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Prologue

From the amazing Karikinet! =3

Fierce winds ravaged the freezing terrain, rushing through the open valleys and around the steep, snow-covered mountains in the distance. Far below the darkened clouds lingering in the black sky, a small group of furred creatures were barely visible in the falling snow, dashing across the icy tundra. Upon closer examination, it was revealed to be a small group of traveling Draiks, who hailed from the southern arctic region of Neopia. Fins protruded from their backs, and manes whipped in the wind as they ran through the blizzard. The group was quite unusual in appearance; the bright colors splashed across their furs did not seem suitable for the environment.

The apparent leader of the group was a muscular Draik with fur black as night; glowing patches of scales were scattered across his hide, and his fin spikes were extraordinarily long. The male was not originally from the group, in fact, he wasn't even from the Southern Arctic. No, he was a traveler from the coastal waters off of Terror Mountain, and had stumbled across the lost group in his journey. Kratos, he called himself, and aided by a new found friend, and his future mate, he took command of the fleeing Tundra Draiks and was determined to find a new dwelling place for them. Upon questioning of the Tundra Draiks sudden dash from their homeland, he was met with silence and faces filled with fear. He turned to Laethia, his mate, and she answered him, with a quiet voice. They awoke an unspeakable evil that had been dwelling in the southernmost parts of the artic, and it had driven them out in rage. Not wanting to return to certain death, the survivors fled to the north in search of a new home. And so, they found themselves in the middle of a vast gorge, nestled deep within the mountains of Shenkuu.

From the amazing Karikinet! =3

Kratos slowed to a stop as he appraised the area, grinning in satisfaction. He turned to the willowy Draik next to him, and spoke. : I think this is the place, but we should fan out and look nonetheless. : Laethia nodded, and quickly rounded up a choice group of searchers. Her navy fur contrasted greatly with the blinding pallid snow, and he found it easy to spot her in the group. Once a fair amount had been gathered he spoke; his dulcet tones were surprisingly audible in the fierce gale.

: We have been drifting in these lands for as long as we have existed, and now, we can finally cease this never-ending wandering. The Divinity Spring is close at hand. Welcome to our new home. : Laughter echoed through the valley, and even the wind seemed to stop as the draiks began to celebrate. It had seemed they had traversed this land for many years, desolate as it was, and were beginning to grow weary.

Slowly they began to split into groups, to search for the legendary Divinity Spring. It had been told to them, through tales from their ancestors, that the Tundra Draik was descended from the daughter of Winter, the powerful spirit of the snow and ice. She was fairer than any of the spirits in the land, and far wiser. However, her wisdom had lead to overconfidence, and her overconfidence to vanity. She was respected, but in fear of the wrath and fury she would cause if the Draikess was not allowed to rule, Winter's daughter was banished from the spirit world. However, she was a clever one, and managed to steal her father's precious treasure, the Eternal Water from his personal spring. It never froze, and never became polluted. One small portion was enough to change a regular spring into one that produced the Eternal Spring Water, and it had been said the Southern Artic was the main area Winter's daughter had visited.

Years passed by, and soon the exile was forgotten in the minds of the other spirits. Yet she had not forgotten them, and swore that she would never return there as long as she lived. Her immortality was given up and she took residence in the chilling wasteland of Southern Neopia. The barren tundra was completely empty, save for the few plants and small animals scattered across the land. It was then and there that she decided to construct a family of her own; from the very earth they would live and thrive on, they would be created. With the little amount of spiritual power that remained with her, she took the ice, snow, and water, and molded it into a species worthy of her praise. Molded after the draik species of the land she had been sent to, they resembled the aquatic draiks of Maraqua, and yet were covered in water-resistant fur, and had slender, aerodynamic builds. She led them across the land and they mapped it out, expanding and claiming their territory as they traveled. As the chosen leader, she decided to give herself a name, one that would be fitting of her plans and goals. Originally being from the spirit world, she had never been given a name, and so several days were spent in thought by the draikess.

After mulling several choices through her head, she finally decided on her name. It was chosen from her old language, and it simply meant 'beginning' in that tongue. It seemed to please the draiks in her new clan, and they recorded the day in the scrolls they had been writing, although they would soon be lost, along with many other valuable treasures made by the wandering Tundra Clan.

With a new spring in her step, and a group of cheerful followers, the newly named Rasconza took her growing family of Tundra Draiks and went to explore her recently gained land.

As Fate would have it, Rasconza would not live long enough to see her clan prosper and grow.

It was a cold night, and a fierce blizzard raged outside. Even with their insulated pelts, the group of Tundra Draiks were huddled together to keep warm. Near the entrance of the cave they had decided to occupy until the storm died, Rasconza sat and gazed wearily into the descending snow and hail. Much to the warnings of her people, she left the cave and set off into the whiteout. If food was not found soon, her family would perish, and she would rather die than see that happen to her clan.

It was hours before she found shelter after leaving the protection of the caves. Rasconza was half frozen, and almost exhausted. Though she had very little power left in the body she inhabited, she called upon her reserve stores of 'magic', as some would call it, in a vain attempt to keep her body warm. She stumbled into a small crevice in the ice walls looming above her, and was surprised to find an entrance to a rather large cavern. 'Perhaps this is the place....' With a weary mind and body, she practically dragged her fatigued body to the mouth of a surprisingly unfrozen stream. She lapped the water quietly, and though her mind was now refreshed and alert, she could feel her body dying. With a bitter laugh she remembered pouring the last of her Eternal Water into this very spring. How would she protect her family now, if she was to die here? With what little remaining energy she had, she slid into the clear spring, resting at the bottom of the calm water.

I will not die in vain. I absolutely refuse. I have worked to hard to make this land an environment where I could let my family grow and thrive. There is no other choice......

Summoning the last of her energy and power, she transformed the minerals and elements in the cavern into a small, hard, blue stone. Yet, it was not a stone, and upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be an egg. With the last of her strength, Rasconza gave her life and created another, one who she was sure could revive her clan in the case of a downfall. She could feel her mind and soul fading into darkness, and with one last thought, she bestowed her blessing onto the un-hatched draik.

