ZILVERREIGER

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STATS
Name: Zilverreiger
Gender: Male
Age: 23

Description: Zilverreiger is a tall, pale man with long red-coloured hair, pointed ears, a wide nose and a distinct chin. His family boasts that they are descendants of elves and pookas (The emphasis mostly on the former). He is lanky and looks sleepy because of the way his pale blue eyes are set in his face. Zilverreiger often wears armour and capes. The colour of his house is blue. 
Personality: Zilverreiger is aiming to be a guard. A lot of his ancestors worked to protect those in power and there are numerous stories that teach the younger generations of the feats of their elders. Zilverreiger is a friendly, good-natured man who truly believes that good will conquer evil and all that will take is a strong sword-arm and strong faith.
Skills: Incantation magic, mostly water and air spells. 
Hobbies: Entertaining the children in the family with the tales he was once told.
Dislikes: evil.  

Family: One of the many sons of the Cranelids. Best friend to Zwaluw. They're an unlikely pair but they've bonded over their love of heroic stories. Zilverreiger would probably love to chat with Zonastrild, but he hasn't yet worked up the courage. 
Bond: Blue-Teal-Orange Zigzang (m) from the Refugium

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HATCHING
Queen Gleam's song echoed through the halls and commlinks of the Refugium with a joyful note. Candidates began their quick spill into the hatching bay, ushered by the Refugium's security teams. They were a haphazard mix of species, all alien to the Myrmex queen's eyes but promising. Eggs waited for no one, though. They burst with shrieks of hunger as the last straggling candidates dawdled in behind the raucous chorus of food.
As the multiple bonds connected to the queen, it was obvious to the people of the refugium that these grublings were different from the previous batch. Gleam's first bond, a little blue-spotted decay, wound twisty psuedopods around globs of fruit and stared at Gleam with a set of oil-spot eyes protruding from its tongue. Its anatomy appeared otherwise normal for a myrmex but only metamorphosis would reveal any further irregularities. These grubblings were still entirely myrmex, despite the changes in appearance. These new adaptations would only serve to strengthen the species.
The Queen watched with pride as the rest of her children darted toward the waiting candidates.
A group of four dwarf-hybrids had arrived on the Refugium together, a quest for the throne interrupted by a well-timed search rider. Zwaluw, the ambitious networker bonded first, followed by the easygoing Zanggors. Zonastrild and Zilverreiger stood together as their companions wandered off to feed their bonds.
"Hey, Zonastrild…" Zilverreiger started.
"Hm?" Zonastrild turned to him, distracted. Did Zilverreiger looked flushed? It was rather warm in here.
"I was wondering-"
Something brown and gold bashed into Zonastrild's knees, knocking her off balance.
Zilverreiger caught her arm and helped her upright, as the charming little soil grubbling that knocked her over danced between their feet. They were followed by a bright white grubbling.
Zilverreiger waited, but at the end of the hatching it was clear that he had not bonded. Still, the three others had and the good-natured guard-to-be was happy for his friends. He vowed to help them and maybe... there would be another chance for him later.

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RESEARCH
Zonastrild waited patiently for Zirconia to adjust the temperature, humidity level and whatever else had been instructed to the drone. Most of the Refugium's information had been recorded on computers, infuriating devices that still had their uses. They could hold much more information than any book. But there was something about the smell of old paper and the feel of the brittle pages that elevated Zonastrild's heart.
:: I'm done!" Zirconia chimed happily, eager to please her bond.
"Thank you." Zonastrild responded.
"I'm amazed they let you in here." Zilverreiger said.
"Yeah, Zirconia won them over. It's amazing what she can do and we promised to help preserve some of these old books until they can be properly scanned."
Zonastrild looked briefly outside where Zeolite, her myrmex queen was enjoying the soil as a snack. She'd been amazed by how much the grubbling had been able to eat but seeing how big she was now it was only normal that she'd needed that amount of food.
Returning her attention to the book and the man in front of her, she wondered what was going to happen next. Zwaluw had returned home and had become victorious in their contest. No doubt he was overjoyed at the prospect to lead. But Zonastrild wondered if he'd truly be happy. She knew she never could be even if it had been all she'd been able to dream about before. But now, with all this information, all this knowledge, there was no going back.
"I am happy you decided to stay." she suddenly blurted.
Zilverreiger gave her a soft smile and then said: "Seeing how happy these little ones made everyone, I just can't help wanting one for myself. So I'm definitely staying for the next clutch."
"Also aiming for a myrmex?" Zonastrild asked.
"I don't know yet."
Although Zilverreiger knew he wouldn't. Myrmex queens were picky and he needed to impress Zeolite after all.
:: Strong! :: her telepathic voice suddenly sounded in his mind, :: Only then will I allow you close to my bond. ::

