Linky

Five years ago, if you asked Linky where he thought he'd be right now, this would be nowhere near his answer. His answer would be close to 'well known warrior through Sornieth, happily mated with Esmerelda and leader of his clan'. Actually, if you think about it, it's not that different. Now it's just 'well known fallen warrior, happily mated with Esmerelda and reluctant leader of his clan'. After being kicked out of his old clan, Linky planned to just live with Esmerelda for the rest of his life. Then, one by one, stray dragons started popping up. First it was Queen, then Syrthio, then Lance, then Apollo Artemis Eos Nyx and oh look- he's got a clan. These days, Linky can be found silently brooding with Esmerelda, yelling at the misbehaving younglings, or holding clan meetings with everyone but Poseidon.

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*In the morning, when dragons first start waking up*
Linky: *yawns* Esmerelda, what's that noise?
Esmerelda: Oh did you forget the fifty some dragons we're living with now?
Linky: Right. *falls back to sleep* Linky was a part of a brutal and ruthless guardian clan, which resided in the Tangled Wood, where everyone was strong and the weak was left behind. The clan thought participating in The Search was a waste of time and preferred to spend most of their time fighting, training, and dying in battle, not necessarily in that order. He was always an exceptionally good fighter and his clan expected him to be the leader once he grew up. His only competition for leader of the clan was Esmerelda, who was definitely stronger than him, even though she wasn't as fast. Technically, their rivalry should've made them enemies, but it only made them friends, as they bonded over what changes they'd make to their clan if they became leader. Manifestio, the current leader of the clan, was particularly cruel to the old, and the dragons would be 'mercy-killed' when they grew weak. If the other dragons didn't agree with this, they didn't mention it, as they knew that whoever was the leader had complete authority over the clan and was the best fighter out of all of them. The only way they could change leaders was if the leader died, or if someone challenged the leader to a fight to death. Linky knew that if he ever wanted to be leader, he'd have to challenge Manifestio before he himself grows old and weak.

One day, Manifestio sent Linky on a patrol with three of his most loyal lieutenants. One second he's traversing through the woods, trying to keep an eye out, and the next second he's surrounded by five rocs in a small clearing. Linky knew he's a good fighter, but he only fought a roc once, and he only won with help from his clanmates. He frantically looked around for the other three dragons, but they're nowhere to be seen. The five rocs encircled him, so that he was trapped for sure. Linky's face hardened. If he was going to go down, he might as well go down swinging. He feinted at the roc on his left, before spinning around and clawing another roc right on it's face. He swooshed his way in and out between the two rocs, leaving trails of cuts and bruises in his wake. Another two rocs jumped in the air, and swooped towards him from above while he was engaging the other rocs. He barely dodged and slashed at the first one, clawing through it's wings, but the second one came from behind and caught him unaware. The roc barrelled towards him and he flew across the clearing and into eight trees until his momentum finally ran out. Linky thought, This is it. This is my chance to get away. but as he stood up shakily, the fifth and final roc came out of nowhere, and slashed a gaping wound in his chest. He blacks out and dreams of a pretty green dragon who doesn't want him dead.

When he comes to, he finds himself in the brightly lit Sunbeam Ruins, where Esmerelda's face hovers above his.

"Oh good, you're finally awake." She sighed with relief. "I haven't slept in days and this weird trickster keeps bringing me random herbs."

He finally noticed that his entire body was covered with plants and Esmerelda was covered in blood.

"Y-you have... blood......" He trailed off.

"This is nothing, most of it's yours really. I haven't found time to clean myself with a fatally wounded dragon on my hands." She glares at him pointedly.

"Why are we in the Sunbeam Ruins? Where's the clan?"

"Long story short, Manifestio tried to kill you, I carried you back to the clan, he denied it, then wanted to mercy-kill you, I wouldn't let them, so I fought through all of them and flew you out here."

"You fought through all of them? Even Manifestio?" Linky asked in surprise.

"Oh no not him, he was busy chasing down his pet rocs which, by the way, I still have no idea where he got them from."

That got a chuckle out of Linky. "So Sunbeam Ruins huh. Think it'll be nicer than Manifestio?"

"That depends, is chocolate milk better than acid?" joked Esmerelda.

"Well," said Linky, "Let's go hunting. I'm starving and I'm ready for a change in menu."

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by Goldenstorm


the stuff of legends