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On Draconis Elementa

Draconis Elementa, once thought to be a subspecies of typical Western Dragons, turns out that was not the full story; in fact they seem to be a separate branch of the same tree: one sharing several characteristics while also having their own unique features.

The following notes will go into detail regarding different topics about their Anatomy, History, Culture, Traditions, Myths & Legends, and other topics of note.

Anatomy:

In terms of body structure, Draconis Elementa are almost exactly like their other scaled kin sharing a Bipedal body structure and, in most cases, a pair of membranous wings. However, they do tend to vary in terms of appearance, coming in multiple varieties and scale colours: some possessing horns, feathered plumage and even fins have also been observed.

There are a few notable features that distinguish them from common western dragon, however:

First off; they have a small ridge-like fin that runs from just between their shoulder blades where their wings normally meet their bodies. (This is also present in the rare case one is born without wings) This fin is slightly dexterous and partially prehensile giving them some degree of control which lets them flex it slightly, this allows Draconis Elementa to make small adjustments during flight without majorly shifting their bodies and creating drag. It has also been noted that this can be used in swimming, a trait they share with common sea serpents and leviathans.

Secondly: their tails are also fully prehensile, this is often the envy of some species who don't have this trait as it can make some tasks and simple things rather easy, for example instead of having to bend down to pick up an object Draconis Elementa can simply use their tails. Interestingly enough the prehensile nature does not fully come into play until his kind reach 6 months old, before this age their tails can have moments where they seem to have a mind of their own, and can be both amusing and slightly annoying, this is a result of the neural pathways related to their tails fully developing post hatching: In rare cases this can also occur with their wings.

Last up is their Tongues; this species have long forked tongues: However what is interesting is that this body part is also fully prehensile even down to having individual control of the forked branches at the end, this gives them a reputation of sorts among other creatures for being good at a particular department in the adult industry, and it is certainly a treat to experience it.

Flight & Elemental Affinity:

A point to note on Draconis Elementa is the fact that despite their impressive wingspans and clearly developed anatomy that helps with their flight; the actual possibility of them being able to fly is of some debate to many other creatures.

When I asked a medical professional of their species about this I was actually given an insight to this that I had not expected; According to him, their species is not normally capable of flight, gliding is a high possibility in adult life but, their ability to fly actually stems from their elemental affinity.

You see, as we will discuss later on this sister-species of dragons have an innate ability to wield and manipulate elements, but it is a widely accepted fact for most that all members of the species have a subconscious connection to the element of air on a rather small level.

This is often referred to as their 'resonance'. It is through this (or at least it is believed to be through this) that they are able to connect and wield the other elements. But, it also severs another function, to active and sustain flight it seems that Draconis elementa subconsciously manipulate air currents around themselves to generate the required lift for them to stay afloat in the air.

Growth & Development:

The growth cycle of the Draconis Elementa is a pretty simplistic one and is not much different from the growth of other species in the world, for the first 9 months of their life they live and grow in an egg like most reptiles, once hatched they go through the usual growth process of earthing to walk, eat, speak and much of the other parts that comes as part of early development.

The key differences in their lives is in the development of their wings and tails, as mentioned before, even after hatching the nerves and muscles for these limbs are still developing, which can cause odd behaviour in these appendages, such as random moments of stiffness or limpness and spasms, which often leads to embarrassing or humorous moments during early childhood, this normally stops around the age of 6 months, but has been noted to last as long as 1 year, this is normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

The other différance of note is that during their growth, all the way until age 15, an individual will steadily become more accustom to their innate elemental affinity, they are encouraged to develop this by regularly flying and gliding. (With adult supervision in younger members of the species.) This apparently helps to strengthen their affinity, much like working out a muscle group. Normally by age 15, if the individual has been regularly practising this that they should be strong enough to maintain long flights, particularly long enough to fly out to their ancestral grove for their 'Awakening' (this will be touched on later)

(It is important to note that there is allotted time each day during their schooling at which individuals practice this, this is done to promote healthy growth and is seen as part of their physical education.)

