[center][i]Sucar Nest #8
Menth[/i]
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81894752][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/818948/81894752.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/88848589][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/888486/88848589.png[/img][/url]
I've never felt such fury in my life. I've never borne witness to such utter cruelty - and Mother has been plenty cruel before. Oh, yes, she's been cruel, but she's never had the capacity for this manner of absolute devastation. No, this is something mortal dragons will never be capable of, no matter how black and shriveled their hearts become, even if they lie still in their chests.
I've seen it before everyone else, one upside to this [i]gift[/i] forced on me as I slept - Psyche is cursed, by the Lightweaver herself. Unless it's lifted, as Mother's was, she'll never bear eggs again. It's been days since I first noticed, but I've finally been able to speak to her about it, and once she'd finished crying - though she's clearly still grieving - we agreed to move her away from Mother's little camp of influence. We waited for Mother to leave the area - Orphisa, bless that man, invited her out on a nice, long flight today - and just about every other Fae in the clan swooped in to get everything moved over. Mother isn't back yet, but I'd imagine it won't be pretty when she gets here. But Psyche will be safe, lairing so close to the center of the clan. No one is willing to stand by and watch while she's dragged back to a place so full of hurt.
But I still have to know - [i]why?[/i] Why now, and why Psyche? It almost looks like a punishment from on high - Psyche has been less and less perfect in Mother's eyes, culminating - or so I'd thought before this happened - in their argument over Adonis's grandchildren. (It ended in a beautiful line from Psyche - "I thought you said it's a mother's right to decide the fates of her children." A classic belief Mother uses all the time to sacrifice her own flesh and blood to a war no one asked her to participate in. Oh, the look on her face was precious.) In light of that, it almost feels like the Lightweaver is taking Mother's side - but that's almost impossible. I've had some talks with the Guides, and they all agree that the Lightweaver absolutely hates Mother's quest and everything it represents - so why did the curse land on Psyche? Did she [i]miss?[/i] Is she setting an example? Surely there would be better ways than ruining a young girl's life. There [i]have[/i] to be better ways.
I don't know what the Lightweaver's problem is, and I'm not sure I'll get to find out, but I'm going to protect Psyche as best I can through all this. We have our many differences, but she's still my sister - the only one I have left - and she needs whatever help she can get. She's all but inconsolable right now. The least I can do is make sure she gets enough food and doesn't have to listen to Mother screeching.
[img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/nests/8/2.png[/img][/center]
Sucar Nest #8
Menth
I've never felt such fury in my life. I've never borne witness to such utter cruelty - and Mother has been plenty cruel before. Oh, yes, she's been cruel, but she's never had the capacity for this manner of absolute devastation. No, this is something mortal dragons will never be capable of, no matter how black and shriveled their hearts become, even if they lie still in their chests.
I've seen it before everyone else, one upside to this
gift forced on me as I slept - Psyche is cursed, by the Lightweaver herself. Unless it's lifted, as Mother's was, she'll never bear eggs again. It's been days since I first noticed, but I've finally been able to speak to her about it, and once she'd finished crying - though she's clearly still grieving - we agreed to move her away from Mother's little camp of influence. We waited for Mother to leave the area - Orphisa, bless that man, invited her out on a nice, long flight today - and just about every other Fae in the clan swooped in to get everything moved over. Mother isn't back yet, but I'd imagine it won't be pretty when she gets here. But Psyche will be safe, lairing so close to the center of the clan. No one is willing to stand by and watch while she's dragged back to a place so full of hurt.
But I still have to know -
why? Why now, and why Psyche? It almost looks like a punishment from on high - Psyche has been less and less perfect in Mother's eyes, culminating - or so I'd thought before this happened - in their argument over Adonis's grandchildren. (It ended in a beautiful line from Psyche - "I thought you said it's a mother's right to decide the fates of her children." A classic belief Mother uses all the time to sacrifice her own flesh and blood to a war no one asked her to participate in. Oh, the look on her face was precious.) In light of that, it almost feels like the Lightweaver is taking Mother's side - but that's almost impossible. I've had some talks with the Guides, and they all agree that the Lightweaver absolutely hates Mother's quest and everything it represents - so why did the curse land on Psyche? Did she
miss? Is she setting an example? Surely there would be better ways than ruining a young girl's life. There
have to be better ways.
