Dragons

T'Gra looked over the realm below him. He had found a good cloud to lie upon in the baking sun. Not a wind moved. He knew, his siblings were other places in the world at the moment, where there was need for their gentle winds. The sun had baked mercilessly upon the realm for several weeks now and T'Gra had wondered, why Read Moreno rain had come yet. What did the Bloodline of Water really do, if not providing the world with water? “Hmm, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself,” he grumbled and took off from the cloud. He cut through the air and called the clouds together. He did not need much wind, but he did need rain and preferably a lot of it. When he had gathered a good portion clouds, he started to arrange them, so they would give him a good storm – one with a lot of water and enough wind to spread the water over the realm. When he was happy with the formation, he dived towards the realm with his storm on his tail. The dark clouds boomed and thundered and when T'Gra was over the first dry spot in the realm, he lashed with his tail and released the storm. Then he flew up above it and considered his work. The two-leggeds almost flew above the ground in an effort to get under shelter from the storm, but he also heard joy for the break of heat. With a smile T'Gra flew back to his cloud and got comfortable on his cloud in the sun again...Read Less

Shaimar (Guardian of the Wind) and Kithril (Tamer of the Storm) stood waiting for them on the highest peak in the mountains surrounded by a blowing wind. Farmiel struggled forward with his siblings of the same age up to them. Several times the wind pushed them backwards and Farmiel tried to grab hold of something with his claws to slow the decline. It didn't work and he felt a hard head bump into his butt under his tail. “Hey, watch out!” came a half-irritated sound from his sister, Quatari. “Sorry. It's Dad. His wind is too strong!” Farmiel lamented. Read More“Nonsense! It's about reading it!” came a confident voice off to the side, where their other sister, Draxa, fought her way forward by moving from side to side and in fits and starts. Farmiel observed her and noticed that Farmion was already far ahead of them, doing exactly the same thing. But he made it look so easy. “Come on Farmiel! Move!” Quatari grumbled and Farmiel took a deep breath before he struggled forward again. He tried to read the wind, as Draxa had said, but it was too wild and instead he tried to do the same as Draxa. Farmion was already at their parents’ place. The first few steps went well, but on the third the wind swept his leg out from under him and he fell as tall as he was and hit his nose on the rock. It hurt. Quatari overtook him and seemed to have figured out how to move forward in the wind. Farmiel watched her for a while before he managed to push himself up and followed her. He tried to do as she did, but while it seemed to work for Quatari, he didn't feel any particular progress. It was slow going and he fell several times before he finally managed to reach his parents, who were already telling the others something. "Off you go," said Shaimar and Farmiel watched his siblings throw themselves from the peak, unfold their wings and be swung into the air by the wind. Farmion found his balance first and shortly after he was riding the wind as if he had never done anything else. "Ah, beautiful. He brings the sidewind to himself and uses it," came Kithril's satisfied voice. “Yes, he is the Bringer of Side Winds,” came Shaimar and Farmiel blinked in surprise. So that was why they had been called here. Today they would find their purpose! He struggled wearily to his feet and staggered to the edge when his father put a leg in front of him. “Wait. You had a rough ride up. You’ll need all your strength if you want to throw yourself into your mother’s storm out there,” he said warningly. “But… I AM ready! I PROMISE!” Farmiel insisted, looking out at his siblings as his mother let out a happy outburst. A waterspout had formed out there and Quatari was whirling around in it, laughing loudly. “You’ve never been the strong one of your siblings,” his mother said bluntly and it stung Farmiel. He wanted to be strong. His father was strong. His mother was strong. So why couldn’t he be strong? He had to be, right? “I can!” he insisted again stubbornly. He would show them how strong he was! His parents exchanged a long look before his father moved his leg. “Then fly. But remember, it was your choice!” his father said seriously. Farmiel swallowed a lump and nodded seriously and walked to the edge. Here he could feel the storm wind ripping and tearing at everything that came near it. His siblings were flying around out there. Draxa still seemed to have a little trouble finding her balance, but Farmion and Quatari were frolicking in the storm. Farmiel jumped off the peak and the storm wind sucked him in and threw him high into the air. He tried to spread his wings and fly, but the storm threw him around and prevented him from spreading his