Genitalia & Reproduction:

Another part that of their anatomies that is of note is their genitalia and reproductive habits. (I will split each part of this segment into its own category to allow for selective reading)

Male Anatomy:

The penis of a male specimen of Draconis Elementa when not erect rests inside a genital slit, this keeps the penis sheltered from the elements and prevents them from drying out, much like a canines sheath: Their testicles are also stored internally. It is noted that this can vary between individuals: while a genital slit is the typical case, individuals possessing a sheath and external testicles or a humanoid penis (also with external testicles) have been observed, and examined.

When erect, their penis is an impressive specimen, boasting both length and girth, when fully erect, their length can total between six to just over nine and a half inches in length from behind the knot to his very tip. Girth wise their members are difficult to measure due to its tapered nature but at its thickest point it typically measures at 2 and a half inches in girth with a knot that expands a further inch outwards.

As mentioned before, the male penis is tapered in nature, meaning it is thicker at the base and tapers out to a thin point towards the top. Further their penis is also prehensile in nature giving it some flexibility that drives their mates crazy!

Notably their 'output' is also rather impressive, and they process a ridiculous refectory period making time between orgasms quite short which often leads to some heavy duty clean-up after a serious night with their mates or partners.

Due to the fact that that their members rest in a slit, it is naturally very slick meaning the male needs very little prep beforehand, however this species does produce a large amount of pre anyway, especially if you tease them long enough, or play with their prostate.

Female Anatomy:

Much like the male penis, the vagina of the Draconis Elementa resides within their slits hidden from view apart from the actual slit itself, the vaginal secretions of a female of this species are very slick and provide excellent lubrication, this helps when they are laying eggs.

The inner walls of their vaginas are host to a large cluster of nerve endings, meaning that they are easy to stimulate vaginally: including when they are laying eggs. The increased sensitivity enures that they produce plenty of lubricant during the laying process; it has also been observed that females will typically orgasm from delivering, almost like an incentive to reproduce, however reproduction is not required for an egg to be laid.

Intersex Anatomy:

While still rare, intersex individuals of this species can occur naturally, what is unusual about this however is that both sets of genitalia will fully form and be fully functional, it seems this was a trait that is a holdover from a time when their population was dwindling.

When this occurs the genitals of the individual in question are housed within the same slit, due to the fact that the entrance to the vagina also resides inside said slit it can be difficult to find out they actually had one until they lay an egg for the first time.

Because of its position the internal anatomy is quite complex, as there is a slight upwards bend at the entrance of the vagina which makes it feel incredibly tight when any male penetrates the individual in question: further the bump that creates the upward bend is also where their prostate resides, causing to it being incredibly pleasurable for them and makes them leak like a faucet when they are penetrated vaginally.

Reproduction:

The reproductive cycle of the Daconis Elementa is very simplistic, once every 3 months the female (or intersex individual) will enter a heat cycle, during which their libido is heightened, and their female scent is stronger to help attract a potential mate. (It is noteworthy that Draconis Elementa only begin laying eggs after they reach 18 years of age, it seems that their bodies have internalised societal norms of the modern age to a degree)

This cycle often lasts around a week, after which if the egg is unfertilised Draconis Elementa will lay the produced egg the following week; However if the egg is fertilised it will stay inside the body for a further 6 months after this point they will lay a healthy egg often sharing the colours of both the male and female (often favouring the females colours), this cycle makes it both easy for this species to not only tell if they are successfully impregnated, but also who exactly who the father is; or at the very least have a good idea who it is.

Draconis Elementa are not reproductively exclusive this means it is entirely possible for someone not of the species (or even of the same racial category) to impregnate them, it is however slightly more difficult for this to occur when compared to same species breeding.

In the occurrence of a mixed species insemination in a Draconis Elementa, the young will hatch from an egg as a young dragon welp, however they may retain traits from the fathers' species, such as having fur, or feathers & feathered wings (in cases of avian species), in rare cases some of their body parts may be more like the father species, this can range from anything as small as ears, to differing genitalia, however the core body is unsubject to change, it seems like there is some "biological failsafe" preventing incompatible anatomies from mixing.

However:

In the case of a male Draconis Elementa inseminating a female of another species, it will be the other way round, the young taking the core genetics of the mother in questions species and body, while adapting some traits from the father, such as patches of scales (or even fully scaled) and membranous wings in creatures with them; species that do not naturally have wings have a rare chance of gaining wings but only if it is compatible with their body, (For example fully aquatic creatures will NOT gain wings).

