Quests & Challenges

[center][item=goldslab headdress][item=intricate weaving][item=goldslab wingspan] [color=#CC5900][size=7][font=papyrus][b][u]Rust and Remedy[/u][/b][/font][/size] [i]A story of four hatchlings, born to a strict pair of skydancers. They all share Unusual Fire Eyes, Rusty hides, and Jungle-colored wings. Their unique tertiary belly colors and personalities make them stand out from each other, each with their own goals and passions. End goal of Lvl 25 and new sets of Goldslab[/i] [size=2][color=grey] [i]Meta-Reasons for Starting This:[/i] For the first time, I finally bred my Rust/Jungle pair (which I've been working on for years) and got four hatchlings! Strangely enough, all four hatchlings have Fire Unusual eyes, which I thought was pretty cool for their first and only batch of hatchlings. I thought it would be a good connection for a story idea of some kind. All of them have different tert colors which makes them all just a little unique, so I was able to formulate some preliminary personalities around that for now. I don't necessarily want to do a full fledged 'locke of any kind, as I don't have the time or energy to commit to hundreds of rules, nor do I want to exalt any of them. I just want to collect items, do dailies, be inspired to create something from that, and so on. I do want a few guidelines, however, so I have some form of direction when things are thrown at me. I'll try to keep it simple from here...[/color][/size] [color=#CC5900][u][b][size=6][font=papyrus]My Challenge Rules[/font][/size][/b][/u][/color][/center] [color=#CC5900][sup][i]Unless specified as coli-specific, this will mostly be items from [b]Pinkerton[/b], [b]chests[/b], or notable items from [b]coli[/b]. [b]Crim [/b] items will inspire writing, but I'll pick and choose through day[/i][/sup] [emoji=insect size=1] [b]Foods[/b]: I'll mostly ignore food items from Crim. [emoji=bare tree size=1] [b]Materials[/b]: New writing task, based on item [emoji=sword and shield size=1] [b]Apparel[/b]: Can be applied to a dragon of my choice, but must write or draw [emoji=dog 1 size=1] [b]Familiars[/b]: Fams will be "sacrificed" to their parents, via story/art (brewed if already in bestiary). [emoji=eliminate size=1] [b]Battle Items[/b]: New writing task [sup][sub][i](I get a lot of 'Ambush' from pinkerton??)[/i][/sub][/sup] [emoji=dna size=1] [b]Specialty[/b]: If I apply genes- Make artwork. Can swap genes for similar price-range. [emoji=treasure chest size=1] [b]Trinkets[/b]: New writing or artwork - affects story based on rarity of item, aka drops from megafauna vs common items, broken pots vs iron chest, etc. [emoji=red vial size=1] [b]Coli Info: [/b]I can use potions as I see fit, and start/stop as I please. Fainting will only be story-important if the team as a whole is wiped out, and a day's rest will be necessary.[/color] ----- I will save up the items and prompts for a [b]weekly update[/b], rather than daily updates, as I do have a full-time job and lots of artwork to catch up on. It will also make a pinglist much easier to use and I'll feel better about weekly pings instead of daily. I will come up with an intro section soon, and start them off on their journey! Anyone is free to post at this point, and hopefully I can rope some people into following along! [emoji=coatl winking size=1] The following is a general description of the parents and their hatchlings ----- [center][item=goldslab headdress][item=intricate weaving][item=goldslab wingspan] [color=#8B3321][size=7][font=papyrus][u]Parents[/u][/font][/size][/color] [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=4041470] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/40415/4041470_350.png[/img] [/url] [color=#8B3321][size=7][font=mistral]Warmonger[/font][/size][/color] [color=#963823]A terrible plague-beast of a dragon who dwells within the walls of a serthis temple city, deep in Sorneith's rainforests. The serthis there abide by his rules, giving him food and treasure in return for protection from other dragons. Some serthis regard him with fear and distrust while others seek him with awe.[/color] [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=40960024] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/409601/40960024_350.png[/img] [/url] [color=#8B3321][size=7][font=mistral]Warmaiden[/font][/size][/color] [color=#963823]A creation of love, summoned by Warmonger to be his queen, pictured here in her ceremonial outfit. She's loyal and obedient to a T, and could almost be described as doll-like, though she does have thoughts of her own. Most see her as docile yet silently threatening, as she's incredibly sneaky, and can easily be missed in the jungle regardless of her size. If you're known for loose lips about these two, she's bound to overhear....[/color] [color=#8B3321][size=7][font=mistral][u]The Unusual Quadruplets[/u][/font][/size][/color] [color=#963823][i]'These four hatchlings have a special connection, but what could it be...?'[/i] Born in the deepest reaches of Sorneith's jungles to a rather secluded pair of skydancers, these quadruplets all have unusually vivid fire eyes, and rippling rusty hides similar to their parents', as well as their familial leafy wings. [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=60786136] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/607862/60786136_350.png[/img] [/url] The eldest- nicknamed 'Wasp' until he finds his true name- was the only one blessed with glittering translucent wings, allowing him to easily blend into the jungle when he hunts for prey and intruders. He often flaunts this advantage to his siblings, with snarky comments about his "natural abilities." [i]Could his arrogance wear off with time, or will his words sting long into his adult life, just like his father's?[/i][/color] [columns][color=white]WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW[/color] [nextcol][url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=60786137] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/607862/60786137.png[/img] [/url][nextcol][url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=60786138] [img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/607862/60786138.png[/img] [/url][/columns] [color=#963823]The sisters hatched next: one bore a shockingly icy-white belly, the other, however, had pleasant fiery orange in her belly. They were dubbed 'Snowdrop' and 'Tigerlily' respectively. The older they get, the more their differences show. They bicker constantly over petty things, simply because they are so passionate about their own ideas. If only they could stop and listen, perhaps they could see how much they really care about each other... [i]Will these sisters ever get along, or will their bickering tear them apart?[/i] [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=60786139] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/607862/60786139_350.png[/img] [/url] The final hatchling was simply named 'Copper' for the metallic sheen of their underbelly. They're pretty average and mild-mannered compared to the others of the clutch, but they seem okay with it. More than anything, Copper just wants to find a nice home, with a loving mate, and hopefully they'll be noticed there. [i]Will a quiet hatchling like Copper really survive the harsh and noisy family surrounding them?[/i][/color] ~~~ [sub][i]Comments and critiques appreciated![/i][/sub][/center]

