced "[i]rah[/i]-zo-[i]RUS[/i]" and is a silly-sounding name, but Touvar doesn't mind. Her brothers were -- [i]are[/i] -- rather silly, too.
There are new trainees. They are young, strong, and eager to serve. The clan fighters question them, determining if they are worthy of exaltation, and they nod in agreement. They turn to look at Touvar. She nods back, and she opens her book to record the newcomers' names.
[/color]
[right][font=Copperplate Gothic Light][color=#1D2224][size=5][b]~ The End[/b][/color][/size][/font][/right]
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those who remain
written by Disillusionist
1,208 words
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There were three of them to begin with: the very first Ridgebacks to be born into the lair. The clan was new and eager to curry favor with the Lightweaver. Their parents, Adrastos and Hemera, had also come from other clans in Light, and they supported the clan mother's decision to exalt their children.
The two sons showed promise. They were rowdy from the very beginning, always squabbling and wrestling with each other. Their sister, the eldest child, was quiet and retiring. Her parents and the clan's fighters took a long, careful look at her and summarily shook their heads.
And so, while her brothers went out to train for exaltation, Touvar stayed at home. There were no other hatchlings in the lair at that time, and so her only companions were books and toys. Mostly books, later on, as her facility with letters increased. Her father and mother were the keepers of the clan's wishlist, and they drilled into her the importance of organization, promptness, and memory. "Write it down or you'll forget!" they said, and Touvar did as they advised.
The days passed. Touvar grew into a rather plain young Ridgeback, as gentle and meek as she'd been the day she'd come out of the egg. Her two brothers grew strong. They were loud and boisterous boys -- but they always treated her very kindly. She always came to talk with them after their training sessions, even though more often than not they stank of blood and death. Even when the training sessions were less than successful and they came back bloody and beaten, they always managed to smile, and they always urged her to do the same. "Chin up, we ain't dead!" they always said, before bursting into laughter. They brought her gifts, too -- fresh seafood, interesting toys. On one of their training runs they came back with a Ruby Webwing, a familiar. It remained unnamed for a long time.
"Dragons don't die when they are exalted," Touvar's mother said one day. She sat down next to her daughter and started grooming her, flicking dirt and grease from her wings. Touvar and her brothers resembled their mother more, and perhaps that was why they were close to her; even though Touvar didn't approve of her brothers being exalted, she didn't speak out against it.
But Hemera could tell what her daughter was thinking. She soothed Touvar, "They go and serve our god. Can you imagine how amazing that must be? --The Lightweaver in all her glory, and my sons, your brothers, serving her!"
"They have to fight the Shade," Touvar said softly. She'd learned that a long time ago, and it still scared her.
Hemera shrugged. "So do all the dragon gods. They'll be fine, Touvar."
"But they could die."
"Yes. And...?"
Touvar stared at her mother. It was an unbelievably callous response.
Hemera laughed softly, but it was a low, wistful laugh, almost a sigh. She cuddled close to her daughter. "Everybody dies, Touvar," she said quietly. "There are those who say that how you live is more important -- but I don't buy that. How you die, or choose to die, can be very important, too.
"And what better way to die than protecting those you love, or even those you don't know?" Her smile was sad but warm. "Sornieth, and all who live in it, deserve that much. It would be very bad if we didn't at least try."
Touvar wasn't surprised by her mother's words now. It seemed she had known all along....But she was only just beginning to accept it.
She asked, with just a hint of desperation, "Will we ever see them again?"
"We can certainly try," her mother repeated to her.
Her father later spoke to her, telling her about two other dragons who had been exalted before. "You were just about to hatch from the egg," he rumbled reflectively, flicking his tail. "Your mother and I didn't want to leave the nest, so we didn't see them very often....There was a Fae female, a small slip of a thing. She was the first Fae in this clan. Veritas didn't think she'd be able to hold her own, but she did. She was very brave.
"And there was Helina, a Wildclaw -- also the first in our clan. A speedy little trickster, that one. She was a great fighter. It was a shame she couldn't stay."
He'd said he hadn't seen them very often, but -- "You remember them very well."
"I try to remember," Adrastos said seriously. "It's part of my job. And of course, exaltation is no small thing. We'd be doing our clanmates a disservice if we forgot them after exalting them."
Ophiuchus and Helina hadn't had any family members in the clan, but they were still remembered. "So I should remember, too," Touvar vowed.
She talked to her father again, asking for some supplies. He raised an eyeridge, but complied. He gave her several rolls of parchment, battered old books, and pots of ink, muttering all the while how he "just happened" to have them lying around. It was no secret that Adrastos was something of a kleptomaniac, but Touvar didn't care. She nuzzled her father in thanks and then returned to her den.
Touvar's brothers trained with Darkscale, a Mirror female from the land of Ice. The day came, at the start of the Flameforger's Festival, when Darkscale was accepted into the service of the Lightweaver. The rest of the Festival passed as usual, except Touvar felt quite heavy during that week. She knew that it would soon be her brothers' turn.
They had been born in the lair together and trained together, and they left together. They flew off into gathering darkness, squabbling merrily all the way. Touvar strained to hear their voices long after they'd left, and then she huddled in her den for a while. By and by, some of her clanmates came by to cheer her up. Exaltation was a great honor, but it always left an equally great void, and for a while everybody struggled to fill it.
When Touvar was feeling better, she opened up her book. She began the list of exaltees, including the ones who'd gone before she'd been born. Ophiuchus, Helina...Darkscale...Razon and Spyrus.
There would be other names. She closed the book.
These days, the clan is a lot bigger than it was when Touvar was first born. Their practice of exalting continues. Touvar still watches the proceedings, and she records not only those who have already gone, but also those who are preparing to leave. She categorizes them accordingly, as meticulously as her parents watch over the wishlist.
Her Ruby Webwing, gifted by her brothers so long ago, has bonded closely to her. It has a name now: Razorus, after Razon and Spyrus. It's pronounced "rah-zo-RUS" and is a silly-sounding name, but Touvar doesn't mind. Her brothers were -- are -- rather silly, too.
There are new trainees. They are young, strong, and eager to serve. The clan fighters question them, determining if they are worthy of exaltation, and they nod in agreement. They turn to look at Touvar. She nods back, and she opens her book to record the newcomers' names.
