To Darkling Dawn

Hopeful Adoptees

Clutch 1, Eoth & Mazdath
Brown (m) Mithrath - twice abandoned, bitter and sarcastic. May or may not be of use to the Caer.

Clutch 14, Jubilerth & Quartzeth
Blue Blue-Gold (m) Fabricath - shy, intelligent and nervous around all but Scuolath
Green Green-Red (f) Scuolath - outgoing, protective, and loyal; will hopefully open Fabricath up

Clutch 32, Micath & Mazdath
Green (f) Elorth - rebellious, arrogant, bullying... and terribly alone; Cerane hopes Mentia will help

Clutch 33, Carria & Aimerent
Purple-marked Red (f) Mentia - inferiority complex hidden by silly facade, even Cerane did not see how much help she would need

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The Story

Scarth, Caerleader of Dusana Island's Obelisk, was looking through his records, sharp claws raking softly on stone. A few short hours ago had he finished preparing for his journey to Darkling Dawn, in a distant realm, and was simply double-checking to make sure everything was in order. Galaethla would lead in his stead while he made the trip, though the great Black would have preferred to let his trusted friend to go instead...

He sighed sharply and heaved upon his heavy bulk. Claws clicking on the stone floor, the great dragon made his way to the ledge leading outside and took flight, arching around with a few great beats before landing on his own ledge and poking his great head inside. "Cerane?"

"Yes?

"Are you ready yet?"

The question was uttered simultaneously by both dragons, the Black Caerlord and his Cream mate. Chuckling, he climbed inside, sidling up to the Caerlady who was shaking with unvoiced laughter. They had been together for untold cycles, so speaking eachothers thoughts was not unheard of nor was it surprising, but it never ceased to amuse.

Cerane nuzzled her beloved mate, a smile crinkling her reptilian face. "How fares the Caerlord? Is he weighted down by his monumental responsibilities... or is he simply exercising his substantial procastinatory capabilities?" The chuckle was thick in her voice as she teased Scarth.

"Ho, ho... Dear one, would I ever shirk my duties? I was merely double-checking everything. You never can trust hired help these days," he replied with a smirk.

"And everything has been doubly-checked?" Cerane's eyes rolled with amusement.

"Oh, yes it has..."

"Good, good then! Now you can be off... and out of the way!"

"I knew it... Galaethla is hiding around here somewhere, isn't he? You're having an affair! I've suspected, but I never thought you would be so blatant and impatient to be rid of me! Woe!" Scarth sobbed melodramatically, bending a wing shakily over his face. "Well, I best be off then... I wouldn't want to get in the way...!"

The Cream chuckled. "Silly Scarth... I could never tire of your antics; I love you over any and all others. Besides, I am going with you."

"Oh...No! You can't! I had a hot date set up! Gah..." Scarth sighed raggedly, wing sliding away. His eyes flickered mischievously, a smirk plastered all over his face.

"You're awful, you know that." It was certainly not a question, but a statement of fact.

"Of course, my dear," the Caerlord chuckled.

The pair had left soon after, through use of their natural ability to teleport between dimensions. Darkling Dawn had recently received an influx of refugees, dragons once hatched on its sands and later abandoned by their caretakers and bonds for whatever reason. It was the perfect opportunity for a budding agency like The Obelisk who needed to expand in its bloodlines.

There was a list of the available dragons and some simple statistics. A quick glance gave the Caerleaders a safe idea of whom might make good candidates at an agency who prefered not to bond... or bond to other dragons.

"Here's a pair..." Scarth said, tapping his claw on a male and female from Clutch Fourteen. "They are very close, especially in the absence of their bonds."

"I don't know... Fabricath is nervous around strangers. Would he make a good addition to the Caer?"

"Hmm... Scuolath seems to be very supportive and is somewhat outgoing. Maybe through her we can boost his morale and self-esteem. They're both small-sized; they'd be really striking fighters...or whatever they turn out to be good as."

"You have a point, Scarth my dear." She smiled. "This is why you are Caerlord."

The Black grinned. "Well we haven't met them yet... Anyway, if it weren't for you pointing out my errors, I would not be forced to think things through."

Cerane smiled at her mate warmly. "That is very generous of you. Ah, here's another pair..."

Scarth snorted. "They are not a pair."

"No, not in the strictest sense... but look here. Elorth not only lost her bond, but her sister. Azteth was re-adopted out though she was not. She must be very lonely."

"It also says she was a bully to her. She might turn that anger toward other dragons. Hm...or fighting ants..."

"She does not want a bond, or at least claims as such."

"She's going to be a real work in progress, Cerane. I don't know." By the tone of Scarth's voice, she sounded like a lost cause.

"Everyone deserves a chance... And besides, this other female, Mentia, seems really upbeat. Maybe if we pair them off they will balance eachother out. Mentia could cheer Elorth up where her timid sister could not."

"We'll know when we meet them, I guess..." Scarth replied, agreeing while still sounding dubious.

"I think we should still stick around and see if any of them want to bond." Cerane frowned thoughtfully. "A dragon bond would be wholly different from a human bond."

"Feh," Scarth snorted dismissively. "Whatever. We may not even come home with anybody." He glanced at the list again. "Anyone else?"

"Well, there's this Brown from Clutch One... So he'll be rather set in his ways and it says he's rather bitter. But he wants no bond..."

"Mithrath huh? Well why not? At least he has a sense of humor..."

Cerane's smile was almost a grimace. "I suppose." She sighed. "I'm just hoping someone will find The Obelisk to be... home. You know?"

"Well if not, they can go somewhere else! Really... take it or leave it right?"

"I suppose..."

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Follow
Elorth / Fabricath / Mentia / Mithrath / Scuolath

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