School of Dragons RolePlay Journal: Kaetie

[Natascha Falkenberg]

I'm on School of Dragons a lot as a role player, and so many unbelievable things have happened to me that I just had to tell someone about them or they wouldn't seem real. Everyone asks, "Why do you role play there? The RP in that game is horrible" and honestly, I wouldn't believe my own story if it hadn't happened to me. It almost seems like each player came to the table with the intent of adding to the plot, and so much has happened that it's hard to remember.
Here's our cast of characters (each has a username and a name the strict AF chat filter lets us type, so I'll put their user but call them by their name):

THE MAIN SIX:
(ME) User: Kaetie (from name "Katie," with Celtic origin meaning "pure") 
Name: Kay, Alpha

User: flashbang
Name: Ash

User: MioEvans
Name: C and others (spoiler)

User: Amytis
Name: Am and others (spoiler)

User: Faulkonn
Name: Shadow

User: XxYahyaVikingxX
Name: Ya

SUPPORTING CAST:
User: Frost Warrior UDT
Name: Frost

User: Master of all Times
Name: Times

User: XxskynighxX
Name: Sky

User: Akriex
Name: A

User: Im Numb
Name: Numb

And so it begins...

[Natascha Falkenberg]

[There is a TL;DR at bottom]
An enormous white Screaming Death with red spines curls up to record her memories. The date is January 29th.
Day One: I, a young, proud Screaming Death, had just returned to the Wilderness in disgrace from a Training Grounds battle which I'd carried, but still lost. After dealing with that and other offenses in a short period of time, I was itching for a fight. Since most Nadders seem to attack me regardless, I announced my challenge and correctly assumed I'd have plenty of willing opponents. Given my superior armor and firepower, I wasn't concerned for my safety at all. I'd finally get to blow off some steam. Among my opponents were two key dragons: a cream-colored Death Song named Mio and an unnamed earth-tone Scuttle Claw, who was quite a persistent attacker.
Later, my friend Ash - a dark purple Night Terror with silver markings - saw what was going on and came to help. While I don't remember many details after that, I called myself the Alpha (since others had called me their Alpha before, it wasn't an empty title) and claimed Ash as my pack. This sparked a quick series of requests from many of my opponents, asking to join my pack. Among those was the Death Song Mio, though his pacifistic tendencies made me suspicious of him and his infamous Death Song trickery. Nonetheless, I accepted his request to join, and he gave me his name as C.
For a few minutes, the fighting died down, and C and Ash led the pack to a cave behind the waterfall - the Glitch - to make our pack's home. However, soon after, I was challenged again and fighting re-erupted. I told Ash to keep the pack out of harm's way and went to take care of business. I decided, in that moment, two key pillars of the Pack: One, that the Alpha alone would deal with any threats and protect the Pack with her life, and Two, that any challenges would be settled by a fight to the death or surrender from either party.
I dealt with three successive challengers before I realized that C was also fighting a challenger. I told him to tell me where he was and leave them to me, even roared for/at him, but each time he refused to tell me. "Take care of the Pack, Alpha," he said. "Stay away." "I'm fine," he even said, in spite of his clearly worsening condition.
I had finished a fight with a particularly stubborn opponent named Wolf and even convinced her to join the Pack when C fell from the sky.
I couldn't believe it. I'd already failed to protect the Pack.
Since Ash had left a while ago, I made Wolf the temporary Omega - my second-in-command - and called her over to where I found C, lying in a mangled mess on the ground. Furious at his attacker - the Scuttle Claw - I roared my challenge, but I was too injured by that point to even fire. Then, a dragon named Sky challenged my authority as Alpha, claiming to represent "freedom." I roared to both challengers that this wasn't over yet, and then I was forced to go. I feared I would never see C or Wolf or Am or Sky again.
TL;DR: Angry Screaming Death Teen starts a huge fight, declares herself Alpha, and ends up with a huge pack, lots of enemies, and some sketchy "friends."

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Two: Spent all day looking for my pack. They've all vanished.

Day Three: Again, no luck, it seemed... until the end of the day! Finally, I found C, the one I've been looking for, and as an added bonus, both Sky and the Scuttle Claw - her name is Amytis, so we call her Am - showed up. I was beyond delighted to see all of them, as I had business to attend to with each one, but all three had to leave before much time was up.