[center][color=#CC5900][size=7][font=papyrus][b][u]Journal Entries[/u][/b][/font][/size] [i]These link to specified posts throughout the board. A jump in number is from Art-only posts, linked in the next section.[/i][/color][/center] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/1#post_42979978]Journal Day #1 - Awakening and Introductions[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/1#post_43001737]Journal Day #2 - What the World Offers[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159#post_43015407]Journal Day #3 - Meeting Wildlife[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/1#post_43053335]Journal Day #5 - Wasp, Shaken[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/1#post_43065889]Journal Day #6 - Mother's Vow[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43072100]Journal Day #7 - Copper - Little Treasures[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43092591]Journal Day #8 - Wasp - A Test of Strength[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43099443]Journal Day #9 - Snowdrop - The Riverbed [/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43119246]Journal Day #10- Tigerlily - Inkwell Secrets [/url] [emoji=firework size=1][emoji=ping size=1][emoji=firework size=1] [b]Updated 6/28[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43130840]Day #11 - TigerLily and Copper - The Scroll[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43141804]Day #12 - Copper - Marketplace Madness[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2849159/2#post_43155445]Day #13 - Wasp and Copper - Training Troubles[/url]

XCXCFour tiny dragons hatched on the 19th day of Tidelord's month, deep in the hidden temples of a serthis city, known as Aspeaus. The parents, two slender rust-colored skydancers, guarded the eggs with utmost secrecy. The adults were adorned with golden jewelry and draped with the finest silks, all offerings from the serthis city-folk who hesitantly gave them their best goods. The new parents had prepared some similar items for their new children, shiny baubles and trinkets, gold and jewels, not only to remind them of their family strength, but to also warn the serthis who they belong to.

XCXCThe temple was nearly silent as usual, save for the tiny crackling of fiery eggshells on a bed of warm coals and magical runes. The eggs had been deep in this musty stone room for several weeks and Warmonger was growing restless. Despite his best efforts to infect the eggs with his plague abilities upon first being laid, the molten shells developed quickly from the surrounding area's essence of fire and so had to be hidden further within the temples so as to hide the glow. 'No matter,' he reminded himself silently, 'Fire is just as deadly to these serthis as my slow, painful infections. They will be feared regardless.'

