Distal
Distal is the northernmost island known to the people of Grandel Isle. The Winged Dragon pioneers settled upon the frozen peaks when they fled from their enemies. It had the closest environment to their home on Earth. The island is inhospitable to the majority of the other biological beings in the region.
Geography
Distal Scenic View by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Ecosystem
In the valleys, trees, and other plant life flourish near the rivers, and a group of oversized deer with long, thick, white fur stand by the concealed flowing water. One paws at the river, breaking open the ice to the cool water underneath. Others survey the sky. The sound of crunching snow draws their attention to the evergreens that grow nearby. Several large-footed white rabbits hesitantly come out of their hidden burrows to munch on the white ferns that grow in this harsh weather. One deer's tail flicks in warning, and all heads bop up. High on one of the surrounding mountains is a snowcat. It is a sizable feline with white and gray fur to help him blend in with the snow and rocks that coat his home on the mountainsides. Knowing it has been spotted the cat moves on.
Brown nuggets litter areas in the valley where the deer and rabbits have spread seeds from the plants that feed them. Some of these nuggets fall through the snow to the ground below because a mouse has burrowed through this area, and his tunnel has collapsed from the weight and warmth of the nuggets. The seeds will be fertilized by the nuggets and next year, a new plant will push through the snow.
A released bellow fills the late sun cycle sky. It has occurred in another valley from another group of deer, but the sound is close. All, including the cat, race for cover. Rabbits scurry for the trees with the deer leaping over them. They are heading for the snow-covered evergreens, the only concealing places for the prey in the valleys from the ones in the sky. The cat fleetingly makes its way to his cave, where he crouches in fear.
In the center of the cold island is a lake that weaves around a group of mountains. It is nearly impossible to climb to, for the mountains here are high and steep. Vegetation peeks out around the rocks, and acrobatic mountain climbing goats feed on them. They hide within shallow caves when necessary. The lake below never freezes because of the constant airflow from the north, where a storm alley always rages.
Ecosystem Cycles
The weather does not alter drastically on Distal and life has adapted to its harsh climate. There are a few bitterer months but none hibernate. They devote as much time as possible nestled close together in their shelters during these periods. Food is leaner during these months, but foragers can locate what they require.
Localized Phenomena
One mountain tower above the rest, on the western side of Distal. Powerful winds, snow, and ice shroud it always. No dragon can fly near the surrounding chaos. The peak bears a torturous path that no dragon can ascend. The few that have tried to hike the trail end up injured. Strong winds get under their wings pushing upward toss them off the ridge or into the unyielding mountain.
It is said that yetis live on the mountain in a cave system that travels the entire summit. Only the Enhanced have ever seen them.
At one time, a waterfall flowed from the lofty peak, but that has disappeared.
Climate
Heavy snow falls weekly. Further north out over the Red Sea is what the Winged Dragons call Storm Alley. Monsterous storms travel through this zone constantly, and when the airstream is perfect, some storms travel south, hitting Distal. When they travel across the island, the violent weather reeks havoc on all.
Intense Ice and Wind Storm by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Lightning charges the sky as ice glazes everything below. The wind accompanying the storm causes updrafts that rip trees from mountainsides, and tornadoes skip through the valleys, taking water, soil, trees, and wildlife that did not hide well enough with them. Water spouts form on the lake, throwing its water high and far. The mammals and fish dive deep to stay out of their way.
Once the storm passes, all emerge out of their concealment to see how they have lost.
Fauna & Flora
Vegetation
Evergreens - The trees are tall and full. Their long limbs get pinned to the ground by the heavy snow. The snow insults the area inside, and it stays warm. It gives shelter to several wildlife species that live on the island. They provide camouflage for their body heat and give the little ones a safe place to play.
Distal Evergreens by Tonia A Viles with Design and Superphoto
Ice Ferns - These small bushy plants that grow on top of one another provide a home for small rodents and food for many others. The leaves on the plant appear to be made of ice, but they have a thick clear membrane. Inside the leaves is a fluid filled with nutrients. They grow in the dimmest of light and can be found beneath the giant evergreens and in caves.
