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A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Fin)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 1:46 AM

(OOC Note: A rewrite of the original RP since I wasn't satisfied with it.)
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His earliest memories were of fire and bloodshed.

The fight had been one that was just waiting to happen. For months, mounting tensions over territories built between the Fire and Earth Paragon tribes, and one day it all finally boiled over. Though the Fire dragons had anticipated invasion for days, they could never have expected the sheer brunt of the Earth assault that struck them on that summer evening. There must have been hundreds of enemies pouring into their lands. Everything was a whirlwind of locking claws, beating wings, and lashing tails. The grass at the foot of the Fe'gan mountains burned as Paragon wrestled each other.

Back then, Trattam was too young to fight. He was hardly a teenager and lacked the muscle he would gain in puberty. The venom that coursed through his fangs was not potent enough to take down any enemy, and his fighting performance, while admirable for one of his age, did not suffice for a real encounter on the battlefield.  Thus, he was relegated to the shelter, a small series of caves and tunnels some distance away from the heart of the territory, where he waited with elderly, frail, and young members of his tribe for the clash to pass. He hated being down there. He could hear the screams of his fellow Paragon, but he could do nothing about it.
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"If everyone is one, none will be afraid."

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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 2:02 AM

Part of Trattam's frustration stemmed from his lineage. He wasn't just any old Frost. He was the son of the Fire tribe leader, Azelus, and his mate, Barsalla. As their heir, he was expected to participate in as many tribe activities as possible to get a feel for how things worked, so that when he took up their mantle, he would know exactly what to do. Presumably, battles were a part of this. He had to learn how to effectively command and protect his tribe. Yet fear for his well-being prevented him from charging in alongside his parents on this day. For the next few hours, he was a normal Paragon like everyone else.
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All the same, it was not as if there was no consolation for being stuck underground. Among the many youthful dragons who were hidden away was Telufahn, a Primal Paragon with bizarre black and white markings and a snout and wings that faded to fed and blue. His coloration was one of the showiest within the tribe, perhaps second to only Trattam's own mess of red, black, and lemon patterns, but Telufahn himself was, quite frankly, a coward. He had tucked himself away in one of the deeper sections of the hideout, and when Trattam stumbled upon him after what seemed like hours of searching for the Primal, he was shaking terribly despite being far from any danger.

"Telufahn?" Trattam called out softly. His friend jolted at the sound of his voice. Fearful, bright blue eyes peered at him in sheer terror.

"O-oh! Trattam..." Telufahn sighed, relaxing when he saw the familiar face. "D-don't scare me like that! Y-you know how I am..."
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 7:01 AM

Though the area was crowded from the bulky bodies of all the Paragon present, Telufahn managed to fold in his already cramped wings more closely to make room for Trattam. The Frost settled down next to him, and they pressed their bodies together, sharing warmth and comfort.

At length, the Primal whispered, "T-trattam?" The other dragon turned his head to indicate that he was listening. "D-do you think...they're ok?"

The "they" in question could have been anyone to another Paragon's ears, but Trattam knew exactly who his timid companion was talking about. He gently touched his friend on the shoulder with his tail while holding up one claw to his mouth to signal silence.

"Shh, there's too many Paragon around here to discuss that," he lightly chided. "But I'm sure they're fine. Don't worry about them, all right? There's nothing we can do, so we should just pray that everything will go well in the end."
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 7:22 AM

Telufahn did not seem overly comforted by his words, but the truth was that no one could tell what might happen in the heat of battle. Any life could be lost, and with an Earth force as large as the one above ground right now, it was likely that many Fire tribe members would perish before the clash concluded. Trattam's unease made him wonder about his parents. Azelus and Barsalla were both forces to be reckoned with for sure, but he was still concerned for them, especially for his mother. She was recently struck with fever and incessant coughing. Her ability to fight was surely impeded.
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At that moment, another female, a pitch black Grim with almost luminescent yellow wings and blue flame markings shoved her way past scaly hides to strut over to the two males. Trattam narrowed his eyes. It was Sarka, a bully of a girl with an infamous loathing for the four other tribes. Her arrival made Telufahn visibly quake.

"Tch, are you two as fed up with this as I am?" she spat, inviting herself to sit in front of them. "I heard that we're losing to the stinking Dirt Tribe up there. Of course we are! We've got so many capable young Paragon just squatting around in the dark here, all because your illustrious father..." Her emerald eyes glared at Trattam. "...thinks we're useless in a fight."