I don't know what the Lightweaver's problem is, and I'm not sure I'll get to find out, but I'm going to protect Psyche as best I can through all this. We have our many differences, but she's still my sister - the only one I have left - and she needs whatever help she can get. She's all but inconsolable right now. The least I can do is make sure she gets enough food and doesn't have to listen to Mother screeching.
[center][i]Sucar Nest #8[/i]
Things are a bit more settled now. We have Psyche's lair secured, all her belongings moved over. Mother has had her explosive fit, as everyone knew would happen, but Psyche had a safe place to retreat to this time. I'm working on finding her work somewhere in the clan so she's not left with her thoughts all the time; she's mentioned a curiosity about alchemy, so I'm considering visiting Rhys to ask him a favor. He likes his solitude, though, so I'm investigating other options as well.
It's been a while since I bothered updating this old journal. Without that snake breathing down my neck about regular nests, there's been no call. I've found that I'm happier with other men, anyways - Eira and I have gone our separate ways, and while I've bounced around a bit trying to fill my overall needs, I think I've found something fairly stable in [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84078636]Telomere[/url], one of the younger sons of the Old Throne. I can only assume his name was their attempt at splicing together their own names; either way, it's quite pretty, in my eyes. He's remarkably colorful for a hunter, but as quiet as one might expect, and very steady. I could list his virtues for quite a while, honestly, but the most touching is that he always seems to have me in mind before I need to ask for anything. I almost feel bad about not thinking about him more than I do, but he seems not to mind, and it's pointless to compare the two of us too closely - we're independent individuals, not molded to one another's features. And we ought to stay that way.
He really has helped me quite a lot, though. Beyond the obvious benefits of genuine emotional fulfilment, which I would recommend more often if the subject ever came up in conversation, he's offered me more in the way of personal decorations, including some additions to my tail that I'm remarkably fond of. He also arranged with a passing Shadow pilgrim to help create a pair of enchanted glasses - the theory is that the Shadow magic could help counteract or filter out the Light blessing on my eyes, thus dulling or negating my emotional vision. And it's beautiful like this. I couldn't remember a time before my blessing, but now I can barely imagine going around every day half-blinded by everyone else's emotions. How was I supposed to see them for who they are long-term when all I could see was how they felt in the moment? And lingering magic, I suppose, it's how I could identify divine curses. I really have to wonder whether Orphisa was blessed as well, or born with this power. I almost hope it was the latter, so he hasn't been missing this visual quiet since entering the Lightweaver's service.
Speaking of pilgrims, I do have children to speak of. Their mother, Menthe, was a pilgrim passing through, just the same as how Mother selects mates; but while Menthe was happily going off to exaltation, she wanted something she could leave behind, a legacy of her own to outlive her. And as much as I do prefer men, I still enjoy being around and partnering with women, so I was perfectly willing to help her. We've hatched a pair of twins, Caera and Corwen, who I'll be sending out into the wider world to live good, full lives of their own once they're grown. They may not come from a long line of prophets, but I can still foresee bright futures for them both.
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89636273][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/896363/89636273.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89636274][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/896363/89636274.png[/img][/url][/center]
Sucar Nest #8
Things are a bit more settled now. We have Psyche's lair secured, all her belongings moved over. Mother has had her explosive fit, as everyone knew would happen, but Psyche had a safe place to retreat to this time. I'm working on finding her work somewhere in the clan so she's not left with her thoughts all the time; she's mentioned a curiosity about alchemy, so I'm considering visiting Rhys to ask him a favor. He likes his solitude, though, so I'm investigating other options as well.
It's been a while since I bothered updating this old journal. Without that snake breathing down my neck about regular nests, there's been no call. I've found that I'm happier with other men, anyways - Eira and I have gone our separate ways, and while I've bounced around a bit trying to fill my overall needs, I think I've found something fairly stable in
Telomere, one of the younger sons of the Old Throne. I can only assume his name was their attempt at splicing together their own names; either way, it's quite pretty, in my eyes. He's remarkably colorful for a hunter, but as quiet as one might expect, and very steady. I could list his virtues for quite a while, honestly, but the most touching is that he always seems to have me in mind before I need to ask for anything. I almost feel bad about not thinking about him more than I do, but he seems not to mind, and it's pointless to compare the two of us too closely - we're independent individuals, not molded to one another's features. And we ought to stay that way.