Ice Fern by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Yellow Petals - They are a small flock of yellow flowers that sit on large, dark green stalks with large leaves. They can mostly be discovered in the valleys. Many wildlife feed upon them.
Yellow Petals by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Brown Grass - Scattered about the island is a tall brown grass. It grows in mounds until it pushes itself out of the snow. While buried under the snow, ice mice use them for homes and food. When they break through the snow, they feed all the vegetarians on the island.
Brown Grass by Tonia A Viles with Design and Superphoto
Water Grass - This grass grows in abundance where water is located. It grows in rivers, streams, and lakes. It has many healthy aspects and is a large part of all the animal's diets on the island. Depending on where it grows depends on what it looks like. In the rivers and streams, it looks like a short, light green grass. Down in the depths and shoreline of the lake and the Red Sea, it is a wide, dark green grass.
Water Grass by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Animals
Long-Coated Deer - The snow crunches under their heavy hooves as they come out of the shelter the evergreens' supply. They have no antlers, so the limbs are not an issue if they find it necessary to hurry back inside. Dark deer’s eyes scan the skies. One's skin twitches, making the heavy white coat they have shift. Their ears, which make you think of horse ears, jerk about, trying to catch any sound that might be dangerous. They go to the plants close by, and with their large hooves, they dig the snow from around them. They nibble quietly. Their muscular legs are ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.
Snowcats - At the base of the mountain, a cat sits low among some rocks. Its bushy white and gray tail, which is the same color as the rest of him, moves ever so slightly. His dark eyes watch the deer, who are far too large for him to prey on. Their hooves would break his body, so it would not function anymore. He waits for the ones who wander out after the deer. The claws on his oversized feet slide out and then back in as he waits.
Large-footed Rabbits - White rabbits cautiously come out of their borrows under the trees. They sniff the air and listen with their large ears. Slowly, they creep out into the open. Their large back feet keep them on top of the snow. They look about with their dark eyes and noses high. A few stand tall, showing their correct size. These are not small rabbits. They have back feet with claws, if needed, can do some damage. One ventures to the river's side and knows moments later that it has gone too far. Behind him, feet pound the snow with a thump thump thump mixed with the sound of a bellowing deer. Then the sounds of flight. He turns and never sees his attacker.
Large-footed Rabbits by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Ice Mice - Below the chaos above, a small white creature scurries about his own business. This little critter makes tunnels in the snow and goes from one plant to the next, eating its fill and moving on. They help the roots of the plants get air. Their vision is poor because they rarely come to the surface.
Ice Mice by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Pale salmon - Because Distal has no insects, most fish in the lake eat the vegetation that grows on the bottom. Pale salmon are the largest fish who live in the lake and feed on the smaller fish, which call the lake home as well. The pale color of their skin stands out in the darkness of the water. The single thing that these predators fear are the Winter Seals.
Pale Salmon by Tonia A Viles with Design and Superphoto
Rock Rams - These are goat-like animals, only they have white, heavy wool coats to protect them from the winds that wrap around the mountains sometimes. They have horns that curl tightly around the sides of their heads. These creatures are of considerable size. One of them can hit a boulder on the side of the mountain and send it rolling down the mountain. They eat the brown grass, water grass, and ice ferns that grow on the sides of their home. If a small one gets too far from the group, a snowcat can take it, but the ones they watch for mostly are the wolves, yetis, and dragons.
Winter Seals - Laying in the sun on a clear day, the seals cover the banks of the lake. They bark at each other when one moves too considerably. The impressive bull seals keep watch for shadows that might creep over the mountains. They make enormous meals for large predators. The bull seals grunt and growl, reminding all that they are important. They stay in the middle, for if wolves come, they will not be their meals. They are a group of flipper arms and tails and black bodies. Once in the water, they disappear, and as clumsy as they are on land, they are graceful in the water. They eat pale salmon and the water grass that grows at the bottom of the lake.
