Aluna

Aluna's large green eyes blinked as she gazed at the clan in front of her. They were... changed. Much larger - though the little Fae had expected that - and with scales of colours she'd never seen, patterns she could not recall from her time with them. Each of them was unique, special.

"Aluna," came a soft voice, almost a breath, and the little Fae turned to see Luthien, the dragon who had been barely more than a hatchling when she had left, before her. Her scales had hardened into crystal, and beautiful light lines like wisps of smoke fell across her whole body. "How are you... how are you here?"

"We've returned to you," Varon said firmly, and Aluna pressed against him, grateful for his presence. "We're not sure how, or why. But... we're back."

"Where is Essence?" Aluna asked Luthien. The beautiful Imperial looked away.

"She left a long time ago. I am this clan's High Queen, joined by Sirius, Hestia, Shira, and Reina to rule the clan."

Aluna's mind reeled at the names - she knew Sirius, of course, the young hatchling had been among the very first to join her clan - but Hestia? Shira? Reina? These dragons were unfamiliar to her.

As if cued by Luthien's words, Sirius and three more beautiful Imperials stepped forward. One of them, Aluna noted, was carrying a large stone that shone like the Northern Lights.

"This is the Spiritstone," Luthien's voice rang in Aluna's ears. She spoke with affection, a deep rumble almost like a purr. "It has guided the clan since the days of Essence. Shira has the ability to speak with it."

"She wants you to come close," the dragon holding the stone - Shira, Aluna guessed - called out. "Both of you."

Aluna and Varon exchanged a glance. Varon nodded stiffly, and Aluna gave a slow nod in return. The pair of Faes approached, and Shira held out the stone.

"Touch it," she encouraged, and after another exchanged glance, Aluna reached forward and pressed a claw to the stone. Immediately she felt a rush of energy and warmth flooding her, and was bathed in a bright light.

"It is alright, Aluna," the Stone whispered to her. "I have guided your clan since the very beginning, though you knew me not. Everything is alright."

The light dimmed, and a gasp rippled through the gathered dragons.

"Your scales..." Varon whispered, and Aluna twisted her neck to look at herself. Gone were the purple, plain scales from before, replaced with scales of a deep blue-green, patterned on her whole body.

"Your turn, Varon," Shira murmured, dipping her head to Aluna's mate. Varon shot another glance at Aluna as he, too, pressed a claw to the stone. A bright light surrounded him, and although Aluna squinted to try and see, she could not. When the light vanished, Varon was gone. In his place was a Wildclaw, with the same patterns as Aluna, in shades of brown.

"Aluna," the dragon said, and Aluna immediately recognized his voice. Varon. "How do I look?"

Aluna exhaled slowly. "Very different," she admitted. "We both do."

"You both look wonderful," Shira assured them. "The Spiritstone's Blessing goes out to both of you."

---

Time passed. Aluna became accustomed to life in the clan that seemed so foreign and yet so familiar. Her clanmates treated her kindly, but with a reverence and deep respect that felt unsettling. She had founded this clan, yes, and was once its queen - but her younger clanmates seemed to treat her like a Goddess. She was no goddess; she had just felt a calling in her heart from the Windsinger - and, as she had learned, from the Spiritstone - and acted on that calling.

"None of us would be here if not for you," admitted Feylin, a young Skydancer Aluna had found herself becoming particularly close to. The two had gone flying to stretch their wings when Aluna had shyly asked why she was being treated so strangely. "I certainly would not. I was born into the clan, and my mother has roots here as well. Many of my friends were adopted into the clan as hatchlings - hatchlings who may have ended up without a home or dead if not for the clan you began."

"That's not..." Aluna began to protest weakly. She wanted to say that they may have found other homes if this one did not exist - but Feylin fixed her with a rather amused glare. "I just wish they wouldn't tiptoe around me so much. I wish they would act as you do around me."

"That's just my nature," Feylin admitted. "Though I was very intimidated by you as a hatchling. But, then again, I was intimidated by most dragons."

Aluna grimaced. She remembered when Feylin was young - she hid behind her mother's legs as older dragons passed by, Aluna included. When Feylin had overcome her shyness, it had meant she overcame it with every single dragon. She treated every dragon in the clan with a degree of warmth most did not - everyone in the clan was an old friend to her - even its royalty.

"Even if it is just your nature, I still wish things were different," Aluna mumbled as the pair began to descend slowly to the ground. It had begun to snow again, and visibility would likely be very limited soon. It was better for them to land early than attempt to land later.

Feylin opened her mouth to reply as their feet grazed the ground, but was cut off by the loud roaring of a Coarsefur Yeti. Aluna felt herself flying back as though shoved by a large force, and numbly wondered where the Yeti was.

Oh, she realized as her body crumpled to the ground. I was hit. As if on cue, pain flooded her immediately, and she could hear Feylin's piercing scream. Neither she or Feylin were warriors - she was about as useful in a fight as an Ember Mouse. As pain coursed through her, there was only a single thought playing on repeat in her mind. We're going to die.

Perhaps this was how her tale would end - she had begun the clan, departed it once, and had a miraculous return. This was the dramatic end to her life, it seemed - the tragic, untimely death of the little Fae. Darkness clouded over her vision, and she grew cold, eyes closing as she slipped into the abyss.

Then, her eyes opened. She could hear sounds of distant fighting - of the Coarsefur Yeti's roars. Aluna's body felt strange and heavy - almost numb.

"Get up, Aluna."

Aluna shifted her head slightly, and saw Feylin lying beside her, injured but alive, breathing ragged. Tending to her briskly was Sylaise, weaving magic through the young dragon. Aluna supposed at once it was Sylaise who had spoken. Perhaps she needed help. But she was so tired...

"Aluna, get up."

Sylaise's mouth hadn't moved. Aluna frowned in confusion, and replied in her mind, why?

"I have healed you as best I can, but you are still weak. You must come to me if you wish to survive."

Aluna closed her eyes again. I don't even know where you are, she thought. Or who you are, for that matter.

"Yes, you do. We've met before."

The voice did sound familiar, but Aluna struggled to place it. We have...?

"Yes. Don't you remember the day your scales changed?"

The Spiritstone, Aluna realized at once. Of course - it was the only logical thing that could have healed her at such a distance. Aluna dug her tiny claws into the ground and shoved herself up, though the world spun around her. Sylaise's gaze flashed up to her, panic setting in her icy eyes.

"You mustn't get up, Lady Aluna," she urged. "I haven't tended to you properly yet, and the others haven't dispatched the Yeti."

"No need," Aluna mumbled, feeling as though her body dragged behind her with every step she took. "I must go home. Take care of Feylin."

"But -" Sylaise called out, but Aluna paid her no attention as she continued to drag herself back in the direction she knew the clan was. After what felt like an eternity, she spotted a dark purple and blue shape throttling towards her, and a rush of warmth filled her. It was Shira, she recognized. The Spiritstone had met her halfway.

"Quickly," Shira panted when they met, and nudged the stone towards her. "Touch the stone. That's what she's told me you must do."

Aluna pressed her foot onto the stone weakly, and felt the familiar sensation of warmth and light filling her, light that spilled out into her surroundings. She could feel her body changing - she was growing larger and larger, and her wings were hardening into what felt like steel. The light faded, and Aluna met Shira's shocked gaze quite calmly.

"I've changed," she observed. "Like Varon once did."

"You're a Skydancer," Shira breathed. "She healed you and changed your form - you've been completely reborn."

"Good," Aluna said softly. "I'm no longer Aluna the Fae, founder of the clan. I can just be Aluna the Skydancer, a dragon who loves her clanmates."