Zeria

Byron and Juliet's first clutch was the happy experimental clutch that every pair experiences. Their second was a nightmare -- 5 eggs hatched before their siblings had even begun to think about leaving the nest. They almost waited before laying a third clutch, but Juliet had an agenda and there was no getting in her way. Byron, at least, was extremely relieved when it bore a singular egg, an egg that would eventually hatch Zeria.

Zeria traveled across all eleven domains before she had even hatched. She was there for the founding of her clan. She was there for all of the hiccups, beast attacks, and nights spent with an empty stomach. She was there for ruffians and rogues who sought to steal and maim.

From the moment she met her parents, Zeria knew she wanted to be just like her mom.



She had always had a bit of a crush on Rivin, if she was being entirely honest. He was handsome, and strong, and he always had a smile for her.

Their paths didn't cross often. He was her mother's hatchlinghood friend, and his role in the clan was mostly hunting, while hers was caring for the hatchlings and training as a healer. In fact, Zeria is pretty sure that she had never actually spoken to Rivin before that night.

She had been out collecting plants to use for tinctures when she happened upon a dragon-sized tunnel. It was well past dark at this point, and she would have passed it up, except that she could clearly hear the sound of someone in anguish inside. With no thought to the danger of entering a strange, occupied tunnel at night, she wormed her way in.

"Are you okay?" she asked, tumbling into a very small cave and landing on the dragon inside. There was hardly enough room for the two of them, but she righted herself to the best of her ability and quickly assessed the other dragon for injuries, relying on touch rather than sight in the darkness. "Are you hurt?"

She was met with sniffles. The two spent the night talking of hopes, dreams, and everything in between. He told her of his previous mates, of his desire to belong somewhere, of his loneliness and listlessness. She spoke of her worries that her ambitions would never be realized, that she would never find love, that she would never be enough. They laughed together, and they cried together. They found comfort in each other's company.

She didn't know who he was then, when she made the first move.

"I want more than just a night with you," he told her. "Is that okay?"

When they came out of the tunnel together the next morning and finally saw each other's faces, Zeria laughed, leaning forward to nuzzle the other dragon. "To be entirely honest, I always did have a bit of a crush on you, Rivin."

-

It was many months of secret meetings and stolen moments before the two were finally ready to tell her parents. Zeria sat her parents down and told them that she was ready for them to meet her mate.

"Your mate?!" Juliet cried. "Things didn't work out with Rivin?!"

Byron grinned, reaching out to comfort his mate. "I think she's trying to tell us that things did work out with Rivin, darling. Is that right, Zeria?"

Zeria nodded, her scales warm with a blush. "You knew? And... you're okay with it?"

"Of course we're okay with it!" her mother squeaked. "We love you both so much!"

"You two weren't as subtle as you thought you were," her father laughed. "We just want you both to be happy, and if you make each other happy, that's even better."