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Hatching 2.0
Zilverreiger didn't know if this was real. The egg in front of him did look like one of the eggs in the Refugium's next clutch of Ibidis or Sailfin Dragons. He knew because he'd visited the bay they'd been in on multiple occasions. They'd been asked to talk, sing and interact on all kinds of other ways with the eggs. So how did one of the eggs end up here, half a spacestation away?
Before Zilverreiger couold alert anyone of the staff, the egg wobbled, apparently following him, and then proceeded to crack and tear. Not knowing what to do, Zilverreiger kneeled, hoping to catch the drakling as soon as it broke away as it would be far more dangerous to have it wandering arround untended.
The hatchling however was right where it wanted to be. It was maybe a bit impatient, probably a bit bold and certainly pro-active. But as soon as the dragonet pushed his head out of the shell, his eyes locked with Zilverreiger and the Ibidis dragon chirped happily. The blue head was quickly followed by an orange-teal body and bright blue wings. 
Zilverreiger waited for the dragonet to announce his name, but he was not addressed.
"Are you maybe looking for someone better?" Zilverreiger asked.
Dragons knew to pick the right bond for them after all. But when he stood up, the dragonet brushed against his leg.
"Can you speak?" Zilverreiger asked.
The dragonet squeaked lovingly and rubbed his head against Zilverreiger's legs. Then the dragonet proceeded to look for food, returning victorious with an apple that Zilverreiger was carrying.
"I guess you don't do telepathy then. Can I give you a name?"
The Ibidis dragon seemed to subtly shift colours and looked expectantly at Zilverreiger.
"You seem like a Zigzang. Always quick and scuttly."
"Chirp!" Zigzang approved.

STATS
Name: Zigzang
Gender: Male
Species: Ibidis (Sailfin Dragon)
Origin: Birthday Gift2025 by Kin/Mystic (cooperation with Bughnarahk)
Colour: Blue-Teal-Orange
Size: medium-small, about 6' at the shoulder
Personality: Loyal, Quirky, Inquiqsitive
Information: Ibidis don't bond in the traditional sense of forming a lifelong telepathic connection, but rather 'impress' to a guardian upon hatching. Created to adapt to harsh climates, Ibidis are true survivalists. They thrive in extreme settings, including immense pressure, toxic air, and hazardous temperature fluctuations. They are non-verbal but highly intelligent can capable of learning to mimic telepathy.

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FLIGHT
Zonastrild had not known what to think when Zilverreiger had appeared one day, followed by a scuttling dragonet in bright colours that he introduced as Zigzang. But even more surprised had she been to see her Myrmex Queen Zeolite approve of him. She had welcomed him to the pack and though they couldn't communicate in the usual telepathy of hivemind, Zigzang did make his intentions and wishes clear enough. The Ibidis dragon had shown his intelligence from day one, along with a quirky sense of humour and a loyalty to Zilverreiger that was endearing.
As all the dragons grew, their community got tighter and stronger. And because their dragons spent a lot of time together, Zilverreiger finally got close enough to Zonastrild to forge a budding friendship.
:: Silly dwarf :: Zeolite communicated one evening, :: You did good. Strong bond Zigzang will make good babies. You two will too ::
Zilverreiger blushed as Zonastrild looked their way. Zeolite had no sense of privacy after all. Her messages were for all to hear. Zirconia, her companion drone added their own thoughts:
:: Zirconia like Zigzang. Fun companion. I stand behind my queen's decision. ::
Not too far away, Zigzang purred his appreciation of the loving words. The sailfin dragon got up and rubbed his head against Zonastrild as he'd been doing, claiming her as part of his pack as he'd done with all the others.
"I guess in light of this, we should maybe talk...?" Zonastrild asked.
"It's been a long time coming." Zilverreiger agreed, "I would prefer to do this on the traditional way but being half a galaxy away from your family I can't exactly ask your father for your hand."
:: I'll gladly give you permission :: Zeolite graciously took the role presented.
Zonastrild felt she needed a bit more convincing, but Zilverreiger had been there for her. She felt she should give this relationship a chance to grow.

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[STORY] -~- [ZONASTRILD] [ZWALUW] [ZANGGORS] [ZILVERREIGER] [ZEEKOET]
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Lantessama Isle
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