Chapter 28
Fracturing Sects
- Pashitrix is not interested in Cerise's 'two by two' plan
- Retixs work hard to stand out- the idea of introducing more confusion to the situation she's aligned herself with is problematic
- How can she be the Droseran Domain's retix if all the dragons of the Droseran Domain become retixs?
- More than anything her goal is just to play with Cerise for her own amusement, and gain definition in the process
- Both know the tension is there, and sometimes it's hard to keep the clan at large from noticing as well
- Despite introducing Pashitrix as she did, Cerise finds herself trying to steer the congregation's attentions back onto Yvel who she can speak for more
- Pashitrix meanwhile displays her power in flourishes, gaining adherence through intimidation
- Others still see this understated war and find comfort in Droseran- few know the skittish faux-fae personally, but the familiarity of them as a god associated with nature and quiet is a comfort
- Nugget and other dragons of the gathering variety, for instance, align themselves with them
- Most of the Founding Family is geared to see Yvel as the most deific since their treatment has always been directly drawn through relationships with her
- Meanwhile outsiders to the family find themselves awed by Pashitrix's newness and bold performance of imminent godhood
- Cerise grumbles about all this, but ultimately Pashitrix still laughs and assures her of their current alliance
- It is all, she assures her, little more than a road trip game for them to engage in as they travel
Chapter 28
Fracturing Sects
- Pashitrix is not interested in Cerise's 'two by two' plan
- Retixs work hard to stand out- the idea of introducing more confusion to the situation she's aligned herself with is problematic
- How can she be the Droseran Domain's retix if all the dragons of the Droseran Domain become retixs?
- More than anything her goal is just to play with Cerise for her own amusement, and gain definition in the process
- Both know the tension is there, and sometimes it's hard to keep the clan at large from noticing as well
- Despite introducing Pashitrix as she did, Cerise finds herself trying to steer the congregation's attentions back onto Yvel who she can speak for more
- Pashitrix meanwhile displays her power in flourishes, gaining adherence through intimidation
- Others still see this understated war and find comfort in Droseran- few know the skittish faux-fae personally, but the familiarity of them as a god associated with nature and quiet is a comfort
- Nugget and other dragons of the gathering variety, for instance, align themselves with them
- Most of the Founding Family is geared to see Yvel as the most deific since their treatment has always been directly drawn through relationships with her
- Meanwhile outsiders to the family find themselves awed by Pashitrix's newness and bold performance of imminent godhood
- Cerise grumbles about all this, but ultimately Pashitrix still laughs and assures her of their current alliance
- It is all, she assures her, little more than a road trip game for them to engage in as they travel
Chapter 29
Settlement and Expansion
- The clan finds its new territory among the forests of the far western Viridian Labyrinth
- They cannot see the coast, nor smell its salt in the air, but it would not be a far flight if one wanted (and Cerise allowed them) to make the journey
- Cerise's priorities are where they have always been, putting dragons to work on establishing the new Founding Family Estate on top of a sharp mountain at the centre of their lands
- Cerise calls the peak Mt Gall, and sets to making it's maze of Galling Caverns her own personal lair
- She does allow Etchuan to set up a new mushroom farm in its more surface level strata, though
- The other Droserans settle where they stand, not afforded caves as roofs until proper lairs can be built
- Camphrenie gives Berrina what shelter he can underwing, but soon there is another hatchling to worry about beyond the Found Family's protection
- Bellina finds him, a young spiral, as she goes out to begin accumulating new stores of potion ingredients
- She cares little about the thing, and leaves him in the brambles where he lays unconscious
- She does mention him at the night's gathering however, and Eckle's ears twitch to attention
- There hasn't been much for her to test her skills on yet, and she is eager to help this lone hatchling
- Nolly for strength, and Nicht for Bellina's directions, go with her to find the spiral
- He's awake by now, but delirious