~ The End
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[columns][color=transparent]......[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004477][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/battlesprites/260045/26004477.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]...[/color][nextcol][font=Garamond][size=7][size=5][color=#567D34]palmyrrh[/color][/size] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] #26004477[/size][/font]
[b]Bio:[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004477]Clan FAQ[/url] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Lore:[/b] No [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Art:[/b] No
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[list][*] One of three hatchlings I was gifted as a newbie. If I recall right, I received a friend request from another player, and I stopped by their page. I congratulated them on the recent hatches they had, and they asked if I wanted one. They gave me three instead. <3
[*] A classic case of "but that tert..." He does have some nice scries, but I like his oasis-y colors too much to finalize his gene plan.
[*] Named after the old city of [i]Palmyra[/i].
[*] A casual, amiable everydrake whose post is near the main lair entrance. Lore-wise, it's sort of an information kiosk. Answers visitors' and residents' FAQs. Can give basic directions, but will not guide querents -- there are other dragons with that job.
[*] [s]Best friends[/s] Cousins!! [i]don't know exactly how, though[/i] with Malkiriam and Hiveriel, who arrived in the lair together with him and also have similar jobs.[/list]
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palmyrrh | #26004477
Bio: Clan FAQ | Lore: No | Art: No
Jump to lore: (none yet)
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- One of three hatchlings I was gifted as a newbie. If I recall right, I received a friend request from another player, and I stopped by their page. I congratulated them on the recent hatches they had, and they asked if I wanted one. They gave me three instead. <3
- A classic case of "but that tert..." He does have some nice scries, but I like his oasis-y colors too much to finalize his gene plan.
- Named after the old city of Palmyra.
- A casual, amiable everydrake whose post is near the main lair entrance. Lore-wise, it's sort of an information kiosk. Answers visitors' and residents' FAQs. Can give basic directions, but will not guide querents -- there are other dragons with that job.
Best friends Cousins!! don't know exactly how, though with Malkiriam and Hiveriel, who arrived in the lair together with him and also have similar jobs.
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[b]Bio:[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004563]Awesome OFFICE! :D[/url] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Lore:[/b] No [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Art:[/b] Yes
[b]Jump to lore:[/b] (none yet)
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[list][*] Arrived at the lair the same way Palmyrrh did. Another case of "but that tert..." but she looks adorable without, so hey!
[*] Photosensitive -- too much sunlight makes her scales crack and peel off (generally painless, unless it goes on for too long), and she has weak eyesight in daylight. Her crest is unusually floppy because of this -- too much damaged skin.
[*] Stays wrapped and hooded most of the time. Generally works in darkness, but dislikes being nocturnal.
[*] Her quarters are very glowy. Her condition makes her sensitive to sunlight, but bioluminescence or certain kinds of magic are OK.
[*] Keeps track of the industries the clan has or relies on. In addition to finding work for lairmates, she also handles outsourcing or hiring matters: hiring lairmates out to other clans, hiring temporary workers from elsewhere, etc.
[*] Is fairly active and enjoys fishing. Pretty good at catching fish with her bare claws. She will sometimes assist the clan's fishers, especially at dusk.
[*] Also, I could stare at her profile for days on end. [size=2]Never mind that some columns are misaligned,[/size] [size=1]shhhh[/size][/list]
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malkiriam | #26004563
Bio: Awesome OFFICE! :D | Lore: No | Art: Yes
Jump to lore: (none yet)
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- Arrived at the lair the same way Palmyrrh did. Another case of "but that tert..." but she looks adorable without, so hey!
- Photosensitive -- too much sunlight makes her scales crack and peel off (generally painless, unless it goes on for too long), and she has weak eyesight in daylight. Her crest is unusually floppy because of this -- too much damaged skin.
- Stays wrapped and hooded most of the time. Generally works in darkness, but dislikes being nocturnal.
- Her quarters are very glowy. Her condition makes her sensitive to sunlight, but bioluminescence or certain kinds of magic are OK.
- Keeps track of the industries the clan has or relies on. In addition to finding work for lairmates, she also handles outsourcing or hiring matters: hiring lairmates out to other clans, hiring temporary workers from elsewhere, etc.
- Is fairly active and enjoys fishing. Pretty good at catching fish with her bare claws. She will sometimes assist the clan's fishers, especially at dusk.
- Also, I could stare at her profile for days on end. Never mind that some columns are misaligned, shhhh
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[columns][color=transparent]......[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004569][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/battlesprites/260046/26004569.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]...[/color][nextcol][font=Garamond][size=7][size=5][color=#4967D5]hiveriel[/color][/size] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] #26004569[/size][/font]
[b]Bio:[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004569]Flight Rep list![/url] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Lore:[/b] No [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Art:[/b] Yes
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[list][*] The last of the Nowai-gifted trio. He is fluffy and beautiful. <3
[*] I think I might've made him Ice Rep because his colors reminded me of [i]Frozen[/i].
[*] The most magically-inclined of the trio. Not as strong as some other Reps, but he was the first in the lair and is one of the easiest to get along with. Approachable, very huggable. And round.
[*] He welcomes new Rep-candidates to the lair and gives them basic orientations. He can also refer them to services they might need, or advise them on what to do if they feel like dropping out of the program.
[*] A little bit vain. Not much for apparel, but is fussy about his fur and is often seen grooming it.[/list]
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- The last of the Nowai-gifted trio. He is fluffy and beautiful. <3
- I think I might've made him Ice Rep because his colors reminded me of Frozen.
- The most magically-inclined of the trio. Not as strong as some other Reps, but he was the first in the lair and is one of the easiest to get along with. Approachable, very huggable. And round.
- He welcomes new Rep-candidates to the lair and gives them basic orientations. He can also refer them to services they might need, or advise them on what to do if they feel like dropping out of the program.
- A little bit vain. Not much for apparel, but is fussy about his fur and is often seen grooming it.
