Crystaline's Lore

“Leave,” BloodIce coldly told his granddaughter.
“But why, Grandpa?”
“Because I don’t want you here.  Your mother has corrupted the Iceline.”
“Iceline?”
“Yes.  Starting from your grandmother and I, we are the Iceline.  When we have children, they are ice cubes, pure, like your mother.  See how her scales are more icy than those of another dragon?  Ice crystals grow on your mother and her siblings…but you and your brother…you’re not pure ice, because of your father.  I do believe your mother could have…and should have…chosen a pure one.”
“Grandpa….”  Crystaline sighed.  “Please don’t blame me for the crimes of my mother…if it even is a crime, having true love.”
He sighed as well.  “I don’t truly fault you,” his voice was tender again, “I just…I had longed for the Iceline to be pure.  I’ve heard your mother voice that she longs to start her own line…the Crystal-line.”
“Like my name?”
He laughed, “Sort of.  With the coloring from your mother and your father, they could have nearly any color of crystal children…but…I had dreams of the Iceline continuing forever.”
“Nothing lasts forever, grandpa.”
“I am sadly aware of that.”
“You have my cousin though, Ivor…I mean, Bronice…he can continue the Iceline.”
“Aye.  And he will.  But I want you to leave.”
“Why?”
He shook his head.  “You aren’t of the Iceline.  Because of that…I just…believe that you should go.  Spread the Crystal-line throughout the world, not just remind me of how I have failed as a father, to make my daughter long for a fire ice dragon.”
Crystaline lowered her head, “But, Grandpa…I love you.”
He sighed.  “Yes.  I know.  I love you too.  Please…go.”
“But where am I to go?”
“The Auction House takes dragons who long to travel or move.  You could go there.  A fee will be paid for your travels, and you can have a new home.  Just be careful not to fall into the wrong areas, because then you will be sold by another dragon, who will only profit from selling you…there’s a chance you could be forced to fight for a deity without your consent.  Some dragons choose to fight…others are forced.  I don’t want you to ever be forced to do such a thing.  Now go.”
Crystaline slowly walked away from her grandfather, glancing behind her nervously, hoping he would change his mind…but he didn’t look at her…refused to look at her, as she left the only home she’d ever known…for the great unknown.

The First Council Meeting

"SeaKing," Dissension ordered, "come here."
"Yes?"  He asked, in a bored manner.
"We need a council meeting."
"Why?"
Dissension sighed and turned away, "Because there are so many new dragons showing up and I am not okay with this.  We need to have a meeting and have something be done to make it end."
"This clan has always accepted new dragons of every element and breed."
"And it needs to end."
"That is not your decision to make."
Dissension wheeled on SeaKing, snarling, "I know that, you idiot.  That's why we need a council meeting!"
With a sigh, SeaKing made the arrangements necessary, and soon, the dragons were gathered.
Monarch and Valerina sat at the head of the meeting, Dissension beside Valerina, SeaKing beside Monarch, then Innocence, Phyllis, Outsider, Destroyer, FireIce, Iceanna, and Stranger completed the circle.  At Valerina's feet lay the newest prince of Clan HeartThief, Landrian.
"Dissension, you've called this meeting?" Monarch questioned.
She nodded.
"The reason?" Valerina asked softly.
Dissension snarled at Valerina, then turned to Monarch with a smile, "This clan has been growing...and that is unacceptable.  A good number of these new members are not water.  In fact, Monarch, ever since you took over, ten permanent members of our clan have joined.  Of those, two are water."
"I'm not understanding the issue here," Monarch replied calmly.
"This should be a pure water clan!"  Dissension erupted.  "Three of these dragons would be very dangerous to water dragons if we ever had to fight against them.  They are ice and lightning dragons.  They could freeze us, or electrocute us.  And you're okay with this?"
"True, there could be dangers.  But a water dragon can harm a water dragon just as easily, using non-elemental magic."  Valerina calmly replied.
"You don't care." Dissension snarled, "You're not a water dragon!"
Valerina stood straight, "Do not ever say something like that again.  I love this clan.  My mate and children are water dragons, and I adore them.  The only dragons I have anything against are those who cause unnecessary pain or violence."
"I would like to point out," Innocence said softly, "that not all of the dragons on the council are of the water element...."
Dissension ignored him.  "We need to make this lair a pure one, a clan that is only water dragons."
"Not all of the dragons on the council are water."  Innocence repeated.
Dissension felt her arguments failing and those she'd hoped to be allied with her against her.
"Dissension," Monarch said calmly, "Go back to your nest.  This meeting is adjourned."

