Another Beginning
It was the evening after the attack. Basil slept on, Zyl still stood watch over him, and Saiph stood watch over the pair of them. Ravage and Savir were resting next to each other, amusing each other by seeing who could make up the most ridiculous stories for how they got their new scars. Rue and Arabella were setting their alarm circles around the camp. Heth had just returned from hunting with Tagu.
Ishikk gave a significant look to Arabella who nodded calmly at him and finished her spell before joining him in the middle of camp. The others looked over at them curiously.
Ishikk cleared his throat “So. We were going to say something yesterday, but figured we could do it just as easily once we were all on the move. Then… everything happened… and well, here.” he opened his pack, pulling out three perfectly healthy looking eggs.
“EGGS!” Ravage crowed excitedly, struggling to try to get up.
“I will bring them to you, settle down, Mother.” Ishikk chuckled, hurrying over with them. “I did not heal your legs for you to mess them up again being impatient.”
“They’re going to be so shiny!” Ravage’s wings fluttered with excitement as she inspected the shells of her future grandchildren. “With how you and Arabella look they have to be!”
Ishikk laughed again “Ah, yes. I found the shiniest mate I could, just to give you shiny hatchlings.” he joked.
“It’s a miracle they were not damaged last night.” Heth murmured, touching them each in turn with his snout.
“We had already packed them before bed, and Arabella had put a small spell on the bag to protect them from getting jostled too much.” Ishikk explained, smiling proudly at his mate.
“They will more than likely come out as pearlcatchers.” Arabella noted “If you all do not mind, I would like to instruct you all on a few key points such as pearl, horn, and whisker care. I have no intention to die and leave them alone, but I would like the information to be known to you all, in case of unforeseen accidents. I know you would care for them well.”
Ishikk looked uncomfortable at her statement and cleared his throat. “Well. Nothing is going to happen to you, I will make sure of that. But it would be good to know anyway, that way it won’t all fall onto you to care for them. I don’t intend to be a useless father.” he declared stubbornly, earning an affectionate nuzzle from Arabella.
“Water eggs look really weird.” Tagu commented, poking his head out from between Heth’s forelegs, making the bogsneak jump at his sudden appearance.
“Was my egg that…. Rough looking? Did….Did it hurt?” Savir asked, staring down at the barnacle encrusted eggs as well.
“They don’t come out that rough.” Ravage laughed. “The rough bits grow on them after a couple of hours to protect them and help disguise them among rocks underwater.”
“I don’t think there would be a dragon alive willing to lay a nest in the Water territory if they came out that rough.” Arabella commented with a small grin and a shake of her head.
Saiph joined them, curious to look as well. “They’re so…. Tiny.” he breathed, carefully keeping his distance from such fragile beings.
“You should see fae eggs.” Zyl said quietly from where they lounged next to Basil. “I could easily hold one in the palm of my forepaw.”
Saiph glanced at Zyl’s small paws and shook his massive head in wonder. “I would be so afraid to be around one. I could crush it and never even know it was there.” he shuddered visibly.
“There, there, big guy. No use fussing over something that hasn’t happened.” Tagu assured him, landing on Saiph’s head and wrapping himself around one of the guardian’s horns.
“Does this mean we will have to stay here while they grow up?” Rue asked anxiously, shuffling her small wings.
“Nah,” Ishikk assured her. “We already talked it over and we don’t think it will be a problem to just use harnesses on the hatchlings during flight. That way we can go get you and Savir your wing upgrades and the hatchlings can get used to how we roam around. As soon as it is safe to move Basil we can head out.”
Rue smiled, clearly relieved.
“And I will carry Basil once he has recovered some and it is safe to move him.” Saiph added happily.
Zyl’s feather’s fluffed slightly at the declaration. “He is small enough that I should have no trouble carrying him.” they said flatly.
“And I will be on standby should you need a rest.” Saiph replied, undeterred.
Zyl sighed softly through their nose but let the matter go for the moment.
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