The days of hatching were followed by endless necessities. First time parents began their lonely battle against insufficiency and exhaustion. The young dragons were endlessly curious and grew quickly. Before the four knew it, their children were busy creating a culture of their own.
If it wasn’t hunting lessons, it was creating language. If it wasn’t philosophy, it was exploration. Their collective falling under the generic title of being ‘Dragons’. Mak’Sha was their own name for themselves.
Each of the siblings was named by their children.
Gray became ‘Ki’Shinek’ or “Deceptive Sky”.
Yellow was ‘Qui’Gleiki’ or “Remorseless Stone”.
Red was ‘Tsh’Maray’ or “Fervent Light”.
Blue became Ieak’Osh or “Endless Waters”.
The children spread out once they reached maturity encountering other species and many sentient ones. In time, their Children had children. And those children spread further away. Dragons spread and encountered those Dragons unknown to them. Sometimes it leads to fights, other times love. Friendship was a rarity but respect was commonplace.
The Goddess’s agreement was upheld as well. Sometimes the Dragons were brought to a battlefield to fight. Others were made to tend to or restore life. Some Dragons even developed tools or techniques to arm those who fought in the Goddess’ name.
Generations passed and rose. Their paltry numbers grew and multiplied as the four siblings watched over their children. Unaging as ever, they were revered and respected by their descendants. Often, a point of pride was visiting the originators of the Dragons periodically to learn from them.
It was due to the explosion of population that things were hard to notice at first. The Goddess had underestimated the problem and it wasn’t until things were severe that anyone realized it was a widespread problem.
Dragons were voracious predators. So much so that for food to be present, it took a long time for nature to replenish. As such, some families departed for the Battlefields of the Goddess, intent to make them into homes. However, to keep reminders of their home, the departing Dragons asked for what to call themselves.
Thus, the four Clans of Water, Air, Earth and Fire were established as names to call themselves and remember their origin. Life continued apace as it always does, sometimes in a blur and other times agonizingly slow.
In those slow times, Ieak’Osh would visit the prison where their two siblings were kept. Despite their urging, neither acknowledge them. Black had retreated so far into their pain nothing would register. White would pretend not to notice and hurl insults at their sibling as a traitor. Outside of these visits, with their Clan being the smallest in number, Ieak’Osh helped their descendents develop cunning and their talents.
Ki’Shinek was a fan of mortal foils and wrote grand schemes for them. Choosing heroes and villains to try and play out their roles. Sometimes it succeeded, sometimes it failed. Other times their story could be upended completely by another of their descendents. On the grand stage of life, there was no end to their amusements.
Qui’Gleiki had become a preoccupied artisan. Shaping stone, rock and even sometimes metal into pleasing shapes. They worked with practiced precision, replicating scenes from the past or hopes for the future. Their dedication rubbed off on the others till the grand, underground city the Earth clan created was a cultural hotspot.
Tsh’Maray found themselves the Goddess’ most fervent advocate. Believing in the deity’s wisdom and choosing to raise a temple in her honor. There, the orb that had become a sacred symbol of the accord between the Dragons and her would be visible to all. Being the most diehard believer, Tsh’Maray often gave sermons to those who would listen.
Such that it was that time trickled by.
It is unclear where the first words of malcontent came from.
Some claim a spiteful King.
Or a Demon’s whisper.
But if enough words are spoken softly, they might deafen even the greatest of storms.