They were three. Three of the thirteen eggs quivered atop the
snow-covered peak in the cold mountain wind, while ten sat as silent and
austere as the mountain itself. Of the three, two were healthy, but the
last suffered the scale. When they finally broke through the thick shells,
they found themselves in the nest unchaperoned. The moment's curiosity was
quickly replaced by a new and overwhelming need: survival. With wings yet
furled and talons ungrown, they set upon each other with weak bodies and
tiny, wickedly sharp teeth. Now there was one. This one touched by the
scale had a new thought: food.
The Descent
She was alone, at least in the physical sense. The whispers had begun
about a year earlier. The voice tickled her mind like acid, sweet and
dangerous. She listened, at least at times. Having long since decided it
was futile to argue with the voice, both against its commands and its
existence, she now obeyed the words all the fervor her stubborn demeanor
would allow. This time was different. Never before had she been told to
descend from the snow-covered mountain peak that had been her home. She
lifted herself high above the white apex and circled one last time before
finally beginning her descent.
Description:
A tall, winged nightmare is before you. Her grotesque face is long,
narrow, and partially covered by small gray scales that appear to be dry,
cracked, and coarse in texture. The scales are scattered, but none are
located near her beady black eyes or distinctly feminine nose. Broad wings,
covered by thick brown feathers, protrude from the creature's back and look
completely functional. Her lower half is thoroughly covered by more coarse,
gray, reptilian scales. Each of her long arms and legs ends in hooked,
disfigured appendages that can only be called talons.