An Innocent Exit

The days grew long in Clan HeartThief.  Summer was upon the waters, warming their surface, though if a dragon would care to plunge deeper, they would discover that the waters were nearly freezing.
Innocence was often found in the deeper water, trying to cool himself.  Because he was a tundra and and ice dragon on top of that, he needed to cool off.  He missed ice.  But most of all...he missed killing.
He'd been waiting for a long time to be able to kill off and take over this clan, but then another dragon had taken it from him.  At first glance, it would appear that Monarch was the one who had taken over, but Innocence knew better.  It was Dissension.  She had done it.  It was she who had called the rain down.  She held magic, much like, when he did research, her grandfather on her mother's side.  A wildclaw named Zalitz.  She held the power to turn a fire clan into a water clan.
But...could she turn water to ice?  That's what Innocence wanted to know.  If she could...she would be a valuable ally.  If she couldn't...well...he would just make her feel like she was an ally...then kill her.  He had no regrets.
He eyed his future victims...who was weak...who was weak?  He soon singled out a family.  They were rather odd.  The mother was the daughter of Crurry (ally of DarkFire) and his mate Sunn, and the father was the son of two of the greatest coliseum fighters.  And the three children that remained home, were known as The Unnamed.
All were fire dragons.  That wouldn't be good for him when he finally took over.  Fire melts ice, after all.  So, he took a long hard look at them, then approached Dissension quietly, when her much more easy going mate, SeaKing was away.
"Tell me, young one," he purred, "how do you feel about dragons that aren't your element?"
Dissension looked him up and down, a look of disgust barely masked.  "Why is an ice dragon speaking to me?"
"Please note," he growled, "I was your ally in taking this clan over as water...now answer me."
"I abhor dragons that are not water.  And that includes you."
"Ahh, but daughter, all my element is is frozen water....  Much harsher, much sharper.  This type of water gets things done well."
She eyed him suspiciously.  "What do you want?"
"The Unnameds.  I want them gone."
"Dead?"
Innocence shook his head.  "Fighting with a deity not their own.  I am fearful to entreat the Tidelord myself...would you care to do so?"
Dissension rolled her eyes.  "We can get them out of here much easier than that."
Innocence watched as Dissension spoke quietly with Luna and DeathFlight, two of the greatest fighters.
"They're going to help The Unnameds train.  They'll bring much more treasure our way if they're trained for fighting.  I'll be telling them that it's in case we have a war."
Within a few days, Dissension approached Innocence herself.  "Have you noticed anything different about our clan?"
Innocence looked around, until his eyes landed upon an empty nest.  Leather wrappings and smoldering embers remained lying on the ground.  But that was all there was left of The Unnameds.  They had left without saying goodbye.  Every last one of them.
"And how did you get them to leave?"
Dissension smiled, "I threatened each one individually.  I told Ethandria that if she didn't go, her mate would be killed.  I told Blaze that if he didn't go, his children would be killed.  I told the children that if they didn't go, their siblings would be killed.  In fear, and desire to save their family out of...love...they did as I asked.  How weak is that?"
Innocence smiled and shook his head.  "So weak....  Let them perish.  Their fires quenched by the waters of the Tidelord, as they fight for a deity they don't serve or trust.  All because of love.  Well done, daughter."
"Why, ice dragon, do you call me daughter?  You've called me that once before."
Innocence leaned close, and Dissension smelled rotten meat on his breath, and odd smell from a plant eating dragon, "We're of the same spirit, Dissension.  We could both kill without remorse...."  Then he turned and walked away, leaving Dissension staring after him, wondering if the bloodstains on his fur was the color of his fur...or actually the blood of victims past.