Thalassia relished in the cool caress of the shade. In the dappled shadows, she found solace, a refuge from the harsh daylight. Beyond the woods lay Dragon Valley. She had never ventured there before, but has heard tales of it during Aýnabat's last journey there. Her sister's description had been vivid, however, Thalassia couldn't help but feel a hint of disdain for the name. Dragon Valley. Pah. To her, it seemed like a simplistic and lacking label.

"Dragon Valley," she began, extending her talons in a dismissive gesture. "What a pathetically mundane name."

"But then again," Thalassia continued, "mortals do revel in their simplistic terms, clinging to labels that barely scratch the surface of originality." Speaking in monotone, her throat rumbled with disapproval. As the oppressive scent of humans invaded her senses, Thalassia's gaze shifted to Tatsuo, finding silent agreement in their shared disdain for the overwhelming presence of humanity in their midst.

However, amidst this discomfort, a sense of calm washed over Thalassia as her Lunar sister, Aýnabat, pressed against her, offering silent support. Eyes upon her sister's, she snorted. "Ah, yes, the wonders of mortal ignorance," she replied, her gems shimmering with disdain. "They stumble through life with blindfolds on, yet believe they hold the key to all knowledge."

Aýnabat's words carried a wisdom, that she knew, but Thalassia avoided most creatures for a reason. She cared little for mortals and other dragons alike, preferring her own company over others. Such a mindset could not be changed overnight.

"Nervous and excited, you say? More like bumbling and clueless." All but muttering her response, the conversation prompted her to draw in a deep breath, which combined the mingling scents of the forest and humanity—a frustrating symphony that clashed in her nostrils.

"I am aware of my duty, but that doesn't mean that I will find joy in it or approach it with positivity." Beyond the sheltering trees, Dragon Valley was dotted with silhouettes of other dragons. Thalassia felt the strengthening bond within her, a reminder of her purpose for being there. It irritated her, but she had no choice.

"We must endure," she hissed softly, her resolve firm as she took a final glance at Aýnabat and Tatsuo before stepping forward into the unknown. In that moment, she couldn't help but yearn for her ruins and the familiar scent of the sea. This land, this place, was unfamiliar territory for her, and the uncertainty unsettled her dragonic senses. She was only grateful that Aýnabat and Tatsuo were by her side, else she believed that the strain of the situation might have tempted her to risk severing the bond, a choice she wasn't willing to entertain.

Thalassia passed through the dense canopy of trees, her large form weaving between the ancient trunks. As the open expanse of the valley drew nearer, her eyes narrowed at the sight that greeted her. The valley was alive with activity, humans bustling about like ants, their voices mingling with the distant cries of dragons. She couldn't deny the surge of unease that rippled through her at the overwhelming presence of humans. Their small figures dotted the landscape, their movements frenetic and purposeful.

Despite her discomfort, she steeled herself and pressed forward, her steps deliberate and measured. She had halted only when half of her body stood in the valley, the other half hidden amongst the trees. Her gaze swept over the scene, taking in the colorful array of humans and dragons mingling together in this shared space. She made no show. Rather, she did her best to remain unseen, not wanting to draw attention to herself. Truthfully, her entrance was boring. After all, why waste her powers.

Tatsuo

Light Dragon | Female | New Dragon | Mentions: Thalassia & Aýnabat. Aziza.

This was the first year Tatsuo had come to Dragon Valley. She had never yearned for a rider, or hoped to find her chosen one, like some did. But rather she did what she could do to try and avoid her chances of it happening. Solitude had not been kind to her, but in opening her world to the few friends she had made, it had allowed the dragoness to grow more comfortable in herself, and she didn’t wish to change the life she had. To introduce an unexpected life into her own. To give half of herself to another.

Yet as fate would have it, she was here. She was only happy about the fact that she could be here with her sisters.

The white female shifted on her claws, tail lashing behind her. Despite Ayna’s calming words, Tatsuo was still on edge. Her vision in her left field of sight seemed to further blur at her surge of emotions, causing her to emit a low rumble of distaste. She angled her right eye so as to gaze upon the two females before her, their faint dark blobs becoming clear. And even as she hardly turned from the clearing, she once again felt a tug on her heart. The bond aching for her to act. After all, the humans couldn't feel it as they did, she would have to make the first move.