wings completely. “What do I do?” he thought in panic, as all his attempts to fly failed. A joyful scream sounded somewhere in the storm and suddenly the wind began to whip around him. He caught a glimpse of Draxa, lashing out into the air with her forelegs and tail, and with each blow it was as if the wind was whipping and not just blowing. “Glorious, so she makes the wind whip!” he muttered, irritated at being last among his siblings again. He began to lose height and tried to spread his wings. But the wind whipped at him and locked his wings tightly to his body. He began to lose height and tried to unfold his wings. But the wind whipped at him and locked his wings tightly to his body. “Draxa, stop!” he screamed in panic and tried with all his might to break free from the wind. A crosswind lifted him up a little and he looked gratefully at his brother, Farmion, who came flying towards him with a big smile, when the wind whipped again and Quatari's waterspout suddenly hit Farmion and threw him off course. The crosswind disappeared immediately and Farmiel fell again. This time he could hear his siblings screaming in panic. Also Draxa, who always seemed to have everything under control and know everything. “The wind is too wild. Too much storm. We need calm,” the thought flew through his head. Something he had tried to say to his family several times, because everything always had to happen at a breakneck pace or be wild to be good. He liked it, but he also liked peace and quiet and taking his time. But there was never room for that. “The winds are not gentle. They are wild and free!” his mother had said. His strong mother. “You were never the strong one of your siblings,” his mother’s voice rang out in his head again, as he watched the sharp rocks come closer and closer. “Gentleness can also be strength, mother,” he said through clenched teeth, thinking of the calm breeze he had always preferred. And as he thought of it, the breeze wrapped itself around him, pushing away the storm’s suffocating grip. He could move his wings! Quickly, he unfolded them and swept into the air before hitting the sharp rocks at the bottom. Above him, the storm raged uncontrollably. He could see his parents trying to save his siblings. His father had Farmion in a claw and his mother was trying to penetrate the waterspout to catch Quatari. Meanwhile, Draxa had gotten herself caught in a whipping gale, her movements only adding more damage than stopping it. Farmiel flew up and assessed the situation, deciding to help Draxa first. Maybe his mother could tame the waterspout. “Draxa! Breathe, relax, you’re making this worse with your panic!” he called through the storm, but she couldn’t hear him. He took a deep breath and flew closer to her, ignoring his father’s warning protest. He trusted the breeze and flew very close to Draxa. Her gale tried to whip through the breeze, but Farmiel spread the breeze out and in to calm it, speaking softly to Draxa. “Draxa, relax. It’s okay. Just relax,” he said soothingly, touching her front leg. She looked up at him in alarm. But that was quickly replaced by confusion when she realized the gale had died down. “How did you do that?” she asked, wondering. “The breeze. Sometimes it’s a good idea to take things at a leisurely pace,” he replied with a smile, leading her back to the peak, where she landed and took a deep breath. “Thanks. I think I should take it a little easier with my ability,” she admitted. “How cool!” Farmion said impressed, landing with their father. A little later, Quatari and their mother also returned. “So there is some strength in you. Not one I expected, but I am glad you found it, son,” his mother praised him and he blushed proudly. “Farmiel, Caller of Breeze. That shall be your name,” his father said solemnly and Farmiel felt joy spread within him.Read Less

Udraz was excited! The night was closing in and N’Gira had promised him, that he could fly with her tonight and experience the dreams up close. “Are you ready?” N’Gira asked and Read Morelanded behind him on the cloud. “Yes!” he squeaked with his little voice and his eyes glowed red in the dark. “Then keep up!” N’Gira threw herself of the cloud and swiftly glided through the night. Udraz hurried after her. For a moment he feared, that she would fly away from him, but she calmly waited for him. “Where are the dreams?” he asked, when he came up on her side. “Can’t you feel them? Try closing your eyes and inhale,” she encouraged him, and he did as she said. The dreams scent floated up to him and he could feel the sweetness tear in his nose and he sneezed. N’Gira laughed lightly. “How can you stand that sweet smell?” he asked and wrinkled his nose. He had expected something different. A more varied smell than they could smell right now. “It is hope, joy. All the good twoleggeds dreams about, that you can smell. They give me joy.. But sometimes there are also fear in them and that I do not like. For instance like that one,” N’Gira explained and dived towards a dream, which really did smell