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[b]@fynch[/b] Apep grinned sickly at Raden as they wandered off, leaving the other two [s]prisoners[/s] guests behind. "I'm sure you'll enjoy this death," The Aberration said cheerily, both of his heads taking turns between looking at Raden and looking ahead. "Not many get to see an emperor in this day and age, even less get the gift of facing one down!" As he spoke, Raden caught sight of a large, flailing beast in the distance, only getting bigger and bigger...Until suddenly they were stopped only a few paces away from an agitated imperial, wings torn and several heads whipping around, each mouth letting out their own groans and screeches. "Kishin, you big puppy!" Apep laughed, patting the imperial's—Kishin's—hide. All four of his heads turned towards him at once, slobber and drool dripping from their mouths as his eyes flitted between Apep and Raden. "Oh, I bet you're [i]so[/i] hungry!" Raden was suddenly vividly reminded of the shackles bounding his wings and arms. He couldn't run or fight back as Kishin towered over him, as the sharp yellow fangs got closer and closer to him... Until he suddenly wasn't, because a swarm of dragons were flying at Kishin, distracting him and a suddenly-flustered Apep enough that a fathom was able to dive down, holding onto Raden with flippered feet. "Name's Walleye!" He called over the sounds of the battle below. "Fancy to be meeting you—now, lets find a spot to get these chains off..." [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/101933445][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/1019335/101933445_350.png[/img][/url] [item=macabre musician] ----- [b]@cobalttt[/b] The skydancer didn't fight as they were led away by the aberration and pack of hunters. What was there to do? As they walked, the skydancer could feel the looks and stares of the hunters behind her. The representative, a tall and proud aberration with sharp red eyes, kept tilting one head up to look at them with her third eye. Good. If they were also curious, maybe the skydancer would be able to ask questions. "Y'know, it's rare that we keep around intruders this long," One of the aberration's head said, finally turning around and stopping the walk-to-wherever. "It might be because of these," The other head said, reaching a talon forward towards one of the skydancer's eyes. They did not flinch away no matter how close the talon got, which seemed to please the Aberration. "The name's Cirque. Sad that we had to meet this way, but plaguelings are always smarter about these choices, anyways." One of the hunters behind them let out a snarl, and when the skydancer turned to face them, they saw that it was an oddly-colored tundra, mane puffed and tusks bared. "A herd approaches, Cirque," She hissed, tossing her head back. "Carrioncorn...a large group, heading directly for us. A pack of Dire Hyenas follow them." The skydancer could only assume why this brought an expression of such glee to all of their faces. Cirque turned towards the skydancer, patting them on the back. "Well, Delano needs not to know of your continued existence. Off, my siblings!" Cirque called, and suddenly the skydancer was left all alone in the dust of the Earth. Oh well. It looked like some of that herd they were talking about found them more appealing, anyways. [item=carrioncorn][item=dire hyena] ------ [b]@Azurenight[/b] Delano blinked slowly at Charlie, turning his head to look in the direction the birds flew. Well. "Leave it to one of Lightbringer's children to make such a foolish mistake," He grumbled, voice gravely and rough with age. It only made him more intimidating, because of [i]course[/i] it'd be a fellow wildclaw from one of the most brutal flights he was going up against, and of course said wildclaw had more experience fighting and living than Charlie could even imagine. As Charlie spiraled, Delano continued speaking. "Once, when I was a mere hatchling, one of Lightbringer's children told me that she'd keep my family and I's identity a secret. It was an odd time," Delano sighed, dipping his head and shaking the feathers on his neck, "Back when each Deity's child stayed in their domain, when the only plaguelings were mirrors and wildclaws remained in the shrieking wilds. Do you know what happened, fellow wildclaw?" Charlie slowly shook his head, shirking away from Delano's unblinking stare. "Well, this child of the Lightbringer, one born of the flight of Truth...she [i]lied.[/i] And just as I was punished for being of Plague, you shall be punished for being of Light. I will not make it painless." Charlie flapped his wings desperately as Delano leapt at him, but suddenly one of the other plaguelings, one Charlie had assumed to be alongside Delano, blocked the older wildclaw, flashing a tusked scowl at Charlie. "Are you mad? [i]Run![/i]" Charlie didn't need to be told twice. As other plaguelings started fighting with each other, he took the chance to smash his cuffs on one of the many local rocks, sighing in relief when he was able to fly away. ...Surely none of those Plague-children would notice a few missing items... [item=berserker][item=uncanny hunter's holster]

