The following is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or wyrms, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
I've written this and all stories to come with the closest knowledge I have to Cruinndrac Farms Lore, but this is all headcannon and should not be consulted as official legend.
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Ashimagari watched over her squirm of predominately Gao Xing wyrms as they played about the Glade they had been spirited away to. "Watched" being a poor choice of words, because like all full blooded wyrms of her breed, she was blind. Still, she had no trouble monitoring the activities of her squirm. Inugami and Tengu were playing a game of chase - again - and Sweet Tooth was nosing about beneath a tree, most likely looking for something good to nibble. As her name implied, the Tunneler had an affinity for sugary treats. Misaki, her golden, dappled mate, sunned himself on a carved stone, and for all appearances looked to be asleep, but Ashi knew that he kept as close an eye on her as she did the rest of the squirm. Ashi was an Alpha of their breed, and while fully capable of defending herself with her large, twisting horns, she knew that should trouble arise, Misaki would be by her side in an instant.
For a moment, Ashimagari's heart squeezed as she thought of the sweet, devoted male. From the moment they had met, he had been utterly committed to her, and she wished she could offer him more than a position of "consort." Ashi would swear her heart, body, and soul to Misaki in an instant, were it not for her responsibilities. Ashi was an Alpha Gao Xing, and it was her duty to bring forth babe wyrms into the world that would strengthen their kind. Not that Misaki wouldn't sire strong wyrms, she was certain any of his offspring would be as strong and kind as he, but as Gao Xing had but a limited amount of babes they could spawn, Ashimagari had to keep herself available, especially if an Alpha male of their breed were to surface. Misaki would always have Ashi's heart, but if the chance arose to create stronger Gao Xing, then Ashimagari would do her duty for their breed. Not that she planned to deny Misaki young. She could spare at least a few of her breedings for her mate. She smiled to herself, thinking of the children she and Misaki would make...
"Ouch!!" Shiver turned to the wyrm perched on her shoulder, who was indignantly chirping and nipping at her ear. "Yes, I know this is not critical to the plot, Aughra, but it's still important. It's called character development, insight. It draws the reader in." The Swirl Snout continued to berate her handler, not understanding why such an important story needed such "fluff." Shiver sighed in exasperation. "Very well, I will try to keep unnecessary trivia to a minimum," she promised, mostly to appease the self appointed editor settled on her shoulder. She resumed typing.
Ashimagari took stock of the rest of her squirm. Taro and Tennin were preening their fur. Shard had found a 10 sided die that had fallen out of someone's pocket (or the Swirl Snout had liberated from someone's pocket) and was nosing it along the ground, clearly intent on secreting it away. Mizuchi, urRu, Selkie, Caelum, many more that made up their squirm, Ashi took note of them all, making sure everyone was well and not stirring up to much trouble.
And then there were the Crew.
Juu-san. Tryst. Hachidori. A few others, and... Kern.
While technically members of her squirm, Ashimagari regarded the group with no small amount of disdain. Yes, they were members of her family, and she would defend them alongside the rest of their squirm should anyone or thing threaten them, but... But she knew better than to completely trust them. A few of them were harmless, really. Mischievous, malcontents. But others... The others' hearts were as black as the markings on their faces, marks that set them apart from other wyrms. Marks that were physical representations of the dark magic that pulled at these wyrms souls. Blind as she was Ashimagari could not see these markings, but she perceived them all the same. Hachidori made a joyful, giggling sound as Tryst nipped at one of his antennae, dodging the playful assault easily and squiggling behind Juu-san for "protection."
Juu-san.
Ashimagari frowned to herself. As the first to join their squirm who possessed the dark sickness, Ashi's instincts had warned her against leaving Juu-san to his own devices, but she had been distracted by new love. She would never forgive Juu-san for the evil he brought to their world... and she would never forgive herself for not preventing the event. Her attention drifted to the stone circle in a dark space of the Glade, the locks that held the cursed door closed, and the locks that had been unsealed. Specifically, the lock with runes representing her breed. It glowed, released.
Ashimagari felt a tickle on the back of her neck, like something creepy and with too many legs crawling along her fur. She redirected her attention to find Kern watching her. Unwilling to back down, Ashi "stared" back. She could not let the black wyrm know how much he got under her skin. To do such a thing would be a grave mistake. Juu-san may have sired the beast that brought them one lock closer to the monstrosities behind that door, but Kern... it had been a mistake to let him into their squirm. What was the handler thinking?! Kern was dangerous, and his mind was completely poisoned by the black markings on his face. Perhaps... perhaps he had been brought into their squirm so Ashi could restrain him? Ashimagari briefly thought of some human saying about keeping enemies near. Humans were always saying odd things like that, but perhaps there was some wisdom behind the adage. Very well, if Kern had been placed in her care to contain him, Ashimagari would do her Creator proud. Just as she felt her will resolve itself, she thought she perceived the tiniest of smirks from Kern, as if he could read her mind. To her knowledge, however, that was not among his talents, so maybe it was only her imagination.
A loud squawking broke Ashi's focus and she turned to see Sukoshi had discovered Shard's "treasure" and the Omega Jiao-Di was trying to wrestle the D10 from its collector. Both wyrms had the die clamped in their mouths and were pulling with all their might. What the littlest wyrm lacked in size and strength, he made up for in spunk. Ashimagari sighed, but internally she was smiling. She had developed a fondness for the little Jiao, and she figured she should probably get down there before Shard used that one remaining horn to teach the newest member of their squirm a lesson about taking other peoples things. As if the Swirl had any place to cast stones.
Shiver stretched, popping her knuckles. "I think that's enough for tonight, don't you?" Aughra reviewed the last few lines again, and when she was satisfied with what she saw, she nodded to her handler. Shiver saved the document. There was more, so much more that needed to be recorded, but it was a good start. Shutting down her computer, Shiver carried Aughra to the bedroom where the rest of the squirm slept, mostly on the bookshelf by Shivers bed, although a few wyrms had found resting places scattered around the room. Shiver settled Aughra into the nest she refused to share with anyone, then lay down for some shut eye. Aughra waited until the handler had drifted off to sleep, then wriggled down from her perch. She was slower than she had been in her youth, and her black and white fur was limp with age. She was the oldest member of their squirm, and before the Alpha Ashimagari had come along, had served as the squirms matriarch. Her left eye was marked with scars, so Aughra was no stranger to fighting for what was right. These days, however, she left the battles up to a newer generation, and served their cause in a much different way.
Aughra squiggled under Shivers bed and uncovered the glowing crystals she hid there. Shard and urRu didn't know about these crystals, and it was a good thing. Swirl Snouts had an affinity for crystals, absorbing their energy to sustain the Swirl Snouts beauty and vitality. These crystals, however, were to important. They allowed Aughra to see... things, that needed to be seen. Seen and recorded. Good things. Evil things. Joyful things and things to break the heart. Important things. Aughra hid the crystals once more, making sure that Kern, and the beast, were deep asleep, taking no notice of Aughra and her nocturnal vigil. Should either of them discover these valuable tools... well, no point in worrying about things that had not yet come to pass. Time for a bit of rest and, Creator giving, peaceful dreams.