Trattam had difficulty keeping himself calm. "I also wish I could help," he began slowly, "but do not question my father's judgment. If we were to fall to the Earth tribe today, at least there would be a few of us left to change things in the future."

"Hah! A few of us left? I'm pretty sure those Dirt Paragon would kill us as soon as they got the chance."

"Not all Paragon think as foully as you do, Sarka."
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 7:33 AM

The verbal dagger hit home. Sarka's cocky expression swiftly changed to shock and then disgust. "Oh, so I'm the bad guy here now?" she hissed, her eyes green slits. "After we've been repeatedly attacked and harassed by them over and over again, you really believe those dirt bags would spare us?"

"They just want our land. In the case that they take over, as long as our numbers don't threaten them, at best they would probably use us as hunting slaves or something of the like. Why kill your enemy if they can be useful to you? You should think through this more before you talk, Sarka."

The Grim lashed her feathered tail in frustration. For a moment, she seemed ready to strike Trattam, but she knew better than to assault the son of the Fire tribe's leader. "Hmph," she snarled, "you're not the boss yet and you're already ordering me around. Ok, I see how it is. I'm sure everyone else will appreciate your tyrannical rule when it rolls around."

With that, Sarka stormed back into the claustrophobic masses of Paragon. Trattam watched her leave in silence before turning back to Telufahn, who had shrank to the ground in fear of his tribemate. The Frost shook his head and sighed. "Don't mind her," he said. "You know that's how she always is."
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 7:44 AM

Not too long after Sarka's unpleasant visit, the noises from the battle quieted down, and a ripple of murmurs and nervous shifting moved through the Paragon crowded into the secret hideaway. Was it over? And if so, who was the victor? Eventually, a loud, masculine voice boomed throughout the caverns, bringing everyone to attention.

"We've retreated!" the unknown dragon cried. "The Fire tribe is falling back from the mountains!"

Enraged roars and wails of anguish immediately flooded the caves, a cacophony that made Trattam bring his claws to his ears. Telufahn moaned along with the rest of the mob, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I-it's all over!" the Primal sobbed. "W-we're d-done for!"

Gritting his teeth, Trattam quickly squeezed his friend's hand in comfort before telling Telufahn to stay put. He pushed his way through the hideout, which was easier now that some Paragon were moving outside to see the aftermath of the great battle, hoping to find his parents and assess the extent of the loss and damage. From the sounds of it, the Fire tribe had not experienced an absolute defeat, but the mountains were still precious sources of food and shelter and an excellent line of defense against invasions. It would be harder to survive without them.
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 1:45 PM

The first thing he saw when he emerged were wounded warriors dragging themselves past him in defeat. Some had survived with only a few minor wounds and bruises. Others carried more grievous injuries, including torn apart wing membranes, deep gashes, and severed tail tips. The scent of blood was thick in the air, and traces of smoke lingered as fires continued to burn in the distance.
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(Using Tsugun's image as a placeholder.)

When Trattam at last spotted his father, it was eight miles out from the secret caverns. As he approached the black Voidbringer, he kept scanning Azelus's body for any wounds that needed immediate attention. The Fire tribe leader was a proud and tough Paragon who tended to ignore physical strains when his tribe needed his guidance the most. It was admirable but perhaps foolish. Luckily, once Trattam was close enough to get a really good look at his father, he saw that there was nothing that would call for emergency medical aid.

"Father!" he called across the plains. The mighty Voidbringer raised his head at the sound of his son's voice and pinpointed Trattam straight away. The two dragons strode towards each other and touched their muzzles together in familial greeting when they met. The weariness in Azelus's four crimson eyes was poorly hidden.

"Father," Trattam continued, "what happened?"

"There were too may of them," the leader sighed. "We thought we had enough dragons to keep them at bay, but more and more kept coming. It seems that they know the mountains better than we thought... I suspect that the Earth tribe might have sent some scouting parties into our lands under our noses. We lost most of the territory right up against the border, but thankfully we still have the river. That's our only good source of water in this dry land."
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 1:56 PM

Azelus paused. A veil of sorrow and uncertainty suddenly clouded his gaze. Trattam did not fail to notice the change in his father's demeanor and looked up at the Voidbringer with nervous anticipation. Azelus took a deep breath. Tears began to fall from his many eyes. Trattam was stunned. He had never seen his father cry openly before.