: You must wait until it is safe..... Wait... and be safe, young one. :

With those last thoughts, Rasconza passed from this world, and onto another.

It was the beginning of a new story.

----

Kratos was quickly brought by one of his clan members to a small opening in the ice wall they had discovered. Almost completely invisible, the cavern opening was difficult to spot, and even harder to enter. With a little persistence, Kratos managed to wedge his body through, and it was a tight fit. He stepped into the crystal filled cave and let his jaw drop in awe; Laethia slipped in behind and wore a similar reaction on her features. They stepped lightly across the icy cavern floor, and were extremely surprised to find a small stream flowing there, despite the sub-zero temperatures outside.

Laethia approached the edge of the stream's mouth and lowered her head to the water. After a few tentative sniffs, she lapped at the water curiously. : It would seem this water is perfectly fine. Kratos... I find it strange this spring is not frozen. Perhaps we should take shelter near this area? We can hunt the game of this valley easily, but water may be hard to come by. What do you think? :

The larger draik sat back on his haunches next to her, and nodded. : I agree with you, water is hard to come by in this land. We shall use this spring as a source of water, until we find a suitable place to build a city. I'll go tell the others. : Kratos stood back up and turned to leave, when his mate's gentle voice stopped him.

: Look... There, in the water. : She pointed at a reflection in the deep pool. : It looks like a stone of some sort... Should I get it? It could be of value. : Kratos gazed into the pool, but could not see what Laethia could.

: I suppose... but please be careful. I don't want you getting sick from getting to cold. : He left from the entrance, and Laethia resisted sticking her tongue out at him.

The willowy draik turned her intense gaze back to the gem. The pool was much too deep for her to reach it with her arm, and her tail was not long enough either. Ignoring Kratos' warning, she jumped into the water, which was rather warmer than she had expected. Laethia swam to the bottom of the pool, and brushed aside the plants blocking her view. If she had not been underwater, a gasp might have escaped her lips when she saw the egg resting on the streambed.

Her paws gently lifted the egg from the floor, and almost immediately she recognized it for what it was. It was much too heavy for a stone, and the perfect weight for a draik egg. Resurfacing, ripples of water slapped against the water's edge, and she set the egg on the rocky ground. Pulling herself out of the water, she shook from head to toe, sending droplets of clear water spraying in every direction. Now a lot colder than she was before diving into the water, Laethia picked the egg up delicately and gave it a closer examination.

It was a pale, murky blue, and strange white-silver markings adorned it's surface. The top was speckled in white, almost like snowfall. The strangest thing was not the markings, or even the hard, polished surface, but rather a band of rainbow stone set into the eggs girth. It was beautiful, and the draikess had a difficult time tearing her eyes away from it to look at her companion, who had entered the cavern with several others. He said nothing, but simply smiled and nuzzled her head affectionately.

: I suppose you want to keep it. You do realize this will make settling this area even more important, if we are to have younglings running about soon? : Kratos grinned, and showed the group the mystical spring they had discovered. He returned to Laethia shortly, and found her at the cavern's entrance, staring into the whiteout before her.

: This egg... I know it's silly, but somehow, it gives me hope, and a sense of security. We must do our best to raise the child. : She rested her head against her mate's shoulder, and he nodded in agreement.

: When morning comes, we will start to build. :

----

The sun cast its pale rays over the looming mountains in the east, but the warm light did little more than wake a drowsy Laethia from her sleep. She stirred on her bed of stone, nestled within the cavern her clan had discovered the night before. The draikess yawned and stretched her stiff limbs; her gaze drifted towards a small sack propped against the wall beside her. Laethia softly padded her way over to the furry pouch and opened the cover. Inside lay a sparkling blue stone, and she admired it for a few moments, before shutting the cover once more. The egg would remain safe in the cavern, as long as the temperature didn't drop to far below zero. If it did, the warmth of her body would not be enough to ensure the hatchlings survival.

Laethia peered around the chilled cave, and was surprised to see no one there. Perhaps they all left to start working? She smiled, and made her way through the winding paths to the entrance. Only Kratos would wake up at the break of dawn and start working. She grinned to herself, and exited into the bright sunlight outside. When he was determined, it took quite a lot of arguing to prevent him from doing whatever his mind was set on. Typical.

Her footfalls were silenced in the fresh layer of powdered snow covering the land, and she was astonished to see most of the others of her clan already working. In the short time she had slept into the morning, they already had a three foot wall of snow surrounding the perimeter of the valley. The Tundra draiks could not construct with materials other than snow and ice, since the land provided little material to build with. A large pool had been dug into the center of the valley, and through the soft light she could see workers running to and from the pool. To a stranger it would appear quite odd, but she quickly recognized it as one of many building techniques. Somehow another spring had been located and channeled to the pool, which was obvious. A small stream was leading towards the opposite side of the valley. As she approached the pool, Laethia was greeted by several of her clansman, and offered food from the remaining reserves. She took enough to satiate her hunger, and went to search for her mate. Not far from the pool, she spotted him, giving instructions to a small group. They dispersed and she approached. Kratos smiled and pointed to the group he had sent off.

: They lived in the mountains south of our old home, and knew of a very practical way to build in these freezing conditions. : Kratos looked toward the cave, and then nudged his partner affectionately. : Did you check on the egg when you woke? I took a peek before I left this morning, and I noticed it seems to be exiting the gem stage. The egg should hatch relatively soon, I think. :

Laethia smiled as she walked to the shallow pool, gazing thoughtfully into the rippling surface. : I've been thinking. The egg, it can't have been there for long, right? I mean, the egg shouldn't have been able to survive that long in such a place like this, and yet it was radiating heat when I found it. : Kratos sat next to her and watched the other's around him scurry to and from the pool.

: I've heard stories... similar to this, where eggs have lasted decades, even centuries, waiting for the right moment to hatch. Usually the hatchlings... are... prodigies, if you will, or have unusual abilities or appearances. I don't know what will hatch from that egg, but we must accept the youngling into our family, regardless. : His partner smiled, and swiveled her long neck towards the cavern's entrance.