XCXCWhile some families would see this as a time for quiet reflection, Warmonger tapped his claws on the cracking stone floor impatiently, the heavy carved-stone mask he bore was focused entirely on the eggs. His mate, Warmaiden, in similar attire, touched his arm gently and with a soft breath whispered, "It is time."
XCXCThe scratching of tiny claws against tough eggshells began.
XCXCChk...Crk...Crack-!
XCXCOne after the other, the shells began to fall apart, and the fiery liquid surrounding the hatchlings cooled against the chilly air. Instinct took over, and the tiny dragons began to consume the liquid, strengthening themselves enough to wobble across the hot coals, toward the presence of their parents. Clearly tired from the struggle of new life, the hatchlings stumbled and squawked at each other until they eased into a heavy sleep. The mated pair looked upon their children silently in the firelight, and breathed a sigh of relief. It was done.

---

XCXCAfter a long restless night, in the wee hours of dawn, the hatchlings awoke and revealed their unusually fiery amber tone. Warmonger ruffled his feathers, and began gently pushing the children to and fro, looking them over for markings and colors. How well would they blend into the rainforest? Who is the weakest? How quickly will they develop their true magic? All very important questions, which would be answered in time.
XCXC"Perhaps we should name them?" Warmaiden had sat up, clearly awake, though it was difficult to tell through the stone masks.
XCXC"I suppose you're right." Warmonger set one of the girls down, adjusting his posture to his full sitting height. "Let us give them partial names, perhaps, until I bestow them a name with greater purpose. Names they will earn. Names with dignity and power. Names only true warriors deserve."
XCXCMost of the hatchlings were focused on the words he said, although they didn't fully understand them yet. One sat alone, toying with the pile of trinkets, however, and so began the naming process. Warmonger gestured towards them, "You, child, with darkened face, and shimmering belly. You are... Copper, the lesser metal, and odd one out. Do not be discouraged, but see it as a challenge to overcome." Copper tilted their head at the words and felt a bit discouraged. 'Were they in trouble? Copper wasn't sure.'
XCXCWarmaiden turned her mask towards the girls, who had already lost interest in the adult discussion and had begun nipping at one another restlessly. "You two!" She barked to regain their attention, only to soften her voice afterward, "You are only seedlings, for now, but I believe some day you will grow into beautiful gardens. You are now... Snowdrop and Tigerlily, so-named for the hue of your bellies." They looked at each other a bit closer, before going back to chasing each other about the room. She sighed discouraged.
XCXC"Finally, the first-born." Warmonger nodded to the male, whose belly matched his fur color, "Most eager to escape the prison of your shell, you burst forth with blazing colors, and for that I dub thee, Wasp! A strong, fear-striking name, if I ever heard one!" War's chest puffed with pride, and Wasp did the same, clearly being praised above the others. "And with that, let us adorn you, so that you may all strike fear in the hearts of our people, the Aspeausian serthis, and never forget your birthplace." The children formed a tiny semi-circle in front of the large dragons, and each was given a piece of jewelry: a bracer for Wasp, a necklace for Snowdrop, a ring for Tigerlily, and horn decor for Copper.

XCXC"Prepare yourselves, children. Tomorrow begins your true journey into the world, and you will not let us down..."

---

Crim Items Reflect Regeneration Obsidian Hybrid Fragment Amber-trapped mosquito Crumbling Relief

Iron Belt Buckle Shadow Serpentskin Lace Lantana (fish - skipped) Bronze Fabric Scrap

XCXC

Pinkerton Ambush (Day 1) Blue Birdskull Armband (Day 2) Honestly, not many items fit the exact beginning I wanted for the introduction to this family, so I may tie some of these items in later...

XCXCThe first steps out of the quiet stone tomb were the most nerve wracking for the hatchlings, as their parents purposely woke them very early to have them view their first sunrise. It was a grand awakening. Sitting atop a steep set of stairs, the sleepy-headed children would slump over with tired eyes, before jolting back to attention. The sky turned from shades of purple, to bright pink and orange, the wispy clouds catching the brightest light along their edges. The children were amazed, and finally, felt awake (at least, that's what they told themselves).

XCXCJust as the sun began to brighten the city, the gentle slithering of snake-like bodies could be heard shuffling around in the long morning shadows. At the very bottom of the staircase, the hatchlings noticed two tall beings adorned in ornamental, protective garb, each with a hefty lance to guard their post. As the sun rose, lighting the top of the temple through the trees, the guards wearily traded places with fresh bodies, handing off their lances and wishing the next guards well. The hatchlings watched the exchange curiously, mesmerized by how the half-reptilian people slithered and bobbed their bodies about, as if swimming on land.