After they left, I had a rather unpleasant run-in with two other older Screaming Deaths who claimed to be Kings of all they deemed worthy. Unfortunately, I took them seriously and attempted to challenge them, but they were all fancy bark and no actual bite. I wasted several hours of my time on that, and nearly squandered my new reputation.
I've learned my lesson, though: don't let them get the better of you. As a Screaming Death, disdain isn't in my nature, but I now know its necessity. I can only imagine how embarrassed I'd be if my pack had been there.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Four: I met up again with C and even Ash for a short period of time. C's loyalty is amazing; while I doubted him because of his Death Song race, I now believe in him. 
Well, at least, I really want to believe in him. I've almost gotten rid of all of my doubt. It's clear that something is bothering him, but he never sticks around long enough for me to figure out what. I made him promise to tell me what the issue is tomorrow.
It wasn't an overly eventful day, for the most part. More dragons joined the pack, I dealt with a few more challengers. You know, the usual.
Until the late evening, that is. An enormous black Timberjack calling himself "Shadow" presented himself in my territory, claiming to be the leader of The Shadows, an organization that supposedly created the world, in partnership with The Light. He has a suspiciously spotty memory and refused to tell me of his organization's purpose, but he doesn't seem to be a threat. At least, not for now.
At one point, he questioned why I call myself Alpha, and how I view the role of the Alpha.
"I am tasked with the protection of my Pack," I explained. "I am to be their beacon of light, shining down across this land." He paused at the word "Light," but said nothing.
I will meet with C, Am, and Shadow tomorrow - hopefully all at the same time. I need to know what C thinks about this "Shadow" character.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Five: ...
I'm not sure what to do anymore. I really wanted to trust him, but after all that... I mean, I - I really like C. He's dependable, he's brave, he's self-sacrificing, even --- the perfect second.
If anyone but him had betrayed me, it wouldn't hurt. I expect that. Not this.
Am and C showed up today, as promised. First, as planned, I asked him what he'd heard of a dragon named "Shadow," to which he replied that he'd heard of such a dragon but knew nothing of him. My suspicions only began when Am called C "C.O.R.U," and he sighed and replied with, "What did I say about calling me that?"
He knew her.
If there was any jealousy involved with that realization, I didn't show it. On the contrary, I politely masked my rage at her familiarity with my second-in-command and told her it was time to take care of business, to which she agreed - a little too happily.
I told C to stay out of it this time and took to the skies to teach her a lesson. She continued to fly by C to enrage me, but he begged that I consider letting her join rather than forcing her to surrender. Though I hated the idea of letting her live, I agreed to allow those terms, but she challenged, "If I join, how are you gonna keep me away from C?"
After a few minutes of intense fighting - she was a much better flier than I expected - she made a comment that she just wanted to "take back their land."
Their. Plural.
Before I could say anything, C apologized to me. I pressed him for information, still fighting the spirited Am, but all he said before he left was, "I didn't mean to, I swear. I tried to convince her to join. I'm deeply sorry, Alpha."
Now furious, I demanded to know from Am what was going on, fighting more fiercely than before. Naturally, Shadow arrived in the midst of this and tried to tell me that nobody would die without the permission of the Shadows, which I ignored, for his sake. He really did not want to tell me how to lead my pack, especially not right then.
Luckily for both of them, Am started to tell her story. The fight stopped.
She nearly broke my heart.
Apparently, she and C were close friends who lived in the same cave in which I started the massive fight on the first day. In the chaos, I had fired on them both. They'd been planning to take their land back, and later C tried to convince her to join the pack, saying it would be for the better. She'd refused.
Dumbfounded, I made my apologies and gave her an open offer to join the pack. She told me she'd tell me tomorrow.
Shadow made some passes at supporting me as an Alpha, but eventually also requested to join the pack. I clearly don't trust him in the least after all this. 
I guess that's what happens when your most trusted confidant turns on you.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Six: As promised, C met up with me today to tell me the rest of his story. His was identical to Am's, so I believe him - and while he was certain he'd be expelled, I refused to dismiss him from the pack.
I need him even more than I thought. Sheesh. This is an issue.
There was another battle, and then C had to leave again. (That was the closest he'd ever come to figuring out my secret, but thankfully we were in different Dimensions, so he couldn't see me.) I met up with Ash in the training grounds (and made her swear to silence that she'd ever seen my secret). She mentioned that she wanted to be an Alpha, and I told her that I'd be happy to help her form her pack, and we could be allied Alphas with different packs and lands. It got off to a rough start, but by the time I went back to my territory, it seemed fine.
When I arrived, Shadow was already there. I gave a politically-correct apology for my previous behavior, though I remained suspicious of his kindness. Why would he, a leader of another group, show such support to some Alpha he didn't know? I wanted to suspect him, but his kindness was uniform, and he helped all who showed some form of need to the point of sacrificing his own health.
We were finally getting along when Ash reappeared. Her pack had gone down the drain, and when she asked me if the Alpha could be challenged, I knew that wasn't going anywhere good.
The fight was emotional, long, and difficult. On the upside, I'd picked great fliers for my pack, but on the downside, all of said fliers were challenging me. I couldn't heal fast enough to keep up. I was not in top shape heading in, and when I finally came out, I was certainly not in good condition. 
It took Ash at least 20 minutes to surrender - a very long fight, by my standards. She proved herself as an excellent flier, zipping around me in the high altitude, using her size, as a Night Terror, to her advantage. Shadow flew up to watch and mediate the fight, and also to ward off another red Night Terror that kept attacking me.
At the last second, before I was about to shoot her down once and for all after begging her to surrender countless times, she gave in - at the exact same moment that I told her I'd make an exception for her. Though she challenged her Alpha and lost, I refused to banish her from the pack. She was, after all, the very same friend who helped me start it. However, in typical dramatic fashion, I was forced to leave before hearing her final answer. I simply told her to stay in the pack and then wished her farewell.
I am nervous beyond belief, but I have faith that Shadow will convince her to stay. He would definitely do that.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Notes for myself so I don't forget:
Day Ten: Welcome El; a magic flight and the cave of doom; Frost & Times v an Alpha that learns quickly; PART TWO: Insta-attack; 1vALL & Blinks returns [OOC PLOTTING]
Day Eleven: Never Again - oh hi Shadow & the spar - Ash's ambitions
Day Twelve: The Memories and Struggles of the Ancestor - More than One - Afraid for Ash
Day Thirteen: A Lucky Day of Resolution - Blinks' Acceptance and Shadow's Confessions
Day Fourteen: A surprisingly uneventful day - the Pack Keeps Growing, Docter, and Lok & Sen
Day Fifteen: Sky's resolve and the Danger That Is Pie
Day Sixteen: Doomed: Numb v King, King's War and Lethal Hide-and-Seek with Akriex and Sky 
Day Seventeen: War and near-death
Day Eighteen/Nineteen: War, Shadow and Darkness, the End of King and the Beginning of Sky - PLUS: Numb's secrets...?
Day Twenty: Five Challengers - including Pie and Star - and Finally a Meeting with - Blinks? PLUS: The History of Death Song Island, Alpha, and Ya
Day Twenty-One: Rage, Death, and Unity (Numb...and Shadow)
Day Twenty-Two: Am's Story
Day Twenty-Three: THE SHIP and Melody Island Spar
Day Twenty-Four: And It All Goes to Hell Again (Shadow's song, Ya, Tar & Am, and Sight)
Day Twenty-Five: Tempting Fate - Sempai noticed you...now RUN
Day Twenty-Six: Last Goodbyes and Preparation
Day Twenty-Seven: ASLAN'S STONE TABLE