: I'm going to get the egg. It's not as cold as it was out here earlier, so I think it will be fine. : With a parting nuzzle, she left.

----

Several minutes later, Laethia returned to her mate, and the soft pouch was slung around her neck. She had a grin on her face, and was met with a puzzled air from her curious partner. His confusion was dispelled when she withdrew the blue egg from its protective case, and he saw the small crack teasing its way down the side of the warm shell. He smiled, and called several over to look as well. All were delighted, as it wasn't often new hatchlings entered into the small, dwindling clan.

She had only just set the egg on the ground when an earsplitting crack sounded in Laethia's sensitive ears. Several of the Tundra Draiks nearby jumped in surprise, and backed off a few steps to give their leader's some room to observe. Kratos watched in silent awe as the once small crack lengthened and grew, stretching its small tendrils across the polished surface.

For several minutes the egg rocked and shuddered, as a light snow descended from the once clear sky. Confused eyes turned to the sky in disbelief; had it not been clear skies only a minute before? Laethia watched with rapture, and was tempted to help the poor young one out of the hard prison it had inhabited for so long. She went to peel away a piece of the outer layer when it was pushed out from the inside, clattering to the ground with much energy.

Surprised, she stepped back, and a delighted grin inched across her delicate features. This would be her first child, and she didn't care that it wasn't actually her right to claim. With a final burst of energy the egg was rent apart and the hatchling was revealed; tumbling out of the shell onto her mother's small feet was a pale blue draik. The fins on her back revealed her to be female, as the Tundra Draiks were known to be born without fins on their backs, unless they were female.

Kratos and Laethia nudged the hatchling with their warm snouts, urging the small draikess to her feet. With a wobbly start the newborn rose, and was welcomed into the world by those around her. As she smiled up at her parents, wagging her tail in happiness, they got over their bubbling exhilaration and took a good look at their daughter.

Her large, blue-green eyes reflected several hues, and had an almost entrancing quality. Her fur was a pale blue, and her chest and stomach was covered with a light shade of blue-silver. White markings adorned her fur as well. Her eyes were lined with white, and strange lines ran from the bottom of her eye to her jaw line. The front paws had diamond markings on top, and her back paws were dappled with white. Lavender webbing connected the small fin-spikes along her back, and between her ears spikes. Most unusual of all, besides her pure white mane and tail, was the rainbow band of scales covering a small section of her tail. It was very pretty, and reminded Laethia of the similar band on the egg.

: What should we name her? I never gave it a thought, and this was so sudden! : Laethia managed to stammer out, and was met with a thoughtful reply from her partner.

: What about Rasconza? The great daughter of Winter may give her blessing to this one, if we bestow the hatchling with the same name. Perhaps she will prove to be just as great of a leader. : He smiled, but behind his facade of relief there was a shimmer of doubt. He just hoped this didn't turn into a catastrophe.

Thus, Rasconza was adopted into the clan of Tundra Draiks, and the construction of the largest city of ice and snow would begin. Peace and tranquility would reign for many years....

Or so they thought.

Nothing lasts forever, and eventually, all good things must come to an end.

Chapter One

: Emikanu! Wait up! :

The sleek white draikess looked over her shoulder, casting her bright blue eyes on the figure dashing to meet her. The lithe Tundra Draik had been exploring the summit of a large cliff standing next to her home, Lovithial, city of ice. Her trek was briefly interrupter by the voice of another, and she smiled in greeting at the pale blue draikess following behind her.

With an irritated scowl, Rasconza approached her childhood friend, who had momentarily stopped. : You left me on the ridge, scrambling up the slope like a fool. Why didn't you wait? :

Emikanu grinned, and nudged her friend's shoulder. : Sorry, Ras, I wanted to see the sunrise before it was too late. I won't leave you behind next time, I promise. :

: Mikan, you said that last time, too. : Rasconza muttered, but a smile danced across her face. : Well, let's go. The sun will be up any minute now. : She trotted ahead, and waited for her friend to follow. Mikan grinned and dashed ahead, sending the two into an epic race. Well, it would've been epic, had Rasconza not tripped on her feet and landed face-first into the snow.

Glancing behind her, Mikan came to an ungracefully halt, laughing hysterically at her clumsy friend. She helped Rasconza to her feet, still in a giggling fit. : You might be intelligent, Ras, but you're about as graceful as an elephant, you know that? : Emikanu's remark was met with a teasing glare.

: At least I blend in with my surroundings. : Rasconza smirked, gazing smugly at her friend's bright, sky-blue mane.

Mikan ignored her, and walked to the cliff's edge instead. She gasped, and Rasconza ran to see what had caught her attention. What met her worried teal eyes was something she hadn't expected.

Down in the valley, a large group could be seen moving quickly across the frozen ground. Although indiscernible from the distance they stood at, Rasconza and Emikanu recognized the creatures as a large pack of wolves from the north. Although calling them wolves may not have been a fitting term.

With pelts as white as the snow around them, the wolf-like creatures were hard to pick out from the tundra surrounding the city. Fangs several inches long jutted over the edge of their jaws, and twisting, curled horns adorned their heads. If they had been the size of a regular wolf, the city would have no trouble fending them off. Although it was made of nothing but ice and snow, the city of Lovithial was built like a fortress, and had the beauty of a grand palace. But these wolves were not ordinary at all, looming at an impressive five feet at the shoulder.

Through the sudden horror Rasconza managed to compose herself, and pushed Mikan down a small path hidden behind several large boulders to her left. Many secret paths had been built in case of an emergency, and this was the closest one she could think of. If her memory served her correctly, and it almost never failed, the path would bring Emikanu and herself out somewhere near the back gates, or possibly into the city itself.

The two dashed down the steep icy path, slipping and sliding at every turn. The rock face loomed above their heads, casting them into shadow. Ahead of them, the rock wall edge curved in, creating a small archway. ::That must be the entrance:: Rasconza thought to herself, and quickly followed Emikanu down the winding path, until they emerged in a large underground cavern. Several others were already assembled there, and surprise flitted across their facades when they entered.

