Hatching of the Dead Clutch -- Clutch 10 of the Vella Crean

It was a sober night. But each night had been sober, as if no one was quite sure how to break the mood, if they would be able to celebrate. Lollaseth, from the sands kept up a calm, cheerful act only seen through by her own mother. Sasiath spent most of her nights keeping her daughter company, for there was no mate to fly from the den, no sire to keep watch while she flew the skies.
Still, the Vella Crean was a close community, and each day dragons would fly it, congregating in the sands and creating the warmth of a family that had not truly existed before. If it wasn’t too soon to say, death had bought about a bond to the dragons, something that would not break for generations to come.

“Will the eggs hatch at all?” It was Naeodin, pacing the room who echoed this. She had more white hair now, something people commented on because it was not silver. She had retired for four, five years only to find herself thrust back onto the throne of leadership, because her daughter could not rule.

They will, rider. Sasiath murmured, her voice soft, delicate and just as tired as her riders. We are all tired.

At these words Naeodin paused, and a look of sadness and amusement crossed her face. “I’m sorry, Sasiath.” She whispered. “Soon, soon we will be able to rest.”

Sasiath nodded. But not yet.

They were both pondering, pondering which was such a silly word and some fate seemed to be listening because soon, they heard the single broken hum of a dragoness.

It was hatching time…

Naeodin watched with soft eyes as the candidates began to walk into the sands, some unsure of their roles, whether they were allowed to laugh and cry should they bond on the sands. The angel who had tried to sing for mourning Maramia had reduced to woman to laughter- something that made Naeodin smile as she watched her. Her eyes softened as they took in the young mother who had arrived soon, and smiled in greeting. She always had a soft spot for mothers, for family and she had been particularly helpful. The three mages all arrived at the same time. They had been busy at the Vella Crean, helping Fetch imports from other worlds, dealing with the healing of those who were still wounded and creating illusions that distracted children from the tension in the air. From the shadows a tri colored dragon skulked forewords. Naeodin did not like her much, but Mwvayan adored her. Yahzei skulked in, and Naeodin suppressed a smirk. She had heard of his search, and wondered if questionnaire methods would prove to be useful. It would make searching easier as well… It was Maramia who smiled down at the star crossed lovers, not because she knew them particularly well, but because love and romance seemed to be a tender spot with her. That is, when she wasn’t freaking out. Two beautiful beings, one small one escorted by Samson and Delilah, the other hovering over the edge as if he would soon change his mind, had Naeodin smile. They were welcome, of course. She just wished that the Damned Recluse understood that. A wolf slunk in soon after, followed by a star dancer. The first of their kind to have arrived at the Vella Crean, they had been welcomed, and yet watched with a curious eye. Talon, the youth arrived with a slightly embarrassed look. Once Shy had discovered his fascination with genetics… well, let it just be said that Naeodin hoped that maybe, this would convince Shy to take a extended vacation. Please let Shy leave.

Two eggs hatched, one of the exotic looking light court dragon, but the other was darker. A green, and small her hide was a deeper, glossier shade then the pale counterparts and as they watched, her eyes blinked a crimson shade of blood that did not suit the sands.

Maramia let out a startled cry.

“Lollaseth!” her voice was soft, shaking. “What…” but her words were lost as she convulsed.

“Maramia?” raising from her chair, she was only barely stopped as Placeda placed her hand on her shoulder.

“We will deal with her.” The Avengaean water whispered. “She’s giving birth.”

Wonderingly, Naeodin nodded her head and sat back down.

During this small scene, the green hatchling had managed to rile her light court sibling and was backing into the corner, snarling as she did so. But she was losing, being smaller and it was just then that a larger, more deadly snarl slid through the sands.

Don’t you dare touch her Mahoushu growled in her throat, feeling protective over this young one. Stepping forewords with blood in her eyes, the hatchling paused her hissing and looked up.

“I could have held them off.” Her tone was sulky, but slightly ironic. Mahoushu watched her hatchling, and for a moment those closest to the dragon swore she grinned.