Now, no dragon merely stumbles through the Southern Icefield without sufficient cause or a trusted guide. Yet here you were, shivering on the outskirts of the snowsquall tundra, desperate for food or just somewhere warm on this freezing night. Sure, [i]you had your reasons[/i], but you only had yourself to blame for roughing it out this long. Are you certain it warranted the onslaught of ice and snow that you endured the past few days? If you could even call the clawful of hours of daylight a "day". You sighed and trudged on a little further towards what looked like a dense forest. After a while, you began to hear a distant clamouring of noise. It sounded like... cheering? [color=#5054a4]"Oh, are you here to participate in the Warden Wars?"[/color] Out of the shadows melted a brightly smiling skydancer, seemingly unfazed by the cold and smelling faintly of lavender. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/46465871][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/464659/46465871_350.png[/img][/url] [color=#5054a4]"We're so glad you're here!"[/color] they smiled easily, [color=#5054a4]"I didn't think we were going to get any participants from another flight this year! I've been told to guide any potential guests to the venue. You can call me Neptune."[/color] Neptune flicked their tail toward the source of the noise. [color=#5054a4]"So, was it just you here to participate?"[/color] ______ Well, you're here now, and the skydancer looks oh-so-hopeful... [i]what do you do?[/i] >> [s][b]Participate in the Warden Wars[/b]? Whatever it entailed, you could probably face it head-on and be on your way. How bad could it be?[/s] @/risingembers >> [s]It might not be glamorous, but [b]asking for help[/b] is just about the most reasonable thing you could do in this situation. Maybe this dragon was just the miracle you needed.[/s] @/carroi >> [s]Or you could... [b]refuse[/b]. Why would you trust this lone dragon out in the snow?[/s] @/Sons

@fynch – [b]Ask for help.[/b] ----- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99311289][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/993113/99311289_350.png[/img][/url] Poor Epizeuxis was nearly frozen by the blistering coldness of the Snowsquall Tundra. Her small, frail fae body could barely withstand the cold, barely cloaked by a small scarf. Her clan had tasked her to gather food, but she’d wandered far from where they were… perhaps too far. All that she’d been seeing these past few days were thick layers of snow, spread across the ground like a quilted sheet on a bed. [i]At least sheets are warm.[/i] Seeing the Skydancer in front of her, there was fear in her eyes – fear, but a tiny glimmer of hope that they’d perhaps guide her back to her clan, or if not, at least some place warm for the night. Then again, this guy came out of nowhere and started rambling about… what was that, the Warden Wars? Yeesh. No thanks; sounds terrifying AND risky. Not what she wanted at the moment. “Oh… oh… no, I think you’re mistaken… really, really mistaken,” the Fae squeaked, barely audible against the winds, voice tremoring as she spoke. “I…. I’m not here to participate in the Warden Wars, I…” Epizeuxis paused for a moment. She was told not to reveal too much to strangers, but this is the only dragon she’s encountered in the Southern Icefield for the entirety of her visit there. At this point, she was desperate. Desperate for an exit, for warmth, anything to survive the harsh, ever-lasting winter. Yet her words were icy and stiff as the cold. “I’m… lost…” she admitted with a weakened voice, desperation already creeping up on her.. “Do you… know if there’s any shelter nearby? Anything?” she pleaded.

@fynch [b]refusal[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/101908422][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/scry?sdid=5369980&skin=0&apparel=13078,59458,20577&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url] Oissine grimaced at the sight of the skydancer, the fur around her neck and on her back rising in irritation. "Warden Wars? There are things more important for one such as myself to do," she muttered. Her tusks gleamed as she bared them at the skydancer, truly offended at the suggestion offered. "I was one of those handchosen by the Icewarden himself, I am preparing for things that will bring glory to our land for ages, and you have the [i]gall[/i] to ask about some silly warden-game?" With one final huff, she turned her back, allowing her Goblin to readjust on her back. "Do not bother awaiting my acceptance, for I have bigger things to do."

