Of Holly, Ivy and Elves

STATS

Name: Ymke
Gender: Female
Age: 19

Description: Ymke is a young woman of average height with long dark brown hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.
Personality: Self-sacrificing, Creative, Homebody.
Family: Parents deceased, 1 sister: Yza
Short Bio: Since the death of their parents, the two sisters have grown somewhat apart. While Ymke has stayed close to the communal center, Yza has thrown herself into training, trying to join the guard. Despite their arguements, they care for each other. They just can't communicate well.

Dragon: furry Land Holly Fyin (f) from Lantessama Isle

STATS

image made with Portrait Works

Name: Remy
Gender: Male
Age: 18

Description: A tall, pale young man with wavy brown hair and green eyes.
Personality: Haughty, Logical/Tactical, Cautious
Family: father and mother, 1 older and 1 younger brother.
Short Bio: Remy was born to a family with some status. His father was a hero, having saved several people in the past, but now lives as an older gentleman in the communal center telling stories to the children while his mother dotes on him and creates clothing. Remy is one of three sons that have followed in their father's footsteps and joined the guard.

Dragon: Winged Ivy Ryad (m) from Lantessama Isle

STATS

image made with Portrait Works

Name: Yza
Gender: Female
Age: 16

Description: A young woman on the slightly smaller side, with short black hair, green eyes and a ruddy complexion.
Personality: Tough as Nails, Stubborn, Does not compromise
Family: Parents deceased, 1 sister: Ymke.
Short Bio: Since the death of their parents, the two sisters have grown somewhat apart. While Ymke has stayed close to the communal center, Yza has thrown herself into training, trying to join the guard. Despite their arguements, they care for each other. They just can't communicate well.

Dragon: Winged Pine Taspynar (f) from Lantessama Isle

STATS

image made with Portrait Works

Name: Nygel
Gender: Male
Age: 17

Description: A small-statured young man with a slender build. Nygel had dark brown hair, blue eyes.
Personality: Inventive, Curious, Persevering.
Family: Mother is alive, father is deceased (hunting accident), 1 younger sister.
Short Bio: Nygel is used to being outside a lot. he's been joining the hunting parties for the last 4 years and his body is ideal for squeezing though cracks and through undergrowth. He can follow his hunting dog to almost anywhere she can go and he's considered a valued member of the team (even when he was younger).

Pets: 1 Hunting Dog called Yr
Dragon: Land Mint Wym (m) from Lantessama Isle

STORY

Yza plodded through the snow. After this assignment she'd formally be a part of the guard. Which was all she'd dreamed about after her parents had died. It had been the thing that kept her going. Even when the training had been so bad she'd wanted to break down and cry. Even when even her sister had told her to give up and do something else.
So she just had to complete this assignment and she'd reach her goal. Only Yza was lost. She knew but had not acknowledged the fact. So she kept going, making slow progress through the knee-high snow.

Remy returned to the Communal Center. The oval-shaped building was the largest in the community and literally the heart of the village. His heart felt heavy with the task put on his shoulders. If he'd been in charge the guard would look different. He'd instate a rule that guards needed to be unattached and not necessary for the survival of another. The work was too dangerous. All so that he -nor anyone else- would have to go do what he was about to do.
Stepping inside the Communal Center, Remy nearly bumped into Ymke, Yza's sister and his heart twisted more. Ymke was Yza's only living relative, an older sister and she could pull her weight.... but losing your last relative was cruel. And Remy felt guilty. He'd sent Yza out in the cold on her own on a wild goose chase to make her learn when to give up. Only the woman was as stubborn like a hangry bear.

Ymke straightened her clothes and opened her mouth to speak, only to close it again when she saw Remy's expression.
"Is something wrong with Yza? Was she hurt?"
Ymke had begged her younger sister not to apply for the guards. Had hoped she'd find a nice job inside the village. But Yza had always been a wild child. Confident in her skills and her strength. There had been no stopping her and they'd fought more in the past few weeks as Yza refused to budge and Ymke -for once- kept up the protests.
"She's not come back from the assignment we gave her."
"Was she alone?" Ymke asked startled.
"She was meant to figure out that that wasn't the way, come back and ask for help." Remy sighed.
"She'd never do that!"
"I know. She had bad luck in drawing that particular one."
"And now?"
"They might put together a search party, but I don't know many who'd be willing to go after her. She has not exactly made herself popular."
Ymke's mind worked faster than ever. She might be a woman who was not used to venturing outside, but she knew those who had the skills necessary and she would barter with everything she owned.