"F-father, what's wrong?" the young Frost stammered.

The leader sniffed and attempted to rub his eyes dry, but the action proved futile. "Son...your mother..."

A deep dread lodged itself in Trattam's heart.

"Your mother..." Azelus struggled to continue. "We were fighting the Earth tribe leader, Merylus. She's a tough Placid. She's small but quick and cunning, and the three of us were trapped in a narrow space within the mountains. We thought we had her. It seemed like she was having trouble with the terrain, and your mother kept her at bay from the sky while I stood below. But then..."

The Voidbringer stopped to heave a ragged breath. "But then... Even I'm not sure how exactly it happened. All I saw were boulders raining down from the cliffs. And one struck your mother mid-flight. I rushed over to her as soon as she hit the ground, but... It was already too late. The boulder crushed her."
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 2:09 PM

The world seemed to freeze. An indescribable darkness descended upon Trattam. His mother, Barsalla, was dead? The Paragon who always made sure he stayed safe, the Paragon who played with him in lieu of siblings, the Paragon who never failed to bring delicious prey back home to share with the family... She was dead?

He felt something wet settle on his head, and a tight pressure gripped his chest. He glanced up to see Azelus resting his golden head on his, now not even trying to stop the tears.

"I'm so sorry," the Voidbringer rasped. "I should have done a better job of protecting her."

At those words, the tears began flowing for Trattam as well. He did not cry loudly but sniffled into his father's neck, feeling as if a black hole had swallowed up part of him and cast it into oblivion.

They stood there holding each other for what felt like an eternity. At length, Azelus stepped back and lifted his head to the heavens.

"We shall have a proper funeral for her after the tribe has recovered," he sighed. "I do not know if we'll be able to find her body, as it now lies in Earth tribe territory, but no matter what, we will honor her. And Trattam?"

"Yes, father?"

The Voidbringer looked back down at his son. He spoke solemnly and slowly. "Never forget this. Although the Earth tribe has brought us much grief and disaster with this battle, you must never hate them. They, like us, are just trying to survive in this unforgiving land."

Without waiting for a reaction from Trattam, Azelus turned around and resumed his retreat.
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/11/2014 8:40 PM

That tragic evening took place about one hundred years ago. Though there were heavy losses, the Fire tribe, known for its perseverance, made a swift comeback and reestablished themselves on what they had left of the dry plains of their home. Barsalla was mourned, nests were rebuilt, and new hatchlings broke free of their eggs to take their first gasps of crisp air.

There had been no major territory conflicts since that massive battle. Every so often, a patrol would run into small Earth tribe hunting parties on the new borders, but most encounters were resolved with warnings and threats instead of engagement. The number of run ins with the Earth Paragon were so low, in fact, that some Fire dragons suspected mischief was afoot, though most agreed that the Earth tribe was probably just as exhausted as they were.

As for Trattam, he grew into a fine male Frost. Muscular, tall, and handsome, he drew the attention of every female in the tribe- save for Sarka- and was respected by other males. Having developed a potent poison and incredible fighting prowess, he brought back large prey for his fellow dragons, and his mere presence was often enough to scare off intruders from other tribes. Most importantly, he assisted Azelus with running the tribe, a duty that Barsalla normally would have helped with, earning his worth as heir.
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/12/2014 6:51 PM

With spring came an exceptionally heavy load of duties. Most of the tribe's babies hatched at this time in order to take advantage of the more moderate temperatures, and with their arrival, there would be more mouths to feed. The hatchlings themselves demanded a lot of food, but the mothers, who spent most of the day tiredly looking after them, also required additional nourishment. For this reason, it was rare that fathers got to spend time with hatchlings; they were too busy going hunting or gathering to provide for their families.

In an attempt to alleviate some of the burden on parents, young Paragon who were old enough to work were expected pitch in as well. Trattam was no exception, and as the leader's son, he was looked upon as a example of what all the tribe's youth ought to strive for. He didn't particularly mind the attention, and he put up with all the adult dragons who stopped him to praise him on all his hard work, but even he had days where he just wanted to escape from the hubbub and relax.