- Bruised, cut, and concussed, they take him by the fire
- Eckle treats him, even taking him into the caves and ensuring he has a soft nest to sleep in
- He recovers well, though recalls little of his past- he's young enough that that's not much of a surprise to anyone
- He is named Karroe, and made the first greudence of the Droseran Domain in its new territory
Chapter 29
Settlement and Expansion
- The clan finds its new territory among the forests of the far western Viridian Labyrinth
- They cannot see the coast, nor smell its salt in the air, but it would not be a far flight if one wanted (and Cerise allowed them) to make the journey
- Cerise's priorities are where they have always been, putting dragons to work on establishing the new Founding Family Estate on top of a sharp mountain at the centre of their lands
- Cerise calls the peak Mt Gall, and sets to making it's maze of Galling Caverns her own personal lair
- She does allow Etchuan to set up a new mushroom farm in its more surface level strata, though
- The other Droserans settle where they stand, not afforded caves as roofs until proper lairs can be built
- Camphrenie gives Berrina what shelter he can underwing, but soon there is another hatchling to worry about beyond the Found Family's protection
- Bellina finds him, a young spiral, as she goes out to begin accumulating new stores of potion ingredients
- She cares little about the thing, and leaves him in the brambles where he lays unconscious
- She does mention him at the night's gathering however, and Eckle's ears twitch to attention
- There hasn't been much for her to test her skills on yet, and she is eager to help this lone hatchling
- Nolly for strength, and Nicht for Bellina's directions, go with her to find the spiral
- He's awake by now, but delirious
- Bruised, cut, and concussed, they take him by the fire
- Eckle treats him, even taking him into the caves and ensuring he has a soft nest to sleep in
- He recovers well, though recalls little of his past- he's young enough that that's not much of a surprise to anyone
- He is named Karroe, and made the first greudence of the Droseran Domain in its new territory
Chapter 30
Blood and Heart
- There is endless work to be done in the new territory
- Only so many supplies were brought during the exodus, so stores must be replenished
- Places to store such things need construction too, as do so many other pieces of vital infrastructure
- Anto and Minilly and every beastclan member they've befriended spend long days hammering large branches into the ground to form pens, and carving channels for the big river running through the territory, Midvein, to pool into
- Eckle wants to construct a dedicated Sickbay for the Domain as well, with those she has helped heal in the past happy to lend a claw- though, as an esteemed Founding Family member, she need only request the help anyway
- Nugget's new farmhouse is a different matter, but his sons as well as Mephistopheles and Droseran are eager to assist
- Like most the clan, Medarel has a lot on his mind
- He's taken out of his musing when Madeleir and Murgon approach him and Yvel for help
- The pair have been trying to have a new brood since before they left the outskirts of the Everbloom Gardens, to no avail
- They couldn't understand why, since they'd had a pair before
- But they were hoping Medarel would help them as a donor in a feuclen relationship
- Yvel, empathetic and eager to help, makes her enthusiasm for the idea known
- Yvel wants to befriend her sister and brother-in-law, and remembers that it was easier for them all to get along when they had hatchlings
- Madeleir wants him specifically for the role because of his maturity and kindness
- There is also a part of her, however deep down it is, that thinks it might protect her side of the family if she blurs the lines between her branch and Yvel's in Cerise's eyes
- Medarel isn't entirely comfortable with the idea at first, but ultimately agrees to try
- They soon succeed, resulting in a brood of three eggs hatching three fae; Enketta, Periwinkle, and Azurite
- Despite understanding the basic principles of a feuclen relationship, Medarel struggles to know how he ought to treat these hatchlings that both are and aren't his
- He chooses to be distant, but feels guilt for it, even as the hatchlings are lovingly raised by two devoted parents
Chapter 30
Blood and Heart
- There is endless work to be done in the new territory
- Only so many supplies were brought during the exodus, so stores must be replenished