He really has helped me quite a lot, though. Beyond the obvious benefits of genuine emotional fulfilment, which I would recommend more often if the subject ever came up in conversation, he's offered me more in the way of personal decorations, including some additions to my tail that I'm remarkably fond of. He also arranged with a passing Shadow pilgrim to help create a pair of enchanted glasses - the theory is that the Shadow magic could help counteract or filter out the Light blessing on my eyes, thus dulling or negating my emotional vision. And it's beautiful like this. I couldn't remember a time before my blessing, but now I can barely imagine going around every day half-blinded by everyone else's emotions. How was I supposed to see them for who they are long-term when all I could see was how they felt in the moment? And lingering magic, I suppose, it's how I could identify divine curses. I really have to wonder whether Orphisa was blessed as well, or born with this power. I almost hope it was the latter, so he hasn't been missing this visual quiet since entering the Lightweaver's service.
Speaking of pilgrims, I do have children to speak of. Their mother, Menthe, was a pilgrim passing through, just the same as how Mother selects mates; but while Menthe was happily going off to exaltation, she wanted something she could leave behind, a legacy of her own to outlive her. And as much as I do prefer men, I still enjoy being around and partnering with women, so I was perfectly willing to help her. We've hatched a pair of twins, Caera and Corwen, who I'll be sending out into the wider world to live good, full lives of their own once they're grown. They may not come from a long line of prophets, but I can still foresee bright futures for them both.
[center][i]Nest #28
Virak[/i]
[center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78742064][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/787421/78742064.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/88534445][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/885345/88534445.png[/img][/url]
Well. I suppose all is a bit clearer now. Psyche, it seems, is an utter failure for her appointed purpose. She was meant to be my perfect replacement, my failsafe gift to the world in the event something prevented me from completing my quest, but her failures have compounded to the point our glorious goddess has deemed her completely unfit for service. She will never bear another egg, and must live in shame with her disgrace of a brother as the only one who will still pay her heed. I had such hope for her early on. But this world or her own rotten nature has ruined her.
There is no time left to try again. The wider world closes in, advancing ever faster on this last bastion of radiance, this last shelter of the One True Light. I must devote myself, more determined than ever, to my own cause. All I have left is Adonis, my perfect, precious Adonis, the only child who ever learns his lesson. He's had his failures as well, but unlike all the others, he knows how to repent and improve. Would that his failures of siblings could be more like him. I can only hope he carries that spark in his future as a general, inspiring by example the legion of siblings and descendants long since practicing their duties.
I continue to add to that list. In addition to just having sent off so many of the sleeping children awaiting their training, I've poached another of this wretched clan's own to put him to use creating something for the Glory - spiral-eyed Virak, who looks so very similar to that detestable wretch that has stolen my own blood from me. He's produced a respectable three eggs, enough to push me into the last quadrant of my quest. We'll see how he fares after that. Before he leaves for his own service, anyways.
[img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/nests/8/3.png[/img][/center]
Nest #28
Virak
Well. I suppose all is a bit clearer now. Psyche, it seems, is an utter failure for her appointed purpose. She was meant to be my perfect replacement, my failsafe gift to the world in the event something prevented me from completing my quest, but her failures have compounded to the point our glorious goddess has deemed her completely unfit for service. She will never bear another egg, and must live in shame with her disgrace of a brother as the only one who will still pay her heed. I had such hope for her early on. But this world or her own rotten nature has ruined her.
There is no time left to try again. The wider world closes in, advancing ever faster on this last bastion of radiance, this last shelter of the One True Light. I must devote myself, more determined than ever, to my own cause. All I have left is Adonis, my perfect, precious Adonis, the only child who ever learns his lesson. He's had his failures as well, but unlike all the others, he knows how to repent and improve. Would that his failures of siblings could be more like him. I can only hope he carries that spark in his future as a general, inspiring by example the legion of siblings and descendants long since practicing their duties.
I continue to add to that list. In addition to just having sent off so many of the sleeping children awaiting their training, I've poached another of this wretched clan's own to put him to use creating something for the Glory - spiral-eyed Virak, who looks so very similar to that detestable wretch that has stolen my own blood from me. He's produced a respectable three eggs, enough to push me into the last quadrant of my quest. We'll see how he fares after that. Before he leaves for his own service, anyways.
[center][i]Nest #28[/i]
This insufferable world. I thought, fool though it may have been, that I could corral someone born into this useless clan into understanding his duty, but no. They claim to worship the same goddess I do, but the practices of the savage pretenders must be preventing them from understanding the core truth of the world. Would that I could rip them all out with my own claws and see these people shine, just to know someone other than myself is capable of brilliance for even a moment.