Unfortunately, this morning was not one of those days. A recent storm had tossed apart many of the grassy, mossy nests that the Fire Paragon built for sleeping out in the open. They needed immediate repair, especially those that the hatchlings used to escape the cold, and finding materials for all of them would likely take the whole day. Trattam had to trek all across the territory, moving clumps of soft growth and pebbles in his jaws. It wore out his legs all too swiftly.
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/12/2014 8:57 PM

As he was setting down some collected materials into piles, the sound of feet stepping across grass caught his attention. The Frost raised his spiny head and saw a hunting patrol returning with all sorts of prey, led by none other than Sarka. The Grim hadn't changed much over the years. She was larger, more lithe, and had become one of the fiercest fighters and hunters in the whole tribe, but her attitude was just as nasty as it was years ago. She had never forgiven the Earth tribe for their victory and constantly raved about how the Fire tribe needed revenge. Trattam actively tried to avoid her when possible, but presently, Sarka spotted his bright yellow hide and made her way over to him.

"Hey, Trattam!" she hollered. "What's your little mouse of a friend up to?"

Trattam set down what he was carrying in his mouth and gave Sarka a confused look. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

A sly smile spread across her toothy maws. "While I was out hunting, I saw Telufahn sneaking around near the mountains. He was all by himself, and he didn't seem to be doing anything important, as usual. But it was seriously suspicious. He was trembling all over like he'd seen a ghost!"
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/12/2014 11:28 PM

It took all of Trattam's might not to freeze up in light of these words. Though he couldn't be certain, he had a very good idea of what Telufahn might have been doing. And if Sarka, of all Paragon, had discovered the Primal, this could be a recipe for disaster.

"How long ago did you see him?" the Frost questioned, keeping his face as straight as he could.

"Heh, I don't know. One hour ago? Two? But I didn't want to bother him. He seemed pretty busy, you know." Sarka's grin spread even wider.

A deep growl rumbled in Trattam's throat. He took a menacing step towards the female. "He was all by himself, near Earth tribe territory, and you didn't do anything to help him? You couldn't even ask another dragon on the hunting party to talk to him? Sarka, you have a responsibility to take care of your tribemates."

The Grim laughed condescendingly. "Me, take care of him? The guy can hardly even take care of himself! And excuse you, but I think you mean he was near our territory, right?"
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/13/2014 5:37 PM

Though her words aggravated him, Trattam knew he could not waste any time arguing. Telufahn was putting himself into danger, and he had to fetch the Primal before anything could happen. He left the nest materials where they were and ran off towards the mountains to the north, not bothering to ask any other Paragon to join him. He couldn't do that, really. A long time ago, Telufahn had intrusted him with a secret, and because of that secret, it would not be in his friend's interest to bring anyone else along.

A few of Trattam's tribemates asked where he was headed as he dashed past them, but he paid them no heed. Every second counted, and the Frost sprinted until he felt he was one with the wind itself. Even with the lost land, the Fire tribe territory was vast, and it would take him a while to arrive where Sarka had seen Telufahn. And once he got there, searching for the Primal would probably be a lengthy process. Sarka had neglected to tell him specifics, but Trattam hoped that his heat sensing abilities as a Frost would suffice for finding his friend.
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Re: A Clash of Fire and Earth (Self, Rewrite)

Postby Thunder » 03/13/2014 6:11 PM

As Trattam neared the mountains, there was a noticeable change in the landscape around him. The Fire tribe territory was a rather strange stretch of land; it extended from the edge of the blistering hot Wilt'no Desert to the frigid Fe'gan Mountains, so there was a dramatic shift from dry grasslands in the south to rocky, desolate crags in the north. This sort of environment had relatively more prey than the other tribes' territories, which was one reason why the Earth tribe sought Fire tribe ground so much. On the other hand, there were quite a few extremes in temperatures. It could drop below zero around Fe'gan, while the desert side of the territory could hit one hundred degrees. Those who weren't used to this odd environment often fell ill during their first few days here, but the Fire Paragon had become hardy from living in this area all year.

Thankfully, even subzero conditions did not bother a Frost like Trattam. He felt comfortable heading into the mountains and relished the chilly air. Part of him desired to pause his journey and take in the sights of this part of their territory, but he firmly reminded himself that he had a mission to accomplish. He hadn't detected any traces of Telufahn yet- no scents on the breeze or footprints in the soil. Where could such a large and bizarrely colored creature possibly be?
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