Minuit

The brightly colored, poorly written signs scrawled along the magical forest led them to a large cave offering an assortment of items. A pair of fierce looking mirrors stopped them at the door but allowed them in after a brief run through of the rules.
There they met many dragons but 2 most memorable were a slick spiral with a brilliant psyworm named Scratch and a very dopey Slime covered bogsneak appropriately named GooeyGirl.
Minuit spent many hours talking to the cobalt spiral and swapping stories of wild adventures and amazing heroics. Eventually it was time to depart to find a new clan and new stories.
Minuit and Nauticus waved goodbye to their new friends and set off on another adventure!
The pair traveled into a creepy looking part of a forest, and were, although they did not want to admit it, quite lost. Suddenly, a small Imperial hatchling bounded out of the shadows, and stopped in front of them. them that his clan was nearby, and asked if they wanted to spend the night. The twins agreed, and followed him into the fog. After a few minutes, the two noticed lanterns lighting the path. Finally, they entered a clearing. Many hatchlings ran about, shouting incoherently to one another. The adults were all sitting in the corner, watching with amusement. One of them, a male Coatl in rogue gear, noticed the new arrivals, and walked over to join them. sometimes" Minuit smiled and shook her head. "Actually, me and my brother are going on a journey to visit all over the world." She turned to look at Nauticus, only to see he had wandered off with the hatchlings. "We've only seen one other clan so far, but I'm hoping to see as many as possible!!" She said excitedly. "I'm Minuit, my brother over there is Nauticus." She replied, smiling. "You guys seem to have a lot of hatchlings around here, don't you?" Lance snorted Minuit remembered how lost they were in the forest and asked "By any chance do you guys have a map we could use? We got really lost on the way here" Minuit happily accepted the offer, and the twins had a nice meal and a good rest. Finally, it was time for them to set out again. Armed with a map that Lancewing had given her, Minuit was excited to meet even more new dragons.

---

Nauticus woke earlier than Minuit expected. He shook his head to ruffle out his feathers. His breath crystallised in the chilly morning air as he let out a soft sigh – probably from reminiscing about the stars. The night sky was so pretty, Nauticus couldn't help but sketch the patterns in the constellations. It was late when Minuit decided to stop waiting for her brother to come inside, she thought her brother would at least sleep until late afternoon.

Minuit lay next to Nauticus, cocooning herself in the covers. She heard a small chuckle coming from her brother and tried to not wipe away the drool on her wing. Minuit pretended to only just wake up and mumbled about Nauticus being too loud before rolling over and covering her face. Nauticus tried not to make a sound but somehow managed to bump his head on the wooden frame of the tent. The low growl that followed forced Minuit had to swallow a giggle. Finally, Nauticus grabbed his sketchbook and left the camp.

Minuit suddenly let out a heavy gasp, she unconsciously held her breath to try not to laugh uncontrollably. After catching her breath, Minuit yawned and let a small smile spread across her face. Minuit was flooded with euphoria as she thought about the friends she made and the lands she roamed while she was on this journey, but nothing could not overcome the pride of seeing her brother unlock a door into a new world.

“It doesn’t matter where you start, nor where you finish. The journey is all.” ~~The Stormcatcher

“You do not choose your destination; your destination chooses you.” ~~ The Stormcatcher

Minuit gasped at the sight of the banners, pine needle embroidery on white cloth -- capital letters illuminated with emerald and amethyst. She had never read any words she could relate to on such a visceral level.

Nauticus bumped into her, “What wrong?”

“Nothing,” she breathily whispered, “Nothing at all. I’ve been waiting to read those words all my life. Like something I’ve always known, but couldn’t articulate.”

“You O.K., Sis?” He was usually the one affected by words and scenes.

She shook off his soothing wing, “Never better. The clan who put these here must be further along this path. Let’s go! I have to meet them. Move it!”

They sped along to the outskirts of the Compound, where they were greeted by a stately lady Ridgeback. “I am Themisto. Clan Improbable welcomes all travelers. Food and shelter await you.”

Nauticus cleared his throat, “I could eat, if you twisted my arm.”

“Shut up, brother! You can always eat.” Minuit turned to Themisto, “The banners -- the words -- where did they come from?”

The Ridgeback smiled, “Our clan founder, jewel, made them herself after their great Return from The Stormcatcher.”

Minuit’s jaw dropped. Traveling to see a Deity and returning was the greatest of journeys.

Nauticus shifted uneasily, “My sister seems to have lost her tongue. You said something about food?”

---

Themisto led them back to the clan and left Nauticus by a large flat rock heaped with all manner of foodstuff.

She took Minuit to a sturdy Fae, “A visitor, jewel, who lost her tongue in admiration of your fine work on the banners.”

Minuit bowed her head, “I an Minuit. The words? You heard them from The Stormcatcher, himself? How long was the journey?” The words came out in a rush.

“Slow down, child.” The black and purple frills waggled, “I will tell as much or as little as you wish to know.”

“I want to know it all,” Minuit whispered frevently.

“But surely you would like to eat first,” Themisto asked.

Minuit sat, gazing in admiration at tiny being who has been on such a great journey, “Later, thank you.”

“Perhaps you could prepare a tray for our visitor, Themisto. And both the hunger in her belly and the hunger in her heart can be filled at the same time.


Nightkeeper Sanctum (Darkesty)

The two siblings found themselves inside the Tangled Wood. While there were many glowing mushrooms, they also spotted a few glowing sprites. Curiously, they followed the sprites through an ancient gate.

It was as if the air itself shifted when they passed through the rusty gate. As if it was a part of a magical barrier. Maybe someone was tricking them? They did not know. Soon they spotted a lair, which was covered in roses and violets. They felt as if all of their tiredness melted away. They talked to many of the lair's occupants, spending the night with them.

When morning came, it was time for their departure. While they had enjoyed their stay, they wanted to see more of the world.

---

Oceanreach (ChihoriAnigma)

Minuit hung her head, trying not to let the rain fall in her eyes but a gust of wind threw a salty wave of water up and she blinked rapidly, trying to get the salt out.

"We need to find somewhere to shelter in," Nauticus said.

"Yeah," she agreed, for once not arguing for one more league.

"Do you need somewhere to stay?" A red tundra flew in front of them-the heavy rain must have hidden her until now. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping but I overheard you and our lair is always open to travelers."

"Thanks," Minuit agreed and Nauticus quickly added after her, "Thank you."

They flew for much longer than she had expected to but once they entered the shelter of the Crystalspines the wind calmed and they were no longer buffeted by sprays of water from the sea. The rain lessened too and she was able to hold up her head without getting water in her eyes from above or below.

Once inside the cozy lair belonging to the red dragon and her mate, a blue and grey tundra Minuit eagerly accepted the food they offered-all of which was delicious-but Nauticus quickly emptied out his art bag.

Minuit glanced over to him. A half-finished painting and a few drawings which had been closest to the top had been ruined, as had a few of his charcoal pencils. She sighed inwardly. She knew how much her brother's art mattered to him and she felt guilty that some of it had been ruined because of her adventure. She made up her mind to buy him some new pencils and a few sheafs of that good paper he really liked once the storm let up.