Nygel yawned as he entered the Communal Center, ready to get diner and retire. His trusty dog was at his heels. No matter what anyone said, Yr was family and he would not keep her outside in the kennels with the other dogs. There were enough hunters with the same attitude that it was grudgingly allowed to have them inside, but only if they behaved.
Before the young man could sit down however, he was besieged by a whirlwind of woman in a fur cloak.
"You're Nygel from the hunting team, right?"
"I am."
Before he could ask for hers, the woman continued:
"Name your prize, I want you to search for someone."
Nigel whistled. Night was coming, anyone lost in the snow was almost doomed unless they knew what they were doing. But the IceLanders were a hardy people so a lot of them did. Most knew not to venture too far away. Nygel's best guess was that a rebellious child or a senile elder had snuck out but as the woman poored out more of the story it became clear that that was not the case.
"She should know better." he judged.
Remy, who had joined them, nodded.
"I'll scold her probably later." Ymke promised and then waited, staring hopefully at the hunter.
"I'll need something of hers so yr can track her and some food to go. I won't be going out without a full belly in this weather."

A few marks down the candle, the trio gathered at the village entrance. A moat and chest-high wall marked the boundary of what was safe and what wasn't. The archway where they stood the only "easy" acces.
"I could not find anyone else to join us." Remy confessed.
"Yr will find her no sweat." Nygel promised.
"I hope so, I'll give her all the treats she wants for the rest of her days." Ymke vowed.
"Oh now you'll get her full attention." Nygel smirked.
He crouched down by Yr and let her sniff one of Yza's shirt. The dog gave a short woof and then she set off. Her nose to the ground or sometimes up in the air, her ears perked and her tail twisted tight, she worked her job of tracking prey. The humans followed as best they could, mindfull of the dangers the dark posed. It was about an hour later, the sun having just set, that Yza froze and settled.
"We're close. This is her signal to let us know we should be quiet to not spook the prey."
"Only we need Yza to hear us." Remy said.
"Let me just reward Yr and then we can call out."

Yza wasn't entirely sure at first that people were actually coming for her. As the sun had started going down, she'd realised the predicament she was in and she'd sought to find shelter, finding a rocky slope with a few windswept hollows that weren't ideal but better than nothing. She'd constructed a small wall to keep the wind out and had started making a fire when she'd heard a few shouts. She'd been convinced she'd been dreaming until the shouts came again, and again.
Rushing out, the first person she saw was her sister, followed by a few others. One she recognised as Remy from the guards when he got a bit closer, the third was somone from the hunting group but she did not really know him all that well.
"You're safe!" Ymke sobbed and hugged her sister.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you're out alone in the dark away from the village!"
"Your sister was the one to form this rescue party." Remy offered.
"I was fine on my own." Yza said, keeping up the tough front, but she was quite relieved.
"But it's too late to head back now." Nygel remarked, "I thought it smelled like snow."
Dark clouds were blowing in fast and there was no chance they would be alright heading out in that. Yr had already settled by the fire and Nygel took quick stock of the camp.
"With a little work from all of us this might be workable." the hunter continued.
As he had the most experience camping outside, he naturally took the lead and ordered the others to find, do and help with this or that. Nobody complained though all of them cast a wary eye at the sky from time to time. By the time the snow really hit them, the four had added a rudimentary roof to the hollow that they'd dug out. The fire was lit and they had some wood that would hopefully last long enough for the snow to pass.

A sudden noise outside alerted Remy that somethign was amiss. Yr remained oddly quiet, the guard had expected the dog to bark, but maybe hunting dogs were not all that vocal. The guard woke up the others, gesturing to get across that he'd heard something strange. Nygel was the first to catch on and went to peek outside. At first he spotted nothing out of the ordinary, but then a creature unlike any he'd seen before loomed closer.
"Might I join your fire?" the beast asked.
Nygel ducked back inside, terrified.
"It spoke." he stammered, causing Remy and Yza to surge forward, trying to guard the entrance.
"Well if it speaks and we're still here it can't be all that vicious." Ymke decided and stepped outside.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Ah good Lady, might I join your fire, I seem to have frightened your companion."
"You might be too big to fit." Ymke said honestly, "Although maybe we can work something out."
The Cromus dragon waited patiently while adjustments were made and then snuggled inside, happy to share it's warmth. The beast was unusual. All red, green, orange and yellow with spots and small wings. Not frightening at all. In fact with their demeanour, they were very charming and polite.
"I can offer you a gift!" the dragon said after having enjoyed the fire for a while.

(image)
Cromus Derg Giveaway

The gift turned out to be a ride of sorts. The dragon had been on it's way to Lantessama, an island halfway across the planet and nowhere the IceLanders had been before. After they'd landed, they were given another shocking revelation as apparently a ride from a dragon also meant that they were eligible to stand for a hatching. Who knew dragons had been so close? And so different from what they'd been told? Luckily the resident IceLanders at Lantessama were able to put their worries to rest and offered their guidance for the future.