- Places to store such things need construction too, as do so many other pieces of vital infrastructure
- Anto and Minilly and every beastclan member they've befriended spend long days hammering large branches into the ground to form pens, and carving channels for the big river running through the territory, Midvein, to pool into
- Eckle wants to construct a dedicated Sickbay for the Domain as well, with those she has helped heal in the past happy to lend a claw- though, as an esteemed Founding Family member, she need only request the help anyway
- Nugget's new farmhouse is a different matter, but his sons as well as Mephistopheles and Droseran are eager to assist
- Like most the clan, Medarel has a lot on his mind
- He's taken out of his musing when Madeleir and Murgon approach him and Yvel for help
- The pair have been trying to have a new brood since before they left the outskirts of the Everbloom Gardens, to no avail
- They couldn't understand why, since they'd had a pair before
- But they were hoping Medarel would help them as a donor in a feuclen relationship
- Yvel, empathetic and eager to help, makes her enthusiasm for the idea known
- Yvel wants to befriend her sister and brother-in-law, and remembers that it was easier for them all to get along when they had hatchlings
- Madeleir wants him specifically for the role because of his maturity and kindness
- There is also a part of her, however deep down it is, that thinks it might protect her side of the family if she blurs the lines between her branch and Yvel's in Cerise's eyes
- Medarel isn't entirely comfortable with the idea at first, but ultimately agrees to try
- They soon succeed, resulting in a brood of three eggs hatching three fae; Enketta, Periwinkle, and Azurite
- Despite understanding the basic principles of a feuclen relationship, Medarel struggles to know how he ought to treat these hatchlings that both are and aren't his
- He chooses to be distant, but feels guilt for it, even as the hatchlings are lovingly raised by two devoted parents
Chapter 33
Apprentice Mine
- Medarel tries to stay on top of things in the Founding Family
- The clan is growing, and there is more and he doesn't know, but he wants to at least know what's going on with the dragons closest to him
- He can't help but be disappointed in how Etchuan has raised- or rather, failed to raise- his brood
- Isaniah seems happy at least, but Feravel seems miserable most of the time
- Medarel wants to help his grandchild
- He feels responsible for not stepping in previously
- He had cared for the brood when they were younger and Etchuan would simply leave them in his parent's care, but he'd never known the exact nature of his son's deal with Rianon
- As such, he'd felt unsure about if he was able to step in
- He's started to notice a trend he doesn't like, though
- Yvel grew up lonely and hurt, and Medarel knew well what it was like for her siblings (though Pheredon seemed like a baffling exception)
- Azurite, another youth he felt unequipped to approach due to their particular mode of relation, never seemed fully at peace
- It was subtle, but Medarel saw the way he hunched over and hid from Cerise's gaze, the way he seemed to always be trying to find something to brag about or to criticise another dragon for
- He seemed lost, and desperate to find exceptionalism- and tear down others if he couldn't
- Medarel felt he was noticing a tendency for Founding Family members to become isolated and depressed, and he doesn't like it
- While he doesn't think it is his place to get involved where Azurite is concerned, he decides to be more proactive when it comes to Feravel
- As such, he approaches the young fae and asks if they've any interest in becoming his apprentice
- Fera has shown a prowess in combat, and being Yvel's personal guard and an occasional shade hunter, he can show them how to progress the skills they've exhibited
- They are hesitant, on edge, and unwilling to trust their grandfather
- Knowing they're under Cerise's constant scrutiny though, they begrudgingly agree
- Meanwhile, the sandsurge Harmony shows an interest in technology from a young age
- Enketta, Chief Engineer as soon as she was fledged, takes an interest in the hatchling for this reason
- The rule is plain and set in stone, though; preservation of skills within the Founding Family are important, so they could only take on their own to teach
- Enketta does not care
- Cerise, grandmother, she argues- Harmony is a prodigy
- It would be a complete and utter waste not to pursue her skills!