Virak is gone and more than gone, in the wake of his own failed deviousness. Not only has he refused the call of the One True Light, not only has he spat at my feet and thrown one foul accusation after another at me, he spent much of the day flying circles around this clan's territory attempting to rally the residents against me. He failed, of course - all his vitriol has achieved is causing discomfort in those forced to listen, and while no one has arrived to offer me unneeded comforts as yet, I hold little doubt that they at least recognize enough to know which of us two is truly being maligned here.
He's spawned rather pretty children, though, I will give him that. All are imperfect, yes, but I could see them being lovely attendants to our Glorious Goddess. Until they're sent out for their true righteous duties, at any rate. I've chosen to name them Seibal, Trilak, and Wispar - all perfectly nice names, better than their useless father could ever have earned for them. I wonder if he yet has family in this clan I could find. Perhaps they'll find a way to make up his shortfall.
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89866170][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/898662/89866170.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89866171][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/898662/89866171.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89866172][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/898662/89866172.png[/img][/url][/center]
Nest #28
This insufferable world. I thought, fool though it may have been, that I could corral someone born into this useless clan into understanding his duty, but no. They claim to worship the same goddess I do, but the practices of the savage pretenders must be preventing them from understanding the core truth of the world. Would that I could rip them all out with my own claws and see these people shine, just to know someone other than myself is capable of brilliance for even a moment.
Virak is gone and more than gone, in the wake of his own failed deviousness. Not only has he refused the call of the One True Light, not only has he spat at my feet and thrown one foul accusation after another at me, he spent much of the day flying circles around this clan's territory attempting to rally the residents against me. He failed, of course - all his vitriol has achieved is causing discomfort in those forced to listen, and while no one has arrived to offer me unneeded comforts as yet, I hold little doubt that they at least recognize enough to know which of us two is truly being maligned here.
He's spawned rather pretty children, though, I will give him that. All are imperfect, yes, but I could see them being lovely attendants to our Glorious Goddess. Until they're sent out for their true righteous duties, at any rate. I've chosen to name them Seibal, Trilak, and Wispar - all perfectly nice names, better than their useless father could ever have earned for them. I wonder if he yet has family in this clan I could find. Perhaps they'll find a way to make up his shortfall.
[center][i]Sucar Nest #9
Terrai[/i]
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81894752][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/818948/81894752.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/66203884][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/662039/66203884.png[/img][/url]
This is something unusual - once again, a wandering pilgrim has requested my help leaving a legacy in this world. The pace of trainees passing through Clan Scuridae looking for training is picking up, and keeping the more idle members of the clan a bit busier to keep up. Psyche is temporarily taking the job I was once punished with and sorting the incoming food items - my hope is that it connects her with the rest of the clan a bit more firmly, gives her a chance to ask questions and receive real answers. I'm something of an internal courier in turn, welcome among most factions to deliver goods and information. It's nice work, honestly, and it always gives me something to do.
Adonis, unfortunately, is also being kept busy. As the only one left for Mother to order around and cast her judgement on, he's almost never home anymore, even as Chandarei waits for him every evening. He's not the only one kept out like this, but he's the one I'm concerned with - Ashtara cast her lot in with Mother voluntarily, and the champion they travel with has every authority to refuse activity. As far as I'm concerned, they're electing to take this path, where Adonis so clearly wishes he could do anything else.
But I'm forced to admit there's a purpose, as bitter as it is. Incredibly bitter, because it forces me to admit that Mother was right. War is coming, and soon. Everyone can feel it - in the air, the earth, the very bones that give us structure. Some fear it; others find it exciting. I don't know when this war will arrive, but it can't be that much longer. And what it will mean for my clan and my family is just as far out of reach. I hope, at the least, that it doesn't mean I'll lose anyone permanently.
[img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/nests/8/2.png[/img]
Sucar Nest #9
Terrai
This is something unusual - once again, a wandering pilgrim has requested my help leaving a legacy in this world. The pace of trainees passing through Clan Scuridae looking for training is picking up, and keeping the more idle members of the clan a bit busier to keep up. Psyche is temporarily taking the job I was once punished with and sorting the incoming food items - my hope is that it connects her with the rest of the clan a bit more firmly, gives her a chance to ask questions and receive real answers. I'm something of an internal courier in turn, welcome among most factions to deliver goods and information. It's nice work, honestly, and it always gives me something to do.
