Maia

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**Maia** is a caretaker of the Empire.

## Backstory

Quite possibly the oldest member of the Empire, Maia is the sister of former empress Morrigan. Completely unlike her sister, Maia chose to forego her surname to be the simple Maia, a caretaker from hatching. Morrigan despised her sister, but with Maia being so much kinder, everyone preferred her over the empress.

When Aislinn and Arcano joined the Empire, Maia found herself drawn to help the young dragons. Despite Morrigan being Aislinn's adoptive mother, it was Maia who taught her how to feel and care for the emotions of the Empire. How to read their language, how to speak it. How to work her way around the currents, while Morrigan taught her to to lead. As such, Aislinn and Maia had a very close relationship.

But Morrigan was not happy with this. After Aislinn had lived in the Empire for a year, Morrigan banished her sister, hoping the lack of Maia's presence would prevent dragons from questioning her leadership. A distraught Aislinn offered to go with her, but Maia told her to stay. She told Aislinn she would make a great leader one day.

Maia decided to wander the world. She helped out many clans of dragons by gathering food, expanding their dens, and mediating disputes. She also helped with expecting mothers, making sure they got enough resources to survive. Once Maia decided her purpose was fulfilled in the clan, she left for another one.

Maia became known throughout Sornieth as the "Mother Dragon", and was very much beloved. Clans praised her joining, and always welcomed her with open arms. Each year, she would make a pilgrimage to the Snapper's homeland of Dragonhome and to the once mighty pillar, where she would meditate for several days without food or drink.

During one such meditation, she was gifted a vision from the gods. In said vision, she was directed to the Shifting Expanse. Unsure of why but not one to question the gods, she soon found a Lightning clan that was struggling with prey shortages and droughts. Ever the kind dragoness, Maia stayed with them for many moons. Her time here seemed to change her, discovering that many dragons of this clan were from the Empire. Maia found her time in this clan to be very refreshing. Eventually, Maia was introduced to Athaulf, the keeper of the clan's annals. Maia and Athaulf grew very close, and were eventually affianced.

However, Maia became very homesick. She missed the Sea. Her sister. She and Athaulf argued, but he eventually relented and let her go. Maia was heartbroken due to him being unable to join her, and she left the Lightning clan.

When she returned to the Empire, she found her sister had been fatally wounded after patrolling alone. Immediately stuck to her sister's side, Morrigan begged her sister to forgive her. Maia said there was nothing to forgive, and it was then where Morrigan peacefully passed away.

Maia mourned her sister for several weeks, but eventually pulled herself out of it to help Aislinn rule as empress. She stood by her niece, always there to give advice. And she was the ever-loving caretaker when Aislinn had her first clutch of eggs.

It was after raising the hatchlings when Athaulf joined the Empire. He had missed Maia and successfully trained a new apprentice to take his place. Maia was very happy that her future husband would join the clan and she asked Aislinn if he would be able to join. Aislinn did not doubt her aunt, and welcomed Athaulf to the clan warmly. Maia and Athaulf continue to help the younger dragonesses with their first clutches and are essentially the "Great Mother and Father" of the Empire.