“You can deal with them later, Izumith.” She promised.

The light court dragon had been a blue, bigger then the dark green and he watched now, solemn as from the shadows Kthje skulked forewords.

“You are strong, Ipaith” the winged wolf stated, and the light blue turned, eyes bright and flecked with amusement.

“Of course, Kthje.” His tone was almost laughing. “We will be a strong team, in the future.”

A dark court green and a dark court blue hatched then, a soft clicking of eggs as if they had everything synchronized, and nothing mattered any more. The two stared at each other, dark, sensuous in a way dragons should not have the right to be. The blue was the first to move, skulking forewords and stopping in front of Yahzei.

“Pink and frilly and all that stuff?” he sounded almost disgusted at the thought as he watched his bonded with calm crimson eyes.

Yahzei grinned. “Yeah, I’m glad you’re not like that as well, Aoth.”

The dark sister stood there for a moment, watching her brother bond but she had not been idle. She had been calmly picking away at a egg that had rolled from the light court sands, not in cruelty but in aid. As a small green head popped out, the dark green nodded, satisfied and moved towards her chosen.

“We are not evil, are we Atropa?”

Atropa laughed. "Just... independant, Kaith." she answered.

The second green, a light court who was brighter and somewhat bolder then her sister stood there for a moment, blinking her eyes and squealed her hunger when out of the blue, a piece of meat appeared before her eyes.

“Oooh.” The word was ravenous, and Kai laughed.

“I can do more then that, Omaeth.” She promised.

The light court purple dragons hatched at the same time, and while they were identical in shape and sound there was one, the calmer and more vulnerable one that caught the attention of A’keela. After all, she had been on the sands often, helping in any way possible and she had often felt her eyes stray to the egg that had contained this young one.

“Do you miss them still?” the female asked, her voice soft, holding the note of a child needing to be mothered.

A’keela nodded. “It is because I love them.” She said simply. “You will understand, when you meet my family, Iakith.”

The purple hatchling giggled at that.

The angel should have been concentrating at the hatching. But it did not help that she woke up dreaming of a certain muse. So, it probably deserved that she was attacked like that.

“Wheee! Hehehehehe”  Cappine did not know what happened. One moment she was standing up, keeping Rapheta awake and the next… she looked up, disorientated from the ground to feel the weight of something on her stomach. Frowning and watching her vision focus on a bright purple hatchling, Cappine blinked. “What? Is that all you have to say?” losing it’s momentum, the purple hatchling had a sweet clear note in her voice. “I’m going to go sulk now.” Muttering something about getting Tenken for sending such unenthusiastic prey, the purple light court was about to jump off the angel’s stomach when Cappine finally recovered her senses.

“Koreth.” Wrapping her arms around the purple hatchling and giving her a big squeeze for a hug, Cappine smiled.

Two red dragons, both of the light court hatched at once and someone laughed as if a resounding smash, one of the red hatchlings stumbled into another egg.

“Watch it!” from inside a male hatchling’s muffled voice could be heard and soon, it was clear as tail and paws broke through, that the male was a blue dragon.

“Sorry.” The red blinked. “Are you hurt?”

“I could help, if you want.” From the side Cypren spoke out loud, hesitant. She had practiced her skill often, helping those who needed healing and she was sure she could handle a scratch or two.

Nyle frowned. “No, it’s okay.” He said simply, slighty possessively as he approached the blue. “Caoth wants my help.”

The blue smirked as he watched his rider, and Cypren’s face fell for a moment, until the red bumped her knee. “He’d have taken you for granted, anyways.” She said simply. “I know a trouble maker when I see one.”

Cypren smiled as she watched the hatchling. “Then we will have to save everyone else then, hmm Immath?”
 
“Naeodin.” It was Placeda who approached her, tilting her head from some telepathic conversation she had been a part of. “Naeodin, we need to go.”

“Go?” Naeodin looked up, confused to see Placeda frowning, a concerned look in her eyes.