differently. There was a kind of sharp smell about it. It dampende the sweetness, gave the dream a different smell. N’Gira caught it and suddenly the sweet smell became overwhelming again and Udraz retreated some. “What’s wrong little brother?” N’Gira asked in wonder. “I thought you loved the dreams like I do?” “I do, but they usually smell different. They usually have a variety of smells. Strange. Never the same.This here is too much sweet, he complained disappointed. “Hmm, maybe we should talk with Father about this,” N’Gira suggested and turned in the air.Then she basked with her wings and Udraz had to fight to keep up with her. It took them some time to find Uzul, who spread his dreams over the country below him. “Father, wait. We have a question,”N’Gira called and Uzul turned his head against them. “Ask while I work;” he answered shortly. Udraz and I both love the dreams, but Udraz cannot handle the smell of the happy and joyful dreams,” N’Gira began to explain and Udraz promptly offered: “The smell all too sweet! Not different like some of these do.” He looked happy across the landscape, where he could differentiate the joyful, sweetful dreams from the others more nuanced dreams that had a spicy smell. “That is because you protect the joy and hopes in the dreams, N’Gira. You change them. Removes what can threaten them. It makes them smell heavily sweet. It is not wrong, but it can bring things out of Balance, if you don’t get a little counterplay. And that task falls upon Udraz,” Uzul answered as if it was the most logical thing in the world. “Me? How so?” Udraz asked uncomprehendingly and looked surprised at N’Gira, who looked just as surprised. “You prefer the difference in the dreams. It is the nuances of fear that allures you. N’Gira do protect hope and joy, but no one can have hope or be joyful, if they do not know fear. The dreams are two-sided. Dream and nightmare. Your task Udraz will be to create nightmares. Together you will uphold the Balance,” Uzul told them tired and they noticed that the night was fading. “I won’t make it tonight,” Udraz mumbled disappointed and watched how Uzul basked his way up to disappear back into the Nothingness. “The night will come again, little Udraz. In time you will be the Master of Nightmares,” and with those words Uzul disappeared. Udraz and N’Gira looked at each other for a brief while. Let us fly back home to the nest and plan how we are going to keep the Balance, but I cannot promise you that I won’t eat the fear,” N’Gira warned. “That’s alright. I’ll probably make some mistakes too,” Udraz answered and looked forward to the night would come again, so that he could create his first nightmare. Read Less

Moray (Caller of Sunrise) nudged her newly hatched brother, Ildari (Bringer of Sunbeams). It was almost time to call up the sun and Ildari was going to bring out the sunbeams. Excatly like he had done, when Read Morehe had seen her call up the sun the other day, where he had been hatched. Ildari stirred and Moray nudged him gently again. He opened his eyes and chirped happily at the sight of her. Moray spread out her lilac colored wings, run up and took off the ground. She fought a way up into the sky, before she started her song. The sun climbed and below her, she heard, Ildari add in on her song and the first sunbeams fall down on the nest and hit the two remaining eggs in the nest. The sunbeams had barely touched eggs, before a red head broke through one of the eggs and began to sing even louder than both Moray and Ildari. Her song woke the sleeping on the earth and announced, that the morning had begun. Their father, Orchrid (Protector of Tomorrow) laughed heartily and helped the new hatchling out of her shell. ”Your name shall be Airy, little one, Herald of Daybreak,” his deep voice boomed and Airy made some happy trills in answer. Legend has it that Airy recreates her shell around her every evening, so that she can break out of it, when the first sunbeams, created by Ildari, hits it, she can break out and sing her herald of daybreak...Read Less

Death fascinated Ilya. Its many faces. But she did not care for the noise. All that screaming, begging for mercy, the cries – it hurt her ears. “There has to be another way. A more quiet way to deal out death,” she thought. Ilya tried one method after another, but Read Morenone of them were quiet. Not until she saw someone being strangled. She opened her eyes wide. That method had potential, but there was to much fight between the involved parties. “What if you did not have to put a hand on the victim with violence in mind?” she pondered. Ilya thought long and hard about this puzzle. One day she lay on a spot of grass in a forest and starred out into the air, when her thoughts were interrupted by Kair (The Hunter): “I wouldn't eat that mushroom if I were you,” he said. “Why not?” Ilya asked and looked for the first time at the mushroom. It was orange with brown spots. “You will get strange dreams and a churning in your stomach. The twolegged ones gets uncomfortable of it,” Kair explained. “Interesting,” Ilya nodded and ate the mushroom. It took her many attempts, but at last she succeeded making her own version of the mushroom. She look excited at the twolegged being, as he took a bite of it. A smile showed on her lips – the face of death was beautiful to behold and there was finally quiet. Ever since Ilya has created many a poison and is known as The Poisoner...Read Less