It has also been noted that the ability of elemental control that this species possess can also be transferred from a male Draconis Elementa to the offspring, whereas in the case of a female being inseminated by another creature, any abilities the specimen in question may possess can possibly be given to the young on top of Draconis Elementa's natural elemental abilities.

Nesting Habits:

During the time this species is carrying young, it can be observed that they will experience cravings for certain foods and/or larger quantities of food.

Draconis Elementa have also been seen displaying nesting behaviours, often finding; by instinct, what they feel is the safest location in their home or dwelling and constructing makeshift nests, in those living in modern cities this will often consist of blankets, pillows, cushions, stuffed animals and various other soft and comfy items, maybe even some of their mates clothes to make the young one familiar with their sire's scent.

In the more tribal sects of this species, gravid individuals will either stay close to their mates when applicable, or be housed in a central tent with plenty of animal furs and a warm fire nearby, or in some cases they will be sheltered at the rear of a cave when this is a viable option.

Elemental Abilities:

Draconis elementa are also capable of welding powerful elemental abilities (hence their designation), it is as of yet unknown how they are capable of this feat due to how their society frowns upon gaining any such knowledge on this topic, there are multiple theories on this ranging from specific glands in the body either directly producing conditions for the element to magic and other forms of speculation.

What has been observed is frankly remarkable in its own right, Draconis Elementa are capable of producing powerful blasts of their respective element (something I will touch on in a later segment) from their mouths, however in most cases a member of this species will only be able to control a singular element, often consisting of: Fire, Water, Air, Lighting, Ice, Magma and Earth: however Earth elementalists require further explaining due to their unique nature.

In rare cases it is possible for an individual to wield or control dual elements, and in other cases individuals possessing 4 specific elements are born: these individuals are known as Storm Dragons because they wield a collection of Ice, Water, Air and Lighting: all elements that can be found in storms. These individuals are also known by the title "Guardians of The Passing" due to their roles in this species' death ceremony. (Something I also will discuss in a later segment relating to their traditions & customs)

One Individual I have encountered recently, a young grey and black Storm Dragon by the name of Dawn, somehow had learned an old secret of their kind, one that held its place in their legends and fairytales; the ability to apparently use his entire body to wield his elements rather than just firing blasts from his mouth. This allows him to use his abilities in extraordinary ways, he has been apparently been teaching select individuals who he feels can benefit from this these skills, but he says it has been hard going.

Earth Elementalists:

Now, it is important to note that these particular dragons are looked upon with great suspicion by the majority of other Draconis Elementa due to how they come to be.

You see, earth elementalists aren't chosen, apparently it is entirely possible that during their awakening, no element chooses them.

(This is also seen as a bad omen for the family, and it is unfortunately not uncommon that in this occurrence, the family will abandon the individual in question, Fortunately it seems that it is rare that no element chooses them, even rarer in-fact than a Storm Dragon being awoken)

According to legend: which I will write about in more detail when covering that topic, when the first earth elementalist came about it was because she was so dejected and heartbroken at being abandoned that she sought a way to make an element choose her.

What she found instead is that through meditation and various rituals, she could commune with the very earth itself, and bend it to her will, gaining abilities unseen and never spoken of before her time.

It was also at this point that she vowed to never let another like her be abandoned, that she would give them a new family, so, she founded a monastery far from civilisation which would house others who were like her, said outcasts would be brought to her to learn her ways.

Now I have not been able to verify the claims as no one actually knows where this monastery is: besides other earth elementalists who roam far and wide looking for those who could join them. But it is said that these dragons can shape the very ground itself, move mountains, command plants to grow and bear fruit and many other things.

Culture & society:

The first thing visitors to their lands will not is that Draconis Elementa have an interesting sort of culture in the way that it is split into two dynamic groups that, while rather different in their lifestyles, they are able to live in peace with one another through a Ballance of mutual respect, shared traditions & beliefs and a sort of codependence. This sort of lifestyle seems to be in stark contrast to other nations and peoples.