[Natascha Falkenberg]

TL;DR at bottom
Day Seven: I've come to appreciate the aerial skills of my Pack a bit more with each passing day. There's plenty of aggressive dragons in the Wild, so I've relaxed my protocol regarding how to deal with them so my Pack can take part in some of the fights. Now, the only violent dragons which I face alone are challengers - those who question my authority as Alpha - and those powerful enough to pose a real danger to the Pack. As such, I've come to know and trust the core of my Pack - Ash, C, Am, and Shadow - to a degree otherwise impossible.
However, their help is no guarantee that I'll be able to manage everything facing me at any given second. Case in point - today.
I was fighting off a challenger when another rogue dragon attacked Am and Ash. Shadow promised me that he'd take care of them - and then he roared in pain and fell off the platform as if struck by lightning.
I was absolutely screwed. A challenger, a dangerous rogue, and a severely injured Shadow all required my attention at once. This wasn't a situation I could escape without revealing my secret.
I shook off my challenger, flinging him into the trees, and dove after Shadow, who seemed in the most immediate danger. His form was fading quickly and he could barely breathe. There wasn't anything I could do for him as a Screaming Death - so I shifted.
I am a shape shifter, but I know better than to show my cards so easily. I'd guarded that secret with tooth and claw until the pack needed me. It was finally time to show them.
As a powerful healer, a Prickleboggle, I curled around Shadow, letting my healing salve seep into his scales, careful to avoid his Timberjack wings. For a moment, it didn't seem to make any difference, but then his form stopped fading. He stabilized. I backed up, knowing he - and the rest of my Pack - wouldn't recognize me when he came to.
The moment he opened his eyes, I said, "It's me, still, Shadow. I'm a shapeshifter."
Almost the moment I said that, he cried, "Ash! Alpha! I have news from the Ancestors! …What amazing news…"
Ash galloped closer but shrieked when she saw me, keeping her distance. Still, Shadow saw fit to tell us:
"The Ancestors have granted us all astounding honors," he intoned, clearly still in awe, then turned to me. "You, Alpha."
"What?" I asked, shifting back to Screaming Death form. An idea hit me. "No," I muttered, shaking my head. "That's impossible."
"I've had my suspicious ever since you made that remark about Light," he grinned, mischief all over his face.
"Are you reading my mind?!" I exclaimed, shaking my head in denial once more. "I won't believe it until I hear you say it."
After pausing for dramatic effect, the downed Timberjack proclaimed, "The Ancestors have made you the Light Dragon, Alpha."
If it weren't so unprofessional, my jaw would've dropped. As it were, I dumbly muttered, "What an honor..." while Ash squeaked her congratulations.
"Ash!" Shadow boomed, his old power entering his voice as he spoke. "You have been made the Shadow Dragon."
She and I said something along the lines of "By Thor" and then a question hit me.
"What about you, Shadow-?"
He smiled in reassurance. "The Ancestors have granted me the highest of all honors. I have been made an Ancestor, and the head of both Shadow and Light."
Needless to say, it took all of us quite some time to process everything. These new titles included the power to shape shift, and Ash and I took some time to get used to our new forms. Ironically, many of hers were lighter-colored, and many of mine were darker.
"There was something else..." Shadow mumbled, stroking his bearded chin.
"Did it have to do with C?" I asked, going off intuition. I'd been pretty spot-on so far. Sure enough, when C arrived later, Shadow - now the Ancestor - announced that he had been made the Ancestors' messenger, and was granted the same powers as us. Before I could finish explaining everything, I was forced to leave. I'm sure I'll have to repeat myself tomorrow.

