Prism Aphelion — Sunstone Eclipse Dragons

The story of Prism Aphelion

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

When the rim of the sun narrows to a thread, the dragons of Prism Aphelion gather above the old observatory. The first to arrive usually folds its wings on the lowest wall. It sits close enough to the stone to cast one continuous shadow. The others take their positions by following the shadow rather than looking directly at the sun.

An observatory keeper once tried to record the gathering by counting the shadows. She soon found that a long wing could cross two walls and disappear for an instant between them. From then on she kept track of each dragon by the outline of its horns and the angle at which it lowered its head.

Dark horns and warm wing membranes give the six designs shared visual cues. Some of the creatures hold their wings tight against their scales, while others open them enough to expose a broad sweep of color. The larger shapes stand out in the dim setting before details such as talons and layered scales come into view.

The next eclipse falls on the first day the observatory will reopen. An apprentice discovers a fresh set of tracks inside a room with a locked door. The tracks stop beneath a window that has been bricked up for years. Outside, a dragon is already waiting in the shade.

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