Junior Officer Joseph Caine, on the force for 4 years. Joe is a well-liked member of the force, but he was made to take an enforced vacation when he broke his leg on the job. He is a powerful man, and at times it seems he thinks that he is as invulnerable as his commander Chief Steele is called. He has a strong competitive streak in him, but he is good on his word and takes orders well enough.

At 27 years old, this clean cut light-skinned man has often come under scrutiny for his habit of dyeing his hair new and interesting colors. He enjoys being looked at, though he is faintly jealous of Heller's good looks. His clear light blue eyes always look as though he's plotting something.

Joe has a girlfriend of 2 years, a nurse he met when he was in the hospital with his broken leg. Sylvie is protective of him, but not more so than any other patient she's tended. Joe's family all lives in Talon City, though in a different district so he is not directly responsible for their safety. He has both parents, three out of four grandparents, and one younger brother who is a graduate student at Talon City University. He has plans to marry Sylvie, but she is not finished with her nursing degree and both are rather busy and haven't actually had time to plan it out.

Joe really wasn't sure what to do with himself. He decided early on that if given the choice he'd compete with the guys on a different level than just 'what flavor of dragon would they come home with'. And certainly, he'd never be able to garner a huge testosterone-giant like Steele and Temple did. No way. First of all, he didn't feel mature enough to handle that kind of responsibility. The sheer size of those dragons was another problem for him. Caine was not truly 'afraid' of the dragons, but their huge bulk did intimidate him.

It also reminded him of the rig that had toppled over onto him, that one fateful day... The day before he met Sylvie and the day he almost lost his leg. Should one of those dragons accidentally step upon anyone, they'd just be crushed!

So he stuck to another idea. In flipping through the slick 'advertisements' for the dragonries, he spotted one which others seemed to disregard. It was at an established dragonry, known for its sizable and durable dragons. Certainly. But it wasn't a dragon hatching he was seeing. It was for gryphons!

He knew that at least one gryphon had paired up with another member of the team, Dooley and her amazing fire-ash gryphon. She called it something else, t-something, but he wasn't sure. When he saw the examples of parents at this gryphon festival at Tripaldi though, Caine was positive he'd want to go there.

Besides, didn't Sylvie have some decorative doodads in her house with such things on it? She'd be happy if he didn't come home with a scary monstery-dragon. That was sure. But a gryphon would make her really happy.

And presumably, they were a bit smaller than dragons...

So off he went, with Dee and Doom on his shoulders bobbing up and down in time with his strut. Sometime soon, he hoped, he'd be the proud rider of a nearly-unique (well, Dooley'd already done it) gryphon...

***

He waited and waited and sadly Tripaldi folded before offering up a feathered friend. However! He was contacted by a mysterious tap on the shoulder, and nudged toward an oddly familiar location... Ryslen? Why was that name so familiar?

Oh. It's where those amazing flights, many hatchings, and - and - the Flurry happened.

Happened, it was long ago for Mink. But there was another? So soon? Even if the group had all found their dragons and come back - and it was only just a year for him - there was something very strange indeed about being sent off to the same red sands that she'd bonded at.

The look that the leader there gave him was also quite strange. Almost like he should know her, but he'd never been there, only Takei had!

Joe settled in, there were a lot of eggs on these red sands. Just like Mink had described. But these had yet to hatch, and from all she'd gushed about her experience here? It was hardly the same hatching. Not even close, in fact. Only time would tell now, though, what might happen for him.

**

(( From Flurry )) The red Crystal Court hatchling looked around and saw that everything was going well. None of his fellow hatchlings were in any danger, nobody even needed a tiny bit of assistance at the moment, so he felt now would be a good time to connect with his chosen.

He started walking towards the human, and reached mentally for him, then stopped hard enough to fall backwards into a sitting position.

‘He's afraid? Of me? I don't understand…'

--

The red Court had gotten back to his feet, but he was still distressed. He didn't understand. Why had his person come to a dragon hatching if he didn't want a dragon? He turned, looking for the dragoness he knew was his mother. He first locked eyes with white Nevalith, then found Eeloth.

‘If he is the one you want, then he is the one you want.' Eeloth said. ‘Dragon's choice is unquestionable.'