The primary thing to note is the two separate sub-cultures that are present in Draconis Elementa's form of society:

First we have the more tribal sect. It appears at a glance that this group are more primitive and lacking, however to make such a judgement would be foolish, instead it seems that they just have decided to not fully embrace modern lifestyle and prefer a more nomadic style of living, however it is important to not they have not fully renounced technology, while they use simplistic and more natural methods of medicine, farming and production of supplies, they also do trade for items such as cell phones and some advanced medicines when necessary but for the most part, they are a very simple people living with basic needs and serving the land and each other very happily.

On the flip side to this we have the ones that have embraced a more modern culture, living in towns & cities, embracing technology to its fullest and mingling with other cultures from foreign lands.

While both sects of this species live independently they also have a lot of shared beliefs and traditions, and as such they co-exist and intermingle quite often: in most cases this is for the purpose of trade, this trade agreement dates back to when all of this kind lived a nomadic lifestyle and would often trade livestock and supplies, now however the city dwelling people of this kind employ the nomadic tribes that settle near the cities as farmers, and in return they give them the supplies they require to continue their own ways of life.

As populations in the cities started to grow, this deal did start to cause stress on both ways of living as the tribal Draconis Elementa started to struggle to keep up with the demands the cities had, this for a time caused an era of strife and hardship which was ended as the city dwellers started to reach out to foreign nations to supplement their demands of livestock and crops, and allowed both cultures to go back to a mutually beneficial relationship.

It is interesting, both cultures have adopted a 'Clothing optional' way of life: for the most part, members of the species will happily stroll about wearing no or very little clothing, when clothing is worn it is often just to enhance visual appeal or for ceremonial reasons.

Age roles:

As with many other cultures, it is very typical for family members to apply themselves to specific roles and duties inside the family.

Elder members of Draconis Elementa, will often be looks to as a source of knowledge and stories of times past, in the more tribal communities it is very often that they will perform or be at the head in most rituals such as weddings, 'Awakenings' and 'The Passing'. This can also be true among the more modern, city dwelling, Draconis Elementa. As such, they are often looked to with a great deal of respect and reverence by younger members of the family.

Parents or adults in families also share this role of teacher, as it is their duty to impart wisdom on the youths and prepare them for their own adulthood, this involves many lessons which can vary from family to family, however the key lessons are always the same, these include (but are not limited to); Flight lessons, 'talks' on anatomy and mating, teaching younger members to cook and how to handle their money.

The youths and young adults of the household also have their own role in the household as well, often starting as young as age 7, the younger members of the family will be given their daily chores, such as helping to clean the home (most commonly looking after their own rooms and those of their younger siblings) or help with preparing meals as part of them learning to cook for themselves.

The only roles given to those under 7 are to clean up after themselves, and wash their plates after meals, beyond that their only tasks are to have fun, be respectful and practice their flight.

Traditions & Beliefs:

The most important thing to note about Draconis Elementa is that they have a strong belief system that all embrace in early life but are encouraged to go about their beliefs in a way that feels natural to them, while some are incredibly lax in their beliefs others are a lot more reverent, however everyone takes part in the species cultural rituals from a young age.

First, it is prudent to talk about their core ideals about their nature and their abilities, it is believed by many that their elemental control is not necessarily a gift from the gods or anything like that, but instead that the elements themselves (or the entities behind them, as some believe in an almost Norse Mythology style of their beliefs) willingly lend Draconis Elementa their power, and as such this species has developed a healthy respect for each leading to both ways of living developing a more green society, trying to limit pollution as much as possible, this is not always successful, but they are at peace with that, those that aren't, or are more reverent in their beliefs, instead pray and ask forgiveness from the land and the elements.

The Awakening:

When discussing both their elemental abilities and their beliefs about the elements themselves, it is important to bring up the second major milestone in the life of this species, their 'Awakening' as they call it, at age 15 the members of the family that have already taken part in this ritual prior will fly the young one out to the centre of their continent.

Located here is a vast uninhabited mountain range, contained within is a series of groves valleys and oases. This area of their lands is strictly forbidden from being settled due to its importance in their belief system and this ritual.

Members that are not old enough to participate yet are forbidden from going there because the flight there is part of the ritual as much as the events that take place there, if one is unable to manage the flight there on their own wings, they will have to try again the following year.