Areol floated between the blank polished, black marble colums. There was no roof on the columns, but that suited her fine. It made it easier to get in and out for her and her siblings. This was where they lived and where they received mesenges when they were needed - or rather her sibling received messenges. Ever since they had been hatched both her brother and sister had known, what they were supposed to do. She still did not know how to pass time. Read MoreAll she knew, was, that she liked it here. Their last brother from the hatch had always preferred to be outdoors and mess with bonepiles and corpses. A roar tore the air asunder above Areols head and she looke up frightful. Someone was angry. Very angry. For a brief moment she considered to fly further away, but then she suddenly sensed more of her bloodlines presence and her curiosity was aroused. Quickly she jumped into the Nothingness, from where the roar had come. A peculiar sight met her, when she appeared in the Nothingness. Several dragons was gathered here and someone had created a temporary footing for everyone to stand on, so they did not have to float around. She instantly recognised her scions – Gnash (Stealer of Life) and Cith’Ra (Harvester of Souls) who was standing in the middle across from the ancient M’Ora (The Lifegiver) from the bloodline of Water, who was fiercely scolding them: ”You destroy life without reason!” she roared angrily and saw sharply on the ancient Iriel (Protector of Souls): ”Teach your young to control their appetite!” Iriel lay with folded wings and looked briefly at her mate D’Grar (Poser of Riddles), before she returned her attention to M’Ora: ”My young follow their instincts just like yours,” came the silken answer. ”Have you lost your minds? We are supposed to protect this world - that is why we came out of the Nothingness in the first place What is there to protect, if these two destroys all life” M’Ora splutterede irate. ”It is not only us that are taking lives - we only take it when it is time. We do not force the twolegged or fourlegged to fight each other,” Cith’Ra answered indignantly and let her gaze wander to the little gathering of the bloodline of War, that was present. M’Ora was about to begin again, this time against the bloodline of War, when D’Grar interupted: ”You are right M’Ora.” Everyone looked puzzled at him. It was rare he said anything and even rarer that he was not speaking in riddles. M’Ora looked content at him. ”So what will you do D’Grar? How will you make amends for the lost lives, that did not have to be lost?” she asked. Areol watched her father with excitement What would he answer? ”I do not know,” he said straightout. M’Ora looked disappointed at him, but then he followed up with an unusual answer: ”But Areol does.” All eyes turned towards Areol, who tried to hide, but as soon as she was pointed out, she had to come forth. She glided down in front of M’Ora, who was enormous to look at. ”So, little one, how will you solve this?” M’Ora asked sceptically and Areol swallowed hard. What was she supposed to say? She looked at her father, but D’Grar only looked encouraging at her. And the she looke at her much older brother and sister. ”Well?” it sounded impatiently from M’Ora. ”How do you weigh a life?” Areol asked and looked atvM’Ora. ”Weigh a life?” the ancient dragon asked astunned. ”Yes. If I am to judge in this matter, I have to know, how you would weigh the lost lives against those rightfully taken,” Areol answered and for every word she became more certain of herself. And before M’Ora could come with a reply, Areol continued: ”I understand Your loss, M’Ora, and I understand your instincts brother and sister, but this world is lacking something. It lacks balance and I will put that straight. I will be the Guardian of Balance and when something gets out of balance, you will come to me and accept my solutions. Can everyone accpet that?” she asked and looked expectantly at M’Ora and the others. ”Accepted,” M’Ora nodded and the first of many scales of balance was created for Areol and her work...Read Less

