Ceyklor is a nobody; an orphaned dragonlet with a bleak future. However, with magic powers that are spiraling quickly out of control and enemies who seem to think he's part god, Ceyklor embarks on a quest to rescue the Shadow Oracle: the only one wh...
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(Brooklyn - credit; art and design by KyaniteJaye, KyaniteJaye)
Ceyklor, Sorin, Kayda, and Brooklyn sat out beneath the stars, the light of the silver sky-rings making their wings glow like the surface of the moons. The shield around the church-house that protected them was nearly transparent, but pulsed with dim lights every once and a while as if to remind them it was there.
In the center of their semi-circle sat Blink, still a cat, recovering from her use of power. Her ears drooped like rain-heavy leaves, threatening to tip over at and spill out the bubbles of solid shadows that made up Blink's body.
Despite her condition, the spirit chuckled. "Philphorus wasn't very happy, was he?"
Brooklyn shook his head tiredly. "No, he wasn't. But I'll deal with him in the morning; this is more important."
Ceyklor shuffled his claws and glanced over at Sorin and Kayda on the other side of him. Sorin had his lips pressed together, and had a bruise on his cheek where the Venom Thief's tail had smacked him. Ceyklor lightly touched his forehead, where he'd been hit as well; his head was throbbing, but otherwise seemed okay.
Kayda lashed her tail suddenly like a whip. "So, are you going to explain to us why there's a bunch of psychopaths running through the streets of Dragonmarket kidnapping fledglings so they can track you down?!"
Blink narrowed her shiny white eyes at Kayda. Blink had never made it a secret to Ceyklor that she was not fond of Kayda, but she hadn't done anything about it since they were all little kids.
Blink twitched her tail and sat up straighter, speaking slowly to avoid snarling at the firey young dragoness. "Perhaps. I may not be the best one to explain this... it's a bit complicated." The dark cat looked to Brooklyn.
"It shouldn't be!" Kayda stood up, the fire inside her flaring up and pushing light from her mouth and nostrils. "What, they run out of ink or something?! Maybe they need some of your cryptic sarcasm in their lives?"
"They aren't just here for Blink." Brooklyn said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at him. "Blink's a Guardian spirit: which are creatures charged with watching over valuable objects and beings. They're here for what she's protecting."
"But that would mean..." Sorin's eyes widened. Everyone looked to Ceyklor.
"M-me?!" Ceyklor jumped up, looking around at all of them as if they'd lost their minds. His heart had grown wings and was frantically flying around inside of him like a trapped bat looking for a way out. "You're wrong—I'm just some nobody. A nobody that my own family didn't even want. There's no way that those jerks are coming here for me."
Lightning was coming to life at his feet, arching up around him and pawing at the force field, trying to escape into the sky.
"Ceyklor, calm down!" Brooklyn rushed to his side and gripped him firmly by the shoulders. The lightning died down a little as Ceyklor's wide eyes met Brooklyn's; the tired monk had dark bags beneath his eyes, and a ragged smile. "It's okay; remember what I taught you about your powers and take a deep breath."