A young draik bounded over, tugging insistently on Rasconza's paw. : Your parents are worried, Rasconza! They're up on the eastern tower, so you'd better go before they send out a search team. : Emikanu patted the youngling's head before she started up the second path leading from the cavern, the one that lead to the heart of the city. Rasconza followed behind, and worry etched her countenance.

----

Ascending the winding set of stone cold steps leading to the eastern tower, a cold chill ran the length of Rasconza's spine. She hesitated and Emikanu, who had been just ahead, stopped to look back. : Is something wrong, Ras? : The bright-eyed draik shook her head, and quickly ran ahead.

: No. I'm just a little worried. With those things attacking, I'm not sure how long the outer gates will last. : Rasconza admitted with a sigh. Emikanu nodded in agreement, and they continued the trek to the tower's balcony.

It was only a few minutes when they reached the top, and getting fatigued. Although it was a painstaking to reach the summit of the grand tower, the ride down was easy; several large slides and gondolas ran to the ground. Unfortunately, the gondolas were made of ice, and were usually half-melted by the time it reached the bottom. Still, it was better than walking down again.

Rasconza poked her head out into the open balcony, and was surprised to see her father, just a few feet away. He spotted her easy enough when she entered, as her the reflection of her brightly colored tail band had blinded him. Relief overtook his features, and he quickly ushered her over to the edge, where Laethia stood, overlooking the city. She turned and smiled, nodded courteously to Emikanu, who trailed in behind her friend.

: Ah, Rasza. I knew you would make it back safely. Your father was worried about you. : Laethia spoke; her soft tones were barely audible over the whistling wind. : I'm glad you two are safe. Exploring the city's borders at a time like this was not safe choice. The beasts are growing hungry, with the food supply dwindling, or stored within the walls of our city. : Kratos murmured something under his breath, before he left to speak with a near by tower watchman.

Laethia followed him with her eyes, and smiled. : He's very worried about the safety of the ancient scrolls in the library. Since the archive is so close to the gates, he's afraid the ancient records may be damaged if the gates break.... : She had no time to finish her sentence however, as Rasconza had already darted down the nearest slide. Emikanu gasped, before taking off after her. Rasza had made it to the bottom of the tower in a flash, and her mother's concerned calls fell muted on her ears.

She took off immediately to the gates, and the stone roads flew beneath her feet as she ran. Mikan followed her easily, as she was one of the fastest runners in the entire city. The ominous gates of the library rose before them, and Rasconza pushed her way past several guards into her most precious place.

The love of books was not only with Kratos, as he shared his passion with his daughter. The two of them spent many a day cooped up in the library's rows of shelves, learning and studying. The place had much sentimental value to Rasconza, and she had no desire to see any of the records lost or damaged.

Emikanu followed Rasconza to the back of the dusty collection of decrepit tomes, picking their way to a raised shelf. Behind a cage of decorative and swirling metal was a small collection of books and scrolls of all sorts. A symmetrical spiraling wing formed the outline of a lock in the midst of the casing. Rasza pulled a small key from a nearby shelf, where it had been stored in an unread book, hidden from curious eyes. She placed the decorative key into the key hole and turned it gently, until a soft click resonated through the metal. Withdrawing the key, she slid back the metal doors with the help of Emikanu, and began to carefully remove the scrolls from the pedestals they had been placed in.

Rasconza stopped for several seconds to examine a small book, decorated with gold leaf and a similar lock to the one that had protected the books. She slipped the lock into the keyhole and amazingly, the book swung open as she turned the key. With reverence she scanned the fading pages, attempting to read the graceful language. It was a dialect or a language she did not recognize immediately, but after a few minutes, she noticed it was extremely similar to the ancient tongue her ancestors used to speak. Emikanu peeked over her friend's shoulder with curiosity. : Can you read it? : was the only thing she whispered in Rasconza's ear. It was times like these that disturbing Rasza in her thought could be dangerous. She tended to become irritated if she was bothered by thinking. However, the other draikess merely nodded, something which surprised Mikan.

: It's.... a record, I think. I can read most of it, but I'm not sure if I can translate it perfectly. Here, I'll start at the beginning. : Rasza flipped to the front of the book, and began to read aloud.

: I cannot say that my memory is perfect, or even anything to trust. I awoke earlier today to find a beautiful draikess was standing over me, at least, I assumed she was. I do not know why I knew what she was, for I did not even know what I was, or even where I had awoken. As I looked about, it seemed as if the land had been covered in a blanket of white, snow, I believe that's what she called it. There were several others that looked similar to me, and I asked her what we were doing in the middle of no where. She simply smiled, and told me I had been created to be her family, and to lie down and go to sleep. I did not question her, and simply did as I was told.

When rest was achieved, my heavy lids opened, blinding by the sunlight filling the sky. There she was, standing atop a near hill, looking over the valley below. I stood and went to talk to her, and found others following me up the hill. We had no time to ask her questions, before she told us to sit down and admire the view. We sat in silence for several minutes, before she exited her dream-like trance and spoke to us. Her voice was very pleasant to listen to. It reminded me of a gentle breeze, lingering in the midst of ancient grove. She explained to us that we had been 'created' from the earth on which we stood, and she wished us to live here with her. It didn't seem like a bad idea, since none of us knew who we were anyway. When one asked what her name was, she seemed to hesitate. Finally, she answered. Rasconza, she said, and one by one she named us as well. I was given the name Israfel. She told me to write, and I did. Apparently there was some important information we would need to record for our descendants.... I must admit I had no idea what she was talking about. Rasconza told me to write down the creation of the Amiasu, wolf creatures formed from the leftover magic she had used to create us. I thought it was bizarre, but when the wolf beings, the Amiashu, as she called them, appeared over the horizon, I quickly wrote down all I could. Now as they attack, I can only hope this record survives. -Israfel :

Rasconza slowly closed the book, and Mikan exhaled a held breath. : I never knew we had such knowledge in our library. Rasconza, they called her? Perhaps you were named after her, Ras. It seems our clan has forgotten much, in the past years. : Mikan muttered.

