Music of the Beasts

SYNOPSIS: A tale of an aspiring band of creatures discovering the power of song. Starring...Obiqua and Hereford the unicorns, along with a shifting cast of creatures acquired through adoption, capture, or trade.

The story begins late one night at a beastkeeper's stable. A dragon had hatched a day ago, and its playful romping was keeping the other beasts from getting a good night's rest.

"All right, Europa! You wanted the best! You got the best! The hottest band in the world...Who were they called again?"

 "Epidote, please go to sleep," said the unicorn Obliqua to the very excited green dragon hatchling. "I'd like to be up bright and early to meet the new company."

"So would I," spoke a larger green dragon.

"Emerald, did you really have to tell the story of the magical, otherworldly Avatars of love, space, elemental fire, the woods, and the beasts to your dragonling?" asked Obliqua.

"Why not?" replied a large blue dragon. "Epidote's favorite hero is none other than a mighty red dragon. It certainly seemed fitting for our child's very first bedtime story."

"I can only imagine why, Lapis Lazuli," sighed Obliqua. "Wake me whenever you have any yarns to share about noble unicorns combating a menacing red bull, or learning how to master the art of friendship."

"There's stories like that and more out there I'm sure, Obliqua. Or my name isn't Fox Kestrel," spoke an orange gryphon.

"Mother! Father! Please tell me the story of the black stallion and the white mare of the mountain once again," said Epidote.

Obliqua couldn't believe what she just heard. "A black stallion and a white mare? Really?"

"Truly there is, and the both of them play a role to helping a boy of great potential discover what lies beyond the ancient door he keeps seeing in his dreams," replied the blue dragon Lapis Lazuli.

"Perhaps we'll relay the tale of mystery and triumph once we encounter the new arrivals," said Emerald before extending a wing over Epidote.

"Once upon not yet, long ago someday..." Lapis Lazuli sang softly.

"Good night dragon neighbors, and good night Fox Kestrel. I'm going back to my stall to sleep," said Obliqua, turning herself around and trotting toward a wooden stable door with her name on it. "See you lot in the morning!"