#then I look next to it and see: a wildclaw female

[snekafka]

do you just sometimes FEEL THE GENDER of your dragons?

like I have male dusthide, but refuse to believe that's a guy, even when this lil shit [♂️] is present. She gives of too much 💅 energy

silhouette scroll coming in clutch fr

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 46

Burdockcreek died of greencough.

[Image ID: Clammask, Rustshade, and Weedfoot stand together, each with + CONDITION: GRIEVING underneath them. The ghosts of Twinekit, Burdockcreek, and Locustseeker stand above them.]

Fennelspot asked that Burdockcreek’s loved ones say goodbye to him before he passed. He was asleep, his breath strangled by mucus, but Fennelspot assured everyone that he would be able to hear them. He and Troutpaw moved Wildclaw back into the medicine den to give each member of the Clan their moment alone with the young historian. 

Oilstripe asked to go first and quietly stepped into the quarantine den. Burdockcreek laid curled up in his nest, the symptoms of his deadly condition draining down his face. Oilstripe took a quiet spot beside him.

“Is it okay that I don’t feel too heartbroken?” Oilstripe asked. “I don’t want you to go, of course. You’re my brother. I trained you. I don’t think I’m as close to you as Clammask or Dad, but I’m still your older sister. It’s just that… did you know Twinekit joins you on patrol some days? And Locustseeker watches us when we’re studying the world and telling stories to the kits. I still haven’t seen our mom after so many moons, but our siblings visit so much, it’s like they never left. I forget that’s not how it is for other people.

“What I mean to say is, Twinekit and Locustseeker are in the den with us. Twinekit insists that she’ll be the Fetcher for all of her littermates, it’s rather cute. It’s true, Twinekit! You’re perpetually cute. If you wanted to be taken seriously, you could have waited to die. Locustseeker’s here for moral support, Burdock. They’re excited to talk to you again. You’ll have a good time in StarClan. I’ll see you soon, little brother.” Oilstripe ran her tail over Burdockcreek’s feverish head and left her brother behind.

Weedfoot came in next. Her belly was swollen with her second litter, making her waddle into the den. She pressed her muzzle into Burdockcreek’s neck.

“You were as much my apprentice as Oilstripe’s,” she muttered. “You shouldn’t be leaving before I do. I’m sorry.” Weedfoot lingered in Burdockcreek’s unconscious embrace, unafraid of catching his disease. She only looked up when Clammask’s soft paws padded in.

“I’m sorry,” Weedfoot gulped, sitting up and clearing her throat. “I forgot this wasn’t his vigil yet. I’m taking up your time.”

“No, don’t leave,” Clammask croaked, stepping in front of Weedfoot when she moved to go. “I don’t want to say goodbye alone.” Weedfoot welcomed Clammask into her embrace, letting the golden molly rest her head under her chin. Weedfoot’s warmth covered Clammask. The deputy gently licked Clammask’s ear until she was ready to talk.

“Do you remember the last Harvest Moon,” Clammask mumbled, “when Burdockcreek challenged the LynxClan historians to a climbing competition? StarClan, he lost so bad, he moped behind the Leader’s Stone for… for… I can’t do this. I can’t remember my brother like this.” Clammask turned away from her dying brother. Weedfoot waddled to her side and walked her out of the den.

Rustshade came in a short while later. He stared at Burdockcreek, whose breathing had grown slow in the moments since Clammask left. Rustshade couldn’t keep his claws seathed.

“Are you here, StarClan?” Rustshade growled, looking up into the ceiling of the shipwreck. “You can’t take him. Why do you think you can take another of my kits from me? You don’t get Burdockcreek. You can’t have him.” Rustshade slipped beside his son. He closed his eyes, willing Burdockcreek to claw back from the edge and stay by his side.

Burdockcreek stopped breathing shortly after.

(Burdockcreek: 40, male, historian, competitive, lore keeper)

(Oilstripe: 50, female, historian, charismatic, ghost sight)

(Weedfoot: 95, female, deputy, charismatic, steady paws, formidable fighter)

(Clammask: 40, female, caretaker, righteous, lore master, good teacher)

(Rustshade: 90, male, codekeeper, sneaky, learner of lore)

Puddlepaw and Ripplepaw are the first of their litter to earn their names. Ripplefern gets moth wings from Downstar as a gift for graduating.

[Image ID: Puddlewhisper and Ripplefern stand as adults. Ripplefern has moth wings tucked behind her ear. Above Puddlewhisper, it says LEVEL UP! PUDDLEPAW -> PUDDLEWHISPER, ODDLY OBSERVANT -> NATURAL INTUITION, MORBID CURIOSITY -> GHOST SENSE. Above Ripplefern, it says LEVEL UP! RIPPLEPAW -> RIPPLEFERN, AVID PLAY-FIGHTER -> GOOD FIGHTER, SPLASHES IN PUDDLES -> TALENTED SWIMMER, + ACCESSORY: MOTH WINGS.]

(Puddlewhisper: 12, trans female, codekeeper, righteous, natural intuition, ghost sense)

(Ripplefern: 12, female, historian, charismatic, good fighter, talented swimmer)

The AshClan cleric, Newtstream, asks for spare thyme. Fennelspot hands some over.

[Image ID: Fennelspot and Darkkick face Newtstream, who says “I really am glad you’re alive, Darkkick.” Darkkick responds, “Where was this concern when you let Autumnstar exile me?”]

---

Newtstream was there. She was there, in RippleClan’s camp, speaking with Fennelspot and Spikecrash like it was the most natural thing in the world. And she would notice Darkkick any second.

With his tail as tended-to as it would be for now, Parsley and Carnationspeckle offered to take Darkkick on a tour of the territory. It was strange to walk through land that Darkkick knew in passing, knowing that it may soon become as familiar to him as AshClan territory once was. With spring weather bringing life to the territory, Darkkick had a lot to say on how the caretakers were managing their gardens and utilizing the ocean. He couldn’t lie, when he had been AshClan’s clerics, he dreamed of the days when he’d lead a patrol to the ocean to collect rare salt, but now, once his tail was healed, he would be able to swim in that glistening water whenever he wanted. Perhaps he should have joined RippleClan earlier.

That simple joy crumbled when Darkkick’s tour group returned to camp near sunset and saw Newtstream sitting in the sand. Darkkick kept his face still as his former apprentice noticed him. As soon as her brown eyes widened, Darkkick strolled across the clearing, ignoring how his tail ached when he held it high.

“The rumors are true then,” Newtstream said softly, studying Darkkick. “You’ve returned to the Clans.”

“So I have,” Darkkick huffed. He refused to break eye contact with Newtstream. He would not break first. From the corner of his eye, Darkkick could see Spikecrash get ready to interject, but Fennelspot put his tail on her worn splint.

“I don’t see any reason AshClan can’t use some of RippleClan’s thyme incense,” Fennelspot said. A movement of his paw broke Newtstream’s stare. Fennelspot rolled an incense stick to Newtstream’s paws. “This bowl is a beautiful offering.” He placed his paw on the lip of a well-carved wooden bowl, perfect for ceremonies or meals for honored guests.

“AshClan thanks you, Fennelspot,” Newtstream said, bowing. “And it was good to meet you, Mediator Spikecrash. I hope your recovery continues as expected.”

“Thank you,” Spikecrash gulped, casting a glance at Darkkick. “It… will be nice to see you and your Clan’s mediators at my first Gathering. With the way my healing is progressing, Fennelspot says I’ll be better by the end of the season!” Spikecrash flexed her back paws. It seemed Fennelspot had done a good job.

“If you’ll speak to Halibutdusk over there,” Fennelspot explained, nodding to Halibutdusk by the oven, “he can escort you back to AshClan.”

“May StarClan watch over you, Fennelspot,” Newtstream said. She reached down for the incense, but paused. She stood back up and looked at Darkkick, her whiskers drooping. “I really am glad you’re alive, Darkkick.”

“Where was this concern when you let Autumnstar exile me?” Darkkick spat. His spit flew onto the incense. Newtstream closed her eyes for a moment. Then she picked up the incense and walked toward Halibutdusk.

“Spikecrash,” Fennelspot sighed, “it’s probably better that you not mention your relationship to Darkkick around other Clans. They may not take it well.”

“Because he was a cleric?” Spikecrash asked.

