He had hatched here long ago, and spent many days exploring the depths of the caverns, yet this place is where he felt the most at home, most likely because this is the place where he had been born. He looked at the cavern, the derelict rocks, the shining crystals, the glowing lights from on high, here is where he had made his home.

Looking behind him he saw the dark crystals that hid the entrance of his den, it was in there that he returned to everyday, it was well hidden as the crystals surrounding it did not glow brightly, but were just bright enough to allow him to see where he was going.

Most days he could be found here in this cavern, though he travelled the caverns when he needed a change of a pace, it was here where he kept watch over his charges.

It wasn't an official position, but there was something that drew him to the many chrysalis that lie dormant, yet inside grew a life, and life in these caves was something precious, so here he remained, a silent guardian keeping guard over the chrysalis that nurtured the life inside.

From time to time one would be born, and if he could he would offer them answers, where they were, what was going on, oftentimes they would go their separate ways and that would be the last he ever saw of them. Most would think the life he had chosen was a one of loneliness, but he thought of it as penance, for the things he had done in his past that he could never take back.

Many would say that it wasn't his fault, that he had no choice, yet the fact remained that he had committed those sins, and that no amount of good could ever make up for it, yet he would always try, and as long as he lived he found that this post was the one that brought him solace and peace of mind.

He rarely interacted with anyone but the newborn fledglings, yet he felt things might begin to change, though for good or for ill is something only time would tell.

He loped across the cavern checking on the chrysalis he would come upon, checking for cracks, yet for the most part, many of them remained intact. He could never tell when they would crack, it always depended on the one who would come forth from the crystal, but every hatchling was something exciting and it never got old, it was never tiresome to see nature at work.

BARATHEON

"the world is mine for the taking"

Why was he here again? This was the place that hurt... It hurt slightly less so than before but it was still there. He could feel the dull ache in the back of his mind if he tried thinking too hard. It was a relief and a help when he reached up with one of his paws and touched the glowing pink stone around his horn. It helped to keep him grounded just like Macawi said it would. He would focus on it and think about who he was now. Not about nightmares... not about what he might have been... No no... He wouldn't. Too much.

Words. Macawi told him to do words. Said they would help. He didn't want to focus on them before, certain words hurt. But maybe... Today...

His mouth began to motion, make attempts at words but all that came out was feral grunts. It was while he was walking with three legs --the fourth was raised to hold onto the stone around his horn-- that he noticed something in the distance. A wolf pup watching over what looked to be chrysali. The pup reminded him somewhat of his own daughter Rauslin and he felt a smile form on his face and his tail start to wag slowly. To get the pup's attention he let out a hoarse bark and meandered over to him.

After he was closer the dragon dropped his paw to the earth and smiled. He was rooted for now and he didn't want to say any words. His wagging tail, smile, and one shining eye should be enough.

266
Zephyr Bloodking
---
5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

The great black beast heard the bark and froze, he had been aware of a presence come into his domain, though it was not uncommon for many to venture here, he usually avoided interacting with other creatures at all costs, the last time he had come into contact with anything, it had not gone well, he winced at the memory.

Yet there was a soothing presence from the approaching creature, and it was a dragon, a very powerful creature, and it would be unwise to anger or even annoy the creature, and this one was old, very old, and most likely very powerful.

Yet he stood his ground and turned around seeing the dragon approach, sizing him up should the need arise for a battle. He would protect his charges, he would protect them with his life if that was what was needed. He felt the stone on his forehead grow hot as the dragon approached.

It must have been many days since he had last spoken, longer still since he had been close to any other creature, and as the dragon grew closer, he did not sense any ill will, yet one could never be too careful. "I have not crossed paths with you before," he rumbled in a voice that sounded like gravel being dragged underfoot, rough from disuse, and also as if it had been strained as if from crying or screaming.

BARATHEON

"the world is mine for the taking"

Baratheon's eye remained locked onto the wolf pup as it looked at him and then spoke. It had never crossed passed with him before? Well he wasn't surprised. A young one like him probably hadn't seen too many creatures yet, let alone a dragon. Fortunately he had not crossed paths with... With... Headache. A flash of black scales! His eye briefly closed as he reached up to touch his stone. Present. Had to stay in the present.

He blinked and focused back on the wolf pup. His head lowered and turned slightly so that he could get a better view but he made no reply. Well, he couldn't make a reply. Not with words, words were still hard. So he shook his head, silently saying that he had never crossed paths with the wolf either. His single eye then turned on the chrysali behind the pup and he looked curious. Were all of these siblings of his? Or had he found them? The dragon swept his gaze over the chrysali before he looked down at the pup again.

His mind reached out towards the wolf but his pull on the magick was weak so no spell was cast. Instead he used other means to communicate his question. He did so by pointing with one claw to the chrysali, then pointing to the pup and then tilting his head to the side.

266
Zephyr Bloodking
---
5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

The dragon was powerful, any hatchling would be able to tell him that, yet despite all that power he made no move to attack the wolf, on the contrary, the dragon seemed interested. When he, the black wolf assumed it was a he, pointed with one claw, the wolf drew his lips back in a snarl placing himself in front of the chrysalis. He would die before he let anything happen to his charges, yet where he expected power to shoot from the dragon's claw there came nothing.

It seemed that the dragon was asking him a question as when he pointed to the chrysalis he then pointed to the wolf, indicating a connection, no, the dragon was asking if there was a connection.

The great black wolf cast a glance behind him and sudden realization dawned on him, and a voice rough with disuse yet sounding as if there was gravel being dragged underfoot, like the voice of one who had screamed and cried for days and days came from the maw.

"Not my kin, only my charge." he said simply. It wasn't an official position, it was not a job that had been given to him, it was his atonement. "Who are you?" he rumbled, not dropping his guard. The dragon didn't seem to desire to harm anything, but one could never be too cautious. He had learned that lesson the hard way long ago.

=

BARATHEON

"the world is mine for the taking"

He heard the snarl and flinched away. Violence. Just like from his nightmares. He didn't like violence, it hurt others. Caused pain and destruction... The loss of innocent lives. He blinked, shaking away the thoughts. It was a simple misconception. The pup thought he meant harm with his claws but he meant none. Honest mistake.

The dragon nodded his head in understanding. So, he was a protector. If there was one thing he understood it was protecting. He did so with his sister and did so with his friends. Now at the question the dragon tilted his head the other direction, oversized ears hanging loosely on the sides of his head. He seemed to be at a complete loss. How as he to explain who he was? He still didn't know himself. "Baratheon" was what everyone called him but that name was painful and he didn't feel like a "Baratheon". Macawi simply called him what he was and that was what he wished to be.

His mouth opened and closed, mumbles and feral grunts coming from betwixt his fangs. This talking business still was a bit difficult. So he did something else instead. He reached his mind out to the wolf's again and this time was able to send a message. Normally he didn't send words but this time he did. Dragon... He said simply in the wolf's mind before retreating again.

232
Zephyr Bloodking
---
5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

The dragon had spoken in his mind, something the wolf knew some were gifted with yet he recoiled when he felt the dragon touch his mind. His mind was something that should never be seen by anyone.

There were demons there that did not rest, and every waking moment they haunted his every step rarely letting him have a single moment of peace, but he realized that the dragon meant no harm rather he was trying to communicate with him.

"You cannot speak?" the wolf rumbled, he didn't know why but he felt that he could trust this dragon, and so he did something that he had never done before in his living memory.

He let someone in, he placed his faith in someone.