Days passed slowly when you lived them in a constant haze of paranoia. Mostly, Kitaaya refused to leave her dorm. She send Izzo out for her meals and to do a bit of spying every now and then. It came so that people knew the cyborbird better than his owner. Some were even confused when she did rarely venture forth, to see Izzo perched menacingly on her shoulder.

"That bird is owned by someone? I thought he was independant..."

"Yer, she's the odd one. Why d'you think the thing's been collecting food every breakfast and supper?"

All the quiet comments about her only increased Kitaaya's awareness. She was certain there was someone out there trying to send her back between as some of them called it. Izzo had turned rather protective of her, he snapped fiercely at any who approached, no matter how innocent their tidings. So when it came to be the day of the hatching, no one seemed to want to take upon the task of informing her.

"You go tell her, I told that one guy the last time...he nearly bit my hand off!"

"No, I told the other girl...I don't wanna even tell you what she tried to do to me..."

"There's no use in telling me, I can tell what's going on." she said, stalking from her quarters. Izzo swooped out, metal wingtips nearly grazing the two boys faces. The both froze. "Hehee, uh...sorry we just..." Aya continued to glare. "Run along, go conspire." she said coldly before holding an arm out for Izzo. He wheeled back and landed, clicking his beak at the retreating backs of the boys. "Never trust them, my love." Aya swept off for the sands to find the clutch mothers bickering, as usual.

Aya didn't really pay much attention to the dragons, herself. She was busy keeping an eye pealed and an "ear" open for plotters. Nothing presented itself and she quite tuned out of every thing until a voice like searing fire entered her mind. With me, Kitaaya, we will leave no one in peace who you do not want left in peace. But first... let us start the suffering with Kitakaze. She nearly leapt clear off the ground, feeling a firm tug at the foot of her robes. Looking down, she saw a deep red colored hatchling with shimmering wings eyeing her fiercely.

"Who are you an how the hell are you in my mind!?" she asked, Izzo flapping his metallic wings as he wheeled around her head. I am Shkora, here to protect and serve you...my Igniter. The dark red tipped a curious head to her, black eyes glittering. "Shkora..." Shkora grinned a toothy grin. Pain cannot start without a good meal. he said in a way of indicating he was hungry. "Yes, my Shkora...we shall have to get you fed..."

Aya followed the hatchling almost dreamily, allowing him to lead with the hem of her robes in his mouth. On their way out a large wolven creature stopped them and asked her's and the hatchling's name. "Why do you want to know?" she asked defensively. "For the records." he responded, eyeing Shkora, who was growling as convincingly as a hatchling could. After a brief stand-off with Kitaaya glaring and Shkora examining from tail to muzzle, he finally said,Tell him, he speaks the truth. Loathe as she was to admit it, the wolf showed her no hostility. "Kitaaya...and red Shkora." she answered at last, then felt the urgent tug of a hungry dragon on her robes and hastened to heed it's call.