“Because she’s the reason I’m not one anymore,” Darkkick growled, cocking his head at Newtstream as she left camp. “StarClan told all the clerics that RippleClan was to be founded, and when I told Autumnstar, he called me a liar and exiled me. Newtstream was my apprentice. She said nothing in my defense, even though she saw the same things I did!” He yowled in the direction of the exit, knowing full well that Newtstream would be able to hear him.

“Darkkick may not be a cleric anymore,” Fennelspot explained, rubbing against Darkkick to soothe his shaking pelt, “but it’s better if the Clans get used to the idea of his return before hearing that he stopped keeping his oath.”

“That oath stopped bearing weight when I followed StarClan’s will and they did nothing to protect me,” Darkkick growled.

(Darkkick: 106, male, warrior, lonesome, talented swimmer, understands nature)

(Fennelspot: 103, male, cleric, insecure, trusted advisor, incredible runner)

(Spikecrash: 21, female, mediator, wise, good speaker, lore keeper)

[rosa-cerdae]

Ok been awhile since I did a breeding project update but I'm in the mood so I'll do one now

No pictures because I'm lazy but I will format it nice

Umber/Gold/Sunshine

Dion and Mia

Since I last updated, they had two nests. They both actually had decent colors but were full of Nocs when I was breeding them to replace nocs in the grandparent pairs. I eventually ended up tossing Mia and replacing her with a Wild claw, LaZarra. Mia was honestly better and gene wise than LaZarra, but I really need an imp and LaZarra has one of the genes that's been tricky to get into this project, so I'll take it. I do still have Mia just in case this goes bad as well, but what will probably happen is I'll be breeding Mia to some of Dion and LaZarra's children to see if I can get them a little better color and genewise, but I do need imps

Phthonus and Alika

They had their first breeding and the resulting babies were... Something. I was going to let it be and hope it went better next time, but someone in the DWF offered me a male reject Wildclaw (Mars) that had better genes. Colors are a bit worse than Phthonus' but I honestly don't care. As long as the babies get most or all of the genes I want them to get and have colors that are like within three or so of the goal, they'll work and I can get 5 egg nests now

Monika's studding

This went really well. All the dragons resulting from it were all grandparent quality. One of the dragons, Marco, has two out of three colors exact and had the corresponding genes in those slots as well. He did have a wrong primary gene, but he was so good otherwise I let it slide and Teya needed a mate. He does have a sister I kept who has all the right genes but isn't as good color wise. If a good replacement comes for her brother from one of the other pairs, I'll probably replace Loreen with her. Speaking of Loreen

Remo and Loreen

Y'know, for how rough this pair is, they did pretty well for their first nest. Of course the only baby to get every gene was a nocturne, but they also produced two imps that had two correct genes and had workable colors. I'm still trying to replace both of them because rough pair in general, but I'm happy with this first nest

Sable/Peach/Orange

This project gives me nightmares

Iru and Andras

They had a nest and it was absolutely awful. The only thing their hatchlings did right was inherit starmap but still had sucky colors. After that, looking at them made me genuinely upset. Literally the day or two before LvA, I went on the dragon search to find a replacement or something. I found Carwen, a grandparent quality dragon with all the right genes and arranged her purchase the day before LvA. She became Calem's mate and I exalted Andras, Iru and all their kids.

Calem and Carwen

They actually did already have a nest. It was amazing. Two out of the three had perfect genes and pretty reasonable colors. We could have had a parent pair set up, except for Hau and Serena's clutch

Hau and Serena

They had their first nest and only one of them was parent quality (all of the hatchlings inherited Koi over Opal and most inherited Constellation over Bee). The one useful hatchling was a male who's had the same secondary color as the only female from Calem and Carwen's clutch and that secondary was not correct at all. They'll be RTB in a few days so we can hope.

Aguo and Silas

I've been breeding them even after Serena hatched and I'm not sure they're going to do better than her. The only dragon they've produced that's comparable to Serena in quality can't reach the primary with Hau, so she's not going to be replacing Serena. I'm not sure if I'm going to toss them or not yet, but it's a high likelihood

Barry and Ailey

I've been continuing to breed them as well and they're honestly not doing much better than Aguo and Silas. However, it's more important to breed them right now because Calem and Carwen can't produce a goal baby because of Calem's tertiary color. What I'm probably going to do is replace Barry with his brother, TVORCHI, from my other project. I don't know why I kept him around, but he's going to be better for this color wise and is the same as Barry gene and relation wise. Having written this out and had to consider it, this is exactly what I'm going to do. I don't need TVORCHI for the other project anymore, so why not.

I have picked up two other projects that I haven't talked about. One is very chill and easy thanks to the wisher being chill about genes, so I don't really think I need to talk about it until it's done. The other one I basically just finished setting pairs up and want to get into a little more before talking about it. That project is a doozy and I'm honestly not sure I was ready to take it, but oh well

[bellasdragons]

*happy noises*

Aside from a terrible outfit (idk how to dress Coatls) LOOOOOK

LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL ;0;

Rambling under the cut ‘cause it got really long, but tl;dr SHE’S SO WONDERFUL I’M SO BROKE YET SO HAPPY

She’s SO good and checks off a major dream dragon for me. While I’d still like to eventually get an unbred 6-digit G1 in each flight, Earth (and Ice, which I got a couple years ago) was the flight I wanted most, not because they’re “rare” (I wish that wasn’t the case :’( she cost about the same as my first 4-digit, back in 2016 and I only was able to buy her bc I had someone interested in buying one of my oldies, and have been saving and selling a LOT of stuff) but because I almost went with Earth when I joined and still rather wish I had especially after the eye update. So it’s kinda like having a fake progen. Sorta.

I’m also thrilled she has the female pose, since I’d have been happy with either but like most of those better ironically not for coatls lol I know with the silhouette scroll that’s not really an issue any more, but still, I’ve been dreaming about getting a dragon like this for literal years. xD And look how gorgeous her colors are! I was prepared to spend the next however-long saving and buying scatters as I could. But that’s not needed and also her genes are rather nice? Copper Crackle is fantastic, and Peregrine is certainly fine for now, although there’s several better options. The only thing I don’t super like is Piebald, but even that’s tolerable until I save up some money again. xD (Mosaic is most likely, but even once I save up I kinda want to hold off until the new ancient is released, just in case). I might throw Python on her, since it’s cheap and I have one sitting around doing nothing.

Not sure what breed to change her into, if any. New ancient (or even modern) aside, I feel kinda bad changing a gem breed, since she’s obviously been scrolled, and those things are expensive. But I do like Pearl, Tundra, and maybe Ridgeback, though they’re hard to dress too. Wildclaw is also good, but again, expensive. Unless Crackle changes to something else, in which case SO MANY MORE OPTIONS D:

Her name may also change, but it’s pretty so we’ll see.

But none of that is really important right now, because I’m so happy to have her and can’t wait to figure out some sort of character for her! design later, bc genes and stuff

[xaz-fr]

@deadpool-scar-bro @hikayelastoria @cornsnoot-fr @redlion-fr @mushroomdraggo @murdoch-fr @tales-around-sornieth @frxemriss @rainhearts-hatchery @rexcaliburr-fr @starry-ampelope @plainstriderbard @reanimatedfr @voltaic-ambassador @sirensage-fr @journey-taken-fr @ally-fr @golden-lionsnake @rookfern @fr-dew (let me know if you’d like to be added to the lore pinglist)

dragons are humanoid unless said otherwise

The Story So Far

Aaaaaayyye, getting to the meat. Sigurrós makes me saaaad ;;

To the Lost City of Mu: 3

Layali had never been to the Bird Song but still she knew it shouldn't look like this. The store was a building made of glass and shaped almost like a bird cage, one of the front panes cracked in a spiderweb from where something huge had smashed into it. Inside they could see that most of the plants that filled the space were dead or dying, flowers drooping, leaves grunting orange and brown. Layali looked at Nadalin who looked upset bout what she was seeing. So it wasn't supposed to look like this.

Nadalin opened the front door. They were greeted by the stromg smell of compost and old perfume. Layali coughed. The smell was awful. “Rosy, are you in here?” Nadalin called. There was no answer.

“Should we look for him?” Layali asked her.

“Yes,” Nadalin stepped into the building and looked around. “Rosy,” she called again. 

“He isn't dead is he?” Layali asked and grabbed onto the back of Nadalin's shirt nervously. She didn't like the dead. 

“He shouldn't. We would have heard if there was a death in the Hall. Wouldn't you know?” she asked Layali.

