Exaltling

Exaltling Wandering Princess of Nature Chains. They were all she knew, from that first moment when she broke from her shell, spilling out into the dark embrace of the shadow nest. The chains wrapped themselves around her neck, holding her within the confines of the darkness. It was all she knew, those first dark days. Food was delivered, wilted plants tasting of shadow. She could feel the shadow as part of her own soul, but somehow, these shadows were her captors. Brightness, the first time, caused her to to shrink back in the darkness, light dangerous simply in it’s newness. The voice, the first she had heard since breaking shell. “Another female.” Loud, imperious, and without a hint of mercy. Scorn laces the deep voice as it turns away, the light snapping away again. “Send her away. Another failed Exaltling.” The shadows begin to close in. Fear gives her power, young as she is still. Fear allows her to dig with her powerful tundra pads, shadows lodging into her fur as the dirt gives way. Before they can clutch onto her, to strangle the shadows from her soul and keep them after the feeble outward corpse has been shed, the side of the nest slumping around her as she breaks into the quiet outside of the nest. There is no question of remaining. She must run. Wings not quite ready for flight her feet take her further and further from the nest. Soon enough the shadows have alerted the guards and they follow. Outside the nest, outside the camp, the shadows once again wrap around her, but these ones are friendly. Feeling her fear, her need to escape disposal, she follows them where they lead her. With them as her guides the pursuit cannot quite gain enough momentum to catch up. The shadow domain cannot last forever though, and eventually, the shadows draw back their power locked within their own domain. That which pursues however, its not tied. Powerful wings push air against her as he, lord, patriarch, descends before her. The scorn laced words lash across her body. “Defective child, how dare you attempt to flee. While this flight of yours may be entertaining, it stops now.” One powerful wing, ready to buffet her, to send her into endless oblivious, rises and begins to fall.

A rush of wind, scented with the power of flowers and new growth stops the fall, enveloping her. It pulls her out of the land of shadows. How long it carries her is anyone’s guess, but the scornful voice and malevolent intent are left behind. Her eyes close tightly, and she curls into a ball, allowing the wind to pull her further and further away from the land of shadow.

Slowly the wind dies down, and she is deposited upon a soft cushion. “Sweet one.” Musical the voice sounds, calling to her from a breath away. “Come, you are safe, for now.” Something in that voice sings to her soul and slowly her eyes open.

Dazzling light glitters through a vibrant green foliage, casting into clear relief an ageworn face. Small green almost gem-like shapes dot a dragon so strange to one so young, that she shies away from it. Small petals scatter under her as she finds a tree to press her back against, eyes wild, and fear returning. All of this light was unnatural! Born and kept captive in the shadows the light chases away any comfort and precludes any chance of hiding.

“This may seem strange to you, but you are safe, sweet one. You had almost made it to the edge of my clan’s domain when your enemies accosted you. My warriors ventured across to bring you here. We will keep you our secret, we will keep you safe. What is your name?” Concern in the gentle voice, though the blue-green dragon, for that is what she must be, comes no closer.

A name? There was no name given, except, what had the scornful voice said? Exaltling. As if it was something she should aspire to, but somehow… had failed to become? Pulling on the courage which had warned her to flee, she speaks, “Exaltling.”

Surprise flickers across the age-worn face, before understanding settles. “Very well. Then Exaltling you will be. I must warn you. This close to the shadow realm you will not be safe forever. Already, I feel their forces marshaling. They will not stop until they have found you. Come, I will help you into a disguise, though it may seem rather strange at first. Then, I will send you on to my sister and brother clans, where you will learn the ways of nature. Perhaps, some day, you may return and defeat the evil which would hunt you.”

Days pass, the threat from beyond growing. Fur is replaced by smooth skin, and paint sinks deeply in to create texture, perfect for moving within the ever changing forests of nature. A weapon, which can never be taken, spines, are grown. The changes are painful, but the healers of the clan are gentle as the changes occur.

Too long, almost, they wait. The shadows appear all too soon and she must flee again, holding tightly to the note which will introduce her to the next clan, begging them to take her in, and train her in the ways of a warrior. Hunted. Always hunted. Sometimes two steps ahead, sometimes one, sometimes they're so close she can feel their eyes searching for her among the branches, while she can only fold her wings tightly and hold perfectly still, hoping for that one breath where she can slip away to the safety of the next Clan. Flickering, desire burns, the promise given by the aged one known as Mangrove, that one day, she would return to defeat the shadows.

Written by junipersky.

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She curls up in the tree-sap roost that the clan matriarch has spun for her, trying not to overhear the discussion taking place below her.

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Written by twotone.

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She came in the dead of night, hidden in the warrior’s sash that transported her. Small enough to be missed in the folds, she nonetheless felt exposed, her dark colors surely a beacon against the Caribbean hide of her protector. But he said they were close to the next clan…

Without warning, three dark shapes emerged from the shadows. All three had their faces covered, keeping their identities a secret. From what she could see, two Guardians and a Tundra, though she could not be sure from the angle she was at. The night was already so dark, and she was so tired, but the feeling of the scales relaxing under her claws helped her relax a bit.

