"Dragon-Wolf Legends: I" by Hope L Bryant

When the children of Allura went in search of new territories to claim and protect, as was their command, three chose Her Great Mountain of the Southern Ranges. Bickering broke out across the length and breadth of the Great Mount's face and innards. This bickering turn to out right War, as tempers rose to levels nearly hotter than dragon flame./P

It is said that those of Elemental Earth's Brood wanted the caverns, and interior keeps and strongholds as their own, leaving the Great Peaks and the skin of the Mount to any who dared the climb. Those who claimed the Elemental Winds as their birth-right wanted the skies and skin, the summits and valleys free of any intruder. This they chose as their right and proper Home. The Great Ones that shared the very essence of Elemental Fire wanted the whole Mount under their domain, not truly believing the combined efforts of their kin and kind would keep the Scared Mountain free from harm.

Fire's Brood lost many and searched for those who would aide their Quest. Though they found few which would come to their side as allies, the Ingenious Ones created cousins to fight by their side. This is how the Fire Drakes, and Flame Stars found life among Allura's Brood. Earth's Brood fell into their Sleeping time, and were nearly slaughtered outright in their very Lairs. Air's Brood rescued those of the Earth, and took all they could find back to Safe Haven. This was Air's most well kept secret, and its children's' only true means of defense. Here Earth's Children replenished their numbers and agreed to ally themselves with those born to Air. This was The First Pact.

In the blink of dragon eyes, only several draconian generations later, there was born the first child of both Bloods. He was preened and taught the finer arts both Air and Earth offered. Thusly, he became a great and powerful Battle Mage, and ravaged his Enemies camps and lairs. By the time of his Eighth Shedding, his very name inspired fear and his shadow confirmed Death. Yet. . . , as powerful as he was, his very heart is said to have been his undoing.

The Time of Mating approached and he felt the need to share his days with another. Oh, he didn't have a lack of possible mates to chose, but he wished to find a true match to his soul. He sensed that two younger females of his Tribe could easily pair their souls to his own. . . , yet there was a third who he knew not her face or scent. The Great Allura had gifted him with the Choice of Three, and a heart unlike any dragon before him. He sought not just to continue his blood-line, but to chose a Life-Mate. Many of his battle-siblings scoffed at his words and heart-felt beliefs, but he persevered.

Then one overcast, nearly moon-less Evening he saw her. She was tending a severe wound to her wing membranes, as he landed lightly next to her. Unlike all the others, she did not seemed startled by his silent approach. . . , instead she watched him from a half-lidded eye. She was a lovely one indeed, a height that not only matched but complemented his own sheer size, and an inner strength that belied her delicate grace. Her muscles rippled beneath scales so dark, he couldn't make out their coloration or patterns. She was as much born to the night and to silent stalking as he to out-right battle and conquest.

He was smitten.

She knew who he was from the very scent of his approach. . . , and feared him. He was the bane to all she knew and loved. Her scales, as deep as night itself and a darker red than blood itself, shivered in-voluntarily. He blindly mistook her for one of his pact-allies, but she knew the truth. . . , all to well.

She feared his touch as he reached a hand to heal her wounds, but the gentleness of the spell and the look in his eyes quelled them instantly . He was the killer of her tribe and Blood, a sworn enemy and. . . , yet he cherished her. Her heart broke, because she knew, she Knew he didn't know the truth of the matter at hand. . . , and on any other given day would kill her outright. She shied away, trying to put distance between them, trying to outrun her own heart.

Yet, her courted her, wooed her, established the First Ritual of Life-mates. When he learned the truth the very next morning. . . , his mind raged at the imposed insult. But instead of killing her as she yet slept, he gathered her closer and promised his very Soul to her own. . . , as long as she would have him by her side for Always. She awoke to a startling revelation, as he continued to tend her wounds. . . . , by day light! When he asked her to be his for nigh unto Forever, she nearly fainted with shock and disbelief. She saw the need and emptiness-of-soul reflected in his eyes, and she melted. Although her nod of assent was barely discernable, he saw it none-the-less and claimed all the Great Sacred Mountain for her and her alone.

They took to the very peek of the Sacred Mountain to build their Lair, and thusly claimed it for all Three Clans. This is how the First Multi-Blooded Clan came to the Mountain, and how the War was won with everyone a victor.