Layali blinked up at the older looking girl. “Why would I know?”

“Aren’t you a Seer?”

“I don't get to choose what I See.”

“Hmm.” Nadalin walked deeper into the Bird Song. They went around the counter to the backroom. Here was the source of the perfume smell. Dozens of smashed glass bottles littered the floor. There was a bed in the middle of the room, the only piece of furniture in the entire place. It was made but unslept in. There was no sign of Sigurrós here either. 

“Where is he?” Layali asked.

“I don't know, he's always here usually.” Nadalin looked down at Layali, “Use your Sight, look for him.”

“I don't think that's a good idea,” Layali said fearfully. Using her Sight was asking for an attack. She liked Nadalin just fine but she didn't think she'd be up to helping her through a seizure.

“If you want to find him in a timely manner it's the best way,” Nadalin said.

Layali looked up at Nadalin and brows creased. “I-

“You wanted to find out about Mu? You think anyone else in the Hall is going to tell you? You're coddled and protected by Johanna just like I am. Sigurrós knows. We just have to find him and ask him.”

“Okay, you're right. But let's go outside. It smells terrible in here.” Nadalin hummed her agreement and followed Layali out of the Bird Song. She walked to a comfortable place and sat on the grass. She looked up at Nadalin, “Don’t let me hurt myself, okay?”

“Sure?” but of course Nadalin didn't understand. It wasn't her fault she didn't understand. Only Lianna and Johanna had ever seen her See before. They kept Ado and Ilia away while they'd been staying in the Tree. No need to scare the children.

Layali closed her eyes. A soft breeze picked up and brushed against her face.  She wanted to know where Sigurrós was. Where was Sigurrós? It came to her in flashes. The past and the present. Rosy destroying his perfumes and leaving the Bird Song. Walking under the trees. Looking at his reflection in the water. Going to the cabin to the north part of the island. Sigurrós laid on a bed, sleeping, his soft pink hair tangled around his throat like a noose. Rosy standing in his Bird Song surrounded by broken perfume bottles crying about wanting to go home. The shape of a female dragonoid kindly showing him to a place to rest his head.

Layali was laying on her side when she came to. Her nose was bleeding and her head hurt. Nadalin was kneeling next to her, warm hand on her shoulder, her other touching Layali’s chin. She could feel wind being pushed slowly in and out of her lungs, Nadalin helping her breathe through that. “Hey, you're back,” she touched Layali’s face gently. “Welcome back.” Layali stared at Nadalin, no one has ever helped her like that. Nadalin was still helping her breathe and she wasn't sure if it was just the steady breathing or that she was being flushed with Wind magic that was making her feel better. Even as she stared at Nadalin her headache was going away. “Scared me there,” she wiped the blood off Layali’s face and helped her sit up.

“Thank you,” Layali said. She looked at Nadalin in a whole new light. No one but Lianna had ever helped her before and never like this. She'd never felt so… good after a vision. “I didn't scream did I?”

“No. Did you see Sigurrós?”

“Yes. He's in a cabin to the north.”

“On the island?”

“Yes.”

Had looked that direction, her gaze lost amid the trees. “Only Lauriel and Rahila live up north.” Layali blinked at her. “Do you not know those who live in your territory?”

“I know what they feel like. I've… never met any of them though,” she looked away, embarrassed. She was progenitor, she should know all who lived in her territory but she did not. This was the longest she'd been away from her Tree in years and others were discouraged from visiting.

“Hmm. Well, let's go find him.” Nadalin helped her up and quite easily took flight. Layali looked after her and with a grunt followed her into the sky.

———

Seeing he wasn't in Lauriel’s hovel chock full of garbage and swamp detritus that just left Rahila’s cabin. It was located along a game trail and ivy covered half of the building, obscuring details and windows. Layali was glad Nadalin was here. Nadalin was afraid of nothing and walked right up to the door and knocked. It was answered a moment later by a woman. Layali hid behind Nadalin a bit.

Rahila was an older woman with a striking face and nearly black red eyes. Despite the darkness under her eyes she looked stern and hard. “Rahila?” Nadalin asked.

“That I am. Who are you children? What are you doing here?”

“I am Nadalin, this is Layali,” Nadalin motioned to Layali holding onto the back of her shirt. Layali had seen Rahila in some of her visions. But nothing that happened to her. Rather Rahila was a Seer too and was thus unbound by time within visions and moved as she desired through both her own and other dragons’ visions. The wildclaw always made Layali nervous in her visions like she was intruding despite Rahila being the one who usually was.

Rahila looked them both over. “What do you want?”

“Is Sigurrós here?”

“No.”

“Yes he is,” Layali said.

“Are you calling me a liar, little girl?” Rahila asked.

“Yes. I know he's here. I had a vision and he's here, sleeping in your home.”

Rahila sucked her teeth in annoyance. “What do you want from him? I told him I'd keep him safe.”

“We want to talk to him. That's all,” Nadalin said. 

Rahila looked them over and thought about it. “Very well,” she said and opened the door. She showed them to where Sigurrós was curled up on his side, sleeping. She touched his shoulder, “Wake,” she said. Sigurrós’s eyes opened tiredly.

“You had him magically asleep?” Nadalin accused her.

“I only do what is asked of me. Sigurrós wanted to sleep-

“Nadalin?” Sigurrós’ voice croaked, “Matriarch?” he was confused. Layali looked up at Nadalin. She'd been right.

“No, Sigurrós, just some little girls,” Rahila cooed and helped him up. “He’s been in a semi Silenced state for a while now.”

“You can Silence dragons?” Layali asked, wide eyes.

“Not quite. It's a similar state to Silenced but relies on the Deeprealm.”

Sigurrós rubbed his eyes  and face. “Oh Gods,” he grumbled and then finally blinked awake. “Nadalin…”

“Why were you asleep Sigurrós? What happened to the Bird Song?” Nadalin asked.

“Oh… yes. I didn't want it anymore,” he reached up and grabbed the stump of his missing left arm.

“Are you okay?” Layali asked.

“No. Now what is it? Why did you disturb me like this?”

Layali licked her lips nervously. “Do you know what Mu is?”

His sour expression changed into one of surprise. “Mu? You've heard of Mu?”

“I read about it in a book. That it rose up from the Sea.”

“Not quite but it's a good story.”

“You know what it is though.”

“… Yes.”

“Take me.”

Sigurrós blinked, “I’m sorry you expect me to just take you to a mythical lost city. A city, mind you, that was lost twice. Best to leave well enough alone and forget it.”

“So you don't want to go home?”

“Little one,” he said as kindly as he could manage but she could tell she was testing his pateince. “The Hall is my home.”

Layali looked between him and Nadalin. Nadalin looked very sorry for disturbing him and upset he was so hurt. “I know you're old, Rosy,” she said. “You look young but you're not. And you do know Mu. The base of your shop is a ship.”

Sigurrós sighed and ran his hand through his hair to push it back. “Look, little girl. Mu and the Caravan are gone. Gone. They got into a fight they couldn't win and are gone now. Do you understand?”

“So you are from there?”

“I might be,” he admitted with annoyance.

“Even if the dragons there are gone the city isn't. I need to go there.”

Sigurrós sighed, “Why?”

“They say there's a library in Mu that's the largest outside of the archives of Dragonhome. But unlike the archives they are open to everyone and not just Earth dragons. And Nadalin wants to go too.”

“What?” Nadalin asked.

“What?” Sigurrós was equally surprised.

“You don't want to know where you're from?” Layali asked.

“I’m not from Mu,” Nadalin scoffed. But Layali wasn't looking at her, she was looking at Sigurrós. He had a knowing look on his face.

“It is said that Mu was ruled by a powerful progenitor of Wind.”

“Yeah, and?” Nadalin rolled her eyes at Layali.

“She had a platinum hide and butterfly wings like sea foam.”

“Again, and? It isn't like my colors are exactly rare.”

“Her name was Nadalin,” Sigurrós said. “You look like her.”

“Well I can't be her. If what you say is true than Nadalin of Mu is thousands of years old. I'm not even older than Layali.”

“I don't know where you came from, Nadalin, but I do know how you came to be here,” Layali said. “A Star of Arcane magic came to our Tree and gave you to Johanna. It said to keep you safe.”

“A Star, really?” Nadalin wasn't impressed by all this. “I came from an egg just like everyone else.”

“What did this Star look like, Layali?” Sigurrós asked.

