Kuldra's Wrath

When Kuldra was no bigger than a terrorbird, the dragonkin Viika would play with her. They had bonded - the dragon and the seer. It is hard to imagine that this was the same Kuldra whose five heads would eventually loom over Ashenfall.

Their early relationship had but one frosty moment. Viika's eyes glazed over and they grabbed a stick and thrust it into Kuldra's paw. Kuldra screamed and tried to rip the stick out, but it was a splinter that her teeth couldn't reach. It had retreated too far into her body. The playmates were pulled apart, with Viika screaming fragmented nonsense about "bringing a weapon to the world" and "I did what must be done, yet also did not".

Kuldra was confused about the sudden betrayal. She retreated into the pile of rags that she had made into a nest. Later, Viika approached Kuldra with an upturned palm, their thoughts more lucid. They asked Kuldra for forgiveness, and Kuldra gave it happily.

But while they returned to being friends, Kuldra was unable to remove the splinter. It itched and ached as it pushed further into her bloodstream.