Rasconza simply shook her head. : Can you read this? :

Emikanu peered over, and shook her head. : But you can, so.... :

Again, Rasconza shook her head. : No, I can't. Or rather, I couldn't. : Her explanation was met with a confused silence. : I couldn't read a word when I opened the book. When you asked if I could read it, the words changed. Maybe it was only in my eyes, but the print looks like clear Tundarian to me. : Mikan sighed.

: If you ask me, it looks like gibberish. :

Rasza grinned. : Maybe. :

Mikan sighed. : Look, we gotta go before the.... Amiashu, is what you called them, show up again. : Rasconza nodded, and they began to take the books from the shelves once more.

The two filled a small pack, Mikan had brought it with her when she left that morning, with the scrolls, and fixed it firmly on Rasconza's back. Satisfied, the two dashed across the marble flooring, skidding to a halt at the doors. Emikanu pushed it open for her friend, who in turn hastened down the road. Mikan rolled her eyes and shut the door behind her, sauntering off to catch Rasza before she was out of sight. It was important that they stick together, in times such as these.

Emikanu's eyes widened. Rasconza stood just down the snowy street, apparently frozen with fear.

Rasza had only traveled a few yards down the street when she heard the crack of the gates. Slowly turning around, her eyes widened as the front gates came crashing down. The Amiashu sprang forward, and she could faintly hear Mikan yelling something at her from afar. As hard as she tried, her muscles refused to budge. The nearest Amiashu charged her, and the only thing she could do was close her eyes and wait for the blow.

Chapter Two

Rasconza opened her eyes as a searing wave of pain traveled the length of her back, but it was not the pain she had been expecting. She shook her head, dizzy from the fall, and noticed she had been pushed into a large rock wall. Confused, she looked about, and spotted the dead body of her Amiashu attacker just a few feet away. Blood covered the ground and she realized part of it was her own, as the back of her head received a small cut from the sharp edges of the rock she had hit. She stood, and it took several seconds for her to regain her balance and senses. The first thing she noticed was the lack of movement in the streets, so she assumed the Amiashu had been driven out or moved to another part of the city. However, Emikanu was no where in sight, and it concerned her greatly.

Stumbling into the street, Rasconza began to call for her friend. Above her, terrified voices filled the air, but she could not hear them. Her eyes were solely focused on the limp form down the street, drenched in blood. Her heart began to beat faster and faster as she moved with a seemingly sluggish pace down the cobbled road. : No.... it can't be. : Rasconza thought to herself, and her thoughts filled her confused brain.

Rasconza rushed to the aid of her friend, gently rolling Emikanu to her side. :Mikan! Mikan, can you hear me? : At first there was no reply, but after a moment the draikess fluttered her eyes. With an unfocused gaze she looked at Rasza, and smiled softly.

: You're alright.... that's good. : Her voice faded off into silence, and for a second she closed her eyes. Rasconza panicked and shook her, until Mikan opened her eyes.

: Emikanu, what happened? I thought- :

: You were in danger, and I wanted to protect you. I'm sorry if you got hurt in the process. That thing would've killed you in one blow, if I didn't shove you out of the way. : She grimaced as she spoke, and for the first time, Rasconza was aware of the pool of blood gathering at their feet. She gasped with horror, and her eyes widened at the large gashes across her companion's body and tail.

Emikanu noticed her gaze, and tried to stand. : It's nothing bad, I'll be fine. : As she wobbled on her trembling legs, her body was shaken with heaving coughs, and blood dribbled out of the edges of her mouth. She wiped what she could off with her tail, before Rasconza made her lie down a few feet away, in front of a ransacked building.

: I only know a little of the ancient healing arts, but I'm going to try and stop the bleeding. Hold still, Mikan. : Rasconza whispered calmly into her friend's ear, in a vain attempt to relax her. Emikanu was shaking badly, and she would pass out soon from the blood loss alone.

Rasconza placed her paws on Emikanu's shaking ones, and whispered a short incantation. Emikanu gave her a questioning glance, before it was replaced with utter amazement. Rasconza's eyes flashed white, before returning to normal. Rainbow colored sparks traveled down her arms into Mikan's paws, and up her chest. The sporadic sparks traveled over her body, sealing wounds and restoring her fur to its normal shine. As soon as all of the external wounds were healed, Rasconza's eyes fluttered and closed, and the healing stopped. A sigh escaped her lips, and she looked up anxiously into the pale eyes watching her every move.

: I did what I could. It was only a simple spell that I learned from books, and it didn't help the internal bleeding at all. I'm going to have to find someone else. I've heard of a great healer in the north- : Rasconza stopped when Emikanu inhaled sharply at the mere mention of the North, but she continued on nevertheless. : I've heard this healer is an experienced elder, so maybe.... will you wait for me?:

Through the pain in Rasconza's eyes Emikanu could see a small flicker of hope. There was not a single draik in the city that had the means of healing her, and at this rate, she wouldn't last much longer. She nodded, and gave Rasza a grin. : I'll wait forever, if I have too.

Rasconza nodded, and took off. There was no time to spare. She just hoped her parents would forgive her.

Emikanu watched with bitterness welling up in her heart. : I promised never to leave you, and now, you are leaving me. Just return safely, Rasconza. : Through her fading vision she could see a large group approaching her, and voices calling out. : If anyone can do it, it's you, Ras. : With those final thoughts, Emikanu slipped into darkness.

Chapter Three

The snow and barren land flew beneath her feet as Rasconza dashed to the base of the mountains. The great stone hills loomed above her head, and she gulped. Although she was determined to get around these ancient mountains, saying it aloud was much easier than carrying the task out.

Starting off was not too difficult for her. An unused path cut its way through the gentle slope, before it came to an abrupt halt at the edge of an impressive gorge. The length of it was unknown to Rasconza, but she could see a steep incline not too far away, leading to the first section of the pass.

The decent did not take her long, but climbing back up was another story. It had only been a few hours since she had first left, but her limbs were starting to ache, and she was growing hungry. : Fool, you forgot to bring food with you.... : It took her several long, arduous minutes to reach the other side once she began to climb. With a sigh she collapsed on the ground, and shouldered the heavy pack off of her back. She sat there for several moments, restoring her energy, when a though occurred to her. The pack! Surely Mikan would not have left to explore without packing food.