XCXCGently, Warmonger stood and moved to the very edge of the stairs, and gave a booming call to the people below. The sound could be described as a cacophony of cries, somewhere between the screaming call of a bird and the wail of an angry feline. It was terrifyingly loud, despite the thick stone mask, frightening even the hatchlings who weren't quite sure what to make of the racket. Apparently, however, the serthis people knew what it meant and moved into action.

XCXCAs if on cue, people who were milling about suddenly began to scramble to grab items from their homes and farms, and lined up near the guard post. The hatchlings tried to flatten their feathers and fur, and shuffled around their parents' feet, to see what all the commotion was about. One of the guards gave a quick glance at the dragons above, and looked shocked, clearly noticing the hatchlings. Warmonger stretched his wings, as did his Maiden, and both gave a slight nod.

XCXCAnd so, the serthis began to slither up the stairs, gliding almost effortlessly to the top. As they did so, the dragons moved further back on the temple's open area, shuffling the children along to do the same. From somewhere on the sides of the temple, two more serthis appeared quietly, setting out large cloth sheets and pillows for the dragons to rest on, and a large metal dish for food to be placed in. Their parents seemed completely unphased, so the children followed suit wherever they could, and tried to stay quiet.

XCXCOnce the dragons were settled in, and the helpers subsided, each serthis approached slowly after reaching the summit, bringing gifts of food and treasure to the feet of the dragons. The youngest of serthis would generally bring freshly picked grasses, vegetables, and baked goods, while the oldest serthis brought gifts of runic stones, and healing potions, claiming they would help in battle against their enemies.

XCXCWhen all was said and done, usually the dragons would wave away the final person, give a final look over their goods, and carry the treasure to their secret abode. With the new hatchlings, however, Warmonger looked to his Maiden before taking the pack of treasures alone. Maiden nodded and watched as he took off into flight, swiftly carrying the hefty bundle of goods into the depths of the forest. She looked to her children and gestured to the bowl of food. The girls took some grasses and dried crickets, while Wasp bat at a flighty mantis. Copper sat quietly, with a softened mushroom, and looked at their mother as she spoke. "Today, we will rest easy, and dine on the sacrifices of our people. Do not take this lightly, however, as you have plenty of learning to do." Copper nodded, and she continued, "When your wings are stronger, and feet swifter, then we shall reveal our true home to you."

---

Crim Items Blue Cricket Banded Sardonyx Natural Might Fragment Zephyr Acuity Fragment Cindershroom

Regeneration Firefly Boxer Mantis Jungle Grass

XCXC

Pinkerton Ambush (Day 1) Blue Birdskull Armband (Day 2) Marksman Quiver (Day 3)

XCXCWarmonger hurried his stride as they left the safety of the city, heading into the thickest parts of the forest. Wasp was eagerly trotting alongside his father, when Tigerlily sped up to walk between them, "Why do we need to practice hunting, if the snakes-"
XCXC"Serthis, Lily," Warmonger corrected her. "They are called serthis."
XCXCTigerlily rolled her eyes, "If the serthis bring us food, why do we need to practice hunting anything? Bugs can't be that hard to catch." Snowdrop pattered quickly behind, followed by Copper, both of which sighed heavily at their sister's snarkiness.

XCXCAs they reached the edge of a lazy river, War stopped just short of the clearing, and hunched down next to the four smaller dragons. "It is imperative to learn the basics of hunting, not just for food, but for enemies as well. Have you seen the jaws of a full-grown toridae yet?" The kids shook their heads, and Warmonger smiled behind his mask. With a swift flip of his tail, he knocked Copper out into the open. Copper gasped, stumbled over their feet, and fell into the riverbank with a light splash.

XCXCWithin seconds of Copper's tiny paws hitting the surface, a beastly snapping jaw flew out of the water, thrust in their direction. Copper hadn't even seen it before falling into the water, but there it was, larger than life - a massive, full-grown toridae, with a mouth full of sharp teeth. Before any sound could leave Copper's mouth, Wasp had jumped after his sibling and knocked the air out of Copper's lungs. In the same instant, their father had launched himself from the underbrush, claws digging into the beast's snout. Pestilent sludge oozed out of the cracks in the Warmonger's stony mask, and the toridae writhed painfully away from his claws, hissing and scrambling to regain footing on the wet rocky shore. The hatchlings scrambled back from the terrifying struggle, and watched as their father let the beast slink back into the water, rushing downstream.