Adonis, unfortunately, is also being kept busy. As the only one left for Mother to order around and cast her judgement on, he's almost never home anymore, even as Chandarei waits for him every evening. He's not the only one kept out like this, but he's the one I'm concerned with - Ashtara cast her lot in with Mother voluntarily, and the champion they travel with has every authority to refuse activity. As far as I'm concerned, they're electing to take this path, where Adonis so clearly wishes he could do anything else.
But I'm forced to admit there's a purpose, as bitter as it is. Incredibly bitter, because it forces me to admit that Mother was right. War is coming, and soon. Everyone can feel it - in the air, the earth, the very bones that give us structure. Some fear it; others find it exciting. I don't know when this war will arrive, but it can't be that much longer. And what it will mean for my clan and my family is just as far out of reach. I hope, at the least, that it doesn't mean I'll lose anyone permanently.
[center][i]Sucar Nest #9[/i]
Goodness, has it ever been busy here. I've hardly had a moment's rest between helping Psyche, carrying messages between the clan's factions, mediating disputes between all those same factions, the Riot of Rot and avoiding Mother's machinations all throughout - I cannot fathom how Snappers operate on no sleep all the time, I'm about ready to fall out of the sky with how little I've gotten the past few weeks. I can't imagine how it must be for those clans who are seriously preparing for war on top of it all. It's almost enough to wish for the old misery of incubating that snake's eggs for Mother's benefit. At least then I could sleep.
I don't mean that, of course. But I have been thinking, when I've had the time. When Mother's last poor fool left, he spent a while doing laps around clan territory trying to incite a pseudo-rebellion against her. He was young, and angry, and ultimately flew off gods-know-where when no one wanted to listen to him. But in a sense, it's rather tragic - everyone already knows how awful she is, they've just chosen not to intervene. I understand why, honestly - even if I wish they'd stepped in while we were all young, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/68332553]Haunani[/url] explained to most of us in hibernation why they don't kick her out and take her poor children in. It's really a rather admirable set of morals - the clan as a whole is essentially a very large ragtag band of misfits who all know what it's like to be in need of a home, the Old Throne included, and with such a cultural emphasis on religious tolerance they all balk at the idea of using one's faith as an excuse to cast them out. But then you have people like Virak, young dragons born into the clan's stability and love, who simply have no way of understanding the perspective of their elders. All they see is the hurt she's causing right now, to all her kin. And it's difficult to reconcile these things.
And almost without me noticing, I have new kin of my own. Their mother is electing to leave the clan as well - she largely raised the two on her own, since I've been so busy, and has successfully encouraged them to leave in their own right. We've named them Ayaki and Ruteno, and with any luck they'll manage to escape the impending war entirely. That's one tendency I want to end with my generation of Mother's descendants. Maybe my siblings and I can't leave, but others should be allowed that option.
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90008861][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/900089/90008861.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90008862][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/900089/90008862.png[/img][/url]
[rule]
[i]Hey guys! Small author update again, I'm super burned out from an intense college semester and my ability to write is vanishing again, so updates might be spotty for the next month or two. Hopefully by the new year I'll be better off, though![/i][/center]
Sucar Nest #9
Goodness, has it ever been busy here. I've hardly had a moment's rest between helping Psyche, carrying messages between the clan's factions, mediating disputes between all those same factions, the Riot of Rot and avoiding Mother's machinations all throughout - I cannot fathom how Snappers operate on no sleep all the time, I'm about ready to fall out of the sky with how little I've gotten the past few weeks. I can't imagine how it must be for those clans who are seriously preparing for war on top of it all. It's almost enough to wish for the old misery of incubating that snake's eggs for Mother's benefit. At least then I could sleep.
I don't mean that, of course. But I have been thinking, when I've had the time. When Mother's last poor fool left, he spent a while doing laps around clan territory trying to incite a pseudo-rebellion against her. He was young, and angry, and ultimately flew off gods-know-where when no one wanted to listen to him. But in a sense, it's rather tragic - everyone already knows how awful she is, they've just chosen not to intervene. I understand why, honestly - even if I wish they'd stepped in while we were all young,
Haunani explained to most of us in hibernation why they don't kick her out and take her poor children in. It's really a rather admirable set of morals - the clan as a whole is essentially a very large ragtag band of misfits who all know what it's like to be in need of a home, the Old Throne included, and with such a cultural emphasis on religious tolerance they all balk at the idea of using one's faith as an excuse to cast them out. But then you have people like Virak, young dragons born into the clan's stability and love, who simply have no way of understanding the perspective of their elders. All they see is the hurt she's causing right now, to all her kin. And it's difficult to reconcile these things.
