"She can't stay here!" The mother Nocturn, still so new to the clan that she didn't even have a use-name yet, stared up at her mate in dismay.

"But why?" she asked, cuddling the smallest of her hatchlings close to her chest along with its sibs. Unlike the other two, who were dozing after their first meal, the littlest was wide awake, seemingly taking in everything with wide curious eyes. "She's so little-"

"Look at her colors!" growled the Wildclaw, his expression disturbed when the little one met his eyes, her expression full of knowing. He backed away, hiding his fear beneath anger. "I took you in when you were orphaned, and this is the thanks I get? Send her to the adoption center by the crossroads."

"But why??"

"Because she's obviously one of his! That blasted meddler who brought back the Shade has tainted her somehow and I won't have it. Not in my clan! Understand?"

The littlest hatchling patted her mother's talon soothingly before she could speak. "It's alright Mother." She turned to the clan leader, spearing him with a look far too knowing for one who was only a few hours old. "I'm sure he is only sending me away because he knows I will flourish better without being smothered and judged by illogical superstitions."

He went pale at her words. "Get her out of here now!" he bellowed and the mother Nocturn fled with her hatchlings in hand. She found the crossroads easily enough, with all the dragons gathered around looking to buy and sell things. She landed near the adoption center and hesitated, watching in dismay as dozens of dragons jockeyed for attention on the stage, from hatchling to mature adult, there seemed an endless stream of them.

"Are you lost, little mother? Perhaps I can help."

The mother turned towards the voice, startled to see a brightly colored Wildclaw female standing nearby, eyeing both she and her unnamed hatchlings. "I imagine I know why you're here with this one," she said, pointing with her chin towards the littlest hatchling. "Someone thinks the Arcanist "chose" her, or "tainted" her, or some such nonsense, am I right?"

The poor mother nodded abashedly, hugging her baby close, tears beginning to well in her eyes as the babies hugged her tightly back. "I do not want to... but my mate, he took me in..."

The Wildclaw's eyes were full of understanding. "My dear, you don't need to explain - I can see in your eyes how it pains you. As it so happens. the clan I belong to resides in the Arcanist's domain. Your girl would thrive there, with no one looking oddly at her coloring, except perhaps with envy," the Wildclaw said with a smile for the littlest hatchling. "We will gladly take her in, and here, some coin so that you may not be so dependent on the whims of your mate. What do you say?" she asked, not the mother but the hatchling.

The hatchling nodded eagerly. "We can still talk can't we?" she asked, looking up at her worried mother.

"As often as you like," the Wildclaw promised. "I am called Daydream," she told them. "Fear not, Little Mother. We will take good care of Arcanya."

The mother sighed as her littlest leaped from her arms and flew to Daydream's arms. "Thank you, Daydream."

"No, thank you, Little Mother. We've been waiting for this little magelet for quite a while," Daydream smiled, pressed a heavy satchel of coins into the mother Nocturn's talons. "Come, we've so much to see and it's quite a flight back to the Prismatorium," she told Arcanya, settling her into a sling she made from one of her scarfs so that she was snuggled securely against Daydream's chest. "Farewell, Mother, and fear not! The Arcanist takes care of His own, just as the Lightweaver does. They're not so different as you might think," Daydream laughed before launching herself into the air. Little Arcanya waved to her mother and siblings before settling in for the trip, her dreams full of magic.

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