“It was the shape of a dragon but was calling apart. All that we saw of it were it's foreclaws inside of a cloak and a pair of glowing blue eyes within. When Johanna said she'd take you it … blew up, sort of.”

“And it was made of Arcane energy?” Sigurrós asked.

“I assumed so. It was pink.”

Sigurrós rubbed his mouth and looked up at Nadalin. “That sounds a lot like Hezen.”

“Who?”

Rosy sighed. “Back before it was Mu it was just a ship, a flying ship. A poor soul fell into the ALG and changed. I only heard about it. A dragon made of pure Arcane energy, the soul in the machine. But it sounds like it… him, I guess.”

“Why would a dragon made of Arcane energy come here from a Silent clan?” Nadalin asked. “If it was Silent then nothing could escape it.”

“Silence isn't a permanent condition, girl,” Rahila said. “Clans can come back from Silence. It isn't often, but it happens.”

Sigurrós’ eyes lit up. “That means… Windshear might not be Silent anymore,” he said.

“Does that mean you'll take me?” Layali asked.

“Yes. I don't know how open they will be to outsiders but yes, I will.”

“Do you want to come, Nadalin?” Layali asked her.

Nadalin had her reservations. “You really believe Mu is a real thing? And that I'm from there's?”

“Yes,” Layali said softly.

“Just because I don't know where I come from doesn't mean it's there.”

“No. But it's the only place anyone has ever pointed to.” Nadalin looked away from the both of them, thinking. Layali looked intently at Sigurrós. “You know where it is still?”

“Heh, if it hasn't moved,” Sigurrós said. “But given what I saw of it I doubt it has.”

“Good.”

Nadalin came back over to them. “Fine, I'll come with you, just to prove you both wrong. I don't care where I come from. And I'm certainly not from some ancient lost city.”

“Odder things have been true,” Sigurrós said.

“Like what?” she folded her arms in annoyance.

“That I'm a few centuries old,” he ran his fingers through his hair again. “Just because the story is outrageous doesn't mean it isn't true, Nadalin.”

“So when are we going?”

“He needs to recover some,” Rahila said before he could say anything. “He’s been in a semi Silent state, it will take a few days to wake up, Sigurrós.”

“Right,” he grunted and got up. Layali frowned at him. His clothes hung off his frail body in a way that worried her. He was so thin. Too thin. “I’m going home than. If you really want to go to Mu come find me in a few days I suppose.”

“We will. Tyberion will probably be coming with us-

“Tyberion? Who's that?” Sigurrós asked.

“My Guardian,” Nadalin said.

Sigurrós rubbed the side of his face with a pained laugh. “Let me guess: yellow poisoned hide, blue wings, red showing.”

“Yes… how did you know?” Nadalin asked, eyes wide.

“I think it is best we get you to Mu, Nadalin. I'm sure your brother will explain,” and he headed out of the cabin.

“I don't have a brother,” she called after him. She looked down at Layali, “I don't,” she said.

“Nadalin was the name of the progenitor Sigurrós said. Progenitors come in pairs-

“I am not a progenitor!” Nadalin yelled. “I am just me,” and she stalked out of the cabin.

Layali was left with Rahila. She looked up at Rahila, “You’ve seen the future. Is this right?”

Rahila put a gentle hand across her shoulders. “It isn't wrong. Now you should return to your Tree before you hurt yourself,” she squeezed Layali’s shoulder. She nodded and Rahila saw her out.

“I can explain,” she said as exited the cabin and saw her mama standing in front of the cabin, huge rossette skydancer wings cocked open from a recent landing.

“Save it, Layali. You worried me enough,” and Johanna took her hand. She went willingly, especially as Johanna curled her wings and arms around her in an embrace.

“I was coming home,” she assured her.

“Good, that is where we're going now,” and Layali sort of resented when Johanna took flight still holding her. But she didn't say anything about it. She just let Johanna take her back to her Tree. Just as she passed through the opening of the Tree she started to get a headache and once inside the embrace of the Cypress Tree it passed. Lianna was there waiting, wringing her front claws in worry.

“Layali!” she jumped over to Layali and hugged her. Layali accepted it but couldn't help but know they were just coddling her. “I was so worried.”

“She was with Rahila.”

“What? Why were you there?”

“She’s a Seer. I was just… talking to her,” she lied. Johanna must not have seen Sigurrós or Nadalin leave because she didn't press the issue. They just tutted over her until she wriggled from their grip saying she wanted to go lay down.

Up in her bed Rahab glided down from the ceiling and landed on her stomach. “Goosechase?”

“No.”

“Gods.”

She pushed herself up a bit so she could whisper into his ear, “I’m leaving for Mu in a few days.”

Rahab’s head fins flapped in annoyance. “No.”

“Yes.”

“Leave me alone?” he asked her sadly. “Leave Hall alone.”

“You’re a progenitor too, brother,” she said. He just whined and crawled off her and up high into the crack in the tree where no one could get him to sulk. She rolled into her side. Rahila said this wasn't the wrong thing. Rahila was a Deeprealm Walker, the most direct sort of Seer. She wouldn't let Layali just walk into destruction blindly. She hoped not at least. She pretended to be asleep when Lianna and Johanna came to check on her.

[nimrook-fr]

The Derelicts

Chapter 1: A Treacherous Path

(all dragons are in anthro biped form unless specified otherwise)

This is my first attempt to write a short story with one of my clans. This story features my newest clan, The Derelicts. They’re a group of nomadic dragons from all walks of life, following no specific Elemental deity, instead choosing to endlessly travel in a form of worship to every element and every deity. This lands them in all sorts of situations, good and bad. 

Character refs: Rook  Duskin  Haze  Dima  Kibuuri  Almond

Wind stirred the dust at Rook’s feet as she surveyed the predawn landscape. The sky was mostly dark, a few stars were still shining but the tell tale hints of sunrise were there. A dusty grey glow gave the horizon a silvery look that meant the dawn was near. The wind picked up and buffeted her face, tossing her feathers in the cool air. She peered down at the old compass in her hand and watched the needle swing uselessly in circles. Running a hand through her rusty colored crest she plopped down with a sigh onto the hillside where she had been camping. Her clanmates slept peacefully all around her, their bedrolls looked like giant caterpillars laying motionless in the grass. She wished she could sleep like they did, but something about this time of night always roused her. She tapped her largest toe claw on the soil as she stared out over the dark, rolling hills of tall grass, anxiety gnawing at her the way it always did before the dawn. She was impatient for the sun to rise and her friends to awaken, but also felt a tug of something else...dread maybe, as the fleeting silence of the darkness would soon give way to the chaos of the day. The wind blew through the grass and over the rockface they were camped under, and there was no other sound until she heard someone slide out of their bedroll. She needn’t look to know who it was, she already knew.

“Up early again as usual.” Haze’s voice was low and husky, like charcoal on stone. The Coatl sat down next to Rook and began rolling a smoking blend. “Want a smoke?” Rook nodded and took the cigarette he offered her and lit it silently. After a few long pulls she leaned her head against his shoulder.

“I’m so tired Haze. I just want to sleep but all I do is stare at this stupid compass.” The needle spun faster and more erratically as if it had heard the insult. She groaned and snapped it shut, slipping it back into the pouch on her hip. Haze put an arm around her affectionately and ruffled her already disheveled crest.

“Don’t lie to me Rook,” he teased, “ you never slept much even before ya got that thing. Ya got that busybody Lightning blood. None a’ ya sleep half as much as ya should. Always tryna get everything done.” Rook chuckled, he wasn’t wrong after all. The sun crested the horizon and light flooded the rolling hills, turning the sea of grass surrounding them to spun gold. Relief flooded over her as the sunlight hit her face, it would be time to move soon. Moving always helps with the nervous feelings.

“Thanks for the smoke, Haze. Let’s go rally the troops.”

After much yawning, shuffling and bleary eyed good mornings, the rest of the Derelicts were packed and almost ready to move. The scrappy group of dragons looked weary but content. Rook took out the map and gestured for everyone to gather around.