- Cerise does not appreciate being challenged, but Enketta is a stubbornly aggressive dragon
- She shows off wonderful technology; heated mats for nests, water purifiers, electric lights
- Once the gathered congregation oos and aahs, she reveals they were Harmony's work
- Cerise is frustrated, but finally agrees to amend the rule
- Harmony is officially Enketta's apprentice the next day
- Medarel can't help but wonder if that sort of bullheaded determination didn't prove so much more meaningful than his cautious approach
- He wonders what life in the Domain would be life if Ebrejia stuck around more
Chapter 33
Apprentice Mine
- Medarel tries to stay on top of things in the Founding Family
- The clan is growing, and there is more and he doesn't know, but he wants to at least know what's going on with the dragons closest to him
- He can't help but be disappointed in how Etchuan has raised- or rather, failed to raise- his brood
- Isaniah seems happy at least, but Feravel seems miserable most of the time
- Medarel wants to help his grandchild
- He feels responsible for not stepping in previously
- He had cared for the brood when they were younger and Etchuan would simply leave them in his parent's care, but he'd never known the exact nature of his son's deal with Rianon
- As such, he'd felt unsure about if he was able to step in
- He's started to notice a trend he doesn't like, though
- Yvel grew up lonely and hurt, and Medarel knew well what it was like for her siblings (though Pheredon seemed like a baffling exception)
- Azurite, another youth he felt unequipped to approach due to their particular mode of relation, never seemed fully at peace
- It was subtle, but Medarel saw the way he hunched over and hid from Cerise's gaze, the way he seemed to always be trying to find something to brag about or to criticise another dragon for
- He seemed lost, and desperate to find exceptionalism- and tear down others if he couldn't
- Medarel felt he was noticing a tendency for Founding Family members to become isolated and depressed, and he doesn't like it
- While he doesn't think it is his place to get involved where Azurite is concerned, he decides to be more proactive when it comes to Feravel
- As such, he approaches the young fae and asks if they've any interest in becoming his apprentice
- Fera has shown a prowess in combat, and being Yvel's personal guard and an occasional shade hunter, he can show them how to progress the skills they've exhibited
- They are hesitant, on edge, and unwilling to trust their grandfather
- Knowing they're under Cerise's constant scrutiny though, they begrudgingly agree
- Meanwhile, the sandsurge Harmony shows an interest in technology from a young age
- Enketta, Chief Engineer as soon as she was fledged, takes an interest in the hatchling for this reason
- The rule is plain and set in stone, though; preservation of skills within the Founding Family are important, so they could only take on their own to teach
- Enketta does not care
- Cerise, grandmother, she argues- Harmony is a prodigy
- It would be a complete and utter waste not to pursue her skills!
- Cerise does not appreciate being challenged, but Enketta is a stubbornly aggressive dragon
- She shows off wonderful technology; heated mats for nests, water purifiers, electric lights
- Once the gathered congregation oos and aahs, she reveals they were Harmony's work
- Cerise is frustrated, but finally agrees to amend the rule
- Harmony is officially Enketta's apprentice the next day
- Medarel can't help but wonder if that sort of bullheaded determination didn't prove so much more meaningful than his cautious approach
- He wonders what life in the Domain would be life if Ebrejia stuck around more
Chapter 36
Misguided Affections
- Pheredon and Marcidon bring three more hatchlings to the domain; Ampa, Elero, and Quivetel
- There are more hatchlings around than there ever has been in the Domain's history
- Ampa, a shy little pearlcatcher, grows overwhelmed and tired of the noisy company of other hatchlings sometimes
- She finds solace when Minilly visits to check on her familiar
- He is so much more quiet, seems so much more mature, and she grows infatuated with him
- He doesn't notice, being so focused as he is on his work, and her being just a hatchling
- She endeavours to always have aquatic familiars so that she can keep spending time with him
- Little Nenkal meanwhile grows an interest of his own of a very different nature
- He likes to see how things grow
- With apprenticing dragons outside the family allowed now, Etchuan sees this and offers an apprenticeship to the snapper
- He accepts, and Etchuan takes him to his mushroom farm to learn skills related to soil health
- Feravel sees his father engaging with another hatchling and is filled with jealous rage
- Medarel warns him not to let such things consume him, but he still feels burned
- No good, the skydancer says, will come from letting your anger consume you
Chapter 36
Misguided Affections
- Pheredon and Marcidon bring three more hatchlings to the domain; Ampa, Elero, and Quivetel
- There are more hatchlings around than there ever has been in the Domain's history
- Ampa, a shy little pearlcatcher, grows overwhelmed and tired of the noisy company of other hatchlings sometimes
- She finds solace when Minilly visits to check on her familiar
- He is so much more quiet, seems so much more mature, and she grows infatuated with him
- He doesn't notice, being so focused as he is on his work, and her being just a hatchling
- She endeavours to always have aquatic familiars so that she can keep spending time with him
- Little Nenkal meanwhile grows an interest of his own of a very different nature
- He likes to see how things grow
- With apprenticing dragons outside the family allowed now, Etchuan sees this and offers an apprenticeship to the snapper
- He accepts, and Etchuan takes him to his mushroom farm to learn skills related to soil health
- Feravel sees his father engaging with another hatchling and is filled with jealous rage
- Medarel warns him not to let such things consume him, but he still feels burned
- No good, the skydancer says, will come from letting your anger consume you