And almost without me noticing, I have new kin of my own. Their mother is electing to leave the clan as well - she largely raised the two on her own, since I've been so busy, and has successfully encouraged them to leave in their own right. We've named them Ayaki and Ruteno, and with any luck they'll manage to escape the impending war entirely. That's one tendency I want to end with my generation of Mother's descendants. Maybe my siblings and I can't leave, but others should be allowed that option.
Hey guys! Small author update again, I'm super burned out from an intense college semester and my ability to write is vanishing again, so updates might be spotty for the next month or two. Hopefully by the new year I'll be better off, though!
[center][i]Nest #29
Kitona[/i]
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78742064][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/787421/78742064.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90008817][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/900089/90008817.png[/img][/url]
War approaches, ever more swiftly. Migrants looking for training have been flowing into the clan in ever greater numbers, and I'm no longer the only one settling in to create her own offerings. To this end I've secured spiral-eyed Kitona, another in that wretched woman's image, and brought him to heel. The One True Light smiles upon my efforts, delayed though they may be; these four eggs will surely mature in time to participate in the first battle against the Arcane menace, though the timing will be close. Perhaps there will be other ways to ensure sufficient contributions. I still have one loyal, perfect son to my name.
But even Adonis does not understand what he is asked to do, even after all this time. He is a great warrior, but not a great thinker - in all things he needs my direction and guidance. And he is obedient and loyal, but not unwaveringly so - time and time again, he questions, or fails to question and acts on his own faulty perceptions without consulting me. This has been an understandable tendency for most of his life, but I begin to despair for his ability to lead his siblings, his children and niblings, as the Glorious general he was always destined to become. There cannot be much time left before his service begins. Would our Glorious Goddess be more successful in educating him than me? I'm sure it would be so if needed, but it would be lazy to offer her an unfinished product. I will have to find a new method for his education - perhaps this war will serve as a more efficient classroom, if I can find a way to ensure he faces true conflict.
[img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/nests/8/4.png[/img]
Nest #29
Kitona
War approaches, ever more swiftly. Migrants looking for training have been flowing into the clan in ever greater numbers, and I'm no longer the only one settling in to create her own offerings. To this end I've secured spiral-eyed Kitona, another in that wretched woman's image, and brought him to heel. The One True Light smiles upon my efforts, delayed though they may be; these four eggs will surely mature in time to participate in the first battle against the Arcane menace, though the timing will be close. Perhaps there will be other ways to ensure sufficient contributions. I still have one loyal, perfect son to my name.
But even Adonis does not understand what he is asked to do, even after all this time. He is a great warrior, but not a great thinker - in all things he needs my direction and guidance. And he is obedient and loyal, but not unwaveringly so - time and time again, he questions, or fails to question and acts on his own faulty perceptions without consulting me. This has been an understandable tendency for most of his life, but I begin to despair for his ability to lead his siblings, his children and niblings, as the Glorious general he was always destined to become. There cannot be much time left before his service begins. Would our Glorious Goddess be more successful in educating him than me? I'm sure it would be so if needed, but it would be lazy to offer her an unfinished product. I will have to find a new method for his education - perhaps this war will serve as a more efficient classroom, if I can find a way to ensure he faces true conflict.
[center][i]Nest #29[/i]
War beckons; within the next few days, the first battle will begin, and Adonis will be present to help fight. His mate will of course be doing her duty for the Greatest Glory and incubating their eggs while he is gone - of that, I've made sure. He leaves tomorrow for the site I've managed to identify as being the most likely battleground.
For me, though, my wartime nest is complete. Four hatchlings, all beautiful Fae, and one - my new dear Cassandra - is a lovely new Primal, though already her power is causing me grief. She'll scarcely look at me, and keeping her in the nest with her siblings has been a nightmare - not least of all because she keeps trying to drag one of her brothers with her. (Three boys and one girl. The One True Light understands its needs; I can only hope her stubborn streak dies down in the near future.) I do my best to keep an eye on them all, but I find myself growing tired again - now is not a time I can afford to be cursed once more, but the enemies of the One True Light are cunning, and recognize the need to suppress the most devout of followers during times of trial. I will have Orphisa to help me, at the very least.