Once the individual taking part in the ritual and their family arrive at their ancestral place they will shelter in a cave in the mountains surrounding it and wait till around midnight, the members of the family that are participating are encouraged to sleep till this time. (Sleeping in on this occasion is often frowned upon.) Once awoken, the young dragon will be led into the central chamber of the cave the family have sheltered in, at which point their elder siblings, or parents for a firstborn, will apply some stylistic runes withy body paints before leading them to the mouth of the cave where they will behold the true wonders of the lands here.

These lands are host to some spectacular natural storms playing host to the elements of the world, and thus begins the actual ritual. At the centre of each of these sites will be a collection of stone arches surrounding a stone bench; the arches have old runes carved into them that are believed to protect them from the storms, either this works or these structures are maintained, I am unaware as to which.

The individual is instructed to sit upon the bench and meditate until the eye of the storm is over them, it is at this point when they apparently commune in some fashion with the elements and are chosen by one (or more) often in a violent display of raw power, the intensity of this can vary from individual to individual but is often an indicator of their connection to their element.

This is as much as I know of this particular ritual, as they are quite elusive about any other details beyond this.

The Welcoming:

The first major milestone for a member of this species is their Welcoming, this event is special as it's the first thing they often see, and experience. The name is as literal as it comes as this is a party to welcome the little one to the world, the hatching process of a Draconis Elementa is often slow and thus the immediate family of the hatchling gather round to watch, it is also not uncommon for secondary & tertiary family to attend, family friends may also attend, this varies from family to family however, some prefer it to be a purely family affair. The party is often a quiet affair, some gifts and well wishes and also shared.

The hatchlings egg is also saved after the young one breaks free, and is stored for a special purpose: To make Eggweave.

It Is important to note, that in the event of the eggs parents perishing before it hatches it is common for either other members of the family or close friends to adopt the egg into their own family.

On Eggweave:

Eggweave is a special and ceremonial material that is made from parts of their own eggs, Specifically the membrane that lies just under the harder shell of the egg.

When a young one hatches from the egg, the discarded remains are collected and store until a family member: usually the mother, can get round to making it into Eggweave.

To make it, the harder shell is peeled from the membranous part of the egg, which is then carefully washed and sliced into thin thread-like stands. The resulting material is said to be almost silk-like in texture, making it perfect for weaving into small blankets often given to the newly hatched member of the family.

The harder shell of the egg is ground down and used to make dye to give the thread a similar colouring to the hatchling.

While blankets are the most common use for Eggweave, it is also important to note that some families use it for grander ideas or projects. For example, more affluent families have been known to adopt the tribal practice of using Eggweave to make a family tapestry, often showing the family line or perhaps the family crest.

Another point of note is that infertile eggs are often broken down as well for extra Eggweave, either for personal family use, or to sell. There is quite a market for Eggweave particularly among families that partake in the making of tapestries.

The Passing:

The Passing is often the most solemn, and yet paradoxical, celebrated event in the lifecycle of the Draconis Elementa. When a member of this species die, their remains are kept stored away; often frozen in ice. There are notable exceptions to this however, such as in the case of serious injury & disfigurement (this will be touched on later) The remains are kept until the height of the winter solstice, during which there is an aurora that engulfs the skies above their home continent. At midnight, when the skies are alight with the most majestic sight in nature, the bodies of the deceased are burned on pyres. It was once believed, and by some still believed, that the aurora is the spirits of their ancestors coming to take the spirits of their family to their new home in the afterlife.

In the week leading up to this day, the streets of the towns and cities (and the small camps of the nomadic tribes) are host to festivals and celebration. Things such as stalls, games and other such novelties are aplenty, as is the sight of young children running around receiving treats and wearing masks of heroes from legends, mythical beings & beasts, or even simple masks of other races, like wolves, foxes, cats, otters, etc (this inclusion started as their culture started getting visitors from other lands, as a way oof welcoming the visitors and to encourage them to take part in the festivities) at the end of the week, on the day of the solstice, families begin to gather in large fields where the pyres are constructed for the actual Passing itself.

