Unazaki

“WE HAVE A SIGHTING OFF TO THE PORT SIDE!!!” Someone above hollered out, nearly causing Gellidus to leap out of his scales. “AERIAL TEAMS 1 AND 2, LIFT OFF FOR CLOSE OBSERVATION!!!” “Finally! About time we found them, I was almost worried something might’ve happened to them.” Said someone off to his left, prompting several agreeing nods from the dragons all around, the IceWing among them. They’d been out at sea for several days now to help out with the Alliance’s research and conservation efforts on Silverstreak Whales. It was a very rare opportunity to work alongside Alliance personnel, and Gellidus had jumped at the opportunity once he became aware of it, being passionate about sustainability himself. “Think of the potential networking opportunities this could bring!!!” The IceWing told himself at the time. It didn’t sink in then that a lot of nature research work might actually involve the tedious and boring task of trying to just locate your research subjects, but it

New year, new semester, new assignments. Such is the cycle of student life. Ah, to be a dragonet again. Memories from years long past came trickling back into the IceWing’s mind as he recalled his formative years growing up in the Ice Kingdom. Of semesters spent buried in books, scrolls and deadlines. By the Great Ice Dragon, there were so many deadlines, and for some uncanny reason his teachers always had them landing one after the other in quick succession. Gellidus still wondered to this day if it was a deliberate move on their part of if it was just sheer coincidence that things turned out that way. And now, he had a new deadline to add to his schedule. A new assignment from history class, courtesy of Professor Honey, a dragon who looked amazingly young for the role. He wondered what kind of health and scale care regimen the RainWing used every time his eyes landed on her. Now though, Gellidus had to wonder how he was going to complete her latest assignment, a research project

“So this is the fabled flamesilk from Pantala. Absolutely fascinating.” Gellidus remarked as he gazed at the jar contained the glowing orange threads. Thick as the glass was, he could still feel the heat radiating outwards from the fiery silk, giving him a warm sensation in his forepaws. Not yet hot enough to be uncomfortable, but certainly close enough. It was a scientific wonder and anomaly how some SilkWings weren’t affected by this heat at all. The IceWing recalled the lecture that his old professor gave back in the Ice Kingdom. “Flamesilk doesn’t burn the dragons producing it, but yet those same dragons burn up all the same when it comes to regular flames. While many have speculated on the reasons behind this strange situational immunity to what some would call portable fire, none have been thoroughly tested given the lack of willing test subjects.” It was truly 1 of the great mysteries of the world. Right up there with animus magic and the new eldritch horror that he just

Winter was such an underappreciated season on Isle Mezzo. Sure, it wasn’t anywhere close to the weather back in the Ice Kingdom on Pyrrhia, but that should have only made it far more tolerable to the other dragons and scavengers around here. And yet, most of them chose to hide away indoors anyway. Sure, it was chilly, but it wasn’t even cold enough to have proper snow over most of Isle Mezzo. What they seemed to be getting most of was freezing rain with some snow sprinkled in. Strolling through Mezzo Town, Gellidus could only sigh in disappointment at the mostly empty streets. Light emanated from several cafes and eateries all around him, showing where most of the dragons and scavengers from the normally bustling town were. Y’all are seriously missing out. By the great ice dragon, its not even that cold. Sheesh. Just like with the Moon Bazaar during the autumn months, there was a full-blown winter fair in town, with all sorts of festive treats and trinkets for dragons like him to

Ah winter, how I missed you so. It’s great to finally see you gracing this land once again. Gellidus was just leaving the classroom after completing his final exam for the semester, head held high and proud. Everything was as the IceWing expected, and he anticipated doing exceptionally well this semester. As he stepped out into the outside air, his mood only improved further as his scales met the cold outside air, with the winds sweeping in from the ocean leaving a delightful chill on his scales, although he could see that some of his peers didn’t appreciate the added cold. A sign of better things to come! Making sure that his satchel was secured, Gellidus spread his wings and took to the skies, joining many of his fellow students as they went their separate ways, some heading over to Mezzo Town to celebrate the conclusion of their semester, while others turned towards the dorms, perhaps too tired to revel in surviving the semester or having more exams to prepare for. A couple

Autumn was now upon Isle Mezzo, and with it came a bountiful harvest of pumpkins from the local farms, so much so that a pumping carving contest was now in full swing to help clear the excess produce. It seemed like the entire student population was participating in it, or at least a good chunk of it from what Gellidus could see from his position on the open grounds of The Crystal Castle, which had decidedly turned orange from the efforts of everyone around him. The IceWing had never carved a pumpkin before, with his hometown being ill suited to the cultivation of the crop, but was more than willing to give the experience a try. Despite his best efforts, his lack of experience and skill was very evident after just a few minutes as he struggled to figure out a way to carve anything into his fruit. Instead of the smiling face Gellidus had in his mind, his pumpkin looked more like a series of random and uneven indents as the IceWing struggled with the carving knife. “Damn, why is

In his life as a merchant, Gellidus had travelled all across the Ice Kingdom, going wherever his employer needed him to be. It was a rather nomadic life at times, pulling him away from his family more than he wanted, but also allowing him to see more of the world than many dragons his age. He’d seen many things on his travels. Some wonderful, some bad, and some that were just straight up bizarre. Nothing more could really surprise him, or so he thought. 3 years ago, he embarked on a journey to Isle Mezzo. 3 years ago, he enrolled into the famed Pyrrhia-Pantala University. 3 years ago, he was introduced into the mayhem that was life on the island where there was hardly ever a dull moment. Gellidus thought he’d seen it all when he came here, and every couple of months the IceWing was proven wrong. Just a couple of months ago, he was part of a rescue operation that dug out a group of dragonets trying to summon a demon of all things. A DEMON!!! He was so sure that nothing could’ve

5 years ago, a 7 year old Gellidus learns to judge others for who they are rather than what they are ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dammit where was that room again? I swear this is the correct floor, so where are they? Twisting his head around, the young IceWing tried to reorient himself in the maze of corridors. He was going to be late, so very late with his report if he couldn’t find the way to his rendezvous soon. “Think Gellidus, think. You have the map in your head, you were just looking at it a while ago.” He said to himself, knocking his head with his paw as his sleep addled brain failed to conjure the image. He was so regretting burning the midnight oil on this damn thing now. “Ok, new plan. Ask for help.” Sprinting down the hallways, he skidded to a halt in front of a surprised janitor. “Excuse me sir, do you know where is the Emerald meeting room? I need to deliver a couple of things.” Gellidus

So much has changed…….its almost like a completely different place now…… It had only been a day since he had been discharged from the infirmary after recovering from the events at the quarantine facility, and yet Gellidus could already sense something different about his birthplace. It was still the same old city he grew up in. It had the same layouts, the same tourist attractions, the same facilities. Even the local governor from last year was still around. Everyone still went about their usual business, gathering at their usual haunts. Yet……there was something just a little bit off as the IceWing sauntered through the streets. There was a tension in the air that wasn’t around last year, and Gellidus could see it manifesting itself in small ways everywhere he went. Gone were the loud and rambunctious happy hours at the local bars, where dragons and even those few scavengers brave enough to show up would be singing and laughing the night away, with gossip in every corner about the