Leopard the Tribrid

This article contains spoilers for the not yet written Mixed Blood fanfiction by SagepawOfWindClan. Proceed with caution.
Leopard | They/Them | Lesbian | Ice/Sand/Silk | Palace Guard
Leopard is an adult non-binary IceWing/SandWing/SilkWing tribrid who appears in Mixed Blood and currently serves as a palace guard for King Cougar of the SandWings. They are currently in a relationship with Caracal.
== Description ==
Taking over this town, they should worry
But these problems aside, I think I taught you well
That we won't run, and we won't run, and we won't run
Leopard has the build of an IceWing, except for the SandWing sail going down their back and tail. The only SilkWing aspect about their appearance is the antennae on her head. They have two wings. Their scales are mostly white, and they have patterns of light silvery-grey on their wings that give them a unique look. Their underbelly is a pale golden colour, and they have shading of that same colour on their wingtips, ankles, and snout. Leopard has no tail barb, black horns, and a small black spike on the tip of their snout. They can breathe fire and spin silk from glands on their wrists. They have a flower crown woven around and between their horns, given to them by Princess Caracal, and black necklaces draped around their neck.
== Personality ==
And in the winter night sky, ships are sailing
Looking down on these bright blue city lights
And they won't wait, and they won't wait, and they won't wait
We're here to stay, we're here to stay, we're here to stay
They are a defensive dragon. Leopard has experienced discrimination in the past due to both them being a tribrid and their gender identity. They often take things too literally and have a hard time telling when another dragon is being sarcastic. They dislike teasing, regardless of friendliness, as they generally can't tell if it's playful teasing or not. They are a fierce fighter and enjoy fighting to protect the SandWings and their king. They are very loyal to Princess Caracal.
Leopard is kind and sweet once you get past their initial cautiousness. Despite them being hesitant to trust other dragons and get too attached, they often can't help it, and until you betray them they will show their loyalty and do almost anything for you. They are protective over the dragons they care about, and hesitant to let them go into battle. Due to this, Leopard may seem possessive at times, like they want to control you, when in reality they are very concerned for your safety. They're paranoid that if they aren't there to protect their loved ones, someone will hurt them.
With Caracal, they have learned to loosen up a bit. She makes them laugh and they comfort each other when one is sad. At one point, Leopard was worried Princess Caracal would leave them for someone else while on a mission, or start to think they weren't good enough for her. She has continuously reminded Leopard that they're the only dragon for her, and they still get a rush of excitement every time she says it. Leopard has finally accepted that Caracal really does care about them as much as they care about her.
== Backstory ==
Howling ghosts, they reappear
In mountains that are stacked with fear
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
=== Dragonethood (0-7 yrs) ===
Leopard hatched to an IceWing mother and a SandWing/SilkWing father alongside their sister from the same hatching, Cottontail. They were named after the leopard, the snow leopard, and the leopard moth, so their name suits all three of their tribes.
When they were about a year old, their mother, Snowdrop, got a message from the IceWing queen: She could kill her dragonets and return to the Ice Kingdom as a member of the Second Circle, the same circle she was in when she left. Snowdrop refused the offer, and a week later, a group of IceWing soldiers took her away.
Leopard lived with their father and sister for most of their dragonethood, waiting and wondering if their mother would ever return to them, or try to, or whether she was still alive at all. They and their family lived in the town of Possibility together, having a peaceful life. They grew protective of their remaining relatives, and vowed to lay down their life for their sister, the second-hatched, if that was ever necessary.
Once, Leopard and their sister were offered a chance to attend Jade Mountain Academy, but Cottontail declined, and Leopard chose to stay in order to protect her sister, regardless of her wanting to go and meet other dragons.
=== Adulthood (7+ yrs) ===
Leopard befriended a dragoness named Aurora, an RainWing/IceWing who lived in Possibility as well. Aurora's father, Blizzard, was formerly an IceWing general, and he began to teach Leopard fighting skills. They enjoyed their time training with him, and the two formed a close bond. Leopard discovered their love for fighting and protecting during that period.