Rasza pulled the heavy bag over to where she was sitting, and browsed through the contents. Besides the numerous books she had packed at the library, she found a lengthy piece of rope, several dried fruits (which she assumed had been stolen from the market earlier that day), and a large quantity of dried meat. It was enough food to last the rest of the journey, she hoped.

Weary and mentally exhausted, Rasconza curled up under a small alcove in the mountain's base, and went to sleep. There was much traveling to do the next day, if she hoped to clear the pass and make it back in time before winter came around.

----

Sunlight fluttered into Rasconza's sleeping place, warming her cold body and waking her from her restless dreams. Her eyes slowly opened and she surveyed the area with sleepy blue-green eyes. It was time for another march.

With the sun warming her very core, the young draikess covered many leagues before she stopped to eat. Rasconza nibbled slowly on a piece of dried meet, and contented herself with water from a nearby spring. It wasn't nutritious, but it would suffice. When her meal was finished Rasza began the last climb up the slope. Since Lovithial was a valley in the center of the mountains, she didn't have far to go to reach the mountain's peak. Once on the other side of the mountain, the slope dropped suddenly and quickly, stopping at the base a good couple thousand feet below.

On her way up, Rasconza fell numerous times. Determination kept her pressing on, and the sting from the cuts along her legs soon faded. As the sun began to set in the evening sky of red and gold, Rasconza sluggishly hauled herself onto the peak. Two hard days of traveling and she had made it to the top with little incident. She curled up near a small pile of rocks and watched the sun set. : If only Mikan could see this. : Pain stung in her heart as she thought of her injured friend. : The medics should be able to keep her stable for a little while, at least. I'll have to double my speed when I set off again. : She sorted through the thoughts buzzing in her head, but once again sleep was needed. She leaned against the cold face of the small rock below her, and drifted into sleep.

----

The next few days went by quickly. It all seemed a blur, when she later recalled it. Stumbling down the sheer face of the mountain was much more difficult than Rasconza had planned. Carefully inching down, the stone gave way, and she tumbled down several hundred feet in a matter of seconds. Luckily a soft bed of bushes provided her a softer landing, although her body ached and she was so dizzy standing was not an option for several minutes.

When she reached the bottom that afternoon, Rasconza was spotted by several traders who happened to be traveling the road that followed the edge of the mountain. With a little persuasion she managed to get a ride to the next town over, which was her goal in the first place.

She had been dropped off at the nearest inn, and with a glad heart rented a room for the night. Her legs would carry her no further, and she needed her wits if she was to convince the village shaman to come with her back to her home of Lovithial. Rasconza hoped Emikanu was still alive when she returned, but discarded the thoughts with disgust. Of course Mikan would be alive. Emikanu promised not to leave her behind.

Chapter Four

As a dismal gray sky covered the land in a silent wonder, Rasconza awoke to a gentle knock on her door. She stretched her sore limbs and went to the door, where she was greeted warmly by the inn keeper. The short Shoyru gave a small bow, and handed over a letter.

: This came for you this morning. It arrived from the south, carried by a large white owl. : She handed the anxious Rasza the tattered letter and left her in the room.

Padding softly over to the small fire contentedly blazing in the corner, she peeled open the envelope and took out a short piece of paper. There wasn't much written, but she identified the handwriting as her father's.

|Rasconza, I don't know how far you've gotten, but I want to let you know Emikanu's doing much better. The internal bleeding stopped as soon as she took a drink from the Eternal Spring, and she should recover quickly. However, there is still the problem of the ice wolves that have started attacking. Once more have they attacked since you left, and I hope this owl isn't intercepted before it reaches you. The beasts don't seem to die, but if nothing is done, our city will quickly fall. That is why I request that you head south, to the Soul Collector on a remote island, where he resides. If physical damage doesn't kill these things, perhaps we should look to the supernatural. Tell him Kratos sent you, and maybe even mention you are my daughter. He may be more willing to help out.

Remember, your mother and I will be patiently waiting your return. Best of luck.

P.S. There should be a map somewhere in that bag you ran off with.| Kratos' name was scribbled out near the bottom, and it made Rasza giggle. Leave it to her father to know what books she had taken from the library.

The soft sunlight squeezed through a small crack between the window curtains, drawing Rasconza's attention the dusty drapes. She pulled them back with a flick of her paw, and for several minutes she admired the view of the mountains in the distance. How she longed to see the towering peaks of her ancient home in the South Arctic. That journey would have to wait for another day. Rasconza had a job to do.

Sauntering her way down the poorly lighted hallways of the inn, Rasza found herself in a small but cozy common room. A meal was already being prepared for her by a burly Lupe in the kitchen, and the nice innkeeper served her a nice glass of juice before she had her breakfast. Coins were exchanged and Rasconza ate her meal, happy to have decent food to give her a little boost for the morning.

After packing the few things she had brought along, Rasconza said farewell to the cheerful Shoyru and headed off. For a few miles she traveled down a worn dirt road, until it forked off in several directions. Pulling a tattered and dusty map out of her bag, Rasconza began to plot her course and find her current location. After studying the map for a few minutes, she had her answer. The inn was not far from the far side of the Shenkuu half of the Terror Mountain range, which placed her roughly a hundred miles away from the nearest port. In order to find out more about the Amiashu and the Soul Keeper she would need to find a library large enough to suit her needs. Thinking it over, she decided to head to the vast Lost Desert and search for her answer in the old libraries that still lingered in the cities of Qasala and Sakhmet.

Rasconza turned and started along the southwest road, humming softly to herself as she began her long journey.

Chapter Five

It had only been three days, and already she was beginning to tire. Rasconza slowed her pace and looked to the white sky above. It had been three days... and she found herself caught in a snowstorm. The icy flakes fell to the ground, showering her in white blanket.

Everything was white. The sky hadn't even shown a glimpse of blue since she left, and it had been snowing almost constantly for the last day and a half. Rasconza sighed. Perhaps this mission was just too much for her to handle. If she didn't reach the sea soon, she probably wouldn't survive more than a week. Almost all her food had been consumed, and her only hope was the town on the shore where she was headed.

