(Ima jump to morning so when everyone is online again tmr we can start catching up.)
Icewing Animi History, Section 3
Most accounts of Animus dragons and uses were destroyed during The Great Sea War (Icewing War History, section 37), however, several stories including ancient folklore were preserved and have been recorded in newer scripts.
The Gift of Defense.
The Great Ice Cliff, which prevented any dragon who was not an Icewing. The dragon who enchanted it has unfortunately been forgotten. The Gift of Defense was destroyed during the first year of the reign of Queen Snowfall (Icewing Monarchy History, section 15).
The Gift of Dimplomancy.
Three wristbands enchanted to allow visitors from outside the tribe to pass over the Great Ice Cliff unharmed, and to remain warm while within the Kingdom. Enchanted by Penguin.
The Gift of Elegance.
Enchanted to make the walls of the Ice Palace mirror the weather outside.
The Gift of Light.
Enchanted for a tree-
"WHATCHA doin'"
Whitestar jumped at the sound of the voice, dropping the scroll he had been holding. The Glass-like bar that the parchment was wrapped around clattered loudly over the solid ice floors of the library. Further across the large room, he saw an older snow-white dragon poke her head around one of the shelves, fixing him with a hard look over the rims of her spectacles, her eyebrows raised.
"Don't sneak up on me like that," he hissed quietly to the Icewing standing behind him. Whitestar turned his head and wrinkled his snout up at the dragon to hide his smile. "You're gonna get me in trouble one of these days."
The dragon rolled his deep azure eyes, the corner of his face flicking up in a small sideways grin. "You're always in trouble. At least, everywhere but here." He gently nudged Whitestar closer to the window and huddled down next to him on the edge of the short ice shelf where he was laying, their scales pressing closely against each other. "Seriously, what are you reading though."
He reached out and tugged the escaped scroll closer, hooking the marble handle with a long, razor-sharp claw and dragging it back toward them. He skimmed the titles quickly before handing it back to Whitestar with an exaggerated snort. "Seriously, you are reading about history right now?"
"Animus history, actually." Whitestar corrected calmly, gently winding up the access parchment over the marble bar.
"But why? We don't have classes for another week. Don't you want to enjoy the snow while it lasts? Mrs. Shatter says there's going to be a blizzard in a couple of days."
"History is interesting though. Especially Animus history."
Whitestar tugged gently at a corner of the scroll with his claws. "Besides, Mrs. Shatter can't predict the future. For all we know, there might not even be snow all week."
"All the more reason to enjoy it while it lasts."
Whitestar gave him an annoyed look.
"Bluestar, you know why I don't want to be out there right now. It's easier for you to just enjoy yourself with the rest of the tribe, but me?"
He dropped his gaze to the scroll again, dusting off some of the snowflakes that had drifted in through the open window and settled on the parchment.
"I'm fine here by myself, honestly. You should go enjoy the snow with Frostbite and everyone else."
Bluestar settled down more firmly on the icy ground.
"No it's fine, I can stay here and keep you company. How exactly does Animus power work?"
Whitestar gave him a grateful look, thankful to be changing the subject.
"Well, it is an inherited trait that is usually passed down through blood. During the days of the Ancients, Animus dragons were only in the royal bloodline, and they were only allowed to use their power once as a gift to the tribe."
"What could they do?"
"Anything. I think the only thing an Animus can't
do is bring a dragon back from the dead."
Bluestar shuddered. "That sounds dangerous. Why would they keep those dragons around?"
"Well, yes it was dangerous, but only if an Animus used their power too much. That's why they were only supposed to use it once, for the whole tribe."
"Do you think there are still Animus around now? I never hear anything about "Gifts" for the tribe."
"I don't know." Whitestar tilted his head in consideration. "A lot of the royal family was massacred during the Great Sea War, and even centuries before that, Prince Arctic left the Kingdom and the last animus royal, I believe, was Queen Diamond."
"But there is still some of the original royal line. Not all of them were gone. In fact, I believe Queen Iceberg is the great-great-grandniece of the Queen's nephew during that time."
"Yes, but after the massacre, there were no more heirs for the throne and they had to choose a Queen from the citizens to rule. Some of her bloodline mixed with the royal line and some of it is still circulating in the common society, I'm sure."
"So anyone can be an Animus?"
"Anyone with royal blood, yes."
"That's crazy."
Whitestar laughed. "I kind of want to meet an Animus someday. It would be interesting to ask what it's like to have that sort of power."
"Eesh, no thanks," Bluestar said, shaking his head. "I don't think I'd want to be anywhere near one of them."
Whitestar shrugged.
The two of them had settled in more, leaning against each other comfortably as Whitestar began to read the scroll out loud to Bluestar.
Sunlight was bouncing over the heavy, wing-sized leaves of the Dragon Leaf tree, shedding a dim green light across the ground and into the hollow. Further away, several tropical birds were chittering and squawking a good morning to one another, welcoming the rising sun.
Suddenly, one of them let out a loud alarm call that pierced the oasis, sending the rest of its companions scattering loudly through the canopy.
Whitestar jerked awake at the commotion, expecting to see the gnarled roots and large stones of the island hollow. Instead, he was met by a dry warmth, and above him, a giant Baobab tree loomed above the rest of the oasis's growth. He scrambled to his feet, forgetting for a moment how he had gotten there.
The events of the days before came back quickly and he took a deep calming breath, scanning the foliage around him cautiously. He shook out his wings, his icicle-like spikes clattering softly as he did.
The sun is already over the horizon rising. I hope the others are awake by now.
Whitestar shoved the reminiscence of his dream to the back of his mind and lept out of the hollow, quickly sliding through the undergrowth towards the oasis pool.
@Harmonylight @Yukiko
idk if you wanna make the others already be awake when Whitestar shows up so I am gonna leave off this scene there.