When they were eight, nearly nine, the town of Possibility was raided by a band of dragons looking to cause chaos. A few dragons were killed, and Leopard's father, Brimstone, was among them.
That was the first big loss Leopard experienced, and it crushed them, adding to the amount of paranoia and protectiveness they felt for their sister. The day their father died, Leopard vowed to never let anyone harm their sister, and to make sure Cottontail lived a long life.
They practiced and practiced their fighting techniques so that if anyone else ever came to hurt the dragons they cared about, they could fight them off and teach them a lesson. They grew so advanced in their abilities that they were around the same skill level as Blizzard.
When Leopard was around nine and a half years old, they realised their gender identity, and started to experiment with pronouns other than she/her. Discovering they weren't transgender or cisgender, most dragons used they/them pronouns, and they soon got used to it, liking that more than any others. However, some dragons in Possibility, those who were raised to believe in only two genders, refused to use their new pronouns. Leopard got harassed as they went around town, but they always had Aurora, their best friend through it all, and Blizzard, their mentor, there to support them. They were told to simply avoid the discriminating dragons, and they did so gladly, losing a dragon they'd thought was their friend in the process.
Leopard met Princess Caracal about a week after their tenth hatching day. They were exploring with Cottontail, as the two had heard about a SandWing king, King Cougar, rising to power. Leopard was initially hesitant about a friendship with the king's daughter, but was charmed by the SandWing's kindness and seemingly genuine compassion and concern for their wellbeing. Over the next month, Leopard and Caracal met in the desert, and soon enough the princess got past Leopard's defensiveness. Over time, romantic feelings developed. They were very surprised by the fact that Caracal never judged them, and how she believed no one in the palace would. Cottontail caught the two of them meeting when she went night hunting (despite Leopard telling her to stay inside and safe). Their sister teased them quite a bit, and they got angry, but forced themself to never lash out.
After a while, Princess Caracal invited Leopard to live in the SandWing palace with her, saying that King Cougar would be happy to add another dragon to his guard. She knew how much Leopard liked to defend others, to make a difference, to prove they could be trusted, and thought it would be the perfect opportunity. She even said Cottontail could come along. Joyfully, Leopard accepted, and Cottontail was excited to move into the palace, too, though she kept giving her sibling teasing glances whenever they were near Caracal.
The first time after Leopard was at the palace and Caracal was sent on a diplomatic mission outside the Kingdom of Sand, they had a panic attack. It took some convincing, but finally Leopard gave in when the princess promised to let them know if anything happened, and to keep them updated. When Caracal returned, Leopard asked a lot of questions, and Caracal just laughed, but answered them all. She'd been to the rainforest, proposing a truce and alliance with the RainWings and NightWings. Leopard also found themself asking if Caracal had met anyone else while she'd been away, and the dragoness just laughed again and reassured her no.
More and more of these missions happened. Leopard stayed loyal to the SandWings and the royal family, determined to prove they could be trusted despite their tribrid blood. They understood they would always stand out among the SandWings, always get strange looks, but as long as they had Caracal, it would be okay. One night, after Caracal had been visiting the SeaWings with her brothers, Cottontail came up to her and told her that the reason Leopard was so paranoid was that they were afraid of being abandoned by the dragon they cared about. The following morning, Caracal came to Leopard and told them what Cottontail had said, and asked them if it was true. Somewhat embarrassed, Leopard confirmed this, and found that they weren't even that angry with Cottontail after Caracal spent the time to let them know that she'd always be by their side.
Currently, Leopard has found acceptance in the SandWing palace, and has grown to be respected by their fellow guards. They themself respect King Cougar, and believe him to be one of the best monarchs of Pyrrhia since the Scorching.
