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The Found One
How long had it been? The great green dragon raised his head to look at the churning, plagued clouds overhead. With a snort and a shake of his antlered head he resumed walking. He had been wandering for so long, seeking a purpose, a place to truly belong. There were a few times in his life he had found company in small clans along the way, but something kept pulling at him and he never stayed.
Out in the wastelands somewhere was his destiny, and he intended to find it or die trying. As he traveled nearer to the Wyrmwound, the boiling contagion-filled heart of Plaguebringer's lands, he felt excitement seeping into his bones. He had heard the legends of those creatures who lived near it as did anyone who spent time in the Scarred Wastelands. However, the thought of seeing it up close, to possibly encounter those terrifying legends made him tingle with something akin to glee.
Ardyti encountered the occasional transient, and would if they were inclined to talk, ask them about what they'd seen and where they'd been. He began to hear a common answer, often in the form of a warning. "Beware the Unforgiven one!" They would caution in hushed tones, as though fearing even uttering his name would spawn the beast himself.
When he would ask for further details they would shy away and often flee as though they had already said too much and feared retribution. Only from one soul slightly braver than the rest did he finally learn that the Unforgiven One was rumored to be a dragon but one touched and chosen by Plaguebringer herself. A beast of unfathomable power and strength who ruled a great clan on the edges of the Wyrmwound.
It was then that he firmly settled on his decision to press onward to the Wyrmwound. Surely if such a dragon truly existed and was actually worthy of such wide spread fear and renown, perhaps he would finally find his place.
Ardyti had lost track of time as he struggled to find his way out of the Abiding Boneyard. Ahead lay the daunting Rotrock Rim looming on the horizon. He took a deep breath and winced, feeling pain lance through every fiber of his being. He'd been feeling gradually weaker, as the poisons and sickness that ran rampant in this place attacked him.
Slowly he let himself sink to the diseased ground. He had to rest, then he would continue on. Restless dreams raged through his fevered mind, driving sleep from his weary body after only a few hours. He stood again, shaking to rid himself of the slime and bits of bone and debris that clung to his scales. A violent coughing fit caused more blinding spears of pain to shoot through him but he clenched his jaws tight, determination burning in his crimson eyes.
Hours flowed into days, days blurred into one another as he focused on keeping his body moving forward. Dark streaks were beginning to dull his once bright hide, streaks of blood decorated his skin as lesions opened across back and flanks. Still he trudged onward, unwaveringly keeping his goal in sight.
He had somehow survived crossing over the Rotrock Rim, but his legs gave way and he collapsed in a crumpled heap. He struggled to rise again, fury searing through his mind that he should come so far and still fall so short of his goal. He could smell the acrid heavy scent in the air as he'd crossed the rim. The Wyrmwound was close, he could feel its seething pestilence clawing at him even where he lay.
Ardyti fought to regain his feet and then froze as a massive shadow passed over him. He watched as the shadow circled, he tried to crane his head up to see what cast it, but was unable to make it out. A moment later he felt the ground shake as a huge Imperial landed a few feet from him. Ruby eyes glowed with pure malice and a cold hatred as the dragon regarded him.
"Who are you?" Ardyti managed to wheeze out, his voice sounding cracked from lack of use.
The other dragon's deep green scales flashed beneath black tendrils of something that clung to his body and seemed to shift as he moved a step closer. "I am Unforgiven. Are you worthy or are you food?"
The malevolence in the cold steady voice chilled him to the bones and he had no doubt that this other dragon would kill him as soon as not. He meant nothing to Unforgiven, and judging the other dragon's appearance, he likely had earned the fearsome reputation he'd heard about. This was his only chance, not only to achieve the destiny he had worked so hard to find, but just to survive. With every last ounce of strength he could muster, he forced himself back to his feet.
His crimson eyes met the burning ruby glare and he stood with as much dignity as he could scrape together given his condition. "I have crossed this wasteland searching for something worthy of me and my loyalty. If you would have me, Unforgiven, I believe I have found it and I believe I am worthy enough to serve you and your clan."
A mirthless chuckle rumbled through Unforgiven's broad chest as he studied the dragon before him. "So be it. You may serve, until you fall or fail, at which point I will kill you. Pray that you fall in battle first."
Ardyti nodded his head and a strange tundra he hadn't even noticed before moved toward him. Slowly as the tundra's odd red rimmed pink eyes glowed, he felt strength spreading through him as the racking pain eased and finally faded all together. The tundra smiled, a lop sided grin. "Clan friend now. Know you. Am Daelor. Home time now."
Unforgiven rose back into the air and the tundra turned toward the Wyrmwound, grunting unhappily as he also took wing. "Come." The tundra called and Ardyti nodded stretching his own wings out and leaping into the sky. Home. He had found it finally.