In the event that the body of an individual is too badly damaged that the family do not wish to display it on a pyre, the family can choose to have the body cremated early, after which the ashes are retained to be scattered into the winds on the night of the solstice to join their ancestors. Cremations may also be suggested in the event that a particular mortuary is too full, if the family declines, arrangements are made with the family to transport the body somewhere close by for storage. Also, in the event a body cannot be found, the family will often place an object of note to the individual on the pyre instead, this can be anything from a prized possession (unless passed onto a relative in their last will and testament), their first blanket made from "eggweave", articles of clothing, photos of them, small carvings or anything of the like.

The wood of the pyres is soaked in chemicals that causes the flames to burn in various colours often trying to match the aurora in the skies above, this is done to ensure that the ancestors recognise their kin rising up to join them.

Storm dragons play a vital role in this Ritual, which has earned their kind the nickname or title "Guardians of The Passing", this role is in two parts. First they are tasked with ensuring that any weather does not disrupt the events, as such they will lead groups of air elementalists to deal with any naturally occurring clouds on the day, the goal here is to make sure the aurora is visible at midnight and to prevent rain from putting out any burning pyres. Secondly; when they are flying on the night of the solstice, they are given tail satchels with multiple separate pouches, each containing the ashes of an individual that was cremated previously. (Other dragons are also given this task) Doing either of these tasks is seen as a huge responsibility and service for their people, as such anyone who does such is compensated very heavily. (It is critical to note that they are given breaks to be with family if they have a family member that is deceased on a pyre)

There are a couple of things to note about this event:

Firstly, this is a national holiday only those that choose to work on the day do so, no one is strictly required to do such. (Unless their position is vital to the safety and wellbeing of others.)

Second, criminals of lower offences who have a deceased family member on a pyre are released for a few hours to pay their respects. (More serious offences must be reviewed before release can be granted.)

Third, Individuals of this species who pass away while in foreign lands are flown back home to their families to be stored in time for The Passing, in the event they cannot be flown back in time, they are stored until the next passing.

Finally, as mentioned in the section regarding The Welcoming, should an egg's parents unfortunately pass before its hatching, this is the only time that bodies are stores for longer than usual, during the hatchlings formative years they will be taught about who their parents were, and what they were like. When they reach 5 years old they attend the Passing of their birth parents and are then presented with a choice, to be named in the same family of their mother and father, or if they would like to take the name of their adoptive parents.

Myths, Legends & Fairytales:

Draconis Elementa have a range of stories, some are theoretical, others, stories from the past, given their nature and abilities, it can be difficult to determine whether the exploits mentioned in some of these stories are exaggerated or actual feats this species can or once could perform, with that in mind it is hard to fully determine what is myth, legend or fairytale, hence my putting them under the same section. I will only touch on two of their stories for now, but perhaps more in the future.

Legend of Winter:

Long ago, when the world was fledgeling, when only feral beasts roamed the lands, there only existed 3 seasons: The Rising, The Floating, and The Falling. This was the way of the way of life for the longest time most of the elements represented until one day, a most peculiar dragon was born, his scales were the palest white and his parents thought him ill. However, he survived despite all the doubts, he was rather weak, compared to the others in his classes. He even failed his awakening two times, until on his attempt at 17, he powered through, his mother grew worried however as on arrival he was cold to the touch, his body shivering in apparent exhaustion.

Something happened that day, something no one could explain, when he went down into his families oasis and communed with the spirits, it was as though all the heat in the area died, the rain and waters becoming solid. It turns out, that was winter, he had communed with a spirit that no others had and been given an element all of his own. The element of cold, or ice, as he named it later.

Winter had trouble controlling his powers, often leading to outbursts where the land surrounding his home would become layered with frost and ice. The rain turning to snow or hail. This frightened those in his tribe, they feared one day the heat would never return And so, they cast him out told him to leave and take his "curse" with him. Upset and dejected he left, turning cold to the world, and bitter towards his kind as he was turned away again and again. One day halfway through the falling, he decided that maybe they should feel his curse, and so he flew to the highest peak of the world opened his wings and let out his anger on the world. To him, it was beautiful, the world awash in white.

This lasted a full 3 lunar cycles when he realised his power was taking a toll on his body. His wings had frozen stiff, leaving him unable to fly to find food, and water was scarce as it was all frozen over. As he released his hold and waited, as the plants began to spring back to life and the creatures began to wake from their frozen slumbers.