“Alright so we’re here-” She tapped a claw on a mark she’d made  “which is about 16 miles from the border of Light and Lightning. We’re into the arid lands now, thank the Gods.” Everyone chuckled in response. The past week had been a soggy hell. Who knew the territory devoted to the Sun and Light could rain so much? They were headed towards the hot, dusty land of Lightning now though, and soon they’d be missing that rain. “We head South West from here, down this valley,” her claw trailed along the old map, “and into the Carrion Canyon. It’s the easiest way into the Shifting Expanse, and the most importantly the most discrete. Tensions with beast clans have been too high along the border for us to use the normal passes. Even if we were to utilize the magical energy needed to shift into our full dragonforms it’s still too high of a risk. There have been confirmed reports of Guardians, Ridgebacks and even an Imperial in dragonform being overtaken by the Beasts and slain. We are not terribly large dragons, nor are we a large clan.” Rook looked over her crew, there were three Wildclaws, a Coatl, a Pearlcatcher and a Mirror at the moment. “We are strong, but we need to be smart too. The Beast Clans are fighting like they never have before, and we aren’t part of that war this time.”

“And what about the dangers of the Canyon?” Kibuuri, a sinewy female Mirror with a pinstriped hide of earthen colors twitched her crests. “We’ve all heard the rumors…” The Pearlcatcher at her side nodded his head in agreeance.

“And as far as we know, that’s all they are. We have no way of confirming if these rumors are true or if they are just old wives tales. We can confirm what’s happening on the border however. We’ve seen it with our own eyes. Right now that’s the best we’ve got.” Unease rippled through the group.

“I don’t like this, Rook. I trust you, but I have a bad feeling.” Kibuuri was unhappy, her lips drawn up in a slight snarl.

“Pipe down, Kibuuri you’re just paranoid, a canyon is a canyon is a canyon. Ain’t nothing different about the Carrion one than any other.” Almond, a lanky Wildclaw with a mess of sloppy pale hair picked at his teeth nonchalantly while peering at the map. “I say we do it, screw dealing with a mob of fiesty harpies.” The discussion dissolved into bickering back and forth about routes, travel times and whether or not they could win in a fight against a mob of fiesty harpies.

Surprisingly it was the quietest member who spoke up, Duskin, the third Wildclaw of the posse, cleared his throat and let a growl rumble out of his chest. “Arguing gets us nowhere, we must keep moving. There is no other way than the Carrion Canyon.” He stared unflinching at his clanmates, hoping his eyes did not betray the fear he felt in the pit of his stomach. He’d seen more of the Shifting Expanse than everyone other than Rook, and he knew she felt the fear as well.

Rook sighed and looked at Duskin for a long moment before looking back to the rest of the Derelicts. “We have to keep moving. One way or the other we need to get to the Shifting Expanse, and we’ve got ground to cover.” She rolled up the map and slid it into her satchel, turned and started walking down the hill. Duskin followed her and soon the rest of the apprehensive clan did as well. Haze waited to take up the rear like usual, making sure everyone was alright along the way. He gave a nuzzle to his mate Kibuuri as she passed him, and waited for Dima, he and Kibuuri’s other mate, to catch up. The dusky colored Pearlcatcher came to a stop next to Haze with a trouble look on his face.

“I’ve never doubted Rook before, Haze.” The Pearlcatcher twitched his whiskers, his eyes sad. “Something doesn’t feel right. She seems scared, I’ve never seen her scared before.” Haze cupped Dima’s head in his hand and kissed him gently.

“Have faith in Rook. She’s doing what she thinks is best for us, and she’s never let us down. She’s more worried than all of us put together, and she’s trying to keep us all alive.”

Dima smiled and nodded, “I know, it’s just been such a long moon. We need rest, we need refill our rations. We’ve done nothing but walk for weeks and we’re running out of supplies.”

“And that is why she chose the route she did. It’s the only way through that doesn’t extend our journey by weeks.” Haze rubbed Dima’s cheek with his thumb and kissed him again. “Now come on, let’s catch up!” He smiled and tugged the worrisome Pearlcatcher down the trail with him and a brisk pace. Despite Haze’s best effort to reassure his mates, he couldn’t ignore the hair standing up on the back of his neck when thinking about that canyon. That damn canyon...he knew those rumors weren’t lies. And soon he’d have to see it for himself.

[frankierising-blog]

Lair review for raiikyuu!

@chillarch

First Impressions:

God damn, even your friends list is blue! SO MUCH BLUE, DAVE! SO MUCH BLUE! Wait… your profile is hella blue, but your lair is mismatched! I LOVE THAT!! I saw the profile and thought I was going to be punched in the face with Ice and white but dayum… I’m excited!!

Chi

Ohh dayum! Yes! Good, yes! This is goooood!!! I love me some Plague goodness! (No, YOU’RE BIAS, shut up!). I LOVE how well the Magician’s hat matches the Blood Peregrine! Sooo nice! My only qualm with Chi is that she’s a little bit cluttered. I like the lightness that the Autumn Breeze brings, and it matches the Halloween hatchdate (that’s in Autumn/Fall, right?) but I just feel like it doesn’t match overall. I love the Herb pouch, but the leaves hanging down really annoy me. Overall, though, if there’s no major character to be considered, I can dig it!! Also, did you make the banner at the bottom? It’s really cool!!

Oh wait, the green in the Herb Pouch and the Autumn Breeze do seem to tie it in nicely with the Deadland Disciple! I get it!

Yuki

Ohh, right… I get it! The goal is, pick a flight to represent and then just CHUCK ALL THE THINGS ON, RIGHT? IT’S AESTHETICS!

No, but actually I REALLY like Yuki! The Antlers and the Herb Pouch tie him in with Chi really well! Your dragons are all about de herbs ;) I feel you, friend ;). Alright, enough.

Yuki is a little bit cluttered but it really works with ice, It essentially works as icicles forming all over his body. He seems so regal and fancy, the eyes kind of work with that too, in this outfit they look kind of glazed over, like he’s too distracted by his own inflated sense of self importance, haha.

I like the pairing with the Cragward Custodian, especially compared to the Ice Sprite, this works waaay better! And that banner! Hecking YES!!!!

Cassiopeia

OH GOSH YES, THIS FUELS MY SOUL!!! You’ve matched the blues and purples PERFECTLY with the illusionist! And the pinkish hues (hues, is that the word?) in the Alchemist tools work really well as a focal piece of the whole outfit! I’m really digging it!

I love how the female Guardian turns their heads, because it looks like she’s actually annoyed with the Gloomwillow guide, like it sort of pesters her, following her around. The trail it leaves look like it just darted around in front of her and Cassiopeia is like “DO YOU HECKING MIND!?” and the guide is like “Shit! Sorry!” haha, maybe it’s just the red eyes which make her seem kind of pissed off?

I absolutely love this whole thing! My favourite so far!!! <3

Isaye

Is this a dragon or a big brown and green blob!? A COW THREW UP ON YORU SPIRAL, FRIEND!

But seriously, I really like how you’ve utilised the chocolate and ginger instead of the standard browns, and the Ethereal Flame cloak really compliments the Ivory well! It definitely looks like a big flowery bush, and I like how the horns from the Naturalist Adornments and the Witch’s Cobwebs tie her in with the other representatives!

Ooooh and the flowers on the Lace wristlet and the Herb pouch DO match really perfectly with the Sapling Speaker!! I see what you did there!! I think my only problem with this is the Leafy Glades… It’s just so big and puffy, which is the problem I have working with it I’d love it if they did a more subtle version for the next festival or something!

Cadell

 Okay, I’m super bias because I HATE Orange. HATE IT! HATE, HATE, HATE! IT’S THE CHIA OF THE COLOUR WORLD!

I do like how you’ve used White/Obsidian instead of the orange/yellows you normally see! And love me some use of the Clawtips! I don’t see those as often as I wish I would!

The blue will forever annoy me, I hate that there’s blue in the Solar stuff, but it does add some variation to the piece which is nice! Overall, I like this! It’s cluttered but with the whole fire/lava thing going on, it really makes sense! The whole thing reminds me of flowing lava or like… a …. Foundry? Is that the word? Well, I guess that matches perfectly with the Molten Marauder!

I feel like I’m just repeating myself a bunch here, I’m sorry!

Sol

Ooooh yes, good! YES! The Obsidian/Gold thing is freaking AMAZING!

Fun fact though, at first I thought the solar blade behind her head was actually her head! I forgot how Wildclaws work and was like “Where are her eyes!?”. I thought she was bending her head down and wearing like a black feather headpiece or something. Anyway, I realised what a fool I am pretty quickly!

