Kiyohime
When Ella finds a teal dragon egg at the Lughnasadh market, she's instantly enamored and Tiernan buys it for her, ignoring Haru's protests. Apparently ryū are too mischevious and independant to make a good pet.
The egg hatches to reveal a tiny, hungry, dragon who can communicate rough impressions with the people in her life. Kiyo soon learns to portal and starts collecting cookies and anything shiny from spoons, to rings, to sequined trim. She can be bribed to deliver messages with the promise of treats.
One Autumn, about five years after hatching, Kiyo accompanies Ella and Tiernan to visit the Empress of Takamagahara where she meets Mizuchi, a ryū in the royal menagarie. It's true love and he returns home to Rahivea with Kiyo.
The next summer they hatch seven little babies and learn that it's hard work parenting a herd of portalling hatchlings.
Where we first meet Kiyohime
The ryū shell broke apart on Ella's lap as the little dragon pushed the walls of its former home away. The baby ryū was about as long as my outstretched hand. It didn't have wings like a dragonette would, but rather a long, lithe, scaled body with a little tuft of dark fur at the end of its tail and hints of a little feathery mane around its ears and down the center of its back. Tiny golden horns sprouted in front of its ears.
The little dragon sat up, tilted its head, and chirped.
Ella looked at the baby ryū in wonder, her eyes wide as she gently ran her finger down its green, scaled back. It gave a little wiggle, and we both laughed. The Story of Kiyohime as told by Ella
“Like the one about Kiyohime?”
“Right. Kiyohime.” She yawned. “Mama used to tell me a story about a princess.”
“Not a dragon?”
“Well, you see the princess had a sweetheart, a priest. He came to visit her often, and they had decided to marry. But then her suitor changed his mind. Kiyohime flew into such a rage at his changeable nature that she turned into a massive dragon. As one does.”
“And then what? Did she eat him?”
“The priest took cover under a bell, and she let out a mighty spout of flame that melted the bell, killing him. It's a bit gruesome.”
The ryū shell broke apart on Ella's lap as the little dragon pushed the walls of its former home away. The baby ryū was about as long as my outstretched hand. It didn't have wings like a dragonette would, but rather a long, lithe, scaled body with a little tuft of dark fur at the end of its tail and hints of a little feathery mane around its ears and down the center of its back. Tiny golden horns sprouted in front of its ears.
The little dragon sat up, tilted its head, and chirped.
Ella looked at the baby ryū in wonder, her eyes wide as she gently ran her finger down its green, scaled back. It gave a little wiggle, and we both laughed. The Story of Kiyohime as told by Ella
“Like the one about Kiyohime?”
“Right. Kiyohime.” She yawned. “Mama used to tell me a story about a princess.”
“Not a dragon?”
“Well, you see the princess had a sweetheart, a priest. He came to visit her often, and they had decided to marry. But then her suitor changed his mind. Kiyohime flew into such a rage at his changeable nature that she turned into a massive dragon. As one does.”
“And then what? Did she eat him?”
“The priest took cover under a bell, and she let out a mighty spout of flame that melted the bell, killing him. It's a bit gruesome.”
Fun Facts
Full Name: Kiyohime
Nickname: Kiyo
Species: Ryū
Appearance: Green scaled body, darker green mane and tail, golden eyes, golden horns. She is hand-sized as a hatchling and grows to be the size of a cat.
Abilities: Ryū can portal to people or places they know
Likes: Sweets and shiny objects
Dislikes:
Owner: Ella
Current Residence: Rahivea Palace
Mate: Mizuchi
Children: Falcor, Uwi, Bami, and 4 others
Nickname: Kiyo
Species: Ryū
Appearance: Green scaled body, darker green mane and tail, golden eyes, golden horns. She is hand-sized as a hatchling and grows to be the size of a cat.
Abilities: Ryū can portal to people or places they know
Likes: Sweets and shiny objects
Dislikes:
Owner: Ella
Current Residence: Rahivea Palace
Mate: Mizuchi
Children: Falcor, Uwi, Bami, and 4 others
Children
Appears in: The Glass Gate, The Faerie Tale Wedding, Of Frost and Feathers