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| The wind blew through their hair as they looked down into the valley below. A red and gray haze hung in the valley air, making it hard to see the land before them. The smell of ashes and fire hung in the still air, making it uncomfortable to breathe. It was dark, to dark for the time of day. �We will have to go all the way into the valley if we want to find this person,� Desiree said as she tried to peer through the darkness. �I agree, lets go!� Yama started down the side of the valley�s edge. The valley walls were steep, so the going was slow. After walking further into the ash filled air, they were covered in the gray ash. Rocks moved beneath their feet and hooves, forcing them to go slower. Soon the two reached the bottom of the valley wall. They could barely see about them, the ash and smoke filled sky blocking their vision of the area. Desiree blinked, trying desperately to get a good look. Yama started to walk further into the valley, wanting to see what made the valley so dangerous. And as he walked, he found out. The ground began to shake violently, causing both to stumble to the ground. The ground kept shaking, causing the world about them to tumble. Desiree closed her eyes and desperately tried to cling onto something, but there was nothing to hold onto. Eventually the shaking stopped, the earthquake was over. But as it ended, and as Desiree began to open her eyes, the rift not too far away from them began to lighten up. Desiree stared at it numbly before realizing what it might mean. �Yama, we need to move away from that rift!� Yama heard her cry and hurried over to her. Desiree climbed unsteadily onto his bare back and Yama galloped further into the valley, away from the rift. Desiree looked over her shoulder, her eyes on the rift. And in a few seconds, her fears were answered. The rift brightened even more to brighten the area about it. Then deep red sparks issued out from the rift only to be followed by a pillar of fire. The fire did not last long, and once it was gone all that was left was the red sparks mingling in with the ash. |
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| Desiree turned back to face the front, only to be daunted by a new trial. Before them were two rivers, one of water, the other of red lava. The two came together to form a wall of mist, blocking the view of the rest of the valley from them. Yama did not stop though, but continued to gallop. �YAMA!� Desiree cried as she gripped the unicorn�s mane. But Yama paid her no attention. Once Yama reached the edge of the two rivers he jumped over the river, through the mist and smoke, and to the other side. Desiree blinked at the new light. Sunlight came in patches now, making odd shapes on the ground before them. Desiree slipped off of Yama as the unicorn came to a stop, and looked about the newest area of the valley to be seen. |
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| Thin vents in the ground were scattered about the area. Air came in gusts from within the bowels of the earth, coming out from these vents. They blew back the steam and ashes, providing some sunlight to filter down below. The air blowing about them, going about in all different directions was warm, tempered by occasional blasts of cold air. In the very center of the strange clearing trees grew. But they were not ordinary trees. The leaves were pitch black, the bark only a lighter shade of the same color. They were tall and thin, and seemed to be surrounded by shadows that not even the sun could penetrate. �And who might you be?� A voice from within those shadows asked in a quiet voice. �What? Who is that?� Desiree asked as she looked towards the trees. A man walked out of the shadows, and slowly approached the two. He wore dark clothes, black and red, which blended into the shadows, ash, and fire all at the same time. At his side a sword was strapped, and his hand rested on the handle. �Uhm, hello. My name is Desiree. I am the leader at the Forest,� all of her words came out in uncertainty. She was unsure of what to say to this man, this man who would rather hide away in the shadows of fire and darkness. But within him, just like the valley, the elements converged. �Ah, yes,� he said as he dropped his hand from his sword hilt. �I have seen what you have done. But what are you doing here?� |
| �We wanted to make this a home for a dragon. But we needed to find someone to take care of the dragon. We heard rumors about you.� Desiree watched his features closely, wanting to see his first reaction. But his face remained passive, unchanging. �Well, I would be glad to adopt and raise a dragon. I can make its home right here.� Desiree nodded at his reply. �How long do you think it will take you to make a home?� He thought a moment before replying. �Not too long. Wait here,� and he disappeared back into the trees. Desiree and Yama sat down waiting for him. And while they waited a slight earthquake rattled the ground. After a few moments the man appeared to the two nervous guests. "All right, follow me," he turned and lead them to the small ring of black trees. "By the way," Desiree asked as they walked, "What is your name?" "Ihen." They soon made it to the trees. He lead the two past the tree line and into a small clearing. Darkness hungs all about, only a dim light illuminating enough of the surroundings to prevent them from running into things. In the center of the clearing Desiree found a nest and the begginings of a treasure horde. A few days after getting all the paper work done for the new dragon home, Desiree recieved a small letter from Ihen. The letter was short, and expressed simply his thanks. He had recieved a dragon egg from Keltic Isle and had it situated in his home. Desiree smiled warmly and sent her blessings. Remains of the egg shell were still scattered about the clearing, waiting to be cleaned up. But Ihen was not in the mood to clean yet, still enamored with the new addition to his family. The small black dragon sat quietly curled on his lap, his short tail twisted about his waist. The two sat in a peaceful silence, no words needed to be spoken. Ihen scratched the dragon's ridge, making her purr catlike. "Hmm, I think I shall call you Sanji..." He said as he looked into the samll dragon's bright red eyes. *** What morning light there was filtered through the black trees and into the clearing. Ihen stood in the middle of the clearing, wondering where his little dragon had gone. Well, she was not as small as she was yesterday. This morning she had grown from a hatchling into a dragonet. And she seemed to dissappear more often now. "Sanji! Where are you!?!" Ihen walked out of the trees, and into the other clearing. The air coming from the ground blew at his face as he walked to the other side of the clearing. And there was Sanji, just where he thought she would be. At this end of the clearing a large river cut through the ground. It was a warm river and ash made the water dark and gray. But the little dragon seemed to enjoy the water very much. Sanji would spend hours swimming around in the water. As Ihen approached, Sanji splashed water onto him. Ah, he would never learn, he thought as he wiped his clothes off. But Sanji wanted to play, and succeeded in pulling Ihen into water. *** Morning light, or what could be called morning, crept into the clearing. Ihen ambled on towards the dark stream, already having seen the dark form of Sanji playing in the waters. On his arrival he noticed something different about his black dragon, something different.... Sanji splashed water at him as he neared, and he suddenly realized what. Sanji had grown. His little dragon was growing... He let a smile grace his lips, something he had not done in a long time. He soon joined Sanji in the water, who of course nearly drowned him AGAIN in her excitement. *** You had decided to go and visit Sanji, having dared the horrors of the Shinsai Valley. You have so far gotten through, and headed into the central clearing of the valley. You see a stream to one side, and a stand of black trees in the middle. You head towards the trees, but something happens. The shadows begin to group together, a large teeming mass of shadows that shift with malvolence. The shadows come to where you stand, and begin to enclose about you. But before you lose all hope of making it through, you hear a yell. "SANJI!!" Immediately the shadows dissipate, and you find yourself looking at both dragon and gaurdian. "Sanji! You know you are not allowed to kill any of the guests!!" "But, it's sooo much fun," Sanji says as she hangs her head. Ihen laughs and says, "Sanji, I can't stay mad at you!" Sanji brightens as Ihen scratches her head ridges. |
| Dragon Stats: Name: Sanji (Disaster) Stage: Adult Gender: Female Color: Black!!!! Type: Water! ADOPTED FROM KELTIC ISLE |
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| All pictures on this dragon home were made by me, do not use unless you ask me. |