The pull of the bond irritated her, making her more agitated.

"We must endure,"

Words that have never been truer, spoken by Thalassia. Tatsuo nodded her head in agreement, watching as the other dragoness took a step forward. It was time. She gave a nod of luck to Ayna before moving herself in the opposite direction of the two.

Tatsuo moved silently, in her almost slither of a walk, head moving from side to side in an almost snake like motion as she followed the will of the bond. She had sensed other dragons were here, and had been here long before she had arrived, which would only make the task at hand more difficult. Not only would she have to find her rider, but do it amongst territorial dragons finding their rider for the first time as well, not to mention the horde of humans which surrounded the area. One wrong step and their short mortal lives would end.

The Light Dragon neared the edge of the forest, still hidden from view. The pull was the strongest here, near where a cluster of humans stood, a young woman in front of them. Her hair gleamed a brown color, tinged red in the sun, it was from her that Tatsuo knew she had found her rider. The dragoness stood tall and glided gracefully out into the clearing. Her gaze dead set on the female before her, a growl rising in her throat, a challenge to any dragon who dared to stand in her way, and a threat to any humans that she would not stop for them to move out of her way.

As she neared, Tatsuo had only just realized how tiny her human was, she towered over the girl. The first thing she noticed was that the woman's face was flushed, her gaze on a young male in the crowd. Well that needed to be fixed. She wanted the woman's attention.

Summoning her power, Tatsuo encased the two of them in an orb of light, shielding them from the view of the humans beyond it. Her white eyes focused directly on the girl as she felt the bond snap into face, and then spoke,

“You are the reason I have been summoned from my home. You, human, are mine.”

Aýnabat

| Lunar Dragon | Female | New Dragon | Mentions: Koji (dir). Thalassia, Tatsuo, Mattis, and Finn (ind)

Aýnabat watched her sister and friend start to move into the valley. The anticipation hung in the air, palpable and electric. She sent a quick prayer to the Moon as they left her side, hoping for guidance and protection. She held her breath as Thalassia’s form became smaller the farther she got, her dark silhouette blending into the shadows of the dense foliage until she stepped into the valley.

Her gaze then turned to watch Tatsuo prowl toward a group of three men and a woman. The Light Dragoness moved with a grace and confidence that was mesmerizing to behold. Within seconds, they blipped out of sight as Tatsuo summoned her power, engulfing herself and a young woman rider in a radiant burst of light. She must’ve bonded! Aýnabat felt a rush course through her, her heart swelling with joy and pride for her friend.

As Aýnabat stared at the remaining group left behind, she felt her own tug toward them. It was a gentle but insistent pull. Without realizing, she had begun to move towards them, studying them as she grew nearer. One was an older man with curly blonde hair, his scent mingled with that of another dragon. This one was bonded—he was not hers. His age and the intensity of the dragon scent hinted at a long and deep bond; perhaps he was a mentor figure, she wondered. Her teal gaze lit up with curiosity and anticipation as she stalked forward, the tugging stronger now that she ruled out one of the three.

She looked at the smaller of the three, a young man with messy blonde hair that was longer than the first man's. He was also not hers. Disappointment flared for only an instant, a fleeting shadow across her mind—was she wrong? With a quick snort, a frosty looking substance came out of her nostrils—moondust, shimmering in the dim light as it dispersed into the air.

Finally, she shifted her attention to the third man. He was tall, with dark skin and short, thick black hair. But it was his eyes that entranced her: dazzling blue speckled with various shades of green, turning paler as the colors faded into his iris. Aýnabat felt her heart surge with excitement and certainty. He was the one. The pull in her chest intensified, guiding her steps as she moved closer, her eyes locked onto his.

The Lunar dragoness rose to her full height, her blue scales glittering in the sun. As she stood majestic and proud, the intricate patterns of constellations adorning her scales came alive with the sunlight, their celestial designs shifting and twinkling with every movement. Her presence seemed to command the very air around her, exuding a cool, calming presence that spoke of moonlit nights and starlit skies even in the warmth of the day.

