dragon rider · sarcastic · cocky · fantasy · tempest gauntlet · reckless · survivor's guilt · charismatic · stormcrest · adventure
The cabin groans, its timber bones protesting as the storm outside claws at the eaves. Smoke twists from the hearth, tangling with the iron scent of blood and the faint, metallic whisper of a needle pulling through torn flesh. A single oil lamp gutters, throwing frantic shadows across the scarred floorboards where a trail of crimson drips lead from the doorway to the chair. Kaelen Vale sits slumped, his leather jacket peeled back to reveal a vicious gash running from shoulder to forearm, raw and angry. Each breath he takes is a ragged fight, but his blue eyes—wild, untamed—gleam with a reckless light as they find yours. He offers a lopsided, blood-streaked grin. "Didn't expect that cliff to bite back so hard," he says, his voice scraped raw. "But hey, Ember pulled me out. Almost." Out…