HATCHING

The season at Lantessama was cold but with lots of gifts and extras to warm the people of the isle. Elf dragons had appeared once again to delight the people and there was even a small clutch of perfectly green eggs on the hatching sands. The dainty oval orbs looked as fragile as sugar cookies with delicate white paterns and a sweet, cinnamon scent was fragrant in the air. The eggs were tended to by the Elf dragons though none claimed to be the parents of the eggs. Apparently, Elf Dragon eggs just sprang into being. Being so unusual, the eggs were pulling in quite a few visitors from around the Nexus. Some only came to watch while others took up temporary residence, hoping to be present at the hatching and possibly even charming one of the hatchlings.
When the time finally came, it was the middle of the night. A faint crackling was all the warnign people were given and then the eggs all shattered at once and the baby Elf Dragons appeared once the dust had settled.
Across the sands, the IceLanders had set up camp. And one of them was the subject of a very intent gaze. A holly green female with a furry mane approached the most matronly of the four locals and decided that she wanted to be cared for.
"I'm hungry, Ymke!" she cried pitifully.
"Are you certain Fyin? I'd swear you just conjured up some cookies before heading this way."
"I wouldn't know what you're talking about." the hatchling said innocently, quickly wiping away a few stray crumbs.

Ymke's sister, Yza, was distracted, her eyes following her sister, and thus she was not prepared for a little feisty winged Elf dragon to tackled her legs. The pine-coloured hatchling had all the makings of a survivor with a stubborn disposition and a sturdy build. Keeping right more from luck than skill, Yza turned her attention toward her new bond:
"Woah, Taspynar. Be careful. We're teammates, you should not risk injuring me."
"Everything is fair in play and training!" the hatchling retorted tartily.

Two IceLanders remained unbonded on the sands, but they would not be so for much longer. Two male hatchlings had decided to take a leap of faith and entrust their lives in the hands of the humans. The mint-coloured land Elf closed in on Nygel, the hunter, while the winged dark green Elf chose to stalk Remy, the guard. There really was no need for posing as the two young man were all too eager to surrender.
"I'm Wym." the minty male said, his view fresh and his mind accepting of all that would come.
"I'm Ryad." the ivy male added, this one a bit more guarded, a bit more laid-back and observant, but equally loving.

CROSS COUNTRY HUNTERS

A fuzzy green head popped out from a mound of snow.
"Is the coast clear?" Fyin asked, looking around to check for other people.
"You check before popping up." Ymke chided, but without actual bite in her words.
"No-one is here." Wym added, his minty green tail popping up from a different mound of snow, looking very much like a peculiar bush of holly.
"Thank you for keeping an eye out." Ymke acknowledged.
The IceLanders had returned home after a short interval but they'd promised to keep in touch with the crew of IceLanders working to open up the continent to the native inhabitants of Syl'Neriss. The idea was thrilling but also stressful since it meant sneaking aorund. Something Ymke wasn't good at. But apparently Nygel was and the two of them sneaking out had caused rumours but different ones.
"I got out!"
Nygel chose that moment to run up. They'd tried dissuading the rumours by leaving at different times, but the gossipping old ladies at the Oval Center kept up their plotting as it was all too obvious that Ymke was heading out more and that they were often away at the same time, even if the times did not completely overlap.
"Where did we arrange to meet?" Ymke asked.
"Not too far away, just at the edge of the forest."
"Isn't that too dangerous? What if someone sees us?"
"Apparently Ghiye is coming with Hallaar, so no dragons."
Ymke relaxed. Trained wolves were uncommon but would not set the villagers in a frenzy.
"Let's go!" Fyin urged, losing her patience.
"Careful now!" Wym cautioned, "Dive and burrow until we're a bit further!"
"I know." Fyiin sighed, but did as she was told.
While the Elf Dragons kept hidden, the humans started walking close together to talk without having to raise their voices. Yr ran out before the humans, chasing the burrowing dragons with happy barks that were quite unlike the normally well-behaved hunting dog.

ICY SKY GUARDS

Ryad soared above the mountains. He was far away from the villages and kept the sun at his back in relation to any human possibly gazing at the sky. After an uneventful patrol, he returned to the cave he shared with Taspynar. Their mountain home was cosy but far away from the home of their bonds, even if they came to visit as often as they could.
As Ryad landed, Taspynar poked her head out and urged him inside.
"I found more things the humans will like." she grinned excitedly.
Ryad was met with the glow of crystals and gems.
"Humans always go for the shinies." he nodded, "But Remy and Yza like us even without these rocks."
"I know." Taspynar replied, "I'm just working on a plan to bribe some other human if they ever discover our home."
"What's this I hear about bribes?" Yza asked, dragging herself up on the ridge.
"To get people on our side." Taspynar explained.
Remy was close behind and mused: "The Lantessamas maybe, I don't know whether the IceLanders would value gems."
Taspynar deflated but was consoled by Ryad: "Having some things to barter is always a good thing. There's plenty of things to trade for at Lantessama."
The pine-coloured Elf dragon neve stayed down long so she instantly brightened at those words:
"Want to go on a date later?"
"Hey can I come?" Yza asked, "I've been meaning to get some more of those desserts they had."
"I hear it's time to plan a large mission again." Remy chuckled but he wasn't opposed to the idea.

~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-
Back to the IceLand index page
Lantessama Isle