Aýnabat's black wings unfurled slightly, the silver lines and hidden moon phases within the wing tips catching the light and shimmering like liquid mercury. She let out a low, rumbling purr—a sound of contentment and acceptance—as the glowing orb between her tall straight horns burned brighter and more intensely, casting a gentle glow over her form.

Drawing near, Aýnabat extended her snout towards him, her breath warm and steady before gently exhaling cool silvery moondust, the glimmering material settling on his face like a blessing. The shimmering residue of moondust lingered briefly before fading against his skin—this was Aýnabat's own way of claiming him. While invisible to humans, the moondust served as a clear warning to other dragons: he was hers. As she stared into his eyes, she saw the reflection of her own teal gaze, feeling the bond seal into place just as the last of the moondust faded away.

“You, my dear one,” she whispered, her voice resonating with gentle warmth, “are my chosen.” As she spoke, her long spiked tail slowly wrapped around him, almost corralling him away from the others in a gentle warning. As she curved her tail, the midnight blue scales and soft ocean blue scales swirled together in a mesmerizing dance.

She watched in silence as Tatsuo departed, the air heavy with the significance of her leaving. Thalassia herself lingered, moving with deliberate and unhurried steps. In her measured pace, Aýnabat had surpassed her, successfully finding her Chosen. Pride welled within Thalassia at her sister's achievement, her gaze fixed on the being to whom Aýnabat was now bonded.

Content, Thalassia resumed her movements, giving Aýnabat space as each step was measured. The air around her seemed to grow cold with her presence, as if the sun ceased to cast its warmth in her vicinity. She crept with an unnerving silence, her massive talons making no sound as they pressed into the earth. Her movements were almost serpentine, her body flowing with a certain fluidity that was more eerie than anything. Her eyes, twin abysses, scanned the crown with a deep focus. She sought her Chosen, the one soul whose essence would resonate with hers.

Her nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply, drawing in the various scents of fear, hope, and determination. As she wove through the crowd, her wings folded tightly against her back. She loomed behind groups, her head lowering to force others to step aside. The attention from the crowd was unsettling, causing her to shrink herself. Rapidly, her dark form melted into the shadows, only to emerge moments later in another part of the clearing, as if she was traversing the very fabric of darkness and shadows itself.

Thalassia's ability to meld into the shadows was almost supernatural, her form dissolving into the inky blackness before reappearing seamlessly elsewhere. The act repeated two more times. Each time she vanished into the darkness, she reappeared closer to her destination, her path guided by the pull within her.

Finally, she halted, stopping before a random individual. Could this be the one? No, this person was not hers. Pity. Without hesitation, she melted back into the shadows, her form disappearing and reappearing with an uncanny fluidity. Resuming her predatory grace, she continued, her direction now subtly shifting towards Aýnabat.

All at once, the pressure within her increased, the pulling locking her in a singular direction. Understanding, Thalassia continued her path, headed for her sister. It was only when she neared did her gaze lock onto those surrounding Aýnabat, her expression blank. There were three mortals, all male. Two were already bonded, not meant for her. But the third, ah, the third.

Her eyes focused on the smallest of the three, a man with rugged blond hair. His presence resonated with the essence she sought, an unmistakable signal that he was her Chosen. The connection thrummed through her. There was no mistaking that he was the one. What were the odds! Her very mortal had befriended Aýnabat's Chosen. Fate was kind to her still.

As Thalassia advanced, the air grew frigid, the shadows around her deepening into a swirling darkness. Her gaze, once deliberate, quickened with a terrifying intensity. Each step was thunderous, her massive talons crashing into the earth like nightmare incarnate. A trail of dust and unease marked her passage, showing others her path.

Her approach was relentless, a nightmarish presence weaving through mortals with terrifying speed. The ground trembled beneath her, the very earth recoiling from her. Her eyes remained locked on the blond man, unyielding and relentless in their pursuit. The world seemed to shrink around them, the distance decreasing.

Abruptly, she halted.

A swirling cloud of darkness enveloped her, obscuring her form in a shroud of malevolent shadows. When the smoke finally began to dissipate, she stood before him, jagged tail separating him from the others.