Ulcis was bored in his cave. It had been a long time since he last had been summoned and he longed after sniffing out the seeds for war. Once he and his bloodline had been feasting on the battlefields. They had created stronger Read Moretwolegged through war. Twoleggeds who could better defend themselves from the monsters from the Nothingness. But the other bloodlines had felt that they had consumed too hard on the twoleggeds. So now they had to wait. Wait and starve. Ulcis growled low-key at the thought. Hate was his driving force and he nourished from. “I may not start a war, but I do have to eat,” he thought and worked his way out of his cave. It was twilight, when he got out and smiled broadly. Dark thoughts and feelings grew best in the nights gloom and darkness. With a few quick steps, he folded out his wings, basked with them and threw himself up into the darkness. He soared through the cool darkness and sniffed the air well and good. He needed a big gathering of twolegged. Maybe close to one of the shadow-ponts? He turned slightly and set a course. After about an hour he felt the change in the air. He took a deep breath again and noticed the different smells, that came to him. Here was potential. He could smell fear, mistrust and … there. A little seed of hate that was just waiting to be watered. He dived and while he rushed towards the ground he shrank in size until he was no larger than a butterfly. He flew in between the houses and sought out his prey. Three days later Ulcis left the town, full and satisfied. Behind him some of the twolegged was building a big bonfire around a high pole. On the way back he met Sangell (Master of Secrets). “What have you been up to?” Sangell asked curious. “A feast. For you and the others,” Ulcis responded and Sangell grinned broadly, opened its maw and exhaled, what sounded like a great hoarse breath, but Ulcis knew better. In a moment the others would come and behold his work - and be full for a time.Read Less

Arachi scraped the soft earth over the acorn. With a little time it would grow and become a fine tre with the rest of its siblings. She looked content at the beginning forest. It reminded her very much of the first forest, she had seen and hence chosen to protect with the rest of the forests. She saved Read Morea little of the forests seeds behind one of her scales on the belly. She had learned over time to keep the seeds safe there and without any inconvience to herself. They were good to have, when it was time to sow new trees to keep the forest... A tormented whine cut through the wind and reached her ears. Trees were being tortured somewhere! Not in this forest, but somewhere else. Quickly she rose up on her hindlegs and shot up through the air in a mighty jump. Only when she as free of the treetops did she unfold her wings and hastened towards the whines. Soon someone would learn what it meant to go foreaging in her blessed forests! She had made sure of that there were enough forests, that one could use as one pleased, but the forests she had blessed and carefully selcted - those one left alone, if one knew what was good for oneself. The forest came into view in the horizon, the whining became louder and Arachi flashed her teeth a moment before she let a devastating roar tear the air apart before her. The trees bent for her and made room - anger coarsed through her... Read Less

The hare sniffed at the air. Something smelled different, but it could not figure out what. Kair lay still on the ground. His scales had taken on the same color as his surroundings. He waited patiently for the hare to settle down again. The hare tripped around a little, but eventually became tempted by some berries on a bush. Kair jumped and caught Read Morewith ease the terrified hare with his forelegs. He did not kill it, for he was not hungry. After a moments satisfaction over the hunt had went well, Kair withdrew his claws and forelegs, so the hare could run away as fast as it wanted. “Was it fun?” Kairs brother, Essar (Gaurdians og the Mountains) asked. He had kept an eye on the whole thing from the air, but landed now next to Kair. “A little. But there is not much challenge in it anymore,” Kair recognized and assumed his normal green color. “Then why not hunt something bigger?” Essar asked and rubbed his head against a tree, because it itched. “I've thought about that, but what should I hunt? There isn't any larger animals in this forest Arachi will let me hunt,” Kair answered a bit reluctant. “Then go somewhere else,” Essar suggested chippy. For a moment Kair looked surprised, then he laughed. “I think, I will,” he said and jumped up into the air, and after a few strong beat of his wings he came up over the forest. Essar followed him. “I have to choose something else than a forest,” Kair mumbled to himself, but Essar heard him. “You could hunt in the mountains – as long as you don't disturbe the natural order too much. Then we will both be in trouble,” Essar answered him with a grin and sat the course to one of his favorite mountainchains. Kair studyed the mountainchain for animallife with curiosity. The animal he wanted to hunt should be of a proper size. His eyes caught the glimpse of tracks in the snow on the mountain and Kair landed smoothly to take a closer look. The pawprints were fine and of a good size. This animal would be good to hunt. Kair began immediately to sniff the tracks, then the air and took of again. He flew a bit after the tracks to ensure the direction, before he made a shortcut to get ahead of the animal. Several times under way he sniffed at the