Dance of the Dragon

The large wing-marked young man stepped forward directly into the flames before he even began his dance. Normally this act was not only frowned upon by the clan. The flames themselves would burn the offender so thoroughly that not even ash would remain. However, miraculously the flames did not burn him. Instead, he began his dance just as the shadows of four dragons appeared.

His first movements were large and powerful. His every stride carrying him part of the way around the fire, the dragon's heads turned following him. His movements were fast and outlandish as he danced behind the flames. The fires became his partner as the two performed a wild waltz as if battling to see who was more untamed the movements grew more outlandish as the flames blazed brilliantly.

Another large stride took him to the left side of the fire. His movements slowed, no longer carrying the outlandish nature of the previous dance. In this second dance, he displayed character from his very core. His movements were tame and fluid, each one flowing into the next, the flame still danced wildly beside him and he responded to his partner by allowing them to take the lead. He followed the flames and as they shone so to did he.

His next stride took him through the flames and to the right side of the flames. His third movement was followed by the flames. With even more fire than normal burning on him and the flame dancing with him, he created a beautiful dance. He and the flames moved as one, nothing could impede them as they moved together. When his movements slowed the flame calmed, when they sped up the flame blazed brightly, he expressed so much pain through his first movements, each one a struggle to complete as the fires burned him ever so slowly within.

He snapped back to a faster pace and the flames that burned him, healed him, his movements expressing confidence and peace. Soon they returned to struggle, like waves his movements circled between pain and peace, burning and healing. When all that was left was him and the flame merging, he continued on his final movement.

His final stride brought him to the front of the fire, right back where he started and in front of Selene. But he did not dance, he stood still as the flame danced in front of him. Three of the four dragon shadows swooped down and through him before coiling around him. There was a gap that allowed everyone to see through the dragons. This place was meant for the fourth and final dragon, which for some reason hadn't moved.

After coiling around him for some time the dragons exploded, scattering into embers. As the embers danced in the wind, he once again began his dance. This dance was unlike the ones before. It was not wild or tame, it did not express confidence or pain, it seemed to be a dance that spoke of discovery. Every movement was filled with uncertainty, his hesitance making him seem like an amateur. But to the surprise of many, the final dragon shadow seemed to respond to this. The shadow itself performed a dance of its own that looked very similar to the young man. The dragon's dance removed the hesitance and each movement was sharp as it coiled, entangled, and unfurled itself.

The dragon had danced all over the crater and most had missed that during its dance it had gathered the embers of the other dragons. It charged straight into the young man and the flame followed. The young man's markings were blinding when they shone. A few moments later the light of the markings retreated leaving the young man with the marking of four dragons on his back and coiling down his arms.

He opened his hand and a pale blue flame rose formed on his palm. The crowd cheered madly. Not only had this man done something rarely seen, but he also obtained a mystic power. This naming ceremony had been the most amazing one in a long time.

The dragon-marked man left the crater leaving only Selene to stand alone with no flame. It was only when he exited that everyone realized that without the flame, there would be no way to continue the ceremony.