Lycus

Lycus, Lord Of Cinder.

When encountered on the border of the clan's territory, the first instinctive for the reigning clan was to drive him off, he didn't look like he could be dealt with words. He fought ferociously, dealing a number of serious wounds before finally a gathering group found them. Outnumbered, Lycus had no choice but to agree against his will to see Bamboo, the Clan's leader. Angry at the scratches the Ridgeback inflicted, he was sentenced to the worst punishment: A servant for Ninohu and Spire.
Countless days passed, until, finally, it ended. Over the days, though Bamboo came to realize that Lycus would be a very worthy addition to the clan. Brightened by the offer, he gladly accepted, and literally clawed his way up the rankings- even higher that Spire and Ninohu. Lycus is extremely respected around the clan, and even more when he reached deputy.
However, good things don't last long, do they?
Insanity, daughter of The Pair, found Lycus annoying, even more when he was a ranking higher than her parents. She schemed quietly, until she decided to strike.
One fatal night, Insanity did so, like all mysterious shenanigans.
Lycus awoke to faint footsteps, and a flash of blade as it plunged towards his heart.
Not fast enough.
He slammed the Imperial to the ground, claws blocking her trachea, preventing her from crying aloud- and breathing. Lycus held this position for some time, torturing the poor Imperial, before releasing. Insanity laid still on the ground, before jerking upwards, coughing out blood, and gasping lungfuls of air. Terrified, Insanity fled from his den and never said anything again.
However, there was a specific dragon watching.
Quill's past with The Pair rendered her unmoved, Insanity deserved it. Lightly congratulating Lycus won his heart, though. He did his best to protect her, care for her, until Quill also felt the same. They became mates, and love each other very dearly.

Of course, that was all before Lycus passed. When Lycus became a spirit, tensions were high between him and Quill. Eventually, Quill told him to leave... And he did. Hurt by being ditched by his past mate, he fell into a depression, unwilling to do anything anymore.
This had changed him. He continued to travel with a group of dragons that he had come to know as friends, still wary of the new Quill, who had decided to call herself Darkmoon. He had adapted to being a Pearlcatcher, his spirit taking hold of an egg encountered in a Wildclaw’s territory.
He couldn't stand her anymore, how she changed, how she treated him and others. But they had to work together, for now. —————————————————————————————————————————

And one day, someone did. While travelling, Crayon had sung an enchanted song that had drawn the Shade-Touched Pearlcatcher, Nightingale, to them. Flattering and mysterious, she made Lycus' heart flutter every time he looked at her. He wanted to be hers, forever, protecting her from every danger that flung itself at them.

His heart belonged to hers, and vice versa. Together, they were the Lord of Cinder and Lady of Shadows. Together they battled criminals and fight for the Dreaming Clan.

(^ This was written by Dragondreamer)

Theme: https://youtu.be/AB6sOhQan9Y

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It's been a long day for me, so I'm really not gonna write that much. My brothers... They've abandoned me. Just left me in the woods, after beating me to a pulp. They laughed in my face, and they sprinted off.
Helltalon told me not to come back. He'll kill me if I come back.
"Alright," I say. "Sure," I say, even though the words killed me inside. What was I supposed to do? I'm the smallest hatchling anyone would ever meet!
I'm the runt.
So, I'm sitting here now, writing in this miserable excuse for a journal. Ratty leather bindings and yellowed pages... But I suppose I should be grateful for this, yeah?
At least it's something.


Ah, where do I begin? Today was rather eventful, to say the least. I've come across an arena, a long ways South from my old Clan's Den. It's most certainly in use, I hear the screams coming from the cracked walls.
They keep me up at night.
They haunt me.
I digress.
Today, I caught a squirrel. Finicky little thing, but I got the best of it. Shame, though. Scrawny and weak, barely even a meal for me, and I'm tiny!
I miss my brothers, as much as they hate me.
I miss Artorias the most, though... An Imperial, but you can tell we're related. We have the same exact genes!
Ah, I hear footsteps. I'm going to stop writing and hide myself. May the Gods be with me. Goodbye for now.


They found me. They saw me in the forest. I'm in their barracks now, after being stripped of my possessions for half a month. I finally got this journal back, seems to be in no worse state than when I found it.
They trained me to fight. And today is the day I prove my worth to them. If I am found unworthy, they said, then I'll be dispatched. More to come after I fight.
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Gods, I never knew I had it in me.
He came at me, jumped as he gnashed his teeth. It was a Guardian hatchling, much bigger than I was. He clipped the tip of my nose and tore through my wings with his first attack, but I countered with a swift kick to the stomach. They threw weapons into the ring, clearly with the intention to have us use them. I picked up a small Halberd, perfect for my size. I also grasped at a small leather shield with a small metal orb in the center, most likely for deflecting blows.
At least, that's what I used it for. He advanced once again with a sword in his claws. I swiped the blade away with the parrying shield, then I...
Well, I killed him. Quickly. I had swung the Halberd, and his head had come clean off.
I was rewarded with armor and food, along with praise from the spectators.
Turns out, you're treated like a God for being a murderer.


It's been about four days since my fight. Since I won, they're cutting me a break and letting me rest. It's like I...
Well, it's like I have a family again. Especially one dragon, he's a bit older than me. I think... I think his name is Rein? He's like, a pure white Skydancer. He's tall and scary, and he knows how to use a sword. Although, most of the time in his fights, I see him use daggers. A bit too risky for me, but to each their own.
Ah, they're calling me now. I have a dinner to go to, a Victor's Dinner. It's funny, isn't it? Being treated like royalty.

I saw a strange dragon, in the markets. She had a hood concealing her face, but there's something about her that I can't put a claw on. She was buying some candles and seems to have plenty of coin, but I saw the way the other dragons looked at her. Scowled at her like she belonged to the Shade. I think her name is Nightingale? I heard one dragon spitting that name at her as she walked past him. I'll ask Rein about her. I've heard plenty of tales about the Shade, but I've never heard the Shade possessing a dragon before, if that's what she is. I'll see if I can talk to her, see why all the dragons hate her. See if maybe... I can protect her, somehow.

I've been warned by Rein not to speak to her. Apparently, Nightingale has the powers of both the Shade and Earth. Nobody wants her here, and I constantly see dragons punching at her, scratching and biting, dragging their children away from her. I often see her alone by a river, staring down into the water and crying, even with the hood concealing her face. I feel so sorry for her... I'll try and talk to her now, while she's alone. More to come.
...
There's really something very enchanting about her. She was scared when I approached, but relaxed a little when I told her I'm not a threat. She seems reluctant to trust me, but that's understandable when everyone else hates her.



Art by Silvercats2!