The spectral Iris, who had always done things uniquely, had laid her eggs in the wee hours of the morning, those hours that hardly seem separate from the night, when the suns had not yet risen, but a steady glow did light up the horizon. And now her children, it appeared, favored that time of day as well.
Anaess was already awake, tending to her irate child. Avirie had not yet slept through an entire night, and the lack of sleep was shown in every shadow and crease lining Anaess’ careworn face. When at last the child was convinced to sleep once again, Anaess heard her dragon’s voice in her head.
Come now, the eggs hatch. Anaess shook her head as she wrapped a robe around her pajama’d form. Not a moment’s peace, she complained, but left Ambrek and Avirie to their dreams as she hurried down the cold stone cliff steps, and ran to the hatching sands.
The candidates were still filing in, rather groggily. There were sixteen of them; a handful of shapeshifters, magic wielders, and the rare human being. Anaess smiled wryly as she took her seat. Sometimes she wished she were one of those who deviated from the norm; it would be so much easier to get work done with a little magic at hand.
Iris hissed warily at the candidates as her eggs trembled, but Olika warned her back.
“You must let them imprint, darling,” the sorceress murmured, and Iris grudgingly ceased, settling for a piercing glare that made a few of the dragon-fearing candidates shift uneasily. Orion sat near the edge of the sands, his dragon liked a huge mountain of dark stone rumbling contentedly nearby. A smile stretched across his phantom features.
At last the first of the eggs hatched, and a teal-blue dragon sprawled on the sands. Getting up, his eyes flickered back and forth, searching out the one who would be his bond. Finally, his eyes locked with Kelduen, a young blond boy with a starry chen named Lythir. Lythir fluttered excitedly around the boy’s head as the dragon spoke:
You have many little friends. Have you a place for me? I might take up more room, but-
“Of course, Hoflichth!” Kelduen exclaimed, and he walked off with his dragon.
A darker, grey-blue dragon hatched next, and strode purposefully up to Enea Volare. A god of wind, the young man left a chill wherever he went.
“Ah, Windstilleth,” Enea began, but was cut off by the dragon.
I hope you were not hurt in your fall. I bet I can warm the chill in your heart…
Enea smiled icily. “We’ll see about that…”
Bystanders shivered as the two made their way out of the sands.
Divano, a goddess of rain and mist, stood shyly out of the way as another egg hatched, but the lavender dragon was not to be dissuaded. Nebelth ran to her new bond, and in Divano’s heart bloomed devotion deeper than any she could have imagined.
I will never leave you behind, her dragon promised.
Meanwhile, the war-loving Hymne was already greeting her dark purple Kriegth.
You are truly passionate, her dragon crooned, and I promise you that I love as well as I fight, too! They strode off the sands, daring anyone to get in their way.
Madona, goddess of love, was standing near a shadowed area, and yet she still seemed bathed in a glowing stardust-like light. She had been persuaded to come only because the suns had not yet come up; she preferred to come out at midnight. But when her little green dragon, Liebchenth, came to her, she was deeply gladdened that she had decided to come.
A young princess, matched in chill manner with the wind god, stood aside from the others. She was much more worthy than any of them…and yet, there was a loneliness inside of her, eating away at her heart…
Darling princess, take off your mask and be lonely no more, said a velvet voice that startled her out of her reverie. She looked down to see a purple dragon at her feet. Smiling faintly, she dropped to her knees—most unladylike—and gathered the dragon into her arms.
“Alright, Prinzessinth, alright…”
Voxifera fidgeted on the sands, a few feet away from two other girls who also had the ability to become dolphins. She scowled and looked at her feet. She much preferred to be on the move, or at least in the water.
An apparently female blue dragon glided toward her, newly hatched.
C’mon, Voxi, let’s go. I can’t stand to stay in one place another minute!” Voxifera grinned and nodded. “Okay, Heilquelleth!”