As he hunted for food, he found something he thought he never would; another dragon, she was as white as the patches of lingering snow, and cold to the touch. Over time, they would bond and grow fond of one another, protecting each other from others of their kind. Laughing and giggling as they froze their foes paws to the ground and ran away. The female, or Ni'yebe as she was known expressed her admiration of what he had done, to her, it seamed he had made an all new season, just for them.

However, they both knew it would need to end, or all life would perish, and they would soon follow. Begrudgingly, Winter accepted this logic but also revelled in the idea of his own season, his own time on this world. So he promised to her that every year, in the middle of The Falling, he would return to that mountain top and bring about what he would call winter, after himself.

Over time the world began to accept this fate, that there was now a fourth season, the name winter, became known to all, but not by him or his mate, in fact it was his mother that coined the name to the rest of the world, as each year, when the snow fell, she was reminded of the young ice dragon.

The Masters of The Way:

Once upon a time there was a small group of dragons, not unlike anyone you would meet on the streets, or among the tribal camps, visually they were no different from anyone else. They held the same beliefs, followed the same ways of life as everyone else. What was different however was their powers.

They were The Masters of The Way, it was unknown how they could do so, but they could wield their powers in ways others thought impossible. They could sling bolts of power from their hands, cloak themselves in an aura of their respective element and virtually anything in between and more.

Legend goes, they were the defenders of the lands, responding to dire threats from beyond the seas, from the skies, or from the ground beneath our feet. It is often said they were avatars of the elements themselves, their devine will on earth.

It is said, that one day a grave threat came to our lands, a threat which these Masters would gather and deal with, the resulting battle left a jagged crater in the lands, that would one day become the great lake, the threat was vanquished, but the masters were never seen or heard of again. Some think they perished, others believe they went their separate ways and lived among us to the day of their passing, teaching a select few their ways, and only those whom the elements themselves deem worthy.

There have been scatterings of stories claiming other dragons have used their powers in strange ways, but none were confirmed.

Eden: Will of the Earth:

It is said that long ago there was a young hatchling, she bore a coat of emerald green scales, and eyes the colour of oak. Her name was Eden, she was like others her age, she was friendly and oh so kind, always stopping to help others even if it would make her late to classes. She saw everyone as family, much to her own families' amusement.

That changed however on the day of her awakening, after meditating and communing with the spirits, she felt no different than she already had, she could breathe no fire, no lightning, no ice or water, and the only wind she could summon was that in her lungs.

Her family, being of noble descent, did not take to this well, and instead when they got home, told her to pack her things, and leave. She was heartbroken, but it only got worse from there. It didn't take long for word to spread of her "condition", and others began to treat her as if she had something they could catch, everyone she knew, all those she loved and cherished treated her like she didn't exist, and when they did, it was only to make space between them.

She hated it, she cursed the spirits, why couldn't they have chosen her, why didn't they? Was there something wrong with her? Was she really sick like others thought? She had too many questions and not enough answers.

So, for years she searched high and low, looking all throughout their lands for any explanation as to why she was the only one of her kind that the god decided to reject, and after some meditation the answer came to her, clear as day, if they rejected her, then she could do so in turn.

She began researching other faiths from creatures that travelled to their lands learning of rituals, talismans and other such interesting items and practices and gave them a try it seemed fruitless at first something seemed like they would work, but she thought it was simply a trick of her mind and wishful thinking.

Until one day, after hearing about a type of people, a practice she found fascinating, she heard about monks: a person who gave up their possessions their attachments and sought to gain a better understanding of self, and after finding a placed isolated from the rest of her kind, she began to meditate, something she hadn't done since her awakening.

She sat still for days focusing on the feel of nothing but the ground beneath her, on the feeling of how her body worked, how her lungs expanded and contracted with each breath, on the sensation created when she moved her limbs, everything.

After a time she began to notice changes in how she interacted with the world, turning back to the rituals she had tried before, she noticed these too gave different results than before. She found that through sheer will she could bend the earth and ground itself, she could shape stone like fresh clay to create intricate items, she could cause plants to grow, to bloom where they had not been before.

Only now did she feel true to her name, she was Eden, The Will of the Earth. And she vowed, that she would not abandon those like her, if the elements themselves would abandon another, she would not, and she would give them a home and a family.