Calisto

The metal band was proof he was an eye sore. A creature that would bring rune to all who house him. It was an unbreakable metal, Calisto knows, he's tried so hard to tear it from his neck. This cursed branding, always a reminder he was a blight unto his species.

Coatl's were not suppose to have dark scales. They were suppose to be bright and flamboyant, as fiery as the the Emberglow Hearth from which his species originated from.


Calisto was not named by his mother.

She let out a wail so devastated at the sight of him that it left him frozen in place. They feared him, thought he would cause the death of his clutch mates. But Calisto would never do that, he loved his brothers and sisters...Even if they didn't love him.

He was given the collar, the brand when he was old enough to understand what dark grey or black scales meant to a Coatl. It irritated him constantly. It told others to stay away, that she was a bad omen and should they get too close they would be cursed.

He was sold to a side show caravan. Because who wouldn't want to tempt fate by poking and prodding something that was called a bad omen? His parents didn't even say good bye, he was still so young, yet old enough to know this wasn't suppose to happen.

He stayed caged up for years, only coming out of the caravan to stretch his legs and be stared at. He never learned how to fly. They other dragons didn't have a parental bone in their body. he was an asset and that was it.

And then he met her. She was a Coatl, an elegant, sharp eyed beauty with feathers the color of a morning sky. Her scales shimmered that pretty green of hers. She looked like a jewel as she was being escorted passed the caravan. Calipso could not take his eyes off her, for she was perfection. He looked at her through his barred home as his feathers ruffled in wonder at the entire brigade that followed at her heels, armed to the nine.

And then she turned and their eyes met. His electric blue eyes widened as she broke away from her cluster of guards, by the Flamecaller, she walked with a slithering, snake-like grace he all but bowed his head in submission.

It had been years since he last heard a dragon speak his own tongue. None of the dragons in the caravan were Coatl, none spoke his whispering hisses and melodic hums of his mother tongue. It was so hard to form their words.

"Raise your head Pretty Thing." she hummed, her head held regally. Calisto did as she commanded, looking at her with reverence.

"Tell me your name."

"I-I have none Shiny One." she stuttered through his native language, his title for her the highest honor he could give. Her smooth scales sparkled different hues in the sunlight as she all but preened from his praise.

"That will not do, not at all Pretty Thing." her tongue flicked out and she turned her head to hiss at one of her guards. They stood at attention before scurrying off to the head of the caravan to speak with the owner.

There was talking, arguing before the owner handed over the keys.

"Do not....what...in him...Mute and stupid the omen is..." he understood, just barely the muttered words. Calisto flinched back into his cage. Right...she has not seen him, his scales, he would surely offend the eyes of such a Shiny One. She should not have to look upon his cursed scales.

The door creaked open, guards with bright scales stood at the side as the Shiny One stood at its entrance.

"Why don't you come into the sun Pretty Thing. I wish to see you." she hummed.

"You mustn't." he pleaded sorrowfully. I am a wicked thing Shiny One. A bad omen to our species."

The light green she-dragon snorted, flicking her tail.

"Nonsense, Sweet Thing, come out this once and stand before me." she demanded, and Calisto could not refuse. she was a noble if anything, he could not ignore the pull to please his better.

His gloomy grey scales cast a dull shine over his body in the sunlight. He cast his snake-like head in shame at the gasps of the Coatl guards. His movements hid the glittering scales from under his neck from the sun. There were no words for a long time, the collar branding him bad luck dug into his bent neck.

"...Raise your head Pretty Thing, I wish to name you." Shiny One murmured, her hiss a pleasent sound, so soft and gentle he wanted to cry.

"...As you wish..." he murmured and raised his head to see the female Coatl had closed a signifigant distance between them. His feathers shook shyly.

"You are a beauty, my pet, I name you Calisto." he hummed, nodded her head as if to agree with herself.

"Do you wish to be free of this side show, my pet? Come with me and I shall give you nothing but the best as long as you serve only me." she offered.

Calisto's eyes widened, he was brought to a humble bow.

"What do I call you, my shiny mistress?" he asked.

"Oleander, Pretty Thing. Call me Oleander."

"As you wish, mistress mine, Oleander." he breathed her name with a reverence and gratefulness all for her. She lifted his head with a feathered wing, it was an affectionate gesture, one he had not received even from his vague memories of his mother. She smelled of flora and freedom and he looked at her as if she was all that mattered. And by the Flamecaller, she most certainly did.

"Oh you Shiny Thing, I will spoil you rotten." she grinned at him and he watched her eyes dance.

And he was lost to his love forevermore after that moment.