air, to make sure that the animals smell was still strong, and that it therefore should be close by. When he found a good spot he landed and made his scales change color to fit with his new surroundings. Now all he had to do, was wait. Before long Kair noticed that the animals scent became stronger. The animal was approaching and Kair sharpened his senses to hear and smell the animal better. The big cat came trotting through the snow with its own prey in the mouth. It stopped when it suddenly smelled a new scent on its territory. Its movements became more alert, but the big cat took only one step forward before it let go of its prey and roared against Kair. Kair let his camouflage fall and roared at the big cat. Not as a threat but as an acknowledgment for his prey to discover him. Apparently he had more to learn before he would be a skilled hunter – which he became and got the name The Hunter...Read Less

”Shouldn't you be on your wings Forell?” E'Wyn (Caller of the Seasons) asked him, when she saw, that he still splashed around with his tail in the lake. ”Not yet. Spring has only begun,” Forell mumbled, while he tried to Read Morecatch the rainbowcolored fish in hte lake with his tail, but it kept getting away from him. ”Spring has lasted several moons now. If you don't take flight soon, then there will be no Summer this year,” his mother warned him. Forell looked up frightened. ”What do you mean?” he asked hoarsely. ”That if you don't take flight right now, I will allow your older sister to start Fall earlier – and you know how eager she is to take flight,” E'Wyn said. Forells legs scraped up sand and pebbles in a cascade, as he tumbled to his legs. His green wings beat out of tact with each other, while he desparately tried to take control over his body, so that he could gain speed and take off the ground. ”I'm on my way! You mustn't let Augr go yet. There is still time!” Forell huffed, as he ran up from the lakes shore, beat his wings and took off. E'Wyn shook her head of her young. It wold be a brief Summer this year – but that was how it had to be. Sometimes it was the others, that had been late at changing the season – but she had to admit, that Forell was the worst at it. And yet he was still loved – of both dragons and two-legged. Forell had gained enough height in the sky to catch the suns beams and after a couple of sunbathing, he shot across the sky, leading the sunlight towards the ground and enhanced its heat with his own scales. Summer had begun... Read Less

Bith’Ra flew on heavy wings through the last cold air before disappearing through the opening in the mountainside. It was cool in here. Pleasant. Outside, winter was over, spring was on its way and Bith’Ra was Read Moretired. Full and tired. She dragged herself through the long hallway and into the large chamber that was her home. Her nest. Crystals glittered from the walls and ceiling, giving the illusion of a frosty winter night. Bith’Ra looked up at the ceiling contentedly, walked half a lap around herself before lying down and settling down, before falling asleep after a good long winter… Something tugged at her and Bith’Ra growled lightly in her sleep. She wanted to sleep a little longer. Just a little. It tugged at her again and Bith’Ra lazily opened one eye. The crystals glittered around her. A cool wind drew into her nest. “Winter” Already?” she thought tiredly and her stomach began to rumble. She was hungry. She took a deep breath and stood up slowly. Her body had become slim, almost thin. “Hmm, maybe more food this winter. Then maybe I can sleep a little longer,” she mused as she moved towards the end of the mountain. She could smell the end of autumn out there. How everything almost held its breath and waited. Waiting for her. She looked out over the landscape below her and nodded contentedly. It would look beautiful, covered in snow and frost. Bith’Ra took to her wings, took a deep breath, opened her great mouth and let out her call. A call filled with a loud, clear, bright sound that reflected crystals and frost and winter to her. In the distance, she could feel Idrazir reacting and she smiled. Winter was coming. Read Less

Quari walked aimlessly around the nest. Her siblings were already off on adventures, but she didn't know what to do with herself. “Why don't I know what to do?” she wondered with a deep sigh. She considered flying away for a while, but she didn't really want to. Read MoreAn empty, hollow feeling filled her and she trudged back up into the nest to lie down. She woke up to a large snout nuzzling her. “Wake up, little Quari,” came her father’s deep, rumbling voice. Sorell, the Earthshaker, looked at her and she lifted her head listlessly. She felt completely dull and unyielding. “What’s wrong, father?” she asked with a yawn. “I sense… emptiness in you. You lack a purpose,” he replied and she could hear his concern. “I don’t know what to do,” she muttered and stuck her snout back into the nest. “Get up, little Quari! You mustn’t let emptiness fill you!” Sorell warned her