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[columns][color=transparent]......[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=25503114][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/battlesprites/255032/25503114.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]...[/color][nextcol][font=Garamond][size=7][size=5][color=#E77FBF]vanessa[/color][/size] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] #25503114[/size][/font]
[b]Bio:[/b] No [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Lore:[/b] Yes [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Art:[/b] Yes
[b]Jump to lore:[/b] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/6#post_32436901]The Matron[/url]
[b]Factions:[/b] (none)
[b]Possible Connections in:[/b] (none)[/columns]
[list][*] Adopted from the now-closed [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/drt/1878849]Featherbutt Rescue[/url], run by Lunartwist. [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/6#post_32436858]Palmyrrh[/url], [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/6#post_32436865]Malkiriam[/url], and [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/6#post_32436877]Hiveriel[/url] were all newly-arrived hatchlings at the time, and I thought Vanessa would be a great caretaker for them and other children.
[*] I like to think that when she was still in the Rescue, she glommed onto Lunartwist's [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=22570309]Nissa[/url] for a while because of the similarity in their names.
[*] In addition to the Disillusionists' kids, she will also take care of hatchlings from nearby lairs. Manages a daytime creche and also coordinates with other Disillusionists to watch over the kids and give them activities.
[*] Colleagues + shared activities:[list]
[*] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/9#post_32437091]Tantris[/url]: school headmaster. They swap notes on kids' behaviors and studies.
[*] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/16#post_32803901]Indra[/url]: familiar caretaker. Handles "pet day" events, during which kids can interact with tamer familiars and get tips on caring for them.[/list]
[*] Very calm, staid and proper. Most kids actually find her a bit intimidating.
[*] Downtime activities are very quiet and calming. Likes to drink tea and read. Will also occasionally help colleagues with their lesson plans. She will sometimes drop by [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/8#post_32437050]Roxley[/url]'s workshop and help her sew clothes.
[*] Her familiar, Saravi, acts as additional security for the whole creche, especially when they play outside. Doesn't interact much with the kids; is honestly more like furniture to them.[/list]
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vanessa | #25503114
Bio: No | Lore: Yes | Art: Yes
Jump to lore: The Matron
Factions: (none)
Possible Connections in: (none)
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- Adopted from the now-closed Featherbutt Rescue, run by Lunartwist. Palmyrrh, Malkiriam, and Hiveriel were all newly-arrived hatchlings at the time, and I thought Vanessa would be a great caretaker for them and other children.
- I like to think that when she was still in the Rescue, she glommed onto Lunartwist's Nissa for a while because of the similarity in their names.
- In addition to the Disillusionists' kids, she will also take care of hatchlings from nearby lairs. Manages a daytime creche and also coordinates with other Disillusionists to watch over the kids and give them activities.
- Colleagues + shared activities:
- Tantris: school headmaster. They swap notes on kids' behaviors and studies.
- Indra: familiar caretaker. Handles "pet day" events, during which kids can interact with tamer familiars and get tips on caring for them.
- Very calm, staid and proper. Most kids actually find her a bit intimidating.
- Downtime activities are very quiet and calming. Likes to drink tea and read. Will also occasionally help colleagues with their lesson plans. She will sometimes drop by Roxley's workshop and help her sew clothes.
- Her familiar, Saravi, acts as additional security for the whole creche, especially when they play outside. Doesn't interact much with the kids; is honestly more like furniture to them.
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[right][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=25503114][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/255032/25503114.png[/img][/url]
[size=2][color=#9494A9][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=25503114]profile[/url] • back to[/color] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/6#post_32436899]main post[/url][/right]
[columns][center][item=fallout streak pinion][nextcol][color=transparent]..[/color][nextcol][color=#E77FBF][font=garamond][size=7][size=4][b]the matron[/b][/size][/size][/font][/color]
[size=2]written by Disillusionist
special thanks to Lunartwist
[color=#9494A9]2,988 words[/color][/size][/columns]
[color=#9C4975]The Auction House is a busy place. Depending on why you're there, it can be a treasure trove or a gateway to hardship. Almost all buyers regard it as the former. But for dragons put up for sale, the door swings both ways.
Vanessa came to the Auction House as a hatchling. Along with her brother, she watched as dragons came and went, some of them happy, others looking particularly morose. It was rare for dragons to be purchased as a group, and she knew she and her brother would be separated soon.
His time came. He was offered a new home, and he went away with his new clan. Vanessa sat where she was, quiet now, waiting, and honestly very scared.
[color=#9C4975]The dragon who approached her was a Skydancer, like herself -- a female with a white-splotched hide. Most buyers at the Auction House were interested in adults, but this Skydancer paid careful attention to the hatchlings, looking them over, talking with them and -- if they allowed it -- patting them gently on their heads. Vanessa watched, entranced, and she stood up in the holding pen, bracing her front paws against the rail. The movement attracted the adult Skydancer, and she turned and smiled at Vanessa. And she asked if Vanessa was all right.
It was a unique question. Vanessa paused and actually considered it. Most buyers, when meeting potential clanmates or exaltees, tended to ask the same questions: "What is your name?" "How old are you?" "Do you have any combat experience?"
And so it took Vanessa a little while to say, quite honestly, "I think so."
The Skydancer introduced herself: she was [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=22283158]Iomedae[/url][color=#9C4975]. Vanessa struggled with the name. It was difficult for her to pronounce it. Iomedae laughed and patiently practiced with her until she got it right.
The day was drawing to a close. Up and down the street, the auctioneers lit lamps to keep their business going. The dragons settled down for the night, the hatchlings clumping together to stay warm. Vanessa, having been alone for the past few hours, wrapped her tail and wings around herself.
Sornieth's auction house is interesting in that there is no bidding. The seller offers a price, and the buyer pays the required amount. Now Iomedae, the buyer, looked down at Vanessa, and she counted the money she had. She took the seller's offer, and she brought Vanessa home.[/color]
[center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/srmz5wb23993vai/1-spirit.png[/img][/center]
[color=#9C4975]Vanessa giggled at the name: Featherbutt Rescue. It sounded very silly.
It was a cheerful place. Most of the tenants were adult dragons, and so Vanessa was handed off to an exotic-looking Skydancer, [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=22570309]Nissa[/url][color=#9C4975], whom Iomedae introduced as the foundation's matron. Vanessa looked around the creche, searching for other hatchlings, but there were none.
"Where are the other babies?"
Nissa gently explained to her that many dragons who came here were already adults who had been sent to find new clans. Most of them were unsure what to do; others struggled with the fact that they had been made to leave.