‘Love,' Neva' added gently, ‘if it doesn't work out, I give you permission to come back and try again. Take chances, little one.'

The red looked back towards the man, feeling emboldened by his mother and honorary grandmother. He took a breath, and moved forward.

‘Joseph Caine? I am Intreolth…'
**

Caine was stunned, it was one thing to be in the middle of such an incredible and large gathering of dragonets, but another to then... actually be chosen by one. It was true that he was nervous, the hatchlings weren't as big as a truck but a good number of their parents certainly were.

It was to his tumultuous thoughts though, that a clear mental voice rang. Why are you afraid? I sense a lot of courage in you.

His breath caught, Joe took a moment, swallowed hard at the lump that had formed in his throat. This dragonet would mature into a positively beautiful one, their soft red hide glittered under the strange light over their head. His head, this dragon's voice and demeanor and perhaps their mental connection told him it was male.

"I... I got hurt by a large weight, badly. I almost lost my leg, could have died..." his voice trailed off. The images in his mind of that moment were definitely enough to alert the dragon to just exactly why this worry existed. The pain was only a phantom now, but the very slight limp he had if he had to brace himself for extended periods certainly was real. As if flipping through a comic book, the dragon looked shamelessly through the memories of his chosen bond, seeing several faces numerous times, and all manner of amazing feats of bravery as well.

Those men you admire are not invulnerable either, Intreolth gently bespoke. They are flesh and blood like you are. They likely fear something too, but perhaps they keep those things to themselves.

Joe mulled that over. It was true: Steele overworked himself, Temple drank.

Caine then cracked a smile, when the memory the dragon was dwelling on was one of his first actually-formed and still-fond ones: he became a fire fighter because of his childhood adoration of the trucks, as they sped by down the road to put out wildfires in the canyon near his home, he always rushed to the front window, or stood in awe on the porch. The men and women (and the occasional kin) that rode them would come back up the street with less fanfare but for him: as he waved and cheered they would always salute and wave right back.

Your heart is warm and full, Intreolth bespoke happily. You are brave and strong too, and I can help you, their work, your work, is mine too.

There was no more hesitation in Joe Caine when he reached his hand to touch the dragon's warm muzzle. The faint pain of a crushed hip and shattered thigh bone vanished. The light on the dragon's horns hardly even flickered with it, but he knew... he knew that the first thing the dragon did with him, was heal him.

**

They did get a workout, they did get to see just how important it was to have a dragon like this, of the Crystal Court, with them on a particularly nasty event. In the industrial area of Talon City's southeast quarter, there were rumors that some retro gang was looking to 'clean up' the area. The furry types that 'hung out too much with skins' were on their hit list, and a rave being held in a warehouse was their target.

A massive number of people were hurt. But that night, while the assorted fires lit by errant racist factions were put out, and damages assessed by the Exo team making sure that no chemical leaks or dangerous toxins were released, no one was killed - not even ones specifically targeted by the retros. And thankfully with the presence of no fewer than sixteen dragons, everyone needing emergency care was either tended to or moved swiftly back to safety.

The warehouse area would be settled soon enough, and would also become the central distribution hub for goods and gear by the Oboes - the gorgeous ladies running charity drives out of the SoCal area.

This night, though, Intreolth's healing did truly save lives. As Caine was hefting an axe to dislodge parts of a pallet that had blocked an entrance (oh, it was definitely placed there by the retros, it was put perfectly to stop a door from opening) the Crystal Court dragon nestled his wings over a particularly gristly scene. Terrible burns, mixed with half-melted glass, those things would certainly have caused tremendous lasting damage to this human raver. But with a sigh, Intreolth aimed a thought at his bond.

He will not be in immediate danger, I have... gotten all the bits out.

Caine glanced over, noticing something important. You need to rest! We've got this, you did well, you - you make me so proud, Intreolth. But you need to regain your own strength. He sent a confident nudge, and felt much better about it when two other dragons came around to make sure that the Court was safe from any harm. They would return back to the station in a bit, but all of the effort of the Talon City safety departments was more than enough to save the day.

***

It will be exciting to return to that place, Intreolth bespoke. Even if it is not the same place...