== Family ==
His crown lit up the way as we moved slowly
Past the wondering eyes of the ones that were left behind
Though far away, though far away, though far away
We're still the same, we're still the same, we're still the same
Mother: Snowdrop - Living (IceWing)
Father: Brimstone - Deceased (SandWing/SilkWing)
Sister: Cottontail - Living (IceWing/SandWing/SilkWing)
Partner: Princess Caracal - Living (SandWing)
== Relationships ==
And in the sea that's painted black
Creatures lurk below the deck
But you're a king and I'm a lionheart
=== Snowdrop ===
Snowdrop is Leopard's mother. She is an IceWing. She was taken away from her family when her dragonets were a year old, after declining an offer from the IceWing queen to kill her dragonets and rejoin the IceWings willingly. When she was with Leopard, they had a good bond. Snowdrop often wonders if her family is okay, and Leopard doesn't know if she is even still alive.
=== Brimstone ===
Brimstone was Leopard's father. He was a SandWing/SilkWing hybrid. He was a resident of Possibility alongside his two dragonets. He was attacked and killed by a group of vengeful dragons looking to cause chaos and unrest within the town. He loved his dragonets dearly and missed Snowdrop more than anything. He was a sweet, loyal dragon, and he and Leopard had a good relationship before his death.
=== Cottontail ===
Cottontail is Leopard's sister. She is an IceWing/SandWing/SilkWing tribrid. She was a resident of Possibility alongside her father and sibling, and currently lives in the palace learning to be a chef. Leopard loves her and is fiercely protective of her, since out of the two of them, she's the smallest, and the second-hatched. She is playful and enjoys teasing her sibling, mostly about their relationship with Princess Caracal. She has some childish tendencies, and is pretty rebellious, much to Leopard's annoyance.
=== Princess Caracal ===
Princess Caracal is Leopard's partner. She is a SandWing. She is living in the palace as a princess and is the only daughter to King Cougar, the first SandWing king in four generations. She is very patient with Leopard, and somewhat naive. Leopard loves her and constantly fears for her safety. They are very close friends as well.
=== Aurora ===
Aurora was Leopard's best friend in Possibility. She is a RainWing/IceWing hybrid. She chose to stay in Possibility with her father when Leopard and Cottontail left for the SandWing palace. Leopard doesn't hold a grudge on her, they just miss her, and often think about what life would be like if Aurora had come. Before Leopard left, they were very close, and did a lot of things together. She never liked fighting as much as Leopard, but always admired her friend's interest in being a guard and defending their tribe. She was always there for the tribrid whenever they needed something, and she is what they miss most about their old home.
=== Blizzard ===
Blizzard was Leopard's mentor. He is an IceWing. He is the father of Aurora and the dragon who taught Leopard most of what they know about combat and fighting techniques. He was formerly an IceWing general before he fled the Ice Kingdom with Aurora's mother and their egg. Leopard cares about him, and thinks of him as another father figure.
=== King Cougar ===
King Cougar is Leopard's master. He is a SandWing. He is the father of Princess Caracal and the king of the SandWings. Leopard takes their duty as one of his guards very seriously, and will not let anything bad happen to him. They understand how it would crush Caracal if he died, too, and they know how much his daughter cares about him. Due to Leopard's love for Caracal, and Cougar caring deeply for her as well, they have a mutual interest in keeping the SandWing princess safe. Leopard respects him, thinking of him as one of the best rulers since the Scorching.
== Trivia ==
And as the world comes to an end
I'll be here to hold your hand
'Cause you're my king and I'm your lionheart
* Unknown to Leopard, Snowdrop is living as a Seventh Circle IceWing, a servant to the higher-ranking dragons.
* They were originally going to be female.
* They are an IceWing/SandWing/SilkWing tribrid.
** Their mother is an IceWing, and their father was a SandWing/SilkWing hybrid.
*** Their paternal grandmother was a SandWing, and their paternal grandfather was a SilkWing. They never met their grandparents.
** Whenever I make hybrids, the mother/afab parent's name comes first, so it's less confusing for me.
Category:LGBT+
Category:Non-binary
Category:Hybrids
Category:IceWings
Category:SandWings
Category:SilkWings
Category:Occupation (Soldier)
Category:Characters