They could stay as long as they wanted. Those who came to the lair as hatchlings, like Vanessa, were kept until they were grown. Then they were put on a team and brought to the Coliseum for combat training.
Vanessa's hackles went up. Skydancers by nature didn't like to fight. Nissa understood this, and she smoothed Vanessa's striped mane, explaining it was necessary. Dragons with combat experience could find a good home more quickly.
"Also, you have to be ready for anything," said [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=23788929]Volatilus[/url][color=#9C4975], the co-founder of the Rescue. He smiled as he said it, absently grooming his headfeathers with one claw. Vanessa waited for him to elaborate, and then she prodded him, "Ready for what?"
"Well, anything, like I said. You never know where you might end up."
By then, Vanessa was on the verge of adulthood. She would be starting combat training soon.
But in the meantime, she remained with Nissa, caring for the hatchlings who arrived at the Rescue, and getting to know the other adults better. Some of them were a great deal older than she was. One of the oldsters clarified gravely, "You may find a loving home...or you may be accepted into the service of a deity. You can't be a slouch either way. Wherever you go, be ready to defend yourself. Defend your new clan!"
Vanessa took those words to heart, and she thought them over carefully. A few days later, she was sent to train at the Coliseum.
Days passed. Vanessa became more adept at combat, although truth be told, her heart was never in it. Perhaps it was because of the similarity in their names, but Vanessa found herself emulating Nissa, the matron. She was more comfortable at the Rescue, caring for the other dragons, seeing that they had what they needed. This didn't go unnoticed. When she reached a certain level in combat, the founders looked at her carefully. Her training at the Coliseum stopped, and she stayed full-time at the Rescue, caring for the other tenants and giving them comfort. She was especially patient with the hatchlings, who were often as sad or scared as she had once been.
A bright purple Guardian appeared at the door of the Rescue one day. She was young, and the golden paint across her face couldn't hide her harried expression. Her voice was loud and bright, too, though she sounded worried.
"See, it's like this," she began tiredly, speaking to Iomedae, "we were entrusted with the care of three hatchlings. They're lovely and absolutely adorable, and my brother's given them all his old toys, but they...well, they won't stop crying." She let out a deep huff, and then her head drooped so low, her nose almost brushed the floor. "I almost wish we hadn't agreed to it."
Iomedae soothed her, saying that there was no need for that, and all hatchlings are gifts, especially those entrusted from another clan. The purple Guardian raised her head again. "Aye. My mother says the same thing." She seemed to draw strength from the Piebald Skydancer, and then she recalled why she was there: "We are looking for a dragon who specializes in childcare. A babysitter...or maybe the right term is 'matron', since it'll be a permanent position. We've heard that you also care for hatchlings, and so...could you refer someone to us? Anyone is fine, really. We're a small, new clan, but they would have a good home with us. We live on Sundial Terrace, in the domain of Light."
Iomedae asked a few more questions, but they were formalities, really. She had been given most of the important details already, and already had someone in mind.
Not long later, Vanessa was called in for an interview with the Guardian.[/color]
[center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/srmz5wb23993vai/1-spirit.png[/img][/center]
[color=#9C4975]The purple Guardian's name was [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=25629155]Neira[/url][color=#9C4975], and the clan had been founded by her parents. Neira's clan was small, and almost all of the dragons were already grown. They had recently concluded an alliance with another clan in the Southern Icefields, and the clan had sent three hatchlings over as a gesture of goodwill. They had arrived a few days ago, bewildered and miserable. Vanessa felt a surge of sympathy for them. She had come from the Sunbeam Ruins, but the three youngsters were very far from home.
Neira scooted away almost as soon as they arrived at the lair. She went to curl up next to her sister, who was fast asleep. This left their brother, a morose-looking Guardian named [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=25629153]Gyordan[/url][color=#9C4975], to introduce Vanessa to her new charges.
The hatchlings' cave was large and spacious, and Vanessa stepped carefully over the toys strewn on the floor. The hatchlings themselves huddled despondently together in one nest. They were still small, not more than a few days old. They looked anxious and sad.
Gyordan walked over. His expression remained sour, but with great care and gentleness he picked up each hatchling, settling them together on the stone floor in front of Vanessa. A green Skydancer named [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004477]Palmyrrh[/url][color=#9C4975]. A floppy-crested Mirror named [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004563]Malkiriam[/url][color=#9C4975]. And [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26004569]Hiveriel[/url][color=#9C4975], a small and fluffy blue Tundra. Gyordan gestured to Vanessa, telling the hatchlings that she would be caring for them from now on and then, obviously uncomfortable, he lumbered out.
The hatchlings stayed where they were. They blinked up at Vanessa with large, crystal-blue eyes. Vanessa looked down at them, and she said, rather wryly, "You're all so small. I hope you don't mind having a large hatchling like me sharing your cave."
The hatchlings blinked back. Malkiriam's crest went up. "Are you...a hatchling?" Her eyes blinked again, one pair after the other.
"A very, very big one! I come from another clan, like you."
Hiveriel's gaze dropped. "They gave us away."
"That's not true," Palmyrrh protested stubbornly. But even he didn't seem sure.
"They gave us away!" Hiveriel cried; he didn't seem angry, just distressed. He stamped his back feet in agitation.
"You were given away? I think that's wonderful. You were very lucky to come here."
The hatchlings gawped at this statement, and Malkiriam let out a long, hissy gasp. They watched as Vanessa walked over to the spare nest. She paused in front of it....It was big; it had obviously been made for a larger breed, perhaps one of the Guardian siblings. The stone shelf above it was empty, and Vanessa remembered Neira saying that her brother, Gyordan, had given all his toys away.
"You came to a good clan. There are a lot of bigger dragons here to take care of you, and they even gave you many toys to play with." She remembered Iomedae and Nissa, and the playful Volatilus. And even without someone to talk to, she'd always had something to take her mind off of things. Books, toys...Featherbutt Rescue's toys were all old and worn-down, but well-used. Well-loved.
"But we...want to go home," Palmyrrh said. He sounded as if he were admitting a great and terrible secret.
Hiveriel chimed in, more loudly, "Didn't they want us anymore?"