severely and she forced her head back up. “But… what am I to do?” she asked, confused. “Come,” he said and turned around and walked to the edge of the cliff. With one last glance over his shoulder at her, he spread his wings and dove into the depths of the mountain. Terrified, Quari quickly crawled out of the nest and to the edge. She had never ventured down. Only outside. She couldn't see her father down in the darkness. “Come, little Quari,” his deep, rumbling voice sounded, but it came from far away. Quari gathered her courage, spread her little wings, and jumped out into the darkness, diving down. The further down she went, the warmer the air became. “Hmm, strange,” she thought as she floated down. A little later she sensed her father's large figure and she landed in the darkness next to him. Her vision was getting used to the darkness down here and she began to make out the outlines around her. They were standing on a kind of molten surface in a large room, with several passages leading off in different directions. “This way,” her father said, and walked calmly towards a larger exit. She followed, feeling the funny feeling under her feet. Uneven, but smooth. In some places there was something depicted on the floor, but her vision wasn’t good enough to see what. They came through the exit and the heat grew stronger, and so did the light. A large crater was in the middle of the floor in here, and her father walked right to the edge. “Come and look,” he said, and she obeyed. When she looked down into the crater, she saw something that reminded her of liquid fire, trapped at the bottom. But there wasn’t much of it. She wanted to touch it. It was so nice and warm here. She tentatively reached one of her claws into the crater, then stopped and looked up at her father. “Just try,” he said calmly. She reached further forward, but couldn't reach it. She hunched her belly further up the edge of the crater and reached down again for the liquid fire. She just wanted to examine it. She stretched and stretched when there was a loud crack and the crater rim gave way beneath her and she fell into the crater and the liquid fire. She had expected her father to try to grab her, but all she felt was the warm liquid fire wrapping itself around her. It was hot! And oh, so nice! She rolled in the liquid fire until it stuck to her entire body before she tried to fly up from the crater floor. She had half expected it wouldn’t be possible, but after a few tries, she managed to get over the edge and onto the floor. The moment her fire-covered feet hit the floor, it began to melt beneath her. She took a step back and saw that the fire had stuck to the floor in a lump. Curious, she poked the lump with a claw. It moved and an idea unfolded in her head and she began to shape the lump of fire, which had parts of the floor with it. When she was satisfied, she left the lump and began to make a new lump. Then another and another. “How are you now, Quari?” asked her father, who had chosen to lie down and observe her. “Much better! It was fun. Can we do it again? When there is more liquid fire in the crater?” she asked eagerly. “Hmm, it will probably take some time. Maybe you can create something yourself with your dragon fire? But that will have to be another day. It is almost time to eat, my little shaper of stones,” he replied and Quari looked at him with her head tilted slightly. “Shaper of stones?” she asked, wondering, savoring the titel. It sounded nice. “Mmh. You just shaped new stones and I would think you will create many more. It seems you have found your purpose,” he replied and she smiled happily.Read Less

The Nothingness was dry. Bonedry. His skin had dried so much up, that it was peeling off. Here and there scales had become loose and was starting to fall off. It ached in his joints and muscles, when he moved. His wings almost creaked, when he spread them out and folded them again. Wounds had started to show, where the skin was most dry at the joints he used most. Slowly he glided through the Nothingness, when Read Morehe out of the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of light. Ever so slowly he turned his head towards the light and moved towards it. His body ached under the movements, scales fell off, skin crackled and blood seeped down his side. But he paid it no attention. He had gotten used to the pain. The light grew in strenght and shimmered in blue and green hues. As he came closer, he could see there was a rift in the Nothingness. Without futher thought he made a somersault and got a good distance to the rift. His skin crackled several places and more scales flew off, but he paid it no mind. Instead he accelarated and headed straight for the rift and broke through it. The water enclosed him from all sides. The wounds was cooled down. The skin softened. He could move more freely again. He tried to flex his wings. They squeeked a bit, but for every stroke, it became less and less. He shot through the sea. Rolled around. Dived and hunted the fish up. Played in the wet