XCXCWarmonger regained his controlled demeanor, and shook the plague from his mask, watching the toridae in the distance. "This is our territory, and we must defend it, not just for us, but for the safety of our people." He turned to the hatchlings at last, and raised his head a little higher. "In return for our protection, that is why the serthis take care of us so. They fear and respect us, as they should." He moved from the riverside, and leaned down to the hatchlings, almost hissing, "If you show weakness, they will not fear you. If they do not fear you, they will hunt you. This is your lesson for the day. Remember it well."

---

Crim Items Arroya Toad Fir Branch Blue Stripe Centipede Resplendent Top Hat Crimson Rootvine

XYXY

XCXC

Pinkerton Discipline (Day 4)

[center][color=#CC5900][size=7][font=papyrus][b][u]Journal Day #4[/u][/b][/font][/size] [i]Hunting and Gathering[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/zP43ia1.png[/img] ----- [columns][color=grey] [sub][b][i]Crim Items[/i][/b] Jungle Grass Koi's Shoulder Pads Two-tone Brown Beetle Bulrush Blue Honeycomb [/sub][/color] [nextcol][sub][color=grey]Discarded Ribbon Discipline Depin Hide Dusk Rogue Gloves Pickaxe[/color][/sub] [nextcol][color=transparent]XCXC[/color] [nextcol][color=grey][sub][b][i]Pinkerton[/i][/b] Small Block of Granite (Day 5) [/sub][/color][/columns]

XCXCThe city of Aspeaus was busy as usual during the daytime, with serthis slithering from vendor to vendor in the marketplace, children learning to clean their scales, while others warmed themselves in the afternoon sun. Less busy, however, were the dragons who watched over this well-hidden jungle home of theirs, as they relaxed in their peaceful, chilly temple. The serthis would not bother them here, until they demanded sacrifices, so they were free to rest as much as they'd like.

XCXCAlthough he'd grown quite a bit in the first few days, Wasp was still young and impatient, and found himself pacing the cold stone floor of the shady temple. He finally pounced on his dad, who was sitting regally at the entrance, watching the bustling city below. "I haaaate being cooped up in here," he whined, pressing his paws into the larger skydancer's side. "Will you take me exploring today?" Warmonger shifted his gaze to the child and sighed, "It would be best to familiarize yourself with the city...So, I suppose I can take you exploring for awhile." He rose to his feet, and moved to his mate's side, touching his stony mask to hers, "Maiden, dearest, will you entertain the others for a bit? We'll be back shortly."

XCXCAs the two reached the bottom of the temple stairs on gliding wings of green, the standing guards moved back to give them ample landing space, shifting back to their places once the dragons had moved further ahead. The pair of dragons began to move through the city, causing many of the serthis to stop in their tracks and fearfully move out of the way. Children hid behind their parents, while elders bowed their heads slightly. What could the beasts want? Why were they down from the temple on this day?

XCXCWarmonger held his head high, and with the added height from his mask, he towered over the reptilian people. His son on the other hand, stood at a third of the height of his father, and was met with the eyes of most younger serthis. In them, he noticed varying levels of fear, disgust, even anger. He squinted his eyes, and huffed at some of the more aggressive looking adults, a small warning to back off, causing only the weakest of them to flinch.

XCXCThe city was larger than he realized, as it took much more walking than Wasp had assumed it would. It must've been half an hour before they got through the city's stone-carved buildings and walkways, eventually reaching underdeveloped dirt paths. Wasp was determined not to complain about the sores on his feet, but was definitely happy to be on soft, natural ground. As they reached the thinning edges of the city, Wasp noticed there were sparse thatch-roofed homes along the outskirts, followed by small farms and ranches which began to blend in with the thick jungle surroundings. Chickens, goats, and small animals wandered loosely around some of these homes, but ran from the dragons as soon as they came into view. Wasp chuckled quietly at the fearful simple creatures.

XCXCIt was here that Warmonger suddenly stopped, sat down, and reached up to touch his stone mask on both sides. With a low rumble in his throat he began chanting with guttural ancient words, hissing and spitting with force and anger. It was nothing like anything Wasp had ever heard in his short life, and it made his hair stand on end. He stumbled a few paces behind his father to hide his ruffled feathers, and tried to calm his breath. He'd never seen his parents remove their masks, and wasn't sure what to expect, and braced himself for the worst....