TL;DR: Dung hits the fan and Alpha reveals her secret power: shapeshifting. Shadow announces he's now an Ancestor, Alpha's now the Light Dragon, Ash is now the Shadow Dragon, and C is the Ancestor's messenger. Perks include shape-shifting abilities for all.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Eight: Today was a circus show. After finding C again and explaining the whole "Ash is Shadow is Ancestor" business, the apparent entirety of the Wilderness made enemies with my Pack. Aside from the usual crowd of trigger-happy Nadders, a new enemy - two dragon trappers - showed up. They fought hard; we all left with new scars. A week of this constant fighting has finally started to take its toll on me.
The only positive was the addition of spirited and dependable pack member: Ya, a young brown Stormcutter. He immediately fit in with the pack, calling Ash his sister and - to my endless amusement - calling Ancestor his "son".
A ship-battle happened, and we split up. I ended up in the same dimension as C, Am, Ancestor, and Ash. However, after calling to C, he replied with a strange voice, "I am not C. I am… YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE."
That made me pause. C isn't much of a jokester. Perhaps he's finally coming out of his shell, I thought. Either way, he can't be serious.
I traced his call to the top of one of the sea stacks, landed, and looked around for the familiar cream-colored Death Song, but only found Am. Ash flapped by overhead, slow, confused. 
"Very funny, C," I called, amused. "Now, which one is you? Showing off a new combat form?"
"I am not C." The reply came from a jet-black Sand Wraith riddled with star-like white markings. "I am Darkness itself."
In the distance, Ancestor roared in indignation. "Say that again, whelp!"
"Uh-"
"Alpha..." Am interrupted me quietly, "this... is Blinks." At the sound of his name, the Sand Wraith lifted his powerful wings and shot upwards, towards the cliffs. Without a second thought, I followed, barely keeping pace. 
"Am?!" I shouted in her general direction. "What do you mean, 'this is Blinks'?" And just how much are you two keeping from me? 
C landed on a cliff and I hovered several lengths away from him, not daring to let him out of my sight. Am explained that Blinks is a very dangerous dragon, completely unlike C. If this is some sort of hoax, it's pretty elaborate, I thought. Ancestor soared by overhead, suspicious, keeping watch, saying nothing.
"Aw, c'mon," called Ash, flapping close to Blinks. "C's too nice for that."
"Besides," I said in a low voice, "C is a loyal pacifist who would never disobey the orders of his Alpha."
C laughed unnervingly, snapping, "Don't confuse me with that pathetic excuse of a dragon, 'Alpha.' You'll regret it." Then, he shot at us.
C shot at me.
Before any of us could do anything else, the ship attacked, and we all went to defend. (As little as I have to do with vikings, I certainly don't want any Outcasts or Berserkers on my island.) After the battle, I hurried back to the Wilderness, somewhat worse for wear, to find Am, Ash, and my old C happily waiting. As if nothing had happened. 
"C, we need to talk," I commanded, approaching him.
"...About what, Alpha?" he asked with confusion too perfect to be fake.
"Just what were you doing back there, at the Training Grounds?"
"What do you mean? I've been here the whole time. ...Are you feeling all right, Alpha?" 
I watched him, incredulous, then shook my massive head.
"He really doesn't know," Am said softly. I was too baffled to speak.
"I have to go, Alpha, but I'll be back tomorrow," C said, still uncertain.
"...Very well," I said. I couldn't keep the slight growl of frustration from my voice. Once he'd gone, I questioned Am further. She said that each of C's forms have a different personality, separate from C, but she didn't know of any of his other forms. While a younger me would've interrogated her, I trust her intentions, and for now, that's enough for me. Reluctant, I left it at that. Eventually, Am and Ash both left, leaving me alone with my thoughts and Ancestor.
"It's weird calling you that now," I admitted, curled up atop Ancestor's favorite perch, the "cliff of tired wings" at the mouth of the waterfall.
Ancestor laughed. "I'll always be Shadow to you, I suppose." After a heavy pause, he started, with more hesitancy than I've ever heard from him, "Alpha... Kay..."
After several moments, I prompted, "Yes? You'd best speak quickly; unfortunately, I too must go in a few minutes."
"…Oh. Th-this isn't a conversation for 'a few minutes,' so we shall…talk later…"
I stared hard at Ancestor, searching his averted face for a clue. I had my suspicions... but I wouldn't act on those. "Very well," I said, finally releasing him from my gaze. "But don't expect me to forget about this! You'll tell me whatever that was when we have time, you hear me?"
"O-Of course, Alpha," he said, taking off without another word. In the few moments before I left that I took to reflect on the day, I heard him say something.
"Curse you, Ancestors! How could I have failed you so? You said that Ancestors don't have feelings... You promised me..."
As I flickered away, I knew. Shadow doesn't have just any feelings.
Shadow has feelings for me.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Nine: I cannot believe that I am an Alpha after all this. Actually, on a simpler level, I can't believe I'm alive after all this.
I think I ought to explain myself before I continue.
