Vermillion

Opposed to Verdant, Sentinel of Life and Bringer of Spring

Some beings are simply born wrong. It's no fault of them.

A blood moon rises above the Verdant's cove
Creatures scurry beneath the flora seeking shelter, praying that the scent of pollen masks their own
A lone Moonelle rushes into the central pond, disturbing the surface with every fearful shake
She drags her nest with her, twigs collapsing as the water pulls it apart
Frail body shielding the remaining egg

Moonlight pierces the veil of safety, illuminating the mother's eyes
The red haze of the moon is shattered, a fluorescent lizard breaking the pond's surface
Wrenched from the water, into the blood-scented air
She fights, and bites, but she is small
She is weak
She is gone

Dripping, the pond is stained to the shade of a rose, concealing the egg
Only the moon sees beneath
It cracks
But it doesn't die
Blood and light flood through, immersing the child
Changing the child
It bites

Alone and frightened
That's how she came into the world
A motionless, silent world
Scarce of life, scarce of colour
Only red remained

Leaves stirred, it isn't alone
Parting, a  young Astrothi leaps from the shrubbery, breaking the silence
It trembles unsteadily, wings not yet formed
Towards the Moonelle they stumble, sniffing it cautiously
Their noses touch, Astrothi making a friendly cry
It bites

The little Moon, red and scaled
Clawed and fanged
Vicious
Cruel
Wrong

Some beings are simply born wrong. It's no fault of them.
It is of nature.

Vermillion is the Tyrant of Death and Presage of Fall. It stalks Flower Cove, lurking within its ponds waiting to dart at unsuspecting prey. It's the youngest of all the Anti-Wardens, treated by them similarly to a feral dog.  Intelligence is not its strong suit, neither is communication.. its sentience is questionable. Anything and everything that moves is prey to it, the only exception being Moonelles and Lures. While it is not capable of great thought, it believes this beyond everything else: it is the way it is because of Verdant.

They are very large for a Moonelle, roughly the size of a Tarakotu, but their structure is more akin to an Ibetchi. Further separating it from other Moonelles is the red scales covering its body, as well as sharp fangs protruding from its mouth, like a moray eel. The eyes are always glowing red, the same appearance of a creature afflicted by the blood moon. While being physically larger than an elder, it is still just an adult.

It is most active during Autumn, where it can be seen playing in the fallen leaves. Another place it may be found is the jungle, as it appears to get on quite well with Demonic.