“It’s Maramia.” She said simply, and the old mother nodded, her eyes grim.

“Alright.” She whispered, quiet as she did so and getting up, disappeared from the hatching.

Many people noticed, but more people were intent on the hatching taking place. In the center of the room two eggs from the different piles had rolled onto each other, and from the mass two dragonlings looked up. A pale green light court dragon and a sinewy dark court blue dragon watched each other intently, as if hearing something others did not.

“We are meant for each other.” The blue said calmly, and the green nodded.

“Like our riders.” The other echoed.

Dorian and Aeran walked forewords, as if caught in a dream and Kaith and Maeth respectively went to their riders.

Three eggs hatched at once then, a purple, a red and a brown. While the red and brown were clear light courts, the rich purple dark court dragon was the first to make her pick. Moving with that seductive air and planting herself right in front of Alandra, the star dancer, while she was dark, there was something more rich, then evil in her eyes.

“I am Jiiath, and I want to help you paint the skies.” She announced, and the stardancer, at a loss could only echo her sentiment by the rich vivid shade of violet that seemed to enter the air around them.
 
Meanwhile, the bright red hatchling was being molested by two flits that didn’t seem to take kindly to the fact that such a creature would dare stand in front of one of their own. Kateri, laughing pulled them off.

“Don’t attack Kaath, guys.” He grinned. “He’s one of us.” With a lingering look at the awaiting Angel of Death, Kateri decided to give them some privacy he could.

“What?” Talon watched the bright brown hatchling and shook his head, chuckling the kind of laughter that spoke of… well, indecent thoughts. “Already?”

The brown looked up, innocent. “I’m not the one who was thinking it.” He said simply. “I was only offering to help me rider out with his genetic questions.”

Talon’s laugh grew wicked. “I think, we should wait a while before we continue with that one.” He paused. “At least a month, Reiith.” 

Perverted thoughts always distracted the audience, which was why most people missed the hatching of the dark court brown hatchling. Still, no one missed it for long and certainly, one Damned Recluse did not miss it at all.

“D’sae Rel’luce.” The sober brown hatchling nodded his head in greeting from one ranked male to another. “They might not, but I understand.”

The angel watched on, wondering. “They all pushed me away, Chosath.” He said simply, and the brown nodded.

“But I am a dragon.” He said simply, as if this explained everything in the world. “Not a silly seraph.”

Two candidates waited, unsure and someone walked down, whispering a quiet word. No, no more would impress today. All watched, unsure. Where was the drama, the golds and the bronzes that would grace their ranks as kings and queens of the dragon world?

That is all, for today Lollaseth whispered, her voice tired, much more so then her mind. I…

It was Sasiath who leaned forewords and whispered something into the mind of the young daughter, the daughter who had aged particularly during this moment. Her daughters and sons lie in wait for the right ones. She murmured simply, shaking her head as if saddened by some untold loss. Yes, the queen was barren now, barren through the faults of living people and yet Lollaseth would place no blame.

Still, she had no need to as her babes still rested under the surface of the sands, waiting for the right moment…

“Dark creatures, dark creatures.” Maramia murmured, rocking back and forewords as if nothing else would affect her.

Naeodin sighed. She did not truly understand what had happened on the sands, what those creatures were but they were the descendents of her own Sasiath, and so could not be so evil. Standing there, a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, she tried to say something. “But there was more good.” She said simply. “You watched, as the light court dragons reigned over those of the dark court.” She could not call them evil, and the titles had thus stuck to the new hatchlings. “Good always wins, sweet heart.”

Maramia’s eyes were blind as she look up. “It doesn’t, it doesn’t.” she chanted in a sing song voice, shaking her head as she did so. “No Vaero, no more Vaero…”

Naeodin shook her head. She was too tired for this, too old. “Come Maramia. You must meet your son, hmm?” her smile was a plea, cloying as she did so. “What will we name your son?”

“Luctus Mors… Vaero Luctus Mors…”