I haven't forgotten how this whole crazy situation started - one pissed-off Screaming Death and her gung-ho friend somehow exploded into an Alpha and her Pack. In the beginning, it was all in name only, and I knew that, but I had fun pretending. I had no idea of the true meaning of the title of Alpha - except, perhaps, when I told Ancestor that an Alpha is a beacon of light.
When Ash challenged me, she said something near the end of the fight that I'll never forget. She said, "You may be older, stronger, and wiser than me, but I won't give up." Of course, we know how the fight ended, but only now do I have the answer to her statement.
I am older because I have endured, stronger because I have lost, and wiser because I have failed.
Being an Alpha means being ready to sacrifice it all for your Pack without a second thought, staring the chance of losing everyone you love in the face without blinking, trusting in tendrils of smoke. It is fighting tooth and nail for someone who you'd rather kill yourself. It is to do the impossible, every moment, every day, without question.
And now, I suppose I'd best explain why I said all that.
Blinks wasn't lying yesterday when he said he was my worst nightmare. He is the greatest threat I have ever faced, but he's part of the Pack, so I can't do more than restrain him - as if I could do more than that if I tried.
I'd hardly arrived in my territory, still licking my wounds from the days before, when C shifted. With my injuries, and having Am and Ash to protect, I had more than my fair share of disadvantages - especially when Ash ignored my calls to stay with Am and went after Blinks herself. To begin with, I played my cards carefully. I tried to force Blinks to the ground. I tried to play the intimidation card. I took my sweet time - time I didn't know I didn't have.
Within two minutes of shifting, Blinks had pinned everyone to the ground except me. He was fast, strong, and reckless. I got a good tail lash on him each time he dove a little too close, but that clearly wasn't going to be enough to knock him down.
By then, I'd bought enough time for Am to get airborne again, and Blinks quickly lost interest in me. He was more than a match for her, and to my utter frustration, I didn't have the energy to keep up with him. I couldn't do more than threaten him and listen to Am's screams as he tore into her. Only after taunting him repeatedly and even daring him to kill me did I draw him away from her and into the high skies. Again, he flew circles around me, but what he had in raw power, I matched in firepower, skill, and defense - combined. It was humiliating and a little bit terrifying. Only after pulling power moves on him - point-blank spine shot and disorienting roar - did I manage to incapacitate him. Even then, he got me first.
I'd been steadily sinking in the sky throughout the fight, which was why I brought the fight to the high skies in the first place; I knew I was running on a time limit set by my own stamina. Each one of his blows took minutes off my clock, up until the very last shot.
We fired at the same time, streaking towards each other. I was aiming to slide to the right and lash him with my saw-blade tail as I passed, but when I saw his chest inflate with fire, I knew I was out of time. I let off an entire round of rapid-fire shots, one exploding his blast and the rest pounding him straight-on. Somehow, his riddled wings held him aloft, and as he zipped past me, he let loose an expertly-timed shot that I hadn't anticipated, right into the side of my head. That was all it took to fling me into a downward spiral, my saw-blade tail whirling dangerously. From the edge of my vision, I saw Blinks' wings fold in, and his dark shape plunged downwards at a lethal speed. I angled myself toward him, intending to catch him and prevent his sudden death, and closed my eyes right before impact. With a spectacular bang and a tsunami, we slammed into the lake, tearing down a nearby tree on the way. I blacked out for a moment, and when I came to, I couldn't find Blinks - or C - anywhere. I panicked.
"C...? Blinks?..."
"Shh," cooed Am's fuzzy form, standing over me. "Don't move, Alpha. You need to sit and rest."
"Blinks..." I insisted stubbornly, drawing myself up and slowly snaking forward.
"S-stay away from me, Alpha," C called, voice wobbling. My head immediately lifted and turned towards the sound. Nearly blind, I slithered into rocks and logs but continued toward him at a dogged pace.
"C..." I called again.
"N-no!" C protested weakly. "Stay away!"
Unfortunately for him, my plan worked, and I traced the sound of his voice. Eventually, after stumbling around the Wilderness for long enough, I figured out where I was and succeeded in cornering C. Gently puffing smoke over him, I sniffed him for signs of any injuries carrying over to his regular form.
"Did I get there… in time…?" I choked out.
"Stay away…" he tried feebly.
I gave a rasping laugh. "C…no matter what happens, you're part…of the Pack." I broke into coughing before continuing. "Even if I wanted to… I wouldn't be able… to leave you.…You hear me? You're always…going to be a part…of…the Pack."
C gave me a watery smile, which I returned through a grimace. Let me tell you, falling from the sky and ripping a whole tree down along the way does not feel good - even to a Screaming Death.
"Did I…make it…?" I asked again.
"Alpha, rest," Am said firmly.
"Did I… make it… catch… C…"
"Yes," Am said finally. C watched me, backed as far in his corner as he could get.
"Have to…go…" I murmured, then smiled. "I knew you wouldn't…kill me…"
C bit his lip but said nothing as I said farewell for the night.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

