She had loved, once. No, no... twice. Did the third one count? Who even knew anymore. Whichever had been the hardest one to overcome the ending of, she couldn't say.
Chane had been a quiet, comforting sort. He didn't speak much, but when he did, he always knew the exact right thing to say. He was the one who rescued her from the Auction House, when everyone else stayed away. Steady as a rock, and always by her side despite accusations of misfortune to follow. Until he wasn't. Until he was withering away, a smile on his face, leaving her wondering what to do with the three new hatchlings at her feet, whose solid black eyes were slowly lightening to a windy green. Parasites.
She raised them, of course. Regardless of her broken heart, and how much the empty hole in their nest hurt, they were still her children. She was cursed just as much as they were, after all. Everyone had always told her so.
When they were grown and out, she separated herself from any thoughts of them all. She couldn't bear to learn of their withering away like her mate; to hear how others may fall to the same fate as she. But it seemed that despite her insistence to put it all behind her, to be strong and stoic and independent, weakness found it's way in.
This weakness came in the form of Xenith. Completely unlike Chane, Xenith was loud and headstrong, and while Curse would refuse to admit it, he was fun. His charm and energy were infectious, and she found herself actually opening up, bit by bit, and enjoying herself again. He would show her all the interesting places, always eager to share and have her try new things with him; new experiences.
After a long, long while, he convinced her to have a nest. And just like before, as the nest hatched, he withered away. He blew a kiss at her, the cheeky punk, before fully turning to ash and blowing away on the wind.
She cried out in anger and despair, turning to her hatchlings just in time to see their black, disturbing parasite eyes lightening to green once more.
It's me. She thought. I really am cursed, like my mother fortold. No wonder my clan insisted on tossing me out as a hatchling. Her thoughts were disturbed by the tiny creatures circling her legs, rubbing up against their distressed mommy's ankles like cats.
She slowly came back to her senses, and scooped the brood up, leaving. She tucked them into a cozy crate with a warm blanket, and left them on the steps of the Windseeker Prepatory Academy. As much as the name implied an exclusive school, it was truly an orphanage, funded by the Windsinger's most devoted. It did include an actual dormitory school into it's grounds, but any were welcome here, for a small donation. Many who came through it's doors ended up joining the ranks of his exalted themselves, though others would leave to make a name elsewhere. They would be safe here. Safe, far away from her and her curse.
Assured of at least their immediate futures, she dissappeared into the night. She was determined not to let her curse hurt any others. Not to let it spread further. And to do that, she needed to learn about it. Learn far, far away from most others who it could catch onto.
It was at a library in the Light Flight where she met MeditateLabel. He was a plague-born, and could commiserate with her concerns of spreading less-than-desirable traits. He had been careful most of his life not to let himself get too close to others, afraid of sharing any potential diseases he carried. And also like Curse, he carried a prophecy of runes upon his sides. He didn't know what they said. Curse realized that she had never truly read the runes running down her own body as well.
Thusly, the two spent many days working together, reading through texts and learning to decipher the runes on their hides that they both shared. When not looking into runes, Curse researched curses, cures, and bloodline maladies. MeditateLabel was looking into holistic medicine and therapies. The similar interests and research project caused them to grow close. But even with how much she enjoyed his company, Curse was careful. She held herself back. Didn't let herself get too attached.
One day, MeditateLabel's mother came to visit. A vivacious Fire spiral named AutumnLabel. While a bit much, Curse and her hit it off wonderfully. Curse was curious about the connection between AutumnLabel and her son's names, and the duo was more than happy to tell her all about their family's long and distinguished lineage. Curse was enamored- to think that a family could be so large! From their stories, family gathering were always exciting, and it wasn't uncommon to run into relatives in random clans.
Curse felt a sadness deep in her heart. She would probably never know of her descendancy, was fearful of it, and the pain it would cause. The familiarity, the love that MeditateLabel shared with his family... she wanted that. But she was no closer to finding any sort of cure to her curse. She didn't even know what it truly was yet.
It wasn't long after that day that they made a breakthrough on their runes research. MeditateLabel's runes were unexpected, but hopeful. "Your lineage shall be the light of hope." Then MeditateLabel read Curse's runes.
"Loneliness shall follow you and be a curse upon your bloodline. This is now your curse to bear."
The room was quiet as they both processed the revelation. And then, curse wept. This was the prophecy that her mother saw when she was born. This was why she had been cast out.... and why she had found nothing but sadness when all she wanted to find was love. MeditateLabel gingerly reached out to her, trying to be a steady presence. When she started to quiet, he slowly spoke.
"Curse... you were so afraid of your curse. You were terrified it would hurt others. But I can't stand to see it hurt you. My prophecy is that my bloodline- that of my family, and of me- is to bring hope. Let me bring hope to you. Please, be part of my family."
Curse was touched, and wept some more, the emotions of everything before rushing through. She wanted it so badly, and so, she accepted his offer. He traveled with her back to wind, where they had two beautiful sons. After a long time, MeditateLabel approached her, and they spoke at length about his want to return to light, to study, to learn to help others like he had helped Curse. And while it broke her heart, she let him go.
But she now had a path before her; an understanding. Her curse was for her, and her descendants to be lonely. To be the outcasts. To counteract that, they would need others in their lives. Family and friends. A support network like MeditateLabel's family. So, she would find as many groups as she could- join into as many families and bloodlines as she could. If she could do that, then maybe,
just maybe, she could break the curse entirely one day.
Hi everyone! Long lore aside, this lineage is designed to do two things:
- Breed Curse's lineage into 100 other lineage projects, either by breeding her with a member, or by having her descendents breed with a member. That way, her children and descendents will have more families to help keep the curse at bay!
- Breed a descendent of Curse who has 100 lineages. Yup. A singular dragon that ties back to 100 interesting and unique bloodlines, progenitors, or projects. If we can manage that, then the curse is broken!
That is it. Pretty simple. This lineage itself has no requirements, so as to be able to have an easier time breeding it into other lines. I also don't mind if any dragons end up interbreeding- just please use it as a way to either make cool lore, or better tie in other lineages!
As for where Curse comes from- I had originally purchased her for an alphabet lineage project with the parasite lineage, so I found her prenamed. I thought the idea of a 'curse' parasite mate was pretty fun, and she looked nice, so I kept her. I ended up breeding her with another lineage of parasites I obtained. By this time, I figured I had to do something fun with her. Thus, the lineage project and matching wall of lore. ;)