Lifting her head in a vain attempt to see a patch of sun in the horizon, Rasconza spotted something that made her heart leap. Blue! It was faint, just on the horizon, but it was there. With a suddun burst of energy she raced across the freezing tundra, her claws scratching along the frozen surface as she went. It was no more than a few minutes later when she reached the edge, and a radiant happiness spread across Rasconza's features.

She had reached the sea.

----

Finding a boat had been relatively easy. There was a small ship that had arrived, hunting some of the exotic artic fish, and were just about to leave when Rasconza found them. She spoke with the FrozenEagles captain about getting a ride to the island they were heading too, and although he seemed surprised to see a Draik way up north in the frozen wastelands, he agreed.

Rasconza leaned peacefully on the rail, content to watch the ocean. It was her first time seeing it... and in her mind, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The waves rolled lazily by, while white puffy clouds made their way across the bright blue sky. The weather had cleared up quickly after her departure, and looked like it would hold until she reached her destination. Head south, that was all her father told her. Not much of a help, really.

After a few moments, Rasconza decided to question the crew aboard the ship. Perhaps they would of heard of the island... being sailors and all, they must have heard something. Rasconza padded down the deck, towards a small group of sailors playing a game of cards near the port bow. They looked up as she approached, and set their cards down. The nearest sailor, a rugged black Lupe, spoke first. :Ye be needin something, missy?: Rasconza nodded, and approached.

:I'm looking for an island, south from where we left...: She stopped as a few chuckled, and gave them questioning glances.

The Lupe spoke again. :There be lotsa islands south of were ye were, since ye was about as far north as wun can get.: Rasconza sighed in frustration.

:To be more specific... I'm looking for an island inhabited by a Soul Collector.: Rasconza continued, although she wasn't sure if that would help.

There was a silence that overcame the men, and they looked from one to the other. Worry crossed the faces, and nothing was said for several minutes.

:I know that island,: the Lupe began, :but I've never heard of anyone /wanting/ to go there. They say it's haunted by some foul creature that can steal your soul... I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone. I suggest you go back home, missy.: The Lupe was surprised by Rasconza's shake of the head.

She smiled, and thanked them. :I have to go... he's the only one that can help my people. Don't worry about me, the soul collector you speak of is apparently an old family friend or something. Perhaps.. you could show me the way?: Rasconza questioned, hopeful.

The Lupe sighed in dismay. :I guess theres point in argueing with ye... we go by the island on our way teh Mystery Island, so we can prolly drop ye off when we pass. Come tumarra mornin, you'll see teh island off of the starboard side.: Rasconza thanked him once more, and headed below to her assigned sleeping chambers. Her questioning had been fruitful.

Chapter Six

Rasconza slept peacefully, and was woken the next morning by a soft tapping on her door. A muffled 'wake up' echoed on the other side of the metal door. With a yawn she pulled herself off of her comfy bed, and went out into the hall. Other's were already busy bustling around, doing chores and the like. The draikess padded up to the deck, where she was greeted by the captain and the Lupe from before.

The captain pointed off the starboard side, to an island just barely visible behind a blanket of fog. :It's hard to miss, really. Always surrounded by that unatural fog, no matter what the weather is. I've supplied you with a rowboat and one of my men, but we can only take you to the fog's edge. You'll have to swim from there.:

Rasconza nodded. Fair enough.

Boarding the small rowboat, the Lupe pushed them off, throwing the rope that held it back up to the waiting deckhand above. The trip was silent, save for the rythmic pulse of the waves against the side of the boat. All too soon the Lupe stopped, and gave Rasconza a small pat on the back. :Be careful, girly.:

Rasconza nodded, secured her belonging around her neck, and dove into the sea.

The water was cold, but it did not penetrate her protective layer of fur. Although the Tundra Draik species may have been more suited for mountains and land, they were still excellent swimmers. In no time at all she found herself on the silent shores of the island, dripping wet and hungry. Rasconza pulled out some food of her bag, amazingly still dry, and satiated her hunger. Now that she was on the island, she wasn't exactly sure what to do.

After putting the uneaten food back into her bag, Rasconza looked around. How was she supposed to find this soul collector anyway? Sure, it was an island, but it was still large. It could take her days to just cover it all, and she might not even find him. It was then she spotted the glowing eyes watching her from the shadows. She stopped, a chill running up her back.

Apparently, she wouldn't have to look after all.

Chapter Seven

~*~*~*~

Name: Rasconza (Raz-cawn-za)
Alias: Rasza (Rah-za)
Gender: Female
Species: Tundra Draik
Age: Seventeen
Fur: Smokey blue, pale blue underbelly
Mane/Tail: Silver-gray
Eyes: Green/Cerulean
Webbing: Lavender, between her 'ears' and her fin spikes
Markings: White-silver
Body Type: Medium build, slightly larger back paws, not overly muscular
Height: Approximately 3.5 feet (to her shoulder)
Hobbies: Reading, frolicing in the snow, exploring the tundras
Personality: Inquisitive, intelligent; shy, timid; friendly, but cautious

Owner: Sai (unsealed)
Neopet Species: Draik
Paint: Maraquan
Favorite Person: unsealed =)

Physical Characteristics

	Rasconza has fairly small, dainty paws, as far as the Tundra Draik species is concerned. In between each toe is a very sharp, pointed claw, perfect for gripping into slippery surfaces, such as ice. Her back paws are much larger than her front paws, and can be spread out, much like the toes of a reindeer. With more surface area, her rough pads can have more area to adhear to.
	The rainbow band around Rasconza's tail is comprised of diamond-hard scales, barely visible to the un-aided eye. The teeny-tiny scales are very reflective, but also serve as a defence. Being so small and tightly fit together, the band around her tail is extremely sturdy, and can deflect most blows with ease.
	The webbing in between Rasza's back and ear spikes serve a double purpose. Not only does it detect and absorb sounds of a wide range of frequencies, but they also filter oxygen from the water when she is submerged. The membrane is thin and flexible, and it's large surface area allows for easy diffusion of oxygen into her blood stream. However, it is only a temporary and small amount she can absorb, and when her lungs run out of air, she resurfaces to breathe.
	Her eyes are a blend of cool colors, and have a variety of dark green, teal, and blue hues. Rasconza's pupil is a dark green blue, and blend in with her iris. She does not have eagle-eyes, but she has keener vision than most of her clan. In the blaring light of snow covered ground, her eyes absorb large amounts of light, which allows her to see clearer than usual.