I really love this customisation! I especially love how discrete the Brutal Banner is underneath the Solar Blades and against the Obsidian! You’ve really matched the yellows and golds well! The only thing that shits me is the gold in Sunbeam Soldier is slightly different to the gold in the solar blades BUT THAT IS UNAVOIDABLE! Sol is freaking awesome and I love the name!!!

Astral

MY EYYYYESSS… MY EDGY, EDGY EYEEEESSSS!!!

But seriously, very cluttered, but overall very, very cute! The golds give her this sense of royalty but the Arcane elements of course give her the mystic feel! Again you’ve matched the purples nd pinks really nicely with the Stardust Scholar!!! <3

Letherii

Mmmmmm yes. Good… mmmm this is so perfect! The accent is so freaking perfect with the blues in the Skink! Hnnng, yes! I love that the accent covers most of the Violet as well, because the violet could have totally ruined the whole ensemble… but the little peeks where the wings fold over is absolute perfection!

THIS IS SO NICE BUT WHY DID YOU USE THE NATURE (I think?) EYES AND MAKE HIM SO PISSED OFF? WHY WOULD HE BE PISSED, HE LOOKS AMAZING!!!

Sabori

THIS IS SO FREAKING NICE!! I know he’s not properly gened yet, but holy heck, you’re really good at matching Skink highlights!! The Jade looks fantastic even without the Peregrine, but dayum, he’s going to look a-may-zing!!!! Sabori is so fantastic, I love him! This custom is absolutely PERFECT!!! <3 <3 <3

Beta

Mmmmm yes, this is perfection!!!! I know she’s going to be a gened Bogsneak, but she looks great as a Tundra!! I loooooove the Magic Cards against the Seafoam, and it’s going to look hecking AMAZING with the Glimmer! My only issue with this is the Pale Roundhorn, but I’m not a huge fan of how they look on Tundras so it will probably look hecking gorgeous on her as a Bog!!

Monsoon

Mmmmm this is beautiful!! You’ve matched the familiar perfectly yet again, and heck the Brambles look fantastic with the Saphire!!!!! He’s going to look SO GREAT gened up! I’m so excited to see how the finished product looks!!!

MoldyBurito

OH MY GOD, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! THIS IS THE MOST FANTASTIC THING I’VE EVER SEEN! THAT PHOTO! AHAHAAHAHA! THIS IS ACTUALLY AN AMAZING CUSTOM BUT I CAN’T STOP LAUGHING ABOUT IT!!!

[Sorry it tapers off at the end, I started to caffeine crash lol)

[hitodama89]

I saw this interesting looking ask meme about Flight Rising stuff, but instead of using it as it was actually intended I just answer all the questions without anyone having to send me asks.

           Ask me things!        

Basics

Dragonhome - What’s the meaning behind your username?

hitodama89 is just the name I use everywhere I go.

Sea of a Thousand Currents - Why did you join Flight Rising?

I had some friends who had already joined and they seemed to have good time, so I just jumped in, too!

The Ashfall Waste - What’s your favorite part of the site?

Bestiary and collecting familiars.

The Windswept Plateau - Have you gotten friends of yours to join FR?

My brother and mother, hahah! Neither of them are all that active, though.

The Southern Icefield - What’s your favorite flight?

Water. <3

The Tangled Wood - What’s your favorite FR deity?

I would love it if the deities were a bit more active part of the game... But as it is I like Arcanist a lot.

The Scarred Wasteland - When did you join Flight Rising?

2014-10-13

The Sunbeam Ruins - What’s your favorite lair aesthetic (doesn’t have to be your own)?

I freaking love Egyptian looking dragons! =0 Haven’t seen a whole lair full of them yet, though.

The Shifting Expanse - Do you exalt a lot of dragons or do you keep them?

I exalt a lot. That is right now my main income in the game.

The Viridian Labyrinth - Do you have a favorite familiar?

Psywurm!

Starfall Isles - Favorite piece of trivia you learned on the site?

I love the idea of Podid Town. =‘‘‘D It is mentioned in one of Tomo’s trivia questions.

Lore

Earthshaker - What role(s) do your progens play in your lore (if they do at all)?

They are the dragons that formed the clan.

Tidelord - Does the element of your dragons’ eyes matter to you in lore?

Well, it just means that they were born in the respective flight’s area.

Flamecaller - How do you determine jobs for the dragons in your clan?

I just think what would suit their looks and possible nature.

Windsinger - Does your clan interact with other users’ clans and does that impact lore?

Nowadays not too much. When I first started I got quite a lot of dragons from my friends and those dragons have a few sentences worth of lore about their origin.

Icewarden - Does FR’s official site lore play into your own?

I try to keep it in mind when designing stuff for dragons.

Shadowbinder - Do you have any lore about how your dragons view exalting? If so what is it?

It is a religious event where the exalted dragon is physically send to serve under the clan’s deity. Usually it is a great honor, but I have some dragons that don’t see it solely as a good thing.

Plaguebringer - Do you keep lore if a dragon already has it or do you change it to fit your clan?

I keep it in some form.

Lightweaver - What’s the story behind your clan?

There isn’t really one. =‘) My progens met each other, hung out together for a while and decided to form a new clan.

Stormcatcher - What catches your eye in other people’s lore?

I am pretty lazy at reading long stories and stuff. I like it when things are clear and compact and don’t contradict official lore too much.

Gladekeeper - Do your dragons’ names follow any themes/patterns and if so does that play into their lore?

It depends on who named them. If it was someone outside my clan the name can be anything, but dragons born within the clan usually have names that doesn’t mean anything irl. Certain families also have their own themes.

Arcanist - Do you like writing lore or reading it more?

Reading, I guess. Writing tends to be a pain in the ass.

The Beastclans - Is there an antagonist in your lore? If so, who?

Not really. My clan haven’t had any incidents with Shade and they don’t have enemy clans or anything.

Breeds

Fae - Who’s your random progen?

Marus.

Mirror - Who’s the progen you made?

Carran.

Guardian - What’s your favorite starter breed?

Guardians, but I really do like them all.

Tundra - What’s your favorite breed?

Pearlcathers. Though I tend to handle their nature a bit differently than what has been written about them in the official article.

Pearlcatcher - Is there a breed you like the pose of one gender over the other?

Many, actually, one of them being Imperials. The pose of female Imperial is pretty but a bit difficult to work with.

Ridgeback - What’s one breed you could never go without having in your lair?

Guardians and Pearlcathers.

Snapper - Is there a breed you like the hatchlings better than the adults, and if so what breed?

Not really. Hatchlings are cute and I would even love to have some permababies, but there isn’t really anything that would look a lot better as hatchling than as adult.

Spiral - Do you make breeding pairs for a specific outcome?

Very rarely. Usually I just buy individual dragons and at some point realize that some of them would produce nice babies together.

Skydancer - Do you like to make mates match?

Once again very rarely.

Bogsneak - How often do you impulse buy dragons?

Never really. I am darn picky with my dragons which isn’t all that good considering how poor I am, too, hahah. That’s why my lair is so tiny.

Imperial - What’s one breed you just don’t like for whatever reason?

I know it’s a cliche but Snappers. They are okay and I would never wish to see them for example disappear from the site, but they just are a bit too non-dragon looking for my taste.

Nocturne - Do you collect gen 1s?

Nah. Still poor af.

Coatl - Which dragon breed has your favorite lore, regardless of how much you like/dislike how they look?

Guardians.

Wildclaw - Do breeding cooldowns frustrate you?

No! I’m a patient person.

Flights

Light - What flight did you choose and why?

Water, because that’s my favorite element.

Earth - Do you have flight ambassadors? Why or why not?

No. Tbh I find them pretty boring as nearly every clan tends to have those.

Shadow - If you could change flights for a single day and go back to your own after, what would you switch to and why?

I would love to visit Plague to see what the heck they do to make their dom pushes so devastating. =‘D

Plague - What region of Sorneith is your favorite?

I love the nature of Windswept Plateau.

Water - Do you want your dragons’ eyes to match their colors, and if so does that impact what dragons you keep/breed?

It is not something I require from my dragons, but of course in some cases (Spirals and their huge eyes) it might affect my decisions.

Ice - What’s your favorite flight aesthetic (if you have one)?

Thiiiis was asked already.

Fire - What are your thoughts on dom pushes?

They are cool communal events! Too bad Water is pretty bad at them. => But we try our best!

Arcane - What’s your favorite thing about your flight?

I have never met a single rude or otherwise annoying person in Water.