“The Gladekeeper Bless All Her Warriors,” stated the first Guardian, the symbol of Nature above his brow.

“All Her Healers Stand Ready to Assist, No Matter the Calling,” murmured the Tundra. "We will take her from here."

The third Guardian stayed silent, though moved forward when Exaltling was offered and gave her shelter in the multitude of feathers he wore. She tucked against him quietly, and managed to doze on the way to her latest hideout. Upon arrival, she was given a disguise, introduced to the others as yet another trainee there to take the clan’s advice and expertise in training those to help the Gladekeeper, and given a place to stay.

The days were long, daylight spent learning gardening from the tundra, night spent in the darker Guardian’s presence being taught more of her fighting. The dance relieved much of her stress, allowed her to focus, while the lessons the Tundra taught would keep her alive should she ever need to flee on her own. But she could feel the darkness closing in, knew it was time to go.

It was on her last night there that she finally got a moment alone. At the edge of the lair, the fae perched, looking out onto the Wilds that had held her safe. Though it was far from quiet, in the darkness she had a drop of peace. She could feel them out there, the shadows, searching for her, but in the dark of the Wilds she hid well. Her attention on the darkness, she almost missed the hulking Guardian approaching. He stayed as silent as ever, just looking out into the wilds as well, giving her time to collect her thoughts. Throughout the day she had so many questions to ask, but now that someone was here, with all attention on her? She only had one that came to mind…

"What happens if they find me?"

He seemed to consider her words for a long moment, then dropped his head so he was eye to eye with the little female.”If they find you,” he said finally, “Then you fight. If there is no other option, then go out as a warrior. Never surrender, never back down, and remember we will help you.” Studying her again, he nudged her lightly, his voice staying quiet. “Come. I will teach you how to Ambush and Eliminate your enemies before they even know you are there. You will leave a warrior worthy of the title.”

And so her last night was spent with the quiet male, learning how to use her claws, to keep the jungle close and Ambush before the enemy could tell what was happening. She slept well through the next day, the best she had slept in a long time, before again hiding behind feathers as they stole away in the night. The Guardian, Cor’Aman, carried her himself, and made sure the handover went smoothly. Along with her, a letter, and a new disguise.

“Here is the wandering Princess of Nature. The Gladekeeper has seen fit to charge us with her protection. The shadows that chase her are closing in. Keep our lady safe, and should she need shelter again, we shall always find a way.”

Written by Katalia.

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A maternal-looking elderly Imperial greets Cor’Aman softly at the edge of the new territory.

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Exaltling had been with the new clan for three days before she summoned the courage to approach the clan's head.

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Written by Blissfire.

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Princess have reached Clan Camelot under the veil of night.

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Written by Antrey.

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At first, the Princess didn't notice anything amiss as she looked around for signs of the next clan.

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Exaltling awoke to a pair of large eyes blinking solemnly at her.

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Written by SunGryphon.

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It was the dead of night when she slipped away.

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Written by Lefuulei.

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Exaltling arrived safely at Rabbithole Run to be greeted warmly by Peony.

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Written by BunnyKei.

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A squarely built imperial met the princess and Sentinel at the edge of the clan’s territory.

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Exaltling and Sentinel worked hard under Taino’s tutelage and their bond grew.

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The clutch was in the process of hatching when a call of alarm filled the air.

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Written by DragonSage.

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A white dove dropped a bound scroll at the feet of the UrsaJoy clan leaders.

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Exaltling, ever alert for danger, woke all at once.

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Written by UrsaJoy.

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The wandering Princess of Nature, Exaltling, has need of safe haven - forces of Shadow have been sighted too close to the UrsaJoy clan lair.

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A green macaw flutters into your lair.

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Written by Teletraan.

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Exaltling looked around nervously, the female Skydancer guarding the entrance to the glade staring at her.

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Exaltling was exhausted.

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Written by Malatise.

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Honored Clan, it has come to my attention that this clan is in relative distance to our Glade.

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Written by amkave.

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To the Leaders of the Golden Canopy Clan.

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Exaltling's time in the Golden Canopy Clan was a time of rest and peace.

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Written by ryttu3k.

She met up with the new Clan, the old melting away into the forest. The large guardian looked stern, but not unkind. Read More.
Written by TwoJay


Night had settled over the Iron Oak territory when the letter arrived. It was Winona, the clan’s informant, who brought the news to Hehewuti. Read More.

Soon, they passed through a wooden gate. It wasn’t particularly fancy, but it did seem to be very sturdy, and recently built. Read more.