[center][color=blue] @Azurenight [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/54756062][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/547561/54756062_350.png[/img][/url] It was kind of cold out. The hatchling - well, dragon that was permanently a hatchling - relished the bitter bite of the cold. It was nicer than where he currently lived. An ice dragon, in a land of fire? A terrible combination. And he was lonely. So he decided to go try to find other ice dragons like him. He snuck out of the clan a couple nights ago. Well, it wasn’t really that much better out here. There were no other dragons, really. He spotted a Skydancer. The Skydancer smelled fabulous - lavender, was it? He bounced over and listened to the Skydancer speak. He replied, “The Warden Wars!? That sounds really cool! Yes, yes, it’s just me.” Oceanus was getting a chance to participate in an event and maybe meet dragons like him. Dragons of ice and water. “I don’t know what the Warden Wars are, but they sound great!” He continued, excited. He finally stopped to let the Skydancer speak. [/color] [/center]

@risingembers [color=#5054a4]"Wonderful! Let me take you to the venue, it's quite self-explanatory!"[/color] Neptune all but chirped, leading the spiral through the snow and towards the ever-rising racket. Soon, they found themselves at the base of a grand, basin-like structure. Heavy logs, upon which many dragons roared and flapped their wings, circled a round "stage" of peat and worn gravel. The spiral hatchling watched as two honed dragons approached each other on the stage, one a [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/37241966]grizzled imperial[/url] which grunted as he lowered his head, and the other a [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/37985073]glittering coatl[/url], baring his teeth... playfully? Soft snow began to fall, but both the rivals and the audience seemed unaffected by the chill. All at once, the imperial and coatl whistled, and out of the wings appeared... a very small flustered sweetpuff and a tiny tendertiel? The audience erupted with cheers as both familiars swooped and dove in the air. The spotted imperial cracked an imperceptible grin as the sweetpuff flew up and over his horns. Neptune leaned down to shout in the spiral's ear over the din, [color=#5054a4]"Aren't they wonderful? Since you're not competing yet, you can vote for which warden has the best-trained familiar in the Warden Wars! Just roar when your winner declares their name."[/color] Oh, so [i]that's[/i] what this was all about. After a few more rounds of this, the skydancer nudged the spiral forward. [color=#5054a4]"It's your turn! Where's your familiar?"[/color] they scanned the hatchling's vacant eyes. [color=#5054a4]"Oh no, you don't have one, do you? Is that why you said it was just you? But you- you have to compete. Just get up there and try your best!"[/color] Before the hatchling could even protest, he was ushered forward by the skydancer's lavender claws onto the gravel stage. The warden that opposed him was huge- a [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98725326]black and white adult aberration[/url], a dragon of ice just like he had hoped to meet. The dragon dipped both his great heads, and the hatchling had no choice but to follow, hoping and hoping that some thing or some one would- Out of the frigid skies burst forth a flurry of crows, descending towards the tiny spiral and gifting him long tattered ribbons that now hung haphazardly around his small wings. The crowd broke out in whoops and shouts, all to the delight of the newly befriended hatchling. [item=Corvid Convergence] [item= Aeruginous Tail Tatters] ______ @carroi [color=#5054a4]"Oh, yes, of course!"[/color] Neptune smiled warmly, [color=#5054a4]"I'm so sorry to have imposed upon you! Although you could still come and watch...!"[/color] They trailed off, seemingly taking in the shivering fae before them for the first time. Soon enough, Epizeuxis was ushered past the strange roaring noise and towards a much cosier set of caves dotted around the nearby cliffs and forest. Here, it was vastly warmer than the bitter cold of the wilderness. The fae felt her shivers dissipate. Neptune scanned the caves as they walked, wings ruffling sheepishly. [color=#5054a4]"Let me try to find you some food, and someone who can guide you out of- ah! Kallio!"[/color] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98634207][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/986343/98634207_350.png[/img][/url] Honing a spear in a large clearing, a mottled skydancer- Kallio?- sighed loudly. "NEPTUNE, how many times must I tell you, I will NOT compete in the W- Oh, a visitor! Who's this?" One quick explanation later, her new-found guide thumped her tail on the ground in excitement. "Let's get you out of here. Truth be told, I've been needing an adventure. What was your name, again?" 50x[item=Shell-Dwelling Cichlid] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98634207][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/986343/98634207p.png[/img][/url] ______ @Sons [color=#5054a4]"Is that so?"[/color] the skydancer smiled cordially as Oissine turned her back, overtly bright and cheery, [color=#5054a4]"Don't take the forest to heart!"[/color] The tundra huffed and approached the first smattering of trees, trudging through snow and silt. Who did that skydancer think they were? Don't take the forest to heart? What an odd thing to say. Trees could not offend her. And so, Oissine entered the forest. This was the fastest route to the Icewarden after all. She had critical duties to attend to! Slowly, days passed, and she continued to navigate an icy wilderness that never seemed to end; a forest that deepened, trees that leaned closer, cutting out the weak sunlight... or was that moonlight? She couldn't tell. With every step, she reminded herself that she was part of something bigger, and these woods were merely an obstacle that she had to surpass. But... Something was off. The forest was quiet. . . Waiting. . . Like it was holding its breath. [i]Don't take the forest to heart.[/i] It was then that Oissine stilled. Truly looked around her, and noticed... noticed the squirrels. Squirrels that were crumpled by the roots of trees, like they had fallen out of them. Squirrels draped over branches. Some even had acorns still held in their tiny paws, as if to guard them in the moments before they fell. As she continued deeper, minding her every step, she saw not just the dead but the bones that held them. Now, she understood. She had blindly charged through what she thought was the fastest way through- the heart of the forest. With a renewed spirit, Oissine looked to where the trees thinned, rather than where her instinct told her was the fastest way out. Curse or not, she had bigger things to worry about. She would press on. 50x[item=squirrel skull] 50x[item=red squirrel] 50x[item=acorn]