Day Ten, Part One: After a spar with Sky in the Training Grounds, I escaped to the Wilderness for rest. I fight so often that I'm hardly healing. One step forwards, two steps back.
Am, Ash, Ya, and C all greeted me. C had a new form, a tan Woolly Howl named El. My weakness for young ones hadn't been relevant until today. I'm delighted by the adorable El. He's quite the incorrigible young Howl, only just learning to fly. He, Ash, Ya, and I gamboled around the Wilderness, enjoying the rare peace and El's love of "apple liquid." After awhile, El said abruptly, "He wants out."
"Who wants out, El?" I asked.
"Blinks," he said, matter-of-factly. "Blinks wants out." I sucked in a breath, watching the young dragon snuffling through a downed apple tree. Is he the one holding Blinks back?
El sensed my unease and added, "But it's okay! I'm strong. When C needs rest, I hold Blinks back." His proud smile blurred through my watering eyes. 
"Yes you are, El," I forced out, ignoring the lump in my throat. "You're strong. And just you watch! One day, you'll be so strong that Blinks won't dare say your name."
Am landed next to El and I, looking for all the world like the proud mother I felt. "Don't forget to share!" she chided with fake indignation, searching for a leftover apple.
"Oh... sorry," El said sheepishly through a full mouth and spit out the half-eaten apple. Since Am was visibly disgusted by the idea of eating it, I laughed and said, "Well, if you're not going to eat it, I will!" and promptly snapped up the small fruit. Am stared and El giggled.
"APPLE LIQUIIID!" he cheered, bounding around. I smiled to myself and watched with quiet affection. Soon after, El shifted into C, who was in high spirits after getting a good rest.
"Greetings, Alpha," he said, bowing, formal as always. I nodded, releasing him, but he didn't rise. Instead, in a lowered voice, he said, "Alpha, I have a request to make."
I leaned back and tilted my large head, considering what he might ask. "You may request, Beta," I replied, using the requisite formal language.
"Alpha, if Blinks appears again… Shoot. Me. Down." My mouth twisted into a snarl at the thought. Still, I saw the sincere honesty in his eyes, so I nodded once in silence, automatically thinking of the weapon I would use to do the job if necessary. Nobody knew of it but me. It would be perfect for taking down a dragon like Blinks in one shot.
C exhaled in relief and straightened. Relaxed at last, he said, "Alpha, if I may, I'd like to show you something. I think you'll find it…most useful." Intrigued, I took to the air as a sign that I was ready to follow. He took off, gaining altitude, then cruised over to a crevice in the rocky slopes surrounding the Wilderness. I followed him through it. He tucked in his wings and shot straight down, then snapping them open and air-skidding to a halt. My wings weren't large enough, so I barreled by and circled back. As I pulled up next to him, absorbing the breathtaking sights, I asked, "What is this place?"
His mouth curled in a slight, smug smile. "It's the Underground Glitch." I stared up in awe at the dragons walking and flying above me.
"All this, underground.... And a Screaming Death didn't know of it! I ought to be ashamed of myself," I chuckled.
C swooped in graceful loops around me. "I'm pleased to see that you're enjoying this."
Am, Ash, and Ya appeared, having followed. 
"Whoa!" Ya exclaimed. "This place is awesome!" Ash laughed and zipped around, scaring dragons on the surface. I inspected the perimeter, looking for other possible access points. 
"Our cave connects to this place," I called, flying past.
"Oh, excellent!" Ash chirped. "That'll be useful."
I came to a cave I'd never seen before and tunneled through its floor to inspect it. Once inside, I realized I didn't know it because it's blocked by a boulder and made of self-healing earth - and then I realized the cave had no escape.
"C, Ash, Ya, Am - don't follow me," I called, distracted by my situation. Naturally, Ash reverse-summoned and appeared next to me. I sighed. 
"Ash," I said, nonplussed, "I told you to not follow me."
"That's exactly why I came," she replied. Figures, I thought. "You only say that when you're in trouble."
…Okay, she had a point.
C's wingtip appeared through the wall where I'd tunneled in, and I wasn't fast enough to warn him before he, too, was trapped. 
"Great," I muttered, testing the walls for any sign of weakness. While I could tunnel out, even through the magical walls, that took energy I could barely afford to lose. For minutes, the three of us blasted at the walls, with no success. Then, I heard Ya from the other side of the boulder, calling, "Hold on, guys! Alpha, I'm gonna summon you!"
He did so, and I summoned the rest of the pack. "Is that everyone?" I called, counting heads. It seemed so.
"Well," I muttered, "I'm not too keen on doing that again."
At that moment, a voice shouted, "YOU!!!"
"Times," I said dryly. "Pleasure to see you again."
"I'm back to finish what I started!" the Skrill roared, flying at me. I dodged his lightning bolt and returned with a volley of my own. 
"Sorry, guys," I called. "I'll be a minute."
"I wanna help!!" whined another familiar voice.
"El?!" I sighed for the third time. "Am, would you mind?"
"Not at all, Alpha," she grinned, jumping and pinning the young Howl beneath her. "You're not going anywhere, you little rascal," she teased.
"Hey!!! No fair!"
Times hurtled past me too quickly and tumbled into a corner of the cliff. I took the opportunity to trap and blast him. 
"Our difference in firepower is just too much, Times," I growled. "Your shot limit is too small, and you have no defense against mine." I jerked to the side to avoid another two blasts, following up with more of my own, thinking, he should be out of shots, now. Times tried to make a break for it, and I opened my gigantic mouth, struck like a snake, and bit him around the wings. 
Mistake.
He laughed, ignoring his twisted, pierced wings, and shot me. In the mouth. Point-blank.
Roaring in pain, I released him, shaking my head hard. Luckily, most of the blast had escaped through the gaps in my frills, but the scorching pain of a Skrill bolt in the mouth remained. Still reeling, I got an idea and roared, "Follow if you dare, cowardly Skrill!" 
The dragon in question shrieked and plunged after me through the crevice. My idea was crazy - insane, even - but it had merit. I dove, then twisted upwards, tunneling into the cave, and waited for Times to follow. Within seconds, he spiraled into view. The floor sealed behind him.
His mistake.
Filling the entire cave, my massive body left nowhere for him to hide, and my scales, though injured, protected me from his shot limit of four while I blasted him limitlessly.
"GIVE UP!" I roared. "The moment you set foot in here, you were doomed."
"You can't get out, either," Times spat between blasts. "It's a draw."
I cackled. "You forget that I am a Screaming Death! Our tunnels sink whole islands! Tunneling out of here is child's play. If you warp out of here, I will consider it forfeit." The Skrill growled in frustration, but neither spoke nor moved for several minutes. Eventually, however, he vanished. 
"TIMES HAS TELEPORTED AND THEREFORE FORFEITED," I declared, then reverse-summoned C, appearing at his side with a sigh.
"Excellent strategy, Alpha," Am commented. I tried a halfhearted smile but wound up wincing. 
"I think I ought to take a break after all that," I muttered. "I'll return in a few hours."
My Packmates bade me farewell.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

