When the grass turns to gold and the earth grows cracked and barren, when the trees themselves struggle to keep the light hints of green on the landscape, that's when the skies make StormFire. The rains come, but the land's parched throat is full of tinder, and when the StormFire splits the sky, all who know well will watch and sniff the air for that burning it brings. The mighty crackles and deafening cacophony herald the return of water, but before it, the Fire can burn. The glaives have a tale of many generations ago, how one waited for the StormFire to shred the sky, and followed it to capture it for their own. They returned, and they brought with them a piece of the Fire. The Fire was hungry, ravenous, but warm and bright. And so the glaives made one more small step up from their bestial nature.

Zera traces her lineage back through her family oral history to the one who captured the StormFire and made it theirs. The story has changed, and there are different versions now between the clans. Most cannot even agree if the individual was male or female. Some say they did it to make up for a grave wrongdoing. Others say it was a desperate attempt to win the adulation of a partner. Still others say it was an attempt at revenge; to trap and burn their competition. Some even claim they watched another do it, and stole the idea. Zera's own clan tells the story of one who shivered and suffered in the long winter months, becoming sick and thin to keep her whelp alive. The rains did not come on time. When the StormFire came, she left her whelp, and walked into the Fire it made. She returned, burnt, broken, and died. But the next winter, her whelp, and the clan, did not shiver and suffer the cold.

The nonanthro glaives are semi-intelligent, and capable of language, simple tool use, and the taming of fire. Make no mistakes though, they are still born predators and hunters. But all things do advance, slow and steady. This was a wonderful painting style image by the delightfully sweet Leetah43, who was interested in trying a lineless painting style image. It was a bit of a quick painting but it came out remarkably well, and really showcases their talent! Zera looks positively menacing and fierce here! Powerful and deadly for sure, and flanked by her namesakes. Thank you so much Leetah!

Zera is mine.

Absolutely wonderful portrait art created by the lovely lizard  leetah43

Glaive wyverns and their lore as always created by  skyshadow