I will of course be keeping Cassandra to teach her the proper ways of service to the Greatest Glory - I cannot help but wonder if she is a divine gift to replace Psyche, the wretched traitor she was, and if so she must be my last opportunity. I will be careful this time. Psyche's growth was rushed, but Cassandra must outlast me, carrying on the legacy of our beliefs once my quest is done and I have given all myself to our Glorious Goddess. I must not fail again. There is no remaining room for error. There is no longer time.
As for her brothers - Maltri, Dolren, and Ceruse - they remind me of the other children I've raised, my dutiful son Adonis and his irresponsible younger brother, but they will not be remaining out among the clan. Their destiny is also on the battlefield, serving the One True Light with all they have from the day they open their eyes. There can be nothing else - no greater task could they ever find than this divine service. And I should be honored to prepare them for it.
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90822437][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/908225/90822437.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90822438][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/908225/90822438.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90822439][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/908225/90822439.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90822440][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/908225/90822440.png[/img][/url][/center]
Nest #29
War beckons; within the next few days, the first battle will begin, and Adonis will be present to help fight. His mate will of course be doing her duty for the Greatest Glory and incubating their eggs while he is gone - of that, I've made sure. He leaves tomorrow for the site I've managed to identify as being the most likely battleground.
For me, though, my wartime nest is complete. Four hatchlings, all beautiful Fae, and one - my new dear Cassandra - is a lovely new Primal, though already her power is causing me grief. She'll scarcely look at me, and keeping her in the nest with her siblings has been a nightmare - not least of all because she keeps trying to drag one of her brothers with her. (Three boys and one girl. The One True Light understands its needs; I can only hope her stubborn streak dies down in the near future.) I do my best to keep an eye on them all, but I find myself growing tired again - now is not a time I can afford to be cursed once more, but the enemies of the One True Light are cunning, and recognize the need to suppress the most devout of followers during times of trial. I will have Orphisa to help me, at the very least.
I will of course be keeping Cassandra to teach her the proper ways of service to the Greatest Glory - I cannot help but wonder if she is a divine gift to replace Psyche, the wretched traitor she was, and if so she must be my last opportunity. I will be careful this time. Psyche's growth was rushed, but Cassandra must outlast me, carrying on the legacy of our beliefs once my quest is done and I have given all myself to our Glorious Goddess. I must not fail again. There is no remaining room for error. There is no longer time.
As for her brothers - Maltri, Dolren, and Ceruse - they remind me of the other children I've raised, my dutiful son Adonis and his irresponsible younger brother, but they will not be remaining out among the clan. Their destiny is also on the battlefield, serving the One True Light with all they have from the day they open their eyes. There can be nothing else - no greater task could they ever find than this divine service. And I should be honored to prepare them for it.
[center][i]Adonis Nest #12
Chandarei[/i]
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/79993453][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/799935/79993453.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80426675][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/804267/80426675.png[/img][/url]
I've hardly had a minute to myself since that disastrous visit. Training away day and night, practically passing out the minute I get back to my den, and Mother's judgements and pronouncements everywhere in between. I'm seriously considering just not going to this battleground Mother is sending me - I'll have no escort, and even if I did, no one but Mother herself would force me along the path. I could just walk into the woods somewhere and not come back for a week. But Argus wants me to go, and he's been so kind to me all this time - it feels cruel to deny him any of the infrequent requests he makes. Is this a sign that the Lightweaver wants my service? The idea breaks my heart. I'd rather think Argus sees something I don't, some way to make this good for me.
But it twists my stomach to leave regardless, knowing Chandarei is sitting on a nest to appease Mother further. Three eggs, and I doubt I'll meet any of the children inside. Not a single opportunity to hold them, name them, kiss their little heads before having them ripped away. I'll have to trust in my mate to make sure they don't go unloved and unremembered. At least they'll have Psyche to help; she's been gently shooed from her work in the food stores to help cover nests, at least for the time being. She misses her young as much as I do mine, and mourns the loss of the chance to keep some of her own one day. It's heartbreaking to watch, but hopefully helping to incubate the nest of a family member will help. I can't do much, but at least my absence will have one positive.