Nature - Do you like finding newbies in your flight?

Naah; why would I..?

Wind - If you were to summarize each flight into three words, what words would you use for which flight?

Ggggh too much work.

Lightning - What’s your favorite familiar from your flight?

Maybe Seaweed Scavenger.

Customization

Primary - What are your favorite gene combinations on dragons (primary, secondary, and tertiary)? Share your faves!

Poison or Ripple, Toxin or Peregrine and Smoke or Runes.

Secondary - What’s your proudest gene project, if you have one?

Maybe Uppo. He has gone through way too many genes but now he is finally perfect.

Tertiary - If you have a dragon with poorly mixing colors, what is your preferred tertiary gene to try and compensate?

I just leave tertiary to basic if I can’t make it work at all.

Apparel - Do you prefer to dress your dragons for their roles or what you think looks best on them?

A mixture of both.

Accent - Have you ever seen an accent/skinscent/skin that you wished existed for another breed or gender?

Hmm, don’t at least remember.

Skinscent - What is your favorite skin, accent, or skinscent?

Accent: Magic Erosion. It just makes Lienn so pretty.

Skin - What’s your least favorite skin, accent, or skinscent?

Some trypophobic things that make my skin (haha) crawl. Haven’t taken down their names because why would I?

Original color wheel - List your top five favorite colors and why.

Teal, robin, abyss, pistachio aaand any blue/green. But what “why”? =‘D I just like them, that’s all there is.

Color wheel expansion - What’s your favorite gene and color combination (i.e. orca glimmer)? Share a dragon with that combo!

Haven’t spend too much time thinking stuff like this, but abyss Crystal is pretty badass.

Scrying Workshop - What is your dream dragon?

Don’t have one. It’s better for poor to not dream too big. =‘D

Trading and Socializing

Forums - What’s your favorite forum game and why?

Doodle the dragon above. It made me draw last year more than anything else.

Coliseum - Do you like to do coliseum?

Well, no, but I do it anyway when I need to.

Fairgrounds - What’s your favorite Fairgrounds game?

I hate them all. XD Or yes they are alright, but there is so little variation that you have to grind all of the games long enough to make you hate them if you plan on getting anything out of them.

Auction House - We’ve all done it, what one thing did you not notice a misclick while selling that still haunts you to this day?

I sold one of the Fox Rat familiars for treasure instead of gems. It still hurts.

Marketplace - Are you saving up for any big purchases right now?

For once no, I’m not!

Crossroads - Do you ever check in on dragons you’ve sold to see how they’re doing?

Yes I do. =D More often than you would think.

Dominance - Have you ever bought fodder, only to get attached and keep it?

Yup!

Trading Post - Have you made friends through or because of FR?

Naah. I’m not good at making friends.

Festivals and Events

Crystalline Gala - Do you like to participate in the holidays?

Of course! Gotta hoard me some new items.

Trickmurk Circus - Do you hoard elemental currency after the events are over or do you sell it off?

Neither, I just stack away the stuff I have and use it next year.

Mistral Jamboree - If you have elemental reps, do you dress them in their element’s holiday apparel?

-

Wavecrest Saturnalia - What’s your favorite elemental familiar?

Maybe Fire Sprite just because it was such an achievement to even get one of them.

Greenskeeper Gathering - Have you ever gotten an elemental egg?

A couple times. Never hatched one though, as I have pretty rotten luck.

Brightshine Jubilee - What was the first elemental holiday you ever participated in?

Riot of Rot. Back then I thought it was Riot OR Rot.

Thundercrack Carnivale - Are there events that you participate in on FR outside of the official festivals and events (secret Santa, trick or treat, etc)?

Yeah I took part in Secret Santa last Christmas!

Flameforger’s Festival - What do you do to prepare for an event?

Rest from Coliseum so I have what it takes to grind there during the festival.

Starfall Celebration - What’s your favorite elemental holiday?

Our own WaveSat.

Riot of Rot - Do you have any retired items or familiars that you want to come back for a holiday?

All the first year big apparels! I have no idea why they were so perfect but nearly everything after them have been pretty unusable for me. Also Light Sprite, haha.

Rockbreaker’s Ceremony - Does your flight do anything to prepare for events, if so what and do you participate in that?

During the already mentioned WaveSat we do some stuff, and I try to help as much as I can (which isn’t a lot though).

Week of Welcome - What do you think of the change in registration windows?

Good that the site can handle regular windows now!

Night of the Nocturne - What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever gotten in an event?

I won some boss familiar in a raffle once. It was the best.

[calavir-fr]

Fire To Fire by ShadeOfChaos

When Mercury returned from the Scarred Wasteland, he was exhausted. Flying over the Sea of a Thousand Currents was a feat for a perfectly rested dragon, and he had not rested in what felt like days. Still, he dutifully made his way to Ashes and Foraedor to deliver his message. “Emberkin has accepted the summons. She will be here within the next two days.” Those two days were both a living nightmare and a dream for Foraedor. For the first time in his life, a dragon had seen his eyes and didn’t end up dead. They weren’t all dead! It was a miracle! Yet at the back of his mind was the nagging suspicion that this was just the calm before the storm, that they had just been given a temporary reprieve. He could feel the water lurking, waiting for the other shoe to drop, for his clan to reject him and for the pain to start again. It was like he was walking on the edge of a knife, and even the right move could lead to disaster if he wasn’t careful enough. The feeling alone was enough to drive a dragon crazy. The dawn of the second day started with Ashes quietly waking Foraedor. “Come now, little brother. We see Emberkin on the far horizon. She’s almost here.” Trying not to scramble, the Wildclaw nevertheless got himself as presentable as he could while keeping the hood tied around him, just in case. While he believed what Daymion had told him, replayed the conversation in his head time and again, he just could not believe that his life had turned around so easily. It was a foreign concept to him. Ashes was ready and waiting at the entrance to the clan lands before Foraedor was, but they both were prepared when Emberkin came over the rise. The female was indeed the embodiment of fire, all crackling flame and glittering movement. The deep blue war paint that she wore only helped to make the illusion of her being living flame that much more realistic, for it seemed to move with her inner flames with every step she took. She came without hood covering her eyes, without anything keeping others from seeing that she indeed had been born to Arcane’s ilk. With a bow to both of them, the female announced proudly, “I have arrived safe and sound, for the Flamecaller deemed it so!” Ashes smiled, offering safe passage into the lands, and introduced Foraedor, but the male stayed quiet. For the moment, he just wanted to watch how she interacted with others, how she moved and spoke and… …how she wasn’t ashamed of who she was. In every movement, every action, it could be seen that she was Fire through and through. He almost envied her, yet at the same time drew strength from the vision before him. It did not take long before the pleasantries were out of the way, and the two Wildclaws made their way down to the lava river. Both settled on rocks, Foraedor soaking up the heat in his cold feathers, Emberkin seeming to take everything in with a sense of wonder. Finally, she turned her gaze on him, just studying for a long moment. “You are cold.” She said it so matter of fact, all he could do was nod. He was always cold, always felt like he lived in the coldest place in the world. Digging around in a small pouch, the female started to mold something together, sometimes adding sand from the annex, other times holding her claws over the heat of the lava, just working it and watching him. It took him a while before he was able to find his voice to speak. “You are Fire.” Now it was Emberkin’s turn to nod. “I am. I always have been. You always have been. I see you, my kin.” “When did you know?” He asked curiously, tilting his head a bit to watch what she was doing with her claws. She seemed to be making something, but he couldn’t yet tell what. “I’ve always known. Even when I was a hatchling, I knew I was Fire. I am Fire, I was just given the Arcanist’s power to strengthen my inner Fire.” Foraedor blinked, studying Emberkin for a long moment. “You think the Tidelord’s power makes me stronger…?” “Of course it does, Foraedor. You are able to wield the one power known to put out the strongest flame.” He thought of all those he had drowned, all the faces he couldn’t forget, and almost lost himself then and there. But then she continued speaking, and he could only listen with wide eyes. “You were given the ability to keep the Fire from being smothered. Those who come with their water magic, those who come to put out the fire, they will know fear when they find a Fire dragon that can stop their water, that can redirect it to where it is needed, that can protect forge and flame itself.” His eyes widened as she offered him a belt of what looked like pure amber, fashioned out of an odd metal substance. As he put it on, warmth enveloped him, and he felt truly warm for the first time that he could ever remember. “I have the gift of Arcane. I studied why you are always so cold. This gift is for you alone, and will only work for you. It stores the natural heat in the air, near the lava beds and even in your own home, and changes the energy so your scales and feathers can absorb it. It should keep you toasty.” The female leaned forward, carefully pushing the cowl back to reveal his face before laying a light kiss on his cheek. “You are Fire, Foraedor. No matter the color of your eyes, no matter who sees them, you are Fire. The Flamecaller deems it so. I believe it to be true. So be proud of who you are. You are here to keep the flame alive, okay?” Even if he decided to keep his eyes covered, Emberkin knew that he would have more confidence in himself, at least. Sometimes just a little breath of fresh air was needed to renew a flame, and between Daymion’s icy breeze and her inner fire, she thought they could bring Foraedor around to becoming the proud Fire dragon she saw inside of him. “I’ll make you a deal. If you ever start to question, you send me a message. We can become pen pals, and I’ll visit as often as I can. You can come visit me too, okay? I’ve got your back, brother, from here until the eternal flame dies and beyond.” Foraedor nodded, but it felt like something in his chest had been released. He felt lighter, happier than before, with a solid foundation. Maybe, this time, he would be able to stand strong and tall. Maybe eventually he could stand like her, unafraid, proud of who he was and what he could do. A Fire dragon, no matter what magic he kept inside. At least, that’s what he hoped, and with Daymion and Emberkin to help him, he finally felt like it was actually something that could come true. When Emberkin left the next day, it wasn’t with sad goodbyes or heavy hearts. She kissed his cheek again, something that caused him to blush this time, and waved to her new friend. He waved back, and as soon as she was out of sight, was already writing the first letter. After all, she was a good friend, and he didn’t want to leave out anything in his fresh start as a Fire dragon. To him, it felt like it was a new day, a new life, and a new Foraedor that was going to greet the world. Maybe he’d even take off the hood….someday.