~*~*~*~

Loves and Hates

Snowflakes
Cold
Books
The moon
Soft, flowing music
Making snow sculptures
Reading
Traveling
Swimming
Friendly people

Heat
Pollution
Large cities
Getting dirty
Losing her books
Zoos
Scammers
Art Thieves

~*~*~*~

Family

Kyrouan
A stranger draik I have never met. She was just wandering around in the freezing cold, although she didn't seem to notice at all. I took her to my temporary residence at the base of Terror Mountain, and gave her something to eat. She hadn't eaten for a while, it seemed, and we had a long discussion while she satisfied her empty stomach. I've grown quite attached to her, and taken her in as a little sister. She's only a couple years younger than myself, and is far more mature than she pretends. I'm glad I met her, and Ky has pulled me out of some pretty nasty situations.

Mythologize
(Currently waiting to be morphed) Myth is quite a character, I must admit. He seems rather reclusive and distant at first, but if you pester him enough he starts to open up. I ran into this Soul Reaper in the middle of a mission, which I can say, was quite unpleasant. Despite all the dirty work he carries out for his death spirit lords, he tends to be rather repulsed by his line of work.

~*~*~*~

Friends

Eterna
Eterna is quite a pleasant Krawk. I met her just before a heavy blizzard, and we traveled together to a lodge in a large valley, covered in ice ans snow. She reminds me of someonw I used to know, but I don't know why she would seem so familiar to me.

~*~*~*~

The Tundra Draik: by Sai

Ah, now time for some explaining! (Something which I fail at....) I tend to jump around in Rasconza's story, which makes the history and development of the Tundra Draik rather confusing and hard to follow. The story will eventually be sorted out, once I have a decent amount of time to sit down and filter everything through my spastic little brain. =)

First off, I'll start with the history and creation of the Tundra Draik clan. Although it's a story in itself, I will attempt to shorten it as much as possible.

The origin of the Tundra Draik is unknown, save for the few who have access to the ancient scrolls in the Lovithial library. This certain species of Draik is only found on the southern continent of Neopia, which they refer to as the Southern Arctic. Very few inhabit the area, which makes it much easier for them to survive on the little food and plant life that grows there.

As for the physical appearance, the Tundra Draik species is pretty odd. The back feet of any given Tundra Draik are /slightly/ larger than the front, for the sole purpose of gripping the ice, or snow covered ground. The back toes have the ability to spread out, creating more surface area, and thus more to grip with.

Not all Tundra Draiks have back fins. Mostly the females of the group possess the back fins, although an occasional male will be born with it as well. However, the coddle fin, located on the tail, is more commonly seen, and the furred tail is much less common.

Although a large percentage of the species do have ear horns or spikes, there are still others with furry ears or no external ears at all.

The eyes are probably one of the most curious characteristics of the Tundra Draik. Of all the members the clan, only two were born with light eyes: Rasconza and Emikanu. Around the age of 2-3 months, a young Tundra Draik's eyes change from a light blue or green to a dark green, blue, or even black. In the case of Rasza and Mikan, the pigment did not change like it should have.

As far as a government system goes, there isn't really anything permenant. The clan has one main leader, who selects several advisors to help with anything from choosing a new hunting site to making battle plans. The actual Tundra Draik leader is choosen through a series of tasks and voting. The competitors must pass both to have a chance at earning the title of clan leader. However, they still see all of the clan's members as equal. The leader is mostly there for making final decisions and declaring war.

Although this is only a brief and vague covering of the species, this section should hopefully give you a brief synopsis of the Tundra Draik.

~*~*~*~

We Share the Same Path

I've met others of my kind on my travels, which I found surprising, considering the fact that hardly anyone left Lovithial to my knowledge. I've started a log, so I can keep track of those that have also left our city of ice. Perhaps this list will be helpful in the future.
-Rasconza

[img]
Nocten

Stuffs go here. C:

~*~*~*~

Adoptables

Above is my reference sheet. It can be used in case you feel like making me a custom adoptable, fanart, or something. x3

Rules
Don't steal them, don't claim they are yours, don't enter them in the BC.....

Or I will EAT you. =3

Replace COLOR with whatever paint color you want. =3 Link back to this page, please!

Current colors available: blue.png, green.png, red.png, shadow.png, white.png, yellow.png

Customs

If you aren't sure what the file name is, hover over your adoptable.

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Ice Carvings

Hover over the adoptable to see the name of the lovely person who made it. =3

It's so cute! =3 Thank you again, Diane!

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Below are all of the images Sai has captured of me. (My zoomorph doodles are also included in here.) Drag them to the address bar to see the full, un-squished version. Listed from newest to oldest.

BC entry

Memories of the Past
Old Design (by frozen_fire_dragon, unless otherwise stated)

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Look at the fantastic art I recieved! =). You guys are all really awesome.

I can't even describe how cool this is. Erika, you rock. =3

Hikabunny's (Hikarii) awesome. That's why her art pwns. =3

Fanart from itarasi! =3 Thank you so much!

This lovely pieces of art were drawn by (in order, starting from the top-left): Hidrate, Ninetails390, Fang (on Neopound), Hikabunni, Itarasi, 1_georgie_1, Lynx (Neopound), Cavy_wolfe, Piscesmoon, Ninetails390, Hidrate, Hidrate, Spiffuh (Neopound), Aztecan (Neopound), frozen_fire_dragon, silvermoon_fox

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BC Archive

June 6th: Goldbanned with 315 votes

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Awards

8'D

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Credits

It would take to much space to list all of the lovely people who helped me with adoptables, art, and all that fun stuff. You know who you are. x)

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