Vanessa answered, choosing her words very carefully, "It might have been difficult for them to take care of you."
"Only one of us was supposed to go. I heard them. They [i]said[/i]. But they gave all three of us away."
"And your new clan agreed to take care of you, all three of you, even before they'd met you." The Auction House sprang to Vanessa's memory. She remembered her brother trotting after his new clan but looking back at her, many times, before disappearing into the crowd. How he'd been powerless to take her along, and how his new clan had been able to do nothing more than pat her on the head and wish her well. It had been a terrible time...
But it had not lasted long. By sunset, she'd found a brand-new home. And now here she was, in yet another lair. Getting bounced around like this, meeting new dragons and getting to care for them....It wasn't really all that bad.
"Your families loved you enough to send you away [i]together[/i]. And you came here together, too. Have you made any new friends yet?"
"S...Some," Hiveriel mumbled back. He shifted uneasily. Malkiriam's crest drooped, and she looked up at Vanessa and softly asked, "But aren't you alone?"
"Not anymore," Vanessa said, and again, she smiled. How was her brother doing? Maybe she could reach out to him, see how he'd settled into his new clan....But for now...
"I'm not alone. I've got you. I'm a very big hatchling, and there's only one of me...but there are three of you! Let's take good care of each other, OK?"
"OK," Malkiriam and Hiveriel chorused -- a bit mechanically, it had to be said. It would take them some time to warm up.... [i]"But then, it was the same for me, too,"[/i] Vanessa reminded herself. She remembered Iomedae's kindness, Nissa's gentle care, and Volly's endless supply of jokes....
Something brushed against her leg, and she looked down. Palmyrrh, the green Skydancer, had picked up a toy, one of those demonic-looking unicorns on wheels. It wouldn't win any awards for Best Children's Toy, but the thought was there.
"Do you want to play?" he asked shyly. And, in that instant, Vanessa knew it would be all right. They all would.[/color]
[center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/srmz5wb23993vai/1-spirit.png[/img][/center]
[color=#9C4975]Palmyrrh, Malkiriam, and Hiveriel. They were Vanessa's first charges when she first came to the Disillusionists' lair as a young, uncertain Skydancer. A babysitter. The older dragons used the term "matron", but Vanessa didn't mind "babysitter". She sat and cared for the children who came to the lair -- and indeed, there were more.
Palmyrrh and Malkiriam and Hiveriel grew up in their new clan. They came to understand why they had been sent there, and they slipped into their new roles with a purpose. They welcomed new dragons, adults and hatchlings alike, and showed them around the lair, introduced them to the clanmates. They were a definite upgrade from the shy Neira and unenthusiastic Gyordan, and most newcomers soon found themselves feeling right at home. But there were those who couldn't settle in right away, and they were turned over to Vanessa.
[b]Now[/b] a fully-grown Skydancer, Vanessa has become more confident and adept at caring for her charges. She adopts the playful approach for the shy types (as she did all those years ago), or a more sympathetic touch for the sad and homesick ones. Occasionally, she tells her own story, of how she was once a frightened hatchling who had the great fortune to find a new home. First Featherbutt Rescue... "And now here," she says, giving the hatchling a poke. "Just like you. See? You're very lucky, too!"
The hatchling always relaxes, and they smile more and more each day, until they forget what they were so sad about in the first place. But Vanessa never forgets, and she uses her memories, her experiences, to reach out to the sad and the scared, to help them realize that being in a new clan isn't always a scary and terrible experience.
She has other memories, too, and they come in handy one day, though she would rather they didn't....
It's an overcast day. There are two new hatchlings in the clan. One of them, [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26546969]Nebuchadnezzar[/url][color=#9C4975], was purchased from the Auction House. The other, [/color][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26537209]Alberge[/url][color=#9C4975], came directly from another lair. Although the two of them arrived at the clan at the same time, they have yet to learn how to get along, and so Vanessa has given them a chessboard to play with. Alberge, clearly the more intelligent of the two, is a natural and wins games in quick succession. Nebuchadnezzar quickly grows weary of this and he starts looking around.
It's he who notices the approaching stranger. "Vanessa...Vanessa..." He lifts his snout and points. Vanessa looks.
Among the rocky crags and the trees of the Terrace, a large, bright shape is moving. It was hidden in the gloom, but now the sun burns through the clouds. A beam of light strikes the shape.
It's a Guardian, and his scales gleam like a mirror -- or a cut and polished diamond. His wings are darker crystal. All over him are chips of lighter stone, moon-colored flashes of Gembond. He is a stranger, and his eyes are crystal-blue. Ice eyes, like those of Vanessa's first charges -- but with no warmth or gentleness in them.
Vanessa's striped mane bristles. The orb upon her brow throbs, warning of danger. The hatchlings, sensing trouble, scoot behind her.
"Good afternoon," says the Guardian. He has a low, deep voice, as deceptively lazy as a coiled-up snake. "It's a lovely day, isn't it?"
"You're a stranger to these parts," Vanessa snaps back. No playfulness and sympathy anywhere in her now; she is remembering lessons of combat, lessons learned in the Coliseum....She doesn't like the way he was sneaking up on them, concealed among the rocks; if not for the sun, he would be upon them now. And then...And then what?
A voice drifts into her mind. It's one of the older tenants of Featherbutt Rescue, telling her: [i]"Wherever you go, you have to be ready to defend yourself. Defend your new clan!"[/i]
"I've been wandering these parts for some time, and I must say you've got a nice lair here. It's so spacious." The Guardian flexes idly, and his talons gleam in the sun. "I'm just passing through...though I might stay, [i]if[/i] it takes my fancy."
"I was not told we were expecting guests. I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to leave." Vanessa's voice is now cool and firm. She [i]has[/i] had to discipline a few hatchlings up to now -- and she can be very stern when she has to be.
The Guardian is having none of it. His cold eyes narrow. "You aren't being very nice...."
A shadow falls over him, and once more his scales are as dull as tarnished steel. His voice dies in his throat as he looks up.
"I don't [i]have[/i] to be nice. It's for your own good," Vanessa snaps, a split-second before they hear a shattering roar. Alerted by the sentries, the rest of the clan appears, and the progenitors soar down to confront the Guardian. Vanessa smiles grimly to herself even as she ushers the hatchlings to safety.