element, as if it was his element. Some places the sunlight made it through down to the bottom of the seabeds sand, coralls, stones and life. Other places were as dark as night and cold. For a long time he explored his new domain. His body was almost young again. New scales were on their way, but suddenly life in the sea began to dwindle. He had always been precautious with his meals - never eaten more than neccesary and let the young ones be, so new life could floursih. But now the sea was quiet. He began to track the life, that usually kept themselves in the coralreefs and discovered, that the coralreef had been smashed. By something big and violent. He searched further along and shortly after he heard a tormented dolphincry. He sped up and when he came above a sandbank, he saw a dolphin fighting to get away from a large, long body, that most of all looked like a long scaly tail. The beast was red with black fins and a slight rattling tail. Its size was about his own. The dolphin was cornered againt a rockwall, but it was to hurt to swim up without being taken by the red beast. K'Har put off from the sandbank, stretched his claws in full lenght and opened his mouth ready to bite down in the red beast. The red scaly head whirled around towards him, but it did not have the chance to move away from him, before K'Hars claws bore down in it and forced it to the seabed with all his weight. The red beast slashed with its tail and tried with its big mouth, which was filled with razorsharp, long, pointy teeth, to bite K'Har. But K'Har was a much more experienced hunter than the red beast and after a short brutal fight - K'Har could let go of the red beast again, who now lay still at the seabed. K'Har licked his wounds, while the dolphin got over and carefully brushed against his side as a thank you. ”Where does it come from?” K'Har growled and looked down at the red beast. The dolphin answered with a series of sounds, before it swam away. ”So – you are not alone,” K'Har growled and looke annoyed at the red beast. His new domain was in danger of being extinguished of life, if these red beasts was not kept in check by someone. They could make the sea into a new place for the Nothingness. ”That must not happen,” K'Har mumbled to himself and looked back in the direction he came from. He could hear shrill screams in the distance, that did not belong to the life, he knew from the sea. ”The sea is my domain. And I will guard it forever. If you want to be here - it will be on my terms!H” he roared against the three long, red shapes, that came towards him in a high speed ... And so began K'Hars guarding of the sea for many, many, many years ago ... Read Less

“Come on, Idrazir! Fly up to us!” Farmiel (Caller of Breeze), called out as he did somersaults in the air. Idrazir had folded his wings close to his body and was running around beneath them. “I can’t do that! It’s not time yet!” he shouted to them, looking longingly at the others playing in the air. “Oh, come on! What’s Read Morethe worst that can happen?” asked Quari (Shaper of Stones), as she tried to catch Farmiel, who had once again slipped away from her in the air. “Unbalance,” Idrazir answered seriously. He could feel it in his bones that it would be wrong to fly. He had to wait. That was just the way it was. Bith’Ra (the Winter-Crown) hadn’t called him yet. Only when the call had sounded could he fly. But then he would have the whole winter to fly in. The rest of the year he used his legs. And that was fine. He had strong legs. He was quick and agile on the ground as he was in the air. But he missed playing with them up there… “But it’s almost winter. Maybe Bith’Ra has slept through it? Who says you can’t fly yet?” Farmiel asked encouragingly. Idrazir could hear that they wanted to play with him and it was tempting to spread his wings. He was actually about to unfold them at the thought, but stopped himself. Balance came first! He knew that and so did they. “That’s not going to work. Why don’t you come down and play here instead?” he asked hopefully. “But it’s more fun to fly. I spend a lot of time down on the ground and under it,” Quari complained half-heartedly. He knew that she loved being down by the craters and when she wasn’t there, the air was where she wanted to be. Idrazir sighed and stopped on the ground. He wished he could fly with them. He looked around and fixed his gaze on a tree whose leaves had already fallen off during the fall. Nature had prepared for winter, but it was waiting. Waiting for Bith’Ra. Waiting for him. He sighed again when a sound reached his ears. A loud, clear, bright sound that reminded him of crystals and frost. “Bith’Ra is calling!” he thought happily and felt his wings loosen at the call. He unfolded his small wings and took to the sky. “Hey, you came anyway! I’m the catcher, and…” Farmiel began happily, but Idrazir interrupted him: “Later! First I have to fly!” Idrazir skimmed over the top of the bare tree and flew on. Where he had just been, traces of frost began to appear.Read Less