"Our fates are entwined, mortal." She hissed, her voice a chilling contrast to the warm tones of her sister.

Thalassia had found her Chosen.

.Finn nodded sagely. It was wise to not be picky over something you wanted badly and you had no control over. Maybe it wasn't, but he understood. What dragons represented and offered was too valuable to be snobbish about it. Using a more mundane word, all dragons were cool. He held back rolling his eyes too obviously as Koji yelled at a friend causing Finn's ears to ring for a couple of seconds. Why did it have to be so close to his ear?

Finn swung his head in a different direction when he finally saw a tall figure make his way through the crowd. There was the third person to their trio. "About time! I thought you were being a miserable lump. You just want to be special and didn't want to watch us bond. I know how much you like coming to the Ceremonies," his tone was to reprimand and he shook his head as if the thought was overwhelmingly disappointing. "Fine, fine, fine," he embraced Mattis enjoying the hug his lecturing tone being swept away. "Do you want to know what happened to Koji? Maybe you can feel his bloody sticky arms stick to you when he hugged you," Finn grinned opening his mouth. "You would think such a...how would you describe yourself?" He looked between his two friends. It was an adjected they both used quite frequently. "A tall man. A tall man would be able to reach the tree. You certainly aren't lacking the arm span." He added to his Koji's ribbing. "He basically fell down a tree trunk. His arms are all scraped up because he couldn't hold on. We're lucky he's intact enough to attend." Finn sighed. "Where have you been anyway Mattis? Where's your dragon? Shouldn't he be here?"

Finn was distracted as he took a step back and collided with another person. He turned around opening his mouth to apologize and holding up a finger to cause his friend's to pause in their chatter. His hand went down as he realized who it was. It was alright. His friend's could ignore him for a moment. "Aziza, hey, how are you doing? I was hoping I'd be able to convince you to come." He winked at her. "It's not a problem at all. I'm sure it's my fault bumbling onto you. These guys aren't the best about helping me be aware of my surroundings." He nudged part of one of the trio as emphasis. He looked behind her. "Is that all your family? I knew you mentioned them but..." frankly he had been unable to keep track of all of them. "Anyway, if you want to bond a dragon, I wish you the ..."

His mouth hung open still midsentence as he was staring at an orb of light and a dragon towering over them. He kinda pointed just in case Aziza was missing this as he was flabbergasted and excited for her. He elbowed Mattis and Koji making sure they were seeing this. It was insane, and he was incredibly jealous, and in incredible awe. Soon, another dragon was in the same place. He thought he had seen them fly to the valley together. He looked up at her hopefully as she surveyed the three of them. He knew a dismissal when he was given one, and he felt a pit sink deeply into his stomach. What if...what if he would be edged out of the group. What if he didn't have what it took. He wasn't sure what that would mean for him character wise but he felt sick after seeing the dragon's interest move on.

Finn felt something bothering him on the inside. He kinda wanted to scratch at his insides, but he also knew that was illogical and would not help him feel better. He would've congratulated Koji, but he could clearly tell by the dragon's behavior that she had not bonded well enough with Koji to just let Finn go tramping along and interrupting an important part of the process. As she guided him away, he hoped that Koji wouldn't forget about him...Alright, he recognized he was being melodramatic, but apparently his friends here wouldn't be able to understand what he was feeling. They had all bonded someone. He was wondering if he should get off the main way. Perhaps a dragon was shy and he needed to be by himself.

He saw the field clearing as dragons led their chosen bonds out of the way of others and it was becoming more clear that there were few dragons left. He turned and all of a sudden felt a heavy shadow towering above him. He looked up and he forced his jaw to remain shut. He didn't want to embarass himself in front of his...his dragon. His eyes moved to her jagged tail as she separated him from others. He didn't even have the presence of mind to make eye contact with one of the men, (they could call themselves that), that he considered as close as brothers. "What is your name?" What would come next? He felt an overwhelming quivering and warmth spread from his stomach upwards. It banished the anxious nausea, but now it was something different. Overexcitement? He almost snapped at her, 'took you long enough,' but figured he should get to know her and see where he could push her limits before he started treating her like one of the bros. "Glad you found me. You did a good job of sneaking up on me," he nodded appreciatively.