Winter Seal by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
White Wolves - Like many things on this island, they are immense. They would remind many of the Dire Wolves that walked the Earth so long ago. The canines are stealthy as they make their way through the snow and aloft the mountain where they have heard the seals. The pack has spread out, and they will attack from many directions that should reward them with at least one prize. They ease down the other side and are close to their dinner when the bulls bark their baritone warning and the seals quickly slide back into their haven. The wolves scan the sky, for they know they were not spotted, and predators on high go by, the pack crotch, for they are not the top predators on this island.
White Wolves by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superphoto
Yetis - The yetis stay on their mountain most of the time. Sometimes, when necessary, the yetis leave their home, to find food or to forage for the plants they need to make medicines. They are the Guardians of their mountain, and if the wrong individuals come, they make sure whoever it is does not make it to the top. If the correct individuals come, they make sure those individuals arrive at the top safely and back down safely. The creatures are bipedal and have thick white hair. Their eyes are a dazzling blue. None hunt them.
Yeti by Tonia A Viles with Design and Superphoto
Winged Dragons - The dragons are the top predator on the island. All fear them, and all watch the sky for them. The prey know that their body heat is what the dragons use to find them, and they have all found ways to camouflage their heat. They use water, caves, and snow-covered trees. They use the snow if they are tiny enough and in the open.
Winged Dragon by Tonia A Viles with Midjourney and Superhpoto
There is one other creature that lives on the island. No one knows what it looks like. They call it Life Stealer. This creature slips in under the watchful eye of parents and steals eggs and newlings that have yet to open their eyes and ears. Bones and empty eggshells are found later, several yards from where the little one was taken.
Life Stealer by Tonia A Viles with Midjourny and Superphoto
History
Distal's known history only goes back as far as the dragon's arrival, for they are the first to care about its history.
The Sun Cycle the Dragons Arrived
The first time, the Winged Dragons flew over the snowy landscape of the unnamed island. The animals that called it home knew their lives were forever changed. All who inhabited the area had become prey, several for the first time in their existence. The wolves' instincts let them realize they now had to be careful of the sky.
With these unknown creatures came magic, which was unfamiliar to the island. As sun cycles proceeded, the animals learned how to evade the new arrivals. They hunted by seeing body heat, and on the cold island, there were many ways to hide one's body heat with some changes that happened to the landscape. The trees grow taller and fatter. The shelters they provided were massive and, with the heavy snow and ice shells on the trees, the wildlife was hidden completely. A new grass appeared in the rivers that helped the animals in the valleys to grow bigger and stronger. In turn, the predators flourished as well. This gave the immense dragons ample food.
The Sun Cycle the Relics Were Lost
One mountain vastly changed on that sun cycle. It was the one that reached the highest. A storm, with no clouds, wrapped around it made of wind, snow, and ice. On this mountain was a creature so fierce that all feared it. That sun cycle, the creatures were granted intelligence and were changed forever. They became the guardians of the mountain. At the peak of this mountain lay a cave. Water filled and poured from the giant mouth and fell into the valley below. The whole thing froze on that sun cycle. Inside the cave, stone guardians stand guard until needed to keep the precious treasure safe.
The Sun Cycle the Enhanced Came
Three Grandelites arrived and climbed the mountain none could. When they reached the top, the storm halted, and the waterfall thawed. The water quickly filled a shallow basin in the valley below and created a new river. Only the dragons used that water. The other animals on the island feared it. The trio descended the mountain. Many seasons after they departed, the cloudless storm returned.
Tourism
Tourists found themselves eaten on this island. If they are lucky enough to find themselves alive come darkfall, the plummeting temperatures will put them in a slumber they never awaken from.
Grandel the Battleground for all Earths.
Alternative Name(s)
Winged Dragon Island
Type
Island
Location under
Inhabiting Species