[WIP]
Day Ten, PART TWO: Insta-attack; 1vALL & Blinks returns
Several hours later, the newly-scarred Screaming Death returns...
Well, I returned, like I said I would...-several lines of writing are scribbled out angrily- I had no idea what I was getting into, okay?! I was completely unprepared!
...-several more lines are illegible due to smudged tears and blood-
I suppose I ought to start from the beginning.
When I returned, I reverse-summoned C and warped next to where he was sitting, around the campfire. Before I'd even taken a breath, the two closest dragons attacked. Twisting and writhing to dodge the flurry of fireballs, I sized up my attackers - a bright red Timberjack and a Nightmare. I knew I was in no condition for a fight, so I scrambled for the trees. You'd be surprised at how well a Screaming Death can maneuver itself in a forest. I'd played this game before, and I'd do it again until they left me alone.
They followed me closely, giving me no room to breathe. While I wound around trees, careful to avoid the Timberjack's wings, I heard C and Am crashing through the woods after me.
"Alpha!" Am cried out, landing messily next to me and firing at the Timberjack.
"Alpha, are you all right?" C called, skidding to a halt in front of me. I didn't pause to answer, sidewinding my way to the cliff walls to make it easier for them to defend me. Once they'd gotten between myself and the attacking dragons, I coughed, "I could be better, but my condition now is irrelevant! If they attack you–" A coughing fit interrupted me, and I mentally cursed my body for its weakness. Time seemed to slow down. I backed up, trying to recover and give them some space, but the dragons pressed forwards after me. C shouted furious warnings, and Am fired desperately at the Timberjack as it passed. Cornered, I lashed out with my tail, but the Timberjack seemed to laugh and fired at my defenseless form. The force of its blast knocked my head against the cliff behind me, but I shook my head to clear it and roared, half-desperate, half angry. Am and C appeared again at my side, pursued closely by the Nightmare, and C's eyes changed suddenly. Something in him snapped. I blinked, and when I opened my eyes again, I wasn't looking at C.
I was looking at Blinks.
My pupils slitted and my nostrils flared reflexively. I was wounded with two attackers, Blinks, and a pack member to protect. It was game time.
"I said. Get away." Blinks' voice was low and gravelly, full of indiscriminate hatred and bloodlust.
With hardly a glance at my torn wings, I took to the sky. "AM!" I shouted sharply. "GET OUT OF THERE. NOW." The tone of my voice left no room for discussion and she scurried off immediately, shifting to a Sand Wraith form for camouflage. Next to me, the Timberjack and Nightmare took to the sky as well, firing on my exposed side. With an irritated growl and a flick of my tail, I slammed the Nightmare into the cliff walls. Sorry, I thought, but I really don't have time to play with you. 
Realizing that I couldn't see Blinks, I took the opportunity to hide myself and shift into my secret weapon - a Night Fury, expert of the precision power strike. With a shrieking Fury roar, I shot upwards, seeking to camouflage myself against the night sky. The Timberjack was still on my tail, but from below, it looked like he was circling and searching for me. Gliding silently, I scoured the land below for Blinks. No sign of him.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