Caine shook his head and looked up from his accounting notes, blinking away the confusion. "The... that place, what?"

Ryslen! Nidus Ryslen, where there are beautiful dragons... rising!

Joe blinked a few more times. "R...riiiising.... to mate?" He could already sense the excitement and giddiness in his bond.

Yes! There is one of my kind, and another Court, they're both gold!

It was hardly obvious which he intended to pursue, just by the emphasis in his thought. Though there was the hint that perhaps, if there weren't 'good enough' chasers, his Crystal kin would be worth chasing over the Dark.

"I mean... yeah? If that's what you want to do? We've got some time, the trainees are fitting in pretty well, and Steele and Temple have it covered. I can put in for some off time for us."

The excitement from the dragon was palpable.

And we can bring Sylvie!

Joe gave a very long, very hard stare at his dragon.

What? She is worthy! She is a good person, like you. My Court appreciate those things, you know.

Joe chuckled, "yeah I noticed. I know she is too." He got a dreamy look, "the medical community needs more representation in the skies."

Together they prepared, Joe with his paperwork, and Intreolth working his wings, his power sprint in the air... Whether he would successfully catch either of the dragonesses would be up to the other males. But they also had to prepare Sylvie...

--

"Um.... Intreolth, remember how I had... Issues? With dragons, and how big they were? How scary they seemed?"

Of course I do. And you got-

"I got over you, but I mean."

They both looked at the Death Court dragons who had appeared at this same flight, and Intreolth felt the 'that Dark Court dragon has lots of spikes too' from Joe. Several of those males gave Joe and the red Crystal Court the once-over, chilling Joe to the core.

It will be fine! I will be fine! And speaking of fine, the dragon waggled his mental eyebrows. He had competition but it would be a joy to fly for either of these dragons.

Crystal Court Red Intreolth
Male
11.0 feet at the shoulder
bonded to Joseph Caine [Zekiran]

Crystal Court dragon info

Abilities:
* Telepathic Speech: The ability to speak mind-to-mind with another receptive being.
* Verbal Speech: The ability to speak aloud. They may only know a handful of words in any given language, but they automatically understand them due to being telepathic.
* Enhanced Empathy: The ability to sense emotions in others and share feelings with another. The enhanced version allows the wielder to temporarily impact the emotions of another – to calm a panicked person, for example.
* Foresight: Has a sense of the possible future which allows them to teleport into dangerous situations without immediately being in physical danger.
* Danger Sense: The ability to know when danger is coming and which direction it is coming from. It does not stop the danger, only alerts the dragon to incoming peril.
* Enhanced Teleportation (self): The ability to go “between” places to a place they have personally been, a place they receive clear coordinates to, or are in contact telepathically with another being in that location.
* Limited Healing Powers: The healing powers of a Crystal Court dragon manifest as a ball of light between their horns. When the light is reduced to nothing, their ability to heal is exhausted until they have had time to recuperate. Recovery to full power can take as little as a week if the power is not fully exhausted but may take months if it is overused. These powers are usually held for emergencies due to their limitations.
* Self Healing: A Crystal Court dragon can heal their own wounds no matter how egregious. They can regenerate their own lost limbs and repair their horns if cracked or broken off. However, if they use all of their healing energy on another while injured, they will have to heal naturally. It is dangerous for them to become gravely injured during the recovery period on their healing powers.
* Elemental Power - Ice (moderate): – local temperature control, and freezing liquid (including living things, but they will not be harmed unless they break, they'll thaw to be normal again), create ice/snow
* Elemental Power - Light (minor): can create and direct small floating balls of light.
* Bond Exclusion: Cannot bond to other Court Dragons. This is believed to be due to their neutral status amongst the courts. Having a Court dragon as their bond would necessarily bias the Crystal Court towards their bond's court.
* Bond: Required

Note: Flurry Flakes do not inherit; only if hatched at The Flurry can a Court have Flurry Flakes.

All text is ©Lethe of Droppin the Fork 2003- 2022. Many images on this site (background and character) are from photographs taken by local news crews during the 2003 wildfires in Southern California. They are not meant as an infringement on the photographer - they are meant only as a tribute to the hard working firefighters and emt crews who are the pictures subjects. Any other images will be credited on the pages they appear.