It was supposed to be a quick errand, or so you thought. Prior to this, you were flying across Sornieth. Perhaps it was a quick stop at a nearby city, perhaps it was a journey across the continent to find a new home, perhaps it was a much-needed vacation… [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97869925][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/978700/97869925_350.png[/img][/url] Either way, you’ve now found yourself on the ground with a dishevelled Skydancer in front of you. You appear to be somewhere in the Sunbeam Ruins; the yellowed dry grass and recognisable tall marble structures were rather telling of that fact. Prior to this, you had been seeing stretches and seas of clouds for a while, occasionally glancing to the lands below. The weather seemed decent – the skies certainly weren’t clear, but then again, there weren’t any signs of an incoming storm. Everything seemed fine. And then you heard a scream. “LOOK OUT! SKYDANCER INCOMING!” Before you knew it, the two of you collided, rapidly plunging from the air. You tried to soften your landing, the desperate flaps of your wings allowing you to land relatively safely on the ground. The Skydancer, on the other hand, took a dive and made a rather abrupt landing, kicking up large amounts of dust from the ground, coughing and fanning the dirt away from herself. She looks at you, eyes widened as if she were in constant worry. She seems genuinely apologetic about the collision as she scampered up towards you. “Oh, dear Eleven, I am so, [i]so, so, so, [b]so[/b][/i] sorry about this, you know, the weather isn’t too good, I couldn’t see you and this… this shouldn’t have happened. Are you hurt?” She looks at the pile of packages that have spilled over from her bag and scrambles in that direction, hastily picking up whatever that had fallen over. She turns back to you, a meek smile on her face. “I was supposed to deliver these to my clan before I collided into you. Er… maybe if you accompany me for a delivery, I can find some goods for you! As… a token of my apology… I’d feel really, really bad if I left you here with just a simple ‘sorry’! In the meantime...” She picks out three packages from her satchel. “I have these three I need delivered by sundown. Given your current state, they shouldn’t be too far from here, but…” ----- [LIST] [*] "[b]Package 1[/b] is this... canvas-wrapped thing. Ooh, tied with twine too. Someone hasn't gotten particularly creative with their gift-wrapping. Er, it says it's supposed to go to the... coliseum team? I don't know how they'd feel about a guest joining them for the day... what say you?" [b]> @/Miere[/b] [*] "[b]Package 2[/b] is very neatly wrapped! And they even attached a little bow on it! How cute. It's directed to the lair, and – oh! It's really close by too. Ah! Sorry! I got a bit distracted. I think the journey shouldn't be... too bad for you. Ehe." > [b]@/fynch[/b] [*] The Skydancer takes a good look at [b]Package 3[/b], squinting and even removing her glasses at some point in time. She puts the package in your hands. "Er... I can't read this... do you happen to know what it reads?" The writing on the package is relatively smudged. [b]> @/Geographic[/b] [/LIST] [b]On which delivery would you like to accompany Diction?[/b]

