Outcast

"How could he make it difficult?"

"He could create problems for the tribe, especially since they create tasks for the tribes to complete to continue receiving resources. I think it is a good idea that you leave for a bit. It will let me send some feelers out. I heard you are planning on going through the Unclaimed Forest? and then visiting the Dragon Peaks.

All I can say is be cautious, anyone you meet in the Unclaimed Forest even if they aren't deranged is more then likely an enemy. I'm assuming Emperor Cernunnos left you some treasures to help you if you run into some strong opponents so I probably shouldn't be so worried.

Just know this Valoris, no matter what you are a member of the Crimson Flame Tribe. When we get back to the tribe there will be a ceremony before you leave. Think of it as your official introduction."

"Thank you, master, when I get back from my journey I will show you that your faith in me is well placed," says Valoris, The Crimson Flame tribe has treated him better than any of his expectations.

Lord Mezal and Gorm fostered a warm and caring tribe, that looked after it's members. It made Valoris feeling he had made the right choice accepting Lord Mezal's invitation.

Having discussed the s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e matters, they fly back to the Blood Plateau before heading to their own sleeping quarters. The next morning Valoris takes out his wind/lightning treasure and begins to cultivate. Studying the wind and lightning elements that surround the blackened branch.

"Wind is the embodiment of freedom, it can be a gentle breeze tickling your skin, or sharper and fiercer than a sword cutting deep into you. Whereas lightning and thunder embody fury! loud, fierce, and unyielding. The fury of the heavens dominating, or destroying all enemies in the way."

To gain mastery over the element you have to understand and embody its nature. This requires long periods of time in contact with them.

"Valoris....can I talk to you?"

" Delior, what brings you to my quarters?"

"I want to apologize, I abandoned you to save myself. You have to understand that my parents are barely even members of the tribe. If I die they won't have anyone to take care of them. They rely on me to protect them."

"It's fine, really it is. I learned at birth you can't rely on people. In fact, I think the one who is having trouble with your actions is yourself right? all you can do is follow your heart. Do what it tells you is right and hope for the best" said Valoris looking at her coldly. It was clear that she had used her parents as an excuse. The real reason was that at her core, she was a coward, willing to sacrifice others to save herself.

As he crawled away planning on watching his master fight. Delior is left standing there, her eyes showing the conflict going on within her.

: One month later:

With the Blood Matches over, the Crimson Flame Tribe was back in their territory. They had done well in the matches this year, Shaw, and Tara scored 3rd and 5th place in the Soldier tier. Varrick had managed to get 2nd place the General tier just two points away from getting 1st. Lord Mezal had gotten 5th place, while Gorm had gotten 9th place.

After celebrating the tribe slowly moved back to normal. Valoris visited Shale informing him of the insights he had recently discovered about wind and lightning. He also sparred with Shaw, and Varrick refined his body and planned his trip by looking through old texts written about the Unclaimed Forest.

He continued to spend what little free time he had enjoying the company of Shale, Tara, and Varrick. After many months together, they had all become close friends, something Valoris was unfamiliar with.

Before this Snake had been the closest thing he had to a friend. He had looked out for him, taught him ways go survive, stopped others from bullying him. Of course, he took payment for it, but that was the way things were done in the Mines.

No one had friends, you couldn't afford to have any if you wanted to live long.

Finally, after a month of preparation, he felt he was as prepared as he could be for the trip. As he is sitting in his den a voice sounds out. Valoris struggled with it, after coming here. He realized just how horrible the Mines actually we're in comparison.

" Valoris, come and follow me please." Its Lord Mezal with an unusual solemnity on his face.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Heart of the mountain. Where I decided to found the Crimson Flame Tribe. I had just met Gorm, I was practically a savage wyvern at that point. Fighting against everyone I could find. I tried to fight Gorm, and he knocked me out in less than 5 minutes.

After I woke up, he told me that if I wanted to get stronger, I couldn't always be alone. That being with others I could look at like family. That the urge to protect them would help me become stronger than being alone.

So he took me to his cave that he had dug to the Heart of the mountain. The Heart is a crystalized Heart of Crimson fire that pulses with power. There we forged a blood bond with the heart swearing from then on every one of our tribe members would create the same bond.

So we would always be connected. Never again would a member of the Crimson Flame Tribe feel alone.

When you are out there exploring always remember. You are never alone, the bond will allow you to always feel the other tribesman that have bonded with the heart."

Listening to the story of how Mezal and Gorm formed the tribe stirred Valoris's heart. "Never alone," he thought as they crawled deeper into the mountain. He liked the sound of that, of having this tribe, which had treated him so well, always be apart of him.

The air got hotter the deeper they went until finally, the cave opened up into a huge cavern with a lava pool at the center. At the edge of the pool was a giant red crystal that pulsed every minute.

Standing next to it was Gorm, Shale, Varrick, and several others he had interacted with daily.

"Valoris, today you truly become a member of the Crimson Flame. Do you accept to bond with the Heart, forever being connected to other members of the tribe?" asks Gorm

" I do"

" Do you swear to protect your fellow members, both from others, and themselves?"

"I swear"

"Then come and make the bond! join and become our brother in bond"

Stepping close to the Heart, Valoris nervously cuts his palm forcing send some of his dragon blood out and pressing it against the crystal.

...THUMP

...THUMP

...THUMP

.....THUMP

As the blood was absorbed by the crystal, Valoris's heart begins to match the pulsing coming from the heart. Suddenly a stream of what feels like magma shoots through his body before entering his dragon core changing the color of it. Before it was dark blue with veins of gold. Now veins of gold and crimson covered it.

"Welcome brother, from now on no matter where you are you can find us. And if you are lost we can find you. Never again will you be alone, so gain the strength to help us protect our tribe"

"What...was that that shot into my dragon core?"

"hahaha, a little surprise for when you evolve. It's a good thing to trust me."

The rest of the night everyone gathered together telling stories, laughing, and relaxed as they truly were as close as a family. As he jokes among these beasts he considers his friends and family. Valoris thinks about Snake,

"Friend, I found a place where we could have built a home. If only you hadn't disappeared"

The next morning Valoris wakes up, everyone fell asleep in the cavern. looking over his tribe members Valoris is filled with a need to become strong enough to protect them. To help them with their troubles.

"This, this is my family, and to protect them, I need to get much stronger"

Heading back to his den, he does one final check before leaving. Looking back at Crimson Flame Mountain Valoris thinks to himself

"Stay safe brothers and sisters, I will come back" before crawling away.