She has trained in the Coliseum and believes she is ready for anything. But she was brought here as a caregiver, not a fighter. This is not her problem now. She makes sure the hatchlings are out of the way and hunkers protectively over them. They peer out, craning forward like the rest of the clan, as the progenitors stalk forward to confront the intruder.
Volatilus' voice rings in Vanessa's mind... "You have to be ready for [i]anything[/i]."
Combat. Caregiving. They [i]do[/i] have some similarities. Vanessa knows which one she prefers. She likes caregiving a lot better than fighting. And she's a lot better at it, too. [/color]
[right][font=Copperplate Gothic Light][color=#E77FBF][size=5][b]~ The End[/b][/color][/size][/font][/right]
[size=2][color=#9494A9][b]Credits:[/b] Thanks to [i]Lunartwist[/i] for allowing their thread and dragons to be referenced here.[/color][/size]
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the matron
written by Disillusionist
special thanks to Lunartwist
2,988 words
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The Auction House is a busy place. Depending on why you're there, it can be a treasure trove or a gateway to hardship. Almost all buyers regard it as the former. But for dragons put up for sale, the door swings both ways.
Vanessa came to the Auction House as a hatchling. Along with her brother, she watched as dragons came and went, some of them happy, others looking particularly morose. It was rare for dragons to be purchased as a group, and she knew she and her brother would be separated soon.
His time came. He was offered a new home, and he went away with his new clan. Vanessa sat where she was, quiet now, waiting, and honestly very scared.
The dragon who approached her was a Skydancer, like herself -- a female with a white-splotched hide. Most buyers at the Auction House were interested in adults, but this Skydancer paid careful attention to the hatchlings, looking them over, talking with them and -- if they allowed it -- patting them gently on their heads. Vanessa watched, entranced, and she stood up in the holding pen, bracing her front paws against the rail. The movement attracted the adult Skydancer, and she turned and smiled at Vanessa. And she asked if Vanessa was all right.
It was a unique question. Vanessa paused and actually considered it. Most buyers, when meeting potential clanmates or exaltees, tended to ask the same questions: "What is your name?" "How old are you?" "Do you have any combat experience?"
And so it took Vanessa a little while to say, quite honestly, "I think so."
The Skydancer introduced herself: she was Iomedae. Vanessa struggled with the name. It was difficult for her to pronounce it. Iomedae laughed and patiently practiced with her until she got it right.
The day was drawing to a close. Up and down the street, the auctioneers lit lamps to keep their business going. The dragons settled down for the night, the hatchlings clumping together to stay warm. Vanessa, having been alone for the past few hours, wrapped her tail and wings around herself.
Sornieth's auction house is interesting in that there is no bidding. The seller offers a price, and the buyer pays the required amount. Now Iomedae, the buyer, looked down at Vanessa, and she counted the money she had. She took the seller's offer, and she brought Vanessa home.
Vanessa giggled at the name: Featherbutt Rescue. It sounded very silly.
It was a cheerful place. Most of the tenants were adult dragons, and so Vanessa was handed off to an exotic-looking Skydancer, Nissa, whom Iomedae introduced as the foundation's matron. Vanessa looked around the creche, searching for other hatchlings, but there were none.
"Where are the other babies?"
Nissa gently explained to her that many dragons who came here were already adults who had been sent to find new clans. Most of them were unsure what to do; others struggled with the fact that they had been made to leave.
They could stay as long as they wanted. Those who came to the lair as hatchlings, like Vanessa, were kept until they were grown. Then they were put on a team and brought to the Coliseum for combat training.
Vanessa's hackles went up. Skydancers by nature didn't like to fight. Nissa understood this, and she smoothed Vanessa's striped mane, explaining it was necessary. Dragons with combat experience could find a good home more quickly.
"Also, you have to be ready for anything," said Volatilus, the co-founder of the Rescue. He smiled as he said it, absently grooming his headfeathers with one claw. Vanessa waited for him to elaborate, and then she prodded him, "Ready for what?"
"Well, anything, like I said. You never know where you might end up."
By then, Vanessa was on the verge of adulthood. She would be starting combat training soon.
But in the meantime, she remained with Nissa, caring for the hatchlings who arrived at the Rescue, and getting to know the other adults better. Some of them were a great deal older than she was. One of the oldsters clarified gravely, "You may find a loving home...or you may be accepted into the service of a deity. You can't be a slouch either way. Wherever you go, be ready to defend yourself. Defend your new clan!"
Vanessa took those words to heart, and she thought them over carefully. A few days later, she was sent to train at the Coliseum.
Days passed. Vanessa became more adept at combat, although truth be told, her heart was never in it. Perhaps it was because of the similarity in their names, but Vanessa found herself emulating Nissa, the matron. She was more comfortable at the Rescue, caring for the other dragons, seeing that they had what they needed. This didn't go unnoticed. When she reached a certain level in combat, the founders looked at her carefully. Her training at the Coliseum stopped, and she stayed full-time at the Rescue, caring for the other tenants and giving them comfort. She was especially patient with the hatchlings, who were often as sad or scared as she had once been.
A bright purple Guardian appeared at the door of the Rescue one day. She was young, and the golden paint across her face couldn't hide her harried expression. Her voice was loud and bright, too, though she sounded worried.
"See, it's like this," she began tiredly, speaking to Iomedae, "we were entrusted with the care of three hatchlings. They're lovely and absolutely adorable, and my brother's given them all his old toys, but they...well, they won't stop crying." She let out a deep huff, and then her head drooped so low, her nose almost brushed the floor. "I almost wish we hadn't agreed to it."
Iomedae soothed her, saying that there was no need for that, and all hatchlings are gifts, especially those entrusted from another clan. The purple Guardian raised her head again. "Aye. My mother says the same thing." She seemed to draw strength from the Piebald Skydancer, and then she recalled why she was there: "We are looking for a dragon who specializes in childcare. A babysitter...or maybe the right term is 'matron', since it'll be a permanent position. We've heard that you also care for hatchlings, and so...could you refer someone to us? Anyone is fine, really. We're a small, new clan, but they would have a good home with us. We live on Sundial Terrace, in the domain of Light."