[Out-of-order rambling, will be fixed later]
Day Twenty-Five: Akriex
He said I was his. Did he mean it like that? Did he mean it… like that? Like that, where it can mean so many things? Did he want me to wonder? Did he think I'd just know? Did he even mean it?

Does he mean it? Is he still thinking about me, bestial rumbling filling his mind, because I'm not his yet? Or does he think I'm already his? Did he think I always was? I'm just a prize to him; but does he think his name is already on it? Does want to win me? Or does he want to take me? Does he think he's taking me from someone, from Blinks? Does he even know about Shadow? Would that make it more exciting, for him?

Would he hurt them? Will he hurt me? Not would he; will he?

What will Shadow do when he finds out? Will he lose it? Will he really die this time? What if A is too strong for him? What if I can't bring him back? What if I'm not there to do anything to stop it?

I'm blind. I'm injured. I have a Pack to protect. I'd only win if he had a disadvantage like mine, and he doesn't. When I left, he was shifting - again. I messed up. I went Red when he wasn't even halfway done. I showed my cards too early. Will any of my other cards matter? Just how many levels does he have?! Can I do anything to prevent the complete and utter annihilation of my Pack?

…Where is Ya? What happened to him? Why did he disappear? Why couldn't I do anything…?

Could I ever do anything? Did I ever do anything, really?

[Natascha Falkenberg]

[Also out-of-order but I gotta write that down or I will DEFINITELY forget]
Day Twenty-Seven outline:
-Goodbye to Whisper and Lok
-Hunting A's scent with Rei
-The stage is set: Pack is gone, Rei is hidden... and A arrives
-Confirming that Akriex is horrible at hide-and-seek
-We both tire of that game... the time has come
-He starts like Blinks and I shift to Fury form - but I can't see anything... flying around aimlessly
-I shift to Skrill form to throw him off and try to gain an edge, but that fails miserably
-Ex finally launches his attack - as Thorn
-"I need a moment to shift or I'm done for" "You won't get that moment" "I ALREADY HAVE"
-And the epic show begins - Synchronized fighting & instantaneous firing
-Evenly matched (for now)
-A Lone Shot Strikes the Mask
-The introduction of the real A and the importance of the mask
-Saving A just in time and the guardian takes him away while the Light leaves me
-...Shadow?! NO I DON'T KNOW YOU
-YES HE'S BACK BACK BACK - BACK AGAIN GAIN GAIN
-Doomed... but hey I planned for this
-"I'll make you suffer" "WELL good luck with that, I planned for that"
-Bluffing: I cut off my emotional ties to everyone. You cannot use them against me. You can only hurt me physically now. I win. AAAND he admits it
-Proof: Summoning Lok: "This here useless wolf used to be a friend of mine" "What the-"
-"Just how far does your plan go?"
-Taunting Ex about his loss, having out-maneuvered him, until... he finally does it. He strikes me down. My time has come - but just what the-?!
-Ex tries to take my emotions with a magic arrow, but I manage to send them off to SHADOW first for safekeeping with the Ancestors first
-Infuriated, Ex rips me open - and steals my heart - to cause me pain AND OH BOY DOES IT WORK
-Shadow starts to lose it which is BAD cuz my soul is kinda clinging to him...
-Shadow reveals that he thought I'd finally die so he gave me another heart - HIS heart
-Upon hearing that's Shadow's heart, Ex crushes it
-Shadow completely lost it... and then Ex rIPS MY SOUL AWAY FROM SHADOW
-I try to find a way to call A back while Shadow and Ex reveal each others' pasts... Ex is the First Shadow, and A is his Ancestor... and Shadow DOES have an Ancestor - more than one!
-After plenty of agony and gloating from Ex, I manage to do something to call A so Ex leaves
-Shadow returns to sanity and returns my heart to my body, but part of my soul is still with Ex... the sensory part.
-Lok reveals that he was there the WHOLE TIME and I try to explain what was going on while Shadow moves my body to the cove cave and begins the three-day chant to revive me
-I know Ex is still out there, listening... but for now, the battle is going our way. If Akriex had done just ONE THING differently, I wouldn't be able to say that... but for now, we are safe.

[Natascha Falkenberg]

[More OOO crap]
Day Twenty-Eight: What will we Do about Akriex?
-Lok comes heal and gets permission to help
-The Pack deals with losing their Alpha
-Shadow and I plot intensively
-Numb gets permission as well