The spherical egg shattered, and a beast that was khaki and olive green colored backed out of the shell and up onto the sands. She turned and hissed at everyone present. She had a horn on her nose, and two nub horns on the back of her head - but worse, she had six serpentine heads to go with it.

G*non leapt to his feet, reaching for his sword. "Let me at her!" The HyDragoness hissed, and lunged at the next candidate. Murmurs of surprise, a few stifled screams, and the thud of one or two young ladies swooning and falling to the floor were heard, and then the sharp crack of an egg in the HyDragon's path silenced the humans. She'd certainly kill whatever came out of that egg. Brown Kisero of the Healing den flared his wings, ready to protect the sands here, as he did at home.

The dragon burst from his shell, dark as a latte coffee, and marked with white. He tackled the hybrid hydra, pinning her to the sands, and fending off her snake heads with the horns on his nose. Angeronath! Behave yourself! the hatchling ordered, and the six snake heads pulled back.

Get off me Wykorth! the HyDragoness hissed. Considering that she had calmed, he stepped back.

G*non was frozen in place. Destroying the hydra meant the death of a hatchling dragon. The gathered folk could only watch as the dusky colored duo walked out of the Hatching grounds.

Those who were helping to feed the hatchlings didn't know what to do, but the emptiness of Wykorth's stomach and the echoing pains of Angeronath's led them past the stupified humans to the feeding grounds, where a purple-silver dragoness had just taken down a buck. Under the fence they went, and stole it from her, basking in the crimson heat of the creature's blood as the purple dragon's rider just laughed.

You'll come back with us. Nuarth purred in a way that just begged the hatchlings to defy her. Wykorth stared her straight in the eye as he gulped down large pieces of flesh, but Angeronath didn't - all seven heads chewing off pieces and swallowing as fast as they could.

This clearly isn't our home. If wherever you take us is better, perhaps you'll live. Wykorth said, then returned to his meal. Kimre laughed, and the mirth was echoed in her Twilight's eyes. Of course Arx Atra Mons was better than Ryslen!

*   *   *

*   *   *

Fighting for Angeronath

It was a gloomy morning, the sky roiling with heavy clouds above the Arx, and despite the lack of daylight, the khaki-olive Angeronath was displaying vibrant cream-green hues. She would mate this day, in draconic fashion, and spawn the first of the Atra Mons Beasts. Her bond, khaki horned Wykorth of the Ryslen Flurry was first to notice.
Angeronath eyed his form with wicked hunger in her golden eyes, her serpentine heads mezmorized his masculinity.
I will fly you, Angeronath he growled delightedly.
No! Gargavoith snarled, stepping into the courtyard from where he perched to watch over the black fortress. I challenge you, Wykorth, for the right to mate Angerona'tya!
The HyDragoness licked her chops in anticipation.
I accept! the Ryslen-born dragon snarled, lunging at the menacing green-black male.
Gargavoith stepped to his right, effectively thwarting Wykorth's preliminary attack. He threw hid double wings back, dipping his heads to snap at the light colored dragon.
Wykorth sprang, planting his hind paws on teh tender place where Gargavoith's wingsails met his body. Simultaneously, the khaki flurry latched his talons into the base of Gargavoith's left skull and his right into his foe's right wingshoulder. His massive jaws wrapped around the back of the right head, razor teeth slipping easily thorough the beast's hide. Yield, Gargavoith! Wykorth snarled, or you die here!
I withdraw my claim on Angerona'tya. I yield to you, Wykor'zjan. the beast said.
Angeronath screamed and lunged skyward. NOW, Wykorth!
The khaki dragon sprang after his HyDragon bonded, his talons gouging deep into Gargavoith's hips. High above Arx Atra Mons, Wykorth took posession of Angeronath with Gargavoith's blood hot in his mouth and encrusted on his great paws.