Depths (Riverwing)

### Occupation

River Palace Servant - (Journals, The Switcheroo, Prequels)On The Run/Antagonist - (Arc 1, Journals.)Advisor to Queen Zircon - (Arc 2, Arc 3, Current.)

## Appearances

### Appears in

Halfway through Arc 1. Arc 2.Arc 3.Depths' JournalZircon's JournalRipple's JournalThe Switcheroo

**Depths** is the son of Arion and Bayou, and an antagonist throughout arc 1, and began to become a more moralistic dragon between then and arc 2.

### **Appearance**

Depths has dark grey scales and dark blue fins and wings, as well as richer blue eyes. His bioluminescent scales are pale blue. He's got a very handsome snout, as a few dragons have mentioned, and mirrors his father Arion in scales and mannerisms.

### **Personality**

To strangers, Depths often comes off as cold and scary. Though, it can't be said how much of that is earned by his actual demeanor rather than his infamous past. He's had a history of manipulating dragons with blackmail, bribery, and threats.

Despite how he comes off to other dragons, Depths is extremely loyal to those few he deems "friend", going to the very farthest lengths to protect them.

Depths is also extremely perceptive, having been trained from a young age to observe and note the world around him.

### **Allies, Acquaintances & Friends**

#### **Arion**

Arion is both Depths' father and his mentor. Arion often hurt Depths as a child to prove a point, or to get him to learn a lesson, going to such extremes as to kill Depths' first friend to keep him away from emotional attachments. Depths is the only dragon known to view Arion as "misguided but with good intentions" (as Depths would put it) and even over ten years after Arion went missing still strived to make him proud in some way.

#### **Bayou**

Bayou is Depths' mother. She left Depths and Arion when her son was only three, fearing what her husband was becoming. It is implied that she tried very hard to view Depths as a 'normal' dragonet and Depths seemed to dislike this to some extent. Even though Depths disliked her opinion on many things, in the last year she was home she was often the only parent to comfort him after he'd witnessed her and Arion fighting. Her leaving left Depths with a sense of loss. Often when thinking of her, he wishes she'd loved him enough to stay, and wonders what he did wrong.

#### **Ripple**

Depths' cousin and best friend. Ripple is three years younger than Depths, and Depths firmly believed himself his cousin's protector from anything and everything, going to lengths such as scolding his aunt and uncle (Ripple's mother and father) when their decisions or actions upset Ripple. Ripple also 'protected' Depths in his own way, always combating his cousin's negative moods with optimistic observations, and surprising Depths with his emotional insight. When they were young, Depths was often fearful that one day he might dampen Ripple's kind heart and positive outlook, and refrained from showing signs of sadness. Depths spent most of his childhood with Ripple, as Ripple stayed at Depths' house every other week once he was old enough, and was also there the night of the fire. Depths considers Ripple his closest companion.

#### **Zircon**

Zircon and Depths had a rocky relationship at best. Depths hadn't really noticed Princess Zircon until his cousin seemed to develop a crush on her, which Depths often teased him about. Depths never worried that Zircon might hurt Ripple, as all he'd gathered from her was tat she was quiet, obedient, and loved reading. When Depths was close to turning eleven, he and Zircon became close friends, gaining a respect for each other when a Mer had decided to play a prank on them. Even after the fire, Depths still made a conscious effort to be friends with the princess during work, often rearranging the schedules so she wouldn't encounter unpleasant dragons as much. He took her home after Mako's death, and silently put up with the rumors that he'd killed the old queen and didn't bring it to her to spare her any more emotional damage.

When Depths finally initiated *The Plan* and kidnapped Zircon's father, along with the other kings on the continent, he avoided thinking about his childhood friend. On the rare occasions he stayed at Ripple's house overnight, he changed the topic from Zircon when Ripple talked about her. The few times he spoke to her at this point, he insulted her in an attempt to erase attachment.

After he was successfully captured by his tribe and awaiting trial, he acted cold and sarcastic towards her until the stonewings attacked. Once he knew she was in danger, he quickly got her out of the palace and took her into hiding, staying by her side even when they failed to retake the kingdom and faced execution. Since then, they've been on generally good terms.

#### **Spike**

For the first years of his childhood, Depths simply viewed Spike as a friend of his dad who ruled the river kingdom. After the fire, looking for someone to blame, Depths' perception of Spike had the King as a villain. Even though Depths had no evidence that the guards Spike sent actually started the fire, he refused to see any other option. Even through his busy schedule, Spike tried to act kindly towards Depths after the fire, seeing a lot of Arion in him (much to Depths' discontent, as he viewed himself as a good dragon and didn't ever want to hurt someone like his father had).

Spike's kindness was broken when Depths put *The Plan* into motion, and viewed him bitterly for a while after that, now trying to see anyone except Arion in him. Depths was actually relieved when Spike stopped trying to be kind to him because of who his father was, and would openly admit preferring his honest bitterness to strained kindness.

#### **Mako**

Mako was a villain in Depths' eyes, and rarely thought of her in a good light. He only saw the dragon who had caused one of his best friends so much pain and sadness. Despite Zircon's attempts to say she was more than that, he can't see her that way when he tries.

### **Trivia**

* Depths cannot properly breath underwater due to his gills being damaged as a child.
* He shares multiple songs with Zircon; "Takes one to Know One", "Little Talks", among others. (With a list that is probably growing, knowing how much Katie and Niya love listening to music.)