Kaede

Though born in the Viridian Labyrinth, Kaede associates themself with the element of Wind more than anything, though they officially don't consider themself loyal to any one deity. The founder of their nomadic clan, they excitedly organized everyone and set out towards the Scarred Wasteland at the crack of dawn to make it for the start of the Riot of Rot. Kaede decided to lead their clan through area #30.

OUO

@Kialla
Kaede flies up behind Theta, pokes her in the butt, and zooms away. The other two nomadic clan leaders simultaneously facepalm.

@KairinRose As she is walking to the Scarred Wastelands and feels a poke and notices Kaede fly past and facepalms.

The border was a mass of tendrils and mushrooms, the blue glow of the shadowlands taking on the ruddy red hue of plague. Kaede chirped to themselves, excited to arrive at last. Behind them the rest of the clan was emerging from beneath the trees of the Tangled Wood, and Kaede waved them on impatiently, not wanting to miss even a minute of the upcoming festivities. As they crossed into the Plaguelands proper, Kaede's aer phantom raced up and over the roots and tendrils, helping them find the easiest path through the mire. Suddenly it returned in a frantic series of loop-de-loops, indicating it had discovered something ahead. Kaede fluttered forward, eager to meet a friend but ready to face a foe. There, in the middle of their path, waited a

A beat of silence dragged on as Kaede and the Serthis cautiously eyed each other from a safe distance. The small fae, oddly still and absent of their usual energy, cast a cool glance towards their aer phantom. The spirit bobbed in the air and zipped away towards the back of the clan. Veran, the clan patriarch and head of the guard, took a single step forward as Leira, the clan matriarch, calmly stepped forward and bowed her head to the Serthis in a show of peace.

"We wish no harm to you. Our clan lives alongside your kind. We come here to explore, not to wage war."

The Serthis was taking shaky breaths as they stared at Leira with narrowed eyes. They seemed to be holding their composure with a lot of effort. Finally, they let some of the tension seep out of their shoulders, though they didn't completely let down their guard. "You will allow me to pass," they stated, in a tone that sounded more questioning than authoritative.

Before Leira had a chance to answer, the aer phantom returned, looped around Kaede three times, and zipped off again, returning in moments with three Serthis in tow. Kaede nodded with approval and flitted forward.

"As you see, we are a clan of dragon and beast. Many of us have trouble fitting in, and our only loyalty is to each other. Our purpose is simply to go wherever we are drawn to. What about you? What is your journey?"

The Serthis stared at Kaede, and then past them, at the three Serthis. After studying the group for a moment, they seemed to recognize one of them, eyes widening in surprise. Absently, they answered, "I am leaving."

Kaede's fins flared a few times as they contemplated that statement. "If you have nowhere to go, would you like to come with us?-- Do you know each other?" Even in their monotone voice, it was obvious that Kaede was amused at the way this strange Serthis and one of the nomadic Serthis were incredulously glancing at each other.

The Serthis shook their head. "No. You are going. I am leaving..." They glanced at the group of Serthis once more, and questioned. "Where... are you going?"

Kaede simply pointed vaguely away from the Tangled Wood. "There, approximately."

The Serthis shook their head. "No. You do not want to go there."

"Why not?"

"... Follow me if you wish to survive."

~

With the Serthis' help to avoid the large congregations of hostile Serthis, Kaede and their clan safely made it to area #46.

With the help of their new Serthis friend, a trip that should have taken days and been hampered by untold dangers and pitfalls barely seemed to take any time at all. The Serthis was obviously a long time native of the land and they not only knew what areas to avoid, but also the hidden paths through the Abiding Boneyard, which had claimed so many explorers and would-be adventures in the past.

Kaede was enjoying every moment of it. Exploring was in their blood and they were seeing places and things that no dragon had seen before them. Their Aer Phantom bobbed joyously alongside, obviously picking up on Kaede's mood.

Finally the Serthis came to a halt. "You travel well, for dragon-kind." It said. Kaede smiled back at Veran and Leira, then turned to address the Serthis. "We're nomads, traveling is what we do." The Serthis contemplated these words for a moment. "Perhaps I will come with you after all, if you are travelers as you say. But first I must know if you will also accept my companion."

Kaede flared their fins. "Who is your companion," they asked curiously.

The Serthis whistled, and from out of the tendrils came an

The hound dashed out of its hiding spot and stood in front of the Serthis expectantly. Kaede watched the creature with interest. "That won't be a problem at all!"

"Very well," the Serthis said. "Then I thank you for inviting me to join you."

Kaede's aer phantom curiously bobbed up to the hound. It sniffed at the quivering spirit, and the phantom jumped back in surprise... then experimentally sniffed back at the hound, and promptly collapsed in disgust.