Chapter Text
When animus magic was sundered only scant traces were left behind, weak and withered, they grant little power to the finder of such traces. But if one finds enough traces they may just become a full animus. For better or for worse.
The Wordless Hermit
The rising sun gave its potent and dramatic light to the clouded mountain range. Hues of morning orange, blues, and yellows cast over the white and gray mountains. Alpenglow flew and dived within the clouds. The vapors twirling around his wings each time he punched through them. His scales were the color of unmelting snows and his wings were the colors of a horizon-sun’s light on snowy plains. The air was unimaginably fresh and crisp as it billowed around him. He had recently taken up flying in the early morning and he thanked himself for it. He flew upward, towards and past the cloudline. The sky here was completely open, the orange hues of sunrise and the slowly lightening blues were unrestricted. The clouds themselves looked like a great sea white waves. Alpenglow was a strong flier thanks to his SkyWing father. And because of his IceWing mother, he rarely minded the cold. However, due to this combination he was left with out any breath weapon, and he was left in an annoying amount of pain anytime he spoke. He dove back under the clouds, joyously coasting in the air. A faint glimmer caught his eye. He looked to see what is was. The glimmer came from a mountain-side cave. He flew over to it and landed in the cave. The opening was about three dragons wide and covered with strange gray vines. Inside was a tree that grew upside down from the roof. Sliver and iridescent particles fluttered around the leaves of the tree. After gazing at the weird interior he picked up a near by stick and tossed at the particles… nothing happened. He then reached out and lightly brushed the glimmering points. In an instant they all rushed into his claws and he jumped back. He felt only the faintest tinge of something. The cave suddenly started shaking, he rushed out just before it collapsed.
The Noble
Cascade floated listlessly in the tarn, the mountain lake was just a bit too cold for her, even with the high-noon sun warming her pine green and sea holly blue scales. Her parents were minor SeaWing nobles. Right now they were up in the SkyWing palace talking about… something or other. Unlike her brother, who her parents dragged up with them, she managed to convince them to let her have this day for her self, so she could prepare when they all met the queen the next day. She was not preparing anything. They were barely nobles, just assigned to deal with small matters here and there. What would the queen even want to ask them? She turned her sliver-purple eyes away from the sun and floated face down in the water, mindlessly blowing bubbles. A glimmer at the bottom of the lake caught her attention. With nothing better to do she swam down to the source of the glinting light. As she got closer she saw that the shine was coming from a swirling collection of iridescent points of light. What was stranger is that around the particles was a large bubble of air, the ground of which was fully dry.
“Should I?” She said to herself. She entered into the air bubble and reached out for the glimmering lights. In a half-second they curled around and then dissipated into her claws. She felt a weak tingle of energy in her. The dry bubble suddenly collapsed and she was forced back into the water. She swam back up to the surface.
The Brothers
Quicksight and Chasmsearcher walked through the markets of Possibility as the sun started to leave the sky. Their goal was simple; find school supplies for the coming year. Theyweresoon to be headed off to the famed Jade Mountain Academy. Quicksight thought back to when he first heard the news.
“Jade Mountain?”
“Yes! You’ve done so well here that you’ve gotten an invitation!” His mother, Nightspeaker, beamed. Quicksight looked at the letter that sat on the table. Grabbing it and opening it he read it aloud.
To Quicksight and Chasmsearcher,
We here at the academy have heard both of your outstanding performance, integrity, and drive at your local school. Because of this we extend an invitation for you two to join us here at the academy. We have…
At that moment, the night-gray and deep blue NightWing, Chasmsearcher opened the front door. Quicksight stopped his reading and turned towards him as his mother spoke. “Chasm, look at what your brother has!” Quicksight handed his one and a half year younger brother the letter. Chasm’s eyes widened.
“No way! The academy? This is sick, we will get to see a bomb site!” Quicksight gave his brother an incredulous look while restraining his shock-born chuckle, Nightspeaker sighed.
“Well they didn’t give you the invite for your restraint, but by the moons Chasm, watch your mouth. Honestly, it’s sometimes hard to believe you both were hatched under the same half-moons.” Quicksight’s train of thought was broken as he bumped into a SandWing.
“Sorry sorry.” They slid by the dragon quickly and continued on. The older brother’s dusk colored scales started to blend in with the dimming light. “We should head back at this point. I think we got all the things we need.” Quicksight said to Chasm. As he talked something caught his storm-gray eyes. A faint shine on the top of one of the hills just outside the town, he interrupted himself. “What do you think that is?” Chasm looked to where his brother was gazing. He shrugged his wings.
“We’ve got time.” Chasm flew over to it followed by Quicksight. When they landed they saw that on the ground dancing array of sliver particles, all moving around a somewhat bigger white point of light. They both looked to each other and read the other’s mind.
We should touch it. Thought Chasm. Quicksight bobbed his around for a moment, as if tossing the idea around.
Eh… alright.
“On three.” Said Chasm.
“One.” Said Quicksight.
“Two.” Said Chasm.
“Three!” Said both. They reached out and the particles entered into both of their claws. And as they did the greater point of light shot up into the sky and then seemed to place its self among the emerging stars in the dark of the sky. They both felt a small flutter of power in their claws.
“Huh.” Said Quicksight.
“Oh! I know what this is!” Chasm turned to a nearby rock. “ROCK I COMMAND YOU TO EXPLODE!” The rock did not explode. Quicksight looked to Chasm.
“It was a good try.” He broke into a grin as he spoke.