[img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/nests/8/3.png[/img][/center]
Adonis Nest #12
Chandarei
I've hardly had a minute to myself since that disastrous visit. Training away day and night, practically passing out the minute I get back to my den, and Mother's judgements and pronouncements everywhere in between. I'm seriously considering just not going to this battleground Mother is sending me - I'll have no escort, and even if I did, no one but Mother herself would force me along the path. I could just walk into the woods somewhere and not come back for a week. But Argus wants me to go, and he's been so kind to me all this time - it feels cruel to deny him any of the infrequent requests he makes. Is this a sign that the Lightweaver wants my service? The idea breaks my heart. I'd rather think Argus sees something I don't, some way to make this good for me.
But it twists my stomach to leave regardless, knowing Chandarei is sitting on a nest to appease Mother further. Three eggs, and I doubt I'll meet any of the children inside. Not a single opportunity to hold them, name them, kiss their little heads before having them ripped away. I'll have to trust in my mate to make sure they don't go unloved and unremembered. At least they'll have Psyche to help; she's been gently shooed from her work in the food stores to help cover nests, at least for the time being. She misses her young as much as I do mine, and mourns the loss of the chance to keep some of her own one day. It's heartbreaking to watch, but hopefully helping to incubate the nest of a family member will help. I can't do much, but at least my absence will have one positive.
[center][i]Sucar Nest #10
Feltia[/i]
[url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81894752][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/818948/81894752.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/83707834][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/837079/83707834.png[/img][/url]
My head has been spinning all week trying to wrap my mind around what's going on currently. The simplest way to frame it is that the overall claims of divine warfare may have been... vastly overstated. The current war taking place is - if the things I'm hearing are to be believed - being waged through the means of [i]competitive library excavation.[/i] Not over who gets to lay claim to the library; whose followers can do a better job of bringing its contents back to light, so they may be enjoyed by those who might find use in them again. It actually sounds like the decisions over who gets what have been made quite amicably.
Am I going insane? Or is it really possible that Mother has been so deeply, utterly, fundamentally incorrect about the nature of the gods in this world? The wider clan acts as if this is perfectly commonplace - perhaps to them it is! None of them ever bothered telling the rest of us, so I can't say for sure! Is this the natural order of things? Is there an exception during the festival of another deity? Is there some vast cover-up to keep the civilians pacified and profit in ever more exalts? I'm incapable of ruling anything out for certain just yet, with how unpredictable everything feels. I can only hope to hear a first-hand testimony one of these days, to properly lay my mind to rest.
In the meantime, a long-term sleeper of the clan has emerged from the den recently - Feltia, a beautiful young woman with a way of cozying up to just about anyone she pleases. She's kind and thoughtful, and for once, I'm not tempted to take off my glasses to see if it's genuine. Perhaps I will when the egg we're incubating hatches - but for now, it feels good to trust in her, and to know only the self she wants to present to the world. I hope my trust is rewarded. But I won't step away from the uncertainty out of fear just yet.
[img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/nests/8/1.png[/img][/center]
Sucar Nest #10
Feltia
My head has been spinning all week trying to wrap my mind around what's going on currently. The simplest way to frame it is that the overall claims of divine warfare may have been... vastly overstated. The current war taking place is - if the things I'm hearing are to be believed - being waged through the means of
competitive library excavation. Not over who gets to lay claim to the library; whose followers can do a better job of bringing its contents back to light, so they may be enjoyed by those who might find use in them again. It actually sounds like the decisions over who gets what have been made quite amicably.
Am I going insane? Or is it really possible that Mother has been so deeply, utterly, fundamentally incorrect about the nature of the gods in this world? The wider clan acts as if this is perfectly commonplace - perhaps to them it is! None of them ever bothered telling the rest of us, so I can't say for sure! Is this the natural order of things? Is there an exception during the festival of another deity? Is there some vast cover-up to keep the civilians pacified and profit in ever more exalts? I'm incapable of ruling anything out for certain just yet, with how unpredictable everything feels. I can only hope to hear a first-hand testimony one of these days, to properly lay my mind to rest.
In the meantime, a long-term sleeper of the clan has emerged from the den recently - Feltia, a beautiful young woman with a way of cozying up to just about anyone she pleases. She's kind and thoughtful, and for once, I'm not tempted to take off my glasses to see if it's genuine. Perhaps I will when the egg we're incubating hatches - but for now, it feels good to trust in her, and to know only the self she wants to present to the world. I hope my trust is rewarded. But I won't step away from the uncertainty out of fear just yet.