Minwei and Delfea stood close together, their fingers linked with the bond of a close friendship. They were the two who also could be shaped like dolphins, and they quietly conversed in faint, whispered clicks and squeals—not that they couldn’t speak in a human tongue. They both had long braids, Minwei’s platinum, and Delfea’s silver. Their eyes were striking blue and green, and a few chen fluttered around the latter’s head. It was no surprise to Anaess when a silver male and a starry female bounded up to them, as joyful as the aquatic creatures themselves. The silver Dalbenth imprinted with Minwei, and the starry Delfinth to Delfea. The group moved off the sands, toward the sushi table hastily set up in an adjoining room. Anaess herself eyed those tasty snacks longingly…
Eslai stood next to Ysmea, her eyes downcast and her hands clasped. She was terrified of people and dragons alike, and this trial was obviously one she would rather have avoided. But Ysmea had dragged her along; that girl was hard to say no to, and not because she was sweet-tempered.
When a silver dragon came to Eslai, she automatically assumed it was after the wrong person. After all, she was deeply afraid of dragons—why would one this handsome one want her?
I’ll not hurt you, the silver male whispered in her mind. Your eyes are so lovely, the same shade as I am. When Eslai did not respond, his tone grew sharper. Come now, are you still afraid? Eslai found the courage to look into his eyes, and once she did, she lost all fear. “No, not now, Erdbeereth,” she murmured, and went with her new dragon.
Ysmea gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. She wished she had stayed with her horse, Quid, rather than wait for a dragon which was obviously not going to come.
Could you possibly like me? I assure you, there are definitely dragon homes involved, said a green dragon at her feet with a chuckle. Ysmea grinned and opened her eyes.
“Sure, Exzentrischth!”
Prriitha stretched languidly, having abandoned Ohkyt’s not-so-comfortable back in favor of the warm sands. She waited patiently for the dragon she knew was coming…And the fortune-teller was not disappointed. An agile starry padded on silent feet toward her, sitting down right before her and looking deep into her eyes. Satisfied, the starry gave Prriitha her name.
“Ah yes, Katzenbuckelth…You are better at hiding things than most. Just the same, I believe I can foretell the adventures we will be having…”
Ohkyt stamped his hooves appreciatively. Anaess eyed the half man, half horse (aka Centaur, or Equita as he preferred) with a certain level of appreciation. He was well-formed and fairly handsome, and, it was said, a very skilled archer. A copper chose him, and Ohkyt laughed aloud at the things only he could hear…
I am Zugpferdth…How will this work? It seems I’m more suited to riding you!
Loarim, a healer in training with long tan hair secured in a ponytail, was deep in conversation with his new bond, blue Zuheilenth.
With me you’ll never need to fear anything, least of all your brother. Come, let’s go find new places to visit!
Zhotho, a young man with long platinum braids, and a prince of the Srri’katain Emphyr, was talking to Iris, probably discussing his love for the open sea and dancing. The amazing youth had the deeply rare talent of being able to hear all dragons. However, he kept casting nervous looks at Prriitha, having an intense fear of cats—perhaps his only shortcoming. A copper dragon crept up behind him, and gently prodded a leg with his tail.
It will be difficult, having to share you with other dragons, the copper said sadly. Zhotho turned around and gazed at Erfahrenth with joy and wonder.
“You’ll never have to worry about it—I’m yours, body and soul!”
Nystoa, last on the sands, stood proudly, smiling at her friend Zhotho. She was princess of Nraa’losqua Emphyr. The young woman detested domestic life, partially why she had wanted to come to the Cathair; however, she had a mild fear of dragons and kept away from Zhotho’s new bond. A light purple dragon bounded up to her, her eyes whirling with amusement.
Come on, Nystoa, I’m not all that bad, am I? We will explore together; that is, if you come to want me as much as you want children! Nystoa blushed.
“Let’s keep that to ourselves, darling Erkundeth,” she mumbled, smiling brightly as they sailed off the sands.
Anaess sighed. The suns were coming up at last, and an intense weariness was coming over her. All she wanted was to fall into bed…
But again the sushi caught her eye, and the stately woman lost her nobility in her mad scramble to be first to that particular table.
Again the sands were empty…
GO GET YOUR HATCHLINGS!!