Iomedae asked a few more questions, but they were formalities, really. She had been given most of the important details already, and already had someone in mind.
Not long later, Vanessa was called in for an interview with the Guardian.
The purple Guardian's name was Neira, and the clan had been founded by her parents. Neira's clan was small, and almost all of the dragons were already grown. They had recently concluded an alliance with another clan in the Southern Icefields, and the clan had sent three hatchlings over as a gesture of goodwill. They had arrived a few days ago, bewildered and miserable. Vanessa felt a surge of sympathy for them. She had come from the Sunbeam Ruins, but the three youngsters were very far from home.
Neira scooted away almost as soon as they arrived at the lair. She went to curl up next to her sister, who was fast asleep. This left their brother, a morose-looking Guardian named Gyordan, to introduce Vanessa to her new charges.
The hatchlings' cave was large and spacious, and Vanessa stepped carefully over the toys strewn on the floor. The hatchlings themselves huddled despondently together in one nest. They were still small, not more than a few days old. They looked anxious and sad.
Gyordan walked over. His expression remained sour, but with great care and gentleness he picked up each hatchling, settling them together on the stone floor in front of Vanessa. A green Skydancer named Palmyrrh. A floppy-crested Mirror named Malkiriam. And Hiveriel, a small and fluffy blue Tundra. Gyordan gestured to Vanessa, telling the hatchlings that she would be caring for them from now on and then, obviously uncomfortable, he lumbered out.
The hatchlings stayed where they were. They blinked up at Vanessa with large, crystal-blue eyes. Vanessa looked down at them, and she said, rather wryly, "You're all so small. I hope you don't mind having a large hatchling like me sharing your cave."
The hatchlings blinked back. Malkiriam's crest went up. "Are you...a hatchling?" Her eyes blinked again, one pair after the other.
"A very, very big one! I come from another clan, like you."
Hiveriel's gaze dropped. "They gave us away."
"That's not true," Palmyrrh protested stubbornly. But even he didn't seem sure.
"They gave us away!" Hiveriel cried; he didn't seem angry, just distressed. He stamped his back feet in agitation.
"You were given away? I think that's wonderful. You were very lucky to come here."
The hatchlings gawped at this statement, and Malkiriam let out a long, hissy gasp. They watched as Vanessa walked over to the spare nest. She paused in front of it....It was big; it had obviously been made for a larger breed, perhaps one of the Guardian siblings. The stone shelf above it was empty, and Vanessa remembered Neira saying that her brother, Gyordan, had given all his toys away.
"You came to a good clan. There are a lot of bigger dragons here to take care of you, and they even gave you many toys to play with." She remembered Iomedae and Nissa, and the playful Volatilus. And even without someone to talk to, she'd always had something to take her mind off of things. Books, toys...Featherbutt Rescue's toys were all old and worn-down, but well-used. Well-loved.
"But we...want to go home," Palmyrrh said. He sounded as if he were admitting a great and terrible secret.
Hiveriel chimed in, more loudly, "Didn't they want us anymore?"
Vanessa answered, choosing her words very carefully, "It might have been difficult for them to take care of you."
"Only one of us was supposed to go. I heard them. They said. But they gave all three of us away."
"And your new clan agreed to take care of you, all three of you, even before they'd met you." The Auction House sprang to Vanessa's memory. She remembered her brother trotting after his new clan but looking back at her, many times, before disappearing into the crowd. How he'd been powerless to take her along, and how his new clan had been able to do nothing more than pat her on the head and wish her well. It had been a terrible time...
But it had not lasted long. By sunset, she'd found a brand-new home. And now here she was, in yet another lair. Getting bounced around like this, meeting new dragons and getting to care for them....It wasn't really all that bad.
"Your families loved you enough to send you away together. And you came here together, too. Have you made any new friends yet?"
"S...Some," Hiveriel mumbled back. He shifted uneasily. Malkiriam's crest drooped, and she looked up at Vanessa and softly asked, "But aren't you alone?"
"Not anymore," Vanessa said, and again, she smiled. How was her brother doing? Maybe she could reach out to him, see how he'd settled into his new clan....But for now...
"I'm not alone. I've got you. I'm a very big hatchling, and there's only one of me...but there are three of you! Let's take good care of each other, OK?"
"OK," Malkiriam and Hiveriel chorused -- a bit mechanically, it had to be said. It would take them some time to warm up.... "But then, it was the same for me, too," Vanessa reminded herself. She remembered Iomedae's kindness, Nissa's gentle care, and Volly's endless supply of jokes....
Something brushed against her leg, and she looked down. Palmyrrh, the green Skydancer, had picked up a toy, one of those demonic-looking unicorns on wheels. It wouldn't win any awards for Best Children's Toy, but the thought was there.
"Do you want to play?" he asked shyly. And, in that instant, Vanessa knew it would be all right. They all would.
Palmyrrh, Malkiriam, and Hiveriel. They were Vanessa's first charges when she first came to the Disillusionists' lair as a young, uncertain Skydancer. A babysitter. The older dragons used the term "matron", but Vanessa didn't mind "babysitter". She sat and cared for the children who came to the lair -- and indeed, there were more.
Palmyrrh and Malkiriam and Hiveriel grew up in their new clan. They came to understand why they had been sent there, and they slipped into their new roles with a purpose. They welcomed new dragons, adults and hatchlings alike, and showed them around the lair, introduced them to the clanmates. They were a definite upgrade from the shy Neira and unenthusiastic Gyordan, and most newcomers soon found themselves feeling right at home. But there were those who couldn't settle in right away, and they were turned over to Vanessa.
Now a fully-grown Skydancer, Vanessa has become more confident and adept at caring for her charges. She adopts the playful approach for the shy types (as she did all those years ago), or a more sympathetic touch for the sad and homesick ones. Occasionally, she tells her own story, of how she was once a frightened hatchling who had the great fortune to find a new home. First Featherbutt Rescue... "And now here," she says, giving the hatchling a poke. "Just like you. See? You're very lucky, too!"
The hatchling always relaxes, and they smile more and more each day, until they forget what they were so sad about in the first place. But Vanessa never forgets, and she uses her memories, her experiences, to reach out to the sad and the scared, to help them realize that being in a new clan isn't always a scary and terrible experience.
