The Hatching Sands were hot beneath her feet, but she was too excited to notice. The first egg had just Hatched, and first Impression was made when the little bronze creature found a suitable Candidate. Another egg revealed a small green, and it, too found a lifemate quickly.Ellia watched as dragonet after dragonet found its mate, but none came to her. Then she turned around, and there were pairs of Hatchlings looking up at her from all sides.
{{Ellia, I am Mirth!}} one called. The dragon made her feel happy. She was so happy she couldn't think about anything but the dragon.
{{No, I am Wrath!}} called its counterpart. Ellia was filled with cold hatred so powerful it dominated her thoughts.
A new pair spoke up. {{I am Birth!}} said the first. {{I will give you a new life.}} Ellia considered the little beast's proposal. A new life? That would...
{{Don't listen! Death is the only answer. I am Death! All life ends with
me. I will end your problems. I am yours.}}
Ellia turned away in fear. Another pair looked into her eyes. The first
one spoke. {{I am North! Come, Ellia, come back to your home in the North...}}
{{No,}} said the second. {{Stay in the beautiful South. I am South. You
should stay here in this welcoming place.}} The girl took a step backwards, away
from the two dragons competing for her attention, and tripped into a fourth
pair.
{{I am Truth. I will show you what is real. You will no longer think
false thoughts, for I will not let you.}} The dragonet would not let Ellia
imagine what that future could be like, but showed her exactly what it would be
like. Quickly the other invaded her thoughts.
{{I am Myth! I think all kinds of things, beautiful things. Come, live
with me in a fantasy world where everything is beautiful... Come, Ellia!
Come...}} Ellia's mind was filled with thoughts of sweet fruits and warm sand,
and a place where nothing ever went wrong. Suddenly a roar startled her out of
these thoughts.
{{NO! I am CETEARATH! Ellia is the perfect match for me, and we will be
together! I will make her strong and she will make me strong!}} The gold
Hatchling looked into Ellia's eyes, and instantly, Ellia knew they were made for
each other. They were exactly what the other needed, in every way...
{{Ellia, you are the most wonderful person, and we are together
forever.}}
[[Cetearath, YOU are the most wonderful dragon in the whole world...
You're so smart and pretty...]]
{{Good, because I'm very hungry,}} Cetearath said.
[[Of course you are...]] Ellia said.
{{Well, you'd better get up and feed me, because I'm very, very hungry,]] Cetearath said, sounding just slightly panicked.
Ellia opened her eyes. She was not on the Hatching Sands. She was on her
bed, the morning after the Hatching. "Oh," she said. "Oh, OH! I'm
getting up... Okay, Cetearath. Let's go get breakfast," she said. Briefly,
she wondered about her dream, but the suddenness of her awakening had all but
wiped it form her memory.
{{Ellia?}} Cetearath asked tentatively as they walked toward the dining
caverns.
"Yes?"
{{I'm glad we are together.}} Ellia smiled bigger than she could remember
ever having done before.