Polana nervously rung her hands as she walked down the long corridor leading to the hatching sands. All around her, inviting scents and images caught her eye. She had never been in a place so full of life; other then the warren of course. Yet the warren could be termed as utter chaos during the day. Polana brushed back a stray lock of red hair from her brown eyes, glancing down at the soft sand that crunched beneath her feet. She wore identitical sands to Mystic as well as her favorite dress.
Not a line marked the velvety blue robes which swayed around her ankles. Having been deturred from pacing the entire night by two sleepy (and grumpy) fire draces, Polana resorted to finishing the second care-taker's dress and cleaning her own to perfection. Now, the soft, star-lit fabric shone in the dim light of the torches.
Dracan and Tolt busily annoyed everyone in sight, barely being kept under control by Mystic's Hope. Hope being a large and last of her kind, Draca. Whlie she chased after the two fire draces, chirrping angrily, Mystic walked side by side with the head of this agency.
Only a few words of Ekyla and Mystic's conversation reached Polana's ears but what she did catch only made her more nervous. They were nearing the eggs now. A warm glow at the end of the tunnel confirmed this fact. Polana nervously twisted the ends of her sleeve into knots. Random thoughts ran through her mind. Mainly what would happen if she was choosen. Or what would happen if she wasn't chosen.
"We're here." Ekyla smiled happily, making a grand gesture to the sands spread out before them. Two enormous dragons lounged at the back of the cavern, surrounded by the warm glow of many tourches and endless stretches of sand. The dark purple of the two lovingly nudged a mound of sand on top of one of her eggs. She purred in content, counting their numbers for probably the millionth time. Polana gasped in awe, staring around the massive cavern. Dracan and Tolt, decidedly bored of teasing Hope, settled on her shoulders with a chirp.
"Go ahead, child." Mystic whispered in her ear. Joy beyond belief sparkled in her hazel-green eyes. She gave her daughter a quick hug before pointing her in the direction of the eggs. Mystic chuckled lightly as Polana stiffly made her way forward.
Upon reaching the dragons, she opened her mouth to introduce herself. And that's all that happened. No sound escaped her as she stared up at the giant creatures. The grey one chuckled and smiled down at her.
"I suppose you are the one Ekyla talks so highly of." His deep voice rumbled through the silence. Polana squeaked in reply.
"Don't be shy, young one. Come forward." The female's soft words urged her forward. Swallowing quickly, Polana tore her gaze away from the dragons and fixed it on the eggs. Immediately, she relaxed.
Perfectly shaped ovals rested in the loving confines of the female's tail. Each shell gleamed in the orange light, reflecting their many colours. Polana cautiously began to move among the eggs. She touched each in turn, feeling the warmth stirring beneath. Dracan and Tolt had smartly stayed behind, leaving Polana to wander on her own. As her fingers ran over the smooth, hard shells, she admired each in turn. Passing from one to the other, each seemed more amazing then the last.
Finally, she came to a dark egg nestled close to the female's side. Polana knelt beside it, placing both her hands on its surface. She watched in amazment as the swirling colours of purple and blue moved about the shell, intertwining with one another. The lighter patches of blue sparkled like sapphires in the night sky. Polana felt a sudden attraction to this egg.
"My daughter, Ripple in Time." The female cooed again. She nudged the egg gently. Polana felt her warm breath upon her face and smiled lightly. "She has chosen you."
"M- me?" Polana gasped. Gazing up into the dragon's lively eyes. The mother smiled and nodded.
"Congratulations. I know you will take good care of my daughter."
Polana smiled in return and whispered two, soft words. "Thank you."
* * * Polana again ran her hands along Ripple in Time's shell. She sat by a roaring fireplace in a small room prepared for her until Flux's hatching. The sun had long ago set and both Dracan and Tolt slept soundly on a bed of furs originally made for Polana. The young girl smiled quietly, resting her cheek against the warm surface of the egg.
"I can't believe you chose me, Flux. I'll not let you down. I promise." She cracked a wide yawn and lay down beside the egg, one arm still curled around it protectively. "I know we'll get along perfectly." Her words died into silence as she drifted deeper and deeper into sleep. Soon, all that could be heard was the occasional crackle of the fire.
A gentle noise disturbed the quite as Mystic glided into the room. She glanced around quickly then smiled down at Polana. Her footsteps made not a sound as she quickly moved over to the bed and removed one, warm fur.
Setting her staff aside as she knelt by Polana, she covered the sleeping girl with the fur. Her hands gently brushed back the sea of red curls around Polana's face. Mystic bent close and placed a feather-light kiss on her daughter's cheek.
"I knew you could do it."