---

Crim Items Giant Lilypad Decorative Feather Fan Contaminate Boneskitter Boxwood

Dark Might Fragment Gladiator's Warhorn Icewarden Ice Sculpture Hippocamp Spines Tarnished Correspondence

XCXC

Pinkerton Iron Gear (Day 7)

[center][color=#CC5900][size=7][font=papyrus][b][u]Journal Day #6[/u][/b][/font][/size] [i]Mother's Vow[/i][/color][/center] [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]Warmaiden had decided to take this day to spend some time with her feisty daughters, Snowdrop and Tigerlily, and took them on a similar walk through the city as Warmonger had done with Wasp the day before. Before they reached the outskirts of town, however, Maiden steered them to a small stone and thatch hovel, and gestured for the girls to stay back while she sat at the doorway. An old, downtrodden serthis slithered her way to the doorframe. Her darkened scales were dull and chipped, and her crackled, leathery skin showed her age and long days in the sun. Once her body was just outside the hovel, she presented a cloth bag to the adult dragon, giving a soft bow before sliding back into her shady home. [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]Warmaiden gave a gentle nod before standing and moved along with her daughters, the bag now safely tucked into a sling around her neck. The two quietly looked at each, before picking up the pace to get on either side of their mom, where Snowdrop finally asked carefully, "So...What exactly [i]are [/i]we doing today, Mother?" Warmaiden was quiet a few paces longer, before raising her head higher, "I will show you my birthplace, and from it, you will be become stronger." Snowdrop simply tipped her head skeptically, while Tigerlily bounced with excitement, chirruping happily. [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]At last, Maiden led the girls to an opening in the trees, in the center of which stood a massive Kapok tree. Its strange twisted roots stood taller than any of the dragons, and its trunk rose higher than any of the surrounding canopy, fading into the distance. Although they were surrounded by many massive trees in the jungle, this one was clearly special, as she led the hatchlings around the base of the tree until an opening in the roots was revealed. Lily gasped, and dashed forward to peek inside, "It's... It's full of gems!" [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/kaLtG92.png[/img][/center] [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]Maiden nodded and urged them into the tiny space, which led further below the roots, rather than into the trunk of the tree. The terrain was rough going down, and the path was dark and cramped, but the roots and glittering gemstones made a natural staircase to a small space below. The girls' feathers were ruffled from the unknown environment, but it was here that Maiden produced some calming, glowing baubles which gave just enough light for the three dragons to see each other. [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]As the girls exclaimed at the beautiful, glittering space surrounding them, light shimmering across faceted gemstones, Maiden used her magic to close off the entrance with crystal and the young girls suddenly fell silent. "I brought you here not only to marvel at its beauty, but to tell you the truth of my actions, and to persuade and train you in [i]complete secrecy.[/i]" At this point, Maiden slowly removed her stone mask, revealing typically slender skydancer features, save for the jarring scar-like gemstones embedded across her beak and jawline. [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]Her dark earthy eyes scanned across both her children, and she reached a hand to each before continuing, "You may not understand now, but I hope some day you will. You're [i]all [/i]still young, and have much to learn...but I need you to promise me, with a sacred vow, that you will [i]not [/i]tell the others, [i]especially [/i]not your father, about what you learn here." She squeezed their hands hopefully, and the girls nervously looked to each other again, thinking slowly. [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]Snowdrop felt a dryness in her throat, like a lump of clay, as she didn't know what to think or say, and her claws loosened from her mother's slightly. Lily on the other hand, sat forward excitedly and grinned, grabbing her mother's hand with both hands, "I'd love to learn from you, Mom! Teach me everything! I won't say a peep!" Snowdrop scratched at her soft white belly, but nodded anyway. Something about lying to her own family just felt wrong, but perhaps it was for the best? [color=transparent]XCXC[/color]Her thoughts were interrupted by Warmaiden, who sat up again, refitting her stone mask to its proper place. Once redressed, she moved the crystal barrier aside, and motioned for the girls to follow her out. "Let us begin our training a day from now. I still need to take some time to prepare a proper lesson. For now, let us return before sundown." ----- [columns][color=grey] [sub][b][i]Crim Items[/i][/b] Shadowbinder Onyx Idol Zephyr Might Fragment Crocheted Tadhop Hat Onyx [/sub] [nextcol][color=grey][sub]Blue Birdskull Armband Trilobite Fossil Spidered Seat[/sub] [nextcol][color=transparent]XCXC[/color] [nextcol][color=grey][sub][b][i]Pinkerton[/i][/b] Hypnotic Scallop (Day 6) [/sub][/columns]