She has other memories, too, and they come in handy one day, though she would rather they didn't....
It's an overcast day. There are two new hatchlings in the clan. One of them, Nebuchadnezzar, was purchased from the Auction House. The other, Alberge, came directly from another lair. Although the two of them arrived at the clan at the same time, they have yet to learn how to get along, and so Vanessa has given them a chessboard to play with. Alberge, clearly the more intelligent of the two, is a natural and wins games in quick succession. Nebuchadnezzar quickly grows weary of this and he starts looking around.
It's he who notices the approaching stranger. "Vanessa...Vanessa..." He lifts his snout and points. Vanessa looks.
Among the rocky crags and the trees of the Terrace, a large, bright shape is moving. It was hidden in the gloom, but now the sun burns through the clouds. A beam of light strikes the shape.
It's a Guardian, and his scales gleam like a mirror -- or a cut and polished diamond. His wings are darker crystal. All over him are chips of lighter stone, moon-colored flashes of Gembond. He is a stranger, and his eyes are crystal-blue. Ice eyes, like those of Vanessa's first charges -- but with no warmth or gentleness in them.
Vanessa's striped mane bristles. The orb upon her brow throbs, warning of danger. The hatchlings, sensing trouble, scoot behind her.
"Good afternoon," says the Guardian. He has a low, deep voice, as deceptively lazy as a coiled-up snake. "It's a lovely day, isn't it?"
"You're a stranger to these parts," Vanessa snaps back. No playfulness and sympathy anywhere in her now; she is remembering lessons of combat, lessons learned in the Coliseum....She doesn't like the way he was sneaking up on them, concealed among the rocks; if not for the sun, he would be upon them now. And then...And then what?
A voice drifts into her mind. It's one of the older tenants of Featherbutt Rescue, telling her: "Wherever you go, you have to be ready to defend yourself. Defend your new clan!"
"I've been wandering these parts for some time, and I must say you've got a nice lair here. It's so spacious." The Guardian flexes idly, and his talons gleam in the sun. "I'm just passing through...though I might stay, if it takes my fancy."
"I was not told we were expecting guests. I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to leave." Vanessa's voice is now cool and firm. She has had to discipline a few hatchlings up to now -- and she can be very stern when she has to be.
The Guardian is having none of it. His cold eyes narrow. "You aren't being very nice...."
A shadow falls over him, and once more his scales are as dull as tarnished steel. His voice dies in his throat as he looks up.
"I don't have to be nice. It's for your own good," Vanessa snaps, a split-second before they hear a shattering roar. Alerted by the sentries, the rest of the clan appears, and the progenitors soar down to confront the Guardian. Vanessa smiles grimly to herself even as she ushers the hatchlings to safety.
She has trained in the Coliseum and believes she is ready for anything. But she was brought here as a caregiver, not a fighter. This is not her problem now. She makes sure the hatchlings are out of the way and hunkers protectively over them. They peer out, craning forward like the rest of the clan, as the progenitors stalk forward to confront the intruder.
Volatilus' voice rings in Vanessa's mind... "You have to be ready for anything."
Combat. Caregiving. They do have some similarities. Vanessa knows which one she prefers. She likes caregiving a lot better than fighting. And she's a lot better at it, too.
~ The End
Credits: Thanks to Lunartwist for allowing their thread and dragons to be referenced here.
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[columns][color=transparent]......[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=26082103][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/battlesprites/260822/26082103.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]...[/color][nextcol][font=Garamond][size=7][size=5][color=#E8AF49]radiance[/color][/size] [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] #26082103[/size][/font]
[b]Bio:[/b] No [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Lore:[/b] A little bit [color=#BBBABF]|[/color] [b]Art:[/b] No
[b]Jump to lore:[/b] (none yet)
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[list][*] Picked up together with [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/7#post_32436920]Afterglow[/url] on the AH. Their stories are intertwined up to a certain point.
[*] Was rather carefree in his youth and wanted to travel the world. That changed when he met the still-ailing Afterglow. Radiance opted to take care of him and soon realized that to survive, they would both need work. The Disillusionists were looking to enhance their security at the time, so Radiance and Afterglow applied as sentries and were accepted.
[*] The two of them were often on duty together, since Glow needed someone to assist him. During this time, Ray began falling in love with him. Glow doesn't swing the same way, however, and saw him only as a friend.
[*] Ray took the rejection well, but it still hurt him. At the same time, he was beginning to realize that security duty wasn't for him (he'd only taken it because it was the only job available that hadn't required too much experience then) and decided it was time to look into new fields.
[*] Having come from the Windswept Plateau, he decided to study the customs of the Sunbeam Ruins further. He developed a deep respect for the Lightweaver and eventually became one of her priests.
[*] Likes to sing and is a big fan of choral music. Enjoys collecting hymns and will also study those from other Flights.
[*] Works closely with [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2323941/19#post_34811362]Tamamayu[/url] the gravekeeper. Remains friends with Afterglow.[/list]
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radiance | #26082103
Bio: No | Lore: A little bit | Art: No
Jump to lore: (none yet)
Factions: (none)
Possible Connections in: (none)
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- Picked up together with Afterglow on the AH. Their stories are intertwined up to a certain point.
- Was rather carefree in his youth and wanted to travel the world. That changed when he met the still-ailing Afterglow. Radiance opted to take care of him and soon realized that to survive, they would both need work. The Disillusionists were looking to enhance their security at the time, so Radiance and Afterglow applied as sentries and were accepted.
- The two of them were often on duty together, since Glow needed someone to assist him. During this time, Ray began falling in love with him. Glow doesn't swing the same way, however, and saw him only as a friend.
- Ray took the rejection well, but it still hurt him. At the same time, he was beginning to realize that security duty wasn't for him (he'd only taken it because it was the only job available that hadn't required too much experience then) and decided it was time to look into new fields.
- Having come from the Windswept Plateau, he decided to study the customs of the Sunbeam Ruins further. He developed a deep respect for the Lightweaver and eventually became one of her priests.
- Likes to sing and is a big fan of choral music. Enjoys collecting hymns and will also study those from other Flights.
- Works closely with Tamamayu the gravekeeper. Remains friends with Afterglow.