@carroi [b]Package 3[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/102230329][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/scry?sdid=5376290&skin=0&apparel=8315,12903,9216,283,6029,17262,8811&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url] Solace rubbed his head, still sitting on his back haunches as the skydancer explained each package. Even though he had landed [i]much[/i] more gracefully than the stranger, he still felt the unmistakeable [i]twinge[/i] in his wings from flapping too desperately. No matter, because apparently none of these packages were horribly far. Maybe he'd get a chance to rest afterwards—it's not like his patrol was expecting him back soon, anyways. Truth be told, he had initially been the most interested in the first package, if just for the possible chance to earn some riches for his patrol. When the skydancer showed difficulty in understanding the third package, however, he decided he'd be more useful helping her with that. "Guardians are great at finding things," He told her easily. "Maybe i'll be able to find the address for this package!" He inspected the smudged writing on the package, then nodded to himself in approval. "Alright then, let's get started—My name is Solace, by the way, would you mind reminding me of yours..?"

[center]@carroi [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/61465907][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/614660/61465907_350.png[/img][/url] Ischemia was dumbfounded by the other Skydancer appearing in the sky, thanking the stars above neither of them were injured. At least her weapons hadn't been sticking out far. Just seemed like a few ruffled feathers and that was it. "Ah, it's no issue. Things happen- I'd be more than glad to accompany you though. Think of it as my own way of apologizing for not seeing [i]you[/i]." The other Skydancer replied, looking at the crudely wrapped package in Diction's claws. Something for the coliseum team, huh? Couldn't hurt much to go along with her then. It had been ages since she saw a good fight happen. Mulling it over in her head for a moment, Ischemia was about to agree. Though it could be dangerous, she couldn't just let the poor Skydancer keep going on her way after they both had bumped into one another. "I do say it sounds like a plan then! I'm sure they wouldn't mind an extra set of claws around- I won't be staying too long anyways. I still have to get home after all." Leala was in the care of another dragon back in the clan- and for as much as she loved the spaniel, she was always a handful. Surely a few minutes out of the way wouldn't hurt, right? ____________ [i][b]Package one![/b][/i][/center]

@carroi >> [b]package two[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/60036989][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/600370/60036989_350.png[/img][/url] It was late in the day, and the skies were gloriously cloudy. Nyx was coasting along, her wings gleaming and bright in the backdrop of a ripe orange sky. She should be able to reach the nearby city centre before dark and meet her point of contact there. Until a rather flustered skydancer interrupted her musing, that is. Nyx's vast wings were able to steady herself quite quickly after their collision, her wide flippers attempting to find purchase on the yellowed grass. She smiled widely as the skydancer explained herself before clapping her headily on the back, sending another package skittering across the path. [color=#16947b]"Do not fear, young one."[/color] she rumbled. [color=#16947b]"Nyx will have you on your way in no time."[/color] While it was true that she had taken a trip to the Sunbeam Ruins for business, Nyx couldn't help but swoop above the cliffs to observe the rolling hills in the late afternoon sun. Given that her most efficient method of travel was swimming, her wings were not as well suited to keeping her sizeable body in the air. Moreover, given her limitations and her pertinent meeting later, it was best for them both to travel to whichever package proved nearest. [color=#16947b]"I am impressed that you were able to knock into me at all, given my size. You must be carrying many heavy things, yes?"[/color] Nyx thumped her tail on the ground amicably. [color=#16947b]"You should take breaks more often, skydancer. Let us deliver this small one to your lair and be on our way."[/color]