~Written by Secret Heritage


A warm breeze filtered through the trees.... Read More.
Exalting exhaled slowly, she was getting tired. Read more.
Written by Kazay

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Exaltling crossed the rope bridge, looking down at the river below with curiosity. The clan, it had been explained, lived on this landmass in the middle of the river, surrounded by the short cliffs that must have long ago been the riverbank. She had immediately assumed that this would serve to protect and isolate the clan, making it difficult to access. But the river was calm, and stepping stones led their way to the little island. Unguarded rope bridges linked the island easily to the forest on either side. Dragons flew in overhead and disappeared into the densely packed trees that housed the clan. The cheerful dragon that had given her directions to this new place had assured her that she needed no escort, before disappearing quickly back into the forest to finish his gathering. Despite her misgivings, she was tired, and hungry, and sore from travelling....and she had seen no shadows for a week or so, though this gave her little reassurance.

The end of the rope bridge was flanked by huge treehouses, and as Exaltling looked around she noticed that most of the trees had walkways and doorways built into them. The huge trees grew all over the island, right down to the waters edge.

As Exalting walked through the trees, dragons bustled about their work, or lazed on branches, or stood chatting in small groups. It seemed so relaxed, and the dragons that noticed her did not stare or regard her arrival as a concern. She came to a stop, at a loss of who to speak to about the leaders of this place....surely she would need permission to be here....

Coming to a halt is what drew the attention of a passing tundra, who stopped to ask Exaltling if she was okay. Once she understood what the small fae needed, the young tundra proudly explained that despite not having lived in the clan for more than a couple of months, she knew all about the three dragons in charge that she could speak to. They would need to see either Mion (who was the clan's founder), his heir Verdan (who had all but taken over the leadership), or Alsike (the clan's ambassador).

After introducing herself as Quiora, she ushered Exaltling onward in search of whichever of those three they happened upon first. She chuckled that Mion was the hardest and most unlikely find, since he liked to curl up somewhere for a nap where his responsibilities couldn't find him. And Alsike wasn't too easy to find either, since he moved around so quickly, constantly fretting about something or other. Exalting walked alongside her, a polite smile fixed on her tired face, her exhaustion starting to weigh on her. The fae's stomach let her know how empty it was.

True to Quiora's words, Verdan was the dragon they found first. He took one look at Exaltling and gently reprimanded Quiora for not asking if the fae needed food or rest before dragging her around the clan. It did not take long before Exaltling had a full stomach and was sitting comfortably on some cushions and drinking some mint tea. She was welcome to stay, he told her. Any strider was.

Verdan set down his own cup of tea and studied Exaltling for a little while.

"I remember when your grandchild came to our clan, she looked so like you," he said.

Exaltling looked startled. She had not expected a granddaughter in this clan! But he said....he had said....

"She looked....you mean, she....the shadows...."

"Oh!" Verdan's expression was a mixture of embarassment and horror. "Oh no, my deepest apologies. Boon lives here with her mate Aidan, another strider who had a peaceful childhood growing up in the Ashfall Waste. They're both very well. I'm sure they would be very happy to have you stay with them while you are here."

"Boon...is Hope's daughter. I am so happy to hear that. Please, I'd like to meet her."

Verdan beamed at the fae. "Of course!"

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As Exaltling and Verdan approached an opening cut into the trunk of a tree, Exaltling could hear a chatter of voices inside excitedly talking about the Fire Festival. Verdan knocked on the wood and shortly afterwards a cheerful nocturne emerged.

"Boon," said Verdan, "this is your grandmother, Exaltling."

Both the nocturne and Exaltling looked at each other in surprise. Neither Hope nor her partner were nocturnes. Boon's belly shimmered with the shine of an expensive gene, and from over her shoulder the bespectacled face of her partner appeared.

"I'm so excited to meet you!" Boon gushed, shaking Exaltling's hand vigorously. She introduced herself as an inventory clerk and her lover Aidan as the clan's librarian. They were both taking the week of the festival off, and would Exaltling like to join in some of the festivities?

Over the course of the week, Exaltling learned that Aidan had never taken up a weapon, and Boon had long since left her training behind. They were relaxed....everyone was relaxed. The sun was warm and the food was plentiful and the there was always someone coming and going from the clan.

No matter how much she tried, the little fae could not relax.

Boon smiled widely one morning, handing Exaltling a wrapped present and watching eagerly as she opened it. Inside was a gene scroll. Exaltling studied the unfamiliar scroll carefully....it was not one she had seen before.

"It's new." Boon told her. "It's fun! It has a little more colour than you might be used to. But we all need some colour in our lives!"

Exaltling pondered whether she should politely decline....but she saw her family so rarely, and she knew that the gift was the best way her granddaughter knew to express her affection. Boon had told her of the scrolls gifted to her when she was young, and what it had meant to how accepted into the clan she had felt.

The new primary was....a little bright, but patterned into lines that many beasts of the forests might wear. It was.....nice.

That night, Exaltling wrote a little note and placed it on Boon's table, and laid a stalk of feverfew flowers over it. She packed her things and slipped away while it was quiet, over the unprotected rope bridge that had led her to the laid back clan, their lanterns still lit late into the night like a beacon to the shadows. She did not have the words to explain to her granddaughter that she would bring danger here, she did not want to instill that fear in her when the clan had had provided her anonymity and safety for so long.