Clar was a child of a strange marriage. His father was a seafarer and came from a land called Ixris. Such a land was beautiful once. It was home to the most marvolous of creatures and was full of trees and caves. Clar never knew this, though. He never knew the real reason why he was so compelled to take to the trees and the caverns at the Creature refuge.
The laws of Weldox state quite clearly that no man or woman may ever leave the land and expect to return as a friend. However, the land readilly accepts people who have dark hair and green eyes to become immigrants and live out their lives as citizens. It was in such a manner that Clar's father came to the area. He married a middle-class woman and they settled down.
Clar's mother was a full-blooded Weldoxian, and she died during the birth of his younger sister. She had taught the young boy to be loving and kind, no matter how others decided to treat him. He was only four summers aged when she perished.
Clar's father lived on, though. He worked the docks of Weldox to be close to the ships and the ocean and recall his previous life. He never explained why, but he always sang an alien tune as he worked there, also. He repaired the decks of ships, the planks of the dock, the sails of ships, and other things. He aided in the unloading of ships. He helped merchants unload their wares and load their earnings. The docks were the only place where foreigners were welcome.
Two summers' time after Clar's mother died, his sister fell ill. By winter's time, she was dead. With her, a piece of him died as well. However, he also grew closer to his father in the meantime.
Clar's father was not used to the harsh social restrictions against dancing. He was a simple man in a complicated world, and he found out soon enough that such displays were frowned upon. He never danced in public again, despite his moods.
One night, eight summers into Clar's life, the young boy was visited by insomnia. He lived in a tiny house with his father, and he opened his door with the intentions of finding his father and being soothed. When the little Clar opened the door to the main room, however, he was greeted by a strange sight indeed. His father was before him, dancing his heart away to music unheard. Clar mearly blinked and, when he tried to turn away, tripped over his blanket.
Clar's father taught him how to dance that night. He told the little boy that he knew his lessons would come in handy one day. One day they would be welcomed. Little did he know, he was correct. Because of his father teaching him to dance, Clar earned sixth place and a ship out of Weldox and his pursuit. Inadvertantly, Clar's father saved his life.
Clar wanders through the forest in the misty morning. He is strangely warmed, despite being chilled to the bone by the wind and his still-damp clothing. He is almost through the trail, but he sits down to reflect upon the exploits of his search.
He had started his search in the caves. There were many different dragons there, many of which were terribly frightening. One, however, stood out a little more than the others. Her name was Blazing Star, and she was a purple Dianic Dragon.
While most of the creatures in the caves seemed frightening in the very least, Blazing Star was kind and intellegent. She seemed to love to read, and she had a library in an adjacent room. Clar, though he had no interest in books, felt compelled to follow the dragon as she showed off her books. It was a good thing he did; in that room, he found the Spring Seal.
Clar had found it strangely easy to open up to Blazing Star. Indeed, it was quite natural to merely sit there and talk to her in the damp of the caverns. Eventually, though, he found it best to move on.
He found the Singing Seal also while he was down there. However, in the process, he got damper than he had been previously. Soon enough, he was through the portal.
The cabin was empty when he returned, except for Tren. The partial Marian was dozing lightly, so Clar snuck through the portal and was on his way to the forest.
Even in the middle of the night, the forest was placid. He had been interrupted time and again, though. It seemed like the place never sleapt. He was scared off by a giant dragon who seemed to be named GoldHawk, at least according to the inhabitants.
It seemed as if every turn brought with it a new inhabitant. Many of those were featherdrakes, however, a few were Cyprans, humans, and elves as well. He even ran across two strange lizards running through a stream.
With a sigh, Clar finishes his revery. He has found many new seals for the hunt. A flurry of movement behind him leads to distraction, however. He quickly pockets his list of locations and turns. Before him is a dragon little bigger than a dog.
The dragon is green and has large black eyes. He has wings and forelegs, but no hindlegs. His peculiarity is intriguing to the young man.
"Um... Hi," Clar manages.
*Hello to you, too, traveller,* Jarod projects. *What brings you to the forest?*
"I'm on a quest for the fourteen Bishen Seals. I was merely pausing to watch the sun come up. And to catch my breath."
*The sunrise is breathtaking, Friend,* Jarod points out. *At least, it is when the sun is visible. It shan't rise above the trees until a few hours from now. I'm afraid you'll miss it, though there is a lovely vantage point from the cabin. Did you say you were on the Kailan's Quest?*
"I did. What of it?"
*I have something you may wish to see. Wait here.*
Jarod takes off into the mist. He flies straight up into the treetops and disappears for a few moments. When he returns, he carries in his claws a seal.
"May I?" Clar asks, taking the seal and inspecting it.
*It is the Zephyr Seal. Mark its place well, Friend.*
"Thank you very much, Jarod," Clar remarks, handing the seal back to the dragon. "You've been a great help. If you don't mind, my friends should be waiting for me." He smiles and waves, turning his back on the dragon.
On his way back to the cabin, Clar finds a few more seals. He returns, waking up Tren from the slumber into which he had fallen. They converse before drifting off to sleep once more.
Continue onward with the tale!
Background by Ender Design.