Full Name: Taika Avon Arefana

Desired VA: Susan Egan

Parents: Ivor Arefana and Avon Gloeien

Siblings: Titan, Alban, Ragnar

Age: 338

Positive Traits: Wise beyond her years, kind, strong, diligent, diplomatic, knows when to call it quits, stoic when needed, good negotiator

Negative Traits: Overprotective, stubborn, has a habit of making debates, very strong-willed, sarcastic

Elements: Water, Ice, Light, and Electricity; Strong Aether element

Bio: Taika is the first-hatched child of the farmers Ivor and Avon. She and her siblings never knew her mother, as Avon passed shortly after laying their eggs due to a preexisting heart condition she didn't know she had. Taika was soon followed by her three brothers: Alban, Titan, and Ragnar. The four of them had happy childhoods, helping their father with the farm when they could and attended school in Warfang. Despite being Twilight dragons, they were treated well and made many friends.

As she got older, Taika developed a talent for ending fights with only her words. An empathetic and well-meaning soul, Taika developed a reputation as a mediator among her peers. This eventually caught the eye of the Guardians, who watched Taika and her brothers end a particularly violent playground fight between the Fire Guardian's apprentice Ignitus and the Water Guardian's apprentice Kaunga.

Some time later, the children each took up an apprenticeship: Alban began his training with the temple's Librarian, San Silvercloud, Titan and Ragnar enlisted in the Peace Keepers as part of their Air Force, and Taika was selected to train as an ambassador for the Twilight dragons under the elderly Asher Frostmane. Over the years, Taika did everything she could to prove to the world that Twilight dragons were not a reflection of the first of their kind, but were trying to spread a message of peace and end the warring between the elemental flights.

Taika went on countless missions to end conflict between dragon flights and offer a peaceful resolution rather than one of bloodshed, some more successful than others. Many saw her as a harbinger of war and refused to listen to her words, leaving her frequently disheartened; But being a dragoness raised by a father who was just as stubborn as she was, Taika was not one to give up so easily. Taika's persistence and wisdom won many over, and over the years earned herself the title of Ambassador.

Some time later as Taika awaited to depart on a particularly dangerous trip to the Shattered Vale, she was informed that she would be assigned a bodyguard. She asked who, and through the door walked none other than Ignitus Firethroat.

She hadn't seen him since the playground fight she and her brothers stopped when they were children. He'd changed quite a bit since they were young, not just in appearance either. He'd softened up quite a bit over the years, his training as the Fire Guardian apprentice having disciplined him enough to not act like an entitled little brat to others. Taika asked him how many times he had to have his tail kicked to see that, and playing right off her words Ignitus replied 'Oh, about thirty-four.'

It was during this trip to the Shattered Vale that the group was suddenly lost in a wicked snowstorm. Taika became separated and somehow wound up over a hundred miles past her intended destination and right at the gateway to Malefor... The Dark Master's twisted kingdom. With her right wing and foreleg broken, Taika was stranded in the dark realm with no way to signal the others to where she was. Any hope of leaving was shattered in a matter of moments as Taika found herself surrounded by the Dark Master's minions and one of his higher-ups: A dragon. The armored dragon introduced herself as Kole, and brought Taika to her bunker near the central chamber of the fortress, where over the next several days was treated for her injuries. Kole explained that she was a spy for the Brujala clan, and was sending information back to Warfang about the Dark Master's plans regarding future attacks on the Realms. She was in a bit of a pickle however; Because she was so favored by the Dark Master for her prowess and cunning, she was in no position to leave unless it meant her death. If she died, her clan would be without an heir and the Brujala would be no more.

Taika agreed to help Kole escape. Kole would act as though she were taking Taika to the giant statue that allowed her to speak directly to the Dark Master in the event that he wasn't at the mountain. In the chamber was an escape tunnel that had been constructed just in case of a direct attack that the two could use to escape. Taika would feign an attack on Kole and use her Light element to camouflage them both and allow them to slip into the tunnel unseen. As the two were entering the chamber however, the Dark Master himself unexpectedly arrived as well; It seemed his venture to the Darklands had gone quicker than either of them had expected. He was immediately charmed by Taika and her kind nature, and brought her to his chambers for a bit of conversation.

What happened in those chambers is not entirely certain. However, what is known is that Taika was allowed to leave the mountain freely with Kole as her escort and that she would return the following year and leave... something behind.

Once Taika regrouped with Ignitus and the others, she continued her Ambassador duties as she always did.
Aside from the hiccup in the beginning, the trip was a success. Kole left the group to return to her clan and Taika and Ignitus picked up where they left off, the pair of them getting on as if they were old friends.
Over time they became close, forming a secret relationship that eventually blossomed into romance; However, this was dangerous. Guardians were forbidden from marrying, and Taika's role as Twilight Ambassador was too important to be thrown away for the sake of love.

However, they were both too stubborn to back down. The two married in secret with Taika's friend Phobia officiating and only their closest friends and family there to witness the union.
It was around this time that Taika disappeared to the Shattered Vale for reasons known only to herself and Kole. Ignitus had his suspicions, but knew better than to ask why; Taika was loyal to her cause and would never succumb to the Darkness. At least not in the ways he expected.

They continued their duties as usual for a good decade, but then something happened that would rock Taika's world to its core.

An unforeseen string of violent attacks against every city that Taika had visited over the last few decades had occurred at an alarming rate; All fingers pointed to the Twilight dragons, accusing them of secretly being in alliance with the Dark Master. Everyone thought they'd come out of nowhere, but Taika knew the truth: Kole had been found out as a spy by the Dark Master and his forces, and Taika's involvement in Kole escaping was made public by an unknown defector.

Twilight dragons were being imprisoned and lynched left and right, forcing Taika and her family into hiding on Ivor's farm. Heartbroken and angry that everything she'd worked for had been taken away, Taika broke down. Realizing that it was too dangerous for them to stay, Taika and Alban sent word throughout the entire realm calling all Twilight dragons to join them and evacuate. She would not let her people suffer because of misplaced terror and suspicion. All the remaining Twilight dragons in the realms gathered at her family's farm, and just when they were about to leave Taika was shocked to see Ignitus and all of the other Guardians land as well. Not only the Guardians, but the first four flights that Taika had ended the conflict between: The Magic Crafters, the Artisans, the Dream Weavers, and the Beast Makers. The leader of the Beast Makers, Bruno Marshwing, walked up to Taika and spoke: “I don't believe for a moment that your people are responsible for those attacks, Arefana. You helped us end the war between our flights, so let us help you reach safety.”

The new Flight then left Warfang behind and flew toward the south, over the mountains to the sea long after that city was gone from their sights. They flew for days, weeks, until they finally reached the distant southern continent of Avalar.

The Lightning Guardian, Volteer, had informed the Fauns there of the dragons' situation some time beforehand. How he did so, nobody knew, but all that mattered was that sanctuary had been prepared for them in the peaceful Autumn Plains. While Taika felt like a failure as an ambassador, she knew she could return to it someday later; for now, she needed to rest. It's not good for a mother-to-be to strain herself.

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Taika finally got a much needed updated reference!

Art and character © Me