[shardclan]

The Fair Pirate Ismene was in her element at Bramble Step. Slouched in her seat with a VIP crystal chalice of Deepwhisper tonic, a cute bogsneak girl in her lap, and a Fourth Age Firebird cigar sitting pretty in the cocky tilt of her lips.

She tipped her beloved hat back on thick curls the color of fine dark wine, and the pink glint of her eyes was wicked as the Binder's. Dice fell carelessly from her fingers, and landed in her favor for the third time in a row. Chips piled on to the already formidable stacks in her corner. A wildclaw hissed something accusatory. Ismene blew thick smoke from the corner of her mouth and when it cleared she was holding her saber below the table. She asked a question in saccharine tones, and it was answered with the shattering of a glass and a lunge.

The bogsneak girl squealed. Bruma snatched the wildclaw out of the air and slammed him casually into the stone floor. The ice monk flirted shamelessly with both the bogsneak and Ismene, which led to some playfully antagonistic and completely filthy trash talk.

Carnelian smoked in a corner, carefully appearing to mind his business and keep his eyes on his cards. Had anyone else been minding him, they would have easily seen the amused, prideful twinkle in his eye. It persisted even as Ismene shouted something crass across the casino at him and even as he refused to acknowledge her with anything but a raised middle finger.

That version of Carnelian was completely unaware of the real Carnelian. The one who washed Ismene's sick and dying body, watched her burn, avenged her, and then drank away the intensity of those few days it for three eons. He was the one who had given up a coveted First Age Firebird in her final moments.

It didn't sting when he turned his back on that vision of what could have been. Instead it burned, like metal left in the sun that only began to do its damage when held for too long. The Hewn City in the world where she didn't survive the exodus; that was this Carnelian’s reality. As was the small, blind pearlcatcher below him. They acknowledged his return by folding up their wings even as they still faintly glowed with whatever power allowed the visions to be, but they didn't speak.

Carnelian was more than happy to pull out a cindermint slim in silence with no chatty remarks about what he’d seen or his quaking hands. He shut his eyes against the echo of her voice, all too clear in his head after that stunningly real depiction of her. Everything was too right. Her cockiness, her affectionate total lack of respect for him, even that squint of her left eye when she grinned at Bruma. The one that said she wasn’t going to back down on her flirting, but wouldn’t ever actually take the other female to bed. And that smile, gods.

Seeing it again in such sharp focus after so long without her was harder than he thought. There was so much of his younger self in her. He had always known it; it was why he got on her so much not to do anything stupid. But to see it--to see her older and settled and so clearly having found a place where she felt at home. To see that she would have have thrived in Bramble Step, the same place he called home now, was more painful than anything he had braced himself for. Hitth had warned him that the dreams were more than dreams and that it was possible to choose that world instead of this one if you reached out and chose it. It didn’t make sense at first. But now he got how dangerous this power was.

Only once he had taken a few deep breaths and the air between them was clouded with vaguely minty smoke did he note that Hitth had drawn away from him.

"Didn't think I'd come back?" he asked in a voice so husky and clogged that it immediately embarrassed him.

"I never know who will return," Hitth rasped. "But those who do tend to be unpredictable."

"I believe you. It's a nasty ability." He took another jittering drag of the cigarette. "A dream shouldn’t be that real."

"It is real because it is the truth. I do not make up what is seen, and what is seen is only what could truly be. Otherwise how would it be different from mere hypnosis?"

He took a deep breath, sucking in the smoke until the heat was to much to bear. No going back. The cigarette spent, he flicked it into the ruins. "Why are you snowblind."

"I...I beg your pardon?"

"You're blind under that veil," Carnelian said patiently. "It was in the report from the jail, and it shows in your body language. But I've been in the company of a snowblind dragon before and that's not a feeling you forget."

Hitth's grip on its pearl tightened. One who had already come back from a facet so personal was not likely to be sucked in by another. It could not devour him if it came to that. But it could trap him. It was strong enough.

"Even those with no eyes can see what I offer," it said carefully. "Someone... something deep in the Fortress of Ends escaped the Icewarden through me. So I was punished."

"How long ago was that."

"I no longer know. It was...a very long time ago."

"Why are you here." He reached into the shadow and pulled Hitth forward by their whiskers. "And think hard about which misdirection you want to tell me on this one. You're starting to remind me of someone I really hate and I don't mind putting your skull up right next to his."

"Th-the Eclipse!" it stammered. "I was caught along the border of Light and Shadow after the totality! A godsborn bade me follow him here, he said I would be safe! He had the mark of the Whisperer on his left flank!"

Carnelian squinted. Flank was a very particular turn of phrase--one that none of the clan typically used. But if he was on the border...

"Ilkilides," Carnelian spat, releasing the pearlcatcher. "So an Eclipse-born hatches and guides you out here. Do you want to say why?"

"He did not give me details," Hitth whined, rubbing at its whiskers. "Something about the Shadowbinder having something for me to do, but I have not seen him since."

That, unlike everything else that had left Hitth's mouth, rang true to Carnelian. He didn't have any doubt that this dragon was more than it said and had its own plans. But if they had gotten tangled up with Ilkilides,  it meant they were definitely a part of some scheme of his. And given what Carnelian had experienced gazing into the strange colorless light from Hitth's wings, all Ilkilides probably needed them to do was just be there.

"I don't know what you really want here," Carnelian warned, turning to leave. "But get lost. Go darken someone else's doorstep."

"I am not on any clan territory," Hitth protested. "I did not seek you in your home, it was you who interrupted my solitude to beg me my power and now you command me to leave! What authority do you have?! What right?!"

There was no sound, but there was a distinct sensation of something turning over beneath both their feet, like a child turning in its bed. Carnelian looked back at Hitth. Their wings were aggressively splayed and glowing that unsettling negative not-color, but their posture was uncertain. Cowed by something bigger than them or this argument. Though it lacked actual eye contact, the two did share a moment of like thought.

It would be bad for them to make a commotion right now.

Inevitably, someone would make the wrong choice. And then what could be done? Hitth was either amoral or lacking in the ability to say ‘no’, but it was true that they didn’t seek others to show visions to. If some fool asked them for a dream, and then chose the dream and disappeared, why should it be Hitth’s fault or their responsibility?

"I'm going to pay your little shadow patron a visit," Carnelian said quietly."If he has the same story you do, fine. You do what you like. Only some fool like me would be coming to this shithole to see you anyway."

"If anything unpleasant happens that has even a hint of your involvement," he added with barely restrained menace. "I'll come back. And I'll pluck those fucking wings right off your back."